THIRD HOUR

**Priest:** Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Kontakion. Tone 8.

Hear my justice, O Lord, attend to my supplication. Give ear to my prayer from lips which do not deceive. Let my judgement come from your presence, let my eyes see fair dealings. You have tested my heart, you have visited me by night; you have tried me by fire and no injustice has been found in me. That my mouth might not speak of men’s deeds, for the sake of the words of your lips I have kept hard ways. Direct my steps in your paths, that my steps may not slip. I have called, for you have heard me, O God; incline your ear to me, and hear my words. Show the wonder of your mercies, you who save those who hope in you. Guard me, Lord, like the pupil of the eye, from those who resist your right hand. Shelter me in the shelter of your wings, from the presence of the impious who afflicted me. My foes have surrounded my soul; they have shut their hearts, their mouth has spoken proudly. They cast me out and now they have encircled me, they have set their eyes to bow to the ground. They came on me like a lion ready for prey, and like a lion cub dwelling in secret places. Arise, Lord, forestall them and cast them down; deliver my soul from the impious, your sword from the foes of your hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the land in their life, and their belly was filled from your hidden things. They have been sated with swine’s flesh and left the remainder to their infants. But I in righteousness shall be seen in your presence; I shall be satisfied with the sight of your glory. ****

Then appointed Kathisma of the Psalter.

**Theotokion.**

: Glory to you, our God. Glory to you.

Kontakion. Tone 2

The 12 small metanias and then the last sentence of the prayer is repeated with one prostration.

Glory. Both now.

Heavenly King, Paraclete, Spirit of truth, present everywhere, filling all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every stain, and, O Good One, save our souls.

Kontakion. Tone 4. Lifted up on the Cross.

Then follows the Reading from the Gospel. The Reading desk is placed in the centre of the Church with the candle. The Book of the Gospels is placed on it and Priest censes round it in the form of a Cross, the Altar, the whole Church and the Brethren.

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (**three times**).

Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the holy Gospel. Peace to all. ****

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Let us attend. ****

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

After the reading:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Then the prayer of St Ephrem with 4 full and 12 small metanias

Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages. ****

Lord, have mercy, (

**x12**), Glory. Both now.

Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God.

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King, our God.

With 3 Metanias, then the Psalms.

Psalm 16

Psalm 24

To you, O Lord, I have lifted my soul. My God, I have trusted in you, do not let me be shamed for ever. Do not let my foes laugh at me; for all who wait patiently for you shall not be shamed; let those who transgress without cause be shamed. O Lord, let me know your ways, and teach me your paths. Guide me into your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and I have waited patiently on you all the day. Remember your pity, Lord, and your mercies, for they are eternal. Do not remember the sins and follies of my youth, according to your mercy remember me, on account of your goodness, O Lord. The Lord is good and upright, therefore he will give laws to those who sin in the way. He will guide the meek with judgement, he will teach the meek his ways. All the Lord’s ways are mercy and truth, for those who seek his covenant and his testimonies. For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my sin, for it is great. Who is a one who fears the Lord? He will give him laws in the way which he has chosen. His soul will dwell among good things and his seed will inherit the earth. The Lord is the strength of those who fear him, and his covenant will show them this. My eyes are ever towards the Lord, for he will draw my feet out of the snare. Look on me and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor. The afflictions of my heart have been multiplied; bring me out of my troubles. See my humiliation and my toil, and forgive all my sins. See my foes, for they have been multiplied, and have hated me with an unjust hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be shamed, for I have hoped in you. The innocent and upright have joined themselves to me, because I have waited patiently for you, O Lord. O God, deliver Israel from all his afflictions. ****

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, in accordance with your great mercy. According to the multitude of your compassion blot out my offence. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my wickedness, and my sin is ever before me. Against you alone I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight, that you may be justified in your words and win when you are judged. For see, in wickedness I was conceived and in sin my mother bore me. For see, you have loved truth; you have shown me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed. You will wash me and I shall be made whiter than snow. You will make me hear of joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled will rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Do not cast me out from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation, and establish me with your sovereign Spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you again. O God, the God of my salvation, deliver me from bloodshed and my tongue will rejoice at your justice. Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if you had wanted a sacrifice, I would have given it. You will not take pleasure in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a humbled heart God will not despise. Do good to Sion, Lord, in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Then you will be well pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer calves upon your altar.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God. (

**x3**) ****

Tone 6.

Lord, who at the third hour sent down your all-holy Spirit on your Apostles, do not take him from us, O Good one, but renew him in us who pray to you.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Lord, who at the third hour…

Do not cast me out from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

Lord, who at the third hour…

Mother of God, you are the true vine, who gave bud to the fruit of life; we implore you, Sovereign Lady, intercede together with the Apostles and all the Saints that you have mercy on our souls.

And that he would count us worthy to listen to the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God. ****

Lord, have mercy. (**x3**) ****

And to your Spirit. ****

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to **N**. ****

Glory to you, Lord, glory to you! ****

Glory to you, Lord, glory to you!

Blessed is the Lord God, blessed is the Lord day by day; may the God of our salvation give us prosperity.

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (**three times**).

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. ****

Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph, and the noble one was seated in a chariot, honoured like a king; for as he had not been slave to the pleasures of the Egyptian woman, he was glorified in return by the one who sees the hearts of men, and bestows an incorruptible crown.

Think, miserable soul, on the hour of the end, and made fearful by the cutting down of the fig tree, work with love of toil at the talent given you, as you watch and cry: May we not be left outside Christ’s bridal chamber!

On Wednesday

I have transgressed far more than the harlot, O Good One, yet have never brought you showers of tears; but entreating in silence I fall before you, as I kiss your immaculate feet with love, that as Master you may grant me forgiveness of offences, as I cry out, my Saviour, ‘Deliver me from the filth of my works’.

Lord, have mercy. (**x40**)

At every time and at every hour, in heaven and on earth worshipped and glorified, Christ God, long-suffering, great in mercy, great in compassion, loving the just and merciful to sinners, calling all to salvation by the promise of the good things to come; do you, Lord, yourself accept our entreaties at this hour, and direct our lives to your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas and deliver us from every distress, evil, and pain. Wall us about with your holy Angels, that protected and guided by their host we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy (

**x3**), Glory. Both now. Greater in honour than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. Truly the Mother of God, we magnify you. In the name of the Lord, bless, Father. ****

Through the prayers of our holy fathers Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us. ****

Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of sloth, idle curiosity, love of power and useless chatter. (

**Prostration**)

Rather accord to me, your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. (

**Prostration**)

Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not to condemn my brother; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. (

**Prostration**) ****

God and Master, Father almighty, Lord, only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, one godhead, one power, have mercy on me a sinner; and by the judgements which you know, save me your unworthy servant; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. ****

And at once we start the Sixth Hour.