THIRD HOUR

And we read one Kathisma of the Psalter. At each Antiphon we make 3 prostrations and after the completion of the Kathisma we chant the following Troparion.

About the 3rd hour the lamplighter sounds the iron simandron and we gather in the Church, each of us making three prostrations in front of the Holy Doors before the start, and we kiss the icons. Then one further prostration; likewise one to each of the two Choirs.

Hearken to 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 human 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 heard me, O God; incline your ear to me, and hearken to my words. Show the wonder of your mercies, you who save those that hope in you. Guard me, Lord, like the pupil of the eye, from those who resist your right hand. You will 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 fixed their eyes to bow to the ground. They came on me like a lion ready for prey, and like a lion cub lurking in hidden 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 justice will appear in your presence; I shall be satisfied when your glory has appeared to me. ****

Glory. Both now. Alleluia (

**Theotokion.**

And the following Troparia

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

We say the Prayer of St Ephrem with 4 full and 12 small metanias. Then Trisagion,

Glory. Both now.

**Theotokion.**

Tone 8

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

Prayer of St Mardarios

After the reading the following

Blessed are you, Christ our God, who showed fishermen to be most wise, by sending the Holy Spirit down upon them, and through them caught the whole world in a net. O lover of mankind, glory to you.

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.

Give swift and stable comfort to your servants, O Jesu, in the weariness of our spirits; in afflictions do not part from our souls, in troubles do not go far from our minds, but be always before us. Come near us, come near us, you who are everywhere. As you were always with your Apostles, so, Merciful One, unite yourself to those who long for you, that united to you we may hymn and glorify your all-holy Spirit.

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (**x3**).

Immaculate Mother of God, you are the hope, protection and refuge of Christians, their unassailable wall, the untroubled harbour of the exhausted; but as you save the world by your unceasing intercession, remember us too, Virgin all-praised.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Lord, have mercy. (

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.

**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. ****

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. ****

May God take pity… ****

Amen. Lord, have mercy (**x12**), Glory. Both now.

All-holy Trinity, Our Father. For yours. Lord, have mercy (***x12***) **and the Superior says the following**

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

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.

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

The Lamplighter, making the customary bow to the Superior leaves and strikes the simandron 6 times. And at once we start the Sixth Hour.

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

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, make your ways known to me, 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 acts of pity, Lord, and your mercies, for they are eternal. Do not remember the sins of my youth and ignorance; in accordance with 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 on their way. He will guide the meek with judgement, he will teach the meek his ways. All the ways of the Lord 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 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 justice, oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer calves upon your altar.

**x3** **and 3 prostrations.**) Lord, have mercy (**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.

And as we repeat it we make a prostration to the ground, and likewise at the following two Verses.

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

Lord, who at the third hour….

Do not cast me from your presence, 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 he have mercy on our souls.

And immediately we read from The Ladder.

From today the appointed Monk begins to wake the brothers throughout the whole of the holy Lent. He goes quietly and looks out the sleepers and rouses them to listen in the traditional manner.

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. ****