At Matins

Song of ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

Canon of the forefeast, with 8 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the martyr, with 4 troparia.

Glory..., Now & ever... Alleluia... Thrice .

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “The noble Joseph…”—

Let the great hierarch of Christ, the godly Peter, be hymned: the pillar of light illumining us with the splendors of miracles, the moist cloud extinguishing the flame of the passions and bedewing the thoughts of the faithful.

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the forefeast, twice; Glory…, that of the martyr; Now & ever…, that of the forefeast.

Canon of the forefeast, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and two canons of the saint, with a total of 8 troparia.

Glory…, Now & ever…: another sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

He Who bowed down the heavens and made His abode within the Virgin cometh in the flesh, to be born in the cave of Bethlehem as was written, and to be seen as a babe, imparting life to babes in the womb. Wherefore, rejoicing, let us now greet Him with uprightness of heart.

Our unapproachable God, of His own will becoming approachable in His loving-kindness, cometh to be born as a man in the flesh of the Virgin Maiden in Bethlehem. Let us earnestly hasten to receive him, crying out with fear: Glory to Thee, O Lord!

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who is equally unoriginate…”—

With love do we all cry out unto thee, the merciful favorite of Christ, guileless and meek; and we earnestly pray: Bring an end to the civil strife of our passions, set at nought the ungodly wiles of the Moslems and make them subject to the Orthodox, O ever-blessed one, and deliver from all temptations those who hymn thee with love.

He Who bowed down the heavens and made His abode within the Virgin cometh in the flesh, to be born in the cave of Bethlehem as was written, and to be seen as a babe, imparting life to babes in the womb. Wherefore, rejoicing, let us now greet Him with uprightness of heart.

Glory…, Now & ever…: another sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—

Be glad, O Bethlehem! Make ready, O Ephratha! For, lo! The ewe-lamb, bearing the great Shepherd within her womb, cometh to give birth; and, seeing the divine star beforehand, the magi rejoice in uprightness of heart, singing with the shepherds.

O Bethlehem, prepare thyself to greet the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God; for, lo! she cometh to thee, bearing the infant Christ, Who is ever equally unoriginate with the Father and the Spirit. She will give birth to Him in the cave, and after giving birth will be shown to be a virgin still.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

An all-glorious miracle is seen today! For our Savior now hasteneth to be born in the flesh of the Virgin for our sake, in the cave. The magi pay homage to Him with gifts as to a King, and the shepherds and angels glorify Him. And with them we also cry aloud: Glory to Him Who became man for our sake!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the forefeast, in the same tone & melody—

We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Peter, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ God in our behalf.

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the forefeast, twice; Glory…, that of the holy hierarch; Now & ever…, that of the forefeast, once.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—

Selected Psalm verses—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the forefeast, in Tone I—

A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…”—

B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the forefeast, in the same tone & melody—

A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]

B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]

A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]

B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]

A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]

B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]

A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]

B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]

A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]

B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]

A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]

B Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]

With the effulgence of Orthodoxy thou hast enlightened those heavy laden with sins as ones lying in darkness; and thou hast repulsed all the wiles of the evil spirits, revealing thyself as a worker of miracles, and hast been glorified by the providence of the Most High. Wherefore, we honor thee with faith, O holy hierarch Peter, who dwellest in company with the apostles and patriarchs.

O Bethlehem, make ready to greet the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. For, lo! she cometh to thee, bearing the infant Christ, Who with the Father and the Spirit is ever equally without beginning. To Him shall she give birth in the cave, and yet shall remain a Virgin even after giving birth.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to John

§ 35, from the midpoint (Jn. 10: 1-8)

The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again: “Verily, verily, I say unto you: I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

When the repose of thy precious body came to pass, O father, a multitude of the faithful, surrounding thy bier, accompanied thee with compunction. One of them, beholding thee blessing the people, was astonished, and Prince John cried out, weeping: “O master, what shall I render unto thee for the benefactions which thou hast given us, having received grace from God?” Wherefore, O holy hierarch Peter, earnestly beseech Christ our God, that thy city be preserved unassailed.