At Matins

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon in Tone IV

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

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

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

Dwelling bodily in Myra, O hierarch, thou wast shown to be noetically anointed with the myrrh of the Spirit, O father Nicholas. Wherefore, thou hast perfumed the world with the myrrh of thy wonders, pouring forth ever-flowing myrrh through thy memory and thy discourses, which are redolent of myrrh.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the saint, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: resurrectional theotokion, in the same tone.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn—

Thou shinest forth upon the earth with rays of miracles, O wise Nicholas, and movest every tongue to the glorification and praise of Him Who hath glorified thee on earth. Him do thou beseech, that we who with faith and love honor thy memory may be delivered from all want, O thou who art chosen among the fathers.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…”—

O pure and most immaculate one, through the divine Spirit thou didst conceive in thy womb the Creator, God and Author of all, and thou gavest birth to Him without corruption. Glorifying Him, we hymn thee, O Virgin, as the palace of the King of all and the defense of the world.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Thou intercedest for the faithful, protecting and preserving them, O blessed one, and manifestly delivering them from all sorrow, O most comely glory and boast of hierarchs, venerable Nicholas.

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

Receiving from God a wellspring of miracles, O wise father, thou pourest forth honeyed waters upon all the faithful, O blessed one; for as a pastor and preacher of the Faith, thou didst carry out the words of the true Shepherd. Wherefore, as thou hast boldness before Him, thou didst save men from death, O blessed hierarch Nicholas. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…”—

I have fallen into the mire of sins, and there is no firm place for me. The tempest of transgressions hath cruelly engulfed me. Yet as thou gavest birth to the Word Who alone loveth mankind, look upon me, thy servant, and deliver me from every sin and the soul-destroying passions, and from every wicked affliction of the murderer, O Theotokos who knewest not man. Entreat Christ God, that He grant me remission of sins, for thee do I, thy servant, have as my hope.

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

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

Selected Psalm verses—

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

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

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]

O ye faithful, let us all piously praise the God-bearing Nicholas, the all-wise hierarch, as a fervent ally and defender sent by God amid misfortunes and sorrows; for he prayeth to the Lord in behalf of those who with faith celebrate and hymn his divine memory.

Thou hast been shown to be a most ardent intercessor for the Church of Christ, O Nicholas, boldly refuting the ungodly teachings of heresies, and thou hast been revealed to all as a standard of Orthodoxy, praying for all who follow thy divine teachings and instructions.

Quickly accept our supplications, O Mistress, most immaculate Lady, and bear them to thy Son and God. From evil circumstances deliver those who have recourse unto thee. Crush thou the wiles and cast down the arrogance of the ungodly who array themselves against thy servants, O all-pure one.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Reading from the Gospel according to St. John

§36 [10:9-16]

The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

O heir of God, fellow communicant of Christ, minister of the Lord, holy Nicholas: as was thy name, so also was thy life. For the radiance of thy countenance bore witness to thine intellect, shining forth in thy hoary head and thine innocence of spirit; and thy serenity proclaimed thy meekness. Thy life was glorious, and thy repose is with the saints. Pray thou in behalf of our souls.