At Matins

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

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

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I —

Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, O holy hierarch, and strengthened by His power, by thy prayer and God-pleasing virtues, as with a spear, thou didst fell enemies visible and invisible; and hast been crowned with a glorious wreath of victory by the hand of Christ, the God of all. Wherefore, we cherish thine honored memory.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

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

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I —

Who can describe the multitude of mine impure thoughts and the storm of mine unseemly imaginings, O most immaculate virgin? Who can recount the assaults of mine incorporeal foes and their malice? But by thy supplications, grant me deliverance from them all.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the holy hierarch, with 8 troparia, in Tone VIII —

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone III —

Like the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon the beard of Aaron, which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment, and like the dew which cometh down upon the mountains of Sion, so doth the grace of the Holy Spirit, which ever imparteth sweet fragrance to thy body which hath been glorified with incorruption, give drink unto those who with faith have recourse to thy shrine, rejoicing in the Lord Who glorifieth thee.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…, the theotokion.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III —

O all-holy Virgin, hope of Christians, with the holy hierarch and the hosts on high entreat God, to Whom thou gavest birth in manner past understanding and recounting, that He sanctify us and grant remission of sins unto all of us who glorify thee, and correction of life unto those who with faith and love ever honor thee.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia; and the canon of the apostle, with 8 troparia, in Tone VIII —

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

Polyeleos, and this Magnification —

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV —

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

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

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]

The Lord, Who dost not deprive those who walk in innocence of any good thing, gave thee grace and glory, O holy hierarch Peter, which thou didst cause to abide in thy land; wherefore, by thy supplications in heaven vouchsafe us everlasting glory, that we may dwell there with thee and all the saints who have been well-pleasing unto God.

O Virgin, be thou my protection, intercession, help and boast, for thou art the invincible power of the helpless and the hope of the hopeless. Wherefore, calling thee blessed, we ever cry out to thee with the angels: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace!

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.

Gospel according to Matthew, §11

(Mt. 5: 14-19)

The Lord said to His disciples: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —

Today we celebrate the most honored solemnity of our father Peter, who for his labors to benefit the people and the Church hath been magnified by God; wherefore, let us bless his most honored memory, that he may gladden our hearts and save our souls by his supplications.

Come ye all, let us praise the apostle Luke as our helmsman; for he hath abolished the deception of idolatry and hath guided men to the light of life and taught them to believe in the Trinity. Wherefore, honoring him piously today, O ye faithful, let us glorify Christ our God. Twice

Rejoice, O Mary, Virgin Mother, holy mountain, paradise of Eden, from whom Christ God, the Word seedlessly conceived, was born, through Whom life hath sprung forth for the world.

When thou didst journey with Cleopas to the town of Emmaus after the resurrection, O most sacred Luke, the Lord appeared before thee in veiled manner when thou wast downcast; and, receiving the bread He gave thee, thou didst straightway recognize the Savior. Him do thou entreat, that He grant us great mercy. Twice

As a vine grown without cultivation, O Virgin, thou didst cause the most comely Cluster to spring forth, Who poureth forth upon us the wine of salvation, gladdening the souls and bodies of all. Wherefore, ever blessing thee as the cause of good things, we cry out to thee with the angel: Rejoice, O joyous one!

Polyeleos, and this magnification —

We magnify thee, O holy apostle of Christ and evangelist Luke, and we honor thy pangs and labors whereby thou didst struggle in the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.

Selected Psalm verses —

A The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. [Ps. 18: 2]

B The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord. [Ps. 88: 6]

A In the stead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee. [Ps. 44: 17]

B The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken, and He hath called the earth. [Ps. 49: 1]

A From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is to be praised. [Ps. 112: 3]

B Thy lightnings have shone forth throughout the world. [Ps. 96: 4]

A The heavens declared His righteousness. [Ps. 96: 6]

B And all the peoples saw His glory. [Ps. 96: 6]

A The princes of Judah are their rulers. [Ps. 67: 28]

B God is King over the nations. [Ps. 46: 9]

A God is glorified in the council of the saints. [Ps. 88: 8]

B Great and terrible is He toward all who are round about Him. [Ps. 88: 8]

A Say among the nations that the Lord is King. [Ps. 95: 10]

B Declare among the heathen His glory, and among all peoples His wonders. [Ps. 95: 3]

A Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth. [Ps. 18: 5]

B Their words unto the ends of the world. [Ps. 18: 5]

A He hath subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. [Ps. 46: 4]

B Great is our God, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure. [Ps. 146: 5]

A He will give power and strength unto His people. Blessed be God. [Ps. 67: 36]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice

Plying the depths of the noetic sea with the fisher’s rod of wisdom, O most blessed Luke, thou didst draw forth the souls of the faithful from the abyss of death. Wherefore, instructed by Paul, thou didst purify thy heart with the radiance of the Spirit, didst enlighten the nations with thy dogmas, and didst heal the infirmities of the passions with miracles, ever praying to Christ God for us, that our souls be saved. Twice

Having thee as our hope and intercession, O Theotokos, we fear not the assault of the foe, for thou savest our souls.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV —

Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to John, §67 [21:15-25]

At that time, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after He had risen from the dead, and said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?” He said unto Him: “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” He said unto him: “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again the second time: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?” He said unto Him: “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” He said unto him: “Feed My sheep.” He said unto him the third time: “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?” Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him: “Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” Jesus said unto him: “Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee: When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said unto him: “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who had also leaned on His breast at supper, and said: “Lord, which is he who betrayeth Thee?” Peter seeing him said to Jesus: “Lord, and what shall this man do?” Jesus said unto him: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.” Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” This is the disciple who testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone III —

When thou didst journey with Cleopas to the town of Emmaus after the resurrection, O most sacred Luke, the Lord appeared before thee in veiled manner when thou wast downcast; and, receiving the bread He gave thee, thou didst straightway recognize the Savior. Him do thou entreat, that He grant us great mercy.