First Hour

Priest: Hearken in the morning to my voice, my King and my God.

the Sixth and the Ninth, and also the ‘lypika, are likewise said in the

(4) Reader :Both now. . . , and the Theotokion, What shall we call

(1) Reader: 0 come, let us worship. . . ,17

Choir: Hearken in the morning. . . (prostration).

narthex at the appointed time. They are read simply and without singing.

After the Theotokion, What shall we call thee, O full of grace. . . , there follows the Troparion o f the Prophecy:

Psalms ς, 89, ioo. Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, 0 God (three times).

Choir: Hearken in the morning. . . . (prostration).

(2) Reader: Kyrie eleison (three times).

Choir: Hearken in the morning. . . (prostration).

Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . And then the appointed kathisma of the Psalter.18

Then we sing slowly and solemnly: Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me (twice). Deliver mefrom the false accusation o f men: so will I keep Thy com­ mandments (twice). Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant: and teach me Thy statutes (twice). Let my mouth befilled with Thy praise, 0 Lord: that I may sing of Thy glory and majesty all the day long (three times). (^) Holy God. . . , etc., and the Lord's Prayer.

(3) Then we sing the Lenten verses in TONE SIX :

(6) The reader says the troparion.

P riest: Give ear to my words, 0 Lord, attend to my cry.

P riest: For unto Thee will 1 pray, 0 Lord: Thou shah hearken in the morning to my voice.19

P riest: Glory be to the Father. . . .

thee, 0 fu ll o f grace. . . . 16 On Saturdays and Sundays in Lent, the Hours are read in the usual way, without prostrations, as on days outside Lent (see The Festal Menaion, p. 77). 17 If for any reason the First Hour does not follow immediately after Mattins but is said separately, then the priest begins with the opening blessing and the reader continues, Glory to Thee, our God . . . , ( ) heavenly King . . . , as at the beginning of the Third Hour (§ 1). 18 On Mondays and Fridays there is no kathisma of the Psalter at the First Hour. 19 The Slav books omit the second part of this verse, Thou shah hearken. . . .

We do not sing the Lenten verses with the prostrations, but we use the

troparion The glorious disciples. . . (see p. 548).

TONE THREE

Thou wast struck on the face for the sake of mankind, yet wast not moved to anger; deliver our life from corruption, O Lord, and save us. Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Repeat. Prokimenon (Psalm 82):

TONE ONE

Let the nations understand that the Lord is Thy Name. y . O God, who is like unto Thee? Lesson: Jeremiah 1 1 : 18—12 : g; 12 : 9 -1 r, 14 -15·. Prokimenon (Psalm 7 5 ):

TONE SIX28

Make a vow unto the Lord our God and keep it. y . In Judah is God known: His Name is great in Israel. Then we continue Order my steps in Thy word . . . (said). We use the kontakion of the day, The traitor takes the Bread. . . (see P· 5 5 0 Dismissal: May He who in His surpassing love showed us the most excellent way of humility by washing the disciples’ feet, and who accepted even the Cross and burial, Christ our true God. . . .

The rest o f the Hours are read each with the three fixed psalms, but

withoutfurther readings from the Psalter and without the Lenten verses and 28 In some editions, Tone Right,

prostrations. We use the troparion and the kontakion o f the day, as at the JFirst Hour. After the Ninth 'Hour the Beatitudes are read (not sung) without pros­ trations; and we continue with the rest of the Typika, ending with the Dismissal. From today until after the Sunday of St. Thomas, the Officefo r the Dead (Lity) is not celebrated in the narthex.

A bout the second h our o f the d a y {eig h t o 'c lo ck on F r id a y m orning)

the p riest g iv e s the o p en in g b lessin g , a n d we say O heavenly King. . . ,

Holy God. . . , etc., a n d the L o rd 's P ra yer. Then Kyrie eleison (tw elve tim es)% Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . ; O come, let us worship. . . , a n d Psalm s 5, 2 a n d 2 1 . T hen:

Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God (t h r e e t i m e s ) . Kyrie eleison (t h r e e t i m e s ) . Glory be to the Father. . . . Tropavion

When Thou wast crucified, O Christ, the tyranny of the enemy was destroyed, and his power was trampled underfoot. For it was not an angel nor a man that saved us, but Thou Thyself, O L o rd : glory to Thee. Both now. . . . T h e o t o k io n

What shall we call thee, O full of grace? Heaven? For thou hast made the Sun of Righteousness shine forth. Paradise? For thou hast put forth the flower of immortality. Virgin? For thou hast remained inviolate. Pure Mother? For thou hast held in thy holy embrace a Son who is God of all. Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls. Then

Today the veil of the temple is rent in twain, as a reproof against

the transgressors; and the sun hides its own rays, seeing the Master

crucified ( t w i c e ) . ψ . Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ( P s a l m 2 : 1 ) .

Thou wast led as a sheep to the slaughter, O Christ our King, and as an innocent Lamb Thou wast nailed to the Cross by wicked men for our sins, in Thy love for mankind.50 ψ . The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers took counsel together against the Lord, and against His Anointed ( i b i d ., 2 ) . Repeat Thou wast led as a sheep . . . . Glory be to the Father. . . .

60 Isa. i j : 7.

Suffering the transgressors to lay hold on Thee, O Lord, Thou hast cried aloud: ‘Although yc smite the Shepherd and scatter abroad the twelve sheep, My disciples, yet could I call to Mine aid more than twelve legions of angels. But in My patience I forbear, that the hidden secrets I made known to you through My prophets may be fulfilled.’ O Lord, glory to Thee.51 Both now. . . . R e p e a t Suffering the transgressors. . . . P ro k im e n o n

His heart gathered iniquity to itself: he went out and spoke of it. Blessed is he who considers the poor and needy.

Zechariah 11 :1 0 - 1 3 . Galatians 6 : 14 - 18 . G o s p e l : Matthew 27: 1-5 6 .

T esta m en t L esso n :

Order my steps in Thy w o rd : and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the false accusation of men: so will I keep Thy Commandments. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes ( P s a l m 1 1 8 : 1 3 3 -5 ). Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise, O L ord : that I may sing of Thy glory and majesty all the day long ( P s a l m JO : 8 ). T h e n Holy God. . . , e t c %y a n d t h e L o r d ' s P r a y e r , f o l l o w e d b y t h e k o n t a k io n :

Come, and let us all sing the praises of Him who was crucified for us. For Mary said, when she beheld Him on the T re e : ‘Though Thou dost endure the Cross, yet Thou art my Son and G od.’ Kyrie eleison ( f o r t y t i m e s ) y a n d t h e P r a y e r o f t h e H o u r s , Thou who at every season and every hour. . . . T h e n Kyrie eleison ( t h r e e t i m e s ) ; Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . ; Greater in honour than

the cherubim. . . ; I11 the Name of the Lord, give the blessing,

lather. 51 Zcch. 13: 7; Matt. 26: 31, £3-4.

God be merciful unto us. . .

O Christ, the true Light who dost lighten and sanctify every man that comes into the world, let the light of Thy countenance be marked as a sign upon us, that in it we may behold the light un­ approachable; and direct our steps aright in Thy commandments, at

the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of all Thy saints. Amen.