Byzantine Vespers:
Friday Night

Priest: Blessed is our God at all times, now and always and forever and ever.

All: Amen

Priest: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

All: - Heavenly King, Consoler, the Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, the Treasury of blessings and the Giver of Life: come  dwell in us.  Cleanse us of all stain and save our souls, O Good One.

- Holy is God! Holy the Mighty One! Holy the Immortal One! Have mercy on us! (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

- All Holy-Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

- Lord, Have Mercy. (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

- Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

All: Amen.
Lord, Have mercy (12x)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

All: - Come let us worship God, our King, and bow down before Him.

- Come, let us worship Christ God, our King, and bow down before Him.

- Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God and bow down before Him.

Reader 1 & 2 (alternate): Psalm 103

- Bless the Lord, O my soul! You are very great, O Lord my God!

- Clothed in pomp and brilliance, arrayed with light as with a cloak.

- Stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth, covering Your lofty halls with water.

- You make the clouds your conveyance, You surge on the wings of the wind.

- You make spirits your messengers and flaming fires your attendants.

- You settle the earth on its firm foundation. It shall stand unmoved from age to age.

- The abyss covers it like a garment. Waters stand over the mountains.

- At your rebuke, they will take to flight. At the peal of your thunder they will fear.

- They hurdle the hills and run down the dales to the place you have chosen for them.

- You have set up a boundary not to be passed. They shall never return to cover the earth.

- Down in the gullies, You make springs to rise. Waters shall go down between the mountains.

- They shall give drink to the beasts of the field and the wild donkeys will quench their thirst.

- The birds of the sky will abide by them. From among the rocks they will raise their song.

- From your lofty halls You refresh the mountains. The earth shall be fed with the fruit of Your works.

- You make green pastures for the cattle and food plants for the service of man,

- So that bread may be brought forth from the earth and wine that gladdens the heart of man.

- So that oil may put a gleam upon his face and that bread may strengthen the heart of man.

- The trees of the plain will be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted.

- The sparrows will build their nests in them and the herons will call them their home.

- To the dear belong high mountains, to rodents, the shelter of the rocks. 

- You have made the moon to mark the seasons. The sun knows the time of its setting.

- You establish darkness and it is night, wherein the forest creatures prowl around.

- Young lions roar for their prey and call out to God for their meat. 

- As the sun rises, they will come together and lay themselves down in their dens.

- Man will go out to his labor and work until eventide. 

- How great are your works, O Lord! In Wisdom you have wrought them all.

- The earth is filled with your creatures. Even the wide and open sea itself, within it there are countless creeping things, living beings small and large.

- Upon it there are ships a-sailing and the great beast You made to play in it.

- All of them look up to You, to give them their food in due time.

- You provide and they gather up. You open your hand and they are full.

- You hide your face and they cringe. You suspend their breath and they die and return to their dust.

- You send forth your breath and they live. You renew the face of the earth! 

- May the Lord’s glory endure forever. May the Lord rejoice in His works.

- He looks upon the earth and makes it quake. He touches the mountains and they smoke.

- I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God as long as I last.

- Would that my thoughts be pleasing to Him and I will rejoice in the Lord.

- May the sinners vanish from the earth and may the wicked be no more.

- Bless the Lord, O my soul!

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You, O God! (3x)

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For peace from on high and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For peace in the whole world, the well being of the holy churches of God and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this holy place and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For His Beatitude our Patriarch Gregory, the reverend Priests, the deacons in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For our public servants, for the government and for all who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this city, for every city and country and the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For the travelers by sea, air and land, for the sick, the suffering, for those in prison, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by your grace.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Let us remember our all holy spotless, most highly blessed and glorious Lady the Mother of God and ever virgin Mary with all the saints, and commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ God.

All: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For all glory, honour and worship are your due: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

All: Amen.

The Lamp-Lighting Psalm (Psalm 140)

- O Lord, to You I call, hasten to me; hasten to me, O Lord.

- O Lord, O Lord, to You I call: hasten to me.

- Hearken to the voice of my prayer when I call upon You; hasten to me, O Lord.

- Let my prayer come like incense before You: the lifting of my hands like an evening sacrifice.

Reader 3: Psalm 140…

Reader 4: Psalm 141

- With my voice I cried out to the Lord, with my voice I implored the Lord.

- Before Him I pour out my supplication, before Him I declare my distress.

- When my breath was escaping me, then You knew my paths.

- On the road upon which I was walking they set up snares for me.

- I looked to my right and observed: there was no one friendly to me.

- Even flight was denied me; there was no one to take care of my life.

- I cried out to You, O Lord, and said: "You are my hope, my share in the land of the living."

- Listen to my supplication for I lay very low.

- Deliver me from my oppressors, for they have overwhelmed me.

- Release my soul from its prison, that I may praise your name.

- The just shall gather around me, until You give me my reward.

Reader 5 (with Stichera of the day): Psalm 129

- Out of the depths I cried out to You, Lord: O Lord, listen to my voice.

(Seven Sticha)

- Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

(Six Sticha)

- If You retain sins, Lord, O Lord, who will be left? With You there is forgiveness.

(Five Sticha)

- For your name’s sake, O Lord, I have waited for You. My soul has waited for your word, my soul has hoped in the Lord.

(Four Sticha)

- From the watch of dawn until the night, from the watch of dawn let Israel long for the Lord.

(Three Sticha)

- For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him abundant redemption.
And it is He who will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

(Two Sticha)

- Praise the Lord, all you nations, exalt Him, all you peoples.

(One Sticha)

- For mighty is his love for us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

(…)

Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn of the Evening

• O joyful Light of the holy glory of the Father Immortal: heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ.
  
  - Since we have come to the setting of the sun and have seen the evening light, we praise God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.


• It is proper for You to be praised at all times by fitting melodies.
  
  O Son of God, Giver of life, therefore the world glorifies You!
 

All: The Prokimenon of Vespers (Friday)

- O God, You are my protector; O God, your mercy goes before me. (2x)

- O God, deliver me from my foe, save me from those who oppose me.

- O God, You are my protector; O God, your mercy goes before me.

Priest: Deign, O Lord

Priest: Hymn of Simeon the Just

Now you shall dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word in peace: because my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

All: - Holy is God! Holy the Mighty One! Holy the Immortal One! Have mercy on us! (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

- All Holy-Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

- Lord, Have Mercy. (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

- Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

All: Amen

Reader 6: Troparion of the Day

Priest:

- Blessed are You, O Christ, at all times, now and always forever and ever. Amen.

- Make firm, O Christ God, the holy Orthodox Faith in this holy church forever and ever. Amen.

- O all holy Mother of God, save us.

- O You, higher in honor than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in virginity. You are truly Mother of God: you do we exalt.

- Glory to You, O Christ God, our hope, Glory to You!

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen

Lord, Have Mercy. (3x)

Give the blessing, Father, in the name of the Lord.

Priest: May Christ our true
God have mercy on us and save us through the prayers of his all-pure Mother, of His glorious Apostles who are worthy of all praise, and through the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, patrons of this holy church, and of Saint <name>
whose memory we celebrate today, and of the holy and just Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anne, and through the power of the glorious and life giving cross and of all the saints, may this same Christ have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves Mankind.

All: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

 

***

Byzantine Complines

Priest: Blessed is our God at all times, now and always and forever and ever.

All: Amen

Priest: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

All: - Heavenly King, Consoler, the Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, the Treasury of blessings and the Giver of Life: Come dwell in us, cleanse us of all stain and save our souls, O Good One. 

- Holy is God! Holy the Mighty One! Holy the Immortal One! Have mercy on us! (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

- All Holy-Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

- Lord, Have Mercy. (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

- Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. 

All: Amen.

Lord, Have mercy (12x)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

All: - Come let us worship God, our King, and bow down before Him.

- Come, let us worship Christ God, our King, and bow down before Him.

- Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God and bow down before Him.

Reader 1 & 2 (alternate): Psalm 50

- O God, have mercy on me in the greatness of your love;

- In the abundance of your tender mercies wipe out my offense.

- Wash me thoroughly from malice and cleanse me from sin,

- For I am well aware of my malice and my sins are before me always.

- It is You alone I have offended, I have done what is evil in your sight;

- Wherefore You are just in your deeds and triumphant in your judgment.

- Behold I was born in iniquities and with sin since my mother conceived me.

- But You are the Lover of Truth. You have shown me the depths and secrets of your wisdom.

- Wash me with hyssop and I shall be pure, cleanse me and I shall be whiter than snow.

- Let me hear sounds of joy and feasting. The bones that were afflicted shall rejoice.

- Turn your face away from my offenses and wipe off all my sins.

- A spotless heart create in me, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit in my breast.

- Cast me not afar from your face, take not your blessed spirit out of me.

- Restore to me the joy of your salvation and let your guiding Spirit dwell in me.

- I will teach your ways to the sinners and the wicked shall return to you.

- Deliver me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God, and my tongue will joyfully sing your justice.

- O Lord, You shall open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

- Had You desired sacrifice, I would have offered it, but You will not be satisfied with whole burnt offerings.

- Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit: a crushed and humbled heart God will not spurn.

- In your kindness, O Lord, be bountiful to Sion. May the walls of Jerusalem be restored.

- Then will you delight in just oblation, in sacrifice and whole burnt offerings.

- Then they shall offer calves upon your altar.

Reader 3 Psalm 69

- O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, hasten to help me!

- Shame and disgrace upon those who seek my life!

- Let them turn back and be confounded who wish me evil!

- Let them now turn in shame who jeer at me: "Well Done, Well Done!"

- But let all who search for You be glad and rejoice in You,

- And let those who love your salvation, O God, always say:

"The Lord be exalted!"

- As for me, I am wretched and poor: God shall be my help.

- You are indeed my help and my salvation, O Lord: tarry not!

Reader 4 & 5 (alternate): Psalm 142

- O Lord, listen to my prayer;

- In your truth give heed to my request and in your justice hear me. Enter not into judgement with your servant since of all the living none is just before You.

- The enemy has pursued my soul, he has crushed my life into the ground.

- He has forced me to dwell in darkness like those long dead.

- My spirit was overwhelmed with grief and within me my heart was troubled.

- Remembering the days of old, I meditated on your deeds, I thought of the works of your hands.

- I stretched out my hands to You; like a parched land my soul longed for You.

- Listen to me without delay, O Lord: my spirit has failed me.

- Turn not Your face away from me nor let me sink in the pit like the others.

- Grant that I may hear your love at dawn for I have placed my hope in You.

- O Lord, let me know which way I shall go, for I have lifted up my soul to You.

- Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. It is to You that I have fled.

- Teach me to do your will for You are my God. May your good Spirit lead me over level ground.

- For the sake of your name, O Lord, You will keep me alive.

- In your saving bounty, you will deliver my soul from oppression, and in your loving kindness, you will destroy my enemies,

- and bring to naught all those who grieve my soul, for I am your servant.

All: Lesser Doxology

- Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will to men.

- We sing to You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for the splendor of your Glory.

- O Lord King, Heavenly God: Father Almighty. O Lord, Only-Begotten Son:
Jesus Christ! And O You: All Holy Spirit!

- O Lord God, O Lamb of God, O Son of the Father who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us! O You who take away the sins of the world!

- Accept our supplication, O You who are enthroned at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us!

- For You alone are Holy, You alone are the Lord Jesus Christ in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

- Every day will I bless You and sing to Your name, always, and for ever and ever.

- O Lord, You have been for us a refuge from age to age.

- I said: "Lord have mercy on me and heal my soul, for I have sinned against You."

- O Lord, to You do I come for shelter. Teach me to obey your will, for You are my God.

- For with You is the fountain of life, and in your Light we shall see light.

- Extend your mercy upon those who confess you.

- Deign, O Lord to keep us this evening without sin.

- Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our Fathers! Praised and glorified is your name forever. Amen.

- O Lord, let Your mercy rest upon us, for we have placed our trust in you.

- Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me your statutes.

- Blessed are You, O Master. Grant that I may understand your statutes.

- Blessed are You, O Holy One. Enlighten me with your statutes.

- Everlasting is your love, O Lord; do not turn away from the work of your hands!

- Indeed, praise, adoration and glory are your due: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

All: Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten, Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. Who rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is enthroned at the right hand of the Father. Who will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and of whose kingdom there shall be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

All: Megalynarion

It is fitting and right to call you blessed, O Theotokos, the ever-blessed and all-blameless one, and the Mother of our God. O you, higher in honour that the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in virginity. You are truly Mother of God, you do we exalt!

All: - Holy is God! Holy the Mighty One! Holy the Immortal One! Have mercy on us! (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

- All Holy-Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

- Lord, Have Mercy. (3x)

- Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

- Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

Priest: For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

All: Amen

Reader 6: Troparion of the Day

All: Lord, Have Mercy (40x)

Priest: O You who in all times and places are worshiped and glorified, both in heaven and on earth, Christ God, long suffering, generous in mercy and rich in compassion, loving to the just and merciful to the sinner; O You who call all men to repentance through the promise of blessings to come: deign, O Lord, at this very hour to receive our supplications and to direct our lives in the way of your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, set our minds aright, cleanse our thoughts, deliver us from all affliction, wrath, danger and need. Surround us with your holy angels, so that guided and guarded in their camp, we may reach the oneness of the Faith and the knowledge of your unutterable glory, O You who are blessed for ever and ever! Amen.

All: Lord, Have Mercy (3x)

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen

Lord, Have Mercy. (3x)

All: O You, higher in honor than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in virginity. You are truly Mother of God: you do we exalt.

Give the blessing, Father, in the Name of the Lord.

Priest: May God be merciful to us and bless us. May He cause His countenance to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

O Lady, Bride of God, virginal, pure, immaculate, blameless, without stain or disgrace, who through your birthgiving brought together our fallen state and the things of heaven. O you, only hope of the hopeless, help of the oppressed, ready protection of those who flee to you and refuge of all Christians. Despise me not who am a wretched sinner, who have defiled myself with unclean thoughts, words and deeds, and in my slothfulness have become a slave to the passions of life. Since you are the Mother of God, who is the Lover of Mankind, have mercy, have compassion on me a sinner and a prodigal son. Accept this prayer from my impure lips, and with the power of your maternity, beg Your Son, my Lord and my God, to open for me the depths of His loving kindness. Forgive my countless sins, convert me to true repentance, and make me faithful to His commands. O you who are compassionate, be my constant companion. In this present life, be with me as an intercessor, as a powerful help to turn away the assaults of my enemies and to guide me to salvation. At the hour of my death, be with me to embrace my poor soul and to keep away the dreadful sight of the wicked devils. On the terrible day of judgment, deliver me from eternal punishment and make me an heir of your Son’s glory, through the grace and the love for mankind of you son our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To Him and to His eternal Father, and to His all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, we send up glory, honour and adoration, now and always and for ever and ever.

All: Amen

Priest: Prayer of the Monk Antiochus to Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ.

(Now that we are about to lie down to sleep…)

Grant us, O Master, the repose of our soul and body. Preserve us against the dark slumber of sin and against any impure satisfaction that roams around in the darkness of night. Quiet the assaults of our passions, arrest the darts that the evil one insidiously throws at us, still the commotions of our flesh, and calm all earthly and worldly feelings within us. Grant us, O Lord, a watchful mind, innocent thoughts, a sober heart, a gentle sleep free from evil dreams. At the hour of prayer, awaken us, strong in the practice of your commands and ever-mindful of your desires. Give us the grace to sing your glory throughout the night, to praise, bless and glorify your all-honourable and magnificient name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever.

All: Amen

Priest:

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

Give the blessing, Father, in the Name of the Lord.

Priest: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His all-pure Mother, and the prayers of the glorious Apostles worthy of all praise, and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is the Gracious One and the Lover of Mankind.

All: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.