PRIEST: Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
READER: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.
O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things; the Treasury of blessings and the Giver of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity; and save, O Gracious One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. 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 of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
READER: Amen. Lord, have mercy. ( Twelve times)
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the Very Christ, our King and our God.
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods ?
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.
O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?
Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave ?
I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
(Then the following verses from Isaiah 8:8-10, 12-14, 17-18, 9:2, 6 are sung)
READER: God is with us! Understand this, O nations, and submit yourselves, for God is with us!
CHOIR: God is with us! Understand this, O nations, and submit yourselves, for God is with us!
(Click Here to see Sheet Music)
READER: Hear this, all you ends of the earth!
CHOIR: For God is with us!
READER: Submit yourselves, you mighty ones! (Refrain)
Even if your strength returns, you shall be overthrown once more. (Refrain)
Take counsel together, if you wish, but it will come to nothing. (Refrain)
Make your plans, if you wish, but they will never stand, even among yourselves. (Refrain)
We do not fear your threats, nor are we troubled. (Refrain)
For the Lord our God is holy, and Him we will fear. (Refrain)
If I trust in Him, He will be my sanctification. (Refrain)
I will wait for Him, He will save me. (Refrain)
Behold, I and the children whom God has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of Hosts. (Refrain)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. (Refrain)
To those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, a light is risen. (Refrain)
For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given. (Refrain)
And the government shall be upon His shoulder. (Refrain)
And of His peace there shall be no end. (Refrain)
And His Name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel. (Refrain)
Wonderful, Counsellor. (Refrain)
Mighty God, Eternal Ruler, Prince of Peace. (Refrain)
The Father of the World to Come. (Refrain)
CHOIR: For God is with us!
READER: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
CHOIR: For God is with us!
READER: Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
CHOIR: God is with us! Understand this, O nations, and submit yourselves, for God is with us!
READER:
The day is over; I thank Thee, O Lord! Grant me to pass this evening and this night without sin, And save me, O Savior!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The day is over; I glorify Thee, O Master! Grant me to pass this evening and this night without giving offence, and save me, O Savior!
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The day is over; I sing to Thee, O Holy One! Grant me to pass this evening and this night free from temptation, and save me, O Savior!
The bodiless cherubim glorify Thee with never-ending hymns!
The six-winged seraphim exalt Thee with ceaseless voices!
All the hosts of angels triumphantly sing the thrice-holy hymn.
Thou art Father before eternity;
With Thy co-eternal Son and the Spirit of Life, equal in honor to Thee,
Thou hast revealed the undivided trinity:
O all-holy virgin mother of God,
And you eye-witnesses and servants of the Word,
You choirs of prophets and martyrs who enjoy immortal life,
Fervently pray for us, For we are all in fearful distress,
That being delivered from the snares of the evil one,
We may sing the angels' hymn:
Holy, holy, holy, thrice-holy Lord, have mercy on us and save us! Amen.
READER: Lord, have mercy. (12)...
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.
In the name of the Lord, Father, bless.
PRIEST: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
READER: Amen. O Lord, Lord, who deliverest us from all the arrows that fly by day, deliver us also from every evil thing lurking in the darkness. Accept the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Grant that we may pass through the course of this night without reproach, untempted by evil, and free us from the anxiety and cowardice brought by the devil. Grant contrition to our souls, and make us mindful of the scrutiny to come on the dread and just day of Thy judgment. Nail our flesh to the fear of Thee, and let our earthly passions die, that in the quietness of sleep, we may be enlightened by the vision of Thy decrees. Remove from us also every indecent fantasy and harmful desire. Raise us up again at the time for prayer, strengthened in the faith, and advancing in obedience to Thy commandments, through the favor and goodness of Thine only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God, our King! Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God! Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!
(Then the Priest says the Prayer of Manasseh )
O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous posterity;
Thou who hast made heaven and earth with all their order, who hast shackled the sea by Thy word of command,
who hast confined the deep and sealed it with Thy terrible and glorious Name;
at whom all things shudder, and tremble before Thy power, for Thy glorious splendor cannot be borne,
and the wrath of Thy threat to sinners cannot be withstood, yet immeasurable and unsearchable is Thy promised mercy,
for Thou art the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and repentest over the evils of men.
Thou, O Lord, according to Thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against Thee;
and in the multitude of Thy mercies Thou hast appointed repentance for sinners, that they may be saved.
Therefore Thou, O Lord, God of the righteous, hast not appointed repentance for the righteous,
for Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against Thee, but Thou hast appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner.
For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea; my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied!
I am unworthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities.
I am weighted down with many an iron fetter, so that I am rejected because of my sins, and I have no relief;
for I have provoked Thy wrath and have done what is evil in Thy sight, ignoring Thy will and disobeying Thy commandments.
And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching Thee for Thy kindness.
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my transgressions.
I earnestly beseech Thee, to forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions.
Do not be angry with me for ever or lay up evil for me; do not condemn me to the depths of the earth.
For Thou, O Lord, art the God of those who repent, and in me Thou wilt manifest Thy goodness;
for, unworthy as I am, Thou wilt save me in Thy great mercy, and I will praise Thee continually all the days of my life.
For all the host of heaven sings Thy praise, and Thine is the glory for ever. Amen.
Today the virgin gives birth to the trancendent one,
And the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one.
Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him!
The wise men journey with a star,
Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little child!
Click Here for Sheet Music Page 1
Click Here for Sheet Music Page 2
Click Here for Sheet Music Page 3
READER: Lord, have mercy. (12)...
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.
In the name of the Lord, Father, bless.
PRIEST: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
READER: Amen. O God the Master, Father Almighty, O Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son, and Thou, O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me, a sinner, and according to Thy divine judgments save me, Thine unworthy servant, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God, our King! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!
(The prayers of Litiya are then said by the priest. When they are.finished. the Aposticha follow immediately.)
A great and wondrous mystery unfolds today. A virgin gives birth and remains a virgin: The Word is made flesh without leaving His Father! Angels and shepherds glorify Him! Let us join in their song: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace!"
VERSE: The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool."
Today the virgin gives birth to the maker of all! Eden offers a cave. To those in darkness, a star reveals Christ, the Sun! Wise men are enlightened by faith and worship with gifts. Shepherds behold the wonder, and the angels sing: "Glory to God in the highest!"
VERSE: From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee.
When Jesus the Lord was born in Bethlehem of Judah, Wise men came from the East to worship God made man. Eagerly opening their treasures, They offered precious gifts to Him. Purest gold, for the King of the ages; Frankincense, for the God of all; Myrrh, for the immortal one, As though He were dead three days. Come, all you nations, let us worship Him! He is born to save our souls.
VERSE: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Sing, O Jerusalem! Make merry, all who love Zion! Today Adam's ancient bonds are broken. Paradise is opened to us. The serpent is cast down. Long ago our first mother was deceived by him! Now he sees a woman become mother of the Creator. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Through Eve, woman became the tool of sin, Bringing death to all flesh, But through Mary, she becomes the first-fruits of salvation for all the world, For God, the All-perfect, is born of her. By His birth He seals her virginity. He is bound in swaddling clothes to loose the bonds of sin! Through His birth, the pains of Eve are healed. Let all creation sing and dance for joy, For Christ has come to restore it and to save our souls.
VERSE: Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast dwelt in a cave, O Christ our God; A manger welcomed Thee; Shepherds and wise men worshipped Thee. Then were the words of the prophets fulfilled, And the hosts of angels marvelled and cried: Glory to Thy condescension, O only Lover of Man!
(And immediately the Prayer 0f St. Simeon)
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace,
According to Thy word,
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou has prepared before the face of all peoples:
A light to enlighten the Gentiles,
And to be the glory of Thy people Israel
(As the Troparion is sung, the priest censes three times around the table which holds the loaves, wheat, wine, and oil to be blessed.)
(Click Here to see the sheet music for the Troparion)
(The priest then blesses the loaves with the usual prayer.)
CHOIR: Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. (Thrice)
PRIEST: The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.