Morning and Evening Prayers

Morning and Evening Prayers #

In the morning, having risen from sleep, still lying in bed, make the sign of the cross and say the prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Having risen from bed and washed your face, and likewise in the evening before sleep, stand reverently before the holy icons, and, looking upon them and directing your thoughts toward the invisible God and His saints, devoutly and without haste, making the sign of the cross and bowing, say with compunction the prayer of the publican:

God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)

O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)

I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)

It is worthy, for in truth to bless thee, O God-bearer, ever blessed and most unblemished, and the mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and truly more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption, having borne God the Word; who art the God-bearer, thee do we magnify. (Prostration)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. (Bow)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Bow)

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of thy Most-Pure Mother, by the power of the Honourable and Life-giving Cross, and of my holy guardian Angel, and for the sake of all the saints, have mercy and save me a sinner, for thou art Good, and the Lover of mankind. (Prostration without the sign of the cross)

These prayers are called the “Beginning,” or Entrance and Departure bows, because they are performed at the beginning and after every rule of prayer.

After this, repeat the prayer of the publican with bows:

God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)

O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)

I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)

And with reverence begin the prayers.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow to the waist)

These prayers are only said in the morning.

Making the sign of the cross, say:

Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee for the sake of all things. (Thrice)

O God, cleanse me a sinner, for never have I done good before thee. (Bow)

But deliver me from the evil one, and let thy will be in me. (Bow)

That without condemnation, I may open mine unworthy mouth, and praise thy holy name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Bow)

Make the sign of the cross and say:

O Heavenly King, Comforter, True Spirit, which art everywhere and fillest all, Treasury of blessings and giver of life: come and dwell in us; and cleanse us from every defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

During the Paschal season, “O Heavenly King is replaced with “Christ Resurrected”:

Christ resurrected from the dead, by death he trod upon death, and to those in the tombs he bestowed life.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice with bows)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us of our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for thy names sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice) Glory. Now and ever.

Our Father, which art in the heavens, hallowed may thy name be. May thy kingdom come. May thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our essential bread. And forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. (Bow) Amen.

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

In the morning, say this prayer:

Having risen from sleep, I thank thee, O All-Holy Trinity, as, for the sake of thy great goodness and long-sufferance, thou wast not angered at me, thy sinful and slothful servant; and thou hast not destroyed me with mine iniquities, but didst show love for mankind. And lying in despair hath he raised me to keep the morning office and to glorify thine invincible dominion. And now, O Master, O Most Holy God, enlighten the eyes of my heart, and open my lips to be instructed in thy words, and to understand thy commandments; to do thy will, and to sing to thee in heartfelt confession, even to sing forth and glorify thy most honorable and glorious name: of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, amen.

In the evening, say:

Glory. Now and ever.

Come, let us worship the King, our God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship Christ, the King and our God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God. (Bow)

Psalm 50. Have mercy on me, O God, by thy great mercy. And by thine abundant compassions, cleanse my transgression. Above all, wash me from my transgression, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Unto thee alone have I sinned, and before thee I did evil. That thou mightest be shown righteous in thy words, and prevail when thou judgest. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bare me. For behold, thou hast loved truth; thy hidden and secret wisdom hast thou revealed to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whitened beyond snow. Thou shalt give joy and gladness to mine ear; the humbled bones shall rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and cleanse all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my being. Cast me not from thy face, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a sovereign spirit. I shall teach the iniquitous in thy way; and the impious shall return unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguilt O God, O God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim thy praise. For if thou didst will sacrifice, I would surely have given it; thou delightest not in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in thy goodwill unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt thou delight in the sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and burnt sacrifices. Then shall they lay a bullock upon thine altar.

Fortifying ourselves reverently with the sign of the cross, we pronounce with deep attention the words of the holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all the visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, who from the Father is begotten before all ages. Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, but not created, of one essence with the Father; by him all things came to be. For us men and for our salvation he came down from the heavens, and was made flesh of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary became man. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And is coming again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom has no end.

Then the words of the fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, True and Life-giving, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son art worshipped and glorified, who spake the prophets. And in one holy, conciliar, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism unto remission of sins. I await the resurrection for the dead. And of the life of the age to come. Amen.

O Virgin God-bearer, rejoice, O Mary, made joyous, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou barest Christ the Savior, the Deliverer of our souls. (Thrice with bows)

O All-praised Mother, that didst bear of all the holies, the holiest Word; having received the present offering, deliver all from every affliction, and snatch away from approaching torments those crying out to thee, Alleluia. (Thrice with prostrations)

Invincible and divine might of the honourable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, forsake me not, a sinner, who hopeth on thee. (Bow)

O my most holy mistress God-bearer, have mercy on me, and save me; and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. (Bow)

All heavenly powers, holy angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, have mercy on me, and pray for me, a sinner, unto the Lord God, and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. (Bow)

Angel of Christ, my holy guardian, have mercy on me, and pray for me, a sinner, unto the Lord God, and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. (Bow)

Holy great John, prophet and Forerunner of the Lord, have mercy on me, and pray for me, a sinner, unto the Lord God, and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. (Bow)

Holy glorious apostles, prophets and martyrs, hierarchs, the venerable and righteous, and all saints, have mercy on me, and pray for me, a sinner, unto the Lord God, and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. (Bow)

Then say these prayers thrice each with bows:

Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Glory, O Lord, to thine honourable Cross.

Most holy lady God-bearer, save me, thy sinful servant.

Angel of Christ, my holy guardian, save me thy sinful servant.

Holy archangels and angels, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy great John, prophet and Forerunner, Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy glorious prophet Iliya, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy forefathers, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy prophets, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy apostles, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy glorious apostles and evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John the Theologian, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy glorious chief apostles Peter and Paul, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy three great hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John the Golden-mouth, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Hierarch of Christ Nikola, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Venerable father Sergiy, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Holy hieromartyr and confessor Avvakum, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Hierarch of Christ and confessor Ambrose, pray to God for me, a sinner.

Our venerable and God-bearing fathers, shepherds and teachers of all the world, pray to God for me, a sinner.

All ye saints, pray to God for me, a sinner.

After this, pray to the saint whose name you bear, and to the saint commemorated on this day, as well as to any other saints you wish. Don’t forget to also fulfill any penance—such bows as your spiritual father has assigned to you.

Then pray for the well-being of the ruling bishop, your spiritual father, your parents, relatives, and loved ones, saying the following three times with bows (fifteen bows in total):

O merciful Lord, save and have mercy on thy servant(s) (Name them and bow)

Deliver them (him/her) from every affliction, wrath, and necessity. (Bow)

From every sickness of soul and body. (Bow)

And forgive them (him/her) every sin, voluntary and involuntary. (Bow)

And grant what is beneficial unto our souls. (Bow)

Then pray for the repose of the souls of spiritual fathers, parents, loved ones, and anyone for whom you have heartfelt concern, saying the following three times with bows:

Grant rest, O Lord to the soul(s) fallen asleep of thy servant(s) (name them and bow).

And in this life, inasmuch as they have (he/she has) sinned as men (man), yet thou as God, the Lover of mankind, forgive them (him/her) and have mercy. (Bow)

Deliver them (him/her) from eternal torments. (Bow)

Make them (him/her a) communicant(s) of thy heavenly kingdom. (Bow)

And grant what is beneficial unto our souls. (Bow)

Then, completing the prayers, say:

O Lord, whether by word, or by deed, or by thought, I have sinned in all my life; have mercy on me and forgive me for the sake of thy mercy. (Prostration)

All my hope do I lay upon thee, O Mother of God; preserve me under thine own shelter. (Prostration)

My hope is God, and my refuge is Christ, and my protector is the Holy Ghost. (Prostration)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. (Bow)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Bow)

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of thy Most-pure Mother and our venerable and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, have mercy and save me, a sinner, for thou art Good, and the Lover of mankind. Amen.

And, bowing down to the ground without making the sign of the Cross, read the prayer of forgiveness:

Loose, pardon, and remit my sins, O God: voluntary and involuntary, which are in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance, in the mind and in thought, in the day and in the night, forgive me all, for thou art Good and the Lover of mankind. Amen.

Rising back up, read these prayers, each with bows:

O Lord, Lover of mankind, forgive those who hate and those who offend us. To those who do good, render good; to our brethren and all our kinsmen who have secluded, grant them all petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. (Bow)

Visit and heal those who are in sickness, free those who are in confinement, be a guide to those sailing over the seas, set straight and prosper those journeying on paths. (Bow)

Remember also, O Lord, our enslaved brethren of the same Orthodox faith, and deliver them from every evil circumstance. (Bow)

Have mercy, O Lord, on those who have given us charity, and who have commanded us unworthy ones to pray for them; forgive them and have mercy. (Bow)

Have mercy, O Lord, on those who toil, and who serve us; who are merciful and who nourish us, and grant them all petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. (Bow)

Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have already departed, and settle them where shineth the light of thy face. (Bow)

Remember also, O Lord, our wretchedness and lowliness, and enlighten our mind with the light of understanding of thy holy Gospel, and guide us on the path of thy commandments, by the prayers of thy Most-pure Mother and of all thy saints. Amen. (Bow)

These prayers conclude with the customary seven-bow beginning:

God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)

O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)

I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. (Bow)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. (Bow)

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)

At the end of the prayers, both in the morning and in the evening, making the sign of the Cross with your baptismal cross, say:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless, sanctify, and preserve me by the power of thy life-giving Cross. (After this, kiss the cross)

In the evening, before sleep, read the prayer to the Cross (making the sign of the Cross):

May God arise, and his enemies be scattered, and let those that hate him flee from his face. As smoke vanisheth, let them vanish. As wax melteth from the face of the flame, so may the demons perish from the face of those who love God, and who mark themselves with the sign of the Cross. And let us be exceeding glad, saying: Rejoice, O Cross of the Lord, that drivest away demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified upon thee, who descended into Hades and trampled upon the power of the devil, and gave us his honourable Cross for the repelling every adversary. O most honourable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me, with the most holy Lady, the God-bearer, and with with all the holy heavenly powers, always, and now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, amen.

During Great Lent, except on Saturdays, Sundays, and feast days, after the prayer “O Heavenly King” in the evening and morning prayers, a full prostration is made. And all bows during this time should be full prostrations.

During Great Lent, before the dismissal, the prayer “More honorable than the Cherubim” is read in full, followed by a full prostration. Then say: “In the name of the Lord, bless, father.”
“Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.” (Always followed by a bow to the waist.)

Then the prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian is read:

O Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of dejection, negligence, silver-lust, and idle talk, banish from me. (Prostration)

But the spirit of whole-mindedness, lowliness, long-suffering, and love, vouchsafe me, thy servant. (Prostration)

Yea, O Lord the King, vouchsafe me to behold my transgressions, and that I condemn not my brother, for blessed art thou unto the ages. Amen. (Prostration)

Then 12 prostrations with the prayers:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner (Twice)

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

O God, cleanse my sins, and have mercy on me.

O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me.

I have sinned without number, O Lord, forgive me.

Repeat the six prostrations for a total of 12, followed by the prayer of St. Ephraim in full, followed by one more prostration:

O Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of dejection, negligence, silver-lust, and idle talk, banish from me. But the spirit of whole-mindedness, lowliness, long-suffering, and love, vouchsafe me, thy servant. Yea, O Lord the King, vouchsafe me to behold my transgressions, and that I condemn not my brother, for blessed art thou unto the ages. Amen. (Prostration)

Glory. Now and ever. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless.

Then the dismissal and forgiveness: