For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall perish. Alleluia. (Thrice.)

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto him with reverence. Alleluia. (Thrice.)

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Alleluia. (Thrice.) (7) Arise, O Lord: Save me, O my God. Alleluia. (Thrice.)

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 Lord. (Thrice.)

Then the Deacon saith

THE LITTLE LITANY (Málaya Ekténiya).

Again, yet again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Exclamation.

Priest. For thine is the majesty, and thine are 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.

Choir. Amen.

And here shall be sung immediately, Lord, I have cried unto thee, with its Verses (Stikkt), as appointed. And in the mean time the Deacon censeth the Sanctuary and all the Temple.

PSALMS CXLI., CXLII., CXXX.,
CXVII.

Lord, I have cried unto thee,
hear me.
Hear me, O Lord.
Lord, I have cried unto thee,
hear me receive the voice of
my prayer when I call upon
thee. Hear me, O Lord. Let my
prayer be set forth in thy sight as
incense, and let the lifting up of
my hands be an evening sacrifice.

The Canticles (Stikhtry; see Appendix A) are then sung or read in the proper Tone, as appointed, preceded by Verses (Stikhí).

The Priest prayeth, secretly.

In the evening, and in the morning, and at noonday we praise thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, and we pray unto thee, O Lord of all: Direct thou our prayer before thee as incense, and incline not our hearts unto words or thoughts of wickedness; but deliver us from all who seek after our souls. For unto thee, Lord, O Lord, lift we up our eyes, and in thee have we trusted. Put us not to shame, O our God.

Secretly.

(On the Lord's Day and the Great Feasts): Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto thy Name.

For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Aloud.

The righteous await me, until thou shalt requite me. (On Feast Days): Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord: O Lord, hear my voice.

O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint.

(On Ordinary Days): If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it.

For thy Name's sake I have patiently waited for thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited patiently for thy word; my soul hath trusted in the Lord.

(Or): My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Then shall be sung the HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD (Dogmátik) (8) in the proper Tone.

TONE I.* (Example.)

Let us sing the praises of Mary, Virgin, Door of heaven, Glory of all the world, sprung forth from man, who also bare the Lord; the Song of the Bodiless Powers, and the Enriching of the faithful. For she revealed herself as Heaven and the Temple of the Godhead. She destroyed the bulwarks of enmity, and ushered in peace, and threw open the kingdom. Wherefore, in that we possess this confirmation of our faith we have a defender, even the Lord who was born of her. Be bold, therefore, be bold, ye people of God, for he, the AllPowerful, will vanquish your foes.

And when the Dogmátik is finished the Deacon shall lift up the censer, as he standeth in the middle of the Holy Door, and shall say aloud:

Wisdom, O believers!

For the Dogmátiki, see Appendix A.

Then shall be sung the Hymn (Tropár) composed by Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

O gladsome radiance of the holy glory of the Father immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed, Jesus Christ! In that we now are come unto the setting of the sun, and behold the light of even, we hymn thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. For meet is it that at all times thou shouldest be magnified by voices propitious, O Son of God, who bestowest life. For which cause all the world doth glorify thee.

The Priest and the Deacon enter the Sanctuary and go to the High Place. Deacon. Let us attend. Wisdom!

Priest. Peace be unto all.

Reader. And to thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom! Let us attend. The Gradual (Prokimen) of the Tone. (10)

On Sunday Evening, Tone VIII.:

Behold now, praise the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.

Verse (Stikh): Ye that stand in the temple of the Lord, even in the courts of the house of our God.

On Monday Evening, Tone IV.:

When I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

Verse: Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness.

On Tuesday Evening, Tone I.:

Thy mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life. Verse: The Lord is my shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing: he hath led me in a green pasture.

On Wednesday Evening, Tone V.:

Save me, O God, for thy Name's sake, and judge me in thy strength. Verse: Hear my prayer, O God, and hearken unto the words of my mouth.

On Thursday Evening, Tone VI.:

My help cometh even from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth.

Verse: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

On Friday Evening, Tone VII.:

Thou art my defence, O God, and thy goodness preventeth me. Verse: Deliver me from mine enemies, O God, and save me from them that rise up against me.

On Saturday Evening (the Lord's Day):

The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.

Verse: The Lord hath put on his apparel, and hath girded himself with strength.

Verse: For he hath made the round world so sure that it shall not be moved.

Verse: Holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, forever.

Here, on certain Feasts and appointed days only, are read the PARABLES (11) (Paremii), the Deacon having said before each Parable: Wisdom! Let us

attend!

The Gradual being finished, the Deacon shutteth the Holy Door, and goeth out through the North Door, and saith

THE AUGMENTED LITANY (Sugúbaya Ekténiya).

Let us say, with all our soul and with all our mind let us say,
Choir. Lord, have mercy.

O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we beseech thee, hearken and have mercy.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy. R

Here follow petitions for the Ruler of the Land and for all the Authorities (Emperor, or King, and Reigning House, or President, according to the elements and nationalities of which the Parish is constituted).

Furthermore we pray for our Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.; and for all our brethren in Christ.

Furthermore we pray for all their Christ-loving Army and Navy. R Furthermore we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy Temple; and for all our devout fathers and brethren, Orthodox believers, departed this life before us, who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord. R

Furthermore we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, forgiveness and remission of sins for the servants of God, our brethren of this holy Temple. R

Furthermore we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-honourable Temple; for those who labour in its service; for the singers; and for the people here present, who await in firm hope thy great and rich mercies. R

Exclamation.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Priest. For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Reader. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is thy name forever. Amen.

Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope on thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord; teach me thy statutes. Blessed

art thou, O Master; make me to understand thy commandments. Blessed art thou, O Holy One; enlighten me with thy precepts.

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: O despise not the works of thy hands. To thee belongeth worship, to thee belongeth praise, to thee belongeth glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon. Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, be merciful unto us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

An evening all-perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us beseech of the Lord: R

An Angel of Peace, the faithful guide and guardian both of our souls and bodies: R

The pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions: R All things which are profitable to our souls and bodies, and peace to the world: R

That we may pass the residue of our life in peace and penitence: R

A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful; and a good defence before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ: R

Choir. Grant it, O Lord. let us beseech of the Lord."

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Exclamation.

Priest. For thou art a gracious God, and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Peace be with you all. Choir. And with thy spirit. Deacon. Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

of

ages.

The Priest, secretly.

O Lord our God, who didst bow the heavens and come down for the salvation of mankind: Look upon thy servants and thine inheritance; for unto thee, the awful Judge, who yet lovest mankind, have thy servants bowed their heads, and submissively inclined their necks, awaiting not succour from men, but expecting thy mercy and looking confidently for thy salvation. Guard them at all times, both during this present evening and in the approaching night, from every foe, from all adverse powers of the Devil, and from vain thoughts and from evil imaginations.

Secretly.