Daily Vespers

Reader: Psalm 103 (104)
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
 
The sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou hast made them all.
 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (3x)
 
O our God and our Hope, glory to thee.
Priest: O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, give ear to our prayer, attend to the voice of our supplication. Work upon us a sign for good. Lead us in thy way, that we may walk in thy truth. Make glad our hearts, that we may fear thy holy name. For thou art great and doest wonders. Thou alone art God, and among all the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, mighty in mercy, gracious in strength, to aid and to comfort and to save all those who put their trust in thy holy name. For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
O Lord, rebuke us not in thy displeasure, neither chasten us in thy wrath, but deal with us according to thy mercy, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us unto the haven of thy will. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts to the knowledge of thy truth, and vouchsafe that the remainder of this day and our whole life may be peaceful and without sin, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints. For thine is the might and 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. Amen.
 
O Lord our God, remember us sinners and thine unprofitable servants when we call upon thy holy name, and put us not to shame in our expectation of thy mercy; but grant us, O Lord, all of our petitions which are unto salvation, and vouchsafe that we may love and fear thee with all our hearts and do thy will in all things. For thou art a good 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 of ages. Amen.
 
O Thou who, with never-silent hymns and never-ceasing songs of praise to thy glory, art hymned by the holy powers: fill our mouths with thy praise, that we may magnify thy holy name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all those who fear thee in truth and keep thy commandments, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all thy saints. For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
O Lord, O Lord, who upholdest all things in the undefiled hollow of thy hand, who showest long-suffering upon us all and repentest thee at our wickedness: remember thy compassions and thy mercy. Visit us with goodness, and grant that, through the remainder of the present day, by thy grace, we may avoid the diverse subtle snares of the evil one and preserve our loves unassailed, through the mercy and love toward mankind of thine Only-Begotten Son, with whom though art blessed, together with thine All-Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
O God, great and wonderful, who with wisdom inscrutable and great riches of providence orderest all things and bestowest upon us earthly good things, who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through good things already bestowed upon us and has made us to shun all evil during that part of the day which is past: grant that we may also fulfill the remainder of this day without reproach before thy holy glory and hymn thee, the only good One, our God, who lovest mankind. For thou art our God 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. Amen.
 
O Great and most high God, who alone hast immortality and dwellest in light unapproachable, who hast made all creation in wisdom, who hast divided the light from the darkness and hast appointed the sun to rule the day, the moon and stars to rule the night, who hast vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour also to come before thy presence with confession and to offer unto thee our evening praise: do thou thyself, O Lord who lovest mankind, direct our prayer as incense before thee, and accept it as a savour of sweet fragrance, and grant that we may pass the present evening and the coming night in peace. Endue us with the armour of light. Deliver us from the terror of the night and from everything that walketh in darkness, and grant that the sleep which thou hast appointed for the repose of our weakness may be free from every imagination of the devil. Yea, O Master of all, Bestower of good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, call to remembrance thy name in the night, that, enlightened by meditation on thy commandments, we may rise up in joyfulness of soul to glorify thy goodness, offering up prayers and supplications unto thy tender lover for our sins and for those of all thy people, whom do thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. For thou art a good 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 of ages. Amen.
 


The Litany of Peace
 
Priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God and the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For this holy house and those who with faith, reverence and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For our (Metropolitan or Archbishop or Bishop Name), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For our president, civil authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For this city and every city and countryside and the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For healthful seasons, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For travelers by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, captives and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy
 
Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
 
Choir/People: To Thee, O Lord.
 
Priest: For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
 
Choir/People: Amen.


 
 
Reader (or Choir/People Sing): Ps. 140 (141)
Lord, I have cried unto thee, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried unto thee, hear me: give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Hear me, O Lord.
 
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.
——————————————————————
 
Reader: Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
 
Psalm 141 (142)
I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
 
 
Priest: Blessed is Our God, always now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Incense we offer unto thee, O Christ our God, as a savour of spiritual sweetness, which do thou receive upon thy most heavenly altar and send down upon us in return the grace of thine all-Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
 
(Censing begins)
 
 
 
(Priest says this prayer upon completion of censing) 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 Master of all, Lord who lovest mankind: direct thou our prayer as incense before thee, and incline not our hearts unto words or thoughts of evil, but deliver us from all who seek after our souls. For unto thee, O Lord, Lord, are our eyes, and in thee have we hoped. Put us not to shame, O our God. For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
Reader: The Stikhera for the day are now sung, one after each succeeding verse of the Psalms. Stikhera vary in number from ten to four, according to the directions of the typikon. Those in use for the day may be found in the Menaion (Hymns for the Day) and Parakleteke (AKA Daily Oktoekos, daily hymns in 8 tones). By counting verses backwards from the end of the Psalm determines where the Stikhera begins.
 
(Ten Stikhera)
 
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may confess thy name:
 
For the righteous shall await me, until thou recompense me.
 
 
(Eight Stikhera)
 
Psalm 130 (129)
 
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord; Lord hear my voice.
 
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
 
 
(Six Stickhera)
 
If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For with thee there is propitiation.
 
Because of thy Name have I waited for thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
 
 
 
(Four Stikhera)
(Normal for weekdays)
 
From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord.
 
For with the Lord there is mercy and with him is abundant redemption, and he will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
 
 
(Here follows the first Stikheron for the Saint of the day)
 
Psalm 116 (117)
 
Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
 
 
(The second Stikheron of the Saint)
 
For his mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.
 
 
(And the third Stikheron of the Saint)
 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
 
both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 



Priest: The evening prokeimenon.
 
Reader/Choir: Chants the proper prokeimenon, or alleluia.
 



The Evening Prayer
 
Reader/People:
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this evening 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, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
 
 
The Litany of Supplication
 
Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
 
Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
 
Priest: That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
 
Priest: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
 
Priest: Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
 
Priest: All things good and profitable for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
 
Priest: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance let us ask of the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
 
Priest: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful and a good defense before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
 
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
 
Choir/People: To thee, O Lord.
 
Priest: For thou art a good 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 of ages. Amen.
 
Priest: + Peace be to all.
 
Choir/People: And to thy spirit.
 
Priest: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
 
Choir/People: To thee, O Lord.


 
 
The Prayer at the Bowing of the Heads
 
Priest: 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 fearful Judge who yet lovest mankind, have thy servants bowed their heads and submissively inclined their necks, awaiting not help from men but entreating 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.
 
Blessed and glorified be the might of thy kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
 
Choir/People: Amen.
 
Reader/Choir: Now chants the aposticha with its verses followed by the theotokion or stavro-theotokion (W/F theotokion; T/TH stavro-theotokion).
 


The Aposticha
(Sunday through Thursday night)
 
 
Choir: First Stikheron
 
Reader: To Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou who art enthroned in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God ’til He have mercy on us.
 
Choir: Second Stikheron
 
Reader: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Too long our soul has been sated with the scorn of those who are at ease, the contempt of the proud.
 
Choir: Third Stikheron
 
Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
Choir: Fourth Stikheron


 
The Hymn of St. Simeon the God-receiver.
 
Reader/People: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people of Israel.
 
(Special services, if any, are here)
 
Reader/People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3X)
 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy names sake.
 
Lord have mercy (3X).
 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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. Amen.
 
Choir: Chants the appointed apolytikia (dismissal hymn).


 
 
(Priest: may chant trisagion for the dead here.)
 
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: Again we pray for our (Metropolitan or Archbishop) N.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, hieromonks, deacons, hierodeacons, and monastics and all our brotherhood in Christ.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation and pardon and forgiveness of sins for (the servants of God NN. And) all Orthodox Christians of true worship who live and dwell in this community.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church (and for the servants of God NN.) and all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox departed this life before us, who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable temple, those who serve and those who sing and all the people here present, who await thy great and rich mercy.
 
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy (3X)
 
Priest: For thou art a merciful 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 of ages.
 
Choir/People: Amen.
 


The Benediction
 
Priest: May (insert proper phrase) Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; of (N. daily commemoration) of (saint of the church); of the holy ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of (N. saint of the day) whose memory we celebrate and of all the saints: have mercy on us, and save us, forasmuch as he is good and loveth mankind.
 
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us.
 
Reader: Amen.