Vespers begins the liturgical day, since in the Scriptures the day begins in the evening (Gen 1:5). This is the order for a reader or for prayer at home, without a priest. The variable hymns (stichera, prokeimenon and troparia) come from the Octoechos and the Menaion of the day. When a priest serves, he begins with “Blessed is our God,” and the litanies take the place of the repeated “Lord, have mercy.”<\/p>\n
Reader:<\/b> Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.<\/p>\n The Trisagion Prayers<\/a><\/p> When a priest is present, he begins: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Otherwise, we begin as follows.<\/p>\n In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/p>\n Glory to Thee<\/span>You<\/span>, our God, glory to Thee<\/span>You<\/span>.<\/p>\n O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, who art<\/span>are<\/span> everywhere present and fillest<\/span>fill<\/span> all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.<\/p>\n Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.<\/p>\n Three times.<\/p>\n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.<\/p>\n O most holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy<\/span>Your<\/span> name's sake.<\/p>\n Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.<\/p>\n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.<\/p>\n Our Father, who art<\/span>are<\/span> in heaven, hallowed be Thy<\/span>Your<\/span> name. Thy<\/span>Your<\/span> kingdom come, Thy<\/span>Your<\/span> 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 the evil one.<\/p>\n When a priest is present, he says: For Thine<\/span>Yours<\/span> 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. Otherwise, we continue:<\/p>\n Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.<\/p><\/div>\n Lord, have mercy.<\/p>\n Twelve times.<\/p>\n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.<\/p>\n Come, let us worship God our King. (104) A Psalm<\/em> of David. <\/p> 1<\/sup>Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you have clothed yourself with praise and honor: <\/span><\/p> 2<\/sup>who do robe yourself with light as with a garment; spreading out the heaven as a curtain. <\/span><\/p> 3<\/sup>Who covers his chambers with waters; who makes the clouds his chariot; who walks on the wings of the wind. <\/span><\/p> 4<\/sup>Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire. <\/span><\/p> 5<\/sup>Who establishes the earth on her sure foundation: it shall not be moved for ever. <\/span><\/p> 6<\/sup>The deep, as it were a garment, is his covering: the waters shall stand 1<\/a><\/sup> on the hills. <\/span><\/p> 7<\/sup>At your rebuke they shall flee; at the voice of your thunder they shall be alarmed. <\/span><\/p> 8<\/sup>They go up to the mountains, and down to the plains, to the place which you have founded for them. <\/span><\/p> 9<\/sup>You have set a bound which they shall not pass, neither shall they turn again to cover the earth. <\/span><\/p> 10<\/sup>He sends forth his fountains among the valleys: the waters shall run between the mountains. <\/span><\/p> 11<\/sup>They shall give drink to all the wild beasts of the field: the wild asses shall take of them<\/em> to quench<\/em> their thirst. <\/span><\/p> 12<\/sup>By them shall the birds of the sky lodge: they shall utter a voice out of the midst of the rocks. <\/span><\/p> 13<\/sup>He waters the mountains from his chambers: the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of your works. <\/span><\/p> 14<\/sup>He makes grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men, to bring bread out of the earth; <\/span><\/p> 15<\/sup>and wine makes glad the heart of man, to make his face cheerful with oil: and bread strengthens man's heart. <\/span><\/p> 16<\/sup>The trees of the plain shall be full of sap<\/em>; even<\/em> the cedars of Libanus which he has planted. <\/span><\/p> 17<\/sup>There the sparrows will build their nests; and the house of the heron takes the lead among them. <\/span><\/p> 18<\/sup>The high mountains are a refuge for the stags, and<\/em> the rock for the rabbits. <\/span><\/p> 19<\/sup>He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down. <\/span><\/p> 20<\/sup>You did make darkness, and it was night; in it all the wild beasts of the forest will be abroad: <\/span><\/p> 21<\/sup>even<\/em> young lions roaring for prey, and to seek meat for themselves from God. <\/span><\/p> 22<\/sup>The sun arises, and they shall be gathered together, and shall lie down in their dens. <\/span><\/p> 23<\/sup>Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labor till evening. <\/span><\/p> 24<\/sup>How great are your works, O Lord! in wisdom have you wrought them all: the earth is filled with your creation. <\/span><\/p> 25<\/sup>So is<\/em> this great and wide sea: there are things creeping innumerable, small animals and great. <\/span><\/p> 26<\/sup>There go the ships; and<\/em> this dragon whom you have made to play in it. <\/span><\/p> 27<\/sup>All wait upon you, to give them their<\/em> food in due season. <\/span><\/p> 28<\/sup>When you have given it<\/em> them, they will gather it<\/em>; and when you have opened your hand, they shall all be filled with good. <\/span><\/p> 29<\/sup>But when you have turned away your face, they shall be troubled: you will take away their breath, and they shall fail, and return to their dust. <\/span><\/p> 30<\/sup>You shall send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created; and you shall renew the face of the earth. <\/span><\/p> 31<\/sup>Let the glory of the Lord be for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works; <\/span><\/p> 32<\/sup>who looks upon the earth, and makes it tremble; who touches the mountains, and they smoke. <\/span><\/p> 33<\/sup>I will sing to the Lord while I live; I will sing praise to my God while I exist. <\/span><\/p> 34<\/sup>Let my meditation be sweet to him: and I will rejoice in the Lord. <\/span><\/p> 35<\/sup>Let the sinners fail from off the earth, and transgressors, so that they shall be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. <\/span><\/p> Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.<\/p>\n Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee<\/span>You<\/span>, O God.<\/p>\n Three times.<\/p>\n Lord, have mercy.<\/p>\n Twelve times.<\/p>\n The appointed kathisma of the Psalter may be read here. Then Psalms 140, 141, 129 and 116 are sung or read, with the stichera of the day inserted between the last verses.<\/p>\n (141) A Psalm of David. <\/p> 1<\/sup>O Lord, I have cried to you; hear me: attend to the voice of my supplication, when I cry to you. <\/span><\/p> 2<\/sup>Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense; the lifting up of my hands as<\/em> an evening sacrifice. <\/span><\/p> 3<\/sup>Set a watch, O Lord, on my mouth, and a 1<\/a><\/sup> strong door about by lips. <\/span><\/p> 4<\/sup>Incline not my heart to evil things, to 2<\/a><\/sup> employ pretexts 3<\/a><\/sup> for sins, with those who work iniquity. Let me not unite with their choice ones. <\/span><\/p> 5<\/sup>The righteous shall chasten me with mercy, and reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head: for yet shall my prayer also be in their 4<\/a><\/sup> pleasures. <\/span><\/p> 6<\/sup>Their mighty ones have been swallowed up near the rock: they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. <\/span><\/p> 7<\/sup>As a lump of earth is crushed upon the ground, our bones have been scattered by the mouth of<\/em> the grave. <\/span><\/p> 8<\/sup>For my eyes are to you, O Lord God: I have hoped in you; take not away my life. <\/span><\/p> 9<\/sup>Keep me from the snare which they have set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of them that work iniquity. <\/span><\/p> 10<\/sup>Sinners shall fall by their own net: I am alone until I shall escape. <\/span><\/p> (142) A Psalm<\/em> of instruction for David, when he was in the cave, \u2014a Prayer. <\/p> 1<\/sup>I cried to the Lord with my voice; with my voice I made supplication to the Lord. <\/span><\/p> 2<\/sup>I will pour out before him my supplication: I will declare before him my affliction. <\/span><\/p> 3<\/sup>When my spirit was fainting within me, then you knew my paths; in the very way wherein I was walking, they hid a snare for me. <\/span><\/p> 4<\/sup>I looked on my<\/em> right hand, and behold, for there was none that noticed me; refuge failed me; and there was none that cared for my soul. <\/span><\/p> 5<\/sup>I cried to you, O Lord, and said, You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living. <\/span><\/p> 6<\/sup>Attend to my supplication, for I am brought very low; deliver me from them that persecute me; for they are stronger than I. <\/span><\/p> 7<\/sup>Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name, O Lord; the righteous shall wait for me, until you recompense me. <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div> (130) A Song of Degrees. <\/p> 1<\/sup>Out of the depths have I cried to you, O Lord. <\/span><\/p> 2<\/sup>O Lord, listen to my voice; let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. <\/span><\/p> 3<\/sup>If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? <\/span><\/p> 4<\/sup>For with you is 1<\/a><\/sup> forgiveness: for your 2<\/a><\/sup> name's sake <\/span><\/p>
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.<\/p>\nThe Psalm of Creation<\/h2>\n
Psalm 103<\/a><\/h3>
Lord, I Have Cried<\/h2>\n
Psalm 140<\/a><\/h3>
\nPsalm 141<\/a><\/h3>
\nPsalm 129<\/a><\/h3>