Daily Vespers
(appointed to be said when a Priest is present)
Required Liturgical Texts: Archdiocese Service Book, The
Liturgikon, The Ochtoechos (available in various forms and texts)
Optional Liturgical Texts: The Menaion
Priest: Blessed is our God always now and ever and unto ages
of ages.
Reader:
Amen.
Note: If 9th Hour is not said immediately preceding Daily
Vespers, we begin with the full Trisagion Prayers.
O come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.
O come, let us worship and bow down before the Christ, our King and our God.
O come, let us worship and bow down before the Very Christ, our King and our God.
During Paschal-tide, Christ is Risen ... is said three times
instead of the above.
PSALM 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O Lord my God, Thou art very great; Thou
art clothed with honor 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 forever. 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
donkeys 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 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 badgers. 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 labor 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, who 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 forever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works. He looketh on the
earth, and it trembleth: He touches the hills, and they smoke. I will sing to 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 has Thou 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.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God.
O our God and our Hope, glory to Thee.
THE GREAT LITANY
Priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our
souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the peace of the whole world, the welfare of the
holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this holy house, and for those who with faith,
reverence and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our Metropolitan (name), the venerable priesthood,
and the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the President of the United States and all civil
authorities, and for our armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this city, and for every city and land, and for
the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For travelers by land, sea and air; for the sick and
suffering; for captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For seasonable weather, for the abundance of the fruits of
the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath,
danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us; save us; and have mercy upon us; and keep us,
O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
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: 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: Amen.
Note: Here may be said the appointed Kathisma. After the
Kathisma, the Little Litany is said. If the Kathisma is not read, "O Lord, I have
cried" is sung immediately following the Great Litany.
O LORD, I HAVE CRIED
(Sung in the proper tone)
O Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I
have cried out unto Thee, hear me; receive the voice of my supplication when I cry unto
Thee. Hear Me. O Lord.
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense and let the lifting up
of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth and a protecting door about my
lips. Incline not my heart to evil deeds, to make excuses in sins. With men that work
iniquity: let me never partake of their delights.
Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness, but let not the oil
of the sinner ever anoint my head. For my prayer is continually against their wicked
deeds. When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, they shall learn that the
word of the Lord is true. As a rock which one breaks and shatters on the ground, so shall
their bones be strewn at the mouth of the grave.
But my eyes are turned toward Thee, Lord God, In Thee I take refuge.
Leave me not defenseless. Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me and from the
snares of evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets while I alone escape.
I cried with my voice to the Lord, with my voice to the Lord did I
make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before Him. I showed before him my
trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walked have they secretly laid a snare for me. I looked on my right
but there was no one that would know me. Refuge failed me. No one care for my soul.
I cried to Thee, O Lord, I said: Thou art my refuge and my portion
in the land of the living. Give heed to 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 wait for me until Thou recompense me. Out of the depths have I cried to
Thee, O Lord; Lord hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplication.
6. If Thou, O Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall
stand? For with Thee there is forgiveness.
The Theology Verse (sticheron from the Ochtoechos) appointed is
read.
5. 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.
The Theology Verse (sticheron from the Ochtoechos) appointed is
read.
4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let
Israel trust in the Lord.
The Theology Verse (sticheron from the Ochtoechos) appointed is
read.
3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is abundant
redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all His iniquities.
The Theology Verse (sticheron from the Ochtoechos or Menaion)
appointed is read.
2. Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him all ye peoples.
The Theology Verse (sticheron from the Ochtoechos or Menaion)
appointed is read.
1. For His mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord
endureth forever.
The Theology Verse (sticheron from the Ochtoechos or Menaion)
appointed is read.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
If a Doxasticon is appointed for the saint or feast, it is read
here. If there is not one appointed, continue with:
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The appointed Theotokion (from the Ochtoechos or Menaion) is sung
in tone.
Reader:
O Joyful Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy,
blessed Father: O Jesus Christ. Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and
behold the light of evening, we praise God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting
at all times to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God, and giver of life.
Therefore, all the world glorifies Thee.
Priest: The Prokeimenon
(here is inserted the appropriate Prokeimenon--see Liturgikon for text)
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 put our hope on Thee. Blessed art Thou,
O Lord, teach me Thy statues. 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 EVENING LITANY
Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.
Reader: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God,
by Thy grace.
Reader: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That this whole evening may be holy, perfect, peaceful
and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Reader: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: An angel of peace, a radiant guardian of our souls and
bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Reader: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions,
let us ask of the Lord.
Reader: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: All that is good and profitable for our souls, and
peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Reader: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: That we may spend the remaining time of our life in
peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Reader: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless
and peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Reader: 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: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind and
unto Thee do we ascribe glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now
and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Priest: Peace be to all.
Reader: And to thy spirit.
Priest: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
Reader: (slowly) To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Thy kingdom,
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Then is read the appointed Aposticha verses.
Reader: 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, Israel.
Holy God ... (and the rest of the Trisagion Prayers)
