Matins service begins with the Trisagion Prayers, the Six Psalms, and a Litany. Then the following:
God is the Lord, and He appeared to us. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. (four times with verses)
Apolytikion. Original Melody
Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.
Glory... (of the saint of the day)
Both now...
Theotokion.
O impassable gateway of God the Lord, rejoice. * Wall and shelter of those who in you take refuge, rejoice. * Stormless haven, rejoice, O Maid who knew not man * and yet physically gave birth to your Creator and God. * Never cease interceding * on behalf of those extolling and worshiping the Son you bore.
After the first reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and we chant Resurrectional Kathismata.
Melody: Let us worship the Word
Let us honor the Cross of the Lord with solemn praise, * and His holy entombment extol with sacred hymns, * and His Rising from the dead supremely glorify; * for He despoiled the realm of death, * and the devil's might, for He is God; * then He resurrected * the dead from the graves together, * and made the light to dawn on those in hell.
Glory...
Whereas You, O Lord, were labeled dead, yet in fact You put death to death. * And You, the very emptier of graves, were yourself interred. * Soldiers overhead were guarding the sepulcher, even as You below resurrected the dead of all ages. * Lord almighty and incomprehensible, glory to You.
Both now...
Theotokion. Melody: Let us worship the Word
Holy Mountain on which God himself has trod, rejoice. * Living bush that was burning and not consumed, rejoice. * O Rejoice, the only bridge that joins the world to God * and conducts the mortal human race to everlasting life. * Rejoice, immaculate Maiden, * who without knowing a husband * truly gave birth to Him who saves our souls.
After the second reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and Kathismata.
After You had risen on the third day, O Lord, and after the Apostles had worshiped You, Peter cried out to You, "Women stood courageously, but I acted cowardly. The Robber stated Your divinity, but I disavowed You. Will You ever call me Your disciple anymore, or will You again appoint me as a fisher of the deep? I pray You to receive me in repentance, O God, and save me."
Glory...
The violators of the Law had You crucified amid the convicts. Furthermore, they pierced Your side with a lance, O Lord of mercy. You accepted burial, You destroyed the gates of Hades, and on the third day You resurrected. The Women ran to see You, and they announced the resurrection to the Apostles. Supremely exalted Savior, whom the Angels extol, O blessed Lord, glory to You.
Both now…
Theotokion. Melody: Let us worship the Word
After the reading of Psalm 118, the Evlogetaria (see Vol I). Small Litany.
Hypakoë
Mentally amazed by the angelic apparition, inwardly illumined by the divine resurrection, the ointment-bearing women brought good tidings to the Apostles. Proclaim the resurrection of the Lord among the Gentiles, as He works with you by means of miracles, granting us His great mercy.
The Hymns of Ascent
1st Antiphon
When I am afflicted, I sing to You, like David, O my Savior. Deliver my soul from a crafty tongue.
Blessed is the life of those who dwell in the desert, winged as they are by divine eros.
Glory… Both now…
By the Holy Spirit are all things maintained, both seen and unseen; for, being autocratic, He is one of the Trinity, truly.
2nd Antiphon
O my soul, let us rise into the mountains; come, let us go there whence help comes.
Let Your soaring right hand protect me, O Christ, from treachery on every side.
Glory… Both now…
To the Holy Spirit we say, theologizing, "You are God, life, eros, light, nous; You are goodness; You reign to the ages."
3rd Antiphon
Because they said to me, "Let us go to the courts of the Lord," I am filled with great joy, and I send up my petitions.
On the house of David are the fearsome things to be fully accomplished; for therein will be fire, burning every shameful mind.
Glory… Both now…
In the Holy Spirit, as in the Father and the Logos, is the principle of life; from Him is every living being endowed with a soul.
Prokeimenon
Arise, O Lord my God, for You will reign to the ages.
Verse: I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
Let every breath. Gospel reading. Having seen the Resurrection. Psalm 50, etc.
Canon of the Resurrection
Ode One. Mode Pl. I. The Heirmos.
Christ is the one who, with His uplifted arm, squelches wars. * Horse and rider of old He unseated in the Red Sea, * and saved out of slavery * the people of Israel * who were singing a song of victory.
Ode Three. The Heirmos.
You fixed earth upon the void, O Lord, by Your own command, * and You made it free floating, heavy though it be. * Likewise, on the unshakable rock of Your divine commandments, * O Christ, establish Your all-holy Church, * as the only good One who loves mankind.
Kontakion
You descended to Hades, my Savior, and shattered its gates, as the Almighty. As Creator, You raised the dead with yourself, and smashed the sting of death, O Christ. You freed Adam from the curse, O Lover of humanity. Therefore we all cry out to You, Save us, O Lord.
Œkos
The women heard the Angel's words, and put off their lament, becoming joyful. With trembling they looked upon the Resurrection. And behold, Christ came to them, saying, "Rejoice; take courage. I have overcome the world and have freed the prisoners. Go quickly to the Disciples and announce to them, that I go before you to the city of Galilee, to preach." Therefore we all cry out to You, Save us, O Lord.
Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim, you without corruption gave birth to God the Word and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.
Ode Nine. The Heirmos.
O Isaiah, dance with joy, for the Virgin in the womb conceived, * and she has given birth to a Son, divine and human, Emmanuel, * to whom the name Orient belongs. * Him do we magnify, and the Virgin we beatify.
Holy is the Lord our God. Exalt the Lord our God and worship the footstool of His feet. For He is Holy..
Exapostilarion
Click here to find the appropriate exapostilarion. Then the Praises are chanted.
Let every breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. To You, O God is due our song.
Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. To You, O God is due our song.
Resurrectional Stichera
To do in them the written judgment. This glory shall be to all His saints.
Lord, although the tomb had been sealed by the law-transgressors, You came forth from the sepulcher, just as You were born from the Theotokos. Your bodiless Angels did not know how You became incarnate; nor did the soldiers who guarded You perceive when You resurrected. For both have been sealed to researchers, but the miracles have been revealed to those who faithfully worship the mystery. As we extol it, restore to us exultant joy and Your great mercy.
Praise God for His saints; praise Him for the firmament of His power.
Lord, after You smashed the eternal bars and broke the bonds, You rose from the tomb and left the grave clothes behind as evidence that truly You had been buried for three days. And You proceeded to Galilee, You who were in custody in a rock-hewn tomb. Great is Your mercy, incomprehensible Savior! Have mercy on us.
Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him in proportion to the magnitude of His greatness.
Lord, the women ran to the sepulcher to see You, the Christ, who had suffered for us. When they came, they found an Angel sitting upon the stone that from fear had rolled away. The Angel called out to them, saying, "The Lord has risen. Tell the Disciples that resurrected from the dead is He who saves our souls."
Praise Him with sound of trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Lord, even as You came out of the sepulcher, though it was sealed shut, likewise You entered where Your Disciples were, the doors being shut also. You showed them the injuries sustained by Your body, which with long-suffering You accepted, Savior. As the progeny of David, You endured the wounds; as the Son of God, You freed the world. Great is Your mercy, incomprehensible Savior! Have mercy on us.
Other Stichera by Anatolios
Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.
Lord, You are the King of the ages and the Maker of all things. For us You accepted bodily crucifixion and burial, so that You might free us all from Hades. You are our God; we know no other except for You.
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
Lord, who can recount Your dazzling miracles, or who can relate Your awesome mysteries? For as You so willed, You became a human being for us, and thereby manifested the might of Your power. With Your cross, for the Robber You opened Paradise, and by Your burial You shattered the bars of Hades, and by Your resurrection You enriched the universe. O Compassionate, glory to You!
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hand be exalted; forget not Your paupers to the end.
The myrrh-bearing women arrived at Your sepulcher very early in the morning, seeking to anoint You, the immortal Word and God. And being urged by the Angel's words that rang in their ears, they returned with joy, to inform the Apostles openly that You the life of all had resurrected, and that You grant expiation to the world and great mercy.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
The men who guarded the sepulcher that had received God said to the Judeans, "Oh the folly of your counsel! You attempted to guard Him who is uncircumscribed, but you labored in vain. You wanted to hide the resurrection of the One who was crucified, but instead you made it widely known. Oh the folly of your Sanhedrin! Why do you again take counsel to conceal what cannot be hid? Instead, listen to us, and be willing to believe the truth of what occurred. An Angel, who appeared like lightning, descended from heaven and rolled the stone away. For fear of him, we became like dead men. And he addressed himself to the mighty-minded Myrrh-bearing women and said to them, 'Do you not see that the guards are mortified, and that the seals are broken, and that Hades is emptied? Why do you seek as though He were dead the very One who has abolished Hades' victory and who has shattered the sting of death? Go quickly and annunciate the Resurrection to the Apostles, and fearlessly cry aloud: Truly the Lord is risen, He who possesses great mercy.'"
Glory...
Click Here to view the appropriate Eothinon Doxasticon
Both now... Theotokion.
Mode II (or the Mode of the week)
You are supremely blessed, O Virgin Theotokos. For through Him who from you became incarnate, was Hades taken prisoner, and Adam has been summoned back, and the curse has been neutralized, and Eve has been liberated; death has been put to death, and we have been brought to life. Wherefore extolling we cry out: O Christ our God, You are blessed, for so was Your good pleasure. Glory to You.
The Great Doxology
Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great Glory....
Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You that take away the sins of the world.
Accept our supplication, You that sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.
Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.
Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes. (Thrice)
Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.
Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.
Continue Your mercy to those who know You.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
On Sundays, if the mode of the week be I, II, III, or IV, the following troparion is chanted in Mode IV or the mode of the week:
When You rose from the sepulcher and broke the bonds of Hades, You repealed the sentence of death, O Lord, and delivered all from the snares of the enemy. And when You showed yourself to Your Apostles, You sent them out to preach, and through them You granted peace to the whole world, O only very merciful One.
All texts and translations on this web site are Copyright to Fr. Seraphim Dedes of St. Gregory Palamas Monastery. They may be downloaded, printed and used by anyone. Permission to publish any part of them should be obtained from the translator.
