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. Grave Mode.
By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy. (twice)
Glory... (of the saint of the day)
Both now...
Theotokion.
O all-praised Lady, our resurrection’s treasury, * do from the pit and the deep of offences * draw us up, as we have put our trust in you. * For you have saved us who were liable for sin, by giving birth unto our Salvation. * Virgin prior to bearing; and in bearing, a Virgin; and after bearing, still a Virgin.
After the first reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and we chant Resurrectional Kathismata.
Life was laid in the sepulcher, and a seal was laid on the stone. And as if guarding a king in his sleep, so the soldiers guarded Christ; and Angels glorified Him as the immortal God. The women cried aloud, “The Lord has risen, and granted the world great mercy.”
Glory...
In Your three-day entombment did You despoil death. * By Your life-bearing rising You have resurrected corrupted man, * in Your love for humanity, O Christ God. Glory to You.
Both now...
Theotokion.
O Virgin Maid who gave birth to God, * never cease to entreat Christ our God * who was crucified for our sake and resurrected * and destroyed death’s dominion, * and beseech Him that He save our souls.
After the second reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and Kathismata.
O Life, You rose from the sepulcher, * even though the tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God. * And though the doors had been bolted, You came to Your disciples, O Resurrection of all. * Through them You renew a right spirit in us, * according to Your great mercy.
Glory...
In tears, the women bearing sweet spices went in haste to Your sepulcher. * And they were saying to each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us?” * For You, the King of all, were by soldiers guarded. * The Angel of great Counsel has risen, after trampling on death. * O Lord almighty, glory to You.
Both now…
Theotokion.
Rejoice, Maiden full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos; * a haven and protection are you for all of mankind. * From you did the Redeemer of the world become incarnate, * only you are both a Mother and a Virgin. * O Lady ever blessed and ever filled with glory, * with Christ God intercede, * beseeching Him to grant peace to the universe.
After the reading of Psalm 118, the Evlogetaria (see Vol I). Small Litany.
Hypakoë
O Christ God, who took our form * and bodily endured the Cross, * save me by Your resurrection, as One who loves mankind.
The Hymns of Ascent
1st Antiphon
You restored from wandering the captivity of Zion. * From slavery to passions seize me, * and quicken me, O Savior.
In the south he who sows afflictions with tears and with fasting * will reap the sheaves of joy, the staff of life everlasting.
Glory… Both now…
In the Holy Spirit is the source of divine treasures; * from Him is fear, understanding and wisdom; * to Him praise is due, glory, honor and dominion.
2nd Antiphon
Unless the Lord build the house of the soul, in vain do we labor; * for without Him no action or word is accomplished.
As of the fruit of the womb, the Saints being moved by the Spirit, * because of their adoption, produce His fatherly dogmas.
Glory… Both now…
In the Holy Spirit does everything have its being; * for He is God before all, and universal lordship, * unapproachable light, and the life of all things.
3rd Antiphon
They who fear the Lord and find the ways of life thereby * both now and ever will be blessed with glory immortal.
As you see your offspring round about your table like saplings, * rejoice and be glad as you offer them to Christ, O chief shepherd.
Glory… Both now…
In the Holy Spirit is an abyss of divine gifts, a wealth of glory, a great depth of judgments; * He is identical in glory to the Father and the Son, for He is worshipped.
Prokeimenon
Arise, O Lord my God; let Your hand be uplifted; do not forget your paupers forever.
Verse: I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart.
Let every breath. Gospel reading. Having seen the Resurrection. Psalm 50, etc.
Canon of the Resurrection
Ode One. Grave Mode. The Heirmos.
Formerly freely flowing watery streams were diverted, * O Lord, and became an earth-like solidness at Your behest. * Wherefore did Israel dry-shod * walk across and sing You a victory canticle.
Ode Three. The Heirmos.
In the beginning by Your own * almighty Word, You established * the heavens, O Savior sovereign Lord, * likewise all their power by Your Spirit that is all-effecting and divine. * Therefore upon the unshaken * rock of Your confession do establish me.
Kontakion
No longer will death’s dominion have power to detain mortal men. For Christ went down and smashed and destroyed its powers. Now Hades is bound, and the Prophets in unison exult and declare: The Savior has appeared to those with faith. Come out, you faithful, to the Resurrection.
Œkos
The netherworld below, Hades and death, Trembled today before You, who are one of the Trinity. The earth quaked and the gatekeepers of Hades recoiled seeing You. And all creation, rejoicing with the Prophets, Sings a ode of victory to You our Redeemer and our God, Who now destroyed the power of death. Let us whoop for joy and cry out to Adam and to Adam’s descendants: Come out, you faithful, to the Resurrection.
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.
Without sustaining corruption you still conceived a child, * and lent your flesh to the Word and general Artificer. * Mother who knew no man, O Virgin Theotokos, * receptacle and space of your uncontained and infinite Creator, you do we magnify.
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 judgement. This glory shall be to all His saints.
Christ has risen from the dead, having loosed the bonds of death; O earth, proclaim the good tidings of great joy; O heavens, praise the glory of God.
Praise God for His saints, praise Him for the firmament of His power.
Having seen the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One.
Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him in proportion to the magnitude of His greatness.
We do not cease to adore the Resurrection of Christ; for He it is who saved us from our iniquities. Holy is Lord Jesus who showed us the Resurrection.
Praise Him with sound of trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
What shall we give to the Lord in return for all that He has rendered to us? For us did God come among men. For our corrupted nature did the Logos become flesh and dwell among us. The Benefactor came to the ungrateful; the Liberator to the captives; the Sun of Righteousness to those who sit in darkness. He who is dispassionate suffered on the cross; the Light shone in Hell. He who is Life has trampled on death. For the fallen He is the resurrection. Let us cry out to Him, Glory to You our God.
Stichera by Anatolios.
Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.
O Lord, You have shattered the gates of Hell, and You have put an end to death’s dominion, all by Your own mighty power. And You raised up with yourself the dead who lay in darkness from when time began, by Your divine and glorious resurrection, as the King over all and as God omnipotent.
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord and be exultant in His resurrection; for with himself He raised the dead from the bonds of Hades that no one could break; and as God, He has given to the world everlasting life and His great mercy.
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hand be exalted; forget not Your paupers to the end.
The dazzling Angel was sitting upon the stone of the life-receiving sepulcher, and to the myrrh-bearing women he proclaimed the good tidings, “The Lord has risen, as He foretold to you. Go announce it unto His disciples that He is going before you into Galilee; and that unto the world He is granting life eternal and His great mercy.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
Why did you reject the Cornerstone, O law-breaking Judeans? This is the stone that God placed in Zion, the One who made water spring from the rock in the desert, and who now for us from His side pours out immortality. This is the stone that was cut from the Virgin Mountain without a husband’s will. He is the Son of man who is coming on the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days, as Daniel has said, and His reign is everlasting.
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 supPLIIcation, 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.
