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 time with the verses)
Apolytikion
When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You. (twice)
Glory... (of the saint of the day)
Both now...
Theotokion.
All surpassing every thought, all surpassing glorious, O Mother of God, are your mysteries. For while bearing the seal of purity and preserved in virginity, you were deemed a Mother in truth, for to the true God you gave birth. To Him pray fervently, entreating that our souls be saved.
After the first reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and we chant Resurrectional Kathismata.
When he took down Your immaculate Body from the Cross, the honorable Joseph * wrapped it in a clean linen shroud with spices * and laid it for burial in a new tomb. * But on the third day You arose, O Lord, * and granted the world Your great mercy.
Glory...
The Angel standing at the sepulcher cried out and said to the ointment-bearing women: * The ointments are appropriate for mortal men, but Christ has been shown to be a stranger to decay. * So go and cry aloud, The Lord has risen * and granted the world His great mercy.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion.
You are supremely glorified, O Virgin Theotokos; we sing your praise. * For by means of your Son’s crucifixion has Hades been overthrown and death itself has died. * We have risen, who once were dead, and have been made worthy of life. * We received the original enjoyment of Paradise. * And therefore with thanksgiving we send up glory * to Christ our God because He is powerful * and alone very merciful.
After the second reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and Kathismata.
Not barring the stone of the tomb from being sealed shut, * You rose and You granted unto all the rock of faith. * Glory to You, O Lord.
Glory...
The host of Your Disciples and the ointment-bearing women are with one accord exulting. * Together with them we celebrate a common feast * to glorify and honor Your Resurrection. * And through them, O Lord who love humanity, * bestow on Your people the great mercy.
Both now…
Theotokion
You are supremely blessed, O Virgin Theotokos. For through Him who from you became incarnate has Hades been taken prisoner, and Adam has been summoned back, and the curse has been neutralized, and Eve has been released; death has been put to death, and we have been brought to life. Wherefore extolling we cry out: Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who were thusly well pleased. Glory to You.
After the reading of Psalm 118, the Evlogetaria (see Vol. I). Small Litany.
Hypakoë
After the Passion, O Christ God, the women went to the tomb to anoint Your body, and they saw Angels in the sepulcher, and they were amazed. For they heard them saying that the Lord has risen and granted the world the great mercy.
The Hymns of Ascent
1st Antiphon
Savior, I direct the eyes of my heart unto You in heaven. * Save me, I pray, shining on me Your resplendence.
Have mercy, O my Christ, on us who hourly commit sin against You manifoldly; * and give us means before the end to turn to You in repentance.
Glory… Both now…
To the Holy Spirit is it proper to rule and to hallow and to move creation; * for He is God, coessential with the Father and the Logos.
2nd Antiphon
If the Lord were not among us, who would be * sufficient to preserve himself uninjured * from the enemy and murderer of mankind.
Hand me not to the teeth of my enemies, O my Savior; * for in the manner of a lion they come against me Your servant.
Glory… Both now…
In the Holy Spirit is life-source and honor: * being as He is God, in the Father through the Son * He strengthens and sustains every creature.
3rd Antiphon
They whose confidence is in the Lord are like the holy mountain: * they are in no way shaken by the assaults of Belial.
Let those who live for God not stretch forth their hands * in unlawful acts; for Christ will not suffer * His lot to be oppressed by the rod of sinners.
Glory… Both now…
From the Holy Spirit does in addition all wisdom also issue; * whence is grace to the Apostles, * and the Martyrs for their contests receive the crowns, and the Prophets are seers.
Prokeimenon
Arise, O Lord my God, in the decree that You commanded, * and the congregation of peoples will compass You.
Verse: O Lord my God, in You have I hoped.
Let every breath. Matins Gospel reading. Having seen the Resurrection of Christ. Psalm 50, etc.
Canon of the Resurrection
Ode One. Mode II. The Heirmos.
In the deep, the overwhelming Force * once completely overthrew the entire Pharaónian cavalry. * Now the Word has put on flesh, * and has thereby obliterated all-wicked sin. * He is Lord, forever glorious, * and gloriously glorified.
Ode Three. The Heirmos.
The wilderness, that is the church * of the Gentiles, formerly was barren; but it blossomed forth * like the lily, with Your appearance now; * wherein firmly established is my heart, O Lord.
Kontakion
Melody: In seeking the heights.
You rose from the tomb, O Savior all-powerful, * and Hades beheld the marvel and was struck with fear, * and the dead were rising up, and creation beholds and rejoices with You, * and Adam is also exultant; O my Savior, and the world ever sings Your praise.
Œkos
You are the light of those in darkness, You are the resurrection of all and the life of mortals, and with yourself You resurrected everyone, O Savior, despoiling the dominion of death, and smashing the gates of Hades, O Word. The mortals, beholding the miracle, marvelled, and all creation rejoices in Your Resurrection, O Lover of mankind. Therefore we all glorify and extol Your condescension; O my Savior, and the world ever sings Your praise.
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.
To us has appeared the unoriginate Begetter's Son, * God and Lord, now incárnated from a virgin maid, * to illumine that which is darkened, * to gather in that which has been scattered. * Wherefore the all-laudable * Theotokos 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.
Every breath and all creation glorifies You, O Lord. For by means of the Cross You rendered death powerless, so that You might show the peoples Your Resurrection from the dead, as the only One who loves humanity.
Praise God for His saints, praise Him for the firmament of His power.
Let the Judeans explain it, how the soldiers lost the King, since they were watching. And why did not the stone guard the Rock of life? Let them surrender Him who was buried or, if He has risen, let them worship Him and say with us: Glory to the abundance of Your tender mercies. O our Savior, glory to You.
Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him in proportion to the magnitude of His greatness.
Rejoice, O peoples, and be exultant. An Angel sat on the stone of the tomb. And he announced to us the good news and said: Christ has risen from the dead, as the Savior of the world; and He has filled the universe with sweet fragrance. Rejoice, O peoples, and be exultant.
Praise Him with sound of trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
An Angel before Your conception, O Lord, conveyed the salutation Rejoice to the Maiden full of grace. And an Angel at Your Resurrection rolled away the stone of Your glorious sepulcher. The one, instead of sorrow, was disclosing tokens of gladness. The other, instead of death, proclaimed to us the Master and Giver of life. Therefore we cry aloud unto You the Benefactor of all: O Lord, glory to You.
Additional Stichera by Anatolios
Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.
The women sprinkled sweet spices with tears on Your grave, O Savior; and their mouths were filled with joy in saying, “The Lord has risen.”
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
Let nations and peoples praise Christ our God, who voluntarily for us endured the Cross and spent three days in Hades; and let them adore His resurrection from the dead, through which all the ends of the world have been illumined.
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hand be exalted; forget not Your paupers to the end.
You were crucified; You were buried as You willed, O Christ. You despoiled death as God and Master, bestowing on the world eternal life and the great mercy.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
Truly unlawful ones, by securing the stone with a seal, you have made us worthy of a greater miracle. The soldiers who were guarding are aware of it. Today He has emerged from the sepulcher and they said to them, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came and stole Him while we were asleep.’” But who would steal a dead man, and a naked one at that? But this one has risen by His own authority as God, moreover leaving the grave clothes behind in the tomb. Come and see it, O Judeans, how He did not rupture the seals. For He is the One who trampled death and is bestowing on the human race the life that never ends and the 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:
Today has salvation come to pass in the world. Let us sing to Him who resurrected from the tomb and is the Author of our life. For, destroying death by death, He gave us the victory and the great mercy.
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.
