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 the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.
Glory... (of the saint of the day)
Both now...
Theotokion.
O Theotokos, through you became manifest to us on earth the mystery, which was hid from eternity, and which the Angels themselves knew not: that God, uniting natures without confusion, becomes a man and accepts crucifixion for our salvation voluntarily. By virtue of this, resurrecting man whom He had first created, He saved our souls from death.
After the first reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and we chant Resurrectional Kathismata.
Mode IV
Looking up at the entrance to the sepulcher, and unable to endure the Angel's lambency, the myrrh-bearing women were trembling and said in astonishment: Has He been stolen, who to the Robber opened up Paradise? Has He arisen, who spoke of rising before even suffering? He is truly risen as Christ our God, granting those in Hades life and resurrection.
Glory...Joseph Marveled
By Your voluntary will, O Savior, You endured the Cross, and by mortal men were You into a new tomb interred, who by a word had created the entire world. Wherefore being bound was the enemy Death plundered of his spoils catastrophically. And those in Hades all together cried aloud at Your life-bearing resurrection: The Christ is risen, the Life-bestower, and He abides forever.
Both now…
Theotokion. Original Melody
Joseph marveled as he saw that which transcended nature's bounds; whereupon he brought to mind the dew that fell upon the fleece, at your conception without seed, O Theotokos, the bush that had remained unconsumed in fire, and Aaron's rod of old that had blossomed forth. As your betrothed and guardian he witnessed before the priests and he cried aloud: The Virgin gives birth, and after childbirth she still remains a Virgin.
After the second reading from the Psalter, Small Litany, and Kathismata.
Melody: Come quickly
O Savior, immortal as You are, from Hades You rose, by virtue of Your own resurrection raising Your world together, O Christ our God. Mightily You have broken death's dominion, O Master. You as the Lord of mercy showed to all the resurrection. We therefore glorify You who alone love humanity.
Glory...Joseph Marveled
From exalted heights above descended Gabriel and came, and he sat upon the rock wherein the Rock of life had lain. Arrayed in white, he cried out to the weeping women: Cease now from your cries of lament; nonetheless, ever be possessed of a compassionate heart. Take courage; He for whom you are weeping and are seeking has truly arisen. And therefore, cry out to the Apostles, The Lord has resurrected.
Both now…
Theotokion. Same Melody
O pure Maiden, all the hosts of holy angels were amazed at the awesome mystery of your pregnancy and birth, how He whose simple command holds all things together is held in your embrace as a mortal babe, the pre-eternal Word accepts an origin, and He is nursed who nourishes the whole world in His ineffable kindness. And they extol you and glorify you who are truly God's Mother.
After the reading of Psalm 118, the Evlogetaria (see Vol I). Small Litany.
Hypakoë
The women bearing myrrh hurried to declare the matter of Your paradoxal rising to Your Apostles, O Christ, that, as God You arose, granting the world great mercy.
The Hymns of Ascent
1st Antiphon
Since my youth have many passions waged war against me. O my Savior, nonetheless do help me and save me.
You, the haters of Zion, be put to shame by the Lord, for like thatch in fire you will be completely dried up.
Glory… Both now…
From the Holy Spirit every soul receives life, and through cleansing is lifted and brightened, in a hidden, sacred manner, by the trinal Monad.
2nd Antiphon
I cried to You, O Lord, from the depth of my soul with fervor. Let Your divine ears be responsive to me.
Whosoever has acquired hope in the Lord is superior to all whatsoever might grieve him.
Glory… Both now…
From the Holy Spirit do the streams of grace well forth; they irrigate everything created, so that life be engendered.
3rd Antiphon
Let my heart be lifted up unto You, O Logos; and none of the world's delights will entice me to be earthly-minded.
Whereas one has filial affection for his mother, for the Lord we ought to have a love even more fervent.
Glory… Both now…
In the Holy Spirit is the wealth of knowledge of God, contemplation and wisdom. For in Him the Logos discloses all the dogmas of the Father.
Prokeimenon
Arise, O Lord; help us, and redeem us, for the glory of Your name.
Verse: O God, we heard it with our ears.
Let every breath. Matins Gospel reading. Having seen the Resurrection of Christ. Psalm 50, etc.
Canon of the Resurrection
Ode One. Mode IV. The Heirmos.
The basin of the Red Sea in former times the host of Israel traversed on foot, and yet their feet were dry. Then the forces of Amalek they routed in the wilderness, when Moses raised his arms in cruciform.
Ode Three. The Heirmos.
Your Church does rejoice in You, O Christ our Savior, and she cries aloud, You are my strength, sovereign Lord, and my place of refuge and firm support.
Kontakion
Melody: You appeared today.
Savior and Deliverer is He who raised up from the tomb and from the bonds those born on earth, for He is God; and He destroyed Hades' bars and gates, and on the third day arose, as the Master of all.
Oekos
Him who from the dead arose,
Christ the Life Giver,
On the third day from the tomb;
Who crushed the gates of death today
By the power which is His;
Him who slew Hades
Who ground away the sting of death,
And rescued Adam and Eve:
Him let us all, born on earth, now extol,
earnestly shouting our grateful praise.
For He, alone our mighty God,
on the third day arose, as the Master of all.
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.
Christ the Cornerstone was from you cut, but not by human hand, O Virgin, for you are the unquaried mountain; and He united the separated natures. As we rejoice because of this, O Theotokos, you 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.
You endured crucifixion and death, O Lord, and resurrected from the dead. O Almighty One, we glorify Your resurrection.
Praise God for His saints, praise Him for the firmament of His power.
O Christ, by means of Your Cross, You have set us free from the ancient curse; and by means of Your death, You have neutralized the devil who tyrannized our nature; and by Your rising, You filled all things with joy. Therefore we shout to You, who rose from the dead, "Glory to You, O Lord."
Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him in proportion to the magnitude of His greatness.
By means of Your Cross, O Lord, direct us to Your truth, O Christ our Savior; and deliver us from the snares of the foe. You who rose from the dead, raise us who are fallen because of sin, extending Your hand, O Lord who loves humanity, at the intercession of Your holy ones.
Praise Him with sound of trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Only-begotten Logos of God, while departing not from the Father's bosom, You came to earth for love of humanity, immutably becoming human; and You physically endured the Cross and death, although impassible in divinity. Having risen from the dead, You granted the human race immortality, as the only almighty One.
Stichera by Anatolios
Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.
You accepted physical death, and thus transacted immortality for us, O Savior. And You dwelt in a tomb, so that You might liberate us from Hades. You resurrected us with yourself. You suffered as a man, but resurrected as God. We therefore cry aloud, "Glory to You, O Lord and Giver of life, who alone loves humanity."
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
Savior, the rocks were split when Your cross was set up on Calvary. The keepers of the gates of Hades shuddered when You were laid in the grave as one mortal. And once You had neutralized the power of death, by Your resurrection, O Savior, You granted incorruption to all who had died. O Life-giver, glory to You, O Lord.
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hand be exalted; forget not Your paupers to the end.
The women longed to see Your resurrection, O Christ God. Mary Magdalene came before the others. She found that the stone had been rolled away from the sepulcher, and saw the Angel sitting there, and he said to them, "Why do you seek among the dead the One who is alive? He has risen, as God, in order to save the universe.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
So where is He, Jesus, whom you thought you were guarding? Pray tell, O Judeans! Where is He whom you put in the grave, sealing the stone? Give back the dead man, you who rejected life; give back the one who was buried, or believe in Him resurrected. Even if you try to suppress the Lord's resurrection, the stones themselves will cry aloud, and especially the one that was rolled back from the sepulcher. Great is Your mercy! Great is the mystery of Your Economy! O our Savior, glory to You.
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.
