Having awakened, arise from your bed and go to your icon corner without laziness. Silently light your candles (if you wish, light charcoal in your incense burner and place incense in it), and reverence the icons. Afterwards, stand in silence for a few moments until all your senses    are calmed. At that point, make three prostrations, saying:

 

0 Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then make the Sign of the Cross, saying:

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, 0 Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things: Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, 0 gracious Lord.

    Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3 times)

    Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation. Otherwise continue as follows:

Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before thee, 0 Blessed One, and sing to thee, 0 Mighty One, the Angelic Hymn: Holy, holy, holy art thou, 0 God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

    Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

From my bed and sleep thou hast raised me: 0 Lord, enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my lips that I may praise thee, 0 Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy art thou, 0 God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

    Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed: but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art thou, 0 God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

    Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

A rising from sleep I thank thee, 0 holy Trinity, because of the abundance of thy goodness and long-suffering thou wast not wroth with me, slothful and sinful as I am; neither hast thou destroyed me in my transgressions: but in thy compassion raised me up as I lay in despair; that at dawn I might singthe glories of thy Majesty. Do thou now enlighten the eyes of my understanding, open my mouth to receive thy words, teach me thy commandments, help me to do thy will, and confessing thee from my heart, singing and praising thine All-holy Name: of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. (metania)
0 come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. (metania)
0 come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God. (metania)

Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy great mercy: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. For behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me. For behold, thou hast loved truth: the unclear and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made clear to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness: the bones which thou hast broken shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, 0 God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy spirit from me.Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and steady me with a guiding spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways: and the impious shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, 0 God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 0 Lord, open thou my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For hadst thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it thee: thou delightest not in burnt offerings. Sacrifices to God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and humble heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise. Do good, 0 Lord, in thy good will unto Zion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offerings: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, andsitteth at the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets; And I believe in One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

0 God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have never done anything good in thy sight. Deliver me from the evil one, and may thy will be in me, that I may open my unworthy lips without condemnation and praise thy holy Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen

Having risen from sleep, I offer thee, 0 Savior, the midnight song, and fall down and cry unto thee: grant me not to fall asleep in the death of sin, but have compassion upon me, 0 thou who wast voluntarily crucified and hasten to raise me who am prostrate in idleness, and save me in prayer and intercession,and after the night’s sleep, bless me with a sinless day, 0 Christ our God, and save me.

Having risen from sleep, I hasten to thee, 0 Lord, for thou lovest mankind, and by thy loving-kindness I strive to do thy works, and I pray to thee: help me at all times, in everything, and deliver me from every evil thing of the world and every attack of the devil, and lead me into thine eternal kingdom. For thou art my Creator, the Giver and Protector of everything good, and all my hope is in thee. And to thee I send up glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

0 Lord, who in thine abundant goodness and thy great compassion hast granted me, thy servant, to pass the time of this night without the temptation of any opposing evil, Lord and Creator of all, by thy true light and with an enlightened heart grant me to do thy will, now and ever and unto ages of ages.Amen.

A lmighty Lord God, who dost receive from thy heavenly powers .Mxhe thrice holy hymn, receive also from me thine unworthy servant, this song of the night, and grant me every year of my life and at every hour to send up glory to thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Almighty Lord, God of the powers of all flesh, who livest in the highest and carest for the humble, who searchest our hearts and affections, and clearly foreknowest the secrets of men; eternal and everlasting Light, in whom is no change nor shadow of variation; 0 immortal King, receive our prayers which at the present time we offer to thee from unclean lips, trusting in the multitude of thy mercies. Forgive all sins committed by us in thought, word, or deed, consciously or unconsciously, and cleanse us from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant us to pass the night of the whole present life with wakeful heart and sober thought, ever expecting the coming of the radiant day of the appearing of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, when the judge of all will come with glory to render to each according to their deeds. May we not be found fallen and idle, but awake and alert for action, ready to accompany him into the joy and divine palace of his glory, where there is the ceaseless sound of those keeping festival and the unspeakable delight of those who behold the ineffable beauty of thy face. For thou art the true light that enlightens and sanctifies all, and all creation sings to thee throughout the ages. Amen.

We bless thee, most high God and Lord of mercies, who ever dost great and unfathomable things for us, glorious and awesome things without number. Thou givest sleep for the repose of our frailty, relieving the labors of our over-burdened flesh. We thank thee for not destroying us in our lawlesseness. Instead, thou hast shown thy usual love for mankind and raised us, as we lay in despair, to glorify thy power. Therefore we implore thy boundless goodness: enlighten our thoughts and eyes and awaken our minds from the heavy sleep oflaziness. Open our lips and fill them with thy praise, that we may unwaveringly hymn and confess thee, the God glorified in all and by all, the Father without beginning, with thine only-begotten Son and thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

My most merciful and all-merciful God, Lord]esus Christ, through thy great love thou didst come down and take flesh to save all. And again, 0 Savior, save me by thy grace, I pray thee, for if thou shouldst save me by my works, this would not be grace of a gift, but rather a duty. Indeed, in thine infinite compassion and unspeakable mercy, thou, 0 my Christ, hast said: "Whoever believes in me shall live and never see death." If faith in thee saves the desparate, save me for thou art my God and Creator. Impute my faith instead of deeds, 0 my God, for thou wilt find no deeds which could justify me, but may my faith suffice for all my deeds. May it answer for and acquit me, and may it make me a partaker of thine eternal glory. And may Satan not seize me, 0 Word, and boast that he has torn me from thy hand and fold. 0 Christ my Savior, whether I will or not, save me. Make haste, quick, quick, for I perish! Thou art my God from my mother’s womb. Grant me, 0 Lord, to love thee now, as once I loved sin, and also to work for thee without idleness, as I worked before by deceptive Satan. But supremely shall I work for thee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

0 holy angel, who stands by my wretched soul and my passionate life; do not abandon me, a sinner, neither depart from me because of my lack of self-control. Leave no room for the evil demon to gain control of me through the violence of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble hand, and instruct mein the path of salvation. 0 holy angel of God, the guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive all the sorrows I have caused thee every day of my life. If I have sinned in this past night, protect me during this day. Keep me from every adverse temptation, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that he mayestablish me in his fear and make me, his servant, worthy of his goodness. Amen.

0 most holy Theotokos, my Lady, through thy holy and all-powerful prayers, turn away from me, thy humble and unworthy servant, despair, forgetfulness, unreasonableness, indifference, and all unclean, evil, and blasphemous thoughts from my wretched heart and darkened mind. Extinguish the flame of my passions, for I am poor and wretched. Deliver me from my numerous and wicked memories and fantasies. Free me from all evil acts, for thou art blessed by all generations, and thy most honorable name is glorified unto ages of ages. Amen. n ejoice, 0 Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with 1 ~hee. Blessed art thou among women, andblessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

0 heavenly hosts of holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us sinners. 0 glorious Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, and all Saints, pray for us sinners.

The troparia of your parish may be said here, or any other troparia that you are accustomed to adding (e.g., the troparia of the Prayer Discipline of Saint Philip).

Pray to God for me 0 holy N (invoke your patron Saint), for with fervor I turn to thee, who art the speedy helper and intercessor for my soul.

Prayers of Intercession may be inserted here using The General Intercession.

   

The troparion for the day of the week may be said here. If known, the troparion for the Saint whose feast it is may also be said now.

0Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, grant victory to Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by the power of thy Cross, preserve thine estate.

It is truly meet to bless thee, 0 Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all blameless and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.

    Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

    Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

0 Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through the intercessions of thine immaculate Mother, of Saint N (your patron Saint), and of all thy Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE LAST ELDERS OF OPTINA

This prayer may be said at the end of the morning prayers outside of Great Lent.

0Lord, grant that I may meet all that this coming day brings me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to thy holy will.

At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatsoever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to thy holy will.

Direct my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down from thee.

Grant that I may deal straightforwardly and wisely with every member of my family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone.

0Lord, grant me the strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that take place during it. Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.

This prayer is used throughout Great Lent.

0 Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. (prostration)

But grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to thy servant. (prostration)

Yea,0 Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)

0 God, cleanse me a sinner. (12 times with metanias)

Then the entire Prayer of Saint Ephraim is said without the prostrations and a single prostration is made a the end.

ENDING

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ out God, have mercy upon us and save us.  Amen.