THE SERVICE OF

VESPERS
Our day of worship begins in the evening following the tradition
of the Old Testament in the story of creation: And the evening and
the morning were the first day... (Genesis 1:5) The first service of
worship is Vespers when Christians finish their day and begin a new
day. It is an important service because in it we say that our day be-
longs to God. We offer God all that we have done during the day and
we ask Him to bless it. We want our day to be in accordance to
God's will, so we put our life in His hands. Vespers helps us to rec-
ognize God's plan for us in this world.
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
While the priest prays quietly, the following is recited, alternating
verses between the chanter(s):

O come, let us worship and fall down before our King
and God.
1
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ,
our King and God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ
Himself, our King and our God.
1 On Pascha Vespers, its Leavetaking, and during Bright week, O come... &
Psalm 103/104 are omitted. From the Sunday of Thomas to the Leavetaking
of Pascha, Psalm 103/104 is read, but O come... is replaced by the Paschal
Troparion (3x): 1x by the Priest and 2x by the chanter(s). On Vespers of the
Ascension, all returns to normal.
2 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
PSALM 103/104
A Poem of Creation
The reciting of Psalm 103/104 reminds us of God's power and
glory over all of His creation. He has made a world full of His
wisdom and His love.
LESS the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are
magnified exceedingly. B
Sky
You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He
Who covers His chambers with waters,
Who makes the clouds His means of approach, Who
walks on the wings of the winds,
Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a
flame of fire,
Earth
He established the earth on its stable foundation; It
shall not be moved unto ages of ages.
The deep like a garment is His covering; The waters
shall stand upon the mountains.
At Your rebuke they shall flee, at the sound of Your
thunder, they shall be afraid.
The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down, to the
place You founded for them.
You set a boundary they shall not pass over, neither
shall they return to cover the earth.
Water
You are He Who sends springs into the valley; the wa-
ters shall pass between the mountains.
They shall give drink to all the wild animals of the
field; the wild donkeys shall quench their thirst.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 3

The birds of heaven shall dwell beside them, they shall
sing from the midst of the rocks.
You are He Who waters the mountains from His higher
places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your
works.
Vegetation
You are He Who causes grass to grow for the cattle,
and the green plant for the service of man,
To bring forth bread from the earth; and wine glad-
dens the heart of man.
To brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens
man's heart.
The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of
Lebanon, which You planted.
There the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of
the heron takes the lead among them.
The high mountains are for the deer, the cliff is a
refuge for the rabbits.
Moon and Sky
He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting.
You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all
the wild animals of the forest will prowl about.
The young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek
their food from God.
The sun arises, and they are gathered together, and
they shall be put to bed in their dens.
Man shall go out to his work, and to his labor until evening.
O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You
made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your
creation.
Sea
There is this great and spacious sea, the creeping things
are there without number.The living things are there,
both small and great.
4 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
There the ships pass through; there is this dragon You
formed to play therein.
The Gift of Life
All things wait upon You, that You may give them
food in due season; when You give it to them, they shall
gather it.
When You open Your hand, all things shall be filled
with Your goodness; but when You turn Your face away,
they shall be troubled.
When You take away their breath, they shall die; and
return again to their dust.
And You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be
created; and You shall renew the face of the earth.
The Glory of the Lord
Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be
glad in His works,
He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble;
He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God
as long as I exist.
May my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad
in the Lord.
May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so
as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
And again:
The sun knows its setting; You established darkness,
and it was night.
O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You
made all things in wisdom.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 5

Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)
O Lord, our hope, Glory to You.
In Vespers, we are asked to meditate upon the Fall of Adam and
Eve. This story of man's fall is a story that repeats itself in the life of
each one of us. The priest recites a series of petitions to which we all
respond by singing Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy). In these
petitions we ask God for all the things we need in this world which is
no longer a paradise. Though it is our fault that we are separated
from God, He still loves us; we have been reconciled to Him through
Jesus Christ.
Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest:For the peace from above and for the salvation
of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-
being of the Holy churches of God, and for the union of
all, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this holy house, and for those who enter it
with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the
Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
6 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
Priest: For our Archbishop (Name), for the venerable
Priesthood, for the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy
and laity, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest:For the pious leadership of our country, for
those in public service, for all peace-keeping forces, for all
Orthodox nations and the American nation, let us pray to
the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this city, and for every city and country, and
for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For favorable weather, for the abundance of the
fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to
the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For those at sea, and those who travel by land or
air, for the sick and the suffering, for captives and for
their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath,
danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 7

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us,
O God, by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most
blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos, and Ever-virgin
Mary...
All: Most holy Theotokos save us.
Priest: ...with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves
and one another, and our whole life to Christ, our God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship,
to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
This hymn which begins: Lord, I have cried to unto You re-
minds us of man's hunger and thirst for God's love.
PSALM 140/141
Lord I Cry To You
ORD, I have cried out unto You. Hear me; hear me, O
Lord. Lord, I have cried out unto You. Hear me; at-
tend to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You,
Hear me, O Lord.
L
Refrain:Let my prayer be set forth before You as in-
cense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacri-
fice. Hear me, O Lord.
8 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
The remainder of Psalm 140/141 is recited, alternating verses
between the chanter(s):
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; a door of en-
closure about my lips.
Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.
With men that work lawlessness; and I will not join
with their choice ones.
The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he
shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint
my head.
For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their
pleasures; their judges are swallowed up by the rock.
They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant; as a
clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so our
bones were scattered beside the grave.
For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord are toward you, in You I
hope; take not my soul away.
Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the
stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.
Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I
escape.
PSALM 141/142
CRIEDto the Lord with my voice, with my voice I
prayed to the Lord. I
I shall pour out my supplication before Him, I shall de-
clare my affliction in His presence.
When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my
paths.
For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.
I looked on my right, and saw, there was no one who
knew me.
Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for
my soul.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 9

I cried to You, O Lord; I said, You are my hope, my
portion in the land of the living.
Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.
Deliver me from my persecutors me, for they are
stronger than I.
Special hymns of the Feast or the Saint celebrated on this calen-
dar day are chanted in alternation with the following verses, accord-
ing to the number of hymns.
Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your
name, O Lord.
(If 10 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
The righteous shall wait for me until You reward me.
(If 9 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
PSALM 129/130
Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord
UT of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O
Lord hear my voice. O
(If 8 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
(If 7 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord,
who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You.
(If 6 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
Because of Your law, O Lord, I have waited for You;
my soul waited for Your word, my soul hopes in the Lord.
(If 5 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
10 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
From the morning watch until night, from the morning
watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
(If 4 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is
abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all
his transgressions.
(If 3 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
PSALM 116/117
RAISE the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you
peoples. P
(If 2 stanzas today, stanzas start here)
For His mercy rules over us, and the truth of the Lord
endures forever.
(If 1 stanza today, stanza starts here)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Then the Doxastikon is chanted, when one is appointed.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Then the appointed Theotokion is chanted. For Tuesday and
Thursday evenings, use Stavrotheotokion.
If Great Vespers, Priest led by a candle approaches the center of
the Solea with the censer. After censing, and quietly saying the prayer
of the Entrance, he says:
Wisdom. Let us attend.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 11

THANKSGIVING
AT THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS
Chanted only during Great Vespers, otherwise simply read.
JESUS Christ, Joyous Light of the holy glory of the
immortal, heavenly, holy, and blessed Father. Now
that we have come unto the setting of the sun, and behold
the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, one God. It is proper to praise You with joyous
voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; therefore, all the
world glorifies You.
O
Priest: The evening Prokeimenon.
PROKEIMENA
For Saturday evening: Plagal of Second Tone
The Lord reigns, He clothed Himself with majesty.
Verse 1: The Lord clothed and girded Himself with power.
The Lord reigns, He clothed Himself with majesty.
Verse 2: And He has established the world, which shall not
be moved.
The Lord reigns, He clothed Himself with majesty.
For the evening of the Lord's Day. Plagal of Fourth Tone
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.
Verse: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of
the house of our God.
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.
12 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
For Monday evening. Fourth Tone
The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.
The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.
Verse: You heard me when I called, O God of my right-
eousness.
The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.
For Tuesday evening. First Tone
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life.
Verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He
makes me to lie down in green pastures.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life.
For Wednesday evening. Plagal of the First Tone
Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your power.
Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your
power.
Verse: O God, hear my prayer, give ear to the words of my
mouth.
Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your
power.
For Thursday evening. Plagal of the Second Tone
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and
earth.
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and
earth.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 13

Verse: I lifted my eyes to the mountains, from where shall
my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and
earth.
For Friday evening. Grave Tone
For You are my protector, O God; As for my God, His mer-
cy shall go before me.
For You are my protector, O God; As for my God, His
mercy shall go before me.
Verse: Rescue me from my enemies, O God, and redeem
me from those who rise up against me.
For You are my protector, O God; As for my God, His
mercy shall go before me.
If Small Vespers (usually a weekday when there is not a major
Feast day), then skip to page 15 at Evening Prayer, 'Deign, O Lord'.
GREAT VESPERS ONLY
Readings and Ektenia of Fervent Supplication
If there are readings, the Reader announces the following.
Reader: The reading is from the book of ____.
Priest: Let us attend.
Reader: (1st reading)
Priest: Wisdom.
Reader: The reading is from the book of ____.
Priest: Let us attend.
14 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
Reader: (2nd reading)
Priest: Wisdom.
Reader: The reading is from the book of ____.
Priest: Let us attend.
Reader: (3rd reading)
After readings, or if there are no readings.
Choir thrice chants 'Lord have mercy' to each supplication, except
for the last supplication, chanted only once.
Priest: Let us all say with our whole souls and with our
whole mind, let us say:
O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray You,
hearken and have mercy.
Have mercy on us O God, according to Your great
mercy, we pray You, hearken and have mercy.
Again we pray for our Archbishop (Name).
Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, hi-
eromonks, deacons, hierodeacons, and the monastics, and
all of our brotherhood in Christ.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation,
visitation, and pardon and forgiveness of sins for the ser-
vants of God (Names), and all Orthodox Christians of
true worship, who live and dwell in this community.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 15

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable
founders of this Holy Church, and for the servants of God
(Names), and all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox
departed from this Life before us, who here and in all the
world lie asleep in the Lord.
Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good
works in this holy and all venerable temple, those who
serve and those who sing, and all the people here present
who await Your great and rich mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For You are a merciful God and love mankind, and
unto You we ascribe glory to the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
THE EVENING PRAYER
All:
EIGN, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin.
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen. Let
Your mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our
hope on You.
D
Metania (bow with sign of the cross) after each of the following:
Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.
Blessed are You, O Master; make me to understand
Your statutes.
Blessed are You, O Holy One; enlighten me by Your
statutes.
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Despise not the
works of Your hands. To You belong worship, to You be-
long praise, to You belong glory, to the Father and the
16 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
LITANY OF SUPPLICATION
Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us,
O God, by Your Grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this whole evening, that it may be perfect,
holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: For an Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a
guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: For the forgiveness and remission of our sins
and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: For things that are good and profitable unto our
souls and for peace in the world, let us ask of the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: That we may complete the remainder of our
lives in peace and penitence, let us ask of the Lord.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 17

All: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: That the end of our lives may be Christian,with-
out pain, blameless and peaceful, and for a good account
at the fearful judgement seat of Christ, let us ask of the
Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most
blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos, and Ever-virgin
Mary...
All: Most holy Theotokos save us.
Priest: ...with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves
and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For You, O God, are good and love mankind,
and unto You we ascribe glory to the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
All: Amen.
Priest: Peace be unto you all.
All: And to your spirit.
Priest: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.
All: To You, O Lord.
18 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
PRAYER AT THE BOWING OF THE HEADS
Priest: (Silently) O Lord our God, who bowed the heav-
ens and came down for the salvation of mankind, look
upon Your servants and Your inheritance. For unto You,
the fearful judge who yet loves mankind, Your servants
have bowed their heads and submissively inclined their
necks, awaiting not help from men but entreating Your
mercy and looking confidently for Your salvation. Guard
them at all times,both during this present evening and in
the coming night, from every enemy, from all hostile
powers of the devil, and from evil imaginations.
Priest: For Blessed and glorified be the might of Your
kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
If there is going to be an Artoklasia Service (which is done only
on certain major Feast days - see Artoklasia book) it will be done at
this time.
The chanter(s) now alternately chant the Aposticha hymns with
their verses which are found in the Vespers Tone Book.
All: Glory...Both now...(chanted)
These hymns are to remind us of Christ's redemptive acts and/or
the Feast or life of the Saint commemorated.
DOXASTIKON OR THEOTOKION
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 19

THE PRAYER OF SAINT SYMEON
Priest: Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, ac-
cording to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salva-
tion, which You have prepared before the face of all peo-
ple. A light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of
Your people of Israel.
TRISAGION
All:Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have
mercy on us. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from
our sins. Master forgive us our iniquities. Holy God, look upon
our infirmities for Your name's sake and heal them.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All: 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
the evil one.
Priest: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the
glory, of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
20 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
Vespers ends with the singing of the Dismissal Hymns called
Apolytikia. These are special prayers to honor the Saint, Feast, or
event from the life of Christ that is being remembered. Every second
of every day that God grants us is important. He grants us the gift of
each day so that we can repent and draw closer to Him and His
kingdom.
The chanter(s) then chants the appointed Apolytikia (Dismissal
Hymns)
All: Glory...Both now...(chanted)
Then the appointed Theotokion is chanted. For Tuesday and Thurs-
day evenings, use Stavrotheotokion.
If Great Vespers is being celebrated (usually on Saturday or on a
major Feast day) then skip to page 21 at 'Wisdom'.
SMALL VESPERS ONLY
Ektenia of Fervent Supplication
Choir thrice chants 'Lord have mercy' to each supplication, except for
the last supplication, chanted only once.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your
great mercy, we pray You, hearken and have mercy.
Again we pray for our Archbishop (Name).
Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, hieromonks,
deacons, hierodeacons, and monastics, and all our brother-
hood in Christ.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation,
visitation, and pardon and forgiveness of sins for the ser-
vants of God (Names), and all Orthodox Christians of
true worship, who live and dwell in this community.
THE SERVICE OF VESPERS 21

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable
founders of this holy church, and for the servants of God
(Names), and all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox
departed from this life before us, who here and in all the
world lie asleep in the Lord.
Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good
works in this holy and all venerable temple, those who
serve and those who sing, and all the people here present
who await Your great and rich mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For You are a merciful God and love mankind,
and unto You we ascribe glory to the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages.
All: Amen.
Priest: Wisdom.
All: Bless.
Priest: Christ our God, the existing One
2
is blessed, al-
ways, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
All:Amen. Preserve, O God, the holy Orthodox faith
and all Orthodox Christians, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Most holy Theotokos, save us
3
.
All: More honorable than the cherubim and beyond
compare, more glorious than the seraphim, you who with-
out corruption bore God the Logos, you are the
Theotokos; you do we magnify.
2 Literally the "I AM" of Exodus 3:14.
3 i.e. rescue us by interceding to our Savior Christ.
22 THE SERVICE OF VESPERS
Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God and hope, Glory
to You.
All: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Lord have mercy. (3)
Father, bless.
THE GREAT DISMISSAL
Priest: May
4
Christ our true God...have mercy on us
and save us as our good, and loving, and merciful God.
Through the prayers of our Holy Father, O Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us
5
.
All: Amen.
4 From Pascha to its Leavetaking, we insert here: "He who rose from the
dead, trampling death by death".
5 From Pascha to its Leavetaking, we replace the "Through the prayers"
with the following dialogue:
Priest: "Christ is Risen!"
All: "Truly, He is Risen!"
Priest: "Glory to His Holy Third Day Resurrection!"
All: "We glorify His Holy Third Day Resurrection!"
Priest: "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling death by death and
bestowing life to those in the tombs."
All: "Truly, the Lord is Risen!"