Upon awakening, before beginning any other task, stand piously before a holy icon, presenting yourself to Almighty God and make the sign of the cross thrice, saying:

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

Pause a moment, so that all your senses and thoughts are cleared of all earthly concerns. Then read the following prayers, without haste and with heartfelt attention.

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (3 times)

O God, forgive all my sins before you.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy on me. Amen.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You!

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, every where present and filling all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Trisagion

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

Small Doxology

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

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

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

The Lord’s Prayer

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. Amen.

The Troparia to the Holy Trinity

Having risen from sleep we worship You, O Good One and we sing the angelic hymn to You, Almighty Lord: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Having raised me up from bed and sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind and open my heart and lips to praise You, the Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, have mercy on us. Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 Suddenly the Judge will come and the deeds of all will be laid bare; but in the middle of the night let us cry with fear: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity

As I rise from sleep I thank You, All-Holy Trinity, for through Your great goodness and patience You have not been angry with me, an idler and sinner, nor have You destroyed me in my sinfulness. Rather, You have shown Your usual love for mankind and when I was prostrate in despair, You raised me up to keep the morning watch and glo rify Your Power. Now enlighten the eyes of my mind and open my mouth to study Your words, to understand Your com mand ments, to do Your Will, to chant to You in heartfelt confession and to praise Your All-Holy Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. О come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Him self, our King and our God.

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and accord ing to the multitude of Your compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is continually before me. Against You only have I sinned and done this evil before You, that You might be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, You loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom You have made clear to me. You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; You will wash me and I will be made whiter than snow. You will make me hear joy and gladness; the bones that have been humbled will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and with Your govern ing spirit establish me. I will teach transgressors Your ways and the ungodly will turn back to You. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, God of my salv a tion; and my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You will open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; with whole burnt offerings You will not be pleased. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled, God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then will You be pleased with a sacrifice of right eousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings.

Then they will offer bullocks upon Your altar.

The Symbol of Faith of the Holy Orthodox Church

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, being of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried. And He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; and His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is wor shipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

First Prayer, of St. Maсarius the Great

O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done any thing good in Your sight. Deliver me from all evil and may Your Will be done in me, that I may open my unworthy mouth without condemna tion and praise Your Holy Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Second Prayer, of St. Maсarius the Great

Having risen from sleep, my Saviour, I offer You the midnight song and I fall down and cry out to You: Grant that I not fall asleep in the death of sin. You who willingly endured the crucifixion, have com passion on me and hasten to raise me up, for I am prostrate in idle ness. De liver me in my prayer and intercession, and after the night’s sleep, shine upon me with a sinless day O Christ our God and save me.

Third Prayer, of St. Maсarius the Great

Having risen from sleep, O Master, Lover of mankind, I hasten to You. Through Your loving-kindness I strive to do Your work and I pray: Help me at all times and in everything, delivering me from every evil of the world and every attack of the devil, leading me into Your Eternal Kingdom. For You are my Creator, the Giver and Guard ian of all that is good. All my hope is in You and I glorify You, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Fourth Prayer, of St. Maсarius the Great

Lord, in Your abundant goodness and great compas sion You have granted that I, Your servant, pass the time of this night with out the temptation of the evil one. You, Yourself, Master and Creator of all, now grant me to do Your Will, through the light of Your truth and with an il lumined heart, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Fifth Prayer, of St. Maсarius the Great

Almighty Lord God, You receive from Your Heavenly Po wers the thrice-holy hymn: Receive also from me, Your unworthy servant, this nocturnal hymn and grant that at all times and in every hour of my life, I send up glory unto You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sixth Prayer, of St. Basil the Great

Almighty Lord, God of the Heavenly Powers and of all flesh, You live on high and care for the humble. You search our hearts and innermost thoughts, and clearly see the secrets of all. Eternal and Everlasting Light, in You there is no change, nor shadow of deviation. Immortal King, re ceive our prayers which we offer You from unclean lips at the present time, trusting in the abundance of Your compassion. For give all sins com mitted by us in thought, word or deed, voluntarily or invol untarily and cleanse us from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant that we may pass the night of this en tire present life with wakeful hearts and sober thoughts, ever await ing the coming of the radiant day of the ap pearance of Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, when the Judge of all will come with glory to render to every person accord ing to their deeds. May we not be found fallen and idle, but awake and alert for action, ready to ac company Him into the joy and divine palace of His glory, where the voice of those keeping fes tival is ceaseless and the de light of those who be hold the in expressible beauty of Your Face is indes crib able. For You are the True Light that enlightens and sancti fies all and all creation glorifies You throughout the ages. Amen.

Seventh Prayer, of St. Basil the Great

We bless you, Most High God and Lord of Mercy. You al ways perform innumerable, great, inscrutable, glorious and awesome works for us. You grant us sleep for rest from our infirmities and rest for our bodies which are tired from work. We thank You for not destroying us with our sins, but in Your usual love for mankind You have raised us up to glorify Your power. There fore, we implore Your incompar able goodness: En lighten the eyes of our under stand ing, raise up our minds from the heavy sleep of idleness. Open our mouths and fill them with Your praise, that we may be able to chant hymns to You and confess You without distraction. For You are God glorified in all and by all, the Father without beginning, with Your Only-begotten Son and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Eighth Prayer, to the Guardian Angel

O Holy Angel, attendant of my wretched soul and my passionate life, neither forsake me, a sinner, nor shrink from me because of my lack of self-control. Grant the subtle demon no means of mastering me through violence to my mortal body. Strengthen my poor and feeble hand and guide me in the way of salvation. Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched body and soul, forgive me all wherein I have offended you everyday of my life, and for whatever sins I may have committed during the past night. Protect me during the present day and guard me from every temptation of the enemy so that I may not anger God by any sin. And pray to the Lord for me, that He may strengthen me in His fear and make me, His servant, worthy of His goodness. Amen.

Ninth Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos

My Most Holy Sovereign Lady, Theotokos, by Your holy and all-powerful prayers banish from me, Your humble and miserable servant, despondency, laziness, folly, carelessness and all impure, evil and blasphe m ous thoughts of my wretched heart and my darkened mind. Quench the flame of my passions, for I am poor and miserable, and deliver me from my many cruel me mories and deeds, freeing me from all their evil effects. For You are blessed by all generations and glorified is Your most honourable name unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for the Forgiveness of Sins

Remit, pardon and forgive our sins, O God, whether volunt ary or involuntary, of word or deed, whether com mitted in know ledge or in ignorance, whether by day or night, in mind or in thought. Forgive us everything, for You are Good and the Lover of mankind.

Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for you have borne the Saviour of our souls. It is truly worthy to bless You O Theotokos, Ever-blessed, Most Pure and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption You gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify You.

Prayer to All the Saints

Glorious apostles, prophets, martyrs and all holy ones, pray to God for us sinners.

Prayer to the Saint Whose Name We Bear

Pray to God, for me, holy and God-pleasing Saint (Name), for with fervour I turn to you, the swift helper and intercessor of my soul.

Tropar to the Life-giving Cross of Our Lord

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance! Grant victory to Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by Your Cross preserve Your commonwealth.

Commemoration

Remember, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Your Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, for which You have spilled Your Precious Blood: Confirm, strengthen and in crease her. Multiply, com fort and preserve her in vincible for ever before the gates of hell. End dis harm ony among the churches. Quench the tumult of the heathen. Swiftly put down and root out the rebellion of all heresies and by the power of Your Holy Spirit reduce them to nothing. (Bow) Save, O Lord, and have mercy on our civil authorities; pro tect our nation with peace, subduing our every foe and adversary. Fill the hearts of our leaders with peaceful, bene volent thoughts for Your Holy Church and for all Your people so that we, in their tranquility, may lead a peace ful and quiet life in true faith and in all godliness and purity. (Bow) Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the Holy Orthodox Patriarchs, Metro politans, Archbishops and Bishops, presbyters and deacons and all the priestly orders, whom You have appointed to pastor Your reason-endowed flock, and through their prayers have mercy on me and save me, a sinner. (Bow) Save O Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name) and through his holy prayers forgive me all my sins. (Bow) Save O Lord, and have mercy on my parents, brothers and sisters and all my relatives, friends and neighbours and grant them Your earthly and heavenly good things. (Bow) Save O Lord, and have mercy on the old and the young, on the poor, on orphans and widows and on those who are suffering from maladies and sorrows, dangers and afflictions, attacks and captivity, imprisonment and exile. Especially, save and have mercy on Your servants who are suffering from persecution for Your sake and for the Or tho dox Faith from the godless, from apostates and from heretics. Remember them, visit them, bring them con solation and swiftly grant them relief, freedom and de li verance by Your power. (Bow) Save, O Lord, and have mercy on our benefactors who help us, sup port us, who are compassionate to us and who entreat us, un worthy though we be, to pray for their salv ation and the at tainment of Your eternal blessings. (Bow) Save O Lord, and have mercy on all those travelling; family members, those in God’s service, and on all Orthodox Christ ians. (Bow) Save O Lord, and have mercy on those whom, by my reckless ness, I have tempted and turned from the path of salvation and have led into evil and harmful deeds. By Your Divine Providence restore them again to the True Path. (Bow)

Prayers for the Departed

Remember, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants, my pa rents and all my relatives (names), and all those reposed in the hope of the resurrection and eternal life, our departed fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, the Orthodox resting here and throughout the world. Forgive all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary, grant them rest in Your Heavenly Kingdom and the communion of Your eternal and divine blessings. (Bow)

Magnification of the Most Holy Trinity

Мy Hope іs the Father, my Refuge is the Son, my Protection is the Holy Spirit: All-Holy Trinity, glory to You. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the intercessions of Your Most Pure Mother, and of all the Saints have mercy on us. Amen.