St. Gregory’s Prayer Book A Manual of Services, Prayers and Devotions according to the Western Rite of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America 2016 The work of preparing this book is offered to the greater glory of God and in thanksgiving for the Twentieth Anniversary of St. Gregory Orthodox Church, Silver Spring, MD. The Icons are taken from the Iconographics Orthodox Clip Art collection from Theologic Systems, Inc., and from the Orthodox Illustration Project of the Orthodox Arts Journal, and are used by permission. Table of Contents Forward.. 2 Morning Prayers. 4 Noon Day Prayers. 10 Evening Prayers. 13 Compline.. 18 Trisagion Prayers (Eastern Rite).. 33 Morning Prayers (Eastern Rite). 35 Evening Prayers (Eastern Rite).. 40 Preparation for Confession. 45 The Sacrament of Penance. 52 Psalm 51. 56 Preparation for Communion. 59 The Liturgy of St. Gregory. 83 The Liturgy of St. Tikhon. 117 Thanksgiving after Communion. 147 Communion of the Sick.. 152 Visitation of the Sick.. 157 Prayers for the Sick.. 163 Prayers at the Time of Death. 167 Prayers for the Departed. 184 Devotions to the Mother of God. 188 Litany of Saints. 194 Litany of the Holy Name.. 208 Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 214 Litany of St. Joseph . 221 Stations of the Cross. 225 Prayers for Various Occasions. 248 Table of Psalms & Canticles.. 276 Forward Mankind was created to commune with God. Our first parents walked and talked with God in the Garden, but we lost that privilege as we turned from God, and followed our own paths, turning away from life and health. Prayer restores us and makes us fully human. Prayer is an act of communion and conversation between God and His children. In our prayers we acknowledge our total dependance upon God, even as we praise Him for His love and mercy as revealed through Jesus Christ. Prayer should be a frequent part of our lives; indeed St. Paul urges us to “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17). We pray in thanksgiving, and for forgiveness, guidance, healing, strength, wisdom, and all good things needed to live as God calls us to live. At times we will pray “from the heart,” using our own words. At other times we may pray using the prayers of the Church, prayers hallowed by centuries of use, prayers which furnish a structure and framework for our spiritual lives. -2- It is always helpful to have a Rule of Prayer to guide us as we pray. Such a Rule should be consistent and manageable, and developed in consultation with one’s Parish Priest and Confessor. This collection provides prayers from the Western Rite Orthodox tradition. Most of these prayers are drawn from The English Office, The Orthodox Missal, and The Orthodox Ritual; some are taken from The Book of Common Prayer (1928), A Little Book of Prayers from Old English Sources (1900), and The Anglican Service Book (1991). Morning and Evening Prayers, along with the Self-examination before Confession, from A Pocket Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians (1956), have also been included, as they are commonly used throughout our Archdiocese. It is hoped that this little collection will aid God’s people as they offer prayers and praises to the honor and glory of His Name. St. Gregory Orthodox Church Silver Spring, Maryland The Feast of St. Tikhon 2016 -3- Morning Prayers V. a O Lord, open thou our lips. R. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. V. a O God, make speed to save us. R. O Lord, make haste to help us. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. V. Praise ye the Lord. R. The Lord’s Name be praised. Here may follow a reading from the Psalms and other Scripture appointed for the day. Then the Canticle: Benedictus a Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, * for he hath visited and redeemed his people; And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us * in the house of his servant David, -4- As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, * which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, * and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant; To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, * that he would give us, That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies * might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, * all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the highest, * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people * for the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, * whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us; -5- To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen. V. O Lord, hear our prayer. R. And let our cry come unto thee. V. Let us pray... 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 a evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us -6- sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. The Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, a and the life everlasting. Amen. -7- Then is said: The Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Here may be added your own private devotions and intercessions, using your own words or the "Prayers for Various Occasions", p. 248 . When you have finished, conclude with these prayers: Defend us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all perils of mind and body; and at the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, the ever Virgin Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles -8- Peter and Paul, (of blessed N.,) and of all thy saints, graciously bestow upon us both peace and safety: that all adversity and error being done away, thy Church may serve thee in untroubled freedom. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. a The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. -9- Noonday Prayers The Angelus V. a The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary, R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost. V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; R. Be it unto me according to thy word. V. Hail, Mary... V. And the Word was made flesh, R. And dwelt among us. V. Hail Mary... V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. -10- Let us pray: We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his a Cross and Passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Regina Coeli During Eastertide, until First Vespers of Trinity Sunday O Queen of heaven, be joyful, alleluia; Because he whom so meetly thou barest, alleluia, Hath arisen, as he promised, alleluia: Pray for us to the Father, alleluia. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R. For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia. -11- Let us pray: O God, who, by the Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ didst vouchsafe to give gladness unto the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, being holpen by the Virgin Mary, his Mother, may attain unto the joys of everlasting life.