Orthodox Prayer Book PDF

PRAYERBOOK
In Accordance with the Tradition

of The Eastern Orthodox Church
First Edition
All Saints of Alaska Orthodox Church

St Arseny Press, Victoria, Canada
2006
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely. REVElATION 22: 17
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath

said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water. JOhN 7: 38
Pray without ceasing. 1 ThESSAlONIANS 5: 17

This Prayerbook is used by
If found please return to

Blessed by His Grace, Bishop SERAPHIM,
for use within the Archdiocese of Canada
Pulished by
St. Arseny Press
All Saints of Alaska Orthodox Church
5363 Pat Bay Highway
Victoria, BC Canada
www.allsaintsofalaska.ca
Introduction to the Preparation for Holy Confession by

Father Thomas Hopko, copyright Father Hopko and St.
Vladimir’s Seminary Press. All rights reserved.
Introduction to the Preparation for Holy Communion

by Father Thomas Hopko, copyright Father Hopko and
Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery. All rights reserved.
ISBN 0-9781932-0-2
Fonts and art used in the book: Brisio Pro, designed by

Adobe Systems. Licensed use; Sava Pro, designed by
Adobe Systems. Licensed use; art from Ladder of Divine
Ascent, Holy Transfiguration Monastery
All portions of this book not copyrighted and/or rights

reserved may be reproduced and disseminated freely.
 Contents
Morning Prayers 1
Evening Prayers 27
Prayers for Various Occasions 41
The Holy Scriptures - daily reading plan 59
Hymns for the Weekly Cycle 69
Hymns for the Festal Cycle 79
Preparation for Holy Confession 89
Preparation for Holy Communion 111
Thanksgiving for Holy Communion 145
Service for one absent on the Lord’s Day 155
Supplication to the Holy Theotokos 179
Akathist to the Sweetest Lord Jesus 199
Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos 217
Akathist: Glory to God for all things 237
The Holy Fathers on Prayer 257
Intercessions 359
 Morning Prayers 1
MORNING PRAYERS
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the
morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to
know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift
up my soul unto thee. Psalm 143:8
Arising from bed, stand with reverence before the A-seeing God.
Make the Sign of the Cros and say:
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Stand quietly fo a short hile until the mind is sti. Ten make three
bows, saying:
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (3x)

2 Morning Prayers 
TRISAGION PRAYERS
Through the prayers of our brothers and sisters, Lord
Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Amen.
Glory to You, O God, glory to You!
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,

everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of
Blessings and Giver of Life: come and abide in us and
cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O
Good One!
Holy God, holy Mighty, holy Immortal, have mercy on us!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O All holy Trinity, have mercy on us.

Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
Master, pardon our transgressions.
Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your
Name’s sake.
Lord have mercy! (3x)

 Morning Prayers 3
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 debts
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
MORNING TROPARIA
Arising from sleep we fall down before You, O Good One
and cry out to You, O Almighty One, the angelic hymn:
Holy, holy, holy are You, O God! Through the prayers of
the Theotokos, have mercy on us!
Glory to the Fathe and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now that You have raised me from my bed of sleep, O

Lord, enlighten my mind and heart and open my lips
that I may praise You, O Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy are
You, O God! Through the prayers of the Theotokos, have
mercy on us!
Now and eve and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 Evening Prayers 27
EVENING PRAYERS
Lord, now leest thou thy servant depart in
peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes
have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast
prepared before the face of all people; A light
to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel. Luke 2: 29-32
bows, saying:
Spirit. Amen.

28 Evening Prayers 

Amen.

Good One!


Name’s sake.
 Evening Prayers 29

Thy Kingdom come.
If ou prayers are said at the beginning of the evening, the foowing
may be said:
EVENING TROPARIA
The day is over; I thank You, O Lord! Grant me to pass
this evening and this night without sin and save me, O
Saviour!
Glory to the Fathe and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The day is over; I glorify You, O Master! Grant me to pass

this evening and this night without offence and save me, O
Saviour!
Now and eve and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The day is over; I sing to You, O Holy One! Grant me to

 Prayers for Various Occasions 41
VARIOUS PRAYERS
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your reuests be made known to God.
Phillipians 4:6
Te foowing coection of prayers are fo various occasions and needs
in the daily life of an Orthodox Christian. A more complete set may
be found in the Orthodox Book of Needs.
BEFORE MEALS
Thy Kingdom come.
42 Prayers for Various Occasions 

The eyes of all look unto you, O Lord, to give them their
meat in due season. You open Your hands and fill all living
things with Your goodness.
Christ our true God, less the food and drink of Your
servants, for You are holy always, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
AFTER MEALS
We give thanks unto You, O Christ our God, that You have
satisfied us with Your earthly lessings; deprive us not of
Your heavenly kingdom, but as You came in the midst of
Your disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, so come to
us and save us!

 Prayers for Various Occasions 43
Blessed is God who nourishes us with His grace and

bounties, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
PRAYER BEFORE READING HOLY SCRIPTURE

Illumine our hearts, O Master who loves mankind,
with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the
eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your goel
teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Your lessed
commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires,
we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both
thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto
You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies,
O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together
with Your Father, who is from everlasting, and Your all-
holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER OF A STUDENT
Christ my Lord, the giver of light and wisdom, who
opened the eyes of the lind man and transformed the
fishermen into wise heralds and teachers of the goel
through the coming of the Holy Spirit, shine also in my
mind the light of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Grant me
discernment, understanding and wisdom in learning.
 Daily Scripture Reading Plan 59
HOLY SCRIPTURES
This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is wrien therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8
Careful attention to the Wod of God is necesary to ou salvation

and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Using this daily devotional plan,
you wi read through the Revised Standad Version of the Holy
Scriptures with the Apocrypha in one yea.
 JANUARY  4 Jan Gen 13-16

1 Jan Gen 1-4 5 Jan Gen 17-20
60 Daily Scripture Reading Plan 
8 Jan Gen 29-32  FEBRUARY 

9 Jan Gen 33-36 1 Feb Num 5-8
10 Jan Gen 37-40 2 Feb Num 9-12
11 Jan Gen 41-44 3 Feb Num 13-16
12 Jan Gen 45-48 4 Feb Num 17-20
13 Jan Gen 49-50 5 Feb Num 21-24
14 Jan Ex 1-4 6 Feb Num 25-28
15 Jan Ex 5-8 7 Feb Num 29-32
16 Jan Ex 9-12 8 Feb Num 33-36
17 Jan Ex 13-16 9 Feb Deut 1-4
18 Jan Ex 17-20 10 Feb Deut 5-8
19 Jan Ex 21-24 11 Feb Deut 9-12
20 Jan Ex 25-28 12 Feb Deut 13-16
21 Jan Ex 29-32 13 Feb Deut 17-20
22 Jan Ex 33-36 14 Feb Deut 21-24
23 Jan Ex 37-40 15 Feb Deut 25-29
24 Jan Lev 1-4 16 Feb Deut 30-34
25 Jan Lev 5-8 17 Feb Josh 1-4
26 Jan Lev 9-12 18 Feb Josh 5-8
27 Jan Lev 13-16 19 Feb Josh 9-12
28 Jan Lev 17-20 20 Feb Josh 13-16
29 Jan Lev 21-24 21 Feb Josh 17-20
30 Jan Lev 25-27 22 Feb Josh 21-24
31 Jan Num 1-4 23 Feb Jgs 1-4
 Daily Scripture Reading Plan 61
24 Feb Jgs 5-8 19 Mar 1Kgs 18-22

25 Feb Jgs 9-12 20 Mar 2Kgs 1-4
26 Feb Jgs 13-16 21 Mar 2Kgs 5-8
27 Feb Jgs 17-21 22 Mar 2Kgs 9-12
28 Feb Ruth 23 Mar 2Kgs 13-16
24 Mar 2Kgs 17-20
 MARCH  25 Mar 2Kgs 21-25
1 Mar 1Sam 1- 4 26 Mar 1Chr 1-4
2 Mar 1Sam 5-8 27 Mar 1Chr 5-8
3 Mar 1Sam 9-12 28 Mar 1Chr 9-12
4 Mar 1Sam 13-16 29 Mar 1Chr 13-16
5 Mar 1Sam 17-20 30 Mar 1Chr 17-20
6 Mar 1Sam 21-24 31 Mar 1Chr 21-24
7 Mar 1Sam 25-28
8 Mar 1Sam 29-31  APRIL 
9 Mar 2Sam 1-4 1 Apr 1Chr 25-29
10 Mar 2Sam 5-8 2 Apr 2Chr 1-4
11 Mar 2Sam 9-12 3 Apr 2Chr 5-8
12 Mar 2Sam 13-16 4 Apr 2Chr 9-12
13 Mar 2Sam 17-20 5 Apr 2Chr 13-16
14 Mar 2Sam 21-24 6 Apr 2Chr 17-20
15 Mar 1Kgs 1-4 7 Apr 2Chr 21-24
16 Mar 1Kgs 5-8 8 Apr 2Chr 25-28
17 Mar 1Kgs 9-12 9 Apr 2Chr 29-32
18 Mar 1Kgs 13-17 10 Apr 2Chr 33-36
 Daily Tropars and Kondaks 69
THE WEEKLY CYCLE

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto
day uereth speech, and night unto night
sheweth knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2
Te foowing are the Troparia and Kontakia fo the eekly cycle
hich can be included as part of ou daily praye rule.
Te Troparia and Kontakia are ecial short hymns sung in one of
the Eight Tones composed in hono of the Day, Feaﬆ o Saint (s)
commemorated and expres the esence of the Feaﬆ o the life and
spiritual feats of the Saint (s).
Te Troparia and Kontakia are simila to each othe in length,

literary form, etc., but each streses a dierent aect of the esence of
the commemoration. While the Troparion provides us with a picture
70 Daily Tropars and Kondaks 
of the external side of the commemorated event, the Kontakion draws

attention to the inne aect, and ice versa. Te Kontakia, howeve,
usuay reect more fuy the esence of the sacred event.
Te seven-day eek has its own cycle of events, because each day of the
eek commemorates a particula Saint o an event of ou Faith. Tis
gives signiicance to each day with a distinct identity of holines
and festivity:
 SUNDAY 
Tone 1 Tropar: When the stone had been sealed by
the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure
Body, You arose on the third day, O Saviour, granting life
to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to You
O Giver of Life: Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Your Kingdom! Glory to Your diensation, O
Lover of mankind!
Tone 1 Kontakion: As God You did rise from the

tomb in glory, raising the world with Yourself. Human
nature praises You as God for death has vanished.
Adam exults, O Master! Eve rejoices for she is freed
from bondage and cries to You: You are the Giver of
Resurrection to all, O Christ!
✧
Tone 2 Tropar: When You descended to death, O Life
 Daily Tropars and Kondaks 71
Immortal, You did slay hell with the splendour of Your

Godhead. And when from the depths You did raise the
dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: O Giver of Life,
Christ our God, glory to You!
Tone 2 Kontakion: Hell became afraid, O almighty

Saviour, seeing the miracle of Your Resurrection from the
tomb! The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this
and rejoiced with You! And the world, O my Saviour,
praises You forever!
✧
Tone 3 Tropar: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth
be glad. For the Lord has shown strength with His arm!
He has trampled down death by death! He has become
the first-born of the dead! He has delivered us from the
depths of hell and has granted to the world great mercy!
Tone 3 Kontakion: On this day You did rise from the

tomb, O Merciful One, leading us from the gates of death.
On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; with the prophets
and patriarchs they unceasingly praise the divine majesty
of Your power!
✧
Tone 4 Tropar: When the women disciples of the
Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Your
 Festal Tropars and Kondaks 79
THE FESTAL CYCLE

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and
wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth. i Corinthians 5:8
NATIVITY OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS

(SEPTEMBER 8)
Tropar (Tone 4): Your nativity, O Virgin, has

proclaimed joy to the whole universe! The sun of
righteousness, Christ our God, has shone from you, O
Theotokos! By annulling the curse, He beﬆowed a lessing.
By destroying death, He has granted us eternal life!
Kontakion (Tone 4): By your nativity, O most pure

Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness;
80 Festal Tropars and Kondaks 
Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. And we,

your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing
to you: the barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos,
the Nourisher of our Life!
THE ELEVATION OF THE LIFE-CREATING CROSS

(SEPTEMBER 14)
Tropar (Tone 1): O Lord save Your people and
less Your inheritance. Grant victory to the Orthodox
Christians over their adversaries, and by the virtue of Your
Cross, preserve Your habitation!
Kontakion (Tone 4): As You were voluntarily

crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called
by Your Name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your
power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by
beﬆowing on them the invincile trophy, Your weapon
of peace.
THE ENTRANCE OF
THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE
(NOVEMBER 21)
Tropar (Tone 4): Today is the prelude of the good-
will of God, of the preaching of the salvation of mankind.
The Virgin appears in the temple of god, in anticipation
proclaiming Christ to all. Let us rejoice and sing to her:
Rejoice, O fulfillment of the Creator’s diensation!
 Festal Tropars and Kondaks 81
Kontakion (Tone 4): The most pure temple of the

saviour; the precious chamber and virgin; the sacred
treasure of the glory of God, is presented today to the
house of the Lord. She brings with her the grace of the
Spirit, which the angels of God praise. Truly this woman is
the abode of heaven!
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD,

GOD & SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
(DECEMBER 25)
Tropar (Tone 4): Your Nativity, O Christ our God,
has shone to the world the light of wisdom! For by it,
those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a star to
adore You, the Sun of Righteousness and to know You, the
Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion (Tone 3): Today the Virgin gives birth to

the transcendent one and the earth offers a cave to the
unapproachale one! Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him!
The wise men journey with the star! Since for our sake the
eternal God was born as a little child!
THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD,

GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
(JANUARY 6)
Tropar (Tone 1): O Lord, when You were baptized in
the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest!
 Preparation for Holy Confession 89
HOLY CONFESSION
And when he had said this, he breathed on
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are
remied unto them; and whose soever sins ye
retain, they are retained. John 20: 22
Te foowing is an examination of conscience in preparation fo the

sacrament of Holy Confesion. Te introduction is taken from “If We
Confes Ou Sins”, by F Tomas Hopko.
The gift of God’s forgiveness is received through private

prayer, corporate worship, the disciplines of prayer and
fasting, penitential services and above all through the
sacrament of Holy Confession.
The value of Holy Confession is twofold. First, through

90 Preparation for Holy Confession 
this sacramental act of the ordained priest and the

Christian believer we have the assurance of divine
forgiveness, according to the words of Christ ( Jn 20:23).
Secondly, Holy Confession provides the opportunity to
talk about one’s deep concerns, to receive counsel and
to be encouraged toward spiritual growth, all of which
are universally recognized as extremely beneficial to
personal life.
Holy Confession is appropriate whenever an Orthodox

Christian feels the need for it. It is also a part of our total
spiritual preparation during the fast periods leading up to
the great feasts of Easter, Christmas, the Falling Asleep of
the Theotokos and the Feast of Twelve Apostles. However,
Holy Confession is eecially necessary: when a serious sin
has been committed; when a habitual sin has overwhelmed
a Christian, or when a Christian has stopped growing
spiritually and needs a re-examination of priorities.
We confess our sins to God and the power of forgiveness

is God’s. However, the gift of God’s forgiveness, although
assured, is not magical. It does not automatically spare us
from spiritual struggle – the continual vigilance against
evil and the unceasing warfare against sin. Holy Confession
will bear fruits in the Spirit only when the believer hates
evil, utterly rejects sin and patiently cultivates positive
habits of the life in Christ. “So you also must consider
 Preparation for Holy Confession 91
yourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ Jesus… Do not

yield your members to sin as instruments of wicked-
ness, but yield yourselves to God as those who have been
brought from death to life.” (Rm 6:11, 13)
How can one prepare for Holy Confession? Preparation

for Holy Confession is a prayerful examination of feelings,
thoughts, words, acts, attitudes, habits, values, priorities,
goals, direction and way of life. This prayerful self-
examination includes not only the personal religious life,
but also family relationships, social aivities, job conduct,
business dealings, political commitments and even
recreational pursuits, because our entire existence should
be lived in the light of the Holy Spirit. We ought not to
condemn ourselves, but to affirm our true selves in Christ
who has given us access to God’s mercy and forgiveness
and who has taught us to live for God’s glory.
Pray and think about your confession over several days.

Ask God to help you perceive your sins and to make
a thorough confession of them. Sometime before the
sacrament of Holy Confession, offer selected prayers from
the following Confessional Prayers.
✧
 Preparation for Holy Communion 111
HOLY COMMUNION
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks
the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner,
shall be guilty of the body and the blood of
the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so
let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11: 27-28
Te foowing are prayers in preparation fo the sacrament of Holy

Communion. Te Introduction is from ‘A Manual of Communion
Prayers of the Orthodox Church: Volume II’ by Te Holy
Myrrhearers Monaﬆery, Otego, New York.
Because we Christians living in this world are caught up

in earthly aivities, afflictions, trials and temptations
and because we are so easily overcome by sinful passions,
God gives us ways by which we enale ourselves never to
112 Preparation for Holy Communion 
forget Him. He provides methods for us to keep ourselves

ceaslessly prepared to meet Him at His coming. He offers
rules of spiritual and physical discipline for us to praice
so that we can remain constantly alive to His presence and
power in our lives and so be ready to receive Him when He
gives Himself to us for holy communion.
The general disciplines for preparing for holy communion
are the disciplines of Christian life itself. They are praices
which keep us alive to God, the aions which open our
minds, hearts and bodies to the presence of God’s grace
and power in our lives. They basically include:
 regular participation in the Church’s liturgical worship

 regular rule of personal prayer
 regular rule of ceaseless mental prayer
 regular praice of fasting and abstinence
 regular reading of the Bile and spiritual writings
 regular confession of sins (and thoughts, feelings,
temptations, and dreams) to our pastor
 regular giving and recieving of forgiveness of sins with
the people in our lives
 regular donations of money to the Church.
 regular sharing of our time, energies, and possessions
with others, and constant striving not to sin in the
smallest way in routine aivites of our everyday life,
work and personal relationships.
 Preparation for Holy Communion 113
The word regular is repeated and emphasised because

these spiritual praices and aivities must be done
according to a rule (regula, kanon, pravilo). They must be
done regularly with conscious attention and discipline.
They cannot be left to whim, caprice or feeling.
What a person does in regard to liturgical worship,
personal prayer, fasting, reading, contributing and serving
will be shaped according to the conditions of his or her life.
It will be different for each one according to age, strength,
availale time and personal capabilities. The saints say
that rules of praying, reading and fasting should be brief
but frequent, simple, pure, uncomplicated and keepale.
They should be determined and eﬆalished with spiritual
advice and counsel in ways which permit them to be easily
included within the real possibilities of one’s actual life.
In addition to the Christian’s general spiritual discipline,

each believer must make specific devotional efforts
in preparing for holy communion. These efforts will
also differ from person to person. They will include a
set number of specific prayers and readings, a specific
practice of confession and reconciliation with others
and specific good deeds, such as almsgiving and financial
contributions. They will depend on the conditions of one’s
life. A monastic person or clergyman, for example, will
normally have a longer rule of specific preparation for
 Thanksgiving for Holy Communion 145
OUR THANKSGIVING
What shall I render unto the LORD for all
his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the
presence of all his people... I will offer to thee
the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call
upon the name of the LORD. Psalm 116: 12-17.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
Tese prayers are to be said eithe immediately ate recieving Holy
Communion, o as soon ate as circumstances aow.
Glory to You, O God! (3x)
I thank You, O Lord my God, for You have not rejected

146 Thanksgiving for Holy Communion 
me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to be a partaker

of Your holy things. I thank You, for You have permitted
me, the unworthy, to commune of Your most pure and
heavenly gifts. But, O Master and Lover of mankind,
who for our sakes died and rose again and gave us these
awesome and life-creating mysteries for the good and
sanctification of our souls and bodies; let them be for
the healing of soul and body, the repelling of every
adversary, the illumining of the eyes of my heart, the
peace of my spiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love
unfeigned, the fulfilling of wisdom, the observing of Your
commandments, the receiving of Your divine grace and
the attaining of Your kingdom. Preserved by them in Your
holiness, may I always remember Your grace and live not
for myself alone, but for You, our Master and Benefactor.
May I pass from this life in the hope of eternal life and so
attain to the everlasting rest where the voice of those who
feast is unceasing and the gladness of those who behold the
goodness of Your countenance is unending. For You are
the true desire and the uneakale joy of those who love
You, O Christ our God and all creation sings Your praise
forever. Amen.
A PRAYER OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT

O Master Christ our God, King of the ages, Maker of all
things: I thank You for all the good things You have given
 Thanksgiving for Holy Communion 147
me, eecially for the communion with Your most pure

and life-creating Mysteries. I pray You, O gracious Lover
of man, preserve me under Your protection, beneath the
shadow of Your wings. Enale me, even to my last breath,
to partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Your
holy things, for the remission of sins and unto life eternal.
For You are the Bread of Life, the Fountain of Holiness,
the Giver of all Good and to You we ascribe glory, with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of
ages. Amen.
A PRAYER OF ST. SIMEON THE TRANSLATOR

Freely You have given me Your Body for my food, O You
who are a Fire consuming the unworthy. Consume me not,
O my Creator, but instead enter into my members, my
veins, my heart. Consume the thorns of my transgressions.
Cleanse my soul and sanctify my reasonings. Make firm
my knees and body. Illumine my five senses. Nail me to
the fear of You. Always protect, guard and keep me from
soul-destroying words and deeds. Cleanse me, purify me
and adorn me. Give me understanding and illumination.
Show me to be a temple of Your one spirit and not the
home of many sins. May every evil thing, every carnal
passion, flee from me as from a fire as I become Your
tabernacle through communion. I offer You as intercessors
all the saints: the leaders of the bodiless hosts, Your
 Service for Sunday Absence 155
ON THE LORD’S DAY

But we, brethren, being taken from you
for a short time in presence, not in heart,
endeavoured the more abundantly to see your
face with great desire. 1 Thessalonians 2:17
Te foowing is a service fo one ho is prevented by serious necesity

from attendance at Divine Liturgy on the Lord’s day. Attendance
at the Divine Services of the Orthodox Church is necesary fo
salvation and spiritual growth. One is permitted to mis these services
only fo a ‘reason worthy of a blesing’, and indeed, the Canons of the
Church indicate that anyone ho mises three consecutive Divine
Liturgies may only return to the chalice through repentance and
Holy Confesion. Howeve, if one is too sick, o is forced to travel
during a service o to a place here there are no services oered, o is
prevented fo hateve reason is worthy of a blesing (and has indeed
obtained one), they may foow the ode of service below.
156 Service for Sunday Absence 
 THE THIRD HOUR 

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Good One!


Name’s sake.
 Service for Sunday Absence 157

Thy Kingdom come.
Lord have mercy (12x)
both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King.

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 God.
PSALM 16 / 17
Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear
to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my
vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look
on the things that are upright. You have teﬆed my heart;
 Service to the Holy Theotokos 179
TO THE THEOTOKOS
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said,
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to
me, that the mother of my Lord should come
to me? Luke 1: 41-43
Tis service of SUpplICATION TO ThE MOST HOly MOThER Of GOd

may be done in any time of sicknes, sorrow o need.
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus

Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

180 Service to the Holy Theotokos 

Good One!


Name’s sake.

Thy Kingdom come.
 Service to the Holy Theotokos 181

Come let us worship God our King!

Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King
and our God!
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself
our King and our God!
PSALM 143
Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! In
Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in
Your sight no one living is righteous. For the enemy has
persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have
long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed
within me; My heart within me is distressed. I remember
the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on
the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah Answer
me eedily, O LORD; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your
face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the
pit. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which
 Akathist to the Sweetest Lord Jesus 199
AKATHIST TO JESUS
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon
his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9: 6
An akathist (Greek, akathistos) is a hymn dedicated to a saint, a holy

event, o one of the persons of the Holy Trinity. Te wod akathist
itself means “not sitting.”
Spirit. Amen.
bows, saying:
200 Akathist to the Sweetest Lord Jesus 
TRISAGION PRAYERS
Amen.

Good One!


Name’s sake.
 Akathist to the Sweetest Lord Jesus 201

Thy Kingdom come.
PSALM 23 (22):
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me
lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
He reﬆores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a
tale before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint
my head with oil; most excellent is Your cup which brings
me joy! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever!
 Akathist to the Holy Theotokos 217
AKATHIST TO MARY
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a
certain woman of the company lifted up her
voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb
that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast
sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are
they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Luke 11: 27-28
Te Akathist Hymn to the Mothe of God is one of the most e-
loved services of devotion in the Orthodox Church. Te Akathist
as composed in the imperial city of Constantinople, “the city of the
Virgin,” by St. Romanos the Melodist, ho reposed in the yea 556.
Te Akathist Hymn has proved so popula that many othe hymns
have been written foowing its format. Tese include Akathists to
Ou Lod Jesus Christ, to the Cros, to various saints, and so on.
218 Akathist to the Holy Theotokos 
Te wod “akathistos” literay means “not sitting,” i.e., standing;

normay a participants stand hile it is being prayed. Te hymn
is comprised of 24 stanzas, alternating long and short. Each short
stanza (kontakion) ends with the singing of “Aeluia.” Each longe
stanza (ikos) ends with the refrain: “Rejoice, O Bride Unweded.”
Te majority of the hymn is made up of praises directed to the

Mothe of God, always beginning with the salutation of the
Archangel Gabriel: “Rejoice.” In each of them, one ate the othe,
a the events related to ou Lord’s incarnation pas before us fo
ou contemplation. Te Archangel Gabriel (in Ikos 1) marvels at the
Divine self-emptying and the renewal of creation hich wi occu
hen Christ comes to dwe in the Virgin’s womb. Te unborn John
the Baptist (Ikos 3) propheticay rejoices. Te shepheds (Ikos 4)
recognize Christ as a blameles Lamb, and rejoice that in the Virgin
“the things of earth join chorus with the heavens.” Te pagan Magi,
(Kontakion 5) foowing the light of the sta, praise He fo revealing
the light of the world.
As the hymn progreses, various individuals and groups encounte

Christ and His Mothe. Each has his own need; each his own desire
o expectation, and each inds his o he own particula spiritual
need satisied and fulied in Ou Lod and in the Mothe of God.
So too, each generation of Orthodox, and each particula person ho
has prayed the Akathist, has found in this hymn an inspired means
of expresing gratitude and praise to the Mothe of God fo hat she
has accomplished fo thei salvation.
 Akathist to the Holy Theotokos 219
Spirit. Amen.
bows, saying:
TRISAGION PRAYERS

Amen.

Good One!

 Glory to God for all things 237
AKATHIST TO GOD
The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the
Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the
Lord loveth the righteous... The Lord shall
reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all
generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146:8,9
Tis Akathist, also caed the “Akathist of Tanksgiving,” as

composed by Protopresbyte Gregory Petrov shortly before his
death in a prison camp in 1940. Te title is from the laﬆ wods
of Saint John Chrysostom as he as dying in exile. It is a song of
praise from amidst the most terrible suerings, and it is at the same
time a profound airmation of the goodnes of God as it is revealed
everywhere in his creation.
✧
238 Glory to God for all things 
Spirit. Amen.
bows, saying:
TRISAGION PRAYERS

Amen.

Good One!

 Glory to God for all things 239
All holy Trinity, have mercy on us.

Name’s sake.

Thy Kingdom come.
And lead us not into temptation
PSALM 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the

firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours
forth eech, and night to night declares knowledge. There
is no eech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
 The Holy Fathers on Prayer 257
THE HOLY FATHERS

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the
wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Proverbs 22: 17
Scripture, Divine Tradition and the Holy Fathers have given us

great olumes of works devoted to praye. Whethe e are in Church,
at home, at work, traveling, o at leisure, praye constitutes ou most
intimate union with God. It is inconceivable even to imagine oneself
as being an Orthodox Christian without praye; in fact, the more
one ‘lives and breathes’ Orthodoxy, the more one’s soul and body
strive towad praye, and the more one strives to develop perpetual,
heartfelt communion with God every moment of one’s life. To alk
with God’s presence felt continuay in one’s heart is to alk with
unceasing praye. Christ Himself is ou example, Who not only
prayed corporay (Matt. 14:23; 26:36; Luke 6:12; John 17), but
perpetuay ‘beheld’ within God the Fathe (John 10:38).
258 The Holy Fathers on Prayer 
Tere are many Christian irtues hich e should foow, e.g., giving
alms, showing mercy, being gentle, not arguing, etc., but these oten
require and depend upon circumstance – praye, howeve, e can
always praice; there is no circumstance hich can prevent us in ou
conscious existence from conversing with God. Praye should be ou
irst, midle and inal endeavou as Orthodox Christians.
From the moment of aking, to the time of sleeping, e should

strive not to let praye leave ou hearts. Even hile e sleep,
God in His mercy is able to grant us praye during such hours of
‘unconsciousnes’- fo, although e sleep, the heart is awake (Song
5:2). If e have praye in ou hearts continuously, then e stand
always before God and a othe Christian irtues are then easy to
fuli. As St. Tikhon of Zadonsk wrote:
As a bid without wings, as a soldie without arms, so is a

Christian without praye.
We are like bids eve striving to y to God and dwe in His
unutterably joyful Kingdom. And e are like soldiers perpetuay
battling those dark, evil forces hich tempt us and oten cause us to
fa; with the wings of praye e can soa to God and with the arms
of praye e can scatte the temptations of the dark ones, gaining fo
ourselves peace, crowns, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Te foowing are but a few of the teachings that e have been
given about praye and the reading of Divinely inspired books as
expounded by Scriptures and the Holy Fathers – in particlua, the
emphasis is on personal praye. We should strive to read and reread

these wods, implant them in ou hearts, and put them into praice.
The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the

violent take it by force.
(Matt. 11:12)
God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in

spirit and in truth.
(John 4:24)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is

profitale for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness.
(II Tim. 3:16)
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door; pray to thy Father which is
in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward

thee openly.
(Matt. 6:6)
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual

songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord.
(Eph. 5:19)
I had rather eak five words with my understanding...

than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
(I Co. 14:19)
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing,

ye shall receive.
(Matt. 21:22)
When you read the Goels, Christ eaks to you; when

you pray, you are eaking to Him.... The Bile should be
read not just for analysis, but as an immediate dialogue
with the living Word Himself to feed our love for Christ,
to kindle our hearts with prayer and to provide us with
guidance in our personal life.
St. Tikhon of Zodonsk
When one reads the Holy Scriptures, one should apply

everything to oneself and not to someone else. As a Book
uniquely inspired by God and addressed to each of the
faithful personally, the Bile possesses sacramental power,
transmitting Grace to the reader, bringing him to a point
of meeting and decisive encounter with God.
St. Mark the Monk
Keep on studying the Goels until the end of your life.

Never stop. Do not think you know it enough, even if you
know it all by heart.
Bp. Ignatius Brianchaninov
But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; for they
fast on the second and fifth day of the week (meaning
Monday and Thursday); but do you fast on the fourth
day and the day of Preparation (meaning Wednesday and
Friday). Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the Lord
commanded in His Goel, thus pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy

kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our
debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or
evil); for Thine is the power and the glory for ever.’ Thrice
in the day thus pray.
Didache
But although our Lord distinguished the four kinds of

prayers to be offered, individually and at different times,
as we understand, nonetheless He shows as well by His
own example that they can also be included together in a
perfect prayer. This He does in that prayer which we read
that He poured out at great length toward the end of the
Goel according to John (Ch.17).
St. John Casian
The Logos beﬆows adoption on us when He grants us that

birth and deification which, transcending nature, comes
by grace from above through the Spirit. The guarding
and preservation of this in God depends on the resolve
of those thus born: on their sincere acceptance of the
grace beﬆowed on them and, through the praice of the
commandments, on their cultivation of the beauty given to
them by grace. Moreover, by emptying themselves of the
passions they lay hold of the divine to the same degree as
that to which, deliberately emptying Himself of His own
sulime glory, the Logos of God truly became man.
St. Maximos the Confeso
 Notes and Found Prayers 389
390 Notes and Found Prayers 

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PRAYERBOOK

In Accordance with the Tradition

All Saints of Alaska Orthodox Church

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath

Pray without ceasing. 1 ThESSAlONIANS 5: 17

If found please return to

Introduction to the Preparation for Holy Confession by

Introduction to the Preparation for Holy Communion

Fonts and art used in the book: Brisio Pro, designed by

All portions of this book not copyrighted and/or rights

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

Glory to You, O God, glory to You!

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,

Holy God, holy Mighty, holy Immortal, have mercy on us!

O All holy Trinity, have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy! (3x)

Our Father who art in heaven,

Now that You have raised me from my bed of sleep, O

Now and eve and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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

Through the prayers of our brothers and sisters, Lord

Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Glory to You, O God, glory to You!

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,

Holy God, holy Mighty, holy Immortal, have mercy on us!

O All holy Trinity, have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy! (3x)

Our Father who art in heaven,

The day is over; I glorify You, O Master! Grant me to pass

Now and eve and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The day is over; I sing to You, O Holy One! Grant me to

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Lord have mercy! (3x)

Lord have mercy! (3x)

Blessed is God who nourishes us with His grace and

PRAYER BEFORE READING HOLY SCRIPTURE

Careful attention to the Wod of God is necesary to ou salvation

 JANUARY  4 Jan Gen 13-16

8 Jan Gen 29-32  FEBRUARY 

24 Feb Jgs 5-8 19 Mar 1Kgs 18-22

THE WEEKLY CYCLE

Te Troparia and Kontakia are simila to each othe in length,

of the external side of the commemorated event, the Kontakion draws

Tone 1 Kontakion: As God You did rise from the

Immortal, You did slay hell with the splendour of Your

Tone 2 Kontakion: Hell became afraid, O almighty

Tone 3 Kontakion: On this day You did rise from the

THE FESTAL CYCLE

NATIVITY OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS

Tropar (Tone 4): Your nativity, O Virgin, has

Kontakion (Tone 4): By your nativity, O most pure

Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. And we,

THE ELEVATION OF THE LIFE-CREATING CROSS

Kontakion (Tone 4): As You were voluntarily

Kontakion (Tone 4): The most pure temple of the

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD,

Kontakion (Tone 3): Today the Virgin gives birth to

THE THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD,

Te foowing is an examination of conscience in preparation fo the

The gift of God’s forgiveness is received through private

The value of Holy Confession is twofold. First, through

this sacramental act of the ordained priest and the

Holy Confession is appropriate whenever an Orthodox