Morning and Evening Prayers

A guided walkthrough

Here is another in the series of “basics” articles:

For Old Believers, who ideally are responsible for praying the cycle of services daily, or substituting the cycle with bows using the lestovka, the order of morning and evening prayers may seem surprisingly simple. This may be correct in comparison to other orders, but this is due to the age of the order. This rule comes from a time centuries ago when owning books was a luxury, hence this order comprises prayers that all faithful would already know by heart. Yet, even in its simplicity, for the absolute beginner, it makes its demands. So herein, I will make some humble annotations and hopefully helpful explanations of this order.

The order begins properly when you first wake up. Before even getting up in your bed, cross yourself and say the prayer of Jesus:

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

Then, once you have gotten out of bed, dressed and washed your face, or in the evening, before retiring, stand before your holy icon. The icon is an aid to prayer in that it allows our eyes to focus upon something that will keep our thoughts centered on our prayer. That is the purpose of the icon, and the reason for its beauty.

All prayer rules begin and end with a set of opening bows and prostrations called “Entrance” and “Departure” bows (even though they are exactly the same). They are also called “the begining”, or the “seven bow beginning”. During prayers, it would be known that the sign of the cross, with or without accompanying bows, are not executed according to whim, but according to tradition.

The sign of the cross always precedes a bow, unless explicitly stated otherwise, so when you read the word “bow”, it means, make the sign of the cross (pressing your two fingers for the two natures of Christ Who died on the Cross for your salvation on your forehead, belly, right shoulder, then left shoulder), and when the sign is completed, you make your bow, bringing your head down to waist level, unless otherwise instructed. Any Old Believer calendar will give a note on whether or not the day requires bows to the waist, or to the ground, and these directions apply to the entrance and departure bows specifically. If you do not have access to a calendar, then a simple substitute would be to assume that entrance and departure bows are “to the ground” by default on all weekdays. The bows are “to the belt” on weekends and for feasts. “To the ground” means you make a prostration, placing your prayer mat upon the floor before you, and placing your hands upon it, lowering yourself to your knees and touching your head to your hands. The sanctity of the sign of the Cross, its Christological confession, and its power and salvific significance prohibit our touching the bare floor with the very fingers we just signed ourselves with, therefore the faithful use their prayer mats (podruchnik) to place their fingers upon.

Ironically, after the council of 1666, when the two fingers were proclaimed to be heretical and, in the new sign, the lowered two fingers were “inert” (the two natures were re-introduced again only long after the schism had occured), a custom arose to always touch your fingers to the bare ground after making the sign, which continues to this day. I do not know what the reason for this is, but given the historical context of the persecutions, it does not seem unreasonable to suppose that this arose as a form of mockery that might have been excused by the absense of the Christological symbols, but this is supposition in the absence of any good explanation of the origin of the “fingers to the floor”.

“To the belt” means simply to bow your head down to your waist level.

The prayer rule officially begins with the prayer of the publican. This is also called “the three bows”:

God, be merciful unto me a sinner (bow).

Thou hast created me, O Lord, have mercy upon me (bow).

I have sinned innumerably, O Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner (bow).

Becometh it truly to bless thee O God-bearer, the all-hallowed and most-unblemished Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, indeed more glorious than the Seraphim. Who yet undefiled bare God the Word, the very God-bearer, thee do we magnify. (always a bow to the ground).

The above prayer always gets a prostration, even on days when belt bows are assigned.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Bow. Now and always and forever and ever, amen. Bow. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord, bless. Bow

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, by the power of the honorable and life-giving Cross, through the prayers of my Holy Guardian Angel, and of all the saints, have mercy on me and save me, a sinner, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Amen. Prostration without making the sign of the cross

This prayer concludes the entrance bows. In the temple or monastery, this dismissal would be done by the abbot or priest, who would bow to the ground to the brethren, asking their forgiveness, to which the faithful prostrate in kind. Absent this scenario, the bow to the ground is done mentally toward one’s spiritual father. This is why the bow is done without the sign of the Cross.

The entrance and departure bows also have value as a sort of physical warm-up for prayer - an awakening of the limbs so that active attentiveness may be achieved.

After this, repeat the prayer of the publican with bows:

God, be merciful unto me a sinner (bow). Thou hast created me, O Lord, have mercy upon me (bow). I have sinned innumerably, O Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner (bow).

And with reverence, begin the prayers:

Elder: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. Amen (always a waist bow).

The “elder” is simply the eldest male of the household, who should guide and ensure the proper execution of the order of prayers. In a temple setting, this would be done by a priest.

In the morning, cross thyself once and say:

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee for all things (thrice).

God, cleanse me a sinner, for never have I done good before Thee. Bow

But deliver me from (the) evil (one), and let Thy will be in me. Bow

That uncondemned, I might open mine unworthy lips and praise Thy holy name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen. Bow

Then, for both morning and evening prayers, making the sign of the cross, without a bow, say: Heavenly King, Comforter, True Spirit, Who art everywhere and fillest all, Treasury of blessings, and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every uncleanness and save our souls, O Good One.

Heavenly King is not said in the period between Pascha and Pentecost. During the Paschal season it is replaced with “Christ is Risen…” three times. After the Paschal season until Pentecost, it is simply omitted.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice, with bows. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. Thrice. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name. Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be fulfilled, as well in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from (the) evil (one).

This order of prayers preserves those passages from Scripture as they appear in Scripture, hence the difference in the Our Father.

Elder: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Bow.

Amen. Lord have mercy. 12 times.

When there are counted “Lord have mercy” prayers like this, usually with 12 or 40 counts, one should use their lestovka to keep count of the prayers, so that the mind can focus on the petition and not the count.

This following prayer is only said in the morning:

Arisen from sleep I give thanks unto thee, the All-holy Trinity, for in thine abundant goodness and longsufferance, thou wast not in anger with me, thy sinful and slothful servant, neither destroyed thou me in mine iniquities, but with loving-kindness to man, while lying in despair, didst raise me up for the morning vigil to glorify thine invincible might. Illumine the eyes of my heart and open my lips to think upon thy sayings and to understand thy commandments, to do thy will, and to sing unto thee in heartfelt confession, singing and glorifying thy most honourable and magnificent name, of the Father and Son and the Holy Ghost, now and always, and forever and ever, Amen.

If it is the evening, instead of the above prayer, say: Glory. and Now and always.

There are no further differences between morning and evening prayers, until the very end.

In all prayer services, before the reading of Psalms, these three bows are done, with a paraphrase from verse 6 of Psalm 94 (LXX):

Come, let us worship God our King. Bow. Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God. Bow. Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God. Bow.

Psalm 50. Have mercy upon me O God, after thy great goodness: according unto the multitude of thy mercies, do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou shalt judge. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow: Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart (O God) and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me. O give me the comfort of thy help again, and stablish me with thy free spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness (O God) thou that art the God of my health, and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips (O Lord) and my mouth shall shew thy praise. For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit, a broken and a contrite heart (O God) shalt thou not despise. O be favorable & gracious unto Sion, build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offeringes & oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine alter.

Then, we read the Nicene Creed, of the holy fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, making the sign of the Cross without making a bow. The version below is true to the Slavonic used throughout Russia prior to 1666, and afterwards among the Old Believers:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all that is visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Only-begotten of the Father, begotten before all ages. Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, but not created, consubstantial with the Father, Who wrought all things. For us men and for our salvation came He down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Ghost, and of the Virgin Mary became man. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried, and arose on the third day, after the scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And he shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom has no end.

Then, the words of the holy fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council.

And in the Holy Ghost, the true and life-giving Lord, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the prophets. And in One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism unto remission of sins. I await the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Virgin Mother of God, rejoice Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou didst bare Christ the Saviour, the Deliverer of our souls. Thrice with bows.

O all-praised mother who didst bare the Word, the holiest of all holies, having accepted our present offering, deliver us all from every peril, and from the torments to come, relieve those that cry unto thee: Alleluia. Thrice with prostrations.

Then, one may begin his prayer rule with his ladder, or read kathismas from the Psalter. Otherwise, continue with these following petitions. In looking at them, it is clear that they follow the days of the week discussed in a recent post. I wonder if this is not because at some time in the past, the petitions were not all done, but only those that corresponded to the day. This makes sense, but regardless, at the present time, all the petitions are made.

Invincible and divine power of the honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, forsake me not, a sinner who trusteth in thee. Bow

My most holy Maiden Mother of God, have mercy on me, save me; and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. Bow

O Heavenly hosts, holy Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, have mercy on me and pray for me to the Lord God; and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. Bow

Angel of Christ, my holy Guardian, have mercy on me and pray for me, a sinner, to the Lord God; and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. Bow

Holy great John, Prophet and Forerunner of the Lord, have mercy on me and pray for me, a sinner, to the Lord God; and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. Bow

Holy glorious Apostles, Prophets and Martyrs, Holy Hierarchs, the Venerable and the Righteous, and all ye Saints, have mercy on me and pray for me, a sinner, to the Lord God; and help me now in this life, and at the departure of my soul, and in the age to come. Bow

These petitions repeat the essence of the above petitions. However, they are all used very frequently. These are the petitions that one would say venerating an icon that corresponds to the subject of the petition. They are also the refrains (the zapev) for the canons to these saints. Thus, when you pass by an image of the Holy Trinity, for example, outside of a church, you would stop before the image and three times say “Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee,” with a bow after each prayer. The sign of the Cross should always be accompanied by a prayer, and never simply waved over oneself, for this makes the sign of the Cross to be empty, or worse, an object of superstition.

It is true, that these are all done with three bows each.

Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee. Thrice with bows

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Glory, O Lord, to Thine honorable Cross. Thrice with bows

Most Holy Maiden Mother of God, save me thy sinful servant. Thrice with bows

Angel of Christ, my holy Guardian, save me, thy sinful servant. Thrice with bows

Holy Archangels and Angels, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy glorious prophet Eliah, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy Forefathers, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy Prophets, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy Apostles, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy glorious and all-praised Apostles and Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John the Theologian, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy chief Apostles Peter and Paul, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy three great Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Hierarch of Christ Nikola, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bow

This refers to Saint Nikola of Myra, later more commonly called Nicholas or Nikolai.

Venerable father Sérgi, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

This refers to the greatest jewel of Russian monasticism, St. Sergius of Radonezh.

At this point, additional saints are prayed to that may vary based on custom. Typical contemporary Belokrinitsa usage asks for intercession from certain Old Believer saints, as follows:

Holy hieromartyr and confessor Avvákum, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Holy venerable martyrs Theodora and Evdokia, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

Hierarch of Christ and confessor Amvrósi, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

All ye saints, pray to God for me, a sinner. Thrice with bows

After this, pray to the saint whose name you bear, and to the saint celebrated on this day, as well as to other saints whom you wish. Forget not also to pray the penance, the bows you have from your spiritual father.

Then pray for the health of the ruling bishop, your spiritual father, parents, relatives, and friends, saying the whole prayer three times, with bows:

O merciful Lord, save and have mercy on Thy servants (insert names). Bow. Deliver them from all sorrow, anger, and necessity. Bow. From every sickness of soul and body. Bow. Forgive them every transgression, voluntary and involuntary. Bow. And do that which is unto the benefit of our souls. Bow.

Then pray for the repose of the souls of spiritual fathers, parents, and close ones, and for those you earnestly care about, saying again, three times with bows:

Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy departed servants (insert names). Bow. As they have sinned in this life as men, do Thou, as God Who lovest mankind, forgive them and have mercy. Bow. Deliver them from eternal torments. Bow. Make them to partkae of the Kingdom of heaven. Bow. And do that which is unto the benefit of our souls. Bow.

Concluding the order of prayers, say:

O Lord, whether by word, deed, or thought, I have sinned throughout my life, have mercy on me and forgive me, for the sake of Thy mercy. Prostration.

All my hope I place in thee, O Mother of God, do preserve me under thy shelter. Prostration.

My hope is God, my refuge is Christ, and my protector is the Holy Ghost. Prostration.

If a prayer rule with the ladder or the Psalter was read, the prayers are continued from this point.

Becometh it truly to bless thee O God-bearer, the all-hallowed and most-unblemished Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, indeed more glorious than the Seraphim. Who yet undefiled bare God the Word, the very God-bearer, thee do we magnify. Prostration.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Bow. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Bow. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord, bless. Bow.

And the dismissal:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, and of our venerable and God-bearing fathers and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art good and lovest mankind.

In the daily prayer cycle, at the end of Compline, and Midnight, the rite of Forgiveness is done, wherein the abbot will prostrate to the brethren, asking for forgiveness, and the brethren also prostrate in return. In substitution for this sequence, the following is used, and is usually called “the forgiveness”.

Bowing to the ground, without making the sign of the cross upon thyself, recite the forgiveness, with head bowed down:

Release, forgive, and absolve, O God, my sins, voluntary and involuntary, which I have committed in word and deed, knowingly and unknowingly, in thought and with contemplation, by day and by night; forgive them all, for Thou art Good and the Lover of mankind. Amen.

Then, stading up again, say these prayers, as a series of prayers for everyone else:

Forgive those who hate and wrong us, O Lord, Lover of mankind. Do good to those who do good, to the brethren and all our kin, and those in solitude; grant them all that is needful unto salvation and eternal life. Bow

Visit and heal those in sickness, free those in prisons, guide those sailing upon the waters, and correct and hasten those traveling on the road. Bow

Remember, O Lord, our brethren in captivity, the fellow-believers of the Orthodox faith, and deliver them from every evil circumstance. Bow

Have mercy, O Lord, on those who have given us alms and commanded us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them; forgive and have mercy on them. Bow

Have mercy, O Lord, on those who labor and serve us, who love and nourish us, and grant them all that is needful unto salvation and eternal life. Bow

Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have passed away before us, and grant them repose where shineth the light of Thy countenance. Bow

Remember, O Lord, our weakness and poverty, enlighten our minds with the light of understanding of Thy Holy Gospel, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, by the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints, amen. Bow

These prayers conclude with the usual seven bows, also called departure bows.

At the end of the prayers, both in the morning and in the evening, while shielding oneself with one's baptismal cross, say:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless, sanctify, and preserve me by the power of Thy Life-giving Cross. After this, kiss the cross

In the evening, when going to bed, make the sign of the Cross, & say this prayer that begins with the opening of Psalm 67 (LXX):

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him. Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away; and like as wax melteth at the fire, so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God, and them who sign themselves with the sign of the Cross cross yourself here, and who say in gladness: Rejoice, O Cross of the Lord, for thou drivest away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was crucified on thee, Who descended into Hades and trampled on the power of the devil, and gave us His precious Cross for the driving away of all enemies. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me together with the most holy Maiden Mother of God, and with all of the holy heavenly powers, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

And only after this prayer has been said should you enter your bed for sleep.

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During Great Lent

With the exception of Saturdays, Sundays, and Feasts, after the prayer ‘Heavenly King’ at morning and evening prayers, there is a bow to the ground. In addition, all bows are made to the ground that are normally done to the waist.

Prior to the dismissal, after ‘More honourable’, there is a bow to the ground, followed by: In the name of the Lord, bless. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. Then the prayer of St. Ephraim is read:

O Lord and Master of my life, drive away from me the spirit of despondency, negligence, avarice, and idle talk. Bow to the ground.

But grant me, Thy servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love. Bow to the ground.

Yea O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou unto the ages. Amen. Bow to the ground.

Then 12 prostrations with these prayers, the whole sequence being done twice to get to 12:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Twice with prostrations.

God, be merciful to me a sinner. Prostration.

God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me. Prostration.

Thou hast created me, Lord, have mercy on me. Prostration.

I have sinned innumerably, Lord forgive me. Prostration.

And then say again the prayer of St. Ephraim in full with a prostration.

Glory. Now and ever. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless. And the dismissal for the day.

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Concerning Prayer on Holy Pascha

In the entrance and exit bows, instead of "It is truly meet" until the leave-taking of the Pascha feast, the irmos of the 9th ode of the Paschal Canon is read:

Shine, shine, new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has arisen upon thee: rejoice now and be of good cheer, O Sion. And delight thou, O Pure Mother of God, in the resurrection of the Child of thy nativity. Prostration

During Bright Week, instead of morning and evening prayers, one may pray the midnight office in the Paschal style.

From Thomas Sunday until the leave-taking of Pascha, instead of the prayer "O Heavenly King," we read "Christ is risen" thrice.

In the morning prayers and at the midnight office after the entrance bows and "through the prayers of our holy fathers." Amen. "Christ is risen" (thrice, sung).

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee for all things (thrice).

From the leave-taking of Pascha until Pentecost, "O Heavenly King" is not read and is not replaced by anything. The Trisagion through the "Our Father," except during Bright Week, is always read.