The Byzantine Daily Office

THIRD HOUR
for
September 15, 2024
SUNDAY AFTER THE EXALTA-
TION OF THE HOLY CROSS.
Postfestive Day of the
Exaltation of the Cross.

The Holy Great Martyr Nicetas. Our

Venerable Father Symeon, Archbishop
of Thessalonica.
Epistle: Galatians 2:16-20 Gospel: Mark 8:34-38

According to the
Gregorian Calendar for Pascha
 The following service of the Byzantine Daily Office is for one’s own
personal rule of prayer. If time is short, it is preferable to say only a few
prayers with attention, rather than to attempt them all in haste and
without concentration.

To simplify the hours, you may adopt the tradition of praying the first
Psalm of each hour on Mondays and Thursdays, the second Psalm on
Tuesdays and Fridays, and the third Psalm on Wednesdays, Saturdays,
and Sundays.

Sources and Approvals

Contents compiled from approved sources
with Ecclesiastical Approbation

Based on the Typicon of Archpriest David Petras, 2018.

Common prayers of Morning and Evening Prayer, and the Hours

from Let Us Pray to the Lord: Volume I, Eastern Christian Publica-
tions, 1996.

Theotokion for each hour and the Prayer of the Hours from Royal
Hours in Preparation for the Birth of Christ, Eparchy of Parma, 1991.

Troparia from the Divine Liturgy promulgated by the Council of

Hierarchs of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church sui juris
of Pittsburgh, USA in January 2007 and used with permission.

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 The Third Hour
A priest begins: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and
forever. Amen.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ
our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere
present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver
of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and
save our souls, O gracious One.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have
mercy on us. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse
us of our sins; Master, forgive our transgressions; Holy One,
come to us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
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 evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
Others: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

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Come, let us adore the King, our God.

Come, let us adore Christ, the King and our God.
Come, let us adore and bow down to the only Lord
Jesus Christ, the King and our God.

If time is short, you may select one of the following psalms for
each day.

Psalm 16
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
From You may my judgment come forth.
Your eyes discern the truth.
You search my heart, you visit me by night.
You test me and you find in me no wrong.
My words are not sinful as are men’s words.
I kept from violence because of your word,
I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hands saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the violent attack of the wicked.
My foes encircle me with deadly intent.
Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly.
They advance against me, and now they
surround me.
Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground
as though they were lions ready to claw
or like some lion crouched in hiding.
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Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down!

Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked;
let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men,
from men whose reward is in this present life.
You give them their fill of your treasures;
they rejoice in abundance of offspring
and leave their wealth to their children.

As for me, in my justice I shall see your face

and be filled, when I awake, with the sight
of your glory.

Psalm 24
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
I trust you, let me not be disappointed,
do not let my enemies triumph.
Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed,
but only those who wantonly break faith.
Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are God my Saviour.
In you I hope all day long
because of your goodness, O Lord.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth.
In your love remember me.
The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path;
He teaches his way to the poor.
His ways are faithfulness and love
for those who keep his covenant and will.
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Lord, for the sake of your name

forgive my guilt; for it is great.
If anyone fears the Lord
He will show him the path he should choose.
His soul shall live in happiness
and his children shall possess the land.
The Lord’s friendship is for those who revere him;
to them he reveals his covenant.
My eyes are always on the Lord;
for he rescues my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and have mercy
for I am lonely and poor.
Relieve the anguish of my heart
and set me free from my distress.
See my affliction and my toil
and take all my sins away.
See how many are my foes;
how violent their hatred for me.
Preserve my life and rescue me.
Do not disappoint me, you are my refuge.
May innocence and uprightness protect me:
for my hope is in you, O Lord.
Redeem Israel, O God,
from all its distress.

Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
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and be without reproach when you judge

O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may thrill.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me your would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favour to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
(burnt offerings wholly consumed),
then you will be offered young bulls on
your altar.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit,
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now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, O God.
(Three times)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times.)

Troparion of the Resurrection (T8)

You descended from on high, O Merciful One. You ac-
cepted burial for three days to free us from our passions. O
Lord, our Resurrection and our Life, glory to you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Troparion for a Martyr (T4)

You fervently took up the cross of Christ like a sword,
and you hastened to fight the enemy. You were burnt to death
for Christ, and thus you offered up your priestly soul to the
Lord. You have been rewarded with the gifts of healing from
Him, O great-martyr Nicetas; now pray to Christ God to save
our souls.

Now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Theotokion of the Third Hour

(Same Tone as Troparion)
O Mother of God, you are the True Vine who gave
birth to the Fruit of Life: wherefore, we implore you, O Lady,
to intercede together with the apostles and all the saints that
we may obtain mercy for our souls.
Blessed be the Lord God! May the Lord be blessed
day after day. He bears our burdens, God our Saviour. This
God of ours is a God who saves.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mer-

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cy on us. (Three times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse
us of our sins; Master, forgive our transgressions; Holy One,
come to us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
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 evil.

Priest:For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
Others: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord
Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

Amen.

Kontakion of the Resurrection (T8)

Rising from the grave, you raised the dead. You lifted up
Adam, and Eve rejoices in your resurrection. The whole world
celebrates your resurrection from the dead, O Most Merciful
One.

Lord, have mercy. (Forty times).

O good God, in all times and in all places You are

worshipped and glorified both in heaven and on earth. You are
long-suffering and most-merciful. You love the just and show
mercy to the sinner, calling all to salvation through the prom-
ise of blessings to come. At this very hour, O Lord, receive our
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supplications and direct our lives in the path of Your com-

mandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set right our
minds; cleanse our thoughts; deliver us from all affliction, evil
and illness; surround us with Your holy angels so that, guided
and guarded in their camp, we may attain oneness of faith
and the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory for You are
blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever. Amen.
More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare
more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to
God, the Word. You, truly the Theotokos, we magnify.
Give the blessing, Father, in the Name of the Lord.

A priest: May God be merciful to us and bless us; may He

cause His countenance to shine upon us and have mercy on
us. Amen.
Others: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity of Saint Madarius

O God our Master, Almighty Father; Only-begotten
Son, Lord Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit, One God
and One Might, have mercy on me a sinner and save me, Your
unworthy servant, according to the ways of Your wisdom. For
You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.

A Priest Only: Glory to You, O Christ our God, our hope,

glory to You.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy

Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times).

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Priest: May Christ our true God have mercy on us and save
us, through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of our ven-
erable and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, for He is
gracious and loves mankind.
Others: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us.

Amen.

In consultation with
Very Rev. John Basarab

FOR PRIVATE USE ONLY

Compiled, Designed and Produced by

Eastern Christian Publications

Fairfax, Virginia
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