Psalm 103 - text in Russian, interpretation, why they read it

Text of Psalm 103 in Russian

Ceremony of the All-Night Vigil

The morning service at the all-night vigil is a continuation of the evening service.

If the prayers and chants of Vespers go back primarily to the times of the Old Testament, the expectation of the Savior and the fulfillment of prophecies about Him, then morning worship, especially Sunday, points more to New Testament times, namely, the Nativity of Christ the Savior and His Resurrection from the dead.

The Matins sequence is divided into four parts.

In the first - in the sixth psalm, the morning prayers of the priest, the great litany, “God is the Lord and has appeared to us...” - the worshipers confess their sins and ask for God’s help for the coming day.

The second part consists of kathismas with polyeleos and the Gospel.

The Holy Church in both parts of Matins gradually raises those praying from a sad, repentant mood to joy, thanksgiving and praise of the Lord for His ineffable mercies revealed to the human race.

In the third part - the canon - sacred events or saints of God honored on a given day are remembered or glorified.

In the fourth part, consisting of psalms of praise and a great doxology with litanies and ending with a dismissal, a special praise is offered to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

The beginning of the morning service is usually announced by the ringing of a bell (the so-called 2nd ringing; the 1st calls for vespers; the 3rd rings before the reading of the Gospel).

The reader speaks the Six Psalms (3, 37, 62, 87, 102 and 142 psalms) with all attention and fear of God. Like the opening psalm at Vespers, the Six Psalm at Matins awakens deep religious feelings in the believing soul and prepares the worshiper for the great litany.

The first of the six psalms - the 3rd - has the inscription: Psalm to David, who sometimes fled from the face of Absalom his son,

indicating under what circumstances the psalm was written.

The second psalm of the sixth psalm - the 37th - Psalm to David - in remembrance of the Sabbath.

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria explains this inscription as David’s request for God to grant him Sabbath, that is, peace from the distress that was weighing on him. The psalm expresses David's feelings of deep repentance for actions that caused many disasters to himself and his people.

Third Psalm - 62nd - Psalm to David, when he was in the wilderness of Judea,

was written by David in the Judean desert, where the psalmist was fleeing the persecution of Saul.

Fourth Psalm – 87th – Song. Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the head of the choir at Mahalaf, for singing. Teachings of Heman Ezrahite.

The composer of this psalm is considered to be Heman, one of the three famous Levitical singers who lived in the time of David. The psalm expresses the state of a person in extreme humiliation and exhaustion.

Fifth Psalm – 102nd – Psalm to David

The psalmist devotes to the goodness, inexhaustible mercy and long-suffering of God.

Sixth Psalm – 142nd – Psalm to David, when Absalom his son persecuted him,

talks about a man pursued by enemies, experiencing fear and despondency, but realizing that he is punished for his sins; Having realized his guilt and repented, he asks God for forgiveness and mercy.

Reader

: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”
(three times).
"God! You will open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise” (twice).

Psalm 3

Lord, why have you multiplied the cold! many people rise up against me; Many say to my soul: there is no salvation for him in his God. But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory, and lift up my head. With my voice I cried to the Lord, and He heard me from His holy mountain. I fell asleep and fell asleep, and arose, as if the Lord would intercede for me. I will not be afraid of the people around who attack me. Arise, Lord, save me, my God, for Thou hast struck down all those who are at enmity with me in vain; You crushed the teeth of sinners. Salvation is the Lord's, and Your blessing is upon Your people.

I fell asleep and fell asleep, and arose, as if the Lord would intercede for me.

Psalm 3:

God! Why have those who oppress me increased so much? Many are rebelling against me; many say about me: “There is no salvation for him from his God.” But You, Lord, are my Intercessor, my Glory, and You lift up my head. With my loud voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears me from His holy mountain. I calmly lie down, sleep and get up, for the Lord protects me. And I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people attacking me all around. Arise, Lord! Save me, my God! After all, you defeat everyone who is hostile against me for no reason, you crush the weapons of the wicked. Salvation is from the Lord, and Your blessing is upon Your people.

Psalm 37

God! let not Thy wrath reprove me, nor punish me with Thy wrath: for Thy arrows have pierced me, and Thou hast strengthened (gravitates) Thy hand upon me. There is no healing in my flesh from the face of Your wrath, there is no peace in my bones from the face of my sin: for my iniquities have exceeded my head, for a heavy burden has weighed down upon me. My wounds have grown stale and rotten because of my madness. Suffered and sloshed to the end; I walked all day, mourning, because my body was filled with reproaches, and there was no healing in my flesh. I was embittered and humbled to death: I roared with the sighing of my heart. God! All my desire is before You, and my sighing is not hidden from You; my heart is troubled, my strength has left me, and the light of my eyes, and she will not be with me. My friends and my sincere ones have come closer and closer to me; and my neighbor is far from me, and I am in need, seeking my soul; and those who seek evil say vain words to me, and I will learn from the flatterers all day long. But because I am deaf, I do not hear, and because I am dumb, I do not open my mouth; and as a man he did not hear, nor did he have reproach in his mouth. For in Thee, O Lord, have I trusted; You will hear, O Lord, my God. As if I said: may my enemies never give me joy, and may my feet never move, but your words will never be able to move against me; for I am ready for wounds, and my illness is before me. For I will proclaim my iniquity, and take care of my sin. My enemies live, and have become stronger than me, and those who hate me without truth have multiplied. Those who reward me with evil, repaying the slander of me, persecute the goodness. Do not forsake me, O Lord my God, do not depart from me. Come to my help, O Lord of my salvation!

Do not forsake me, O Lord my God, do not depart from me. Come to my help, O Lord of my salvation!

Psalm 37:

Lord, rebuke me not in Thy fear, and do not punish me in Thy wrath. For Your arrows have pierced me, and Your hand is heavy on me. There is no healing for my flesh from Your wrath; there is no peace to my bones from my sins. For my iniquities have exceeded my head and weigh me down like a heavy burden. My wounds stink and fester from my madness. I was completely bent over from suffering; I walk around in sadness all day; for my loins are mocked, and there is no relief for my flesh. I suffered and was extremely humiliated; I cried from the torment of my heart. God! All my desire is before You, and my sigh is not hidden from You. My heart was troubled, my strength left me, and there was no light in my eyes. My friends and neighbors came and stood against me; and those closest to me have moved far away from me. And those who sought my life strained their strength, and those who wished me harm spoke lies and dreamed up intrigues every day. But I, like a deaf man, did not hear and was like a dumb man who did not open his mouth. And I became like a man who does not hear and has no answer in his mouth. For I trusted in You, O Lord, that You would hear, O Lord my God. And I said, Let not my enemies gloat over me. But when my feet faltered, they boasted over me. I am ready to suffer, and my sorrow is always before me. I recognize my iniquity and I lament my sin. But my enemies live and have become stronger than me, and those who unjustly hate me have become exalted. Those who repay me with evil for good have slandered me because I strived for good. Do not leave me, Lord my God! Don't leave me. Hasten to help me, O Lord, my Savior.

Psalm 62

God, my God! to You in the morning; My soul thirsted for Thee, since my flesh multiplied for Thee in the empty, impassable, and waterless land, so in the Holy One I appeared to Thee, to see Thy power and Thy glory: for Thy mercy is better than life. With my lips praise Thee; Thus I will bless Thee in my belly, and in Thy name I will lift up my hands. For my soul may be filled with fatness and ointment, and my lips will praise You with joy.

If I remember You on my bed, I will learn from You in the morning, as if You were my helper, and in Your shelter I will rejoice. My soul clings to You; Thy right hand is acceptable to me. They, having sought my soul in vain, will enter the underworld of the earth; they will surrender into the hands of arms, parts of the fox will be. The king will rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him will boast, because the mouth of those who speak unrighteously is stopped.

In the morning I learned from You, as You were my helper, and in the shelter of Your wing I will rejoice. My soul clings to You, but Your right hand accepts me!

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, God (three times - without bowing).

Psalm 62:

God, my God! From early morning I strive for You. My soul thirsted for You, and how many times did my flesh long for You in the impenetrable and waterless desert.

So would I appear before You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and glory. For Your mercy is more precious than life. My lips will praise You. So I will glorify You all my life and in Your name I will raise my hands in prayer. May my soul be filled with fat and oil, and may my lips praise You with a joyful voice, when I remember You on my bed, when I think about You in the morning. For You are my Helper, and I will rejoice under the shelter of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand has embraced me. But they sought my life in vain; they themselves will go to the grave, they will be handed over to arms, they will become prey for foxes. The king will rejoice in God, and everyone who swears will boast. By them, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Psalm 87

Lord, God of my salvation! I cried in the days and in the nights before You. May my prayer come before You, incline Your ear to my prayer: for my soul is filled with evil and my belly is drawing near to hell. He would be used with those descending into the ditch, like a man without help, there would be freedom in the dead; like the plague of those sleeping in the tomb, whom You did not remember, and they were rejected by Your hand. Placing me in the pit of hell, in the dark and shadow of death. Thy wrath was established upon me, and all Thy waves were brought upon me. You removed those who knew me from me, making me an abomination to yourself, and you were betrayed and did not depart. My eyes are weary from poverty; I have cried out to You, O Lord, all day long: I have lifted up my hands to You. Eating dead people work wonders? or will the doctors resurrect and confess to You? Who is the story of Thy mercy in the grave, and Thy truth in destruction? Will Thy wonders be known in darkness, and Thy righteousness in forgotten lands? And I cried to You, O Lord, and my morning prayer will precede You. Why, O Lord, dost Thou take away my soul, and turn Thy face away from me? I am poor, and in labor from my youth, I was lifted up, humbled and exhausted. Thy wrath has come upon me, Thy fears have troubled me. It washed over me like water all day long, possessing me all together (from everywhere). You removed from me a friend and a sincere and known one from my passions.

Lord, God of my salvation! I cried in the days and in the nights before You. May my prayer come before You, incline Your ear to my prayer!

Psalm 87:

Lord God, my Savior! Day and night I cry to You. Let my prayer reach You; incline Your ear to my prayer. For my soul was filled with suffering and my life approached hell. I was numbered among those who went down to the grave. I became like a helpless man, left to himself among the dead - like the slain, sleeping in the grave, whom You no longer remember and who are rejected from Your hand. They put me in a ditch underground in the dark darkness of the grave. Thy terrors are heavy upon me, and with all Thy waves Thou hast struck me. You have removed my acquaintances from me; they were disgusted with me; I was betrayed and had no way out. My eyes are faint with grief. I cry to You, Lord, all day long; I stretch out my hands to You. Will You work miracles on the dead? Or will the doctors resurrect them and they will praise you? Will anyone in the grave tell Your mercy and Your truth along with decay? Will Your miracles and Your truth be known in the darkness of the grave in the land of oblivion? And I cry to You, Lord, and in the morning my prayer will be before You. Why, Lord, do You reject my soul, turn Your face away from me? I am poor and in labor from my youth; after his elevation he was humbled and became weak again. Your wrath has passed over me; Thy fears have troubled me; they surround me every day, like water, and together they control me. You removed from me my friend and sincere and my acquaintances because of my passions.

Psalm 102

Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name! Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His rewards! Who cleanses all your iniquities, who heals all your illnesses; who delivers your belly from corruption; crowning you with mercy and bounties; who fulfills your desires for good; Your youth will be renewed like an eagle. The Lord grant alms and destiny to all those who are offended. He told Moses His ways, to the sons of Israel His desires. The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy. He is not completely angry, he is at enmity forever. He did not make us eat because of our iniquities, but repaid us because of our sins; for as the height of heaven from the earth, the Lord established His mercy on those who fear Him. The east is far removed from the west, and our iniquities have been removed from us. As a father gives generously to his sons, the Lord will provide for those who fear Him. As He knew our creation: I will remember, as the dust of Esma. Man is like grass; his days are like grass; Like the color of the village, the tacos will fade. For the spirit has passed through it, and it will not be, and no one will know its place. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness is on the sons of sons, who keep His covenant and remember His commandments to do. The Lord has prepared His throne in heaven, and His kingdom possesses all. Bless the Lord, all His Angels, mighty in strength, who do His word, to hear the voice of His words! Bless the Lord, all His might, His servants who do His will! Bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion! Bless the Lord, my soul.

In every place of His dominion, bless the Lord, my soul!

Psalm 102:

Bless, my soul, the Lord and all that is within me - His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His benefits; He forgives all your iniquities, heals all your ailments, delivers your life from destruction and crowns you with His mercy and pity; He will fulfill your desire for good, and your youth will be renewed like that of an eagle. The Lord shows mercy and judgment to all those who are offended. He showed Moses His ways, and the children of Israel His desires. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy: He will not be angry to the end, nor will He be indignant forever. He does not deal with us according to our iniquities, nor does He reward us according to our sins; for according to the height of the heavens above the earth, the Lord shows mercy to those who fear Him. As far as the place of sunrise is from the place of its setting, so far has He removed our iniquities from us. As a father has mercy on his sons, so the Lord has mercy on those who fear Him. For He knows our composition, He remembers that we are dust. A man is like grass, the days of his life are like a flower of the field: so quickly he fades. The wind will pass over him, and he will be no more, and he will no longer know his place. The mercy of the Lord towards those who fear Him continues from century to century, and His benefits extend to the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant and remember His commandments in order to fulfill them. The Lord has set His Throne in heaven, and His Kingdom possesses everyone. Glorify the Lord, all His angels, mighty in power, fulfilling His commands, so that they will listen to the voice of His words. Glorify the Lord, all His Powers, His servants who do His will. Glorify the Lord, all His creatures, in every place of His dominion. Glorify the Lord, my soul.

Psalm 142

God! Hear my prayer, inspire my prayer in Thy truth, hear me in Thy righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Thy servant! For no one living will be justified before You; Because the enemy drove my soul, he humbled my belly to the ground; He made me sit in dark, like dead centuries. And my spirit is depressed within me, my heart is troubled within me. I have remembered the days of old, I have learned in all Your works, I have learned Your hand in all creation. My hand has lifted up to You, my soul, like a waterless land to You. Hear me soon, Lord: my spirit has disappeared; do not turn Your face away from me, and I will become like those who go down into the pit. I hear Thy mercy upon me in the morning, for I trust in Thee. Tell me, Lord, the way, I will go, as if I have taken my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; I have come running to You, teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your good Spirit will guide me to the right land! For Thy name's sake, Lord, live for me; By Thy righteousness Thou hast delivered my soul from sorrow; and consume Your mercy by my enemies, and destroy all my cold souls, for I am Your servant.

Hear me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Thy servant (twice).

Your good Spirit will guide me to the right land!

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God (three times).

Psalm 142:

God! Hear my prayer, heed my prayer according to Thy truth; hear me according to Thy righteousness; and thou shalt not enter into judgment with Thy servant; for no living man will be right before You. My enemy began to pursue me and threw my life to the ground. He put me in darkness, like those who had died long ago, and my soul became despondent; My heart was troubled within me. I remember ancient times, I reflect on all Your deeds, I delve into the creations of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You: my soul thirsts for You, like the parched land of rain. Hear me soon, Lord! My spirit faints: do not turn Your face away from me, lest I become like those who go down to the grave. Let me hear Your mercy early in the morning; for I have placed my hope in You. Show me, Lord, the path I should follow, for my soul ascends to You. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies: I take refuge in You. Teach me to do Your will; for You are my God. May Your Good Spirit guide me along the path of the righteous. For the glory of Your name, O Lord, quicken me; according to Your justice, deliver my soul from sorrow. And by Thy mercy destroy my enemies and destroy all who oppress me, for I am Thy servant.

After reading the three psalms, the priest, leaving the altar and bowing in front of the closed royal doors, with his head uncovered, wearing an epitrachelion, recalling the heavenly Intercessor for us before God, reads to himself (secretly) 12 morning prayers for himself and all those who believe in the Lord.

The first prayer expresses gratitude to God for awakening from sleep and contains a request for God’s help to perform divine services in a worthy manner.

Priest

: We thank Thee, O Lord our God, who raised us up from our beds, and put into our mouths the word of praise, to worship and call upon Thy holy name, and we pray to Thy bounties, which Thou hast always used for our lives, and now send Thy help to standing before the face of Your holy glory and expecting rich mercy from You, and grant them, who always serve You with fear and love, to praise Your inscrutable goodness.

For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.

The content of the second and third prayers corresponds to the song of the prophet Isaiah and begins in the same way: “From the morning our spirit flows to You, O God...” With the verses of this song, an alleluia is sung at Lenten Matins, instead of “God is the Lord.”

The second prayer asks to teach us to practice truth and holiness in the fear of God, cries out for God to remember and hear all those praying with the priest, save us, bless and sanctify us, give peace to the world, the Church, the priest and all people; In conclusion, the name of God is glorified:

From the night of the morning our spirit turns to You, O our God, before the light are Your commandments on earth. Let us practice righteousness and holiness in Thy passion; for we glorify Thee, our truly existing God. Incline Your ear and hear us, and remember, O Lord, those who exist and pray with us all by name, and save me by Your power. Bless Your people and sanctify Your heritage. Grant Thy peace, to Thy churches, to the priests, and to all Thy people.

For Thy most honorable and magnificent name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, is blessed and glorified, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

In the third prayer, the priest asks the Lord to teach the believers Divine truth, preserving in us the seal of the Holy Spirit, who will help us lead a righteous life, may he allow us to see a new day:

From the night our morning spirit turns to You, O God; the light beyond is Your commandments. Teach us, O God, Thy righteousness, Thy commandments and Thy justification; Enlighten the eyes of our thoughts, lest we fall asleep in our sins into death. Drive away all darkness from our hearts. Grant us the sun of righteousness, and keep our life unscathed by the seal of Your Holy Spirit. Correct our feet to the path of peace. Let us see the morning and day in joy, and let us send up our morning prayers to You.

For Yours is the power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

The fourth prayer contains a request to God to accept our gratitude again for sleep and awakening and to honor us with eternal blessings:

Master, God, Holy and Incomprehensible, Who made light shine from darkness, Who has reposed us in our nightly sleep and raised us to the praise and supplication of Thy goodness, we beg of Thy goodness, accept us and now worship Thee and thank Thee with strength, and grant us all , even petitions for salvation. Show us sons of light and day and heirs of Your eternal blessings. Remember, O Lord, in the multitude of Your mercies, and all Your people who exist and pray with us, and all our brethren, even on earth, on the sea, in every place of Your dominion, who require Your philanthropy and help, grant to all Your great mercy, May salvation always abiding in soul and body, we boldly glorify Your wonderful and blessed name. For You are the God of mercy and generosity and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

In the fifth prayer, the priest asks the Lord to accept our morning prayers, “like incense before You,” and to give help to all who are vigilant and sing to the glory of God:

O Treasure of the Good, Ever-flowing Source, Holy Father, Wonderworker, All-Powerful and Almighty, we all bow to You and pray to You, Your mercy and Your generosity calling for help and intercession of our humility; Remember, O Lord, Thy servants (prayer), accept all of us in the morning prayer, like incense before Thee, and let not one of us do anything unskillful (unsuitable), but provide us all with Thy bounties. Remember, O Lord, those who watch and sing in the glory of Thy glory and of Thy only begotten Son and our God and Thy Holy Spirit; Be your helper and intercessor, accept their prayers into Your heavenly and mental altar!

For You are our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

The sixth prayer contains thanksgiving to God for all His benefits. The priest prays that God will grant us the ability to sing to Him intelligently and pray unceasingly, so that He will remember those who especially need His help.

We thank Thee, O Lord, God of our salvation, for Thou hast done everything for the benefit of our lives, so that we may always look to Thee, the Savior and Benefactor of our souls, for Thou hast given us rest in the past night, and raised us up from our beds, and placed us in worship honorable to Your name. With the same we pray to Thee, Lord: grant us grace and strength, that we may be worthy to sing to Thee wisely and pray unceasingly, in fear and trembling, making our salvation through the intercession of Thy Christ. Remember, Lord, and in the night those who cry to You, hear, and have mercy, and crush under their nose the invisible and fighting enemies.

For You are the King of the world and the Savior of our souls, and we send glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

In the seventh prayer, repeating requests that the Lord accept our thanksgiving, the priest asks to teach us to live and pray with dignity, in order to be worthy of forgiveness of sins:

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who raised us up from our beds and gathered us together in the hour of prayer, give us grace at the opening of our lips, and accept ours according to the power of thanksgiving, and teach us by Your justification to pray beforehand, as we should not know, if not You, Lord, guide us with Your Holy Spirit. In the same way, we pray to You: if we have sinned even before this hour, in word, or in deed, or in thought, willfully or involuntarily, relax, forgive, forgive. If you see iniquity, Lord, Lord, who will stand? For you have deliverance; You are the One Holy One, the Helper, the sovereign Protector of our life, and it is about You that we always sing.

May the power of Your Kingdom be blessed and glorified, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

In the eighth prayer, an even more earnest petition is raised to the Lord for the acceptance of our prayers and confessions; a request is expressed for the granting of faith, hope and love, as well as for the blessing of our deeds and thoughts:

Lord, our God, having driven away sleepy despondency from us and calling us with the holy calling, even at night to raise our hands and confess to You about the destinies of Your righteousness, accept our prayers, prayers, confessions, nightly services and grant us, O God, unashamed faith, hope is known, love is unfeigned, bless our entrances and exits, deeds, deeds, words, thoughts, and grant us to comprehend at the beginning of the day, praising, singing, blessing Your ineffable goodness.

For blessed be Thy all-holy Name and glorified Thy Kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

The ninth prayer contains a request to grant us a worthy understanding of the Gospel and glorifies God as our enlightenment.

Shine in our hearts, O Master who loves mankind, the imperishable light of Your God-Understanding and open our mental eyes to the understanding of Your Gospel preachings. Place in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, so that all carnal lusts may be trampled, and we will go through spiritual life, all of which is for Thy good pleasure, both in thought and in action.

For You are the sanctification and enlightenment of our souls and bodies, Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, with Your beginningless Father and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.

The tenth prayer is compiled from the verses of the 50th Psalm in relation to Christian needs, may the Lord be pleased to accept the sacrifice of truth and offering:

Lord our God, who has granted repentance to man and shown us repentance leading to forgiveness in the image of the knowledge of sins and the confession of the prophet David. Yourself, Master, for our many and great fallen sins, have mercy according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your bounties, cleanse our iniquities, for we have sinned against You, O Lord, and the unknown and secret of the human heart, the Leader and the only One who has the power to forgive sins. Having created a pure heart in us, and having strengthened us with a sovereign spirit, and having told us the joy of Thy salvation, do not cast us away from Thy face; but deign, as the Lover of Mankind is good, even until our last breath, to offer Thee a sacrifice of righteousness and an offering at Thy holy altars.

By the mercy and generosity and love of Thy Only Begotten Son, with Him art thou blessed, with Thy All-Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

In the eleventh prayer, the priest asks the Creator of angels to accept our praise, so that we too can join all the creatures of God who glorify Him:

God, our God, intelligent and verbal, composed of the strength of Your will, we pray to You, and we give You dear praise: accept our praise according to your strength, with all Your creations, and reward the rich with Your goodness; for every knee bows to You, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every breath and creature sings Your incomprehensible glory: for You are one, true and abundantly merciful God.

For all the Powers of Heaven praise You, and we send up glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

The twelfth prayer combines all previous petitions for forgiveness of sins, acceptance of prayer, enlightenment, cleansing, and fulfillment of the commandments for the granting of eternal life. This prayer also ends with the glorification of the Lord God:

We praise, sing, bless and thank Thee, O God of our father, for Thou hast brought forth the shadow of the night, and shown us again the light of day. But we pray to Your goodness: cleanse our sins and accept our prayer with Your great compassion, as we resort to You, the merciful and omnipotent God; Shine in our hearts the true sun of Thy righteousness, enlighten our minds, and guard all our feelings, so that as we walk gracefully in the days of Thy commandments, we will reach eternal life: for You have the source of life, and in the pleasure of being we will be worthy of Thy unapproachable light.

For You are our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

At the end of the Six Psalms and prayers, the priest and deacon bow before the holy gates and bow to each other. Then follows the great litany, which always precedes the most important church services, being a prayer expressing the spiritual and physical needs of Christians that have burdened humanity since the fall of our ancestors (it is said by the deacon on the sole, and if there is no deacon, the priest in the altar).

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord in peace.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord for peace from above and for the salvation of our souls.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord for the peace of the whole world, the prosperity of God’s holy Churches and the unity of all.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

For this holy temple and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

For our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and our Most Reverend Lord
(name of the river,
ruling bishop), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

For our God-protected country, its authorities and army, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

For this city (or: about this village; if in a monastery, then: about this holy monastery), every city, country and the faith of those living in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord for the goodness of the air, for the abundance of earthly fruits and times of peace.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord for those who are sailing, traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger and need.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Chorus:

Lord have mercy.

Deacon:

Let us commemorate our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, for ourselves, and for each other, and for our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus:

To you, Lord.

Priest

: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:

Amen.

The deacon sings “God is the Lord and appeared to us...” according to the voice of the troparion of the day (four times).

Before the beginning of the singing, in accordance with the Rule, candles are lit to commemorate the fact that with the appearance of the Lord in the world, a great light shone for people (Isaiah). The song is composed of selected verses from Psalm 117, which briefly convey the content of the entire psalm.

On the weekdays of Great Lent, as well as on the days of remembrance of the dead, instead of “God is the Lord,” “Alleluia” is sung; on fasting days (four times),

to serve for the dead
(three times).
Deacon: God is the Lord and He has appeared to us, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Choir

(repeats): God is the Lord... (the same after each subsequent verse pronounced by the deacon).

Deacon:

Confess to the Lord that He is good, for His mercy endures forever. They cheated me, and in the name of the Lord they resisted them. I will not die, but I will live, and I will tell the works of the Lord.

The stone that was built carelessly, this was at the head of the corner, this was from the Lord and is marvelous in our minds.

The choir sings the Sunday troparion (twice),

“Glory” is the troparion to the saint (from the Menaion), “And now” is the Sunday voice of the Theotokos troparion to the saint (if there is no troparion to the saint, then on “Glory, and now” the Sunday voice of the Theotokos is sung in the present voice).

The Resurrection of the Theotokos, also called the first Theotokos, is contained in the Octoechos in the Sunday service, at Great Vespers, after “Now you let go” and the troparion.

If Sunday coincides with a forefeast, afterfeast, or the celebration of the twelfth feast, instead of the Sunday of the Theotokos, the troparion for the forefeast or feast (on the days of its celebration) is sung.

On the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, Epiphany, Transfiguration and Exaltation, even if they fall on a Sunday, as well as the Ascension and the day of Pentecost, the troparion of the holiday is sung (three times)

(last time on “Glory and Now”).

On the Saturday of Lazarus the troparion for the feast is also sung (three times);

if the Annunciation falls on the Saturday of Lazarus, then the troparion to the Annunciation is sung twice, on “Glory” - the troparion “General Resurrection...” and on “And Now” - the troparion to the Annunciation. If the Ascension is on May 8 - the day of remembrance of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, then the troparion to the Ascension is sung twice, "Glory" - the troparion to the Apostle, "And now" - to the feast of the Ascension.

On the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (on the Week of Vai), two troparions are sung: “General Resurrection...” (twice),

“Glory, even now” - “Having been buried in You through baptism...”
(once).
If this day also coincides with the Annunciation, then the troparion to the Annunciation is sung (twice)

and to “Glory, and now” - “General Resurrection...”
(once).
On the feasts of the Theotokos (also on the Presentation of the Lord), if they fall on weekdays, only the troparion for the feast is sung (three times)

(last time on “Glory and Now”).
If the feast of the Theotokos coincides with Sunday, then the Sunday troparion is sung (twice)
and on “Glory, and now” - the troparion for the feast.

If on weekdays the saint is commemorated with a vigil, polyeleos or great doxology, then the troparion to the saint is sung (twice)

and on “Glory, and now” - the Resurrection of the Theotokos according to the voice of the holy troparion, and on Saturday - the Resurrection of the Theotokos in the present voice.

If, according to the Rule of the saint, it is necessary to sing stichera at 6 or the service to the saint does not have a holiday sign, then the troparion to the saint is sung (twice),

“Glory, even now” - Theotokos from the lesser according to the voice of the holy troparion, and on Saturday - Theotokos of the Resurrection according to the voice of the holy troparion.

If troparions are laid for two saints, then first - a troparion for one saint (twice),

on “Glory” - a troparion to another
(once)
and on “And now” - the Theotokos according to the voice of the first saint.

During the days of Great Lent, troparia are sung in glorification of the Holy Trinity - the Trinity Voices. Each voice contains three troparions: the end of the first troparion corresponds to the service of the day: on Monday - “Through the intercession of Thy incorporeal ones, have mercy on us”; on Tuesday - “Through the prayers of Thy Forerunner, have mercy on us”; on Wednesday and Friday - “By the power of Your Cross, save us, Lord”; on Thursday - “Through the prayers of Thy holy apostles and St. Nicholas, have mercy on us” (Trinitarians are contained at the end of the Lenten Triodion and in Irmologia).

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week after Alleluia, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight...” is sung (three times);

on Thursday and Friday - “When the glory of the disciples ...”
(three times).
At funeral services after “Alleluia” the troparia “In the depth of wisdom...”, “Glory, and now”, “To you is the wall and refuge of the imams...” and on other Saturdays are sung: “Apostles, martyrs and prophets...”, “Glory” - “ Remember, Lord, that Thy servants are good...", "And now" - "Mother of the ineffable Light..."

Interpretation of Psalm 103

The theme is common to the previous chapter (praise to the Lord), with the difference that in this case the emphasis is on the creation of the world. As everyone knows, the Bible describes 6 days of creation, during which the Creator consistently worked on the world, people and animals were supposed to settle in it. Psalm 103 contains many references to these events.

There are features unique to this text:

• Here for the first time in the Psalter the word “hallelujah” is used.
• It begins and ends with the same phrase, the blessing of the Lord.
• In Orthodoxy, they read it in order to begin the daily cycle of church services.

The solemn mood of this chapter is conveyed in many epithets. Their solemnity (especially in Russian) has inspired many authors of church music. During Great Vespers, it is sung, not read. At this time, all ritual activities stop, and the clergy, led by the bishop, goes to the middle of the temple.

• Psalm 102 in Russian;
• Interpretation of Psalm 3;
• Why do they read Psalm 36?

Interpretation

The deeper meaning of the text is revealed to those who study in detail the interpretation of individual verses of Psalm 103, relying on the works of the Holy Fathers:

• Verses 1 to 3: The King calls upon the pious to glorify the Lord, who demonstrates to mankind only a part of his own greatness, that part which the mind of men is capable of realizing. The prophet describes God using images that everyone can understand. He calls His clothing light, the sky called it a tent, clouds a chariot, and the wind wings.
• Verse 4: Description of the Kingdom of Heaven: angels, fiery seraphim, carrying out the orders of the Most High, protecting Christians according to His will.
• Verse 5: In this part of the work the author describes an earth that will last as long as the Lord pleases.
• Verses 6 to 15: David writes about the structure of the earth, focusing on the fact that everything on it is organized wisely, for the benefit of man. Everything in the world, from the abyss of air to water, is subject to God, because everything in it is His creation.
• Verses 16 to 18: The king says that everything in life happens at the behest of the Almighty.
• Verses 19 to 24: The prophet considers even the onset of night and dawn to be a manifestation of the power of God. With these verses he completes his description of the structure of the earth.
• Verses 25 to 30: David returns to the subject of the Savior's works, speaking particularly of the sea. He emphasizes that human existence is not enough to explore it and determine the exact number of inhabitants of the water space. Here the author also says that the extinction of certain species of animals and the increase in the population of others is God’s plan, something that allows the face of the earth to be renewed.
• Verses 31 to 35: The king admires the wisdom of the world, the merit of God. He is confident that He intended even volcanic eruptions for the benefit of humanity. Speaking about the great deeds of the Lord, David expresses a desire to rejoice in them, to glorify them in his works, in order to thereby please the One Creator. Here he also expresses the hope that there will be no sinners left on earth and that everyone who inhabits it will glorify the Almighty.