MORNING PRAYERS
First thing in the morning stand reverently before God, who sees everything.
Make the sign of the cross and say:
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When you have called on the Holy Trinity, be silent for a while to free your thoughts and feelings from what is going on around you. Then say the following prayers with your whole heart. Your prayers should not be hurried. If time is short say just a few prayers with attention and devotion. That is better than reciting a large number quickly and mechanically.
When you see + at the start of a prayer make the sign of the cross.
The Prayer of the Publican
+ God be merciful to me a sinner.
You may be repeat this several times, while bowing.
A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who is everywhere present and fills all things, Treasury of Good Things and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Between Easter and Ascension Day instead of Heavenly King, say this prayer:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and on those in the graves bestowing life.
The Trisagion (The three-times holy hymn of the angels)
+ Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
+ Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
+ Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Trinity
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
Lord, forgive our sins.
Master, pardon our wrongdoings.
Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
+ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today 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.
Short hymns to the Trinity
We get up from sleep and fall down before you, blessed God, and sing the angels’ hymn: Holy, holy, holy God. By the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit …
You have woken me from sleep, Lord; fill my heart and my mind with the light of your understanding. Open my lips to sing of you, holy Trinity: holy, holy, holy God. By the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.
… both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen
Suddenly the Judge will come and the actions of every man will be made known, so with fear we cry to you: holy, holy, holy God. At the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy. (Twelve times)
+ Come, let us worship and fall down before our King and God. (Bow)
+ Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God. (Bow)
+ Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, our King and God. (Bow)
Older children can read the epistle and gospel of the day here.
You may also like to read Psalm 50.
The Creed
I believe in one God, Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages.
Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one essence with the Father; through him all things were made;
For our sake and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man;
He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;
He rose again on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures,
And ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
He is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead; and his kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father,
Who with Father and Son is together worshipped and glorified; who spoke through the Prophets.
And in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins;
I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity (Taken from St Basil the Great)
As I get up this morning, I thank you, Holy Trinity, that because of your great goodness and patience you have not been angry with me; but you have shown your usual love for us all. And I have woken up to start the day with praise and thanks to you, glorifying your power. Now open my mind and heart to study your words, and to understand your laws and do what you have asked me to do, all the while singing to you with great love, and praising your all-holy name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer to your Guardian Angel
Dear Angel of Christ, the holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, help me to be truly sorry for all I have done wrong. Protect me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, of the most-holy Mother of God, and of all the Saints. Pray for me to the Lord, that he will judge me to be his good servant and worthy of his kindness. Amen.
A Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God
Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Saviour of our souls. Most glorious Ever-virgin, Mother of Christ our God, present our prayer to your Son and our God, and pray that through you he may save our souls.
A Prayer to your Patron Saint
Pray to God for me, holy (name of your patron saint), you who have pleased Almighty God, for I come to you gladly as my speedy helper and intermediary to the Lord for my soul.
Troparion, or Hymn, of the Holy Cross
Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance, granting your faithful people victory over their enemies, and guarding your commonwealth by your Cross.
A Prayer for Your Parents, Other Adults who look after You and Your Family
Merciful Lord God, hear my prayer. Have mercy on my parents, and on my godparents, and on all who are bringing me up in your grace and love. Protect them, and all my family, from all evil, harm and sickness, and grant them good health and bless all the things they do. Make us all worthy to praise and serve you. Amen.
The Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow – To help us to do what God wants us to do
Lord, I do not know what I need to ask you for. Only You know my real needs. I put all my trust in you. All I want is to do as you wish. Lord, teach me to pray. Lord, pray in me. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by the prayers of your most pure Mother, of (name of your patron saint), and of (the saint(s) whose day it is) and of all your saints, have mercy on us and save us, for you are a merciful God and you love mankind. Amen.
The end of the morning prayers.
Glory to our God!