Morning Prayers: what prayers to read in the morning?

Morning prayers are part of the so-called prayer rule for Orthodox Christians, a list of obligatory prayers that are supposed to be read after waking up. The prayer rule also includes evening prayers.

Morning prayers are designed not only to remind the believer of God, but also to train his will. The prayer rule is usually read according to the established canon, however, with the permission of the confessor, this list can be modified – supplemented or, conversely, reduced.

There is, for example, the “Seraphim Rule” – according to it, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov blessed the illiterate or in special need of the laity to replace morning prayers with just such a list:

• “Our Father” (three times)
• “Virgin Mary, rejoice” (three times)
• “Symbol of faith” (“I believe …”) (1 time)

The modern code of morning prayers or the prayer rule was formed in the 16th-17th centuries. The saints who created some of these prayers had a tremendous spiritual experience, so their words can be an excellent example of how to communicate with God.

However, clerics usually emphasize: morning prayers, like others, are not created to replace your own, said in your own words. Their goal is to direct your thoughts as soon as possible, to teach you how to properly address the Lord with your requests.

What is important to remember when reading morning prayers

There are a few important points to keep in mind:

1. You can learn all the morning prayers by heart, but if you still have to read them from paper or from the screen, there is nothing wrong with that either.
2. Morning prayers can be read both aloud and silently.
3. It is advisable to do this in solitude and silence, so that nothing distracts. And start as soon as you wake up.

Start

Rising from sleep, before any other work, stand reverently, presenting yourself before the All-Seeing God, and, making the sign of the cross, say:

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Then wait a little until all your feelings come to silence and your thoughts leave everything earthly, and then say the following prayers, without haste and with attention of the heart:

Publican’s Prayer

(Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verse 13)

God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Predestinatory prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed, our souls.

Trisagion

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice).

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Troparion Ternary

Rising from sleep, we fall down to Thee, Blessed, and cry out to the angelic song of Thee, Stronger: Holy, Holy, Holy Thou, God, have mercy on us the Mother of God.

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

Thou hast raised me up from bed and sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips, in hedgehog to sing Thee, Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy, O God, have mercy on us with the Theotokos.

And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Suddenly the Judge will come, and every day the deeds will be exposed, but with fear we call at midnight: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, God, have mercy on us through the Theotokos.

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Having risen from sleep, I thank Thee, Holy Trinity, for many, for the sake of Thy goodness and long-suffering, have not been angry with me, lazy and sinful, below have destroyed me with my iniquities; but you usually loved humanity and in the hopelessness of the lying one raised me up, in a hedgehog to matine and glorify Your power. And now enlighten my mental eyes, open my mouth to learn Thy words, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and sing Thee in confession of the heart, and sing of Thy all-holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever centuries. Amen.

Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)

Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ, our King God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Wash me most of all from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and my sin before me is taken out. I have sinned against you alone and done evil before you, as if you were justified in your words, and conquered when you judge Thee. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sins give birth to me, my mother. Behold, thou hast loved the truth; the unknown and secret wisdom of Thy revealed to me. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Give joy and joy to my hearing; the bones of the humble will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Reward me the joy of Your salvation and confirm me with the dominating Spirit. I will teach the wicked in Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue rejoices in thy righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. As if you would have desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. Sacrifice to God the spirit is broken; a contrite and humble heart God will not despise. Please, O Lord, with Thy favor Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, an offering and a burnt offering; then they will offer bullocks on your altar. I would have given ubo: burnt offerings do not favor. Sacrifice to God the spirit is broken; a contrite and humble heart God will not despise. Please, O Lord, with Thy favor Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, an offering and a burnt offering; then they will offer bullocks on your altar. I would have given ubo: burnt offerings do not favor. Sacrifice to God the spirit is broken; a contrite and humble heart God will not despise. Please, O Lord, with Thy favor Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, an offering and a burnt offering; then they will offer bullocks on your altar.

Symbol of faith

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was. For us for the sake of man and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And the packs of the future with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

First Prayer of Saint Macarius the Great

God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have done no good before Thee; but deliver me from the evil one, and let Thy will be in me, but without condemnation I will open my unworthy mouth and praise Your holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever Amen.

Prayer two, of the same saint

Rising from sleep, I bring the midnight song to Thee, Savior, and falling down crying out to Thee: do not let me fall asleep in a sinful death, but have mercy on me, crucified by will, and speeding me up lying in laziness, and save me in anticipation and prayer, and after a dream in the night, shine upon me a sinless day, Christ God, and save me.

Prayer three, of the same saint

To Thee, Lord, Lover of mankind, I have risen from sleep, and I strive for Thy works by Thy mercy, and I pray to Thee: help me at all times, in all things, and deliver me from every evil worldly thing and the devil’s haste, and save me, and enter into your eternal kingdom. You are my Creator and all good, the Provider and Giver, all my hope is in You, and I send glory to You, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Four, of the same saint

Lord, with Thy many goodness and Thy great bounties Thou hast given me, Thy servant, the past time of this night without adversity to pass from all evil; You Yourself, Master, of all Creators, vouchsafe me with Your true light and an enlightened heart to do Your will, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

The Fifth Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

Lord Almighty, God of strength and all flesh, living in the highest and looking down on the humble, test the hearts and wombs and the secrets of people in the foreknowledge, Beginningless and Eternal Light, with Him there is no change, or change overshadowing; Himself, the Immortal King, accept our prayers, even at the present time, boldly on the multitude of Your bounties, from bad mouths to You, and leave us our sins, even in deed, and in word, and thought, knowledge, or ignorance, we have sinned; and cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant us with an invigorating heart and a sober thought the whole night of our present life, awaiting the coming of the bright and revealed day of Your Only Begotten Son, the Lord and God and Savior of our Jesus Christ, in which the Judge of all will come with glory, give to anyone according to his deeds; but not fallen and lazy, but awake and exalted to the work of those who will be prepared, in joy and the Divine chamber of His glory we will rise, where the unceasing voice is celebrating, and the indescribable sweetness of those who see Your face is inexpressible kindness. Thou art the true Light, enlightening and sanctifying everything, and all creation sings to You forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer six, of the same saint

Let us bless you, the highest God and Lord of mercy, who is always working with us, great and unexplored, glorious and terrible, there is no number of them, who gave us sleep for the repose of our infirmities, and the weakening of the labors of the much-difficult flesh. We thank Thee, for thou hast not destroyed us with our iniquities, but thou hast philanthropy usually, and in the hopelessness of lying we have erected thou, in hedgehog to glorify Thy power. The same we pray to Your immeasurable goodness, enlighten our thoughts, eyes, and lift our minds from the heavy sleep of laziness: open our mouths, and fulfill Your praise, as if we could unswervingly sing and confess to You, in all, and from all to the glorious God, The Beginningless Father, with Your Only Begotten Son, and Your All-Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos

I sing of Your grace, Lady, I pray to You, bless my mind. Teach me the right to walk, by the way of Christ’s commandments. Strengthen your vigilance to the song, chasing away despondency. Bound by the captives of the falls, resolve your prayers, O God-bride. Preserve me in the night and in the days, delivering me those who fight the enemy. Having given birth to the life-giver of God, revive me with passions. Even the Light of the non-evening gave birth, enlighten my blinded soul. O marvelous Lady of the Chamber, create the house of the Divine Spirit for me. Having given birth to a doctor, heal the souls of my many years of passion. Agitated by the storm of life, direct me to the path of repentance. Deliver me the eternal fire, and the evil worm, and tartar. Yes, do not show me joy as a demon, who is guilty of many sins. New create me, obsolete insensible, Immaculate, in sin. Show me a strange torment of all kinds, and implore all the Lord. Heavenly mi improve fun, with all the saints, vouchsafe. Blessed Virgin, hear the voice of Your indecent servant. Give me a stream of tears, Most Pure, cleansing my soul of filth. I bring groans from the heart to Thee unceasingly, be zealous, Lady. Accept my prayer service, and bring it to the merciful God. Exceeding the Angel, create the worldly me above the confluence. Light-bearing heavenly Seine, direct spiritual grace in me. I raise my hands and mouth to praise, defiled by filth, All-blameless. Deliver me soulful dirty tricks, diligently imploring Christ; To him honor and worship befits, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen. create me beyond the merge of the world. Light-bearing heavenly Seine, direct spiritual grace in me. I raise my hands and mouth to praise, defiled by filth, All-blameless. Deliver me soulful dirty tricks, diligently imploring Christ; To him honor and worship befits, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen. create me beyond the merge of the world. Light-bearing heavenly Seine, direct spiritual grace in me. I raise my hands and mouth to praise, defiled by filth, All-blameless. Deliver me soulful dirty tricks, diligently imploring Christ; To him honor and worship befits, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Eight, to our Lord Jesus Christ

Many-merciful and all-merciful, my God, Lord Jesus Christ, many for the sake of love descended and became incarnate, as if you would save everyone. And again, Savior, save me by grace, I pray Thee; if you save me from deeds, there is no grace, and a gift, but more duty. Hey, many in generosity and inexpressible in mercy! Believe in me, said thou, about my Christ, he will live and will not see death forever. If faith, even in Thee, saves the desperate, I believe, save me, for my God is You and the Creator. Faith instead of deeds may be imputed to me, my God, do not find deeds that justify me. But let that faith of mine prevail in place of all, let that one answer, that one justify me, that one show me a partaker of Your eternal glory. May Satan not steal me away, and boast, O Word, tear me away from Your hand and fence; but either I want it, save me, or I don’t want it, Christ my Savior, anticipate soon, soon perish: You are my God from my mother’s womb. Vouchsafe me, Lord, now love Thee, as if I sometimes loved that same sin; and packs to work for you without laziness, as if you had worked before flattering satan. Most of all, I will work for You, the Lord and my God Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Ninth prayer, to the guardian angel

Holy Angel, stand before my accursed soul and my passionate life, do not leave me a sinner, depart from me below for my intemperance. Give no place to the crafty demon to possess me, the violence of this mortal body; strengthen my poor and thin hand and guide me on the path of salvation. To her, the holy Angel of God, the guardian and patron of my accursed soul and body, forgive me all, insult you with great insults all the days of my stomach, and if I have sinned this past night, cover me this present day, and save me from every temptation of the opposite Yes, in no sin will I anger God, and pray for me to the Lord, may he confirm me in His fear, and show me worthy of His servant of goodness. Amen.

Tenth Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos

My Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, with Thy holy and all-powerful supplications, expel from me, Thy humble and cursed servant, despondency, oblivion, foolishness, negligence, and all filthy, crafty and blasphemous thoughts from my wretched heart and from my darkened mind; and extinguish the flame of my passions, for I am poor and cursed. And deliver me from many and fierce memories and enterprises, and from all the actions of evil free me. As if you are blessed from all generations, and Your honorable name is glorified forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer invocation of the saint whose name you bear

Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name), as I diligently resort to you, a quick helper and prayer book for my soul.

Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you; Blessed are you in women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as if the Savior gave birth to our souls.

Troparion to the Cross and Prayer for the Fatherland

Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thy heritage, granting victory to the Orthodox Christian against the opposition, and Thy preservation by Thy Cross.

Prayer for the Living

Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name), my parents (names), relatives (names), bosses, mentors, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians.

Prayer for the dead

Give rest, Lord, to the souls of the departed Thy servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.

End of prayers

It is worthy to eat as if truly blessed Theotokos, Blessed and Immaculate and Mother of our God. The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, without the corruption of God the Word, who gave birth to the real Mother of God, we magnify Thee.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord have mercy. (Three times)

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.