The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
The Church of the Virgin Mary and St.Athanasius
Mississauga, On, Canada

THE AGPEYA Prayer Book of the Seven Canonical Hours

The Sixth Hour

The Sixth Hour, reminds us of the crucifixion and passions of Christ. We pray that through His life giving passions, He may deliver our minds from lusts, turn our thoughts to the remembrance of His commandments, and make of us a light of the world and salt of the earth.

Then the worshipper recites:

The prayer of the Sixth Hour of this blessed day, we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins.
From the Psalms of our father David, the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.

PSALM 53

Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.

I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. ALLELUIA.

PSALM 56

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.

Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. ALLELUIA.

PSALM 60

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.
ALLELUIA.

PSALM 62

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. ALLELUIA.

PSALM 66

God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.

Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. ALLELUIA.

PSALM 69

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord! Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused who desire my hurt. Let them be turned back because of their shame, who say, aha, aha! ”

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay. ALLELUIA.

PSALM 83

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young-- Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You.

 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walkup rightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! ALLELUIA.

PSALM 84

Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.

Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway. ALLELUIA.

PSALM 85

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.  All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
ALLELUIA.

PSALM 86

His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: “This one was born there.” And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her.”

The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples: “This one was born there.”Both the singers and the players on instruments say, “All my springs are in you.” ALLELUIA.

PSALM 90

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” ALLELUIA.

PSALM 92

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea. Your testimonies are very sure; Holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever. ALLELUIA.

Gospel (Matthew 5:1-16)

Holy, Holy, Holy. A passage from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 Glory be to God forever. Amen.

The Litanies for Sixth Hour

We worship You O Christ…

O You, who in the sixth day, and at the sixth hour, was nailed to the Cross, for the sin which our father Adam dared to commit in paradise, take the handwriting of our sins, O Christ our God, and deliver us. Unto God have I cried, and the Lord has heard me. O God, hear my prayer and turn not away Your face from my supplication. Attend unto me and hear me. At evening, and at morning and at noontime will I utter my words; and He will hear my voice, and save my soul in Peace.

"Zoksapatri ke Eiyou-ke agi-you epnevmaty" (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.)

O Jesus Christ, our God, Who was nailed to the Cross at the sixth hour, and has slain sin by the Tree, and by Your death, You have given life to the dead, whom You have created with Your own hands, and who was dead in sin. Slay our sufferings by Your healing and life-giving passion and by the nails with which You were nailed; deliver our minds from the recklessness of earthly deeds and worldly lusts, to the remembrance of Your heavenly judgments, according to Your compassion.

"Kenin ke aa-ee ke-ic-touce e-on-ace ton e-onon Amen."(Both now and forever and unto the age of all ages, Amen.)

In as much as we have no favor, excuse, or justification because of the multitude of our sins, we, through You, implore to Him who was born of you, O Virgin, mother of God, the Virgin, for abundant is You intercession, and acceptable to our Saviour. O Holy Mother, do not exclude us sinners from Your intercession with Him to whom You gave birth. For He is merciful and able to save us, because He suffered, to deliver us. Let Your compassion speedily reach us, for we are exceedingly humbled. Help us, O God, our Saviour, for the glory of Your Name. O Lord deliver us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your Holy Name.

"Kenin ke aa-ee ke-ic-touce e-on-ace ton e-onon Amen."(Both now and forever and unto the age of all ages, Amen.

You wrought salvation in the midst of all the earth, O Christ our God, as You stretched Your holy hands on the Cross. Therefore, all nations cry out, saying: “Glory be to You, O Lord”.

"Zoksapatri ke Eiyou-ke agi-you epnevmaty" (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.)

We worship Your incorruptible Person, O Good-One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God. For of Your own Goodwill, You were pleased to be lifted up on the cross, to deliver those whom You have created from the bondage of the enemy. We cry out, and give thanks unto You, for You have filled all with joy, O Saviour, when You came to help the world, Lord glory be to You.

"Kenin ke aa-ee ke-ic-touce e-on-ace ton e-onon Amen."(Both now and forever and unto the age of all ages, Amen.)

You are she who is full of Grace, O Virgin mother of God. We magnify you, for through the Cross of Your Son, Hades has fallen and death has been abolished. We were dead, but now we are raised up and made worthy of Eternal Life, and obtained the Joy of the first Paradise. Therefore, with thanksgiving we glorify Him, the Immortal Christ Our God.

THE TRISAGION

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was born of the Virgin, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy mighty, Holy Immortal, Who rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, have mercy on us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and forever, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us.

O Lord, remit our sins. O Lord, pardon our iniquities. O Lord, forgive us our trespasses.  O Lord, visit the sick of Your people; heal them for the sake of Your Holy Name. Our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep, O Lord repose their souls.

O You who is sinless, Lord have mercy on us. O You who is sinless, Lord help us and receive our supplications. For Yours is the glory, dominion, and triple Holiness. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord bless us. Amen.

O Lord, make us worthy to pray Thankfully: Our Father Who art in heaven ...

HAIL TO SAINT MARY

Hail to you, we ask you, O saint full of glory, the Ever-Virgin, Theotokos, Mother of Christ; offer our prayers, to your beloved Son, that He may forgive us our sins.

Hail to the Holy Virgin who gave birth to the True Light, Christ our God. Ask the Lord on our behalf, that He may have mercy upon us, that He may forgive us our sins.

O Virgin Mary, the Holy Theotokos, the faithful advocate for all mankind. Intercede on our behalf, before Christ to whom you gave birth, that He may forgive us our sins.

Hail to you, O Virgin, the very and true Queen, Hail to the pride of our race, who bore for us Emmanuel. We ask you to remember us, our trusted advocate, before our Lord, Jesus Christ, that He may forgive us our sins.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CREED

We exalt you, O mother of the True Light, and we glorify you, O Virgin Saint, Theotokos, for you brought forth unto us the Saviour of the whole world; He came and saved our souls.

Glory be to You, our Master, and our King, Christ, the Pride of the Apostles, the Crown of the Martyrs, the Joy of the righteous, the Firmness of the churches, the Forgiveness of sins.

We proclaim the Holy Trinity, one in essence. We worship Him and glorify Him. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen.

THE CREED

We believe in one God; God the Father the Pantocrator, Who created Heaven and the earth, and of all things seen and unseen.

We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; True God of True God, begotten, not created; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from the Heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.  And the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures; He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of His Father. And He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end.

Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life; Who proceeds from the Father; Who, with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the prophets.

And in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.

KYRIE ELEISON

O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins.

KYRIE ELEISON (Lord have mercy) 41 times

HOLY HOLY HOLY

Holy, Holy, Holy, O Lord of Saba-outh, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory and dignity. Have mercy on us O God the Father, Almighty. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, God of powers be with us. For we have no other helper in our tribulations and adversities but You.

Loose, remit, and forgive us O God our iniquities, which we committed willingly and unwillingly, which we committed knowingly and unknowingly, the hidden and the manifest.

O Lord, remit it unto us, for the sake of Your Holy Name, which is called upon us, according to Your mercy, O Lord, and not according to our sins.

Make us worthy to pray thankfully: Our Father Who art in heaven ...

ABSOLUTION

We give thanks unto You, O our King the Pantocrator, Father of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and we glorify You, for You have made the hours of suffering of Your Only-begotten Son to be times of comfort and prayer. Receive our supplications and blot out the handwriting of our sins that is written against us. Just as You tore it in this holy hour, by the cross of Your Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Saviour of our souls, by whom You have destroyed all the power of the enemy.

Grant us, O God, a glorious time, a spotless conduct and a peaceful life, that we may please Your Holy and worshipped Name; and that, without falling into condemnation, we may stand before the fearful and just throne of Your Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and that we, together with all Your saints, glorify You, Father, who is without beginning, with the Son who is of one essence with You, and the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, both now and forever, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

THE CONCLUSION OF EVERY HOUR

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy on us. For You are at all times and in every hour, in Heaven and earth, worshipped and glorified. O Christ, our God, who is long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and compassion. Who loves the just and shows mercy to all sinners among whom I am the first. Who does not wish the death of a sinner, but that he repents and lives. You who calls all men to salvation through the promise of good things to come.

Do the same, Lord, receive also our supplications at this hour and at every hour; facilitate our present lives and direct us to act according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, set aright our reasoning, cleanse our thoughts, heal our sicknesses, remit our sins, and deliver us from all wrath and distress. Surround us with Your Holy angels, that we may be guided and guarded with them, to attain the unity of faith and knowledge of Your imperceptible and infinite glory, for blessed are You unto all ages. Amen.

O Lord, make us worthy to pray thankfully:
Our Father Who art in heaven .....