Appendix 2: Hymns to the Trinity and Hymns of Light at Mattins on Weekdays
IN THE EIGHT TONES FROM THE OCTOECHOS
At Mattins on weekdays in Lent, in place of The Lord is God, we sing Alleluia with the appointed verses, and then the following Hymns to the Holy Trinity in the Tone of the week. At the end of the Canon, we likewise sing the appointed Hymn of Light (Exapostilarion) in the Tone of the week, repeating it three times.
The ending of these Hymns varies according to the day of the week.
In the Hymns to the Trinity, after Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God, we end the first Hymn thus:
On Monday: through the protection of Thine angels, have mercy upon us.
On Tuesday: at the prayers of Thy Forerunner, have mercy upon us.
On Wednesday and Friday: by the power of Thy Cross, save us, O Lord.
On Thursday: at the prayers of Thine apostles and St. Nicolas, have mercy upon us.
In the Hymn of Light, when it is said the first time we end:
On Monday: through the protection of Thine angels, O Lord, and save me.
On Tuesday: at the prayers of Thy Forerunner, O Lord, and save me.
On Wednesday and Friday: by the power of Thy Cross, O Lord, and save me.
On Thursday: at the prayers of Thine apostles and St. Nicolas, O Lord, and save me.
When the Hymn of Light is said the second time we end: at the prayers of Thy saints, O Lord, and save me.
And the third time we end: at the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Note that on Saturday the Hymn of Light is said only twice. The first time we end: at the prayers of Thy saints, O Lord, and save me.
And the second time: at the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Then, instead of repeating the Hymn of Light a third time, we use the exapostilarion of the dead, O Thou who hast authority as God (see p. 73).
TONE ONE
Hymns to the Trinity
Through bodily images let us ascend to the spiritual and immaterial understanding of the bodiless powers; singing the Thrice-Holy Hymn and awaiting the illumination of the Godhead in three Persons, let us cry aloud as the cherubim to the one and only God: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
With all the heavenly hosts, let us offer the Thrice-Holy Hymn of praise and cry aloud as the cherubim to Him who dwells on high: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
Rising from sleep, we fall down before Thee, loving Lord, and with the angels’ song we cry to Thee, All-powerful: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
O Christ who makest light to shine, cleanse my soul from every sin,…
TONE TWO
Hymns to the Trinity
Doing as the powers on high, we on earth offer Thee, O loving Lord, a hymn of victory: Holy, holy, holy art Thou our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
O uncreated Nature, Maker of all things, open our lips that we may proclaim Thy praises, crying: Holy, holy holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
Thou, O Lord, hast raised me from my bed and sleep; enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
Send forth Thine eternal light, O Christ my God, and illumine the secret eyes of my heart,…
TONE THREE
Hymns to the Trinity
O Trinity, one in Essence and undivided, Unity in three coeternal Persons, to Thee as God we sing the angels’ hymn: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
Daring to give glory to the one Godhead, to the eternal Father, the coeternal Son, and the timeless Spirit, as the cherubim we say: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
Suddenly the Judge will come, and the acts of every man will be laid bare. But at midnight let us cry with fear: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
Send forth Thy light, O Christ my God, and illumine my heart,…
TONE FOUR
Hymns to the Trinity
Daring, mortal though we are, to offer unto Thee the hymn of Thine angelic ministers, we say: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
As the angelic hosts in heaven, we men on earth, standing now with fear, offer unto Thee, O loving Lord, a hymn of victory: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
Daring to give glory to Thine eternal Father, and to Thee, O Christ our God, and to Thy Most Holy Spirit, as the cherubim we say: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
O Thou who makest light to shine upon Thy world, cleanse from every sin my soul that is in darkness,…
TONE FIVE
Hymns to the Trinity
Now is the hour for praise and prayer; let us cry fervently to the one and only God: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
We dare to act as ikons of Thy spiritual hosts, and with our unworthy mouths we cry to Thee, O Trinity without beginning: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
O Christ our God, who though contained within a virgin womb wast not divided from the Father, accept us as we call upon Thee with the angels: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
O Lord the Giver of Light, send down Thy light and illumine my heart,…
TONE SIX
Hymns to the Trinity
With fear and trembling standing in Thy presence, the cherubim and seraphim offer the Thrice-Holy Hymn with voices that are never still. And with them we sinners also cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
In never-silent hymns of glory, with their bodiless mouths the six-winged seraphim sing to Thee our God the Thrice-Holy Hymn; and we on earth offer praise to Thee from our unworthy lips: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
Let us glorify the Godhead, three in one, united and yet unconfused, and let us sing the angels’ hymn: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
Send down upon our souls Thine everlasting light,…
TONE SEVEN
Hymns to the Trinity
Praised by the cherubim in Thine almighty power, and worshipped by the angels in Thy divine glory, do Thou accept us sinners also who, unworthy, dare to cry to Thee: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
Casting off both sleep and slothfulness, my soul, bring to the Judge more fervent hymns of praise, and cry aloud with fear: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
To the Godhead that no man can approach, to the Trinity in Unity, let us offer the Thrice-Holy Hymn of the seraphim, and cry aloud with fear: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
Rouse me to sing Thy praises, O Lord, and teach me to do Thy will, O Holy One,…
TONE EIGHT
Hymns to the Trinity
Lifting up our hearts to heaven, let us imitate the hierarchy of angels. Let us fall down with fear before the righteous Judge, singing a triumphal hymn of praise: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God;…
Glory be to the Father…
Daring not to gaze upon Thee, the winged cherubim cry out in the words of the Thrice-Holy Hymn inspired by God; and with them we sinners also cry to Thee: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; at the prayers of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us.
Both now…
Bent beneath the multitude of our iniquities, we dare not look up at the height of heaven; but, bowing down in soul and body, with the angels we sing unto Thee: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, our God; through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.
Hymn of Light
Thou art the Light, O Christ, fill me with Thy radiance,…