The Psalms of Praise.
The third and last part
of Matins consists of hymns of praise in honor of the Lord and petitions for
the granting of spiritual mercies to all Christians. After the canon are
chanted the Psalms 148, 149 and 150, which invite all God’s creatures to praise
the Lord, and are, therefore, called the “Psalms of Praise:” “Let every breath
praise the Lord”; “Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest;
praise Him, all ye His angels; praise ye Him, all ye His hosts.” On Sundays the
deacon calls out before these Psalms are sung: “Holy is the Lord our God,” as
an invitation to begin the song of praise. Between the verses are sung hymns in
honor of the event or person commemorated; these are called the Sticheræ
on “the Praises.” The Psalms of Praise end with a hymn in honor of the Virgin (Theotokion):
At Sunday Matins the
following Theotokion is sung: “Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos,
for through Him Who became incarnate of thee is Hades led captive, Adam
recalled, the curse annulled, Eve set free, death slain, and we are given life.
Wherefore, we cry aloud in praise: Blessed art Thou, O Christ God, Who hast
been thus well-pleased, glory to Thee.”
The Great
Doxology.
After the Psalms of
Praise with their sticheræ have been chanted, the Royal Gates are
opened, and the priest calls out “Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the Light,”
thus inviting the faithful to glorify God for having given us the Light of the
spirit — Christ Saviour, Who came into the world to illumine mankind, which had
theretofore lived in the darkness of superstitions and iniquities. In those
places where the All-night Vigil really lasts all night, and where Matins,
being performed separately from Vespers, begin very early, the priest utters
these words at sunrise and thereby invites the faithful to glorify God for the
gift not of the spiritual light alone, but also of the material light. In
answer to the priest’s invitation, the faithful sing the Doxology which begins
with the Angelic Song “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will among men,” and ends with the Trisagion: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” This Doxology is called
“the Great” to distinguish it from “the Lesser Doxology,” which precedes the
Six Psalms. The Great Doxology:
“Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship
Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy
great glory. O Lord, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty;
O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and O Holy Spirit. O Lord
God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us; Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our
prayer; Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of
God the Father. Amen.
“Every day will I bless Thee, and I will
praise Thy name for ever, yea, for ever and ever.
“Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day
without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and
glorified is Thy name unto the ages. Amen.
“Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
according as we have hoped in Thee.
“Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy
statutes. (Thrice.).
“Lord, Thou hast been our refuge in
generation and generation. I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for
I have sinned against Thee. O Lord, unto Thee have I fled for refuge, teach me
to do Thy will, for Thou art my God; for in Thee is the fountain of life, in
Thy light shall we see light. O continue Thy mercy
unto them that know Thee.
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have
mercy on us. (Thrice.).
“Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages. Amen.
“Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have
mercy on us.”