When the All-Night Vigil is celebrated consecutively, as is the general custom, on the Eve of the Lord's Day or of a Feast, all that here followcth, down to Glory to God in the highest (see page 18), shall be omitted. When, however, from necessity or for convenience, Matins are celebrated separately, the Priest shall begin (the Holy Door being closed) :
Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader. Amen.
O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Glory now, and ever
Lord, have mercy- (Thrice.)
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us, And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from the Evil One:
Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Reader. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us wor- ship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before him.
While the following Psalms are being read, the Priest censeth the Holy Altar, (1) and coming forth through the North Door, he censeth the Holy Images and the People.
Psalm xx.
The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the Name of the God of
* For an explanation of the Symbolism, see Appendix В, П.
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Jacob defend thee: send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion: remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt- sacrifice: grant thee thy heart's desire, and fulfil all thy mind. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and triumph in the Name of the Lord our God: the Lord perform all thy petitions. Now know 1 that the Lord helpeth his Anointed, and will hear him from his holy heaven, even with the wholesome strength of his right hand. Some put their trust in chariots, and some in horses ; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen; but we are risen and stand upright. Save, Lord ; and hear us, O King of heaven, when we call upon thee.
Psalm xxi.
The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord; exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation. Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not denied him the request of his lips. For thou shalt pre- vent him with the blessings of goodness, and shalt set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life of thee ; and thou gavest him a long life, even for ever and ever. His honour is great in thy salvation ; glory and great worship shalt thou lay upon him. For thou shalt give him everlasting felicity, and make him glad with the joy of thy counte- nance. And why? because the King putteth his trust in the Lord ; and in the mercy of the Most Highest he shall not miscarry. All thine enemies shall feel thy hand; thy right hand shall find out them that hate thee. Thou shalt make them like a fiery oven in time of thy wrath: the Lord shall destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume them: Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended mis- chief against thee, and imagined such a device as they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou put them to flight, and the strings of thy bow shalt thou make ready against the face of them. Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength; so will we sing, and praise thy power.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. {Thrice.)
O all-holy Trinity have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy {Thrice.) Glory now, and ever
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we for-
MATINS 17
give those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from the Evil One:
Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And the following Hymns (Tropari) :
O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, granting to our God-fearing Ruler, N., victory over all adversaries, and by thy Cross preserving thine Estate.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Do thou who, of thine own good will, upon the Cross wast lifted up, bestow thy bounties upon the new State which is called by thy Name, 0 Christ, God; make glad with thy might our God-fearing Ruler, N., granting victory over his adversaries unto him who hath thine aid, which is a panoply of peace, a trophy invincible.
Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen). O Champion dread, who cannot be put to confusion, despise not our petitions. O Good One, all-lauded Birth-giver of our God, stab- lish thou the State of those who hold the Orthodox faith: save our God-fearing Ruler, N., whom thou hast called to rule over us, and bestow upon him victory from heaven: for thou didst give birth unto God, O only-blessed One.
Then shall the Priest say: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we be- seech thee: hearken, and have mercy Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
Here follow petitions for the Ruler of the Land and for all the Authorities, accord- ing to the elements and nationalities of which the Parish is constituted.
Choir. Lord, have mercy (Thrice.)
Furthermore we pray for our Holy Synod (or Patriarch) ; and for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.
Choir. Lord, have mercy (Thrice.)
Furthermore we pray for all our brethren, and for all Christians.
Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
Exclamation.
Priest. For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir Amen. Bless, Father, in the name of the Lord.
Priest. Glory to the Holy, Consubstantial, Life-giving and Un- divided Trinity, always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
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VIGIL.
When the All-Night Vigil is celebrated in its usual form, all the foregoing shall be omitted; and after the Blessing (see page 15) the Holy Doors shall be closed, and the Reader shall immediately say: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Thrice.)
O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. (Twice.)
Easter- Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death,
tide- and upon those in the tomb bestowing life. (Thrice.)
The Reader then readeth the Six Psalms.
Psalm hi. Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise against me. Many one there be that say of my soul, There is no help for him in his God. But thou, O Lord, art my defender; thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. I did call upon the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept, and rose up again ; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people, that have set themselves against me round about. Up, Lord, and help me, O my God! For thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; and thy blessing is upon thy people. I laid me down and slept, and rose up again ; for the Lord sustained me.
Psalm xxxviii. Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger; neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand press- eth me sore. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure; neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. For my wick- ednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear. My wounds stink, and are corrupt, through my foolishness. I am brought into so great trouble and misery, that I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a sore disease, and there is no whole part in my body. I am feeble and sore smitten ; I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart. Lord, thou knowest all my desire; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me, and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me. My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble, and my kinsmen stood afar off. They also that sought after my life laid snares for me; and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long. As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not; and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth. I became even as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee,
MATINS 19
0 Lord, have I put my trust; thou shalt answer for me, 0 Lord my God.
1 have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me; for when my foot slipt, they rejoiced greatly against me. And I truly am set in the plague, and my heaviness is ever in my sight. For I will con- fess my wickedness, and be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies live, and are mighty ; and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number. They also that reward evil for good are against me ; because I follow the thing that good is.
Forsake me not, 0 Lord my God ; be not thou far from me. Haste thee to help me, 0 Lord God of my salvation. (Twice.)
Psalm lxiii.
0 God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee; my flesh also longeth after thee, in a barren and dry land where no water is. Thus have I looked for thee in holiness, that I might behold thy power and glory. For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself: my lips shall praise thee. As long as I live will I magnify thee in this manner, and lift up my hands in thy Name. My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness, when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips. Have I not remembered thee in my bed, and thought upon thee when I was waking? Because thou hast been my helper; there- fore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul hangeth upon thee; thy right hand hath upholden me. These also that seek the hurt of my soul, they shall go under the earth. Let them fall upon the edge of the sword, that they may be a portion for foxes. But the King shall re- joice in God; all they also that swear by him shall be commended; for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. In the night watches have I trusted in thee: For thou hast been my helper, and under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul cleaveth unto thee: and thy right hand shall uphold me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice, without reverences.)
Lord, have mercy- (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Psalm lxxxviii. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: O let my prayer enter into thy pre- sence, incline thine ear unto my calling; for my soul is full of trouble, and my life draweth nigh unto hell. I am counted as one of them that go down into the pit, and I have been even as a man that hath no strength. Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in the grave, who are out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in a place of darkness, and in the deep. Thine indigna- tion lieth hard upon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms. Thou hast put away mine acquaint- ance far from me, and made me to be ab- horred of them. I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth. My sight faileth for very trouble; Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hands unto thee. Dost thou show won-
The Priest now saith, secretly, the Morning Prayers; the first three in the Sanctuary.
i. We give thanks unto thee, O Lord our God, who hast raised us up from our beds, and hast put into our mouths the word of praise, that we may adore and call upon thy holy Name. And we entreat thee, by thy mer- cies which thou hast exercised always in our life, send down now also thine aid upon those who stand before the presence of thy holy glory, and await the rich mercy which is from thee. And grant that they may always with fear and love worship thee, praise thee, hymn thee, and adore thine inexpressible goodness.
For unto thee is due all honour, glory and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
ii.
From the night season our soul awaketh early unto thee, O our God; for thy precepts are a light upon the earth. Teach us to per- fect righteousness and holiness in thy fear; for we glorify thee, our God, who existest in verity. Incline thine ear and hear us; and call to remembrance by their names, O Lord, all those who are with us and pray with us; and save them by thy might. Bless thy peo- ple and sanctify thine inheritance. Grant peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the priests, to the Authorities, and to all thy people.
For blessed and glorified is thine all-hon- ourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
in. In the night season our soul awaketh early unto thee, O God, for thy precepts are light. Teach us thy righteousness, thy command- ments and thy statutes, O God. Enlighten
ders among the dead? or shall the dead rise up again, and praise thee? Shall thy loving- kindness be showed in the grave? or thy faithfulness in de- struction? Shall thy wondrous works be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten? Unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and early shall my prayer come before thee. Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul, and hidest thou thy face from me? I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to die; even from my youth up thy terrors have I suf- fered with a troubled mind. Thy wrathful displeasure gosth over me, and the fear of thee hath undone me. They came round about me daily like water, and compassed me together on every side. My lovers and friends hast thou put away from me, and hid mine acquaint- ance out of my sight. O Lord God of my salvation I have cried day and night be- fore thee: O let mv
MATINS
the eyes of our understanding, lest at any time we sleep unto death in sins. Dispel all darkness from our hearts. Graciously give unto us the Sun of Righteousness, and pre- serve our life unassailed, by the seal of thy Holy Spirit. Guide our steps into the way of peace. Grant us to behold the dawn and the day with joy, that we may raise our morning prayers unto thee.
For thine is the dominion, and thine are the majesty and the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Priest now cometh forth, and standing with uncovered head before the Holy Door, he saith the remaining Prayers.
IV.
O Lord God, holy and unsearchable, who didst command the light to shine forth from the darkness; who hast refreshed us by the slumber of the night, and hast raised us up to glorify and supplicate thy goodness: Being implored of thine own tender loving-kindness, accept us also now who bow down in adora- tion before thee, and render thanks unto thee according to the measure of our strength ; and grant us all our petitions which are unto sal- vation. Make us children of the light, and of the day, and heirs of thine everlasting good things. Call to remembrance, O Lord, in the multitude of thy bounties, all thy people here present with us who make their supplications unto thee, and all our brethren on land, on the sea, and in every place of thy dominion, who are in need of thy loving-kindness and of thy succour, and vouchsafe unto them all thy great mercy, that being always pre- served in safety of soul and body, we may with boldness magnify thy wondrous and blessed Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear unto my calling.
Psalm cm. Praise the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise his holy Name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thy sin, and healeth all thine infirmities; who saveth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving- kindness; who satis- fieth thy mouth with good things, making thee young and lusty as an eagle. The Lord executeth right- eousness and judg- ment for all them that are oppressed with wrong. He showed his ways unto Moses, his works unto the children of Israel. The Lord is full of com- passion and mercy, long-suffering, and of great goodness. He will not alway be chiding; neither keep- eth he his anger for- ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our
For thou art the God of bounties and of lov- ing-kindness, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Treasury of good things, Fountain eter- nal, O Father all-holy who workest wonders, all-powerful and almighty : We all adore thee and entreat thee, calling thy mercies and thy compassion to the aid and defence of our lowliness. Call to remembrance thy serv- ants, O Lord; accept the morning prayers of us all as incense before thee; and let none of us be found reprobate, but encompass us with thy bounties. Call to remembrance, O Lord, those who watch and sing praises to thy glory, and to the glory of thine Only-be- gotten Son who is our God, and of thy Holy Spirit. Be thou their helper and their sup- port. Receive thou their supplications upon thy most heavenly and spiritually discerning altar.
For thou art our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
VI.
We give thanks unto thee, O Lord God of our salvation ; for thou doest all things which are for the welfare of our life, that we may ever look upward unto thee, our Saviour and the Benefactor of our souls. For thou hast refreshed us in that part of the night which is past, and hast raised us up from our beds, and hast, led us to stand here in adoration of thy precious Name. Wherefore we entreat thee, O Lord, vouchsafe unto us grace and power, that we may be enabled with under- standing to sing praises unto thee, and to pray without ceasing, in fear and trembling working out our own salvation, through the
wickednesses. For look how high the heaven is in compar- ison of the earth; so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him. Look how wide also the east is from the west: so far hath he set our sins from us. Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; even so is the Lord mer- ciful unto them that fear him. For he knoweth whereof we are made; he remem- bereth that we are but dust. The days of man are but as grass; for he flourisheth as a flower of the field. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him; and his right- eousness upon chil- dren's children; even upon such as keep his covenant, and think upon his command- ments to do them. The Lord hath pre- pared his seat in hea- ven, and his kingdom ruleth over all. O praise the Lord, ye
MATINS
succour of thy Christ. Call to remembrance, O Lord, those who cry aloud unto thee in the night season; hearken unto them and have mercy, and crush under their feet in- visible and warring enemies.
For thou art the King of Peace and the Saviour of our souls, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
VII.
O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hast raised us up from our beds, and hast gathered us together at this hour of prayer: Grant us grace in the opening of our lips, and accept our thanksgivings as we have power to make them; and instruct us in thy statutes. For we know not how to pray as we ought unless thou, O Lord, by thy Holy Spirit, dost guide us. Wherefore we beseech thee: Par- don, remit, forgive whatsoever sins we may have committed unto this present hour, whether by word, or deed, or thought, whether voluntarily or involuntarily; for if thou wilt be extreme to mark iniquity, O Lord, Lord, who shall stand? For with thee is redemp- tion . For thou only art holy, a mighty helper and the defender of our life; and our song shall be ever of thee.
Blessed and glorified be the might of thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
VIII.
O Lord our God, who hast banished from us the sluggishness of sleep, and hast as- sembled us together by a holy bidding, that in the night-season also we may lift up our hands, and make unto thee thankful acknow- ledgment of thy righteous judgments: Accept our prayers, petitions, confessions of thanks and nocturnal worship; and grant unto us,
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angels of his, ye that excel in strength; ye that fulfil his com- mandment and heark- en unto the voice of his word, O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye servants of his that do his plea- sure. O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his, in all places of his domin- ion: praise thou the Lord, O my soul.
In all places of his dominion, praise thou the Lord, O my soul. (Twice.)
Psalm cxliii. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire; hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake. And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man liv- ing be justified. For the enemy hath per- secuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. Vet do I remember the time past: I muse
O God, faith invincible, love unwavering, hope unfeigned. Bless our goings out and our comings in; our deeds and works, and words and thoughts. And grant that we may come to the beginning of this day praising, singing and blessing the goodness of thine ineffable beneficence.
For blessed is thine all-holy Name, and all- magnified is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
IX.
Illumine our hearts, O Sovereign Master, who lovest man, with the pure light of thy wisdom, and open the eyes of our understand- ing to the comprehension of the proclama- tion of thy Gospel. Implant in us, also, the fear of thy blessed commandments; that trampling down all carnal appetites, we may lead a godly life, both thinking and doing always such things as are well pleasing in thy sight.
For thou art the sanctification and the illumination both of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thy Father, who hath no beginning, and thine all-holy and blessed and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
x. O Lord our God, who hast granted unto men pardon through repentance, and hast set us, as an example of the acknowledgment of sin and of the confession which is unto forgiveness, the repentance of the Prophet David: Do thou, the same Lord, have mercy upon us according to thy great mercy, not- withstanding the manifold and great iniqui- ties into which we have fallen; and through the multitude of thy bounties, blot out our transgressions. For unto thee have we sinned, O Lord, who knowest the secret and
upon all thy works; yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon ; for my spirit waxeth faint : hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. O let me hear thy loving-kind- ness betimes in the morning; for in thee is my trust : show thou me the way that I should walk in; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine ene- mies; for I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee; for thou art my God: let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of right- eousness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name's sake: and for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy goodness slay mine enemies, and de- stroy all them that vex my soul ; for I am thy servant.
Hearken unto me in thy righteousness,
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hidden things of the heart of man, and who alone hast power to remit sins; and as thou hast created a clean heart within us, and established us with thy guiding Spirit, and made known unto us the joy of salvation, cast thou us not away from thy presence. But inasmuch as thou art good and lovest man, graciously vouchsafe unto us that even until our uttermost breath, we may offer unto thee the sacrifice of righteousness, and an offering upon thy holy altars.
Through the mercies and bounties and love toward mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
XI.
O God, our God, who hast brought into being by thy will all the powers endowed with speech and reason, we beseech thee and supplicate thee: Accept our praises, which together with all thy creatures we offer ac- cording to our strength; and reward us with the rich gifts of thy goodness. For unto thee every knee doth bow, whether in heaven or on the earth, or in the regions under the earth, and every breath and created being doth sing thine ineffable glory. For thou only art the true and most merciful God.
For all the powers of heaven magnify thee, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
XII.
We praise thee, we hymn thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, O God of our fathers, that thou hast brought us in safety through the shades of night, and hast shown unto us once again the light of day. And we entreat of thy goodness: Be gracious unto our sins, and accept our prayer in thy great
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O Lord, and enter not into judgment with thy servant. {Twice.) Thy gracious spirit shall direct my paths upon earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.