Litany of the First Hour

O You, the true light, Who enlightens every man that comes into the world, You have come into the world through Your love for mankind.  All creation has rejoiced for Your coming.  You have saved our forefather Adam from the beguiling and delivered our foremother Eve from the pangs of death.  You have given us the spirit of adoption. We praise You and bless You, saying

Doza patri kai uiw kai agiw pneumatic

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

When the morning watch dawned upon us, O Christ our God the True light, let the enlightened senses and thoughts shine within us and let not the darkness of pains overcome us.  That we may praise You reasonably with David, saying “My eyes have awakened before the morning watch, that I may meditate on Your sayings.”  Hear our cries according to Your great mercy and save us, O Lord our God, through Your loving-kindness.

Kainun kai aei kai eictouc aiwnac twn aiwnwn: am/n

Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

You are the all-honored mother of Light.  From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same they offer you glorification, O Theotokos the second heaven, for you are the pure and unchanged blossom and the ever-virgin mother, for the Father has chosen you and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you, and the Son took flesh from you.  Ask Him to grant salvation to the world which He has created, and deliver it from temptation.  Let us praise Him with a new song and bless Him both now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

  am/n