Traditionally, the Midnight Office begins sometime around 11:30 p.m. in order that the priest may come out with the Paschal Light exactly at midnight. The Midnight Office may not begin any earlier than 10:00 p.m. by edict of the Metropolitan Archbishop. Alternatively, some parishes may choose to do this service on Sunday morning at such a time that the Paschal Light is brought out "very early at the rising of the sun."
With the church darkened except for a few lights, the priest, vested in in exorasson and epitrachelion, stands before the Holy Table, facing east, with the Holy Doors and curtain remaining closed until the Rush Procession begins.
Then blessing himself, he says in a loud voice:
Priest : Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Reader : Amen. Priest : Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee. O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.
The priest does the great censing. The people remain standing until he has finished the great censing.
People : 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 ages of ages. Amen .
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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 forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 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. People : Amen. Reader : Lord, have mercy. (12 times) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen .
O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. (metania)
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. (metania)
O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (metania)
Psalm 50
Reader : Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. For behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sins did my mother conceive me. For behold, thou hast loved truth: the unclear and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made clear to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness: the bones which thou hast broken shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and steady me with a guiding spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways: and the impious shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For hadst thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it thee: thou delightest not in burnt offerings. Sacrifices to God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good, O Lord, in thy good will unto Zion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offerings: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
During the Canon of Great Saturday the clergy say the Paschal Kairon, Vesting Prayers and Proskomedia. In some traditions the Kairon, Vesting Prayers and Proskomedia are completed prior to the Midnight Office.
The Canon
Ist Ode. Tone 6.
Heirmos :
The children of those who were saved, hid under ground the God who made the persecuting giant of old to disappear in the waves of the sea. As for us, however, let us praise the Lord as did the youths; for in glory hath he been glorified.
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! O Lord my God, I shall praise thy burial with funeral dirges, and indite unto thee pæans, O thou through whose Burial the entrance of life hath opened for me; and who by Death caused death and hades to die.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Verily, the super-terrestrial, and those below the earth, beholding thee on thy throne on high and in the grave below, were amazed, trembling at thy Death; for thou O Element of life, wast seen to be dead in a manner transcending the mind.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. To the depths of the earth thou descendest to fill all with thy glory; for my person that is in Adam was not hidden from thee; and when thou wast buried thou didst renew me, who was corrupt, O Lover of mankind.
Katavasia : The children of those who were saved, hid under ground the God who made the persecuting giant of old to disappear in the waves of the sea. As for us, however, let us praise the Lord as did the youths; for in glory hath he been glorified.
3rd Ode
Heirmos : Verily, creation, having beheld thee suspended on Golgotha, O thou who didst suspend the whole earth on the waters without hinges, was overtaken with great surprise, crying aloud, "There is none holy save Thee, O Lord."
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! Thou hast revealed, O Master, numerous sights as signs of thy Burial. But now thou hast revealed thy hidden things as God and Man to those who are in hades also, who shouted, saying, "There is none holy save thee, O Lord."
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Thou hast stretched forth thy hands, O Saviour, and gathered the things dispersed of old; and by thy Burial in the linen and the grave thou hast loosed the captives, who shout, "There is none holy save thee, O Lord."
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. A grave and seals contained thee by thy will, O uncontainable; for by deeds, O Lover of mankind, thou hast made thy power known by a divine act to those who sing, "There is none holy save thee, O Lord."
Katavasia : Verily, creation, having beheld thee suspended on Golgotha, O thou who didst suspend the whole earth on the waters without hinges, was overtaken with great surprise, crying aloud, "There is none holy save Thee, O Lord."
4th Ode
Heirmos : Verily, Habakkuk, O good One, foresaw thy divine condescension even to the Cross; and was dazzled as he cried, "Thou abolished the prestige of the mighty, when thou didst appear in hades, since thou art Almighty."
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! Thou hast blessed, O Saviour, this seventh day, which thou hadst blessed at the beginning with rest from work: for thou hast brought out everything, renewing it and restoring it to its former state, thus keeping the Sabbath.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Thy soul, by the power of the best, hath vanquished the body, O Word, breaking the bonds of hades and death together by thy might.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen . Hades in welcoming thee, O Word, murmured at beholding a deified Man marked with wounds, who is yet Almighty. Wherefore, at that terrible sight it shouted in fear.
Katavasia : Verily, Habakkuk, O good One, foresaw thy divine condescension even to the Cross; and was dazzled as he cried, "Thou abolished the prestige of the mighty, when thou didst appear in hades, since thou art Almighty."
5th Ode
Heirmos : When Isaiah, O Christ, saw thy light that setteth not, the light of thy divine appearance coming to us in pity, he rose up early, crying, "The dead shall rise, and they who are in the tombs shall awake, and all those on the earth shall rejoice."
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! When thou becamest earthly, O Creator, thou didst renew those who are earthly. And the linen and the grave explained thy hidden mystery, O Word; for the honourable Joseph, of sound belief, fulfilled thy Father's plan, through whom thou hast renewed me by the might of his greatness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Thou hast transported the dead by Death, and the corrupt by Burial; for as becometh God thou hast made the body which thou didst create incorrupt and deathless; for thy body, O Master, did not see corruption, and thy soul in a strange manner was not left in hades.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Thou didst come from a Virgin who knew no travail. Thy side, O my Creator, was pierced with a spear, by which thou didst accomplish the re-creation of Eve, having thyself become Adam. Supernaturally thou didst fall into a sleep that renewed nature, raising life from sleep and corruption; for thou art Almighty.
Katavasia : When Isaiah, O Christ, saw thy light that setteth not, the light of thy divine appearance coming to us in pity, he rose up early, crying, "The dead shall rise, and they who are in the tombs shall awake, and all those on the earth shall rejoice."
6th Ode
Heirmos : Verily, Jonah the Prophet was caught but not held in the belly of the whale. But being a sign of thee, O thou who didst suffer and wast delivered to burial, he came out of the whale as out of a chamber, and cried unto the watchmen, "In vain do ye watch, O watchmen; for ye have neglected mercy."
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! Thou wast killed, O Word, but wast not separated from the body which thou didst share with us; for even though thy temple was dissolved at the time of the Passion, the Person of thy Divinity and Humanity is one only; and in both thou art still a single Son, the Word of God, God and man.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: The fall of Adam resulted in the Death of a Man, not God; for though the substance of thine earthly body suffered, thy Divinity hath remained passionless, transforming the corrupt to incorruptibility. And by thy Resurrection thou hast uncovered the incorrupt fountain of life.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Verily, hades ruled the race of man, but not forever; for thou, O mighty One, when thou wast placed in the grave didst demolish the locks of death with the palm of thy hand, O Element of Life, proclaiming to those sitting yonder from the ages a true salvation, having become, O Saviour, the First-born of the dead.
Katavasia : Verily, Jonah the Prophet was caught but not held in the belly of the whale. But being a sign of thee, O thou who didst suffer and wast delivered to burial, he came out of the whale as out of a chamber, and cried unto the watchmen. "In vain do ye watch, O watchmen; for ye have neglected mercy."
7th Ode
Heirmos : An ineffable wonder! He who saved the righteous youths from the fire of the furnace, hath been placed in a grave, a breathless corpse, for our salvation and deliverance, who sing, "Blessed art thou, O delivering God."
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! Verily, hades was pierced and destroyed by the divine fire when it received in its heart him who was pierced in his side with a spear for our salvation, who sing, "Blessed art thou, O delivering God."
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! The tomb is happy, having become divine when it received within it the Treasure of life, the Creator, as one who slumber-eth for our salvation, who sing, "Blessed art thou, O delivering God."
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: The Life of all was willing to lie in a grave, in accordance with the law of the dead, making it appear as the fountain of the resurrection of our salvation, who sing, "Blessed art thou, O delivering God."
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. The Godhead of Christ was one without separation in hades, in the tomb, in Eden, and with the Father and the Spirit, for our salvation, who sing, "Blessed art thou, O delivering God."
Katavasia : An ineffable wonder! He who saved the righteous youths from the fire of the furnace, hath been placed in a grave, a breathless corpse, for our salvation and deliverance, who sing, "Blessed art thou, O delivering God."
8th Ode
Heirmos : Be thou amazed, O heaven, and let the foundations of the earth quake; for behold, he who dwelleth in the highest hath been accounted among the dead, and hath been Guest in a humble tomb. Wherefore, O ye youths, bless him. Praise him, ye priests; and ye nations, exalt him more and more unto all the ages.
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee! The pure Temple hath been destroyed, then rising, he raised with him the fallen tabernacle; for the second Adam who dwelleth in the highest hath descended unto the first Adam in the uttermost chambers of hades. Wherefore, ye youths, bless him. Praise him, ye priests; and ye nations, exalt him more and more unto all ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: The courage of the Disciples hath come to its end. But Joseph of Ramah hath shown great valor; for beholding the God of all dead and naked, he sought him and arrayed him, shouting, "O ye youths, bless him. Praise him, ye priests; and ye nations, exalt him more and more unto the end of ages."
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O what dazzling wonders! O what endless goodness! O what ineffable endurance! For he that dwelleth in the highest is sealed up under the earth by his own will. God is slandered as a misleader. Wherefore, O ye youths, bless him. Praise him, ye priests; and ye nations, exalt him yet more and more unto the end of ages.
Katavasia : Be thou amazed, O heaven, and let the foundations of the earth quake; for behold, he who dwelleth in the highest hath been accounted among the dead, and hath been Guest in a humble tomb. Wherefore, O ye youths, bless him. Praise him, ye priests; and ye nations, exalt him more and more unto all the ages.
9th Ode
Heirmos : Mourn not for me, Mother, as thou beholdest me in the grave; for I thy Son, whom thou didst conceive in thy womb without seed, shall rise and shall be glorified. And being God, I will ceaselessly exalt and ennoble those who in faith and longing magnify thee.
Glory to thee, our God, Glory to thee! My eternal Son, I escaped sufferings at thy strange Birth and was supernaturally blessed. And now, beholding thee, O my Son, dead and breathless, I am pierced with the spear of bitter sorrow. But arise thou, that I may be magnified by thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: The earth, O my mother, hath hidden me by mine own will. And the gate-keepers of hades trembled at beholding me clothed with a robe spattered with revenge; for I being God, have vanquished mine enemies with the Cross, and I will rise again and magnify thee.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Let all creation rejoice, and all the earthly be glad; for hades and the enemy have been spoiled. Let the women meet me with spices; for I redeem Adam and all their descendants, and will rise on the third day.
Katavasia : Mourn not for me, Mother, as thou beholdest me in the grave; for I thy Son, whom thou didst conceive in thy womb without seed, shall rise and shall be glorified. And being God, I will ceaselessly exalt and ennoble those who in faith and longing magnify thee.
The Trisagion Prayers
The readers and male chanters enter the sanctuary. All the lights are extinguished in the church. The church should be in complete darkness.
Choir: 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 ages of ages. Amen .
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen .
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 forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 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. Reader : Amen.
The Resurrection Apolytikion
The clergy and chanters chant together the resurrectional apolytikion from inside the sanctuary.
Tone 2.
When thou didst submit thyself unto death, O thou deathless and immortal one. Then thou didst destroy hell, with thy Godly power. And when thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of heaven did cry aloud unto thee, "O Christ, thou giver of life, glory to thee!"
Ektenia
Priest : Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee: hearken and have mercy. Choir : Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Priest : Again we pray that he will keep this holy church and this city and every city and countryside from wrath, famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion, civil war and sudden death; that our good God, who loveth mankind, will be gracious, favorable and conciliatory and turn away and dispel all the wrath stirred up against us and all sickness, and may deliver us from his righteous chastisement which impendeth against us, and have mercy on us. Choir : Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Priest : Hear us, O God our Saviour, the Hope of all the ends of the earth and of those who are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be gracious, O Master, upon our sins, and have mercy on us. For thou art a merciful God and 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. Priest : Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to Thee. Choir : Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen . Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Father, bless. Priest : May He who rose again from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; of N. (patron saint of the church); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna and of all the Saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as he is good and loveth mankind. Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Choir : Amen.