Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch + Archdiocese of the Western USA

Watch and Pray lest you enter into temptation

 (Matthew. 26, 41)

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For more knowledge on prayer please refer to the book of "The Spiritual Treasure on Canonical Prayer" written by Mor Ignatius Ephrem Barsoum.

(Note)

In the New Testament, we read:  “Watch and Pray.” (Matthew. 26, 41), so watch, you, and pray always;  See also the parable of the Unjust Judge. (Luke 18).  We further read: “Continue steadfastly in prayer being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2); “Pray without ceasing.” (Thessalonians, 5:17);  “Be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12),  “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplications for all the Saints.” (Ephesians 6:18).

"The ecclesiastical day in the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch begins in the evening at sunset with the ramsho (Vespers).  In accordance with Psalm 119, verse 164, “Seven times a day have I praised thee for thy judgments, O Righteous One” the Syriac Orthodox Church set the times for prayer to seven:

Ramsho (Evening) prayer (Vespers),

Sootoro (meaning ‘Protection’) prayer (Compline), the Psalm 91, is sung at this prayer "He who sits under the protection of the Most High",

Lilyo (Midnight) prayer,

Saphro (Morning) prayer (Matins),

Tloth sho`een prayer (Third Hour, prime, 9 a.m.),

Sheth sho`een prayer (Sixth Hour, Sext, noon, 12 p.m.),

Tsha` sho`een prayer (Ninth Hour, Nones, 3 p.m.).

Each of the hours has its own particular theme, The Midnight prayer consists of three qawme ‘watches’ (literarily ‘standing’).

Today, even in monasteries, the evening and Compline prayers are said together, as also the midnight and morning prayers, and the three, six and nine o'clock prayers, reducing the times of prayer to three.
 

"This is the order reported by Metropolitan Yacoub of Bartella in his book entitled: “The Treasures”:
"We pray in the evening to give thanks to God who gave us night, so that we may rest after the toils of the day. Upon retiring we pray (Compline) to ask for protection from enemies of darkness and also because of the possibility that we might go to sleep and wake up in the world of eternity.  At midnight we pray to meditate on our Savior, Who passed the night of His Passion without sleep, to teach us to always stay awake  and pray so that we may escape from the Evil One and his powers. In the morning we pray to thank God who gave us day.  At The Third Hour we pray, for Jesus was condemned to death at that hour after being scourged.  Thus we reflect on His passion and thank him for bearing all that for us so that we might  escape the pains of the Day of Righteous Judgment on the judgment day.  At the Sixth Hour, the hour of His crucifixion, we pray to ponder it and thank God for His goodness and His love.  We pray At the Ninth Hour (three in the afternoon) because it is His actual hour of death.  At that hour the whole earth trembled and was shaken, and the whole creation shuddered at the dissimulation of the Jews.  We reflect over these things, and thank Him for His love which is the greatest of all.  We also ask Him to save us from eternal death and gather us with our faithful departed in the company of those of the right side. We learn from the Book of Acts (Acts 2:15) that the Apostles used to pray at the sixth hour. Peter also prayed  at the sixth hour (Acts 10:9), and he and John went up to the Temple to pray at the Ninth Hour (Acts 3:1).  Acts 16:25 tells of Paul and Silas praying and praising God at midnight. They never went to sleep or woke up in the morning without offering worship (Acts 1:14; 2:43)."
 

Mor Gregarius informs us that the Ascetics added another prayer- the Eighth which is called Dawn Prayers.  Laymen, however, not being able to keep the seven times of prayer, pray in the morning, at noon and in the evening. As the Psalmist says: “As for me, I call upon God and God saves me, in the evening and in the morning and at noontide.”  Daniel, too, was to be found in his upper room, with windows open towards Jerusalem, kneeling humbly three times in the day and praying in the presence of his God, as he used to do before.

At the present time, however, the Church has condensed prayer times into morning and evening worship. The Night, Morning, Third Hour, and Sixth Hour prayers are offered in the morning. The Ninth Hour, Evening or Vesper, and Compline or Retiring prayers (Sutoro) are offered in the evening."

Basic Prayer
According to the Rite of
the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch

Basic Prayers or Obligatory Prayers, must be used in order to pray the days and hours of the Sh'himo (Daily Prayer Book).

Opening Prayer          ܨܠܘܬܐ ܕܫܘܪܝܐ

(Stand with the face inclined toward the East, folding hands on the chest and focusing thoughts, make the sign of the Cross and say:)

ܒܫܡ ܐܒܐ ܘܒܪܐ ܘܪܘܚܐ ܩܕܝܫܐ ܚܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܫܪܝܪܐ܉ ܐܡܝܢ

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One True God, Amen

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Heaven and earth are full of your glory:

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who has come

and is to come

in the name of the Lord God:

praise be in the highest.
 

(Inclining the head in worship, bow down and then stand upright, making a sign of the Cross.)

The Trisagion

Holy are You, O God

Holy are You, O Almighty

Holy are You O Immortal  Who was crucified for us;
have mercy upon us. (three times)

(Kneel down and touch the ground with the head, then stands up and makes a sign of the Cross. Do likewise each time saying: Holy are you...

(Stand upright and raising hands looks up, while saying)

Have mercy upon us.

Lord have pity and mercy upon us.

Lord receive our service and our prayers, and have mercy upon us.

Glory to You, O God

Glory to You, O Creator.

Glory to You, O Christ the King, who has compassion on your sinful servants. Barekhmore (Lord bless).

( Worship and makes a sign of the Cross. After that he says the Lord's prayer, raising hands and looking up.)

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father Who are in heaven

Hallowed be Your name,

Your kingdom come;

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day the bread of our need

and forgive us our debts and our sins,

as we have forgiven our debtors;

Do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

forever and ever. Amen.

(All prayers must be end with Nicene Creed, followed by Service of Mother of God and service of Saints and ends by the Hail of Mary)

The  Nicene Creed

 We believe in One God,

The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.                    

And in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, Who was begotten of the Father before all worlds. Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten and not made, and being of one substance with His Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by  the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. And He became man, and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered, died, and was buried, and on the third day He rose according to His will. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of His Father. And He will come again with great glory to judge both the living and the dead, and His kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life to all, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets and Apostles.

And in one Holy Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the new life in the world to come. Amen.

(Optional prayer)

Hail Mary full of grace, our Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

our Lord Jesus Christ.

O Lady Mary, virgin mother of God,

pray for us sinners now and always at the hour of our death.

Amen.

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