Orthodox Morning Prayers for Fasting Days

My morning prayer routine is a blend of ancient tradition and practical adaptation. When I first became Orthodox, I found it challenging to establish a clear morning prayer routine. I was advised to get a prayer book and say as many of the prayers listed in the morning routine as possible. While this sounded like a 'safe' option, it wasn't sustainable with two young kids at home and a demanding full-time job. So, I developed a realistic prayer routine for non-fasting days and a more comprehensive one for fasting days. This post shares my fasting day morning prayer routine, which I try to follow as often as possible.

Establishing this routine took time and was guided by the early Christian teachings found in the Didache, which sets expectations for prayer, emphasizing the Lord's Prayer to be recited at least three times a day. The Orthodox Church has since added various prayers to the morning routine to help believers start their day with a focus on God.

🌅 Orthodox Morning Prayers

Starting your day with prayer is like laying a spiritual foundation for everything that follows. These morning prayers are not just a ritual; they help me align my heart and mind with God, providing peace and guidance for the day ahead. Here's my morning prayer routine that I follow every day.

1. Beginning with Reverence

After waking up, and before taking any other action, I stand reverently in front of the cross and imagine myself to be in the presence of God. Then, after making the sign of the Cross, I say:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I pause for a moment until all my senses are calmed and my thoughts forsake all things earthly, then make three prostrations after saying:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

2. Glory and Invocation

Next, I say: 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Followed by:

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessing and Giver of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

3. Trisagion Prayers

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Repeat 3 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Repeat 3 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

4. The Lord's Prayer

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.

5. Troparia

Having risen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Good One, and with the angels' song we cry to Thee, All-powerful: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

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

O Lord, Who hast raised me from bed and from sleep, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I may sing of Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

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

The Judge shall come suddenly, and the deeds of each shall be exposed; but at midnight we cry out with fear: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy. (Repeat 12 times)

6. Thanksgiving and Praise

Rising from sleep, I thank Thee, O Holy Trinity. For, in the abundance of Thy goodness and patience, Thou hast not been angry with me, idler and sinner though I be, nor hast Thou destroyed me together with my iniquities, but Thou hast shown Thy usual love for mankind, and hast raised me up as I lay helpless, that I might rise early and glorify Thy dominion. Enlighten now the eyes of my mind, and open my lips that I may study Thy words, and come to understand Thy commandments, and accomplish Thy will, and hymn in heartfelt confession, and praise Thine all-holy Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Come let us worship God our King. Come let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God. Come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.

7. Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquities, and my sin is continually before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the unknown and hidden things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made known unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear joy and gladness, the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away 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 establish me with a ruling spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn to Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it; Thou wilt not be pleased with whole-burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

8. Symbol of Faith (The Nicene Creed)

I 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 Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light: very God of very God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made: Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried; And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father; And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets. And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

9. Prayer I, of St. Macarius the Great

O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done anything good in Thy sight; but deliver me from the evil one, and let Thy will be done in me, that I may open my unworthy mouth without condemnation, and praise Thy holy name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

These prayers set a peaceful and reflective tone for the day, helping me seek God's guidance and mercy. They remind me of His presence and prepare me to live according to His will.

Prayer Books I Recommend

Orthodox Christian Prayers [Prayer Book]

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The Little Red Prayer Book

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🙏 Additional Prayers for Fasting Days

Fasting days require an extra layer of spiritual discipline. On these days, my prayers help deepen my repentance and draw me closer to God. Here are the specific prayers I use on fasting days.

10. 9th Prayer, to Our Lord Jesus Christ

My most merciful and all-merciful God, O Lord Jesus Christ! In Thy great love, Thou didst come down and become flesh in order to save all. Again, I pray Thee, save me by Grace! If Thou shouldst save me because of my deeds, it would not be a gift, but merely a duty. Truly, Thou aboundest in graciousness and art inexpressibly merciful! Thou hast said, O my Christ: “He who believes in me shall live and never see death”. If faith in Thee saves the desperate, behold: I believe! Save me, for Thou art my God and my Maker. May my faith replace my deeds, O my God, for Thou wilt find no deeds to justify me. May my faith be sufficient for all. May it answer for me; may it justify me; may it make me a partaker of Thine eternal glory; and may Satan not seize me, O Word, and boast that He has torn me from Thy hand and fold. O Christ my Savior: save me whether I want it or not! Come quickly, hurry, for I perish! Thou art my God from my mother’s womb. Grant, O Lord, that I may now love Thee as once I loved sin, and that I may labor for Thee without laziness as once I labored for Satan the deceiver. Even more, I will labor for Thee, my Lord and God Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

11. 10th Prayer, To the Guardian Angel

O Holy Angel, who stand by my wretched soul and my passionate life: do not abandon me, a sinner, neither depart from me because of my lack of self-control. Leave no room for the evil demon to gain control of me through the violence of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble hand, and instruct me in the path of salvation. O holy Angel of God, the guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body: forgive all the sorrows I have caused you, every day of my life. If I have sinned in this past night, protect me during this day. Keep me from every adverse temptation, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that He may establish me in His fear and make me, His servant, worthy of His goodness. Amen.

12. 11th Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos

O Most Holy Theotokos, my Lady: through your holy and all-powerful prayers, turn away from me, your humble and unworthy servant, despair, forgetfulness, unreasonableness, indifference, and all unclean, evil and blasphemous thoughts from my wretched heart and darkened mind. Extinguish the flame of my passions, for I am poor and wretched. Deliver me from my numerous and wicked memories and fantasies. Free me from all evil acts, for you are blessed by all generations, and your most honorable name is glorified unto ages of ages. Amen.

And these verses:

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos! Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Savior of our souls!

Pray to God for me, O holy (your Patron Saint), pleasing to God, for with fervor I run to you, swift helper and intercessor for my soul!

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation.

13. Prayer of Saint Ephraim

Oh, Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (prostration)

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. (prostration)

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother.  For you are blessed, unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)

O god, cleanse me a sinner. (12 times)

Then the entire Prayer of St. Ephraim is repeated with a single prostration at its conclusion.

14. Then conclude your prayers

It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee. (prostration)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy! (thrice)

Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of my holy guardian angel, of (your Patron Saint), of (your family Saint or the saint of the day), and of all the saints: save me a sinner. Amen.

⏰ When Time is Limited

Life can get hectic, and sometimes I don't have the time to go through the full prayer routine. On such days, I go back to the basics as advised in the Didache, an early Christian text that provides foundational guidance for prayer routines. The Didache emphasizes the importance of the Lord's Prayer, recommending it to be said at least three times a day. This simple practice helps me keep the core of my faith intact, even on the busiest days.

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.

Even when time is short, maintaining a connection with God through the Lord's Prayer helps keep my day centered on faith. This practice serves as a constant reminder of God's presence and guidance, allowing me to navigate the challenges of daily life with grace and trust in His divine plan. Prioritizing this essential prayer ensures that my spiritual foundation remains strong, even when life gets overwhelming.

📜 Final Takeaway

Creating a morning prayer routine has been a journey of trial and adjustment for me. Balancing the rich traditions of Orthodox prayer with the demands of daily life as a parent and professional wasn't easy. But I've learned that what's most important is consistency and sincerity in seeking God's presence.

On fasting days, my more comprehensive prayer routine helps me deepen my repentance and draw closer to God. These prayers are a blend of ancient tradition and personal adaptation, designed to fit the spiritual needs of a fasting day.

However, life can sometimes make it impossible to carve out time for the full prayer routine. On such days, I turn to the essentials, as advised in the Didache. I recite the Lord's Prayer, which provides a simple yet profound way to stay connected with God.

Even when pressed for time, maintaining this connection through the Lord's Prayer helps keep my day centered on faith. It serves as a reminder of God's presence and guidance, allowing me to navigate the day's challenges with grace and trust.