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Sunrise Service

Description: The Sunrise Service is an early morning service that is unique to the Armenian Church. It seems to have developed around the 7-8th century in those Armenian monasteries that had the custom of fusing the Night Service (Keesherayeen Zham) and the Morning Service (Aravodyan Zham) together into one composite ceremony that began in the middle of night and ended before dawn. St. Nersess Shnorhali (d. 1173) vastly reformed the service, adding new hymns and prayers, and probably melodies as well.

Translation: Արեւագալ (Arevakal)

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Proclamation: Ee na Orhnestseen
Description: This is the opening deacons' proclamation (karoz) of the Sunrise Service.
Translation: All the nations of the earth will be blessed through Him and all generations will bless Him. Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, the only one who can work miracles. And the holy name of his glory will be forever blessed. Let the whole world be filled with his glory. Let it truly be filled with his glory.

Hymn: Hareveleets
Translation: (1) From the East to the West and from the North to the South, every nation and generation, praise the Creator of creatures with a new blessing! For today He has shined the light of the sun into this world. (2) Churches of righteous people, glorifiers of the all-holy Trinity, in this morning of light, praise Christ, the Morning of peace. He has shined the light of the knowledge of God on us with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Hymn: Hareveleets (Entreaty)
Description: Known as a hortorag or entreaty, this piece is a synopsis of the hymn Hareveleets.
Translation: (1) From the East to the West, O children of Sion, always praise without ceasing the One who shines Light. (2) Churches of righteous people who glorify [God], sing praise to the One who gave [us] the knowledge of Light.

Proclamation: Hareveleets
Description: The principal litany of the Sunrise Service.
Translation: From the East to the West and throughout the entire Christian world, wherever people call on the name of the Lord in holiness; by their prayers and intercession, may the Lord have mercy on us. By pledging to have faith, let us ask God to save us from sin and from the temptations of the world. May he accept the promises and prayers of our hearts and make us worthy of his faith and commandments together with all of his saints. Almighty Lord our God, save us and have mercy on us. (Save us, Lord). �That he may lead us through this morning of light and the day ahead with peace and with faith, let us ask the Lord. (Grant it, Lord). �For an angel of peace to guard our souls, let us ask the Lord. (Grant it, Lord). �The forgiveness and remission of our sins, let us ask the Lord. (Grant it, Lord). �The great and mighty power of the holy cross to guard our souls, let us beseech the Lord. (Grant it, Lord). �Again, all together, for our true and holy faith, let us pray to the Lord. (Lord have mercy). �Let us commit ourselves and one another to the almighty Lord God. (We commit ourselves to you, O Lord). �Have mercy on us, Lord our God, according to your great mercy. Let us all say together: (Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy).

Hymn: Juknavork
Description: A hymn of intercession to the saints composed by St. Nersess Shnorhali.
Translation: (1) O ascetics of God and heirs of the Kingdom of heaven, passing up on temporary things, you chose instead everlasting blessings. Intercede with the Lord for the children of the church. (2) Magnificent martyrs, beloved of the Father, you were baptized with Christ in your blood, dying on the cross. Intercede with the Lord for the children of the church. (3) Enviable martyrs and mansions of the Spirit of truth, who triumphed in the Spirit over afflictions and desire; intercede with the Lord for the children of the church.

Hymn: Juknavork (Entreaty)
Description: As with the other hymns of the Sunrise Service, Juknavork is paired with a Hortorag, which reiterates the message of the original hymn.
Translation: All the nations of the earth will be blessed in Him, and all races will be sanctified in him. Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who alone performs miracles, and blessed is the holy name of his glory forever. May the whole earth be filled with his glory. So be it. Amen.

Proclamation: Soorp Juknavorokn
Description: This proclamation (karoz) is chanted by the deacon after the hymn, Juknavork and its entreaty.
Translation: Through the [prayers of the] ascetics let us beseech the Lord. They conquered evil, endured afflictions and became worthy of the luminous, heavenly, and unfading crowns [of martyrdom]. Through their prayers and intercession may He have mercy on us. Almighty Lord our God, save us and have mercy on us.

Hymn: Looys
Description: The splendid hymn, Looys, consists of four verses, addressed, respectively, to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. The last verse speaks of the union of the three persons in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Along with Aneghaneleet which follows it, this hymn renders the Armenian Church's most basic doctrine of the Holy Trinity into a song of praise.
Translation: (1) Light, Creator of light, first Light dwelling in unapproachable light, O heavenly Father, blessed by the choirs of luminaries, at the rising of the light of this morning, shine upon our souls your knowable Light. (2) Light, arising from the Light, righteous Sun, Son of the Father, [by a] birth beyond words. Before the [creation of] the sun, your name was praised with the Father. At the rising of the light of this morning, shine upon our souls your knowable Light. (3) Light, flowing from the Father, fountain of goodness, O Holy Spirit of God. The children of the church join the angels in glorifying you. At the rising of the light of this morning, shine upon our souls your knowable Light. (4) Light, three and one, the indivisible Holy Trinity, we creatures of the Earth, together with the heavenly ones, always glorify you. At the rising of the light of this morning, shine upon our souls your knowable Light.

Hymn: Aneghaneleet
Description: Aneghaneleet is the entreaty or hortorag associated with the hymn Looys.
Translation: (1) Uncreated God, Father almighty, receive our requests, offered by those who serve you. (2) Originating from the Father ineffably, O righteous Sun, shine on us your light of mercy. (3) O Spirit, flowing from the Father, fountain of goodness, fill us with your light this morning. (4) Three persons and one nature, one God, we profess you forever, O Holy Trinity.

Proclamation: Paravorestsook
Description: The deacon chants the proclamation Paravoreststook after the priest's acclamation Loosovut ko Kreesdos at following the hymn, Aneghaneleet.
Translation: Again in peace let us bessech the Lord. Let us glorify almighty God, who has shined the light of the morning on his creatures. May He now also shine his abundant mercy on those who glorify his name. Almighty Lord our God, save us and have mercy on us.

Hymn: Janabarh (I)
Description: Janabarh is the last hymn sung during the Sunrise Service. It is based on Jesus' words, "I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me" [John 14:6]. This melody is sung in Holy Etchmiadzin.
Translation: (1) Way and truth and life, O Christ, guide our souls from Earth to rise to heaven. (2) Door of entry to life, O Jesus, invite us too in to your Father and to your Spirit so that we may always sing your glory.

Hymn: Janabarh (Entreaty)
Description: As with all of the hymns of the Sunrise Service, Janabarh is paired with a second hymn that reiterates the message of the original hymn.
Translation: (1) O Christ, good way and truth, guide our souls from Earth to heaven. (2) O Jesus, true God, door of entry to life, invite us in too, with your Father and with your Spirit.

Proclamation: Aghachestsoook
Description: The deacon chants this proclamation after the priest's acclamation, Der ooghya uzknatsus mer following the hortorag, Janabarh.
Translation: Let us ask almighty God to watch over his servants, and to bring them safely and peacefully to journey's end. [Literally, to prosper and direct the paths of his servants in peace]. Almighty Lord our God, save us and have mercy on us.

Prayer of Manasseh
Description: The Prayer of Manasseh is an early Christian penitential prayer that survives in many ancient languages including Armenian. The prayer is inspired by King Manasseh, the only son and successor of the Jewish King Hezekiah. After falling into idolatry, Manasseh "entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God received his entreaty and heard his supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom" [2Chronicles 33:12-13]. The Prayer of Manasseh has circulated since ancient times as the king's entreaty. The Armenian version appends a Christian supplication, proclamation and prayer of absolution. In ancient times the Prayer of Manasseh was recited during the Evening Service, though eventually it came to be offered during the Morning Service, where it is found in the Book of Hours (Zhamakeerk). In recent times it has become the custom to offer the prayer at the end of the Sunrise Service (Arevakal) during Great Lent.
Translation: The pdf document includes the Armenian, English translation, and transliteration of the Prayer, as well as the deacons' proclamation and priest's prayer that routinely follow it.