The Feast of Nayrouz is celebrated on the 1st day of the month of Tute (September 11th) every year and continues until the 16th day of the month of Tute. All the prayers from the 1st to the 16th day of the Month of Tute are prayed in the joyful tune.

Raising of Evening Incense (Vespers)

Raising of Evening Incense (Vespers) begins with the prayers of the Eleventh Hour (Vespers) and Twelfth Hour (Compline) of the Agpeya (Book of Hours). If prayed in the monastery or convent, the Prayer of the Veil is also said.

Following the prayers of the Agpeya, Vespers Praises begin with the hymn Nie;noc tyrou , followed by the Fourth Canticle. The Psali Adam for the Nayrouz (said on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday) or Psali Watos for the Nayrouz (said on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday) are prayed depending on the day of the week followed by the Psali and Theotokia of the day. The Explanation (Lobsh) of the Theotokia is then chanted in the joyful tune followed by the Adam or Watos Conclusion of the Theotokia; again, this depends on the day.

Offering of Evening Incense (Vespers) are then prayed. The bishop or priest begins with opening the veil of the sanctuary with `Ele`ycon `ymac, ‘Our Father’ and the ‘Thanksgiving Prayer’. The Verse of Cymbals and Doxologies are chanted in the joyful tune, with the addition of the verses of cymbals and the doxology pertaining to the Feast of the Nayrouz. The Psalm Chant is chanted in the joyful tune and is followed by the Psalm Response for the Feast of Nayrouz. The Gospel is then read and is followed by the Gospel Response for the Feast of Nayrouz. The Offering of Evening Incense (Vespers) is then prayed in a joyful tune as is customary. The prayer is then concluded with the Concluding Canon for the Feast of Nayrouz.

Raising of Morning Incense (Matins)

The prayer of the First Hour (Prime) is prayed followed by the Morning Doxology and the Conclusion of the Adam Theotokia. Then the bishop or priest opens the veil of the sanctuary and begins the prayers of the Raising of Morning Incense (Matins) with `Ele`ycon `ymac, ‘Our Father’, and the ‘Thanksgiving Prayer’. The Verse of Cymbals and Doxologies are prayed in the joyful tune, with the addition of the verses of cymbals and the doxology pertaining to the Feast of the Nayrouz. The Psalm Chant is chanted in the joyful tune and is followed by the Psalm Response for the Feast of Nayrouz. The Gospel is then read and is followed by the Gospel Response for the Feast of Nayrouz. The Raising of Morning Incense (Matins) is then prayed in a joyful tune as is customary. The prayer is then concluded with the Concluding Canon for the Feast of Nayrouz.

Divine Liturgy

The prayers of the Third (Terce) and Sixth (Sext) Hours only are prayed. The Offering of the Lamb is then prayed, the oblation is chosen by the serving bishop or priest, followed by the Procession of the Lamb. The hymn ‘=A=l @ vai pe pi ’ is chanted. Following the Absolution of the Servants, the hymn Taisoury is chanted followed by the Hymn of the Intercessions (Hiten). The Pauline and Catholic epistles are then read followed by the chanting of the Praxis Response for the Feast of Nayrouz, prior to the reading of the Praxis (Acts of the Apostles). The Synaxarium is then read and is followed by the Hymn of the Trisagon (`Agioc `o :eoc) and the Litany of the Gospel. After the Litany of the Gospel, the Psalm is chanted in the Singary Tune followed by the Psalm Response for the Feast of Nayrouz. The Gospel is then read. Following the Gospel, the Gospel Response of the Feast of Nayrouz is chanted. The Divine Liturgy is then prayed as usual.

The following hymns may be chanted during the Liturgy:

• • The Adam Aspasmos (Lwiji niben ethwou) maybe chanted following the Prayer of Reconciliation
  • The Watos Aspasmos (Ou`pneuma `nte `P=o=c) maybe chanted following the Anaphora.

The Fraction of the Feast of Nayrouz is prayed. During communion, Psalm 150 is chanted in the joyful tune with the refrain for the Feast of the Nayrouz. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. before the final blessing and dismissal, the Concluding Canon for the Feast of Nayrouz is chanted.

Compiled by Subdeacon Magdy Fanous, Translated and edited by Youth from the Diocese of Mississauga, Vancouver and Western Canada