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'''Orthros ''', also called ''Matins'', is the longest and most complex of the [[Daily Cycle|daily cycle ]] services. Unless it is celebrated as a [[vigil]] in the evening, orthros (Greek for ''early dawn'' or ''daybreak'') is celebrated in the morning. {{stub}}   ==General Structure of Sunday Orthros==While some sections of Orthros follow the eight-tone cycle, others follow the eleven-part cycle of the Resurrectional Gospels. *Sunday Orthros opens with the [[priest]]'s exclamation ''Blessed is our God ...'', ''Heavenly King ...'', and the [[Trisagion Prayers]]. (Note: ''Heavenly King ...'' is omitted between Pascha and [[Pentecost]].)*The [[chanter]] or [[reader]] reads the [[Royal Troparia]] (''Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance ...'').*The [[deacon]] offers a brief [[litany]].*The six [[psalms]] (3, 37, 62, 87, 102, and 142 - [[Septuagint]] numbering) are read. *The deacon intones the Litany of Peace.*''Theos kyrios'' and the [[apolytikion]] are [[chant]]ed.*The small [[synapte]] is offered by the deacon.*The [[kathismata]] are chanted.*The reader chants the [[evlogetaria]] (''Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes'').*The small synapte is offered again by the deacon.*The Hypakoe is read by the chanter to prepare for the message of the Gospel reading.*The Anavathmoi (hymns of ascent) are chanted.*The Prokeimenon are chanted.*The order of the Gospel is followed: the deacon intones ''Let us pray to the Lord ...'', the priest responds with a prayer, and the chanter sings three times, ''Let everything that breathes praise the Lord''. One of eleven Gospels is read; these Gospels each address a different part of the [[Resurrection]] narrative, because it is Sunday, the feast of the Resurrection. ''Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ ...'' is read by the chanter.*The 50th Psalm is chanted.*''Glory ...'', ''both ...'', and a hymn are chanted.*The deacon prays, ''O God, save your people and bless your inheritance ...''*The canons are chanted: first and third odes; small synapte; mid-ode kathisma; kontakion, oikos, synaxarion (commemorating the [[saint]]s of the [[Church Calendar|day]]); and [[katavasies]] (odes 1-8).*The chanter sings the [[Magnificat]] while the deacon [[censor|censes]] the [[church]].*The ninth ode of the katavasiai is chanted.*The deacon again prays the small synapte.*The chanter sings ''Holy is the Lord our God'' three times.*The Exapostilaria (hymns related to the day's Gospel, or the day's feast) are chanted.*The Lauds or ''Ainoi'' are chanted, slowly (''Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.''), followed by the doxastika.*The Great [[Doxology]] is chanted. (Many consider the doxology to be the first part of the Divine [[Liturgy]], as this often follows the Sunday Orthros.)

===Basic Forms===

*'''''Sunday Orthros:''''' the longest of the regular orthros services. If this service is celebrated in its entirety it can last up to three hours. It contains three canons[[canon]]s, apart from any additional festal cannons canons which may be added. As a result, in most practical situations, abbreviations are made. Often, this Orthros is part of a vigil.

*'''''Daily Orthros:''''' there is no [[Gospel]].

===Special Forms===

Orthros services related to the Paschal [[Pascha]]l feast:

*'''''Great and Holy Friday Orthros:''''' there are twelve Gospel lessons; Antiphons [[Antiphon]]s are used (originating in a different office). The [[troparion ]] sung at the 15th antiphon: ''Today is hung upon the cross... '' (Simeron krematai).

*'''''Great and Holy Saturday Orthros'''''. This contains some elements of the old cathedral office: procession with [[epitaphios]], reading of three pericopes [[pericope]]s ([[Old Testament|OT]], [[epistle]], Gospel) at the end.

*'''''Paschal Orthros'''''. This is celebrated from Pascha Sunday until Thomas Sunday. The six [[psalms ]] and the praises [[praise]]s are not part of this service.