All-Night Vigil....................2
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.........24
Prayers after Holy Communion.........49
Liturgy of St. Basil the Great...........51
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts........73
Upon arriving at the church and putting on the epitrachelion, the priest stands before the Royal Doors and proclaims:
Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
Heavenly King: The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
The priest proclaims: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory, and now: Come, let us worship: (3), and the 9th Hour is read.
There is no dismissal after this, but the opening acclamation of Vespers is immediately pronounced:
Blessed be our God always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Come, let us worship: (3) and Psalm 103.
If Vespers begins the All-Night Vigil, the altar is incensed with the Royal Doors open.
Then the deacon proclaims: Arise!
Choir: Bless.
Priest (making the sign of the cross with the censer): Glory be to the Holy, Consubstantial, Life-giving, and Indivisible Trinity, always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The priest, together with those in the sanctuary, sings: Come, let us worship our King, God. Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God, . Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God. Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Him!
Then a full incensation of the church is performed while Psalm 103 (or selected verses from it) is sung.
[Chorus: Bless the Lord, O my soul! / Blessed are You, O Lord. / O Lord, my God, You are greatly exalted. / Blessed are You, O Lord. / You are clothed with glory and splendor. / Blessed are You, O Lord. / Waters flow through the mountains; / Your works are wondrous, O Lord! / You have created all things with wisdom. / Glory to You, O Lord, Creator of all!]
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, You are greatly exalted; You are clothed with glory and splendor, wrapping Yourself in light as with a garment, spreading out the heavens like a tent of skin. You hide Your heavenly palaces in the waters; You appoint the clouds as Your throne; You ride on the wings of the winds; You create Your angels as spirits and Your servants as flames of fire; You have established the earth upon its foundations—it shall never be moved. The deep is like a garment—it covers it; the waters will stand upon the mountains; at Your threat they will flee, at the sound of Your thunder they will be terrified. They ascend the mountains and descend into the plains, to the place You have appointed for them—You have set a boundary they will not cross, and they will not turn back to cover the earth. You send springs into the ravines; waters flow through the midst of the mountains; they water all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst; the birds of the air make their homes there; from among the rocks they cry out. You water the mountains from Your heights—the earth is satisfied by the fruit of Your works—You cause grass to grow for the cattle and greenery for the service of people, to bring forth bread from the earth and wine that gladdens the human heart, so that his face may shine with oil, and bread may strengthen the human heart. The trees of the plain will be satisfied—the cedars of Lebanon that You have planted—there the birds will make their nests; the stork’s dwelling towers above them. The high mountains are for the deer; the rock is a refuge for the hares. He created the moon to mark the times ; the sun knows its setting. You spread out the darkness, and night falls; in it all the beasts of the forest will roam, young lions roaring in hope of catching and finding their food from God. The sun rises, and they gather together and lie down in their lairs—a man goes out to his work and to his labor until evening. How majestic are Your works, O Lord; You have created all things with wisdom; the earth is filled with Your creations. This sea is great and vast, teeming with countless creatures—small and large alike. Ships sail there, and there is that dragon, which You created to be mocked. All await You to give them their food in due season. When You give it to them, they will gather it; You open Your hand—all are satisfied with good. But if You turn Your face away, they are confounded; if You take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth. May the Lord be glorified forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works. He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains—and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will make music to my God as long as I live. May my speech be pleasing to Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord. May sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked—may they cease to exist. Bless the Lord, O my soul! The sun has set. You have spread out darkness, and night has come. How majestic are Your works, O Lord; You have made them all with wisdom.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
The priest, standing with his head uncovered before the Royal Doors, recites the lamp-lighting prayers.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord in peace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Most Reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), the venerable presbytery, the deacons in Christ, the entire clergy, and the people of God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this city (or: for this settlement, or: for this holy monastery), for every city and country, and for those who live in them by faith.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for favorable weather, for an abundance of the earth’s fruits, and for times of peace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for those at sea, those traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints , let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The Priest proclaims: For all glory, honor, and worship are due to You, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
And we will chant the regular kathisma from the Psalter.
On Saturday evening, we sing the three antiphons of the first kathisma; on feasts of the Mother of God and the great saints, the first antiphon of the first kathisma; on Sunday evening and on the great feasts of the Lord (except for Saturday and Sunday evenings), there is no psalmody.
Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither; and in all that he does, he prospers. Not so the wicked—not so at all—but like chaff that the wind blows away from the face of the earth. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Why have the pagans raged, and the nations plotted in vain? The kings of the earth have risen up, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against His Anointed One: “Let us break their bonds and cast off their yoke!” He who dwells in heaven will laugh at them, and the Lord will mock them. Then He will turn against them in His anger and confound them in His wrath. But I have been appointed by Him as king over Zion, His holy mountain; I proclaim the Lord’s decree: The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your possession— . You will shepherd them with an iron rod; You will shatter them like a potter’s vessels.” And now, you kings, take heed; learn this, all you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice before Him with trembling. Accept instruction, lest the Lord be angry and you perish, straying from the path of righteousness, when His wrath flares up in a moment. Blessed are all who hope in Him!
O Lord, why have those who oppress me multiplied? Many rise up against me; many say to my soul, “There is no salvation for him in his God.” But You, O Lord, are my shield, my glory; You lift up my head. With my voice I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me from His holy mountain. I fell asleep and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will protect me. I will not fear the multitudes of people who surround me and attack me. Arise, O Lord; save me, my God, for You have struck down all who oppose me in vain; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation comes from the Lord, and Your blessing is upon Your people.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The Priest proclaims: For Yours is the power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the strength, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Next, we sing “O Lord, I have cried out:” (Psalms 140, 141, 129, 116) in the tone of the stichera, followed by the stichera themselves; during this time, the deacon performs a full incensation of the church.
Lord, I have called upon You; hear me. / Hear me, O Lord.
Lord, I have called upon You; hear me, / give ear to the voice of my supplication, / when I call upon You. / Hear me, O Lord.
May my prayer rise / like incense before Your face, / the lifting up of my hands / like the evening sacrifice. / Hear me, O Lord.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, and a barrier over my lips. Do not let my heart turn to wicked words, to devise excuses for sin with those who practice lawlessness; and I will not join the company of their chosen ones. May the righteous one instruct me with kindness and rebuke me; may the sinner’s oil not anoint my head, nor my prayer be according to their desires. Their judges have been swallowed up by the rock; they will hear my words, for they have become sweet. As if the earth’s depths had opened up on the earth, their bones have been scattered in Hades. For to You, O Lord, O Lord, my eyes look; in You I have put my trust; do not take my soul away. Deliver me from the snare they have set for me and from the temptations of those who practice lawlessness. The sinners will fall into their own net; I am alone until I pass through it.
With my voice I cried out to the Lord; with my voice I prayed to the Lord. I poured out my supplication before Him; I made my sorrow known to Him. When my spirit was faint within me—even then You knew my ways; on this path that I walked, they hid a snare for me. I looked to the right and gazed, and no one recognized me; it became impossible for me to flee, and there was no one to stand up for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord, and said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.” Hear my prayer, for I am greatly afflicted; deliver me from those who persecute me, for they are stronger than I.
Verse 10: Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may glorify Your name.
The righteous will wait for me until You reward me.
Verse 8: From the depths I call to You, O Lord, O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Verse 6: If You were to mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness.
For Your name’s sake I have waited for You, O Lord; my soul has trusted in Your word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.
Verse 4: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel put its hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord is steadfast love, and with Him is abundant salvation; He will save Israel from all its iniquities.
Verse 2: Praise the Lord, all nations; extol Him, all peoples.
For His mercy is established toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Glory: Sticheron
And now: The Theotokos
On feast days, during the singing of the final stichera, the Royal Doors are opened and the procession with the censer takes place.
Priest: In the evening, in the morning, and at noon, we praise, bless, give thanks to, and pray to You, Sovereign of all, O God who loves mankind! Direct our prayer like incense before Your face, and do not let our hearts stray toward wicked words or thoughts, but deliver us from all who ensnare our souls; for to You, O Lord, O Lord, our eyes look, and in You we trust; do not put us to shame, O our God.
For all glory, honor, and worship are due to You, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the holy entrance!
Priest: Blessed is the entrance of Your saints always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
The deacon, making the sign of the cross with the censer, proclaims: Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence!
The choir sings: O joyful light of holy glory / of the immortal Heavenly Father, / holy and blessed—Jesus Christ! / As the sun sets, / and we behold the evening light, / we sing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God. / It is fitting at all times / to sing of You with joyful voices, / Son of God, Giver of life, /—therefore the world glorifies You.
After entering and making the customary bow, the deacon—or, if there is no deacon, the priest—proclaims the prokeimenon of the day:
Deacon: Let us listen.
Priest: Peace be with all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom. Prokeimenon, tone (such-and-such).
The Lord has taken his throne; / he is clothed in splendor.
Verse: The Lord has clothed Himself with strength and girded Himself.
Verse: For He has established the universe, and it will not be shaken.
Verse: Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time. Psalm 92:1, 5b
Bless the Lord now, / all you servants of the Lord.
Verse: You who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Psalm 133:1
The Lord will hear me / when I call upon Him.
Verse: When I called, the God of my righteousness heard me. Psalm 4:4b, 2a
Your mercy, O Lord, / will follow me all the days of my life.
Verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures—there He has made me lie down. Ps 22:6a, 1–2a
O God, save me by Your name / and vindicate me by Your power.
Verse: O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. Ps 53:3, 4
My help comes from the Lord, / who made heaven and earth.
Verse: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—from where will my help come? Psalm 120:2, 1
God, You are my defender, / and Your mercy will soon meet me.
Verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God, and redeem me from those who rise up against me.
Cf. Ps. 58:10b–11a, 2
On feast days with a polyeleos, parimias (usually three) are read after the prokeimenon; before each one we proclaim:
Reader: A reading from (name of the book).
Deacon: Let us listen.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Reader: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us all cry out with all our hearts and with all our minds.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You: hear us and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our lord, His Eminence the Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces, that we may lead a peaceful and serene life in all piety and purity.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy temple (or: this holy monastery), and for all our fathers and brothers who have departed before us, both here and everywhere, who are Orthodox.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and the remission of sins for the servants of God, the brethren {and parishioners} of this holy church (or: this holy monastery).
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for those who offer gifts and do good deeds in this holy and most sacred church, for those who labor, sing, and stand in worship here, awaiting Your great and abundant mercy.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
The Priest proclaims: For You are a merciful and philanthropic God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Chorus: Grant, O Lord, that we may remain sinless this evening. / Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, / and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Amen. / May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we place our hope in You. / Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your commandments. / Blessed are You, O Lord; enlighten me with Your commandments. / Blessed are You, O Holy One; instruct me with Your commandments. / O Lord, Your mercy endures forever; do not despise the works of Your hands. / Praise is due to You, singing is due to You, / Glory is due to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, / now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Deacon: Let us offer our evening prayer to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for this perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless evening.
Choir: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The priest proclaims: For You are a good and merciful God, and we send up glory to You, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads before the Lord.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, who bowed down the heavens and descended for the salvation of the human race! Look upon Your servants and Your inheritance, for before You, the awesome and merciful Judge, Your servants have bowed their heads and submitted themselves to You, not trusting in human help, but awaiting Your mercy and hoping for salvation from You. Preserve them at all times, and this evening and throughout the coming night, from every enemy, from every opposing work of the devil, from vain thoughts and deceitful memories.
The priest proclaims: May the power of Your Kingdom be blessed and glorified, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
On days when the All-Night Vigil is celebrated, we proceed to the narthex of the church, singing the litany stichera of the church (for Sunday) or of the feast, to perform the litany. The priest and deacon, carrying the censer and preceded by two altar servers, exit the sanctuary through the north doors and stand in the narthex. The deacon censes the holy icons in the narthex, as well as the rector, the choir, and the congregation. Upon the conclusion of the stichera, the deacon (or, if there is no deacon, the priest) recites the following prayers:
Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance; visit Your world with mercy and bounty; exalt the horn of the Orthodox Christians and pour out upon us Your abundant mercies: through the intercession of our all-pure Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, by the power of the holy and life-giving Cross; through the intercession of the holy, incorporeal heavenly hosts, [through the prayers] of the holy and glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles; our holy fathers, [the great] hierarchs and universal teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; our holy father Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker; the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, teachers of the Slavs; the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir and Grand Princess Olga; our holy fathers and All-Russian Wonderworkers Peter, Alexius, Jonah, Philip, and Hermogenes; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs, our venerable and God-bearing fathers, the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna, (the holy temple and the holy day) and all Your saints: we beseech You, O Most Merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to You, and have mercy on us.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy. (40)
We also pray for our God-protected country, its pious people, and its authorities, for their strength, victory, prosperity, peace, health, and salvation, and that the Lord our God may assist them even more and grant them success in all things, and subdue every enemy and adversary under their feet.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (30)
We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Lord, His (Most) Eminent Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), [in this monastery: and for our Archimandrite (or Abbot) (name)], and for our entire brotherhood in Christ; and for every Christian soul who is grieving and in distress, in need of God’s mercy and help; for the preservation of this city (or: this village; or: this holy monastery) and those living in it (or: in her), for peace and tranquility throughout the world; for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches; for the salvation and assistance of our fathers and brothers who labor and serve with zeal and the fear of God; for those remaining here and those who are away; for the healing of those lying infirm; for the repose, blessed memory, and remission of sins of all our fathers and brothers who have departed [in piety] before us, whether lying here or elsewhere, who are Orthodox; for the deliverance of those held captive; and for our brothers who remain in ministry, and for all who serve and have served in this most holy temple (or: in this holy monastery)—let us pray.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy. (50)
We also pray for the preservation of this city (or: this settlement), and this holy temple (or: this holy monastery), and every city and country from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, invasion by foreign tribes, and civil war; may our good and merciful God be gracious, favorable, and forgiving toward us; may He turn away all wrath directed against us, deliver us from His righteous punishment that threatens us, and have mercy on us.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (3)
We also pray that the Lord God may hear the voice of our supplication, we who are sinners, and have mercy on us.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (3)
He may also, if he wishes, privately commemorate the living and the departed.
Priest: Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of those who are far out at sea; and be merciful, O Lord, be merciful toward our sins, and have mercy on us. For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads before the Lord.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Everyone bows their heads, while the priest recites the prayer:
Most merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, through the intercession of our all-pure Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, by the power of the holy and life-giving Cross, through the intercession of the holy, incorporeal heavenly hosts, [through the intercessions] of the holy and glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs, our reverend and God-bearing Fathers; our holy fathers, the [great] hierarchs and universal teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; our holy father Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker; the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, teachers of the Slavs, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir and Grand Princess Olga; our holy fathers and all-Russian miracle-workers Peter, Alexius, Jonah, Philip, and Hermogenes; the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna (of the holy temple and holy day); and all Your saints: make our prayer acceptable, grant us forgiveness of our sins, cover us with the shelter of Your wings, drive away from us every enemy and adversary, bring peace to our lives, O Lord, have mercy on us and grant us Your peace, and save our souls, as You are good and love mankind.
Chorus: Amen.
Then we begin the stichera at the stichera stand, and as we sing them, we enter the church.
On Sunday, the stichera:
Stich: The Lord has reigned, / clothed in splendor.
Stich: For He has established the universe, / and it shall not be shaken.
Verse: Holiness befits Your house, / O Lord, for all time. Ps 92:1, 5b
Glory, and now: The Theotokos
Chorus: Now You let Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, / according to Your word, / for my eyes have seen Your salvation, / which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: / a light for revelation to the Gentiles / and the glory of Your people Israel. Luke 2:29–32
Reader: The Trisagion. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
The priest proclaims: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And we sing the closing troparion of the feast three times.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God; / O grace-filled Mary, the Lord is with you! / Blessed are you among women, / and blessed is the Fruit of your womb, / for you have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (3)
While the hymn is being sung, the deacon censes three times around the table on which five loaves of bread, wheat, and two vessels—one with wine and one with oil—are placed for consecration, and finally, the abbot. The priest, taking one loaf of bread, makes the sign of the cross with it over the other loaves and pronounces the following prayer aloud:
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who blessed the five loaves [in the wilderness] and fed the five thousand [men]! Bless these loaves, the wheat, the wine, and the oil Yourself, and multiply them in this city (or: in this village, or: in this holy monastery) and throughout Your whole world, and sanctify the faithful who partake of them. For You bless and sanctify all things, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen. May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. (3)
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be on my lips. My soul shall make its praise of the Lord—let the humble hear and rejoice. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my troubles. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be put to shame. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good—blessed is the man who trusts in Him. Fear the Lord, all you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The rich have become poor and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. Psalm 33:2–11
Priest: May the Lord’s blessing be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always: now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And we begin Matins with the Six Psalms.
We begin the Six Psalms, listening with complete silence and reverence; the brother who reads them pronounces the following with reverence and the fear of God:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. (3)
Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. (2)
Lord, why have those who oppress me multiplied? Many rise up against me; many say to my soul, “There is no salvation for him in his God.” But You, Lord, are my defender, my glory, and You lift up my head. With my voice I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me from His holy mountain. I fell asleep and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will protect me. I will not fear the multitudes of people attacking me on every side. Arise, O Lord, save me, my God, for You have struck down all who oppose me in vain; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation comes from the Lord, and Your blessing is upon Your people. I fell asleep and slept; I awoke, for the Lord protects me.
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, and do not punish me in Your anger. For Your arrows have pierced me, and You have laid Your hand upon me. There is no healing for my flesh from Your wrath, no peace for my bones from my sins; for my iniquities have risen above my head; they have weighed heavily upon me like a heavy burden. My wounds stink and fester because of my folly; I am afflicted and crushed to the very end; all day long I walk about, groaning. For my loins are filled with mockery, and there is no healing for my flesh. I am crushed and humbled beyond measure; I cry out from the groaning of my heart. O Lord, all my desire is before You— —and my groaning is not hidden from You. My heart is troubled; my strength has forsaken me, and the light of my eyes—even that is no longer with me. My friends and my neighbors have drawn near and stood against me; my close friends have stood at a distance; those who seek my life have gathered together; those who seek my harm have spoken empty words and devised schemes all day long. But I was like a deaf man who does not hear, and like a mute who does not open his lips; I became like a man who does not hear and has no rebuke on his lips. For I have trusted in You, O Lord; You will hear, O Lord, my God. For I have said: ‘Let not my enemies rejoice over me!’ For when my feet were slipping, they boasted over me. For I am ready for blows, and my suffering is ever before me. For I will confess my iniquity and take care of my sin. But my enemies are alive; they have become stronger than I, and those who hate me without cause have multiplied. Those who repay me evil for good have slandered me, for I have sought to do good. Do not forsake me, O Lord, my God; do not turn away from me; come to my aid, O Lord, my Savior! Do not forsake me, O Lord, my God; do not turn away from me; come to my aid, O Lord, my Savior!
O God, my God, I seek You from the dawn; my soul thirsts for You. How often has my body longed for You in a desolate, impassable, and waterless land? Oh, that I might appear before You in Your sanctuary, to behold Your power and Your glory! For Your steadfast love is better than life; my lips will praise You. Thus I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. May my soul be filled with fat and oil, and may my lips praise You with songs of joy. I remember You on my bed; in the morning I meditate on You, for You have become my help, and under the shadow of Your wings I rejoice. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my soul in vain will go down to the depths of the earth; they will be delivered over to the power of the sword and become prey to the foxes. But the King will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will be exalted, for the mouths of those who speak falsehood have been silenced. In the morning I meditated on You, for You have become my helper, and under the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
After the three psalms, the priest goes out before the Royal Doors and, with his head uncovered, recites the morning prayers.
O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out to You by day and by night—may my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my plea. For my soul is filled with evil, and my life draws near to Sheol; I have been counted among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a helpless man, free among the dead—like the slain who sleep in the grave, whom You no longer remember, and who are cast off by Your hand. They have cast me into the deepest pit, into darkness and the shadow of death; Your wrath has settled upon me, and You have brought all Your waves upon me. You have removed my friends from me; they have regarded me as an abomination to themselves; I was betrayed and could not escape. My eyes have grown weary from poverty; I have cried out to You, O Lord, all day long; I have stretched out my hands to You. Will You work wonders for the dead? Or will their physicians raise them up, so that they may praise You? Will anyone in the grave proclaim Your mercy, or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Will they perceive Your wonders in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? Yet I have called out to You, O Lord, and early in the morning my prayer will reach You. Why, O Lord, do You cast my soul away and turn Your face from me? I am poor and in distress from my youth; though I was exalted, I have been humbled and have grown weak. Your wrath has passed over me; Your terrors have overwhelmed me; they surround me like water all day long; they have all come upon me together. You have taken away my friend, my neighbor, and my acquaintances because of my suffering. O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out to You by day and by night; may my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my supplication.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquities, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies you with good things—so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord shows mercy and justice to all who are oppressed. He revealed His ways to Moses, His purposes to the children of Israel. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; He will not always be angry, nor will He harbor His wrath forever. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor has He repaid us according to our sins; for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is the Lord’s mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our iniquities from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Man is like grass; his days are like a flower of the field—it withers, for the breath within him ceases—and he is no more, and he no longer remembers his place. But the Lord’s mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the children’s children of those who keep His covenant and remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all His angels, mighty in strength, who carry out His word as soon as they hear the sound of His words. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His servants who carry out His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! In every place of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; hear me in Your righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has brought my life down to the dust; he has placed me in darkness, like those who have been dead from of old. My spirit is cast down within me; my heart is troubled within me. I have recalled the days of old; I have meditated on all Your works; I have pondered the works of Your hands. I have stretched out my hands to You; my soul is like parched land before You. Hear me quickly, O Lord, for my spirit is faint: do not turn Your face away from me, and let me not be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear of Your mercy early in the morning, for I trust in You; show me, O Lord, the way I should go, for to You I have lifted up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I have fled. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit will lead me into the land of righteousness. For the sake of Your name, O Lord, You will revive me; by Your righteousness You will bring my soul out of sorrow; and by Your mercy You will destroy my enemies and cut off all who oppress my soul, for I am Your servant. Hear me, O Lord, in Your righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Your servant. Hear me, O Lord, in Your righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Your servant. Your good Spirit will lead me into the land of righteousness.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord in peace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our lord, His Eminence the Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), the venerable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, and for the entire clergy and the people of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this city (or: for this village, or: for this holy monastery), for every city and country, and for those who live in them by faith.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for favorable weather, for an abundance of the earth’s fruits, and for times of peace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for those at sea, those traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The Priest proclaims: For all glory, honor, and worship are due to You, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
God is the Lord, and He has appeared to us; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. (4)
Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
Verse 2: They surrounded and besieged me, but I stood against them in the name of the Lord.
Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
Verse 4: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 117:27a, 26a, 1, 11, 17, 22–23
The “God is the Lord” is sung four times. Then the troparion of the feast is sung twice, followed by “Glory” and “Now”: the “Theotokos” in the same tone. If there are two troparia, we sing the first one twice, followed by “Glory,” the second troparion, and “Now”: the “Theotokos” in the same tone as the second troparion.
After the troparia, the usual recitation of two or three kathismas according to the rule.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again for the world.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Exclamation: For Yours is the power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the strength, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And we read the sedalnia. After the stichera of the second kathisma: Again and again:
The priest proclaims: For You are a good and merciful God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
And the sedalnia.
If it is a feast day, then after the kathismas the Polyeleos is sung—Psalms 134 and 135 (or selected verses from them), with the refrain “Alleluia.”
Praise the name of the Lord; praise the Lord, you servants, who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely! For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His own possession. For I have come to know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord wills, He does—in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the depths: He raises the clouds from the ends of the earth; He creates lightning with the rain; He brings forth the winds from His storehouses. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast; He sent signs and wonders among you, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants. He struck down many nations and slew mighty kings: Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan; and He gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to Israel, His people. O Lord, Your name endures forever, and Your memory from generation to generation. For the Lord will judge His people and have compassion on His servants. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands: they have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear; for there is no breath in their mouths. May those who make them—and all who trust in them—be like them! O house of Israel, bless the Lord; O house of Aaron, bless the Lord; O house of Levi, bless the Lord; you who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever. Praise the God of gods, for His mercy endures forever. Praise the Lord of lords, for His mercy endures forever. The One who has done great wonders, for His mercy endures forever; who has made the heavens with wisdom, for His mercy endures forever; who has established the earth upon the waters, for His mercy endures forever. He alone who created the two great luminaries, for His mercy endures forever: the sun to rule the day, for His mercy endures forever; the moon and the stars to rule the night, for His mercy endures forever. Who struck Egypt with its firstborn, for His mercy endures forever, and who brought Israel out from among them, for His mercy endures forever, with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, for His mercy endures forever. Who divided the Red Sea into two parts, for His mercy endures forever; who led Israel through the midst of it, for His mercy endures forever; and who cast Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for His mercy endures forever. Who led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endures forever; who struck down great kings, for His mercy endures forever; and who slew mighty kings, for His mercy endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for His mercy endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for His mercy endures forever; and who gave their land as an inheritance, for His mercy endures forever, as an inheritance to Israel, His servant, for His mercy endures forever. For in our lowly state the Lord remembered us, for His mercy endures forever, and He delivered us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever. He provides food for all flesh, for His mercy endures forever; praise the God of heaven, for His mercy endures forever.
[On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Meatfare Sunday, and Cheesefare Sunday, after the usual two psalms with polyeleos, we add a third—Psalm 136—with the refrain “Alleluia” after each verse.]
Then, on feast days, the Magnification is sung with verses from a selected psalm; on Sundays, however:
Blessed are You, O Lord; / teach me Your commandments.
The host of angels marveled, / seeing You, Savior, numbered among the dead, / yet having crushed the power of death, / and raised Adam with You, / and delivered all from Hades.
Blessed are You, O Lord, / teach me Your commandments.
“What are you diluting the myrrh with tears of compassion, / O disciples?” /—The angel, shining in the tomb, called out to the myrrh-bearers, /—“Look into the tomb and know / that the Savior has risen from the tomb!”
Blessed are You, O Lord, / teach me Your commandments.
Early in the morning, / the myrrh-bearing women hurried to Your tomb, weeping. / But an angel appeared before them and cried out: / “The time for weeping is over; do not weep, / but go and tell the Apostles of the Resurrection.”
Blessed are You, O Lord, / teach me Your commandments.
The myrrh-bearing women, who came with myrrh / to Your tomb, Savior, were weeping, / while the Angel cried out to them: / “Why do you count the Living among the dead? / For He has risen from the tomb as God.”
Glory, to the Trinity: Let us worship the Father, / and His Son, and the Holy Spirit, / the Holy Trinity in one essence, / crying out with the Seraphim: / “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O Lord.”
And now, to the Mother of God: Having given birth to the Giver of Life, / You, O Virgin, have delivered us from Adam’s sin, / and granted Eve joy instead of sorrow; / and God and Man, incarnate from You, / has led her back to life after she had fallen away.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Again and again:
The Priest proclaims: For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your Kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Next, on Sunday, the Ipakoia and the antiphons of the tone. On feast days—the Sedalnia and the first antiphon of the fourth tone:
Since my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, defend and save me, / my Savior.
You who hate Zion, / be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
Deacon: Let us listen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom. Prokeimenon, tone (such-and-such):
“Now I will arise,” says the Lord, / “I will reveal salvation in Myself; I will proclaim it clearly.”
Verse: The words of the Lord are pure words. Ps 11:6b, 7a
Awake, O Lord, my God, according to the command You have given; / and the assembly of the nations will surround You.
Antiphon: O Lord, my God! I trust in You; save me. Ps 7:7b–8a, 2a
Proclaim among the nations that the Lord has reigned, / for He has established the world, and it shall not be moved.
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Ps 95:10a, 1
Arise, O Lord, help us, / and deliver us for the sake of Your name.
Verse: O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us. Ps 43:27, 2a
Arise, O Lord my God; let Your hand be exalted, / for You reign forever.
Verse: I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will proclaim all Your wonders.
Cf. Ps 9:33a, 37, 2
Lord, raise up Your power / and come to save us.
Verse: Shepherd of Israel, listen, You who lead the sheep of Joseph. Ps 79:3b, 2a
Arise, O Lord my God, and let Your hand be exalted; / do not forget Your poor forever.
Antiphon: I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will proclaim all Your wonders. Ps 9:33, 2
The Lord will reign forever, / your God, O Zion, from generation to generation.
Verse: Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life. Ps 145:10, 1b–2a
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For You are holy, our God, and You dwell among the saints, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord.
Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
Deacon: That we may be deemed worthy to hear the Holy Gospel, we pray to the Lord God.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to (name of the evangelist).
Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
Deacon: Let us listen.
Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!
Chorus: Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, / let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, / the only sinless One. / We worship Your Cross, O Christ, / and we sing and glorify Your Holy Resurrection, / for You are our God, / we know no other besides You, / we call upon Your name. / Come, all you faithful, / let us worship the holy Resurrection of Christ, / for behold, through the Cross / joy has come to the whole world. / Always blessing the Lord, / we sing of His Resurrection, “ ,” / for He, having endured the crucifixion, / has crushed death by death.
Reader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions; wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight—so that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me. For behold, You have loved truth; You have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop—and I will be cleansed; You will wash me—and I will be whiter than snow; You will let me hear joy and gladness—and my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn Your 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. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your mighty Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the ungodly will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, O God of my salvation; then my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifices, I would have offered them—but You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. O Lord, in Your favor, bless Zion, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will accept with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offerings; then they will lay young bulls upon Your altar.
Glory: Through the prayers of the Apostles, / O Merciful One, blot out / the multitude of our sins.
And now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, / O Merciful One, blot out / the multitude of our sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, / through Your great mercy / and through the abundance of Your goodness, / blot out my iniquity.
Jesus has risen from the tomb, / as He foretold, / granting us eternal life / and great mercy.
Glory: Through the prayers of (the Apostle, Martyr, and Holy One: his name), O Merciful One, blot out our many sins.
And now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God: and Have mercy on me, O God:
And the stichera of the feast.
[During the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and until the fifth Sunday of Great Lent, after Psalm 50, we sing penitential troparia.]
Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance; visit Your world with mercy and bountiful gifts; exalt the horn of the Orthodox Christians and bestow upon us Your abundant mercies: through the intercession of our all-pure Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, by the power of the holy and life-giving Cross; through the intercession of the holy, incorporeal heavenly hosts, [through the prayers] of the holy and glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles; our holy fathers, [the great] hierarchs and universal teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; our holy father Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker; the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, teachers of the Slavs; the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir and Grand Princess Olga; our holy fathers and All-Russian Wonderworkers Peter, Alexius, Jonah, Philip, and Hermogenes; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs, our venerable and God-bearing fathers, the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna, (the holy temple and the holy day) and all Your saints: we beseech You, O Most Merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to You, and have mercy on us.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy. (12)
The Priest proclaims: Through the mercy, generosity, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And the choir begins the canons—on Sunday: the Sunday Canon, the Canon of the Cross, the Canon to the Theotokos, and the Menaion. After the 3rd ode, the deacon or priest recites the Small Ektenia. Then the Sedalen of the Menaion. After the 6th ode, the Ektenia. The Kondakion and Ikos. And a reading from the Synaxarion.
After the katavasia of the 8th ode, the deacon says: “Let us exalt the Mother of God and Mother of Light in song.”
Chorus: My soul magnifies the Lord, / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
We magnify You, who, with the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparable glory of the Seraphim, / gave birth as a virgin to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
For He has looked upon the humility of His handmaid; / for from now on all generations will call me blessed.
With the highest honor of the Cherubim:
For the Mighty One has done great things for me, / and holy is His name, / and His mercy extends from generation to generation to those who fear Him.
The highest honor of the Cherubim:
He has done mighty deeds with His arm, / scattering those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
The highest honor of the Cherubim:
He has brought down rulers from their thrones / and exalted the humble; He has filled the hungry with good things / and sent the rich away empty-handed.
The highest honor of the Cherubim:
He has come to the aid of Israel, His servant, / remembering His mercy— / as He promised our fathers— / to Abraham and his descendants forever. Luke 1:46–55
The highest honor of the Cherubim:
And the 9th ode of the canon. After the katavasia of the 9th ode, or “It is truly meet,” the Small Ektenia.
The Hymn of the Day or Feast.
Deacon: Holy is the Lord our God.
Choir: Holy is the Lord our God.
Deacon: For the Lord our God is holy.
Choir: Holy is the Lord our God.
Deacon: Our God is above all people.
Choir: Holy is the Lord our God.
Then the Sunday Exapostilarion and that of the saint being celebrated. And then we begin to sing the Psalms of Praise and the stichera “On the Praisers” in the appropriate tone:
Chorus: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! / Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. A song is fitting for You, O God. / Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts. / A song is fitting for You, O God.
And the reader continues: Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars and light. Praise Him, heavens of heavens, and the waters above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He spoke—and they came into being; He commanded—and they were created. He established them forever and ever; He gave a command—and it will never pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth: dragons and all the depths, fire, hail, snow, ice, and stormy winds that carry out His word, mountains and all the hills, fruit-bearing trees and all the cedars, wild animals and all livestock, creeping things and winged birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all the rulers of the earth, young men and maidens, the elderly and the young—let them all praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; glory belongs to Him on earth and in heaven. And He will exalt the horn of His people—a song to all His saints, to the sons of Israel, the people who draw near to Him.
Sing to the Lord a new song; give Him praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in its Maker, and let the sons of Zion be glad in their King; let them praise His name with dancing; let them play for Him on the timbrel and the harp, for the Lord takes pleasure in His people and exalts the humble to salvation. The saints will be exalted in glory and rejoice on their thrones; praises to God will be on their lips, and double-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance among the tribes, judgment among the nations, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with iron shackles.
Verse 6: To execute among them the judgment decreed; / this glory shall be for all His saints.
Praise God in His saints; / praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Verse 4: Praise Him for His might, / praise Him for the multitude of His greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; / praise Him with the psaltery and the harp.
Praise Him with the timpani and in the dance, / praise Him with strings and the organ.
Praise Him with melodious cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals. / Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
On Sundays, we add the following verses:
Verse: Arise, O Lord my God; let Your hand be exalted; / do not forget Your poor ones forever. Psalm 9:33
Verse: I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; / I will proclaim all Your wonders.
Psalm 9:2
Glory: Gospel Sticheron.
Chorus: Most blessed are You, Virgin Mother of God, / for through Him who was incarnate of You, hell is bound, / Adam is restored from it, / the curse is rendered powerless, / Eve is set free, death is put to death, / and we are filled with life. / Therefore, singing, we cry out: / “Blessed is Christ God, who has so graciously willed this; glory to You!”
Priest: Glory to You, who have shown us the light.
Choir: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we thank You for Your great glory. Lord, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty, Lord, Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit! Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. You who take away the sins of the world, accept our prayer; You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For You alone are Holy; You alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. Grant, O Lord, that we may be preserved from sin on this day. Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Amen.
May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we put our hope in You.
Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your commandments. (3)
Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said, “Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.” Lord, I have taken refuge in You; teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we will see light. Extend Your mercy to those who know You.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Troparion of the Feast. Glory, and now: Theotokos.
On this day, the world was saved! / Let us sing of the One who rose from the tomb / and the Ruler of our lives, / for by destroying death through death, / He has granted us victory and great mercy.
Having risen from the tomb, You broke the chains of hell, / You abolished the sentence of death, O Lord, / delivering all from the snares of the enemy. / And appearing to Your Apostles, / You sent them out to preach / and through them granted peace to the universe, / O One, Most Merciful.
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, the Most Holy Patriarch (name), and for our Lord, the Most Reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces, that we may lead a peaceful and serene life in all piety and purity.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy temple (or: this holy monastery), and for all our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep before us , both here and everywhere, who are Orthodox.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and the remission of sins for the servants of God, the brethren {and parishioners} of this holy church (or: this holy monastery).
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for those who offer donations and do good deeds in this holy and most sacred church, for those who labor, sing, and stand in worship here, awaiting Your great and abundant mercy.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
The Priest proclaims: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us offer our morning prayer to the Lord.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for a day that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The Priest proclaims: For You are the God of mercy, generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads before the Lord.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: Holy Lord, who dwells on high and looks down upon the earth, and with Your all-seeing eye beholds all creation! We bow before You in body and soul and pray to You, Holy of Holies: stretch out Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling and bless us all; and if we have sinned in any way, willingly or unwittingly, may You, as a good and merciful God, forgive us, granting us Your temporal and eternal blessings.
The priest proclaims: For You have mercy on us and save us, our God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Choir: Bless.
Priest: Blessed is Christ, our God, always: now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. Strengthen, O God, the holy Orthodox faith and the Orthodox Christians for ever and ever.
Priest: Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Choir: With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparable glory of the Seraphim, / You who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / true Mother of God—we magnify You.
Priest: Glory to You, Christ God, our hope; glory to You.
Choir: Glory; and now, O Lord, have mercy. (3) Bless us.
(Risen from the dead,) Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the saints (names of the church’s patron saints and the day’s saints), the holy and righteous God-bearing parents Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
The choir sings “Many Years.” And we begin the First Hour.
The priest, raising his hands, says: Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who dwells everywhere and fills all things, Treasure of all good things and Giver of life, come and dwell within us, and cleanse us from every defilement, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. (2)
Lord, You will open my lips—and my lips will proclaim Your praise!
And the priest kisses the Holy Gospel, and the deacon kisses the holy altar. Then the deacon, bowing his head before the priest and holding the orarion with three fingers of his right hand, says:
It is time for the Lord to act; Lord, bless.
As the priest blesses him, he says: Blessed be our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Deacon: Pray for me, holy father.
Priest: May the Lord guide your steps.
And again the deacon: Remember me, holy lord.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
The deacon: Amen.
And, having bowed, he exits through the north doors, since the Royal Doors are not opened until the entrance. And, standing in his usual place before the Royal Doors, he bows three times with reverence, saying to himself: “Lord, You will open my lips—and my lips will proclaim Your praise.”
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace!
Priest: Blessed be the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Most Reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), the venerable presbytery, the deacons in Christ, the entire clergy, and the people of God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this city (or: this settlement, or: this holy monastery), for every city and country, and for those who live in them by faith.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for favorable weather, for an abundance of the earth’s fruits, and for times of peace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for those who are at sea, those who are traveling, those who are sick, those who are suffering, those who are captive, and for their salvation.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, whose power is incomparable and whose glory is incomprehensible, whose mercy is boundless and whose love for mankind is inexpressible! Look upon us and upon this holy temple, O Lord, in Your goodness, and grant us and those praying with us Your inexhaustible mercies and Your bountiful grace.
All: For to You alone belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul. / Blessed are You, O Lord! / Bless the Lord, O my soul, / and let all that is within me bless His holy name.
2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, / and do not forget all His benefits.
1. He forgives all your iniquities / and heals all your diseases.
2. He rescues your life from destruction, / and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
1. He satisfies your desires with good things— / your youth will be renewed like that of an eagle.
2. The Lord shows mercy / and brings justice to all who are oppressed.
1. He revealed His ways to Moses, / and His purposes to the children of Israel.
2. The Lord is gracious and merciful, / slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
1. He does not remain angry forever / nor does He hold a grudge forever.
2. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, / nor has He repaid us according to our sins.
1. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, / so the Lord has made His mercy toward those who fear Him.
2. As far as the east is from the west, / so far has He removed our iniquities from us.
1. As a father has compassion on his children, / so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
2. For He knows our frame; / He remembers that we are dust.
1. Man is like grass; his days are like / a flower of the field—it withers.
2. For his breath departs— / and he is no more; / he no longer knows his place.
1. But the Lord’s mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting / toward those who fear Him.
2. And His faithfulness is toward the children’s children / who keep His covenant / and remember His commandments, / to do them.
1. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, / and His kingdom rules over all.
2. Bless the Lord, all His angels, / mighty in strength, who carry out His word, / as soon as they hear the sound of His words.
1. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, / His servants who carry out His will.
2. Bless the Lord, all His creatures, / in every place of His dominion.
1. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
2. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, / and all that is within me, His holy name. / Blessed are You, O Lord!
Psalm 102:1–8
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; preserve the fullness of Your Church; sanctify those who love the splendor of Your house! Glorify them with Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You.
Acclamation: For Yours is the power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
1. Praise the Lord, O my soul. / I will praise the Lord all my life, / I will sing to my God as long as I live.
2. Do not put your trust in princes, in the sons of men, / in whom there is no salvation.
1. His spirit will depart, / and he will return to his earth; / on that day all his plans will perish.
2. Blessed is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, / whose hope is in the Lord his God.
1. He who created the heavens and the earth, / the sea and all that is in them.
2. Who preserves truth forever, / who executes justice for the oppressed, / who gives food to the hungry.
1. The Lord sets the captives free; / the Lord gives sight to the blind.
2. The Lord lifts up the fallen; / the Lord loves the righteous.
1. The Lord protects the stranger; / He takes in the orphan and the widow; / but He brings the way of the wicked to nothing.
2. The Lord will reign forever, / your God, O Zion—from generation to generation. Psalm 145
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, / now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Chorus: Only-begotten Son and Word of God! / Immortal One, who deigned for our salvation / to be incarnate of the Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, / Christ God, who became man and was crucified, / who by death overcame death , / One of the Holy Trinity, / glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us!
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again for the world.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: You who have granted us these common and united prayers, and who have promised to grant the requests of two or three who ask in Your name, fulfill now the petitions of Your servants for their good, granting us in this life the knowledge of Your truth, and bestowing upon us eternal life in the age to come.
Acclamation: For You are the good and merciful God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
Here the Royal Doors are opened for the Small Entrance.
1. Remember us, O Lord, in Your Kingdom, / when You come into Your Kingdom.
at 12: 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, / for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, / for they will be comforted.
on 10: 1. Blessed are the meek, / for they shall inherit the earth.
2. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, / for they will be filled.
Verse 8: 1. Blessed are the merciful, / for they shall obtain mercy.
2. Blessed are the pure in heart, / for they shall see God.
6:1. Blessed are the peacemakers, / for they will be called children of God.
2. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, / for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 4:1. Blessed are you when they revile you / and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account.
2. Rejoice and be glad, / for your reward in heaven is great. Matthew 5:3–12a
1. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
2. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
When the choir, singing the third antiphon (or, on Sunday, “Blessed are”), reaches the words “Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,” the priest and deacon bow three times before the holy altar. The priest, taking the Holy Gospel, gives it to the deacon, and, exiting through the north doors, preceded by the candle-bearers, they perform the Small Entrance. And, standing in their usual places, they both bow their heads.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Lord, our God, who has established in heaven the ranks and hosts of angels and archangels to serve Your Glory! Grant that with our entrance may come the entrance of the holy angels, who minister with us and glorify Your goodness. For to You belongs all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the holy entrance!
The Priest, blessing, says: Blessed is the entrance of Your saints always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Then the deacon presents the Holy Gospel to the priest for veneration.
At the conclusion of the last troparion, the deacon, standing before the priest at the Royal Doors, raises the Holy Gospel and, showing it to the people, proclaims in a loud voice:
“Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence!”
And, after bowing, he enters the Holy Altar, followed by the priest. The deacon places the Holy Gospel on the Holy Altar, while the chanters sing:
Choir on Sunday: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. / Save us, O Son of God,* / Who rose from the dead, as we sing to You: / Alleluia.
* On weekdays: O Most Wonderful among the saints, save us who sing to You: / Alleluia.
Then the choir sings the troparia and kondakia according to the liturgical order, while the priest recites the following prayer:
Priest: Holy God, who dwells among the saints, praised by the Seraphim with the Trisagion and glorified by the Cherubim, and to whom all the heavenly hosts offer worship! You, who brought all things into being from nothing, who created man in Your image and likeness and adorned him with all Your gifts, who grant wisdom and understanding to those who ask, and who do not despise the sinner but have established repentance for salvation. You have deemed us, Your humble and unworthy servants, worthy even at this hour to stand before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer You the worship and praise that are due to You. Accept, O Lord, from the lips of us sinners, the Trisagion, and visit us in Your goodness; forgive us every sin, both voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies; and grant that we may serve You with reverence all the days of our lives, through the intercessions of the Holy Mother of God and all the saints who have pleased You from of old.
When the chanters begin the concluding kontakion, the deacon says, addressing the priest:
Bless, Father, the singing of the Trisagion.
The priest, making the sign of the cross over him, says:
For You are holy, our God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
At the conclusion of the last kontakion, the deacon exits through the Royal Doors and, first pointing with his orarion toward the icon of Christ, proclaims: “Lord, save the godly.”
Choir: O Lord, save the godly.
Deacon: And hear us.
Choir: And hear us.
The deacon also makes the sign of the cross over those standing in the church, proclaiming aloud to them: “And forever and ever.”
Choir: Amen.
Choir: Holy God, / Holy Mighty One, / Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, / Holy Mighty One, / Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
While this is being sung, the priest and deacon recite the Trisagion themselves, making three bows before the Holy Altar.
Priest: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the heavenly place.
The priest, blessing the high place: Blessed are You on the throne of Glory of Your Kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
At the conclusion of the Trisagion, the deacon, approaching the Royal Doors, proclaims: Let us listen!
Priest: Peace be with all!
And the reader responds: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the reader: Prokeimenon, (a psalm of David,) tone [such-and-such].
Prokeimenon: May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, / as we put our hope in You. Verse: Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord—praise is fitting for the upright. Ps 32:22, 1
Alleluia: God avenges me and subdues the nations for me. Verse: He saves the king in majesty and shows mercy to His anointed, David, and to his descendants forever. Ps 17:48, 51
Prokeimenon: The Lord is my strength and my song; / He has become my salvation. Verse: The Lord disciplined me to instruct me, but He did not give me over to death. Ps 117:14, 18
Alleluia: May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. Verse: O Lord, save the king and hear us on the day we call upon You. Ps 19:2, 10
Prokeimenon: Sing to our God, sing, / sing to our King, sing. Verse: All nations, clap your hands; shout to God with a voice of joy. Ps 46:7, 2
Alleluia: In You, O Lord, I trust; let me never be put to shame. Verse: Be my God and my refuge, that You may save me. Ps 30:2a, 3b
Prokeimenon: How majestic are Your works, O Lord; / You have created all things with wisdom. Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are greatly exalted. Ps 103:24a, 1a
Alleluia: Be strong, and prosper, and reign for the sake of truth, meekness, and righteousness. Verse: You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Ps 44:5a, 8a
Prokeimenon: You, O Lord, will preserve us and protect us / from this generation and forever. Verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no one righteous. Psalm 11:8, 2
Alleluia: I will sing of Your mercy, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your truth from generation to generation. Verse: For You have said, “Mercy is established forever”—Your truth is established in heaven. Ps 88:2, 3
Prokeimenon: Save Your people, O Lord, / and bless Your inheritance. Verse: To You, O Lord, I cry out. My God, do not remain silent, despising me. Ps 27:9a, 1a
Alleluia: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the heavenly God. Verse: He will say to the Lord, “You are my shield and my refuge, my God, in whom I trust.”
Ps 90:1, 2
Prokeimenon: The Lord will give strength to His people; / the Lord will bless His people with peace. Verse: Offer to the Lord, O sons of God, offer to the Lord young rams. Psalm 28:11, 1a
Alleluia: It is good to praise the Lord and to sing to Your name, O Most High. Verse: To proclaim Your mercy in the early morning and Your faithfulness throughout the night. Ps 91:2, 3
Prokeimenon: Pray and fulfill your vows to the Lord, our God. Verse: God is known in Judea; His name is great in Israel. Ps 75:12a, 2
Alleluia: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us shout for joy to God, our Savior. Verse: Let us come before Him with thanksgiving; let us shout for joy to Him with psalms. Ps 9 4:1, 2
Prokeimenon, Tone 4: You make Your angels spirits, / and Your servants a flame of fire. Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are greatly exalted. Ps 103:4, 1a
Alleluia, Tone 5: Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts. Verse: For He spoke—and they came into being; He commanded—and they were created. Ps 148:2, 5b
Prokeimenon, Tone 7: Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord, / and put their trust in Him. Verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I pray to You. Ps 63:11a, 2a
Alleluia, Tone 4: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Verse: Those planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Ps 91:13, 14
Prokeimenon, Tone 3, Hymn of the Theotokos: My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Verse: For He has looked with favor on the humility of His handmaid, for from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46–48
Alleluia, Tone 8: Hear, O Daughter, and look, and incline Your ear. Verse: The wealthy among the people will seek Your favor. Ps 44:11a, 13b
Prokeimenon, Tone 8: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, / and their words to the ends of the universe. Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Ps 18:5, 2
Alleluia, Tone 1: The heavens proclaim Your wonders, O Lord, and Your truth—in the assembly of the saints. Verse: We glorify God in the assembly of the saints. Ps 88:6, 8a
Prokeimenon, Tone 7: Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool, / for it is holy. Verse: The Lord has reigned; let the nations rage! Ps 98:5, 1a
Alleluia, Tone 1: Remember Your people, whom You have acquired from the beginning. Verse: But God, our King from before the ages, has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. Ps 73:2a, 12
Prokeimenon, Tone 8: Rejoice in the Lord, / and be glad, you righteous. Verse: Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Ps 31:11a, 1
Alleluia, Tone 4: The righteous cried out—and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their troubles. Verse: Many are the troubles of the righteous—but the Lord delivers them from them all. Ps 33:18, 20
Prokeimenon, Tone 6: Their souls / shall dwell among the blessings. Verse: To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul, O my God. Cf. Ps 24:13a, 1–2a
Alleluia, Tone 4: Blessed is the one whom You have chosen and brought near, O Lord. Verse: And their memory endures from generation to generation. Cf. Ps , 64:5a; 101:13b
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the reader announces the Epistle: A reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles; or: A reading from the Epistle of James; or: A reading from the Epistle of Peter; or: A reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans , or: to the Corinthians, or: to the Galatians.
Deacon: Let us listen!
During the reading of the Epistle, the deacon, taking the censer and incense, approaches the priest and, having received a blessing, censes the Holy Altar all around, the entire altar, and the priest.
Priest: Peace be with you!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: Alleluia, [tone such-and-such].
And “Alleluia” is sung three times, three times each, with the verses of the Alleluia.
Priest: Kindle in our hearts, O philanthropic Lord, the imperishable light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds to understand Your Gospel preaching! Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that, having overcome all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, thinking of and doing all that is pleasing to You. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the holy Apostle and Evangelist [name].
The priest, making the sign of the cross over him, says: May God, through the intercession of the holy, glorious, (all-praised) Apostle and Evangelist [name], grant you, the preacher, the word with great power, for the fulfillment of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
And he hands him the Holy Gospel.
Deacon: Amen.
Priest: Wisdom. Let us stand in reverence. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel of [name].
Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!
Priest: Let us listen!
Priest: Peace be with you, O herald of the Gospel.
Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!
Deacon: Let us all cry out with all our hearts and with all our minds.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You: hear us and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Lord, His Eminence the Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces, that we may lead a peaceful and serene life in all piety and purity.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our brother priests, monastic priests, [deacons, and monks], and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy temple (or: this holy monastery), and for all our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep before us, both here and everywhere, who are Orthodox.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and the remission of sins for the servants of God, the brethren {and parishioners} of this holy church (or: this holy monastery).
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for those who offer donations and do good deeds in this holy and most sacred church, for those who labor, sing, and stand in worship here, awaiting Your great and abundant mercy.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
Priest: O Lord our God, accept this fervent prayer from Your servants, and have mercy on us according to the abundance of Your mercy; and pour out Your bounty upon us and upon all Your people, who await Your inexhaustible mercy.
Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
[If there is a commemoration of the departed, the deacon or priest recites the following ektenia:
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy on us.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for the repose of the souls of God’s departed servants (names), and for the forgiveness of all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy (3).
May the Lord God settle their souls where the righteous rest.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy (3).
We ask for God’s mercy, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the forgiveness of their sins through Christ, our immortal King and God.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O God of spirits and of all flesh, who has conquered death and vanquished the devil, and who has granted life to Your world! You Yourself, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your departed servants (names) in a place of light, in a place of bliss, in a place of joy, from which suffering, sorrow, and groaning have departed. Forgive every sin they have committed in word, deed, or thought, O good and merciful God. For there is no one who lives and does not sin; You alone are without sin, Your righteousness endures forever, and Your word is truth.
The priest proclaims: For You are the Resurrection and the Life and the Rest of Your departed servants (names), Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.]
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord, catechumens!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
He has instructed them with the word of truth.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
You have revealed to them the Gospel of truth.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
You have united them with Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Save, have mercy on, protect, and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Those being proclaimed, bow your heads before the Lord!
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, who dwells on high and looks down upon the earth, You who sent Your only-begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human race! Look upon Your catechumens, who have bowed their heads before You, and grant them, in due time, the baptism of rebirth, the forgiveness of sins, and the garment of incorruption. Unite them with Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and count them among Your chosen flock.
Acclamation: So that they, together with us, may glorify Your all-holy and majestic Name—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
And the priest unfolds the antimension.
Deacon: All catechumens, depart! Catechumens, depart! All catechumens, depart! Let none of the catechumens remain, but only the faithful; let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Priest: We give thanks to You, O Lord God of Hosts, who have deemed us worthy to stand before Your holy altar and to seek Your mercy, asking for forgiveness for our sins and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance! Accept, O God, our prayer; grant that we may be worthy to offer to You prayers, supplications, and bloodless sacrifices on behalf of all Your people, and grant us, whom You have appointed to this service to You, the ability, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, blamelessly and without stumbling, with a clear conscience, to call upon You at all times and in every place, so that, hearing us, You may be merciful to us according to the abundance of Your goodness.
The priest proclaims: For to You belongs all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
(When the priest is celebrating alone, he does not recite the following [four] petitions:
Let us pray to the Lord for peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Let us pray to the Lord for our deliverance from every sorrow, anger, misfortune, and need.)
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the deacon enters the sanctuary through the north doors.
Priest: Once again and repeatedly we fall down before You, and we beseech You, O Good and Lover of Mankind, that, looking upon this prayer of ours, You may purify our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant us to stand before Your holy altar blamelessly and without condemnation! Grant, then, O God, that those who pray with us may grow in life, faith, and spiritual understanding. Grant that they may always serve You with reverence and love, partake of Your holy Mysteries without guilt or condemnation, and be made worthy of Your heavenly Kingdom.
The priest proclaims: May we, always preserved by Your power, send up glory to You, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
And the Royal Doors are opened.
Choir: As we mysteriously represent the Cherubim and sing the Trisagion to the Life-giving Trinity, let us now set aside all earthly cares.
While the Cherubic Hymn is being sung, the deacon, taking the censer and placing incense in it, approaches the priest and, receiving his blessing, censes the holy throne all around, the entire altar, and the iconostasis; he also censes the priest, the choir, and the congregation. He then reads Psalm 50 and as many moving troparia as he wishes. Meanwhile, the priest silently recites the following prayer:
Priest: No one bound by carnal desires and pleasures is worthy to approach or draw near to You, or to serve You, O King of Glory, for service to You is great and awe-inspiring, even to the heavenly Powers themselves! Yet You, by Your ineffable and boundless love for mankind, have unalterably and immutably become man and appeared as our High Priest, and You have entrusted to us, as Lord of all, the sacred rite of this common ministry and bloodless sacrifice. For You, O Lord our God, alone reign over all things in heaven and on earth—You who are borne upon the throne of the Cherubim, Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, the One who is Holy and who dwells among the holy ones. But I beseech You, the only Good and Gracious One: look upon me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, and purify my soul and heart from a corrupt conscience, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit make me capable, clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this holy throne of Yours and to celebrate the sacred mystery of Your holy and most pure Body and precious Blood. For I approach You, bowing my head, and I beseech You: do not turn Your face away from me, and do not cast me out from among Your ministers, but grant that through me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, these Gifts may be offered to You. For You are the One who offers, is offered, receives, and distributes, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
At the conclusion of the prayer and the censing, the priest and deacon, standing before the Holy Altar, recite the Cherubic Hymn three times, bowing at the end of each recitation.
Then they approach the altar; the priest censes the holy diskos and chalice.
The deacon addresses the priest: “Lift it up, Your Grace.”
And the priest, taking a pinch of incense, places it on the deacon’s left shoulder, saying:
“Lift up your hands toward the holy things and bless the Lord.”
He also takes the holy diskos and places it on the deacon’s head. He himself takes the holy chalice in his hands, and both exit through the north doors, preceded by the candlebearers with their lamps.
The deacon proclaims: Our great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and our Lord (His Eminence) (name), Metropolitan (or: Archbishop or: Bishop of [such-and-such—name of the see]), may the Lord God remember him in His Kingdom forever, now and always, and unto ages of ages.
Also, the priest: the Most Reverend Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops, and the entire priestly and monastic order, the brethren and parishioners of this holy church (or: this holy monastery), and all of you, [Greek: us] Orthodox Christians—may the Lord God remember them in His Kingdom forever, now and always, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And he concludes the Cherubic Hymn: “To receive the King of all, invisibly accompanied by the angelic hosts.” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The deacon, having entered the Royal Doors, stands on the right, and when the priest enters, he says, addressing him:
May the Lord God remember your priesthood in His Kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!
The priest replies: May the Lord God remember your diaconate in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
And the priest places the holy chalice on the holy altar, saying:
Noble Joseph, having taken down Your most pure Body from the tree, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, anointed it with fragrant oils, and laid it in a new tomb.
In the tomb in the flesh, yet in Hades with Your soul as God, and in Paradise with the thief, You were on the throne, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, filling all things, boundless.
Your tomb, Christ, has appeared as the bearer of life, truly more beautiful than paradise and brighter than any royal palace—the source of our resurrection.
He also covers the sacred vessels, saying: “Noble Joseph:
And he censes the holy vessels three times, saying: “Bless, O Lord, Zion in Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will graciously accept the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering, and the burnt offerings; then they will place the young bulls on Your altar.”
And handing the censer back, he says to the deacon: “Remember me, brother and fellow minister!”
Deacon: May the Lord God remember your priesthood in His Kingdom. Pray for me, holy lord.
Priest: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Deacon: May that same Spirit assist us throughout all the days of our lives. Remember me, holy lord.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
The Royal Doors and the veil are closed.
Deacon: Let us offer our prayer to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for the Holy Gifts offered to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for a day that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints , let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, Almighty God, the only Holy One, who accepts the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with all their hearts, accept also the prayer of us sinners, and bring it before Your holy altar; and make us able to offer to You spiritual gifts and sacrifices for our sins and the sins of the people committed in ignorance, and grant us to find favor in Your sight, so that our sacrifice may be pleasing to You, and may the Holy Spirit of Your grace descend upon us, upon these Gifts set before You, and upon all Your people.
The priest proclaims: Through the mercy of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us love one another, so that with one mind we may confess
Choir: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Trinity, consubstantial and indivisible.
And the priest bows three times, saying: I will love You, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my rock, my refuge, and my deliverer. (3)
Rector: Christ is among us!
And the one who kissed him responds: He is, and He will be.
Deacon: Open the doors, open the doors! Let us listen with wisdom!
The veil of the Royal Doors is opened. The priest raises his hands and holds them over the Holy Gifts, reciting silently, as does the congregation:
1 I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. 2 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made. 3 Who for us humans and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. 4 Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. 5 And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. 6 And ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 7 And will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. 8 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. 9 The one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. 10 I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 11 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, 12 and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Deacon: Let us stand in reverence, let us stand in awe, let us listen attentively, so that we may offer the Holy Offering in peace!
Choir: The mercy of peace, / the sacrifice of praise.
The Priest proclaims, blessing the people: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
Choir: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us lift up our hearts!
Choir: We have lifted them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord!
Choir: It is right and just / to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / the Trinity, consubstantial and indivisible.
Priest: It is fitting and right to sing Your praises, to bless You, to glorify You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in every place of Your dominion, for You are the ineffable, unknowable, invisible, incomprehensible, and ever-existing God—You, Your only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us from non-being into being, restored those who had fallen, and ceaselessly worked until You raised us up to heaven and granted us Your future Kingdom. For all this we give thanks to You, and to Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit, for all that we know and all that we do not know, for the manifest and hidden blessings bestowed upon us. We also give thanks to You for this communal service, which You have deigned to accept from our hands, even though before You stand thousands of Archangels and myriads of Angels, Cherubim and six-winged Seraphim, many-eyed, soaring, and winged.
Lifting our voices and making the sign of the cross with a star over the diskos: Singing the song of victory, crying out, exclaiming, and saying:
Chorus: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts! / Heaven and earth are full of Your glory! / Hosanna in the highest! / Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! / Hosanna in the highest!
Priest: With these blessed Powers, we too, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, cry out and say: Holy and most holy are You: You, and Your only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit. Holy and most holy are You, and majestic is Your glory. You, who so loved the world that You gave Your only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life. He, having come and fulfilled Your entire plan for us, on the night He was betrayed—or rather, when He Himself offered Himself for the life of the world—took bread in His holy, most pure, and spotless hands; having given thanks, blessed it, consecrated it, and broken it, He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying:
Raising His voice: “Take, eat; this is My Body, broken for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Likewise, the cup after supper, saying:
Raising his voice: “Drink from it, all of you; this is My Blood of the New Covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Choir: Amen.
Priest: As we recall this saving commandment and all that has been accomplished for our sake: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven, the seating at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again.
Priest (raising his voice): We offer to You what is Yours, from Yours, for all things and for everything.
[Greek: We offer to You what is Yours, from Yours, in harmony with all things and for the sake of all things.]
Chorus: We sing to You, / We bless You, / We give thanks to You, O Lord, / and we pray to You, our God.
Priest: We also offer to You this verbal and bloodless service, and we ask You, and pray, and beseech You: send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these Gifts set before You.
Lord, You who sent Your Most Holy Spirit to Your Apostles at the third hour, do not take Him away from us, O Good One, but renew Him within us who pray to You.
Deacon’s verse: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
The priest again: Lord, Your Most Holy Spirit:
Deacon’s verse: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
And again the priest: O Lord, Your Most Holy Spirit:
Then the deacon, pointing with the orarion toward the holy bread, says in a low voice: Bless, O Lord, this holy bread.
The priest, meanwhile, makes the sign of the cross over the Holy Lamb, saying: “And make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ.”
Deacon: Amen. Bless, Your Grace, the holy chalice.
The priest, blessing the holy chalice, says: “And may what is in this chalice be the precious Blood of Your Christ.”
Deacon: Amen. Bless them both, Your Grace.
The priest, blessing both Holy Gifts together, says: “Transform them by Your Holy Spirit.”
Deacon: Amen, amen, amen. Remember me, a sinner, O Holy Lord.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
Priest: That they may serve those who partake of the Holy Communion for the purification of the soul, for the forgiveness of sins, for communion with Your Holy Spirit, for the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven, and for boldness before You—not for judgment or condemnation.
We also offer this verbal service to You for those who have fallen asleep in the faith: the forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and every righteous soul who has departed in the faith.
And, taking the censer, the priest proclaims: “Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.”
And he censes before the holy altar three times.
The choir sings: It is truly fitting / to glorify You, O Mother of God, / eternally blessed and immaculate, / and Mother of our God. / With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparable glory of the Seraphim, / You who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / true Mother of God—we magnify You.
Priest: O holy John, prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist; O holy, glorious, and all-praised apostles; O saints (their names), whose memory we now celebrate; and O all Your saints—through whose prayers, O God, visit us.
And remember all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and eternal life {Your servants:}
And he commemorates the faithful departed, naming those he wishes by name.
And grant them rest, O our God, in the place where all is illuminated by the light of Your countenance.
We also pray to You: remember, O Lord, every Orthodox episcopate that rightly teaches the word of Your truth, every presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and every other sacred order.
We also offer up to You this liturgical service for the entire world, for the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, for those who live in purity and godliness, and for our God-protected country {Russia, its people, and all those in authority}. Grant them, O Lord, a peaceful reign, so that we too may lead a calm and serene life in tranquility, in all piety and purity.
And at the conclusion of the singing of “It is Truly Meet” or the “Zadostoinik,” the priest proclaims:
And among the first, O Lord, remember our great Lord and father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and our lord His (Most) Eminent (name), Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop of [such-and-such]—name of the see), whom grant to Your holy churches throughout the world, unharmed, honored, in good health, long-lived, and faithfully teaching the word of Your truth.
The choir sings: And all men, and all women.
Priest: Remember, O Lord, our city in which we live (or: our village in which we live, or: this {holy} abode in which we live), and every city and country, and those who live by faith within them.
Remember, O Lord, those who are at sea, those who are traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and their salvation.
Remember, O Lord, those who offer sacrifices and do good deeds in Your holy churches and who care for the poor, and pour out Your mercies upon us all.
And he commemorates by name those of the living whom he wishes:
{Remember, O Lord, also Your servants: (names of the living faithful), and all Orthodox Christians.}
Raising his voice: And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and sing of Your all-holy and majestic name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The priest, turning toward the Royal Doors and blessing the people, proclaims:
And may the mercy of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Choir: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for the holy Gifts that have been brought forth and consecrated.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That our God, the Lover of mankind, having accepted them upon His holy, heavenly, and incorporeal altar as a fragrant spiritual offering, may send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from every sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for this day to be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having sought unity of faith and communion in the Holy Spirit, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: To You we entrust our whole life and hope, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, and we ask You, beseech You, and implore You: grant us to partake of Your heavenly and awesome Mysteries, this sacred and spiritual Supper, with a clear conscience, for the remission of sins, for the forgiveness of transgressions, for communion with the Holy Spirit, for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and for boldness before You, not for judgment or condemnation.
The priest proclaims: And grant us, O Lord, the boldness—not for condemnation—to dare to call upon You, the Heavenly God, the Father, and to proclaim:
Congregation: 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 debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads before the Lord!
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks to You, O Invisible King, who by Your immeasurable power created all things and, through Your abundant mercy, brought all things into being from nothingness! Look down from heaven, O Lord, upon those who have bowed their heads before You, for they have bowed them not before flesh and blood, but before You, the awesome God. And You, O Lord, grant that what lies before us all may serve our common good in equal measure, according to each one’s need: guide those who sail, accompany those who travel, and heal the sick, O Physician of our souls and bodies.
The priest proclaims: Through the grace, mercy, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
The priest then prays: Hear us, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of Glory of Your Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You who sit on high with the Father and dwell invisibly here with us. And deign, with Your mighty hand, to bestow upon us Your most pure Body and precious Blood, and through us, upon all the people.
While this prayer is being read, the deacon, standing before the Royal Doors, crosses himself with the orarion. The priest, standing in his place, bows just as the deacon does, saying silently three times: “O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.” (3)
The Royal Doors are closed with a veil.
Deacon: Let us listen!
The priest, raising the Holy Bread, proclaims: “Holy things to the holy!”
Choir: One is holy, / one is the Lord, / Jesus Christ, / to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
And the singers sing the communion hymn for the day or for the saint, according to the liturgical order.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Alleluia. (3) Psalm 148:1
You make Your angels spirits, and Your servants a flame of fire. Alleluia. (3)
Psalm 103:4
The righteous will be remembered forever; they will not fear slander. Alleluia. (3) Ps 111:6b–7a
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (3) Ps 115: 4
Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe. Alleluia. (3) Ps 18:5a
You have wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O God. Alleluia. (3) cf. Ps 73:12b
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous—praise is fitting for the upright. Alleluia. (3) Ps 32:1
Blessed are those whom You have chosen and brought near, O Lord; their memory endures from generation to generation. Alleluia. (3)
Cf. Ps 64:5a; 101:13b
Deacon: Break the Holy Bread, O Lord.
As the priest breaks the Holy Lamb into four parts, he says:
The Lamb of God is broken and divided, broken yet undivided, always to be partaken of and never exhausted, but sanctifying those who partake of Him.
Deacon: Fill the holy chalice, Your Grace.
Priest: The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen.
And, taking the bread, he says: Bless, Your Grace, the bread.
The priest then blesses the bread, saying:
Blessed is the warmth of Your holy gifts, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The deacon, pouring the wine into the holy chalice: The wine of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Priest: Deacon, come forward.
Deacon: Behold, I come to Christ, the immortal King and my God.
The priest, taking the Holy Bread, gives it to the deacon. The deacon receives the Holy Bread, saying:
Grant me, Lord, the Precious and Holy Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
The priest then says:
(To [Name] the deacon, the Precious, Holy, and Most Pure Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is given, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life.
Then the deacon steps aside and, like the priest, recites the following prayers: “I believe, O Lord, and I confess,” and so on.
Likewise, the priest, taking a particle of the Holy Bread, says:
Behold, I come to Christ, the immortal King and my God.
The precious and most holy Body of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ is given to me, (name), the priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.
And, bowing his head, he prays: I believe, O Lord, and I confess:
And they partake of the Most Pure Body of Christ with reverence and firm faith. Then the priest {says:
“Behold, I come again to Christ, the immortal King and my God.”}
And, taking the holy chalice with both hands, he partakes of it three times, saying:
I, the servant of God and priest (name), partake of the precious and holy Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life. Amen.
And so, having wiped his lips and the rim of the sacred chalice, he kisses it and says: Behold, this has touched my lips; it will take away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins.
He also calls the deacon, saying: “Deacon, come forward.”
And the deacon approaches and bows, saying:
Behold, I come {once more} to {Christ,} the immortal King and my God. And: Grant me, O Lord, the Precious and Holy Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.
And the priest says: The servant of God, the deacon (name), partakes of the Precious and Holy Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life.
And after the deacon has received Communion, the priest says: “Behold, this has touched your lips; it will take away your iniquities and cleanse you from your sins.”
If there are those who wish to receive the Holy Mysteries, the priest breaks the two remaining portions of the Holy Lamb, marked “NI” and “KA,” into small particles, so that there is enough for the communicants, and places them in the holy chalice.
And the priest covers the holy chalice with a veil. [If there are no communicants, the priest immerses all the particles from the Holy Diskos into the Holy Chalice with the prescribed words (see below)] and places the star and the veils on the Holy Diskos. He also recites the prayer: We thank You, O Lord, Lover of mankind: (see below).
And the Royal Doors are opened. The deacon, having made a bow, takes the Holy Chalice and, proceeding out through the Royal Doors, raises the Holy Chalice, showing it to the congregation and proclaiming: “With the fear of God, faith [and love], come forward!”
Choir: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; / God is the Lord, and He has appeared to us!
Before the faithful receive Communion, the priest, according to custom, recites the prayers: I believe, O Lord, and I confess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is Your most pure Body, and this is Your most precious Blood. I pray to You, therefore: have mercy on me and forgive me my sins, both voluntary and involuntary, committed in word and deed, knowingly and through ignorance, and grant that I may partake of Your most pure Mysteries not to my condemnation, but for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Amen.
And then: Accept me, Son of God, as a participant in Your mystical Supper on this day. For I will not reveal Your secrets to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss like that of Judas. But like the thief, I will confess to You: “Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom!”
May the partaking of Your most pure Mysteries, O Lord, be for me not for judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.
And those who wish to receive Communion approach one by one, bowing with all reverence and fear, their hands folded upon their chests. And each one receives the Divine Mysteries. The priest, as he administers Communion to each one, says:
The servant of God (name) partakes of the precious and holy Body and Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life. Amen.
And the deacon wipes his lips with a cloth. Then the communicant kisses the Holy Chalice and departs with a bow. And so all receive Communion.
During Communion, we traditionally sing repeatedly: “Receive the Body of Christ, / Taste the Fountain of Immortality.” And at the end: “Alleluia.” (3)
After Communion, the priest enters the Holy Altar and places the Holy Chalice with the Holy Gifts on the Holy Table.
The deacon, taking the Holy Diskos, holds it over the Holy Chalice and, reciting the following Resurrection hymns, dips all the particles from it into the Holy Chalice:
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ: and Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem: and O Great and Most Holy Pascha:
And he wipes the Holy Diskos, saying the following words: Wash away, O Lord, the sins of those commemorated here with Your precious Blood, through the prayers of Your saints.
The priest then blesses the people, proclaiming: “Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.”
Then, turning toward the holy altar, he censes it three times, saying to himself:
“Ascend to heaven, O God, and let Your glory be throughout the earth.” (3)
The choir sings: We have seen the true light, / received the heavenly Spirit, / found the true faith; / we worship the indivisible Trinity, / for It has saved us.
Priest: Blessed be our God.
Raising his voice and showing the Holy Chalice to the congregation: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
May our lips be filled / with praise to You, O Lord, / so that we may sing of Your glory, / for You have deemed us worthy to partake / of Your holy, divine, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries. / Preserve us in Your sanctification, / so that we may meditate on Your truth all day long. / Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The deacon, having gone out through the north gate and standing in his usual place, recites the ektenia:
Let us stand in reverence! Having received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, and life-giving, awe-inspiring Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord!
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Having asked for a day that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: We thank You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, Benefactor of our souls, that on this day You have deemed us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries! Make our path straight, establish us all in Your fear, preserve our lives, and strengthen our feet, through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and all Your saints.
The priest, having folded the antimension and holding the Holy Gospel above it, traces the sign of the cross with it, proclaiming:
For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let us go in peace!
Choir: In the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Lord, You who bless those who bless You and sanctify those who trust in You! Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; preserve the fullness of Your Church; sanctify those who love the splendor of Your house! Glorify them with Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to Your priests, to Your army, and to all Your people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights; and to You we send up glory, thanksgiving, and worship—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
The priest enters the sanctuary through the Royal Doors and, approaching the altar, recites the following prayer:
You Yourself, Christ our God, are the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, having fulfilled all the Father’s providence; fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. (3)
I will bless the Lord at all times; / His praise shall ever be on my lips. / My soul shall exult in the Lord— / may the humble hear this and rejoice. / Exalt the Lord with me, / and let us lift up His name together. / I sought the Lord, and He heard me, / and delivered me from all my troubles. / Come to Him and be enlightened, / and your faces shall not be put to shame. / This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, / and saved him from all his troubles. / The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him / and delivers them. / Taste and see that the Lord is good— / blessed is the man who trusts in Him. / Fear the Lord, all you saints of Him, / for those who fear Him lack nothing. / The rich have become poor and are starving, / but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. / Come, children, listen to me; / I will teach you the fear of the Lord. / Who is the person who desires to live, / who wants to see good days? / Keep your tongue from evil / and your lips from deceitful speech. / Turn away from evil and do good; / seek peace and pursue it: / the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, / and His ears are open to their prayer; / but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, / to blot out their memory from the earth. / The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them; / He delivered them from all their troubles. / The Lord is close to the brokenhearted / and will save those who are humble in spirit. / The righteous have many troubles— / and the Lord will deliver them from all of them. / The Lord preserves all their bones; / not one of them will be broken. / Death is the lot of the wicked, / and those who hate the righteous will stumble. / The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, / and all who trust in Him will not stumble.
The priest, having stepped out of the sanctuary, distributes the antidoron to the people. Upon the conclusion of the psalm and the distribution of the antidoron, he proclaims:
May the Lord’s blessing [and mercy] be upon you, through His [divine] grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to You, Christ God, our hope, glory to You!
Choir: Glory, and now: Lord, have mercy. (3) Bless us.
[On Sunday: He who rose from the dead:]
On other days: Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the saints (names of the saints of the church and the day), our holy father John, Archbishop of Constantinople, Chrysostom, the holy and righteous God-bearers Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, may He have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
Choir: Our great lord and father (name), / His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, / and our most reverend lord (name), / Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—title of the see), / our God-protected Russian land, / the rector, the brethren, and the parishioners of this holy church (or: the abbot and the brethren of this holy monastery) / and all Orthodox Christians— / O Lord, preserve them for many years.
And we recite the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
End of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
[Exhortatory Verses:] When you are deemed worthy of the grace-filled Communion / of the life-giving, mystical Gifts, / sing forth immediately and give thanks earnestly. / And speak to God fervently from the heart:
Glory to You, O God! (3)
I thank You, O Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have deemed me worthy to partake of Your Holy Gifts. I thank You that You have deemed me, unworthy as I am, worthy to partake of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts. But, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, who died and rose again for our sake, and who granted us these awesome and life-giving Mysteries of Yours for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies, grant that they may also be for me a healing of soul and body, a repelling of every enemy, an enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, for peace in my inner being, for steadfast faith, for sincere love, for being filled with wisdom, for keeping Your commandments, for the increase of Your divine grace, and for the attainment of Your Kingdom. So that, preserved by them in Your sanctification, I may always remember Your mercy and live no longer for myself, but for You, our Lord and Benefactor. And thus, having departed from this earthly life in the hope of eternal life, may I reach the place of eternal rest, where there is the ceaseless voice of those who celebrate and the endless delight of those who behold the ineffable beauty of Your face. For You are the true goal of our striving and the inexpressible joy of those who love You, Christ our God, and all creation sings Your praises forever. Amen.
Lord Christ our God, King of the ages and Creator of the entire world! I thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and for the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries. I pray to You, O Good and Philanthropic One, to keep me under Your protection and in the shadow of Your wings, and to grant me, with a clear conscience until my last breath, to partake worthily of Your holy gifts for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. For You are the Bread of Life, the Source of sanctification, the Giver of all good things, and to You we send up glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
You who willingly gave me Your flesh as food—You are the fire that consumes the unworthy! Do not burn me, my Creator; rather, enter into the members of my body, into all my joints, into my innermost being, into my heart, and burn away the thorns of all my sins. Purify my soul, sanctify my thoughts, strengthen my knees along with my bones, enlighten my five senses, and nail my whole being to the fear of You. Always defend, protect, and guard me from every deed and word harmful to the soul. Purify, wash, and order me; adorn, instruct, and enlighten me. Make me a dwelling place for Your Spirit, the One Spirit, and no longer a dwelling place for sin, so that after receiving Holy Communion, every evildoer and every passion may flee from me as from Your house, as from fire. I present to You, as intercessors for me, all the saints, the Leaders of the incorporeal hosts, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and above them all—Your immaculate, pure Mother. Accept their prayers, O my merciful Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. For You, the One and Only Good One, are the sanctification and the radiance of our souls, and to You, as befits God and Lord, we all send up glory every day.
May Your Holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for me eternal life, and Your precious Blood—the forgiveness of sins. May this thanksgiving be for me a source of joy, health, and gladness. And at Your dreadful and second coming, grant me, a sinner, to stand at the right hand of Your glory, through the intercession of Your all-pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, light of my darkened soul, my hope, my shield, my refuge, my comfort, my joy! I thank You that You have deemed me, unworthy as I am, worthy to partake of the most pure Body and precious Blood of Your Son. But, O Giver of the true Light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart. You who gave birth to the Source of immortality, revive me, who am deadened by sin. O Mother who loves the mercy of the merciful God, have mercy on me and grant me contrition and humility in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and a calling to good thoughts when my mind is enslaved. And grant that, until my last breath, I may receive the holiness of the most pure Mysteries for the healing of soul and body, without condemnation. And grant me tears of repentance and thanksgiving, that I may sing Your praises and glorify You all the days of my life, for You are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.
Now, Lord, You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.
The Trisagion. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
And the troparion to the saint whose Liturgy was celebrated.
The grace that shone forth from your lips like a fiery light / enlightened the universe; / you gathered the treasure of non-covetousness for the world, / and showed us the heights of humility. / But, instructing us with your words, / Father John Chrysostom, / pray to the Word, Christ God, for the salvation of our souls.
Glory:
You received divine grace from heaven / and through your lips teach all to worship the one God in the Trinity; / John Chrysostom, all-blessed and venerable, / we rightly praise you: / for you are our teacher, explaining the divine.
And now: The sure protection of Christians, / Unfailing intercession before the Creator! / Do not despise the prayerful voices of sinners, / but come quickly, O Good One, to our aid, / as we call upon You with faith: / “Hasten with Your intercession and hasten Your prayer, O Mother of God, / ever protecting those who honor You!”
Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory, and now:
We magnify You, who are of higher honor than the Cherubim / and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, / who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
The priest recites the Small Dismissal: Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
And we say: Amen.
If, however, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great was celebrated, then read:
Your voice has gone out across the whole earth, / for it has received your word: / through it you have divinely expounded the truths of the faith, / explained the nature of all that exists, / and adorned human customs— / royal priest, venerable Father, / pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory:
You appeared as the unshakable foundation of the Church, / bestowing upon all people an inviolable heritage, / sealing it with your teachings, / you who reveal the heavenly, Venerable Basil.
And now: The sure protection of Christians: – see above.
If, however, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, then read:
Having received divine grace from on high, / glorious Gregory, from God, / and strengthened by His power, / you desired to walk the path of the Gospel— / therefore, all-blessed one, you received your reward for your labors from Christ— / pray to Him that He may save our souls.
Glory:
You proved yourself a follower of Christ, the Chief Shepherd, / Father Gregory, / guiding multitudes of monks into the heavenly court, / and thus you taught Christ’s sheep His commandments. / Now you rejoice and celebrate with them / in the heavenly abodes.
And now: The sure protection of Christians: – see above.
Know that this Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is not celebrated every day, but only at times specified by the canons, namely: on Sundays during Great Lent (except for Palm Sunday), on Holy Thursday, on Holy Saturday, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany, and on the feast day of St. Basil. The order and rite of this sacred service are the same as those of the Liturgy of John Chrysostom.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace!
Priest: Blessed be the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all in the Lord.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Most Reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), the venerable presbytery, the deacons in Christ, the entire clergy, and the people of God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this city (or: for this settlement, or: for this holy monastery), for every city and country, and for those who live in them by faith.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for favorable weather, for an abundance of the earth’s fruits, and for times of peace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for those at sea, those traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, whose power is incomparable and whose glory is incomprehensible, whose mercy is boundless and whose love for mankind is inexpressible! Look upon us and upon this holy temple, O Lord, in Your goodness, and grant us and those praying with us Your inexhaustible mercies and Your bountiful grace.
All: For to You alone belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul. / Blessed are You, O Lord! / Bless the Lord, O my soul, / and all that is within me—His holy name.
2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, / and do not forget all His benefits.
1. He forgives all your iniquities, / he heals all your diseases.
2. He rescues your life from destruction, / and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
1. He satisfies your desires with good things— / your youth will be renewed like that of an eagle.
2. The Lord shows mercy / and brings justice to all who are oppressed.
1. He revealed His ways to Moses, / and His purposes to the children of Israel.
2. The Lord is gracious and merciful, / slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
1. He does not remain angry forever / nor does He hold a grudge forever.
2. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, / nor has He repaid us according to our sins.
1. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, / so great is the Lord’s mercy toward those who fear Him.
2. As far as the east is from the west, / so far has He removed our iniquities from us.
1. As a father has compassion on his children, / so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
2. For He knows our frame; / He remembers that we are dust.
1. Man is like grass; his days are like a flower of the field—it withers.
2. For his breath departs— / and he is no more; / he no longer knows his place.
1. But the Lord’s mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting / toward those who fear Him.
2. And His faithfulness is toward the children’s children / who keep His covenant / and remember His commandments, / so that they may obey them.
1. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, / and His kingdom rules over all.
2. Bless the Lord, all His angels, / mighty in strength, who carry out His word, / as soon as they hear the sound of His words.
1. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, / His servants who carry out His will.
2. Bless the Lord, all His creatures, / in every place of His dominion.
1. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
2. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, / and all that is within me, His holy name. / Blessed are You, O Lord!
Psalm 102:1–8
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; preserve the fullness of Your Church; sanctify those who love the splendor of Your house! Glorify them with Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You.
Acclamation: For Yours is the power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
1. Praise the Lord, O my soul. / I will praise the Lord all my life; / I will sing to my God as long as I live.
2. Do not put your trust in princes, in the sons of men, / in whom there is no salvation.
1. His spirit will depart, / and he will return to his earth; / on that day all his plans will perish.
2. Blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, / whose hope is in the Lord his God.
1. Who created the heavens and the earth, / the sea and all that is in them.
2. Who preserves truth forever, / who executes justice for the oppressed, / who gives food to the hungry.
1. The Lord sets the captives free; / the Lord gives sight to the blind.
2. The Lord lifts up the fallen; / the Lord loves the righteous.
1. The Lord protects the stranger; / He takes in the orphan and the widow; / but He brings the way of the wicked to nothing.
2. The Lord will reign forever, / your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. Psalm 145
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, / now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Chorus: Only-begotten Son and Word of God! / Immortal One, who deigned for our salvation / to be incarnate of the Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, / who became man without change and was crucified, Christ our God, / who by death has destroyed death, / One of the Holy Trinity, / glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us!
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again for the world.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: You who have granted us these common and united prayers, and who have promised to grant what is asked of You by two or three who pray in Your name, fulfill now the petitions of Your servants for their good, granting us in this life the knowledge of Your truth, and bestowing upon us eternal life in the age to come.
Acclamation: For You are the good and merciful God, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
Here the Royal Doors are opened for the Lesser Entrance.
1. Remember us, O Lord, in Your Kingdom, / when You come into Your Kingdom.
At 12: 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, / for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, / for they will be comforted.
on 10: 1. Blessed are the meek, / for they shall inherit the earth.
2. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, / for they will be filled.
Verse 8: 1. Blessed are the merciful, / for they shall obtain mercy.
2. Blessed are the pure in heart, / for they will see God.
Chapter 6, Verse 1: Blessed are the peacemakers, / for they will be called children of God.
2. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, / for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Chapter 4: 1. Blessed are you when they revile you / and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you for My sake.
2. Rejoice and be glad, / for your reward in heaven is great. Matthew 5:3–12a
1. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
2. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The priest, taking the Holy Gospel, gives it to the deacon; then, proceeding out through the north doors, preceded by the cantors carrying lamps, they perform the Small Entrance. And, standing in their usual places, they both bow their heads.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Lord, our God, who has established in heaven the ranks and hosts of angels and archangels to serve Your Glory! Grant that with our entrance may come the entrance of the holy angels, who minister with us and glorify Your goodness. For to You belongs all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the holy entrance!
The priest, blessing, says: Blessed is the entrance of Your saints always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Then the deacon presents the Holy Gospel to the priest for veneration.
At the conclusion of the last troparion, the deacon, standing before the priest at the Royal Doors, raises the Holy Gospel and, showing it to the people, proclaims in a loud voice:
“Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence!”
And, after bowing, he enters the Holy Altar, followed by the priest. The deacon places the Holy Gospel on the Holy Altar, while the chanters sing:
Choir on Sunday: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. / Save us, O Son of God, / who rose from the dead, as we sing to You: / Alleluia.
Then the choir sings the troparia and kondakia according to the liturgical order, while the priest recites the following prayer:
Priest: Holy God, who dwells among the saints, praised by the Seraphim with the Trisagion and glorified by the Cherubim, and to whom all the heavenly hosts offer worship! You, who brought all things into being from nothing, who created man in Your image and likeness and adorned him with all Your gifts, who grant wisdom and understanding to those who ask, and who do not despise the sinner but have established repentance for salvation. You have deemed us, Your humble and unworthy servants, worthy even at this hour to stand before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer You the worship and praise that are due to You. You Yourself, O Lord, accept from our sinful lips the Trisagion, and visit us in Your goodness; forgive us every sin, both voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies; and grant that we may serve You with reverence all the days of our lives, through the intercessions of the Holy Mother of God and all the saints who have pleased You from of old.
When the chanters begin the concluding kontakion, the deacon says, addressing the priest:
Bless, Father, the singing of the Trisagion.
The priest, making the sign of the cross over him, says:
For You are holy, our God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
At the conclusion of the last kontakion, the deacon exits through the Royal Doors and, first pointing with his orarion toward the icon of Christ, proclaims: “Lord, save the godly.”
Choir: O Lord, save the godly.
Deacon: And hear us.
Choir: And hear us.
The deacon also traces a circle with the orarion around those standing in the church, proclaiming to them in a loud voice: “And forever and ever.”
Choir: Amen.
Chorus: Holy God, / Holy Mighty One, / Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, / Holy Mighty One, / Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
While the hymn is being sung, the priest and deacon recite the Trisagion themselves, making three bows before the Holy Altar.
Deacon: Command, Your Grace.
Priest: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the heavenly place.
The priest, blessing the high place: Blessed are You on the throne of Glory of Your Kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
At the conclusion of the Trisagion, the deacon, approaching the Royal Doors, proclaims: Let us listen!
Priest: Peace be with all!
And the reader responds: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the reader: Prokeimenon, (a psalm of David,) tone [such-and-such].
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the reader announces the reading from the Epistle: A reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles; or: A reading from the Epistle of James; or: A reading from the Epistle of Peter; or: A reading from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans; or: A reading from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians; or: A reading from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians.
Deacon: Let us listen!
During the reading of the Epistle, the deacon, taking the censer and incense, approaches the priest and, after receiving a blessing, censes the Holy Altar all around, the entire altar, and the priest.
Priest: Peace be with you!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: Alleluia, tone [such-and-such].
And “Alleluia” is sung three times, three times each, with the verses of the Alleluia.
Priest: Kindle in our hearts, O philanthropic Lord, the imperishable light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds to understand Your Gospel preaching! Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that, having overcome all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, thinking of and doing all that is pleasing to You. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Deacon: Bless, Your Grace, the holy Apostle and Evangelist [name].
The Priest, making the sign of the cross over him, says: May God, through the intercession of the holy, glorious, (all-praised) Apostle and Evangelist [name], grant you, the preacher, the word with great power, for the fulfillment of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
And he hands him the Holy Gospel.
Deacon: Amen.
Priest: Wisdom. Let us stand in reverence. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to [name].
Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!
Priest: Let us listen!
Priest: Peace be with you, O herald of the Gospel.
Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!
Deacon: Let us all cry out with all our hearts and with all our minds.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You: hear us and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our lord, His Eminence the Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces, that we may lead a peaceful and serene life in all piety and purity.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our brother priests, monastic priests, [deacons, and monks], and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy temple (or: this holy monastery), and for all our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep before us, both here and everywhere, who are Orthodox.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and the remission of the sins of God’s servants, the brethren {and parishioners} of this holy temple (or: this holy monastery).
Chorus: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for those who offer gifts and do good deeds in this holy and most sacred church, for those who labor here, for the singers, and for the people standing before You, all of whom await Your great and abundant mercy.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
Priest: O Lord our God, accept this fervent prayer from Your servants, and have mercy on us according to the abundance of Your mercy; and pour out Your bounty upon us and upon all Your people, who await Your inexhaustible mercy.
Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord, catechumens!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us, the faithful, pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
He has instructed them with the word of truth.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
He has revealed to them the Gospel of truth.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
He united them with His holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Save, have mercy on, protect, and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Those being proclaimed, bow your heads before the Lord!
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, who dwells in heaven and beholds all Your works! Look upon Your catechumens, who have bowed their heads before You, and grant them Your light burden; make them worthy members of Your holy Church and grant them the baptism of rebirth, the remission of sins, and the garment of incorruption, so that they may come to know You, our true God.
Antiphon: So that they, too, may glorify with us Your all-holy and majestic Name—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
And the priest unfolds the antimension.
Deacon: All catechumens, depart! Catechumens, depart! All catechumens, depart! Let none of the catechumens remain, but only the faithful; let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Priest: You, O Lord, have revealed to us this great mystery of salvation; You have deemed us, Your humble and unworthy servants, worthy to serve at Your holy altar; by the power of the Holy Spirit, make us capable of this service, so that we may offer to You a sacrifice of praise without coming under judgment before Your holy glory; for You are “ ,” who works all things in all; grant, O Lord, that our sacrifice, offered both for our sins and for the sins of the ignorant people, may be pleasing and acceptable before You.
The priest proclaims: For to You belongs all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
(When the priest is celebrating alone, he does not recite the following [four] petitions:
Let us pray to the Lord for peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Let us pray to the Lord for our deliverance from every sorrow, anger, misfortune, and need.)
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the deacon enters the sanctuary through the north doors.
Priest: O God, who in Your mercy and compassion have looked upon our humility, and have set us—Your humble, sinful, and unworthy servants—before Your holy glory to serve at Your holy altar; Strengthen us with the power of Your Holy Spirit for this service, and grant us the words to speak when we open our lips, that we may invoke the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon the Gifts offered.
The priest proclaims: That, always preserved by Your power, we may send up glory to You, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
And the Royal Doors are opened.
Choir: As we mysteriously represent the Cherubim and sing the Trisagion to the Life-giving Trinity, let us now set aside all earthly cares.
While the Cherubic Hymn is being sung, the deacon, taking the censer and placing incense in it, approaches the priest and, receiving his blessing, censes the holy throne all around, the entire altar, and the iconostasis; he also censes the priest, the choir, and the congregation. He then reads Psalm 50 and as many moving troparia as he wishes. Meanwhile, the priest silently recites the following prayer:
Priest: None who are bound by carnal desires and pleasures are worthy to approach or draw near to You, or to serve You, O King of Glory, for Your service is great and awesome, even to the heavenly Powers themselves! Yet You, by Your ineffable and immeasurable love for mankind, have unchangeably and immutably become man and appeared as our High Priest, and You have entrusted to us, as Lord of all, the sacred rite of this communal service and bloodless sacrifice. For You, O Lord our God, alone reign over all things in heaven and on earth—You who are borne upon the throne of the Cherubim, Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, the One who is Holy and who dwells among the saints. But I beseech You, the only Good and Gracious One: look upon me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, and purify my soul and heart from a corrupt conscience, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit make me capable, clothed in the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this holy throne of Yours and to celebrate the sacred mystery of Your holy and most pure Body and precious Blood. For I approach You, bowing my head, and I pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me, and do not cast me out from among Your ministers, but grant that through me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, these Gifts may be offered to You. For You are the One who offers and is offered, who receives and is distributed, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
At the conclusion of the prayer and the censing, the priest and deacon, standing before the Holy Altar, recite the Cherubic Hymn three times, bowing at the end of each recitation.
Then they approach the altar; the priest censes the holy diskos and chalice.
The deacon addresses the priest: “Lift it up, Your Grace.”
And the priest, taking a breath, places it on the deacon’s left shoulder, saying:
“Lift up your hands toward the holy things and bless the Lord.”
He also takes the holy diskos and places it on the deacon’s head. He himself takes the holy chalice in his hands, and both exit through the north doors, preceded by the candlebearers carrying lamps.
The deacon proclaims: The Most Holy Lord and our Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and our Lord His (Most) Eminence (name), Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop of [such-and-such—name of the see]), may the Lord God remember him in His Kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Also, the priest: the Most Reverend Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops, and the entire priestly and monastic order, the brethren and parishioners of this holy church (or: this holy monastery), and all of you, [Greek: us] Orthodox Christians—may the Lord God remember them in His Kingdom forever, now and always, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And he concludes the Cherubic Hymn: “To receive the King of all, invisibly accompanied by the angelic hosts.” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The deacon, having entered the Royal Doors, stands on the right, and when the priest enters, he says, addressing him:
May the Lord God remember your priesthood in His Kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!
The priest replies: May the Lord God remember your diaconate in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
And the priest places the holy chalice on the holy altar, saying:
O noble Joseph, having taken Your most pure body down from the tree, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, anointed it with fragrant oils, and laid it in a new tomb.
In the tomb in the flesh, yet in Hades with Your soul as God, and in Paradise with the thief, You were on the throne, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, filling all things, boundless.
Your tomb, O Christ, the source of our resurrection, has appeared as the bearer of life, truly more beautiful than paradise and more radiant than any royal palace.
He also covers the sacred vessels, saying: “Noble Joseph, having taken Your most pure body down from the tree, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, anointed it with fragrant oils, and laid it in a new tomb.”
And he censes the holy vessels three times, saying: “Bless, O Lord, Zion in Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will graciously accept the sacrifice of righteousness, the offerings, and the burnt offerings; then they will place the young bulls upon Your altar.”
And handing the censer back, he says to the deacon: “Remember me, brother and fellow minister!”
Deacon: May the Lord God remember your priesthood in His Kingdom. Pray for me, holy lord.
Priest: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Deacon: May that same Spirit assist us throughout all the days of our lives. Remember me, holy lord.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
The Royal Doors and the veil are closed.
Deacon: Let us offer our prayer to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for the Holy Gifts offered to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for a day that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, who created us and brought us into this life, who showed us the paths to salvation, who granted us the revelation of the heavenly Mysteries; You have appointed us to this ministry by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Grant, therefore, O Lord, that we may become ministers of Your new covenant and celebrants of Your sacraments; accept us as we approach Your holy altar, through the abundance of Your mercy, so that we may be worthy to offer to You this verbal and bloodless sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the people who are in ignorance; accepting it upon Your holy, heavenly, and incorporeal altar as a fragrant offering, and in return, send down upon us the grace of Your Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and behold this service of ours, and accept it, just as You accepted the offerings of Abel, the sacrifice of Noah, the burnt offering of Abraham, the sacred rites of Moses and Aaron, and the peace offerings of Samuel; just as You accepted this true ministry from Your holy apostles, so accept these gifts from our sinful hands through Your goodness, O Lord, so that we, having been deemed worthy to serve Your holy altar without blemish, may receive the reward of faithful and prudent stewards on the dreadful day of Your righteous judgment.
The priest proclaims: Through the mercy of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us love one another, so that with one mind we may confess
Choir: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Trinity, consubstantial and indivisible.
And the priest bows three times, saying: I will love You, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my rock, my refuge, and my deliverer. (3)
Rector: Christ is among us!
And the one who kissed him responds: He is, and He will be.
Deacon: Open the doors, open the doors! Let us listen with wisdom!
The veil of the Royal Doors is opened. The priest raises his hands and holds them over the Holy Gifts, reciting silently, as does the congregation:
1 I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. 2 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made. 3 Who for us humans and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. 4 Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. 5 And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. 6 And ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 7 And will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. 8 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. 9 In the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. 10 I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 11 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, 12 and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Deacon: Let us stand in reverence, let us stand in awe, let us listen attentively, so that we may offer the Holy Offering in peace!
Choir: The mercy of peace, / the sacrifice of praise.
The Priest proclaims, blessing the people: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
Choir: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us lift up our hearts!
Choir: We have lifted them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord!
Choir: It is right and just / to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / the Trinity, consubstantial and indivisible.
O Living One, Lord God, Almighty Father, who are worshiped! It is truly fitting and just, and in keeping with the splendor of Your holiness, to praise You, to sing Your praises, to bless You, to worship You, to give thanks to You, to glorify You, the one truly existing God, and to offer You this verbal service with a contrite heart and a spirit of humility, for You have granted us knowledge of Your truth. And who is able to utter Your might, to make known all Your praises, or to recount all Your wonders at all times? Ruler of all, Lord of heaven and earth and of all creation, both visible and invisible, seated on the throne of glory and gazing upon the abysses, without beginning, invisible, incomprehensible, indescribable, unchanging, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the great God and Savior, our hope, Who is the image of Your goodness, the exact likeness, revealing You, the Father, in Himself—the living Word, the true God, the eternal wisdom, life, sanctification, power, and true light—through Whom the Holy Spirit was revealed, —the Spirit of truth, the gift of adoption, the pledge of our future inheritance, the beginning of eternal blessings, the life-giving power, the source of sanctification—by whom, being strengthened, all creation, both the material and the rational, serves You and offers You eternal praise; for all things are subject to You. For the Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, and the many-eyed Cherubim praise You; the Seraphim stand in a circle before You; six wings on one and six wings on the other; with two they cover their faces, with two their feet, and with two they fly, calling out to one another with unceasing lips and in unending praise.
The priest, raising his voice: Singing a song of victory, crying out, exclaiming, and saying:
Choir: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts! / Heaven and earth are full of Your glory! / Hosanna in the highest! / Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! / Hosanna in the highest!
Together with these blessed Powers, O Lord, lover of mankind, we sinners cry out and say: Truly, You are Holy and most holy, and there is no measure to the splendor of Your holiness, and You are righteous in all Your deeds; for in righteousness and true judgment You have brought all things upon us. For having created man from the dust of the earth and honored him with Your image, O God, You placed him in the sweet paradise, promising him the immortality of life and the enjoyment of eternal blessings if he kept Your commandments; but when he disobeyed You, the true God who created him, and was led astray by the serpent’s deception and brought to ruin by his own sins, You cast him out, O God, by Your righteous judgment from paradise into this world and returned him to the earth from which he was taken, providing him with salvation through rebirth in Your Christ Himself. For You have not, O God, turned away completely from Your creation, which You, in Your goodness, brought into being, nor have You forgotten the work of Your hands, but You have visited us in many ways through the kindness of Your mercy. You sent prophets, performed miracles through Your saints who pleased You in every generation; You spoke to us through the mouths of Your servants the prophets, foretelling to us the coming salvation; You gave the Law as a help, and appointed angels as guardians. But when the fullness of time had come, You spoke to us through Your own Son, through whom You also created the ages. He, being the radiance of Your glory and the exact representation of Your being, and upholding all things by the word of His power, did not consider equality with God the Father something to be grasped; yet, though He was God from eternity, He appeared on earth and communed with people; and, having been incarnated of the Holy Virgin, He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant, becoming in appearance like the body of our humility, so that He might make us also like the image of His glory. For just as sin entered the world through man, and through sin, death, so Your Only-Begotten Son, who dwells in Your bosom, God and the Father, was pleased to be born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and to be subject to the law, in order to condemn sin in His own flesh, so that those who were dying in Adam might be brought to life in Your Christ Himself; and having lived in this world, giving saving commandments, delivering us from idolatrous delusion, He led us to the knowledge of You, the true God and Father, acquiring us for Himself as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; and having cleansed us with water and sanctified us with the Holy Spirit, He gave Himself up to death in our place, from which we were held captive, having been sold into the power of sin; and by descending into Hades through the Cross, to fill all things with Himself, He put an end to the torments of death; and rising on the third day and opening the way for all flesh to the resurrection from the dead—since it was impossible for the Prince of Life to be held by corruption—He became the firstfruits of the dead, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might be preeminent in all things among all; and having ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of Your Majesty on high—and He will come to reward each person according to his deeds. But He has left us these remembrances of His saving suffering—that which we have offered before You according to His commandments. For, intending to undergo His voluntary, ever-memorable, and life-giving death, on that night when He gave Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy and most pure hands and presented it to You, O God and Father, giving thanks, blessing it, consecrating it, and breaking it.
Lifting His voice, He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: “Take, eat; this is My Body, broken for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Choir: Amen.
Priest, in secret: In the same way, He took the cup and mixed the fruit of the vine into it, giving thanks, blessing it, and consecrating it.
And he proclaims again: He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: “Drink from it, all of you; this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Choir: Amen.
“Do this in remembrance of Me; for whenever you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim My death and confess My resurrection.” So we too, Lord, recall His saving sufferings, His life-giving Cross, His three-day burial, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His sitting at the right hand of You, God and Father, and His glorious and awesome Second Coming.
Priest (raising his voice): We offer to You what is Yours, from Yours, for all things and because of all things.
[Greek: We offer to You what is Yours from among Your own, in harmony with all things and for the sake of all things.]
Choir: We sing to You, / We bless You, / We give thanks to You, O Lord, / and we pray to You, our God.
Therefore, Most Holy Lord, we too, Your sinful and unworthy servants, who have been deemed worthy to serve at Your holy altar, not because of our righteousness—for we have done nothing good on earth— – but by Your mercies and Your compassion, which You have poured out abundantly upon us, we dare to approach Your holy altar, and having offered the representations of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, we pray to You and call upon You, Holy of Holies, that by the good pleasure of Your goodness, Your Holy Spirit may come upon us and upon these offerings set before You, and bless them, sanctify them, and make them acceptable.
The deacon approaches the priest, and both bow three times before the holy altar, praying silently and saying:
Priest: O Lord, You who sent Your Most Holy Spirit to Your Apostles at the third hour, do not take Him away from us, O Good One, but renew Him within us who pray to You.
Deacon (in a quiet voice): Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
The priest again: O Lord, Your Most Holy Spirit:
Deacon’s verse: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
And again the priest: Lord, Your Most Holy Spirit:
Then the deacon, pointing with the orarion toward the holy bread, says in a low voice: Bless, O Lord, the holy bread.
The priest then makes the sign of the cross over the Holy Lamb, saying: “This bread is the most precious Body of the Lord, and of God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
Deacon: Amen. Bless, Your Grace, the holy chalice.
The priest, blessing the Holy Chalice, says: “And this chalice is the most precious Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Deacon: Amen.
Priest: Poured out for the life of the world.
Deacon: Amen. Bless them both, Your Grace.
The priest, blessing both Holy Gifts together with his hand, says: Transforming them by Your Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen, amen, amen. Remember me, a sinner, O Holy Lord.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
And unite all of us who partake of the one Bread and the one Cup in the fellowship of the one Holy Spirit, and grant that none of us may partake of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ to our judgment or condemnation, but that we may obtain mercy and grace with all the saints who have pleased You from of old: the forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers, and every righteous soul who has departed in the faith.
And, taking the censer, the priest proclaims: Especially with the Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.
And he censes before the holy altar three times.
The choir sings: All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace: / the host of angels and the human race. / You are the sanctified temple and the spiritual paradise, / the glory of virginity, from whom God became incarnate and became an Infant— / our God, who existed before all ages. / For He has made Your womb a throne / and Your womb vaster than the heavens. / All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace; glory to You!
Through the Lord’s hospitality / and the immortal feast / in a high place with exalted thoughts / let us, the faithful, rejoice, / having heard the highest word from the Word, / Whom we magnify.
Do not weep for Me, Mother, / seeing Your Son in the tomb, / Whom You conceived in Your womb without seed, / for I shall rise again and be glorified, / and in glory I shall exalt, as God, / those who ceaselessly magnify You / with faith and love.
The priest, bowing, prays in secret: With Saint John, the prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist; with the holy, glorious, and all-praised apostles; with the saints (their names), whose memory we are celebrating; and with all Your saints, through whose prayers, O God, visit us.
And remember all those who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and eternal life {Your servants:}
(Here the priest commemorates whomever he wishes—both the living and the departed. For the living, he says:
For the salvation, visitation, and forgiveness of sins of the servants of God (names).
As for the departed, he says: “For the repose of the souls and the remission of the sins of Your servants (names). In that place of light, from which sorrow and lamentation have departed, grant them rest, O our God.”)
And grant them rest where all is illuminated by the Light of Your countenance.
Then it continues: We further pray to You: remember, O Lord, Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, which exists from one end of the universe to the other, and grant peace to it, which You have acquired with the precious blood of Your Christ, and establish this holy temple until the end of time.
Remember, O Lord, those who have offered these gifts to You, and those for whom, through whom, and on whose behalf they have offered them.
Remember, O Lord, those who offer sacrifices and do good deeds in Your holy churches, and those who care for the poor; reward them with Your abundant and heavenly gifts; grant them, instead of the earthly, the heavenly; instead of the temporary, the eternal; instead of the perishable, the imperishable.
Remember, O Lord, those who dwell in the deserts, the mountains, the caves, and the ravines of the earth.
Remember, O Lord, those who live in virginity, piety, asceticism, and a pure life.
Remember, O Lord, our God-protected Russian land and its faithful people; grant us deep and unbreakable peace; instill in the hearts of all those in authority a desire for the good of Your Church and all Your people, so that in their tranquility they may enable us to lead a peaceful and serene life in all piety and purity.
Remember, O Lord, all authorities and those in power, our brothers in service, and the entire army; preserve the good through Your goodness, and transform the wicked into the good through Your kindness.
Remember, O Lord, the people gathered here and those absent for important reasons, and have mercy on them and on us through the abundance of Your mercy; fill their storehouses with every good thing, preserve their marriages in peace and harmony, nurture the infants, instruct the youth, sustain the elderly, comfort the faint-hearted, gather the scattered, bring back the straying, and unite them with Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; deliver those tormented by unclean spirits, guide those at sea, accompany those on their journeys, protect widows, defend orphans, free the captives, and heal the sick. Remember, O God, those who are on trial, in mines, in exile, in bitter labor, and in every sorrow, need, and misfortune; and all who are in need of Your great mercy—those who love us, those who hate us, and those who have entrusted us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. And remember all Your people, O Lord our God, and pour out Your abundant mercy upon all, granting to everyone what they ask for their salvation; and those whom we have not remembered out of ignorance, or forgetfulness, or because of the multitude of names—remember them Yourself, O God, who knows the age and name of each one, who knows each one from his mother’s womb. For You, O Lord, are the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the Savior of those in distress, the refuge of those who sail the seas, and the Healer of the sick; be You Yourself all things to all, knowing each one, his petition, his home, and his need. Deliver, O Lord, this city (or: this holy monastery) and every city and country from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, invasion by foreign peoples, and civil war.
And the priest proclaims: And among the first, O Lord, remember our Great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and our lord (Most) Holy (name), Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop of [such-and-such—name of the see]), whom grant to Your holy churches throughout the world, unharmed, honored, healthy, long-lived, and rightly teaching the word of Your truth.
The choir sings: And all men, and all women.
The priest prays silently: Remember, O Lord, every Orthodox episcopate that rightly teaches the word of Your truth.
Remember, O Lord, in the abundance of Your compassion, my unworthiness; forgive me every sin, both voluntary and involuntary, and do not withhold the grace of Your Holy Spirit from the Gifts before us because of my sins.
Remember, O Lord, the presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and all other sacred orders, and do not put any of us who surround Your holy altar to shame.
Visit us in Your goodness, O Lord; appear to us in Your abundant mercies; grant us favorable and beneficial weather; bestow gentle rains upon the earth for its fertility; bless the harvest of the year with Your goodness, O Lord; put an end to divisions in the churches, quench the fury of the pagans, and quickly destroy the uprisings of heresies by the power of Your Holy Spirit; receive us all into Your Kingdom, revealing us as children of light and children of the day. Grant us Your peace and Your love, O Lord our God; for You have given us everything.
And he commemorates by name those of the living whom he wishes.
The priest proclaims: And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and sing of Your all-holy and majestic name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
The priest, turning toward the Royal Doors and blessing the people, proclaims:
And may the mercy of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Choir: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for the holy Gifts that have been brought forth and consecrated.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That our God, the Lover of mankind, having accepted them upon His holy, heavenly, and incorporeal altar as a fragrant spiritual offering, may send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for a day that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having sought unity of faith and communion in the Holy Spirit, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: Our God, God of salvation, teach us to give You worthy thanks for Your blessings, which You have bestowed and continue to bestow upon us; You are our God, who has accepted these gifts; purify us from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and teach us to lead a holy life in the fear of You, so that, with a clear conscience, as we partake of Your holy gifts, we may be united with the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ; and, having received them worthily, may have Christ dwelling in our hearts and become a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Yes, our God, grant that none of us may be guilty of sin against these Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries, nor become weak in soul and body through unworthy partaking of them, but grant that until our last breath we may worthily partake of Your Holy Gifts, —as a preparation for eternal life, and as a favorable response at the dreadful judgment of Your Christ, so that we too, together with all the saints— —who have pleased You from of old, may become partakers of Your eternal blessings, which You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord.
The priest proclaims: And grant us, O Lord, the boldness to call upon You, the Heavenly God, the Father, without fear of condemnation, and to proclaim:
Congregation: Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Your name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads before the Lord!
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, Father of mercy and God of all comfort! Bless, sanctify, preserve, strengthen, and confirm those who have bowed their heads before You; deliver them from every evil deed, and unite them with every good deed; and grant that they may partake of these most pure and life-giving Mysteries of Yours, not to their condemnation, but for the forgiveness of sins and for communion with the Holy Spirit.
The priest proclaims: By the grace, mercy, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Hear us, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of the Glory of Your Kingdom, and come— —to sanctify us, You who sit on high with the Father and dwell invisibly here with us. And deign, with Your mighty hand, to bestow upon us Your most pure Body and precious Blood, and through us, upon all the people.
While this prayer is being read, the deacon, standing before the Royal Doors, crosses himself with the orarion. The priest, standing in his place, bows just as the deacon does, saying silently three times: “O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.” (3)
The Royal Doors are closed with a veil.
Deacon: Let us listen!
The priest, raising the Holy Bread, proclaims: “Holy things to the holy!”
Choir: One is holy, / one is the Lord, / Jesus Christ, / to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
And the singers sing the communion hymn for the day or for the saint, according to the liturgical order.
Deacon: Break the Holy Bread, Your Grace.
The Priest, dividing the Holy Lamb into four parts, says:
The Lamb of God is broken and divided, the Lamb that is broken yet indivisible, always to be partaken of and never exhausted, but sanctifying those who partake of Him.
Deacon: Fill the holy chalice, Your Grace.
Priest: The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen.
And, taking the bread, he says: Bless this bread, Your Grace.
The priest then blesses the water, saying:
Blessed is the warmth of Your holy gifts, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The deacon, pouring the wine into the holy chalice: The wine of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Priest: Deacon, come forward.
Deacon: Behold, I come to Christ, the immortal King and my God.
The priest, taking the Holy Bread, gives it to the deacon. The deacon receives the Holy Bread, saying:
Grant me, Lord, the Precious and Holy Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
The priest then says: “To [Name], the deacon, is given the Precious, Holy, and Most Pure Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life.”
Then the deacon steps forward and, just as the priest did, recites the following prayers: “I believe, O Lord, and I confess,” and so on.
Likewise, the priest, taking a particle of the Holy Bread, says:
Behold, I come to Christ, the immortal King and my God.
The precious and most holy Body of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ is given to me, (name), the priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.
And, bowing his head, he prays: I believe, O Lord, and I confess:
And they partake of the Most Pure Body of Christ with reverence and firm faith. Then the priest says:
Behold, I come again to Christ, the immortal King and my God.
And, taking the holy chalice with both hands, he partakes of it three times, saying:
I, (name), a servant of God and a priest, partake of the precious and holy Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life. Amen.
And so, having wiped his lips and the rim of the sacred chalice, he kisses it and says: “Behold, this has touched my lips; it will take away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins.”
He also calls the deacon, saying: “Deacon, come forward.”
And the deacon approaches and bows, saying:
“Behold, I come {again} to {Christ,} the immortal King and my God.” And: “Grant me, Lord, the Precious and Holy Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
And the priest says: The servant of God, the deacon (name), partakes of the Precious and Holy Blood of the Lord, and of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life.
And after the deacon has received Communion, the priest says: “Behold, this has touched your lips; it will take away your iniquities and cleanse you of your sins.”
If there are those who wish to receive the Holy Mysteries, the priest breaks the two remaining portions of the Holy Lamb, marked “NI” and “KA,” into small particles, so that there is enough for the communicants, and places them in the holy chalice.
He then covers the holy chalice with a veil. [If there are no communicants, the priest immerses all the particles from the Holy Diskos into the Holy Chalice with the prescribed words (see below)] and places the star and the veils on the Holy Diskos. He also recites the prayer: “We thank You, O Lord, Lover of mankind:” (see below).
And the Royal Doors are opened. The deacon, having made a bow, takes the Holy Chalice and, proceeding out through the Royal Doors, raises the Holy Chalice, showing it to the congregation and proclaiming: “With the fear of God, faith [and love], come forward!”
Choir: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; / God is the Lord, and He has appeared to us!
Before the faithful receive Communion, the priest, according to custom, recites the prayers: I believe, O Lord, and I confess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is Your most pure Body, and this is Your most precious Blood. I pray to You, therefore: have mercy on me and forgive me my sins, both voluntary and involuntary, committed in word and deed, knowingly and unknowingly, and grant that I may partake of Your most pure Mysteries not to my condemnation, but for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life. Amen.
And then: Accept me, Son of God, as a participant in Your mysterious Supper on this day. For I will not reveal Your secrets to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss like that of Judas. But like the thief, I will confess to You: “Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom!”
May the partaking of Your most pure Mysteries, O Lord, be for me not for judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.
And those who wish to receive Communion approach one by one, bowing with all reverence and fear, their hands folded upon their chests. And each one receives the Divine Mysteries. The priest, as he administers Communion to each one, says:
The servant of God (name) partakes of the precious and holy Body and Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life. Amen.
And the deacon wipes the person’s lips with a cloth. Then the communicant kisses the Holy Chalice and departs with a bow. And so all receive Communion.
During Communion, according to custom, we sing repeatedly: “Receive the Body of Christ, / Taste the Fountain of immortality.” And at the end: “Alleluia.” (3)
After Communion, the priest enters the Holy Altar and places the Holy Chalice with the Holy Gifts on the Holy Table.
The deacon, taking the Holy Diskos, holds it over the Holy Chalice and, reciting the following Paschal hymns, immerses all the particles from it into the Holy Chalice: “Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ,” “Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem,” and “O Great and Most Holy Pascha,”
And he wipes it carefully with a holy sponge, reciting the following words with attention and reverence: “Wash away, O Lord, the sins of those commemorated here with Your precious Blood, through the prayers of Your saints.”
The priest then blesses the people, proclaiming: “Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.”
Then, turning toward the holy altar, he censes it three times, saying to himself:
“Ascend to heaven, O God, and let Your glory be throughout the earth.” (3)
The choir sings: We have seen the true light, / received the heavenly Spirit, / found the true faith; / we worship the indivisible Trinity, / for It has saved us.
Priest: Blessed be our God.
Raising his voice and showing the Holy Chalice to the congregation: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
May our lips be filled / with praise to You, O Lord, / so that we may sing of Your glory, / for You have deemed us worthy to partake / of Your holy, divine, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries. / Preserve us in Your sanctification, / so that we may meditate on Your truth all day long. / Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The deacon, having gone out through the north gate and standing in his usual place, recites the ektenia:
Let us stand in reverence! Having received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, and life-giving, awe-inspiring Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord!
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Having asked for a day that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks to You, O Lord our God, for the communion of Your holy, most pure, immortal, and heavenly Mysteries, which You have given us for our benefit, sanctification, and the healing of our souls and bodies. You Yourself, Lord of all, grant that our partaking of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ may lead us to unashamed faith, sincere love, wisdom in living, healing of soul and body, repulsion of every adversary, observance of Your commandments, and a favorable judgment at the dreadful judgment of Your Christ.
The priest, having folded the antimension and holding the Holy Gospel above it, traces the sign of the cross with it.
Exclamation: For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let us go in peace!
Choir: In the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Lord, You who bless those who bless You, and sanctify those who hope in You! Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; preserve the fullness of Your Church; sanctify those who love the splendor of Your house! Glorify them with Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to Your priests, to Your army, and to all Your people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights; and to You we send up glory, thanksgiving, and worship—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
The priest enters the sanctuary through the Royal Doors and, approaching the altar, recites the following prayer:
It has been fulfilled and accomplished, as far as it is in our power, Christ our God, the Mystery of Your Incarnation: for we have received the remembrance of Your death, beheld the image of Your resurrection, been filled with Your infinite life, and tasted Your inexhaustible bliss, which You deign to grant to all of us in the age to come, through the grace of the Father without beginning, and of Your Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen. May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. (3)
I will bless the Lord at all times; / His praise shall ever be on my lips. / My soul shall exult in the Lord— / may the humble hear this and rejoice. / Exalt the Lord with me, / and let us lift up His name together. / I sought the Lord, and He heard me, / and delivered me from all my troubles. / Come to Him and be enlightened, / and your faces shall not be put to shame. / This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, / and saved him from all his troubles. / The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him / and delivers them. / Taste and see that the Lord is good— / blessed is the man who trusts in Him. / Fear the Lord, all you His saints, / for those who fear Him lack nothing. / The rich have become poor and are starving, / but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. / Come, my children, listen to me; / I will teach you the fear of the Lord. / Who is the person who desires to live, / who wants to see good days? / Keep your tongue from evil / and your lips from deceitful speech. / Turn away from evil and do good; / seek peace and pursue it: / the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, / and His ears are open to their prayer; / but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, / to blot out their memory from the earth. / The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them; / He delivered them from all their troubles. / The Lord is close to the brokenhearted / and will save those who are humble in spirit. / The righteous have many troubles— / and the Lord will deliver them from all of them. / The Lord preserves all their bones; / not one of them will be broken. / Death is the lot of the wicked, / and those who hate the righteous will stumble. / The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, / and all who trust in Him will not stumble.
The priest, having stepped out of the sanctuary, distributes the antidoron to the people. Upon the conclusion of the psalm and the distribution of the antidoron, he proclaims:
May the Lord’s blessing [and mercy] be upon you, through His [divine] grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to You, Christ God, our hope, glory to You!
Choir: Glory, and now: Lord, have mercy. (3) Bless us.
On Sunday: Christ, our true God, who rose from the dead, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the saints (names of the saints of the church and the day), our holy Father Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the holy and righteous God-bearers Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, may He have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
Choir: Our great lord and father (name), / His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, / and our most reverend lord (name), / Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—title of the see), / our God-protected Russian land, / the rector, the brethren, and the parishioners of this holy church (or: the abbot and the brethren of this holy monastery) / and all Orthodox Christians— / O Lord, preserve them for many years.
And we recite the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
End of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
The deacon, standing at the ambo as is customary, proclaims:
Bless, Your Grace!
The priest, standing before the holy altar as is customary, proclaims:
Blessed be the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Reader: Come, let us worship: (3)
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, You are greatly exalted; You are clothed with glory and splendor, wrapping Yourself in light as in a garment, spreading out the heavens like a tent of skin. You hide Your heavenly palaces in the waters; You appoint the clouds as Your throne; You ride on the wings of the winds; You create Your angels as spirits and Your servants as flames of fire; You have established the earth upon its foundations—it shall never be moved. The deep is like a garment—it covers it; the waters will stand upon the mountains; at Your threat they will flee, at the sound of Your thunder they will be terrified. They ascend the mountains and descend into the plains, to the place You have appointed for them—You have set a boundary they will not cross, and they will not turn back to cover the earth. You send springs into the ravines; waters will flow through the midst of the mountains; they will water all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys will quench their thirst; the birds of the air will make their homes among them; from the midst of the rocks they will utter their voices. You water the mountains from Your heights—the earth is satisfied by the fruit of Your works—You cause grass to grow for livestock and greenery for the service of people, to bring forth bread from the earth and wine that gladdens the human heart, so that his face may shine with oil, and bread may strengthen the human heart. The trees of the plain will be satisfied—the cedars of Lebanon that You have planted—where birds will make their nests, and the stork’s dwelling rises above them. The high mountains are for the deer, and the rock is a refuge for the hares. He created the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its setting. You spread out the darkness, and night falls; in it all the beasts of the forest will roam, young lions roaring in hope of catching and finding their food from God. The sun rises, and they gather together and lie down in their lairs—a man goes out to his work and to his labor until evening. How majestic are Your works, O Lord; You have created all things with wisdom; the earth is filled with Your creations. This sea is great and vast, teeming with countless creatures—small and large alike. Ships sail there, and there is that dragon, which You created to be mocked. All await You to give them their food in due season. When You give it to them, they will gather it; You open Your hand—all are satisfied with good. But if You turn Your face away, they are confounded; if You take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth. May the Lord be glorified forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works. He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains—and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. May my conversation be sweet to Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord. May sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked—may they cease to exist. Bless the Lord, O my soul! The sun has set. You have spread out darkness, and night has come. How majestic are Your works, O Lord; You have made them all with wisdom.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Most Reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), the venerable presbytery, the deacons in Christ, the entire clergy, and the people of God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for this city (or: for this settlement, or: for this holy monastery), for every city and country, and for those who live in them by faith.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for favorable weather, for an abundance of the earth’s fruits, and for times of peace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for those at sea, those traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The priest proclaims: For all glory, honor, and worship are due to You, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
During the reading of the first antiphon, the antimension is unfolded, the diskos is carried to the altar, and adoration is performed; the Holy Lamb is placed on the diskos, and adoration is performed again.
Reader: In my distress I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me. O Lord, deliver my soul from the lips of the unrighteous and from the deceitful tongue. What will they give you, or what will they add to you, with a deceitful tongue? The arrows of the mighty are sharpened with desert embers. Woe is me, for my life has been prolonged in a foreign land; I have dwelt among the tents of Kedar. My soul has lived long in a foreign land; I have been at peace with those who hate the world. When I spoke to them, they fought against me without cause.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. May your foot not slip, and may He who watches over you not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord will keep you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; the Lord will keep your soul; the Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet stood within your courts, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem, built as a city whose unity lies in its oneness. For there the tribes went up—the tribes of the Lord—as a testimony to Israel, to glorify the name of the Lord; for there are set thrones for judgment, thrones in the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; “May those who love you prosper.” May there be peace within your walls and prosperity within your fortresses. For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors, I have said, “Peace be upon you”; for the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought your welfare.
To You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of a maidservant to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord; have mercy on us, for we are filled to the brim with contempt. Our soul is filled to the brim with reproach from the prosperous and with contempt from the proud.
“If the Lord had not been among us,” let Israel say, “if the Lord had not been among us when men rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive. When their anger flared up against us, the waters would have overwhelmed us! Our soul has crossed the stream. Yes, our soul has crossed the uncrossable waters!” Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul is like a bird that has escaped from the fowler’s net; the net has been torn, and we are free. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again for peace in the world.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy! Hear our prayer and listen to the voice of our supplication. Work a sign of blessing upon us; guide us in Your way, that we may walk in Your truth; gladden our hearts, that we may fear Your holy name. For You are great and work wonders, You, the One God, and there is none like You among the gods, O Lord, mighty in mercy and good in power, to help, comfort, and save all who hope in Your holy name.
Acclamation: For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
During the reading of the second antiphon, prostration takes place, followed by the incensing of the altar with a candle, and then prostration again.
Reader: Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion: those who dwell in Jerusalem shall never be shaken. The mountains surround it, and the Lord surrounds His people from now on and forever. For the Lord will not allow the rod of the wicked to fall upon the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and upright in heart; but those who turn to deceit, the Lord will lead away with those who do iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
When the Lord restored the captives of Zion, we were like those who had been comforted. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they will say among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us—we are filled with joy. Restore our captives, O Lord, like streams in the south wind. Those who sow in tears will reap with joy. Those who went out wept as they sowed their seed, but those who return will come with joy, carrying their sheaves.
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise early and stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for He grants sleep to those He loves. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of the exiles. Blessed is the man who fulfills his desire through them; they will not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gates.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; you are blessed, and it will go well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within the walls of your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life, and may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
“Many times have they risen up against me since my youth,” let Israel say; “many times have they risen up against me since my youth”—yet they have not prevailed against me! Sinners have oppressed me; they have continued in their lawlessness. The righteous Lord has cut off the necks of the sinners. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turn back! May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it is uprooted: the reaper does not fill his hands with it, nor the gatherer of sheaves his bosom—and those who pass by do not say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord!”
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, do not rebuke us in Your wrath, nor punish us with Your anger, but deal with us according to Your mercy, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Lead us to the haven You desire, enlighten the eyes of our hearts to know Your truth, and grant us a peaceful and sinless remainder of this day, as well as throughout our entire lives, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and all the saints.
Exclamation: For You are a good and merciful God, and we give glory to You, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
During the reading of the third antiphon, three bows are made; the Holy Lamb is carried to the altar—at this time, the congregation prostrates themselves; wine and water are poured into the chalice; the Holy Gifts are covered; incense is offered; a candle is placed before the Holy Gifts; and adoration is performed once more.
Reader: Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord, O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If You, O Lord, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who could stand? For with You is forgiveness. For Your name’s sake I have waited for You, O Lord; my soul has trusted in Your word; my soul has hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord is mercy, and with Him is abundant salvation; and He will deliver Israel from all its iniquities.
O Lord, my heart has not been haughty, nor have my eyes looked with pride; I have not concerned myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. If I had not been humble, but had exalted my soul, You would have dealt with my soul as with a weaned child in its mother’s arms. May Israel trust in the Lord from now on and forever!
Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness, how he swore to the Lord and made a vow to the God of Jacob: “I will not enter the tent of my house; I will not go up on my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids, nor rest to my head, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the God of Jacob!” Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the plains of the oak groves; we will enter His sanctuary and worship the place where His feet once stood. Arise, O Lord; enter Your resting place—You and the ark of Your holiness. Your priests will be clothed in righteousness, and Your saints will rejoice with gladness. For the sake of David, Your servant, do not turn away the face of Your anointed one. The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on it: “I will set one of the offspring of your body on your throne; if your sons keep My covenant and these My statutes, which I will teach them, their sons will sit on your throne forever.” For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has appointed it as His dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have chosen it. I will bless its harvest with a blessing; I will satisfy its poor with bread; I will clothe its priests with salvation, and its saints will rejoice with joy. There I will restore the horn of David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one; I will clothe his enemies with shame, but My holiness will flourish upon him.”
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord has ordained blessing and life forevermore.
Behold, bless the Lord now, all you servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Lift up your hands in the night toward the holy places and bless the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: Lord, our God, remember us, Your sinful and unworthy servants, when we call upon Your name, and do not put us to shame as we hope in Your mercy, but grant us, O Lord, all that is necessary for our salvation, and make us worthy to love and fear You with all our hearts and to fulfill Your will in all things.
Exclamation: For You are our God, the merciful and saving God, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen.
Then Psalms 140, 141, 129, and 116 are sung with stichera on “O Lord, I have cried out”; during this time, the deacon performs the full incensation of the church according to the liturgical order.
Lord, I have called upon You; hear me. / Hear me, O Lord.
Lord, I have called upon You; hear me, / give ear to the voice of my supplication, / when I call upon You. / Hear me, O Lord.
May my prayer rise / like incense before Your face, / the lifting up of my hands / like the evening sacrifice. / Hear me, O Lord.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, and a barrier over my lips. Do not let my heart be led astray to devise wicked words or to make excuses for sin with those who practice lawlessness; and I will not join the ranks of their chosen ones. The righteous will instruct me with kindness and rebuke me; but let not the anointing oil of the sinner anoint my head, nor let my prayer be for their desires. Their judges have been swallowed up by the rock; they will hear my words, for they have become sweet. As if the earth’s depths had opened up on the earth, their bones have been scattered in Hades. For to You, O Lord, O Lord, my eyes look; in You I have put my trust; do not take my soul away. Deliver me from the snare they have set for me and from the temptations of those who practice lawlessness. The sinners will fall into their own net; I am alone until I pass through it.
With my voice I cried out to the Lord; with my voice I prayed to the Lord. I poured out my supplication before Him; I made my sorrow known to Him. When my spirit was faint within me—even then You knew my ways; on this path that I walked, they hid a snare for me. I looked to the right and gazed, and no one recognized me; it became impossible for me to flee, and there was no one to stand up for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord, and said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.” Hear my prayer, for I am greatly afflicted; deliver me from those who persecute me, for they are stronger than I.
Verse 10: Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may glorify Your name.
The righteous will wait for me until You reward me.
Verse 8: From the depths I call to You, O Lord, O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Verse 6: If You were to mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness.
For Your name’s sake I have waited for You, O Lord; my soul has trusted in Your word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.
Verse 4: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord is mercy, and with Him is abundant salvation; He will deliver Israel from all its iniquities.
Verse 2: Praise the Lord, all nations; extol Him, all peoples.
For His mercy is established toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Glory: Sticheron
And now: The Theotokos
Priest: In the evening, in the morning, and at noon, we praise, bless, give thanks to, and pray to You, Sovereign of all, O God who loves mankind! Direct our prayer like incense before Your face, and do not let our hearts stray toward wicked words or thoughts, but deliver us from all that ensnares our souls; for to You, O Lord, O Lord, our eyes look, and in You we trust; do not put us to shame, O our God. For all glory, honor, and worship are due to You, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
At the end of the stichera, the deacon (or priest) proclaims: “Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence!”
And the choir sings: O joyful light of the holy glory / of the immortal Heavenly Father, / holy and blessed—Jesus Christ! / Having come to the setting of the sun, seeing the evening light, / we sing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God. / It is fitting to sing of You at all times / with joyful voices, / Son of God, Giver of life, /—therefore the world glorifies You.
Deacon: Let us listen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: Prokeimenon, tone (such-and-such); and we sing the Prokeimenon from the Triodion.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: A reading from Genesis.
Deacon: Let us listen.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: Prokeimenon, tone (such-and-such); and we sing the second prokeimenon.
Then the deacon proclaims: “Command!”
After these words, the priest, holding the candle and the censer in both hands and making the sign of the cross with them, proclaims, looking toward the east: Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence!
And then, turning to the west toward the people prostrate on the ground: “The light of Christ enlightens all!”
And the reader reads the second parimias: a reading from the Proverbs.
If, according to the liturgical calendar, a service with a vigil or polyeleos is scheduled for the following day, the parimias for the feast or saint are also read. And after “May it be directed:,” the deacon recites the special ektenia.
Deacon: Let us listen.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Reader: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom.
And we sing, “Let my prayer be directed”: Ps. 140:2, 1, 3–4. While the hymn is being sung, everyone prostrates themselves, while the presider, standing before the altar, censes it and then the altar of sacrifice.
Canonarch: Let my prayer be directed, / like incense, before Your face, / the lifting up of my hands /—like the evening sacrifice.
Choir: Let my prayer be directed:
Canonarch: O Lord, I have called upon You; hear me, / give ear to the voice of my supplication, / when I call upon You.
Chorus: May my prayer be directed:
Canonarch: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, / and a barrier over my lips.
Choir: May my prayer be directed:
Canonarch: Do not let my heart turn to wicked words / to invent excuses for my sins.
Chorus: May my prayer be directed:
Canonarch: May my prayer rise up, / like incense, before Your face.
Choir: The lifting up of my hands / is like the evening sacrifice.
Then, according to custom, we make three bows with the following prayer:
Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, do not deliver me to the spirit of idleness, vanity, lust for power, and idle talk. (Bow)
But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love. (Bow)
Yes, O Lord and King, grant that I may see my own sins and not condemn my brother, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen. (Bow)
If a saint’s feast day or a church feast day falls during a period of strict fasting, then the deacon (or priest) proclaims: “Let us listen.” The reader then recites the prokeimenon of the Epistle, the Epistle is read, the Alleluia is sung, and the Gospel is read. This is followed by the following ektenia:
Deacon: Let us all cry out with all our hearts and with all our minds.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You: hear us and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and for our Lord, His (Most) Eminent Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop—name), and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces, that we may lead a peaceful and serene life in all piety and purity.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for our brother priests, monastic priests, [deacons, and monks], and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy temple (or: this holy monastery), and for all our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep before us, both here and everywhere, who are Orthodox.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and the remission of sins for the servants of God, the brethren {and parishioners} of this holy church (or: this holy monastery).
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
We also pray for those who offer gifts and do good deeds in this holy and most sacred church, for those who labor, sing, and stand in worship here, awaiting Your great and abundant mercy.
Chorus: O Lord, have mercy (3).
Priest: O Lord our God, accept this fervent prayer from Your servants, and have mercy on us according to the abundance of Your mercy; and pour out Your bounty upon us and upon all Your people, who await Your inexhaustible mercy.
Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord, catechumens!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray, faithful, for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
He proclaimed them with the word of truth.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
He revealed to them the Gospel of truth.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
He united them with His holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Save, have mercy on, protect, and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Those being proclaimed, bow your heads before the Lord!
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O God, our God, Creator and Maker of all things, who desires that all may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth! Look upon Your catechumens, Your servants, and deliver them from the ancient deception and wiles of the adversary, and call them to eternal life, enlightening their souls and bodies and counting them among Your spiritual flock, upon which Your holy name is invoked.
Acclamation: So that they, too, may glorify with us Your all-holy and majestic Name—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
And the deacon proclaims: All catechumens, go forth! Catechumens, go forth! All catechumens, go forth! Let none of the catechumens, but only the faithful, pray to the Lord again and again in peace!
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
This is recited only until the Wednesday of the fourth week of Great Lent. But from that Wednesday onward—that is, from the middle of Lent—after the priest’s words, “So that they too may glorify with us,” the deacon recites the following petitions at all Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts, even on feast days:
Deacon: All who are to be catechized, come forward! Those to be catechized, come forward! All who are preparing for baptism, come forward! Pray, you who are preparing for baptism!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray, faithful, for our brothers preparing for Holy Baptism and for their salvation to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
May the Lord our God establish and strengthen them.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
May He enlighten them with the light of knowledge and piety.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
May He grant them, in due time, the baptism of rebirth, the forgiveness of sins, and the garment of incorruption.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
You have regenerated them through water and the Spirit.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Grant them the perfection of faith.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
He has numbered them among His holy and chosen flock.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Save, have mercy on, protect, and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
You who are preparing for enlightenment, bow your heads before the Lord!
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Priest: Show, O Lord, Your face to those preparing for Holy Baptism and desiring to cast off the stain of sin. Enlighten their minds, strengthen them in faith, establish them in hope, perfect them in love, and make them worthy members of the Body of Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for our souls.
Acclamation: For You are our light, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
Deacon: All who are preparing for instruction, come forward! Those who are preparing for instruction, come forward! All catechumens, come forward! Let none of the catechumens, but only the faithful, pray to the Lord again and again in peace!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Here end the intercessions, which are recited only from the middle of the fourth week of Great Lent.
Deacon: Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: O Wisdom!
Priest: O God, great and worthy of praise, who through the life-giving death of Your Christ has brought us from corruption to incorruption! You have freed all our senses from the deadening effects of passion, appointing for them a good guide—inner discernment. May our eyes turn away from every evil gaze, may our ears be closed to idle talk, and may our tongues be cleansed of unseemly speech. Purify our lips that praise You, O Lord; cause our hands to refrain from evil deeds and to do only what is pleasing to You, strengthening all the members of our body and our mind with Your grace.
The priest proclaims: For to You belongs all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord again and again in peace!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
(When the priest is celebrating alone, he does not recite the following [four] petitions:
Let us pray to the Lord for peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls.
Let us pray to the Lord for the peace of the whole world, the prosperity of God’s holy Churches, and the unity of all.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, misfortune, and need.)
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: O Wisdom!
Priest: Holy and Most Blessed Lord! We beseech You, who are rich in mercy, to be merciful to us sinners and to make us worthy to receive Your only-begotten Son and our God, the King of Glory. For behold, His most pure Body and life-giving Blood, entering at this very hour, are to be offered at this mystical banquet, invisibly accompanied by a multitude of heavenly hosts. Grant that we may partake of them not to our condemnation, so that, enlightened by them through the eye of the mind, we may become children of light and of the day.
The priest proclaims: Through the gift of Your Christ, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Choir: Now the Heavenly Powers minister invisibly with us, / for behold, the King of Glory enters; behold, the Sacrifice, mysterious and perfect, is accompanied by them.
While this is being sung, the deacon enters the holy altar through the north doors and censes the holy throne, the altar, and the priest. Then the priest and deacon stand together and, with outstretched hands, recite three times: “ ” “Now the heavenly powers…” After bowing three times, they proceed to the altar and carry the Holy Gifts according to custom. During the procession, they say nothing. And upon entering the sanctuary, the priest places them on the holy throne according to custom and covers them with the veil, saying nothing but censing them.
Choir: Let us approach with faith and love, / that we may become partakers of eternal life. / Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Then, according to custom, the prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian is recited with three bows: O Lord and Master of my life:
Next, the Royal Doors are closed and the curtain is drawn halfway. The deacon then steps to his usual place and recites the supplications:
Deacon: Let us offer our evening prayer to the Lord.
Choir: O Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for the Holy Gifts offered and previously consecrated to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
That our God, the Lover of mankind, having accepted them upon His holy, heavenly, and incorporeal altar as a fragrant spiritual offering, may send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, [danger], and need.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
We ask the Lord for this perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless Supper.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for the Angel of Peace, our faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the remission of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord for what is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the world.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask the Lord to allow us to spend the remainder of our lives in this world in repentance.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
We ask for a Christian death—painless, honorable, and peaceful—and for a favorable judgment at Christ’s Last Judgment.
Chorus: Grant it, O Lord.
Having sought unity of faith and communion in the Holy Spirit, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our entire lives to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The priest prays: O God of the ineffable and invisible Mysteries, in Whom all the riches of wisdom and knowledge are hidden! You have revealed this service to us and, through Your great love for humanity, have appointed us, sinners that we are, to offer You gifts and sacrifices for our transgressions and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. You Yourself, the invisible King, who works great and incomprehensible, glorious and extraordinary deeds beyond number, look upon us, Your unworthy servants, standing before this holy altar as before Your cherubim-adorned throne, upon which rests Your Only-Begotten Son and our God through the the awesome Mysteries set before us. And having freed us and Your faithful people from all impurity, sanctify the souls and bodies of us all with an inalienable sanctification, so that with a clear conscience, with an unashamed face, and with an enlightened heart, as we partake of these divine Holy Gifts and are quickened by them, we may be united with Your Christ Himself, our true God, who said: “Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him,” so that, with Your Word dwelling and walking within us, O Lord, may we become a temple of Your All-Holy and worshiped Spirit, having been delivered from every deceit of the devil, whether acting in deed, word, or thought, and may we receive the blessings promised to us, together with all Your saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.
The priest proclaims: And grant us, O Lord, the boldness to call upon You, the Heavenly God, the Father, without fear of condemnation, and to proclaim:
The people: 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 debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all!
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads before the Lord!
Choir: To You, O Lord.
The priest, bowing his head, prays: O God, the only good and merciful One, who dwells on high and looks down upon the earth! Look with a merciful eye upon all Your people and preserve them, and grant that we may all partake of these life-giving Mysteries of Yours without condemnation, for we have bowed our heads before You, awaiting Your inexhaustible mercy.
Acclamation: Through the grace, mercy, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
Hear us, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of the Glory of Your Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You who sit on high with the Father and dwell invisibly here with us. And deign, with Your mighty hand, to bestow upon us Your most pure Body and precious Blood, and through us, upon all the people.
After the prayer, the priest and deacon bow three times, saying:
God, cleanse me, a sinner. (3)
The priest, then, placing his hand beneath the veil covering the Holy Gifts, touches the Life-Giving Bread with reverence and awe.
Deacon: Let us listen!
The priest proclaims: The Pre-sanctified Gifts—to the saints!
Choir: One is holy, / one is the Lord, / Jesus Christ, / to the glory of God the Father. / Amen.
Then the priest sets aside the holy veil and the star and, according to custom, performs the Holy Communion of the Divine Gifts.
The choir sings: Taste and see how good the Lord is. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
If the Epistle and Gospel of the saint or the church were read on the feast day, another Communion hymn is sung according to the liturgical order.
The veil is drawn completely. The deacon enters the Holy Altar and, standing to the right of the priest, says:
Break, O Lord, the Holy Bread.
The priest breaks the Holy Lamb into four parts with great care, saying:
The Lamb of God is broken and divided, broken yet indivisible, always to be partaken of and never exhausted, but sanctifying those who partake.
And he places a particle of the Holy Lamb into the Holy Chalice without saying a word. Then he blesses the water, and the deacon silently pours it into the Holy Chalice.
The priest then says: “Deacon, come forward.”
And the deacon, approaching, reverently bows, according to custom, saying:
“Behold, I come to Christ, the immortal King and my God.” And: “Grant me, O Lord, the Precious and Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
The priest then says:
“To [Name], the deacon, are given the Precious, Holy, and Most Pure Body and Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life.”
And, having kissed the hand that offered him the Holy Mysteries, the deacon departs and, standing behind the holy altar with his head bowed, prays as the priest does, saying: “I believe, O Lord,” and so on.
In the same way, the priest, having taken a portion of the Holy Mysteries, says:
Behold, I come to Christ, the immortal King and my God.
The precious and most holy Body and Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ are bestowed upon me, (name), the priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.
And, bowing his head, he prays, saying: I believe, O Lord, and I confess: And: That I am a partaker of Your mystical Supper: And: Not to judgment or condemnation: all the way to the end.
And he partakes of the Most Pure Body of Christ with reverence and firm faith. Then the priest, taking a sponge, wipes his hand, saying:
Glory to You, O God: three times.
And, after partaking of the antidoron, he recites the prayer of thanksgiving:
We give thanks to You, God and Savior of all: (see below).
The deacon, after bowing three times, opens the Royal Doors and, taking the holy Chalice, says: “Approach with the fear of God, with faith [and love]!”
The choir sings: I will bless the Lord at all times; / His praise shall ever be on my lips.
Before the faithful receive Communion, the priest, according to custom, recites the prayers: “I believe, O Lord, and I confess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.” I also believe that this is Your most pure Body, and this is Your most precious Blood. I pray to You, therefore: have mercy on me and forgive me my sins, both voluntary and involuntary, committed in word and deed, knowingly and through ignorance, and grant that I may partake of Your most pure Mysteries not to my condemnation, but for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Amen.
Accept me today, Son of God, as a participant in Your mystical Supper. For I will not reveal Your secrets to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss like that of Judas. But like the thief, I will confess to You: “Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom!”
May the partaking of Your most pure Mysteries, O Lord, be for me not for judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.
And those who wish to receive Communion approach one by one, bowing with all reverence and fear, their hands folded upon their chests. And each one receives the Divine Mysteries. The priest, as he administers Communion to each one, says:
The servant of God (name) partakes of the precious and holy Body and Blood of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of his sins and for eternal life. Amen.
After Communion, the priest, blessing the people, proclaims: Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.
And the choir sings: Taste the heavenly bread and the cup of life /—and you will see that the Lord is good. / Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
And, having incensed the Holy Gifts, the priest, bowing, takes the Holy Chalice and, turning toward the Royal Doors, looks upon the people and says quietly:
Blessed be our God.
And, raising his voice: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
And he carries the Holy Gifts to the altar.
Choir: Amen.
May our lips be filled / with praise to You, O Lord, / so that we may sing of Your glory, / for You have deemed us worthy to partake / of Your holy (divine, immortal, and life-giving) Mysteries. / Preserve us in Your sanctification, / so that we may meditate on Your truth all day long. / Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: Let us stand in reverence! Having received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, and life-giving, awe-inspiring Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Having asked for an evening that is perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Choir: To You, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks to You, God and Savior of all, for all the blessings You have bestowed upon us, and for the communion of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ. And we pray to You, O Lord, Lover of mankind: preserve us under the shelter of Your wings and grant that, until our last breath, we may worthily partake of Your Holy Gifts, for the enlightenment of soul and body, and for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Antiphon: For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let us go in peace!
Choir: In the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord!
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Almighty Lord, who created all things with wisdom, and by Your ineffable providence and great goodness have led us into these most holy days—for the purification of our souls and bodies, for abstinence from passions, and for the hope of the Resurrection! You, who forty days hence delivered the tablets—the divine inscriptions—to Your servant Moses, grant us also, O Blessed One, to strive in good deeds, to complete the path of fasting, to preserve undivided faith, to crush the heads of the invisible serpents, to appear as victors over sin, and to reach the worship of the holy Resurrection without condemnation. For blessed and glorified is Your all-holy and majestic Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen. May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. (3)
Reader: Glory, and now:
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be on my lips. My soul shall exult in the Lord—may the humble hear this and rejoice. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my troubles. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be put to shame. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good—blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, all you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The rich have become poor and are starving, but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the person who desires to live, who wants to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their memory from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them; He delivered them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are contrite in spirit. The righteous have many troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all. The Lord protects all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Death is the lot of the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will stumble. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, and all who trust in Him will not stumble.
Priest: O Lord our God, who has brought us into these most holy days and made us partakers of Your awesome Mysteries! Unite us with Your flock and make us heirs of Your Kingdom, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
The priest then steps out of the sanctuary and distributes the antidoron.
Priest: May the Lord’s blessing [and mercy] be upon you, through His [divine] grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to You, Christ our God, our hope, glory to You!
Choir: Glory, and now: Lord, have mercy. (3) Bless us.
Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, (and so on, according to the day of the week, the saints of the church, and the feast day), our holy father Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome, [the holy and righteous God-bearers Joachim and Anna], and all the saints, may He have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
This is how the dismissal is recited until Holy Week; during Holy Week, a separate dismissal is recited.
And the “Many Years” is sung. After the dismissal, the Prayers of Thanksgiving are read.
End of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.