THE DIVINE LITURGY OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
The Deacon: Bless, Master.
The Priest aloud:
Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Deacon (but if there be none, the Priest):
In peace let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy Churches of God, and the union of them all, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For this holy House, and those that with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For our Archbishop N., the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ, all the Clergy, and the People, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For our most pious and God-kept Kings, all their Palace, and their Army, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That he would fight on their side, and subdue beneath their feet every enemy and foe, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For this holy Abode (or, this City), every city, and country, and those that in faith dwell therein, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For good temperature of the air, abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful seasons let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For voyagers, travellers, the sick, the weary, the captive, and their salvation, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, peril, and necessity, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Of our All-holy, undefiled, exceedingly blessed, glorious Lady, Theotokos, and ever-virgin, Mary, with all the Saints, making mention, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
The Priest aloud:
For to thee becometh all glory, honour, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And there is sung of the Singers the first Antiphon, or the Typika, if it be the Lord’s-day, or a Saint’s Feast; and the Priest saith secretly the Prayer of the Antiphon: now the Deacon, having adored, moveth from his place, and goeth and standeth before the Eikon of the Theotokos, looking toward the Eikon of Christ, and holding his Orarion with three fingers of his right hand.
Prayer of the first Antiphon.
O Lord our God, whose might is incomparable, and glory incomprehensible, whose mercy is measureless, and love to man ineffable: do thyself, O Master, according to thy tenderness of heart, look upon us, and upon this holy House, and deal with us, and those that pray with us, in the riches of thy mercies, and of thy compassions.
Typika. Fourth plagal Tone.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Blessed art thou, O Lord.
Ps. 102. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his rewards:
Who readily forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from corruption; who crowneth thee with mercy and compassions;
Who satisfieth thy desire with good things: thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle’s.
Doing acts of mercy is the Lord, and judgement for all that are wronged.
He hath made his ways known to Moses, his wills to the children of Israel.
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy: not unto the uttermost will he be angry, nor for ever be wroth.
Not according to our iniquities hath he dealt with us, nor according to our sins rewarded us.
For according to the height of the heaven from the earth, hath the Lord confirmed his mercy upon those that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, hath he removed our iniquities from us.
Like as a Father hath compassion on his children, hath the Lord had compassion on those that fear him: for he knoweth our frame; he is mindful that we are dust.
Man,—as grass are his days; as the flower of the field, so shall he flourish.
For the spirit is passed through in him, and he shall not be, and shall know his place no longer.
But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and unto eternity upon those that fear him;
And his righteousness unto children’s children, to such as keep his testament, and are mindful of his commandments to do them.
The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heaven, and his Kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the Lord, all ye his Angels, mighty in strength, that execute his word, on hearing the voice of his words.
Bless the Lord, all ye his Powers, ye ministers of his, that do his will.
Bless the Lord, all ye his works, in every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Then in a louder voice:
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy Name. Blessed art thou, O Lord.
And after the conclusion of the Antiphon, the Deacon cometh, and standeth in the accustomed place, and having adored, saith:
Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Of our All-holy, undefiled, exceedingly blessed, glorious Lady, Theotokos, and ever-virgin, Mary, with all the Saints, making mention, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
The Priest aloud:
For thine is the might, and 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 the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And in like manner there is sung of the Singers the second Antiphon, or the Typika, if it be the Lord’s-day, or a Saint’s Feast; and the Priest saith secretly the Prayer of the Antiphon: now the Deacon doth the same as in the former Prayer.
Prayer of the second Antiphon.
O Lord our God, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; keep the fulness of thy Church; hallow those that love the comeliness of thy House: do thou in return glorify them by thy divine power, and forsake not us that hope in thee.
Typika.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Ps. 145. Praise the Lord, O my soul: I will praise the Lord in my life, I will offer psalmody to my God as long as I exist.
Put not your trust in princes, in the children of men, in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return to his earth.
In that day shall all his thoughts perish.
Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Jacob, his hope is in the Lord his God:
Who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is;
Who keepeth truth for ever; who executeth judgement for the wronged; who giveth food to the hungry.
The Lord looseth the fettered: the Lord maketh wise the blind: the Lord setteth up those that are cast down: the Lord loveth the righteous: the Lord keepeth the proselytes.
The orphan and the widow will he support; and the way of sinners will he destroy;
The Lord shall reign for ever; thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Then is sung to the second plagal Tone.
O Only-begotten Son and Word of God, who art immortal, yet didst deign for our salvation to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, without conversion becoming man, and wast crucified, Christ the God, by death trampling upon death, being one of the Holy Trinity, and glorified together with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, save us.
The Deacon:
Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Of our All-holy, undefiled, exceedingly blessed, glorious Lady, Theotokos and ever-virgin, Mary, with all the Saints, making mention, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
The Priest aloud:
For a good God and lover of man art thou, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And in like manner there is sung of the Singers the third Antiphon, or the Beatitudes, if it be the Lord’s-day, or a Saint’s Feast; and the Priest saith secretly the Prayer of the Antiphon: now the Deacon, having adored, cometh into the Sanctuary.
Prayer of the third Antiphon.
Thou that hast given us grace for these common and accordant prayers, who to even two or three agreeing in thy name, hast promised to grant their requests: do thyself even now fulfil the petitions of thy servants as may be fitting, granting us in this present world the knowledge of thy truth, and in that which is to come bestowing life eternal.
The Beatitudes to the Tone it happeneth to be.
In thy Kingdom be mindful of us, O Lord, when thou comest in thy Kingdom.
For twelve Stichoi.
Matt. 5:3–12. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of the heavens.
Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.
Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
For eight Stichoi.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean in heart, for they shall see God.
For six Stichoi.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of the heavens.
For four Stichoi.
Blessed are ye, when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and say every evil saying against you, falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice ye, and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens.
On Lord’s-days there are divided off eight Stichoi, beginning at, Blessed are the merciful, and therewith are sung eight Stichera, or Beatitudes, out of the Oktoechos, to wit six of the Resurrection; Glory … Triadikon; Both now … Theotokion.
Now when they come to the, Glory, the Priest and the Deacon, standing before the holy Table, make three adorations.
Then, the Priest, taking the holy Gospel, giveth it to the Deacon. And thus, coming out through the north part, preceded by lamps, they make the little Entrance; and standing in the accustomed place, both bow their heads.
And the Deacon having said in a low voice, Let us beseech the Lord, the Priest saith the Prayer of the Entrance secretly.
Prayer of the Entrance of the holy Gospel.
O Master, Lord, our God, who hast appointed in the heavens ranks and armies of Angels and Archangels, for the ministry of thy glory; cause that with our Entrance, there may be an entrance of holy Angels, ministering together with us, and with us glorifying thy goodness. For to thee becometh all glory, honour, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Prayer ended, the Deacon pointing to the east with his right hand, and holding his Orarion with three fingers, saith to the Priest:
Bless, Master, the holy Entrance.
And the Priest blessing, saith:
Blessed is the Entrance of thy Saints, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Then the Deacon goeth to the Hegumen, if any be present, who kisseth the Gospel; but if none be present, the Priest kisseth it.
And the last Troparion being ended, the Deacon cometh into the middle, and standing before the Priest, raiseth his hands a little, and shewing the holy Gospel, saith with a loud voice:
Wisdom! upright!
And if it be a Feast of our Lord, there is sung of the Priest the Eisodikon of the Feast; but if not, the following of the Choir to the second Tone.
Come, let us adore, and fall down to Christ.
Save us, O Son of God, who didst rise again from the dead (on Lord’s days to wit; but on other days: who art wonderful in the Saints) we sing to thee: Alleluia.
And the Deacon adoreth, and the Priest behind him, and they go into the holy Bema; and the Deacon putteth down the holy Gospel on the holy Table.
And the Singers say the accustomed Troparia:—on Lord’s-days, that of the Resurrection out of the Octoechos (to wit the Apolytikion of the Hesperinos); Glory … that of the Saint of the Church; Both now … the Kontakion of the day, or of the approaching Feast of our Lord, or of the Mother of God; but if not, the following:
O Defence of Christians, which cannot be confounded, mediatrix with thy Maker, which cannot fail, despise not the voices of the entreaties of us sinners; but, since thou art good, rush to the aid of us that faithfully cry to thee: Make haste to intercession, and make speed to supplication, O Theotokos, who ever protectest those that honour hee.
And when the Singers have said the last Troparion, the Deacon saith:
Let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Priest aloud:
For holy art thou, our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever.
The Deacon: And unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And straightway there is sung of the Singers the Trisagion to the second Tone, as followeth (or on certain Feasts of our Lord, that of the Feast).
Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. Thrice.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Dynamis.
Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
And while the Trisagion is being sung the Priest saith this Prayer secretly.
Prayer of the Trisagial Hymn.
God, who art holy, who restest in the Saints, who art hymned with a Trisagial cry by the Seraphim, and glorified by the Cherubim, and adored by every heavenly Power; who out of nothing hast brought into being all things; who hast created man after thine own image and likeness, and adorned him with thine every grace; who givest to him that asketh, wisdom and understanding, and dost not despise the sinner, but hast appointed repentance unto salvation; who hast deigned that we, thy lowly and unworthy servants, should stand even at this hour before the glory of thy holy Altar, and offer the adoration and doxology which is due to thee: do thyself, O Master, accept even out of the mouth of us, sinners, the Hymn of the Trisagion, and visit us in thy beneficence: forgive us every transgression, voluntary and involuntary: hallow our souls and bodies; and grant us in uprightness to serve thee all the days of our life; at the intercession of the holy Theotokos, and of all the Saints that have ever pleased thee. For holy art thou, our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And this ended, the Priest and the Deacon themselves say the Trisagion, making at the same time three adorations before the holy Table.
Then the Deacon saith to the Priest:
Command, Master.
And they go up to the Seat.
And the Priest saith as he goeth:
Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.
The Deacon:
Bless, Master, the Seat above.
And the Priest:
Blessed art thou that art upon the throne of the glory of thy Kingdom, who sittest upon the Cherubim, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And after the conclusion of the Trisagion, the Deacon, coming before the holy Doors, saith:
Let us attend.
And the Reader standing on the Soleas:
The Prokeimenon: A Psalm of David.
And after the Prokeimenon the Deacon again:
Wisdom!
And the Reader saith the Title of the Apostle:
The Lesson out of the Acts of the Apostles (or, out of the Epistle of Paul to the … or, out of the Catholic Epistle of …).
And again the Deacon:
Let us attend.
And the Reader readeth the Apostle of the day:
In those days (or, Brethren) …
And the Apostle ended, the Priest saith:
Peace to thee that readest.
And the Reader:
Alleluia: A Psalm of David.
Now while the Alleluia is being sung, the Deacon, taking the Censer and incense, goeth up to the Priest; and having received a blessing from him, censeth the holy Table all round, and the whole Sanctuary, and the Priest.
And the Priest saith this Prayer secretly.
Prayer before the Gospel.
Light up in our hearts, O Master, lover of man, the pure light of thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our understanding to the comprehension of the proclaiming of thy Gospel: implant in us the fear also of thy blessed commandments, that, trampling upon all carnal desires, we may follow a spiritual manner of life, both thinking and doing all such things as please thee. For thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, Christ the God, and to thee we send up glory, with thine unoriginate Father, and thine All-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Deacon, having put down the Censer in the accustomed place, goeth up to the Priest, and bowing his head to him, and holding his Orarion with the holy Gospel by the tips of his fingers, to wit in the place of the holy Table where it is lying, saith:
Bless, Master, the Evangelist of the holy Apostle and Evangelist N.
And the Priest signing him with the sign of the Cross, saith:
God, through the intercession of the holy, glorious Apostle and Evangelist N., give utterance to thee that evangelizest with much power, unto the fulfilment of the Gospel of his beloved Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Deacon, having said, Amen, and adored with reverence the holy Gospel, taketh it up; and coming out through the holy Doors, preceded by lamps, goeth, and standeth in the Ambon, or in the appointed place.
But the Priest, standing before the holy Table, and looking toward the west, saith aloud:
Wisdom! upright! let us hear the holy Gospel.
Then: Peace to all (blessing).
The Choir: And to thy spirit.
And the Deacon saith:
The Lesson out of the holy Gospel according to N.
The Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee.
The Priest: Let us attend.
And the Deacon readeth the Gospel of the day.
At that time (or, The Lord spake) …
And the Gospel ended, the Priest saith to the Deacon:
Peace to thee that evangelizest.
The Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee. Thrice.
And the Deacon, going as far as the holy Doors, giveth up the holy Gospel to the Priest; and standing in the accustomed place, beginneth thus:
Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole understanding let us say.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we beseech thee, hearken, and have mercy.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy: we bessech thee, hearken, and have mercy.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Prayer of the earnest supplication, which the Priest saith secretly.
O Lord our God, accept this earnest supplication from thy servants, and have mercy on us according to the multitude of thy mercy; and send down upon us thy compassions, and upon all thy people, who are expecting the rich mercy that is from thee.
The Deacon:
Again, we beseech for pious and Orthodox Christians.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Again, we beseech for our Archbishop N.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Again, we beseech for our Brethren, the Priests, Hiero-Monks, Hiero-Deacons, and Monks, and all our Brotherhood in Christ.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Again, we beseech for the blessed and evermemorable Founders of this holy Abode (or, of this holy House): and for all our heretofore deceased fathers, and brethren, that are piously lying here, and elsewhere, Orthodox believers.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Again, we beseech for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, the Brethren of this holy Abode (or, of this holy House).
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Again, we beseech for those that bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable Church, that labour, that sing; and for the people standing around, who are expecting the great and rich mercy that is from thee.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Exclamation by the Priest.
For a merciful God and lover of man art thou, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Deacon:
Pray to the Lord, ye Catechumens.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Ye Faithful,—for the Catechumens let us beseech:
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would have mercy on them:
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That he would teach them the word of truth:
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That he would reveal to them the Gospel of righteousness.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That he would unite them to his holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Save them, have mercy on them, succour them, and keep them, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Ye Catechumens, bow down your heads to the Lord.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Prayer for the Catechumens, said secretly of the Priest, before the unfolding of the Heileton.
O Lord our God, who dwellest on high, and regardest the lowly, who didst send forth as the salvation of the race of man, thine Only-begotten Son also God, our Lord Jesus Christ, look upon thy servants the Catechumens, that have bowed down their necks to thee; and vouchsafe them, in due season, the laver of regeneration, the remission of sins, and the garment of incorruption: unite them to thy holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and number them together with thine elect flock.
Exclamation.
That they also together with us may glorify thine all-honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And the Priest unfoldeth the Heileton.
And the Deacon:
As many as are Catechumens, go forth: ye Catechumens, go forth.
As many as are Catechumens, go forth: let there be none of the Catechumens.
As many as are Faithful,
Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
First Prayer of the Faithful, after the unfolding of the Heileton, which the Priest saith secretly.
We give thanks to thee, O Lord the God of Powers, who hast deigned that we should stand even now at thy holy Altar, and fall down before thy compassion for our own sins, and for the errors of the people. Accept, O God, our entreaty: make us to be worthy to offer to thee entreaties, and supplications, and unbloody sacrifices for all thy people; and enable us, whom thou hast appointed unto this thy serivce, in the power of thy Holy Spirit, that we may blamelessly and without offence, with the pure witness of our conscience, call upon thee in every season and place; that, hearkening to us, thou mayest be merciful to us in the multitude of thy goodness.
The Deacon:
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Deacon: Wisdom!
Exclamation by the Priest.
For to thee becometh all glory, honour, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Deacon:
Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Second Prayer of the Faithful, which the Priest saith secretly.
Again and oftentimes we fall down to thee, and beseech thee, O Good One and lover of man, that, looking upon our entreaty, thou wouldst cleanse our souls and bodies from all defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant that our standing at thy holy Altar may be irreprehensible and without condemnation. Grant moreover, O God, to those that pray with us advance in life, and in faith, and in spiritual understanding: grant them always with fear and love to serve thee, irreprehensibly and without condemnation to partake of thy holy mysteries, and to be vouchsafed thy heavenly Kingdom.
The Deacon:
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Deacon: Wisdom! (And he goeth into the Sanctuary.)
Exclamation by the Priest.
That, being always kept by thy might, to thee we may send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And straightway there is sung of the Singers the Cherubic Hymn slowly and with melody, to the Tone it happeneth to be, as followeth.
Let us, that are mystically representing the Cherubim, and singing to the life-giving Trinity the Trisagial Hymn, put away all the cares of this life:
Since the King (Here, the Choir pausing, the Entrance taketh place.) of all we are about to receive, invisibly escorted by the Angelic orders. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Prayer which the Priest saith secretly, while the Cherubic Hymn is being sung.
None is worthy among those that are bound with fleshly desires and pleasures, to approach, or draw near, or minister to thee, O King of glory; for to serve thee is great and fearful, even for the heavenly Powers themselves. Nevertheless through thine ineffable and measureless love to man, thou art without conversion and without alteration become man, and hast assumed the office of our High Priest, and committed to us the Hierugy of this liturgic and unbloody sacrifice as Master of all: for thou only, O Lord our God, rulest over such as are of heaven, and such as are of earth, who art borne upon the Cherubic throne, the Lord of the Seraphim, and King of Israel, who only art holy, and restest in the Saints. Thee, therefore, I importune, who only art good and ready to hear:—Look upon me, a sinner, and thine unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience; and enable me by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that am endued with the grace of the Priesthood, to stand at this thy holy Table, and minister sacrificially thy holy and undefiled Body, and thy precious Blood. For to thee I approach, bowing my neck, and beseech thee:—Turn not away thy face from me, nor reject me from among thy children; but deign that these Gifts may be offered to thee by me, a sinner, and thine unworthy servant. For thou art he that offereth, and is offered, and that accepteth, and is distributed, Christ our God, and to thee we send up glory, with thine unoriginate Father, and thine All-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And when the Prayer is ended, the Priest and the Deacon themselves say the Cherubic Hymn.
Then the Deacon, taking the Censer, and putting incense therein, goeth up to the Priest; and having received a blessing from him, censeth the holy Table all round, and the whole Sanctuary, and the Priest; and saith the Fiftieth Psalm, Have mercy on me, O God, and such penitential Troparia as he pleaseth, together with the Priest.
And both the Priest and the Deacon go into the Prothesis-Chapel, the Deacon preceding.
And the Deacon having censed the holy Gifts, saying to himself, O God, be gracious to me a sinner, saith to the Priest:
Lift up, Master.
And the Priest, taking up the Aër, putteth it on the shoulders of the Deacon, saying:
Lift up your hands to the holies, and bless the Lord.
Then, taking the holy Paten, he putteth it on the head of the Deacon, with all care and reverence, the Deacon holding withal the Censer with one of his fingers. And the Priest himself taking the holy Chalice into his hands, they come out through the north part, preceded by lamps; and go round the Church, both praying for all and saying:
Of us all may the Lord God be mindful in his Kingdom, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Deacon going within the holy Doors, standeth on the right hand. And when the Priest is about to enter, the Deacon saith to him:
May the Lord God be mindful of thy Priesthood in his Kingdom, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Priest answereth him:
May the Lord God be mindful of thy Hiero-Diaconate in his Kingdom, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Priest setteth down the holy Chalice on the holy Table; and taking the holy Paten from the head of the Deacon, he setteth it also down on the holy Table, saying:
The noble Joseph, taking down thine undefiled Body from the tree, wrapped it in fine linen with spices, and carefully placed it in a new sepulchre.
In the tomb bodily, in Hades with thy soul as God, in Paradise with the Thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit, wast thou, O Christ, filling all things, thyself uncircumscribed.
How life-giving, how more beautiful than Paradise, and verily more splendid than any royal chamber, is thy tomb, O Christ, become, being the fountain of our Resurrection.
Then, taking the Veils from off the sacred Paten, and the holy Chalice, he placeth them on one part of the holy Table; and taking the Aër from off the shoulders of the Deacon, and censing it, sheltereth therewith the holy Gifts, saying:
The noble Joseph, as far as, in a new sepulchre.
And taking the Censer from the hands of the Deacon, he censeth the holy Gifts thrice: now the Deacon saith:
Do good, Master.
And the Priest:
Do good, O Lord, in thy good will, to Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with anaphora, and holocausts. Then shall they offer calves upon thine Altar.
And giving back the Censer, and letting fall his Phelonion, and bowing his head, he saith to the Deacon:
Be mindful of me, Brother and fellow-minister.
And the Deacon answereth him:
May the Lord God be mindful of thy Priesthood in his Kingdom, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Then the Deacon also himself bowing his head, and holding his Orarion with three fingers of his right hand, saith to the Priest:
Pray for me, holy Master.
And the Priest saith:
The holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee.
Then the Deacon saith:
The Spirit himself shall minister together with us, all the days of our life.
And again:
Be mindful of me, holy Master.
And the Priest saith:
May the Lord God be mindful of thee in his Kingdom, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Deacon, having said, Amen, and kissed the right hand of the Priest, goeth out; and standing in the accustomed place, saith:
Let us complete our entreaty to the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For the precious Gifts that have been set forth, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For this holy House, and those that with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, peril, and necessity, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Prayer of the Proskomide, after the deposition of the divine Gifts on the holy Table, which the Priest saith secretly:
O Lord, God Almighty, who only art holy, who acceptest the sacrifice of praise from those that call upon thee with their whole heart, accept the entreaty of us also, sinners, and bring it to thy holy Altar; and enable us to offer to thee both Gifts and spiritual Sacrifices for our own sins, and for the errors of the people; and vouchsafe us to find grace before thee, that our Sacrifice may be acceptable to thee, and that the good Spirit of thy grace may tabernacle upon us, and upon these laid out Gifts, and upon all thy people.
The Deacon:
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
An Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
What is good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
That the remaining time of our life may be spent in peace and penitence, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
A Christian end to our life, painless, without shame, peaceful, and a good defence at the fearful Tribunal of Christ, let us ask.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
Of our All-holy, undefiled, exceedingly blessed, glorious Lady, Theotokos, and ever-virgin, Mary, with all the Saints, making mention, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
The Priest aloud:
Through the compassions of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine All-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Priest: Peace to all (blessing).
The Choir: And to thy spirit.
The Deacon: Let us love one another, that we may with one mind confess—
The Choir: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a Trinity consubstantial and indivisible.
And the Priest, adoring thrice, kisseth the holy Things, as they are veiled (first over the Paten, then over the Chalice, and lastly the Table in front of him), saying each time secretly:
I will love thee, O Lord, my strength: the Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer.
In like manner the Deacon also adoreth, in the place where he standeth; and kisseth his Orarion, where the figure of the Cross is, and thus saith aloud:
The doors! the doors! in wisdom let us attend.
And the Priest lifting up the Aër over the Gifts, moveth it gently backwards and forwards spread open.
The People (or the Prelate):
I. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
II. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, that was begotten of the Father before all ages: Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things came into existence.
III. Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man;
IV. Was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried;
V. And rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;
VI. And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;
VII. And cometh again with glory to judge the living and the dead of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.
VIII. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-giver, which proceedeth from the Father, which together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, which spake through the Prophets.
IX. In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
X. I confess one Baptism unto remission of sins.
XI. I look for a Resurrection of the dead;
XII. And a Life in the world to come. Amen.
Then the Deacon saith:
Let us stand well, let us stand with fear: let us attend to offer in peace the holy Anaphora.
The Choir: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.
And the Priest, removing the Aër from off the holy Things, putteth it on one side. Now the Deacon adoreth, and entereth the holy Bema; and having taken the Fan (or the Veil), and kissed it, reverently fanneth the holy Things.
The Priest, turning to the people, saith aloud:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of the God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (And he blesseth the people).
The Choir: And with thy spirit.
The Priest: On high let us have our hearts (pointing with his hand).
The Choir: We have them with the Lord.
The Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
The Choir: Meet and right is it (or, Meet and right it is to adore Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a Trinity consubstantial and indivisible).
The Priest, having turned to the east, prayeth secretly:
Meet and right it is to hymn thee, to bless thee, to praise thee, to give thanks to thee, to adore thee, in every place of thy dominion. For thou art God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever existing, changelessly existing; thou, and thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Holy Spirit. Thou out of nothing hast brought us into being, and when we were fallen hast raised us again, and hast not given over working all things, till thou hast brought us back to heaven, and bestowed on us thy Kingdom to come. For all these things we give thanks to thee, and to thine Only-begotten Son, and to thy Holy Spirit, for all whereof we know, and whereof we know not, the seen, and the unseen benefits that have come upon us. We give thanks to thee also for this Ministry, which thou hast deigned to receive at our hands, although about thee there stand thousands of Archangels, and myriads of Angels, the Cherubim, and the Seraphim, that are six-winged, and many-eyed, that soar aloft, and are borne on pinions,
Aloud:
Singing, vociferating, crying, and saying the triumphal Hymn:
The Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth: the heaven and the earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest:
Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord:
Hosanna in the highest.
Then the Deacon taking the Asterisk from off the holy Paten, maketh the sign of the Cross over it, and having kissed it, putteth it on one side.
And the Priest prayeth secretly:
With these blessed Powers, we also, O Master, lover of man, cry aloud and say: Holy art thou and all-holy, thou, and thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Holy Spirit. Holy art thou and all-holy, and majestic is thy glory: who hast so loved I thy world, as to give thine Only-begotten Son, that every one that believeth in him should not perish, but have life eternal: who, having come, and fulfilled all the dispensation for us, in the night wherein he was given up, or rather gave himself up for the life of the world, taking bread into his holy, and undefiled, and blameless hands, giving thanks, and blessing, hallowing, breaking, gave to his holy Disciples and Apostles, saying:
Aloud:
Take, eat ye: this is my Body, which for you is broken, unto remission of sins.
The Choir: Amen.
Then the Priest saith secretly:
In like manner the Chalice also after he had supped, saying:
Aloud:
Drink ye all of it: this is my Blood, of the new testament, which for you and for many is poured out, unto remission of sins.
The Choir: Amen.
The Priest prayeth secretly:
Being therefore mindful of this commandment of salvation, and of all that has come to pass for us;—of the Cross, of the Tomb, of the Resurrection the third day, of the Ascension into the heavens, of the Session at the right hand, of the second and glorious Coming again,
Aloud:
Thine own of thine own we offer to thee, in behalf of all, and for all.
The Choir: Thee we hymn, thee we bless, to thee we give thanks, O Lord, and beseech thee, our God.
And the Priest, bowing his head, prayeth secretly:
Again, we offer to thee this rational and unbloody worship, and implore, and beseech, and supplicate:—Send down thy Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these laid out Gifts,
And the Deacon putteth down the Fan (or the Veil), and cometh nearer to the Priest; and bowing his head, pointeth with his Orarion to the holy Bread, saying secretly:
Bless, Master, the holy Bread.
And the Priest, standing erect, thrice signeth the holy Gifts with the sign of the Cross:—first the holy Bread, saying:
And make this Bread the precious Body of thy Christ,
The Deacon: Amen.
And again, pointing with his Orarion to the holy Chalice:
Bless, Master, the holy Chalice.
And the Priest blessing saith:
And that which is in this Chalice, the precious Blood of thy Christ,
The Deacon: Amen.
And again, pointing with his Orarion to both the holy Things:
Bless, Master, both.
And the Priest blessing both, saith:
Transmuting them by thy Holy Spirit,
The Deacon: Amen. Amen. Amen.
And having bowed his head to the Priest, and said, Be mindful, holy Master, of me a sinner, he standeth in the place where he stood before; and taking the Fan, fanneth the holy Things, as before.
And the Priest prayeth secretly:
So that they may be to those that partake, unto sobriety of soul, unto remission of sins, unto communion of thy Holy Spirit, unto fulfilment of the Kingdom of the heavens, unto boldness toward thee, not unto judgement, nor unto condemnation.
Again, we offer to thee this rational worship for those that are in faith deceased, Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Continent Ones, and every righteous spirit in faith made perfect:
Then censing the holy Table in the front, he saith aloud:
Especially our All-holy, undefiled, exceedingly blessed, glorious Lady, Theotokos, and ever-virgin, Mary:
And if it be a Feast of our Lord, or of the Mother of God, there is sung of the Choir the Megalynarion of the Feast (to wit the Heirmos of the ninth Ode of the Canon at the Orthros); but if not, the following:
Meet it is indeed to call blessed thee, the Theotokos, the ever blessed and all-blameless, and Mother of our God.
More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption barest God the Word, verily the Theotokos, thee we magnify.
Now in the meantime the Deacon, receiving the Censer from the Priest, censeth the holy Table all round; and finally commemorateth the Diptychs of those that have fallen asleep. And to himself he maketh mention of such also as he pleaseth, living and dead.
And the Priest prayeth secretly:
The holy John, Prophet, Precursor, and Baptist; the holy, glorious and all-famous Apostles; Saint N., whose memory also we celebrate, and all thy Saints; at whose supplications, visit us, O God: and be mindful of all those that have fallen asleep in the hope of a resurrection to life eternal (here by name he maketh mention also of such of the dead as he pleaseth), and give them repose, where the light of thy countenance beholdeth.
Again, we implore thee: Be mindful, O Lord, of every Bishopric of the Orthodox, who rightly divide the word of thy truth, of all the Presbytery, of the Diaconate in Christ, and of every Sacerdotal Order.
Again, we offer to thee this rational worship for the universe; for the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; for those that live in chastity and grave manner of life; for our most faithful and Christ-loving Kings, all their Palace, and their Army. Grant them, O Lord, a peaceful reign, that we also, in their calm, may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all piety and gravity.
Aloud:
Among the first be mindful, O Lord, of our Archbishop N.; whom grant to thy holy Churches in peace, safe, honoured, healthful, attaining to length of days, and rightly dividing the word of thy truth.
And the Deacon standing by the Door, saith:
Of N., the Patriarch (Metropolitan or, Bishop as the case may be), &c.
Then he commemorateth the Diptychs of the living, and addeth:
And for whom each hath in mind; and for all, men and women.
The Choir: And for all, men and women.
And the Priest prayeth secretly:
Be mindful, O Lord, of the City (or, of the Abode), in which we sojourn, and of every city, and country, and of those that in faith dwell therein.
Be mindful, O Lord, of voyagers, travellers, the sick, the weary, the captive, and their salvation.
Be mindful, O Lord, of those that bear fruit and do good works in thy holy Churches, and are mindful of the poor; and upon us all send forth thy mercies.
Aloud:
And grant us with one mouth, and one heart, to glorify, and hymn thine all-honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And turning to the People, and blessing them, he saith:
And the mercies of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ shall be with you all.
The Choir: And with thy spirit.
And the Deacon, taking his time from the Priest, goeth out; and standiug in the accustomed place, saith:
Of all the Saints making mention, again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For the precious Gifts that have been offered and hallowed, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That our God the lover of man, who accepteth them at his holy, and heavenly, and intellectual Altar, for an odour of a spiritual sweet smell, would in return send down on us the divine grace, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us beseech.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, peril, and necessity, let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Priest prayeth secretly:
To thee we commend our whole life, and our hope, O Master, lover of man, and implore, beseech, and supplicate:—Deign that we may partake of thy heavenly and terrible Mysteries of this sacred and spiritual Table, with a pure conscience, unto remission of sins, unto forgiveness of transgressions, unto communion of the Holy Spirit, unto inheritance of the Kingdom of the heavens, unto boldness toward thee, not unto judgement, nor unto condemnation.
The Deacon:
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
An Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
What is good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
That the remaining time of our life may be spent in peace and penitence, let us ask of the Lord.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
A Christian end to our life, painless, without shame, peaceful, and a good defence at the fearful Tribunal of Christ, let us ask.
The Choir: Grant, O Lord.
For the unity of the Faith, and the communion of the Holy Spirit making request, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
The Priest aloud:
And deign, O Master, that we may with boldness, without condemnation, dare to call upon thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
The People (or the Prelate):
Our Father that art in the heavens, hallowed be thy Name; thy Kingdom come; thy will be done, as in heaven, also on the earth: give us to-day our bread of subsistence; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
The Priest:
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 the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Priest: Peace to all (blessing).
The Choir: And to thy spirit.
The Deacon: Let us bow down our heads to the Lord.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest prayeth secretly:
We give thanks to thee, O King invisible, who by thy measureless power hast framed all things, and in the multitude of thy mercy hast out of nothing brought all things into being. Do thyself, O Master, look from heaven upon those that have bowed down their necks to thee; for they have bowed them not to flesh and blood, but to thee, the fearful God. Do thou, therefore, O Master, render the laid out things equally efficacious to us all for good, according to the individual need of each: voyage with those that voyage; travel with those that travel; heal the sick, thou that art the healer of our souls and bodies.
Aloud:
Through the grace, and compassions, and love toward man, of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine All-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Priest prayeth secretly:
Attend, O Lord Jesu Christ, our God, out of thy holy dwelling place, and from the throne of the glory of thy Kingdom, and come to hallow us, thou that sittest above with the Father, and art here with us, invisibly present; and deign with thy mighty hand to give to us a share in thine undefiled Body and precious Blood, and through us to all the people.
The Deacon girdeth himself with his Orarion in the form of a cross.
Then the Priest adoreth, and likewise the Deacon in the place where he is, saying secretly thrice:
O God, be gracious to me a sinner.
And when the Deacon seeth the Priest stretching out his hands, and touching the holy Bread, to make the holy Elevation, he saith aloud:
Let us attend.
And the Priest, elevating the holy Bread, saith aloud:
The Holy Things are for the holy.
The Choir: One Holy, one Lord, Jesus Christ, unto the glory of God the Father. Amen.
And straightway there is sung of the Choir the Koinonikon of the day:—if it be the Lord’s day, the following to the Tone it happeneth to be.
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the highest. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Now the Deacon goeth into the holy Bema; and standing at the right hand of the Priest, who is holding the holy Bread, saith:
Break, Master, the holy Bread.
And the Priest breaking it into four parts, with care and reverence, saith:
Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God, which is broken, yet not severed, which is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifying those that participate.
And he placeth them upon the holy Paten in the form of a cross, thus:
IC
NI
KA
XC
And the Deacon, pointing with his Orarion to the holy Chalice, saith:
Fill, Master, the holy Chalice.
And the Priest, taking the upper portion, namely that having upon it the name IC., maketh therewith a Cross over the holy Chalice, saying:
The fulness of the Chalice, of faith, of the Holy Spirit.
And thus he putteth it into the holy Chalice.
The Deacon: Amen.
And taking the warm Water, he saith to the Priest:
Bless, Master, the warm Water.
And the Priest blesseth, saying:
Blessed is the warmth of thy Saints, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
And the Deacon poureth a sufficient quantity of the warm Water into the holy Chalice, in the form of a Cross, the Priest saying:
The Warmth of faith, full of the Holy Spirit.
The Deacon: Amen.
And setting down the warm Water, he standeth a little way off.
Then bowing down their heads, they both pray, saying:
I believe, O Lord, and confess, that thou art indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God, who camest into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Again, I believe, that this is thine undefiled Body itself, and this thy precious Blood itself. I, therefore, beseech thee:—Have mercy on me, and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary, and involuntary, committed in word, in deed, in knowledge, and in ignorance; and deign that I may without condemnation partake of thine undefiled Mysteries, unto remission of sins, and unto life eternal. Amen.
And:
Of thy mystic Supper to-day, O Son of God, accept me as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies: I will not give thee a kiss, like Judas; but as the Thief I confess to thee:—Be mindful of me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom.
And finally:
Not unto my judgement, nor unto my condemnation be the participation of thy holy Mysteries, O Lord, but unto healing of both soul and body.
Then, the Priest standing erect, saith:
Behold, I approach to Christ our immortal King, and God.
And taking a portion of the holy Bread, namely that having upon it the name XC. (or a piece thereof), he saith:
The precious and all-holy Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ is imparted to me, N. Priest, unto remission of my sins, and unto life eternal.
And thus he partaketh of what is in his hands with fear and all precaution.
Then he saith:
Hiero-Deacon, approach.
And the Deacon approaching, saith:
Behold, I approach to Christ our immortal King, and God.
And he reverently maketh an obeisance, asking pardon, and saith:
Impart to me, Master, the precious, and holy, and life-giving Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto remission of my sins, and unto life eternal.
And the Priest, taking the holy Bread, giveth it to the Deacon, saying:
N. Hiero-Deacon, to thee is imparted the precious, and holy, and undefiled Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto remission of thy sins, and unto life eternal.
And the Deacon, kissing the hand that imparteth it to him, goeth behind the sacred Table, and partaketh of what is in his hands, like the Priest.
Then the Priest saith:
Behold, I again approach to Christ our immortal King, and God.
And he taketh in both hands the holy Chalice with its Veil, saying:
The precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ is imparted to me, N. Priest, unto remission of my sins, and unto life eternal.
And he partaketh thrice of it, saying:
In the Name of the Father (he drinketh once), and of the Son (he drinketh a second time), and of the Holy Spirit (he drinketh a third time). Amen.
And wiping both his own lips, and the sacred Chalice with the Veil in his hands, he saith:
This hath touched my lips, and shall take away mine iniquities, and cleanse my sins.
And so he again calleth the Deacon, saying:
Hiero-Deacon, again approach.
And the Deacon approaching, saith:
Behold, I again approach to Christ our immortal King, and God.
And he adoreth once, saying:
Impart to me, Master, the precious and holy Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto remission of my sins, and unto life eternal.
And as the Deacon partaketh, the Priest saith:
The servant of God, Deacon N., partaketh of the precious and holy Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto the remission of his sins, and unto life eternal.
And when the Deacon hath partaken, the Priest saith:
This hath touched thy lips, and shall take away thine iniquities, and cleanse thy sins.
Then, the Deacon taking the holy Paten, and holding it over the holy Chalice, wipeth it thoroughly with the holy Sponge; and with care and reverence sheltereth the holy Chalice with its Veil; in like manner also he placeth over the holy Paten the Star-cover, and its Veil.
Then the Priest saith the Prayer of thanksgiving, secretly:
We give thanks to thee, O Master, lover of man, benefactor of our souls, that on this day also thou hast vouchsafed us thy heavenly and immortal Mysteries: direct aright our path, stablish us all in thy fear, guard our life, make sure our steps; at the prayers and supplications of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and of all thy Saints.
And thus they open the Door of the holy Bema.
And the Deacon having adored once, taketh the holy Chalice from the Priest with reverence, and cometh to the Door, and raising it, sheweth it to the people, saying:
With fear of God, faith, and love, approach ye.
The Choir: Amen. Amen.
Then: Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. The Lord is God, and hath appeared unto us.
And the Priest blesseth the people, saying aloud:
Save thy people, O God, and bless thine inheritance.
And if it be a Feast of our Lord, there is sung of the Choir the Apolytikion of the Feast; but if not the following Troparion to the second Tone.
We have seen the true Light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true Faith, we worship the undivided Trinity; for it hath saved us.
Now both the Priest and the Deacon return to the holy Table. And the Deacon, setting down thereon the holy Chalice, saith to the Priest:
Exalt, Master.
And the Priest censeth thrice, saying to himself:
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
Then, taking the holy Paten, he putteth it upon the head of the Deacon; and the Deacon holding it with reverence, and looking out toward the Door, saying nothing, goeth to the Prothesis-Table, and putteth it down. And the Priest having adored, and taken the holy Chalice, saith secretly:
Blessed is our God:
Then, turning toward the Door, aloud:
Always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And so he goeth to the Prothesis—Table, and putteth it down.
And the Choir singeth the following Troparion.
Filled be our mouth with thy praise, O Lord, that we may hymn thy glory, for that thou hast deigned that we should partake of thy holy, immortal, and undefiled Mysteries: stablish us in thy sanctification, that all the day long we may meditate on thy righteousness: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
And the Deacon going out, and standing in the accustomed place, saith:
Upright! having partaken of the divine, holy, undefiled, immortal, heavenly, life-giving, terrible Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless making request, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.
The Choir: To thee, O Lord.
The Priest, folding up the Heileton, saith aloud:
For thou art our sanctification, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
The Priest: In peace let us go forth.
The Choir: In the Name of the Lord.
The Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Prayer behind the Ambon, said aloud by the Priest outside the Bema.
Thou that blessest those that bless thee, O Lord, and hallowest those that put their trust in thee, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: keep the fulness of thy Church; hallow those that love the comeliness of thy House: do thou in return glorify them by thy divine power, and forsake not us that hope in thee: grant peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the Priests, to our Kings, to the Army, and to all thy people; for every good gift, and every perfect boon is from above, coming down from thee, the Father of lights; and to thee we send up glory, and thanksgiving, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
Then the following to the second plagal Tone.
Be the Name of the Lord blessed, from henceforth, and for ever. Thrice.
The Prayer ended, the Priest entereth through the holy Doors, and passing into the Prothesis-Chapel, saith this Prayer secretly.
Prayer at the gathering up of the holy Things.
Being thyself the fulness of the Law and of the Prophets, O Christ our God, who hast fulfilled all the dispensation of the Father, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
The Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.
The Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Priest blesseth the people, saying:
The blessing of the Lord; and his mercy come upon you, by his own divine grace and love toward man, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.
The Choir: Amen.
And Dismission is made by the Priest, thus:
Glory to thee, O Christ the God, our hope, glory to thee.
The People:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
The Deacon: Master bless.
And the Priest maketh the Dismission thus:
If it be the Lord’s day,
He that rose again from the dead, Christ our …
But if not,
Christ our true God, at the intercessions of his all-undefiled and all-blameless holy Mother; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protections of the honourable Bodiless Powers of heaven; at the supplications of the honourable, glorious, Prophet, Precursor and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-famous Apostles; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our Pure and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joakeim and Anna; of our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople; of Saint N., whose memory also we celebrate, and of all the Saints, have mercy on us, and save us, since he is good, and loveth man.
Then: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesu Christ, our God, have mercy on us.
The Choir: Amen.
And the Deacon, also entering through the north part, gathereth up the Holy Things with fear and all precaution, so that not the very smallest particle should fall out, or be left, and washeth his hands in the accustomed place.
Then is read:
Ps. 33. I will bless the Lord (See page 69).
And the Priest going out, giveth the Antidoron to the people.
Then, entering the holy Bema, he putteth off the Sacerdotal vestments, saying:
Now dost thou dismiss (See page 43).
The Trisagion; and the rest (See page 43).
Then the Apolytikion of Chrysostom.
The grace of thy mouth, shining forth like a torch, hath enlightened the universe, bestowed on the world the treasures of non-avariciousness, and exhibited to us the height of lowliness: but as thou instructest us by thy words, Father John Chrysostom, intercede with the Word, Christ the God, that our souls may be saved.
Lord, have mercy. Twelve times.
Glory.… Both now.…
More honourable …
And he maketh Dismission (as at page 221); and having adored, and given thanks to God for all things, goeth out.
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