The Service of Oblation (Preparation) is briefly
described now before we render the text of the
Divine Liturgy.
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A canonically ordained Priest who intends to officiate the
Divine Liturgy enters the Church and starts the Service of the
Oblation (Preparation). The Priest, wearing a black robe, stands
in front of the Iconastasion and recites various prayers and
hymns referring to Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, St. John the
Baptist and to the Saint after whom the Church is named. He
bestows his reverence upon their Icons and then enters the
sanctuary.
Then the Priest puts on the appropriate vestments for the
officiation of the Divine Liturgy and blesses each of them by
reciting prayers. The vestments are: Sticharion (Alb),
Epitrachelion (Stole), Zone (Belt), Epimanika (Cuffs), Phelonion
(Cape), and Epigonation for the Priest who has a special officio.
The Bishop wears additional vestments appropriate to his office.
The Priest approaches the Table of Prothesis (Oblation) to
officiate the Service of Oblation. This Service is a preparatory
blessing of the Species, Bread and Wine, for which various sacred
Utensils are needed. The Bread is leavened bread made of pure
flour; the Wine is pure wine which will be mixed with water. In
the center of the Bread a stamp is impressed consisting of a
cross in the angles of which are stamped the phrase:
IC, XC, NI, CA, which means,
"Jesus Christ Conquers."
To the left of the Cross is the triangle portion for the Virgin
Mary; to the right side are nine small triangles for the Saints.
All these pieces are cut out of the loaves of Bread and are
placed on the Disk (Paten). Small pieces also are cut for the
living and departed members of the Church.
The Priest then pours wine and water in the Chalice, covers
the Disk with the Star (Asterisk) and covers both the Disk and
Chalice with two small veils. On the top of the small veils a
larger veil, the Aer, is placed. All the gestures of the Priest
are accompanied by prayers. The sacred Utensils which are used
include the Spear and the Spoon as well as the Disk, Chalice,
Star and three veils.
The Priest censes the prepared Oblation and concludes this
service with a prayer: "O God, our God, Who didst send the
Heavenly Bread ... Jesus Christ ... Thou Thyself bless this
Oblation and receive it upon Thy most heavenly altar."
The preparatory blessing of the Species during this service
of the Oblation is not the sanctification and "change" of the
Species into the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ; this takes
place in the Divine Liturgy through the sole power and movement
of the Holy Spirit. This Service of Oblation, separate from the
Divine Liturgy, is an office which was not a practice of the
early Church, but instituted much later. Before this service of
Oblation was added as a separate service, the Oblation in the
Divine Liturgy was adequate for the preparation of the Species.
The transfer of the Species (Bread and Wine) from the Table
of Oblation to the Altar takes place during the Great Entrance
and the singing of the Cherubic Hymn, also a later insertion.
The pomp of the Great Entrance with the Species should not be
mistaken for that with the sanctified Holy Gifts. The "change"
takes place later during the long Prayer of Sanctification. It
is during this prayer that the Priest elevates both the Disk and
Chalice, saying, "Thine own of Thine own we offer to Thee in all
and for all."
The symbolism given to the many gestures of the Priest and
the many various sacred Utensils, often are superfluous and
misleading because they sometimes minimize the true substance of
the Awesome Event which takes place at the officiation of the
Divine Liturgy.
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The Divine Liturgy of St. John
Chrysostom.
-----------------------------------
Beginning
---------
If a deacon is serving, he receives the blessing from the Priest
and comes forth from the North Door, stands in front of the royal
Gates and says: "Master, give the blessing". When there is no
deacon serving, all the parts of the deacon are said by the
Priest.
The people stand with reverence, and the Priest in front of the
Altar lifts up the Gospel and starts the Divine Liturgy saying:
Priest: Blessed be the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost, now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
----------------
The Great Litany
----------------
Deacon: In peace let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us
beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the Holy
Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this Holy House and for those that enter it with faith,
reverence and the fear of God, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our Archbishop (name) the loyal presbyters, the diaconate in
Christ and for all the clergy and the people, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Here follow petitions for the ruler and authorities of the land.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Deacon: For this city and for every city and land, and for the faithful
who dwell in them, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For seasonable weather, for the abundance of the fruits of the
earth and for peaceful times, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For those that travel by land or by water, for the sick, for those
that suffer, for captives and for their salvation, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and
necessity, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed and glorified Lady,
Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend
ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ, our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: O Lord, our God, Whose power is inconceivable and glory
incomprehensible, Whose mercy is immeasurable and tenderness to
man unspeakable, do Thou, O Master, according to Thy Goodness,
look down upon us and upon this Holy House and show us and those
that pray with us the riches of Thy mercy and pity.
Priest: For to Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and from all Ages to
all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
-------------------
The Three Antiphons
-------------------
The Antiphons (Verses or parts of Psalms 103, 146 from the Old
Testament) sometimes are omitted and only the Anthems are sung.
(On the Great Feasts, See Part III).
----------------
The First Anthem
----------------
Choir: By the intercessions of the Mother of God, Saviour, save us.
(Thrice)
----------------
The Small Litany
----------------
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed and glorified Lady,
Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend
ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ, our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: O Master, O Lord, our God, save Thy people and bless
Thine inheritance; protect the whole body of Thy Church, and
sanctify those who love the beauty of Thy House. Do Thou endow
them with Thy divine Power and forsake not us who have set our
hope in Thee.
Priest: 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 Ghost, now and for
ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
-----------------
The Second Anthem
-----------------
Choir:
O Son of God, Who didst rise from the dead, save us who sing to
Thee: Alleluia. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Both
now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages. Amen.
O Only-begotten Son and Word of God, Who being Immortal, yet didst
deign for our salvation to be incarnate through our most holy Lady and
Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change didst become Man and wast crucified,
by death trampling upon Death, do Thou, Christ our God, save us, Thou, Who
art One in the Holy Trinity and art glorified with the Father and the Holy
Ghost.
----------------
The Small Litany
----------------
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed and glorified Lady,
Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend
ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ, our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: O Thou Who hast given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplications unto Thee and dost
promise, that when two or three are gathered together in Thy
Name, Thou wilt grant their requests: fulfill now, O Lord, the
petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them;
granting us in this world knowledge of Thy Truth, and in the
world to come life everlasting.
Priest: For Thou, O God, art righteous and full of compassion and to Thee
we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now
and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
----------------
The Third Anthem
----------------
In some churches the Beatitudes and/or Psalms are sung.
Here the Choir sings the Dismissal Hymn of the Tone (see Part
III), which is used as the anthem of the third antiphon. There
are eight Tones and eight Anthems which are used successively in
the cycle of eight weeks, beginning all over again every eight
weeks. The theme of these Anthems is "Christ is Risen".
Following is the anthem of the First Tone (as an example):
"When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, and when the
soldiers were watching Thy Sacred Body, Thou, O Saviour, didst
arise on the third day and give Life to the World. Wherefore the
Powers of Heaven cried to Thee, O Giver of Life; Glory to Thy
Resurrection, O Christ; glory to Thy kingdom; glory to Thy
dispensation, O Thou Who alone art Merciful."
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The Small Entry With The Gospel
-------------------------------
During the singing of the above Anthem, the Priest reads the
prayer here:
Priest: O Master and Lord, our God, Who hast constituted the
orders and armies of angels and archangels to do the service of
Thy glory in Heaven, grant that there may be with our Entry, an
Entry of Holy Angels, serving with us and with us glorifying Thee
for Thy goodness. For to Thee belong all glory, honour and
worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now
and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Then the Deacon (and the Priest) come forth from the North Door
of the Sanctuary holding the Gospel. He is preceded by Altar
boys holding candlesticks. The Priest facing the Royal Gate of
the Iconostasion, blesses the Entry by saying:
Priest: Blessed be the entry of Thy Saints always, now and for ever and
from all Ages to all Ages.
The Deacon then elevates the Gospel and says:
Deacon: Wisdom; stand and attend.
Priest or Choir: Come let us worship and bow down to Christ. O Son of
God, Who didst rise from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
This Introit (hymn) varies according to the season (see Part
III). The Hymn of the Saint of the Day and of the dedication of
the Church, together with the collect (hymn), are sung by the
Choir.
At fixed seasons throughout the year the collects (hymns) are of
the feasts of our Lord and of our Lady. From the Sunday of All
Saints to July 27th, and from September 21st to November 8th, the
following:
Choir: O ever-present protection of Christians and unchanging mediator
before the Creator, despise not the prayers of us sinners; but of thy
goodness extend thy help to us who in faith call upon thee; hasten, O
Mother of God, to intercede for us and make speed to supplicate for us,
thou who ever protectest those who honour thee.
--------------------
The Thrice-Holy Hymn
--------------------
Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: O Holy God, Who restest among Thy Saints and art
glorified by the Cherubim and praised by the Seraphim with
Thrice-holy Voice, and worshipped by all the Host of Heaven; Thou
Who hast brought all things out of nothingness into being; Thou
Who hast created man in Thine Image and Likeness, and hast
adorned him with all Thy favours; Thou Who givest to the
suppliant wisdom and prudence and dost not neglect the sinner,
but hast set forth the way of repentance unto salvation; Thou Who
has accounted us, Thy humble and unworthy servants, worthy to
stand at this time before the glory of Thy Holy Altar and to
bring to Thee meet adoration and praise; do Thou, Master, accept,
even from the mouth of us sinners, the Thrice-holy Hymn and visit
us in Thy Righteousness; forgive us all our transgressions,
voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and bodies and
grant that we may worship Thee in holiness all the days of our
life; through the intercessions of Thy Holy Mother and all the
Saints, who from the beginning of time have pleased Thee; for
Thou, our God, art Holy and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the
Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and
from all Ages to all Ages. Amen.
Choir: Amen.
Choir: Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
(Thrice).
Choir: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Both
now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages. Amen.
Choir: Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
The Priest goes to the Cathedra and says:
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Blessed art Thou on the throne of glory in Thy Kingdom, Who
sittest upon the Cherubim, always, now and for ever, and unto the
ages of ages.
Deacon: Louder.
Choir: Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
On Great Festivals, instead of the above, other hymns are sung:
(see Part III)
--------------------------
THE NEW TESTAMENT READINGS
--------------------------
The Deacon facing the people says:
Deacon: Let us attend.
The Reader reads the offertory of the day.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (or, from
Paul's Epistle to...or, from the other Epistle to...).
Deacon: Let us attend.
The Reader reads the specific Reading of the Day. During this
reading, in some churches, the Deacon censes the Holy Table
crosswise, and the Sanctuary. At the end of the reading, the
Priest faces the people and says:
Priest: Peace be to thee, thou that readest.
Choir: Alleluia. (Thrice)
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: O Merciful Master, cause the pure light of the knowledge
of Thee to shine in our hearts, and open the eyes of our mind to
perceive Thy message of Good Tidings; fill us with the fear of
Thy Blessed commandments, that we, trampling down our fleshly
desires, may seek a heavenly citizenship, and may do and consider
all those things that are well pleasing to Thee. For Thou,
Christ our God, art the Source of Light to our souls and bodies,
and to Thee we ascribe glory, with Thine Eternal Father and Thine
all-holy, righteous and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever and
from all Ages to all Ages. Amen.
The Priest faces the people and says:
Priest: Wisdom; stand and attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be
with you.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
The Priest takes the Gospel from the Holy Table, faces the people
and reads from the Gospel;
(If a deacon is serving, the Gospel is handed to him by the
Priest)
Deacon: Bless, Master, the Reader of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist
(Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John).
Priest: May God, through the intercession of His holy and glorious Apostle
and Evangelist (name) give to Thee the Word, that thou mayest proclaim the
Glad Tidings with great power, to the fulfilment of the Gospel of His
beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The deacon circles the Holy Table, comes forth through the North
Door, proceeds to the pulpit and reads from the Gospel:
Deacon: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to (Matthew, Mark,
Luke, or John).
The Priest faces the people and says:
Priest: Let us attend.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
The Deacon reads the Gospel of the Day. (If a deacon is
serving, the Priest blesses him at the end of the reading saying:
"Peace be with you, the reader of the Gospel", and the Priest
receives the Gospel from him.)
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
After the reading of the Gospel, the Sermon is delivered,
although it can be delivered at a later time.
The Litany of the Fervent Supplication is usually read inaudibly
in some Churches. The prayers for the Catechumens is read
usually inaudibly or omitted by some Churches.
THE LITANY OF THE FERVENT
SUPPLICATION
The Litany and the Prayer of the Fervent Supplication usually is
said inaudibly by the Priest within the Altar.
Deacon: Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind let us
say,
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hear and have
mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great mercy; we pray
Thee, hear and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Again, we pray for godly and Orthodox Christians.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Again, we pray for our Archbishop (name) and our whole Brotherhood
in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Again, we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this
Holy Church, and for all our fathers and brethren that have fallen asleep
before us and lie here in godly rest, and for the Orthodox everywhere.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Again, we pray for grace, life, peace, health, salvation,
protection, forgiveness and the remission of sins for Thy servants, for all
pious and Orthodox Christians who dwell and are to be found in this city,
and for the wardens and brethren of this Holy Church.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Again, we pray for those who labour and bring forth fruit in this
Holy and venerable Church, the workers, the singers, and the people here
present, that look for Thine abundant and great mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Receive, O Lord our God, these the fervent supplications
of Thy servants and have mercy upon us according to the fullness
of Thy mercies, and send down Thy pity upon us and upon all Thy
people, who look for Thine abundant mercy;
Deacon: (aloud) for Thou, O God, art merciful and full of compassion, and
to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Ghost, now and for ever and from all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
LITANY FOR THE CATECHUMENS
In some Churches, this Litany is read, usually inaudibly, or
omitted. Study this carefully. I think this Litany has great
meaning for the Church.
Deacon: Ye Catechumens, pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Let us, the Faithful, make supplication for the Catechumens.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the Lord may have mercy upon them. That He may instruct them
in the word of Truth.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may reveal to them the Gospel of Righteousness.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may unite them with His Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Church.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect them, O God, with Thy favour.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Ye Catechumens, bow your heads before the Lord.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, our God, Who dwellest Above and beholdest things Below,
Who for the salvation of the human race, hast sent Thine only-begotten Son,
Jesus Christ our God and Lord, do Thou look down upon Thy servants the
Catechumens, who have bowed down their necks before Thee, and do Thou, in
fullness of time, make them worthy to receive the washing of regeneration,
the remission of sins and the robe of incorruption; unite them to Thy Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church, and number them among Thine elect flock,
Priest: That they also with us may glorify Thy sublime and wondrous Name,
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and
from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: All ye who are Catechumens depart; ye Catechumens depart: all ye
who are Catechumens depart: let not any of the Catechumens remain. All ye
who are the faithful,
Again and again in peace let us beseech the Lord.
First prayer for the Faithful
Priest: Almighty God, we give Thee thanks that Thou hast deemed us worthy
to stand at this time before Thy Holy Altar, and to make our adoration
before Thy mercies, both for our sins and the ignorances of the people.
Receive, O God, our supplication. Make us worthy to bring supplications
and prayers and Bloodless Sacrifices before Thee, on behalf of all Thy
people, and enable us, whom Thou hast placed by the power of Thy Holy
Spirit in this Thy Service, to call upon Thee in every time and place
without reproach, blamelessly, and with the witness of a good conscience,
so that when Thou hearest us Thou mayest, of Thy great goodness, be
merciful to us.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Wisdom.
Priest: For to Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and from all Ages to
all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us beseech the Lord.
Second Prayer for the Faithful
Priest: Again and oftentimes we adore, and beseech Thee of Thy Goodness
and Mercy, that Thou wouldest receive our prayer; do Thou purify our souls
and bodies from all carnal and spiritual defilement, and grant that our
presence at Thy Holy Altar may be innocent and blameless. Grant also, O
God, to those who pray with us, advancement in life, in faith, and in
spiritual wisdom, that they may at all times, without restraint, worship
Thee with fear and love, and blamelessly participate in Thy Holy Mysteries,
so that they may be worthy of Thy heavenly Kingdom.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Wisdom.
The Great Entry with the Holy
Gifts
The Priest unfolds the Antimins, (a square cloth imprinted with
the picture of Christ in the Sepulchre, which is kept on the Holy
Table under the Gospel) and says:
Priest: For being ever protected by Thy power, to Thee we ascribe glory,
to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and
from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: None is worthy, among them that are enslaved by carnal
desires and pleasures to approach or come near or minister before
Thee, the King of Glory; for Thy Service is great and fearful
even to the Heavenly Powers. Yet since, through Thine ineffable
and immeasurable compassion, Thou hast without change or
differentation become man and taken the title of our High Priest,
as Lord of All Thou hast committed to us the celebration of this
rite and of the Bloodless Sacrifice. For Thou, O Lord our God,
alone dost govern all things in heaven and in earth, Thou Who
sittest upon the throne of the Cherubim and art Lord of the
Seraphim and King of Israel, Who only art Holy and restest among
Thy Saints. To Thee I persistently call, for Thou alone are
righteous and ready to hear. Look upon me Thy sinful and
unprofitable servant and purify my soul and heart from an evil
conscience; enable me by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, girt with
the grace of the Priesthood to stand at this Thy Holy Table and
to consecrate Thy Holy and Spotless Body and Thy Precious Blood.
For to Thee I come near, bowing down my neck, and Thee I beseech.
Turn not away Thy face from me, neither reject me from among Thy
children, but consider me worthy, so that These Gifts may be
brought near to Thee by me, Thy sinful and unworthy servant. For
Thou art the Offerer and the Offered, the Acceptor and the
Distributed, Christ our God, and to Thee we ascribe glory, with
Thine Eternal Father and Thy most holy, righteous and life-giving
Spirit, now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: We, who mystically represent the Cherubim, sing the Thrice-holy
Hymn to the life-giving Trinity. Let us put away all worldly care, so that
we may receive the King of All, (here the hymn is interrupted),
...invisibly escorted by the Angelic Hosts. Alleluia.
While the Choir is singing the Cherubic Hymn, above, the Priest
says the "Cherubic Hymn", and then he censes the Holy Table, the
Icons of the Iconostasion, and then the people, and recites
inaudibly the Prayer of the Resurection (Sundays only) and the
51st Psalm. The Priest censes again the Holy Table; after making
a slight bow to the congregation, he goes to the Table of
Oblation. There he says: "Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary,
and praise the Lord." The Priest places the Aer (large veil) on
his shoulders before the Entry and holds in his hands both the
Chalice and the Disk with the Covers over them. (If a Deacon is
serving, the Priest places the Aer (large veil) on the Deacon's
shoulders and hands him the Disk).
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Let us who have beheld the Resurrection of Christ
worship our Holy Lord Jesus, Who is alone without sin. We
worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and praise and glorify Thy Holy
Resurrection for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside
Thee, and we call upon Thy Name. Come, all ye faithful, let us
worship Christ's Holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross
joy has come to the whole world. We praise His Resurrection and
for ever glorify the Lord. He endured the Cross for us, and by
death destroyed Death.
As the Choir sings: "The King of All ...", the "Cherubic Hymn"
is interrupted, and the Entry with the Holy Gifts takes place
preceded in procession by Altar boys bearing candlesticks and
standards, through the North Door. The Deacon (and the Priest)
in front of the Royal Gate facing the people say:
Deacon: and Priest: May the Lord, our God, remember us all in His
Kingdom, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. (In many Churches, the
Priest also makes other remembrances.)
The Priest (and the Deacon) enter the Sanctuary, place the Holy
Gifts on the Holy Table:
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: The noble Joseph takes down from the Tree Thy Spotless
Body, and when he had enwrapped It in fair linen with spices, he
laid It for burial in a new sepulchre.
The Priest removes the two smaller veils from the Disk and
Chalice and covers them with the Aer (large veil), which he
removes from his shoulders, and then censes them saying: "Then
shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine Altar (Thrice). The
Cherubic Hymn is then taken up again by the choir:
Choir: ...that we may receive the King of All invisibly escorted by the
Angelic Hosts. Alleluia.
THE ECTENIA OF THE OBLATION
The Priest stands in front of the Holy Table.
Here the Priest and Deacon inaudibly read the prayer indicated
here:
Deacon: May the Lord our God be always mindful of Thy Priesthood
in His Kingdom, now and for ever, and from all Ages to all Ages.
Amen.
Priest: May the Lord our God be always mindful of thy Diaconate
in His Kingdom, now and for ever, and from all Ages to all Ages.
Amen. (Thrice.)
Deacon: Be gracious, O Master.
Priest: Then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar.
Be mindful of me, Brother and Fellow-minister.
Deacon: May the Lord our God be always mindful of Thy Priesthood
in His Kingdom, now and for ever, and from all Ages to all Ages.
Amen. Holy Master, pray for me.
Priest: The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of
the Most High shall overshadow thee.
Deacon: The Spirit Himself shall minister with us all the days
of our life. Holy Master, be mindful of me. Priest: May the
Lord God be always mindful of thee in His Kingdom, now and for
ever, and from all Ages to all Ages.
Deacon: Amen.
Deacon: Let us complete our supplication to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the Precious Gifts that have been set forth, let us beseech
the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this Holy House and for those that enter it with faith,
reverence and the fear of God, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and
necessity, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
For this whole day, that it may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let
us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For an Angel of peace, a faithful Guide, a Guardian of our souls
and bodies, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let
us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For those things that are good and profitable for our souls and
for the peace of the world, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That the remainder of our lives may be passed in peace and
penitence, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That the end of our lives may be Christian, without torment,
blameless and peaceful, and that we may have a good defence before the
fearful Judgment-Seat of Christ, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed and glorified Lady,
Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend
ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ, our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: O Lord God Almighty, Who alone art Holy and dost receive
the sacrifice of praise from those that call upon Thee with their
whole hearts, receive also the supplication of us sinners and
accept it at Thy Holy Altar and enable us to offer to Thee Gifts
and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the ignorances of
the people: look upon us as worthy to find grace in Thy Sight,
that our sacrifice may be well pleasing unto Thee, and that the
good Spirit of Thy grace may rest upon us, and upon these Gifts
presented here, and upon all Thy people.
Priest: Through the mercies of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art
glorified, together with Thine All-Holy, righteous and life-giving Spirit,
now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
The Priest faces the people.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Deacon: Let us love one another, that we may with one mind confess:
Choir: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Trinity cosubstantial and
undivided.
The Priest facing the Holy Table bows and kisses the Holy Gifts
saying: "I will love Thee, O Lord my strength; The Lord is my
strong rock my refuge and my defence" (Thrice)
Deacon: The doors, the doors; with wisdom let us attend.
Everyone present recites the Nicene Creed, during which, the
Priest removes the Aer (large veil) from the Disk and Chalice and
waves it slightly above them.
Every Soul in Church:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and
Earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all Ages. Light of Light. Very
God of Very God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the
Father, through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and
was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and
became Man.
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered
and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures.
And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the
Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and
the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who
Proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets.
In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge One Baptism for the remission of sins.
I look for Ressurection of the dead; And the life of the ages to
come.
Amen.
--------------------------------
Sanctification of the Holy Gifts
The Eight Sacred Dialogues
--------------------------------
Deacon: Let us stand well; let us stand with fear; let us attend, that we
may offer the Holy Oblation in peace.
Choir: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.
The Priest faces the people and blesses them, with Aer or Cross
in hand, saying:
Priest: 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 thy spirit.
The Priest lifts up his hands, saying:
Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.
Choir: We lift them up unto the
Lord.
The Priest faces the Icon of Christ or the Holy Table and says:
Priest: Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
Choir: It is meet and right.
The Priest returns to the Altar.
Now begins the Sacred Prayer of the Sanctification of the Holy
Gifts.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: It is meet and right to praise Thee, to glorify Thee, to
bless Thee, to give thanks to Thee, to worship Thee, in all
places of Thy dominion, for Thou art God ineffable,
incomprehensible, invisible, inconceivable, existing always as
Thou dost exist, Thou and Thine only-begotten Son and Thy Holy
Spirit. Thou hast brought us from nothingness into being, and
when we fell away didst raise us up again, and Thou ceaseth not
until Thou hast done everything, to bring us to Heaven, and
confer 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 the things we know and do not know, for the seen
and the unseen benefits which we enjoy. We render thanks to Thee
also for this Service which Thou dost deign to receive at our
hands, though Thou art surrounded by thousands of Archangels and
tens of thousands of Angels, by the Cherubim and Seraphim that
are six-winged, full of eyes and soar aloft on their wings,
(aloud)
Priest: singing, crying, shouting and saying the triumphal hymn:
Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and 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.
The Priest, during the singing of the above hymn, removes the
Asterisk from the Disk.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: We also, O merciful Master, with these celestial Powers
cry 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 sublime is Thy Glory: Thou Who didst so love Thy
world that Thou gavest Thine only-begotten Son, that whoso
believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting Life.
And when He had come and had fulfilled all that was needed for
us, in the same night in which He was betrayed, or rather in
which He gave Himself up for the Life of the World, He took bread
in His holy, pure and blameless Hands, and when He had given
thanks and blessed and hallowed, He brake it and gave it to His
holy Disciples and Apostles, saying: (aloud)
Priest: Take, eat: This is My Body which is broken for you, for the
remission of sins.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: (inaudibly) Likewise after Supper the Cup saying:
(aloud)
Priest: Drink ye all of It: This is My Blood of the New Testament, Which
is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.
Choir: Amen.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Commemorating this command of our Saviour and all that
was endured for our sake, the Cross, the Grave, the Resurrection
after three days, the Ascension into Heaven, the Enthronement at
the right hand of the Father, and the second and glorious Coming
again, (aloud)
The Priest elevates, with hands crosswise, both the Disk and
Chalice and says:
Priest: Thine own of Thine own we offer to Thee, in all and for all.
This moment is the loftiest and most sacred in the Divine
Liturgy. At this moment, the following prayer is read, by which
the Holy Gifts are "changed" into the Precious Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ: Today, generally, all kneel and the choir sings
the following hymn:
Choir: We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks to Thee, O Lord, and
we pray to Thee, O our God.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Again we offer to Thee this reasonable and bloodless
Service, and we ask and pray and supplicate: send down Thy Holy
Spirit upon us and upon these Gifts here presented.
Priest: May God have mercy upon me a sinner. (Thrice)
Priest: And make this Bread the Precious Body of thy Christ.
Priest: And that which is in this Cup, the Precious Blood of Thy
Christ, Changing (Them) by Thy Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Priest: So that They may be to those that receive Them for the
purification of the soul, for the remission of sins, for the
fellowship of Thy Holy Spirit, for the fulfilment of the Kingdom
of Heaven, and for boldness to approach Thee, neither unto
judgment not unto condemnation. Again we offer unto Thee this
reasonable Service for those who have fallen asleep in the Faith,
Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers,
Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Ascetics, and every righteous
spirit in faith made perfect; (aloud)
The people rise.
The Priest censes the Holy Table saying:
Priest: especially for our most holy, pure, blessed and glorified Lady,
Mother of God (Theotokos) and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Choir: It is very meet to bless Thee, the ever-blessed and most pure
Virgin and Mother of our God. Thee that art more honourable than the
Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, that, without
spot of sin, didst bear God, the Word; and Thee, verily the Mother of God,
we magnify.
On the Great Festivals, instead of the above, the hymn of the 9th
Ode of the Canon of the Festival of the Day is sung.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: For holy John the Baptist, Prophet and Forerunner, for
the holy, glorious, and honourable Apostles, for Saint (of the
day) whose memory we celebrate, and, for all Thy Saints, by whose
supplication do Thou, O God, visit us. Be mindful also of all
those who slumber in the hope of a resurrection to everlasting
life. (The Priest then commemorates those requests for
remembrances of both living and departed Servants in the Faith.)
Give them rest, O God, where the light of Thy countenance
shineth. Further, we entreat Thee, O Lord, be mindful of every
Bishopric of the Orthodox, that they may teach Thy Truth aright,
of all ecclesiastical rulers, of the diaconate in Christ, and of
all clerical and monastic orders. Further, we offer to Thee this
reasonable service for the World, for the Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church, for those living in purity and temperance, for
our most faithful and Christian Kings, and for their whole court
and army. Give to them, O Lord, peace in their Kingdoms, that we
also may have tranquillity in their calm, and may pass a peaceful
life in all piety and temperance; (aloud)
Priest: above all, be mindful, O Lord, of our Archbishop (name); guard him
for Thy Holy Churches in peace, with safety, honour, health, and length to
teach aright the Word of Thy Truth.
Deacon: and of those whom each of us hath in mind, and of all men and
women.
Choir: And of all men and women.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Be mindful, O Lord, of the city in which we sojourn and
of every city and land and of the faithful who dwell in them. Be
mindful, O Lord, of those that travel by land, by air, or by
water, of the sick, of those that suffer, of captives and of
their salvation. Be mindful, O Lord, of those that serve and
bring forth fruit in Thy Holy Churches and of those who remember
the poor, and upon all of us send down Thy Mercies.
Priest: and grant that with one mouth and one heart we may praise and
glorify Thy sublime and wondrous Name, of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost, now and for ever, and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
The Priest faces the people and blesses them, saying:
Priest: And the mercies of Almighty God and our Saviour Jesus Christ shall
be with you all.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Here ends the Prayer of Sanctification which began at the prayer, "It
is meet and right", which is considered the most sacred part of the
Divine Liturgy.
Here ends the Confession of Faith and the Sanctification of the Holy
Gifts.
The Priest faces the Altar.
------------------------------------
The Ectenia before the Lord's Prayer
------------------------------------
Deacon: Being mindful of all the Saints, again and again in peace let us
beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For these Precious Gifts, which have been brought in and hallowed,
let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That our merciful God, Who receiveth Them at His Holy and heavenly
and ethereal Altar as a sweet-scented, spiritual savour, may again send
down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us beseech
the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and
necessity, let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort, and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Deacon: For this whole day, that it may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and
sinless. let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant This, O Lord.
Deacon: For an Angel of Peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls
and bodies, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant This, O Lord.
Deacon: For forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let
us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant This, O Lord.
Deacon: For those things that are good and profitable for our souls and
for the peace of the world, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant This, O Lord.
Deacon: That the remainder of our lives may be passed in peace and
penitence, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant This, O Lord.
Deacon: That the end of our lives may be Christian, without torment,
blameless and peaceful, and that we may have a good defence before the
fearful Judgment-Seat of Christ, let us entreat the Lord.
Choir: Grant This, O Lord.
Deacon: Let us who have entreated for the unity of the Faith and for the
fellowship of the Holy Ghost, commend ourselves and one another and our
whole life to Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: To thee, O Merciful Master, we confide our whole life
and hope, and Thee we ask and pray and supplicate. Deem us
worthy to receive Thy Heavenly and Awful Mysteries of this holy
and spiritual Table with a pure conscience, for the remission of
sins, for the pardon of transgressions, for the fellowship of the
Holy Ghost, for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, for
boldness to approach Thee, neither unto judgment nor unto
condemnation.
Priest: And deem us, O Master, worthy with boldness and without
condemnation, to dare to call upon Thee, the Heavenly God, as Father and to
say:
Every Soul in Church:
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 trespasses, as we
forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and from all
Ages to all Ages.
Choir: and All: Amen.
--------------------------
The Elevation of the Amnos
--------------------------
The Priest blesses the people, saying:
Priest: Peace be with you.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads before the Lord.
The Priest returns to the Altar.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: We give thanks to Thee, O King Invisible, Who by Thy
boundless power hast formed all things, and by the fullness of
Thy Mercy hast brought forth all things out of nothingness into
being. Do Thou Thyself, O Master, look down from Heaven upon
those who have bowed down their heads before Thee; for they have
bowed not before flesh and blood but before Thee, Almighty God.
Do Thou, therefore, O Master, administer these Offerings to all
of us for good, according to the special need of each of us; do
Thou travel with those that travel, by land, air, or by water;
and do Thou, Physician of our souls and bodies, heal those of us
who are sick,
Priest: through the favour and mercy and compassion of Thine only-begotten
Son, with Whom Thou art glorified, with Thine all-holy, righteous and
life-giving Spirit, now and forever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayer indicated here:
Priest: Hearken, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Thy Holy
dwelling place and from the Throne of glory of Thy Kingdom, and
come and sanctify us. Thou Who sittest above with the Father and
art here invisibly present with us, and do Thou deign by Thy
mighty power to give to us of Thy Sacred Body and of Thy Precious
Blood, and through us to all the people.
The Priest makes a reverence and says inaudibly:
Priest: O God, have mercy upon me a sinner.
Deacon: Let us attend.
The Priest then lifts the Holy Bread (Amnos), and says:
Priest: The Holy Things for those who are Holy.
Choir: One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the
Father. Amen.
Generally the Royal Gate is now closed.
On the Great Festivals, the Communion Hymn of the Festival is sung.
(See Part III).
Communion Hymn: Praise the Lord, from the Heavens. Alleluia. (repeated
all during the silent prayers of the Priest)
All the gestures of the Priest during this time are accompanied by
inaudible prayers.
Here the Priest reads inaudibly the prayers indicated here:
Priest: The Lamb of God is broken and distributed; broken but
not sundered, always fed upon and never consumed but sanctifying
those who partake.
Priest: The fullness of the Cup, of Faith, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
The Faithful who are to partake of Holy Communion should
participate with the Priest in the following inaudible Prayers:
Priest: Blessed is the ardour of Thy Saints, now and for ever
and from all Ages to all Ages. The ardour of Faith, of the
fullness of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Priest: I believe, O Lord, and confess that Thou art verily the
Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who didst come into the World
to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. Also I believe that
This is Thy Sacred Body and This Thy Precious Blood. Therefore I
pray Thee, have mercy upon me and pardon my transgressions,
voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, both known and
unknown, and consider me worthy, without condemnation, to
participate in Thy Sacred Mysteries, unto the remission of my
sins and unto Life Everlasting. Amen.
Priest: Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Thy
Mystic Feast; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine
enemies; I will not kiss Thee as did Judas, but as the thief I
will confess Thee: Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy
Kingdom.
Priest: May the Communion of Thy holy mysteries be neither to my
judgment nor to my condemnation, O Lord, but to the healing of
both soul and body.
Priest: Behold, I draw near to Christ, our Immortal King and
God.
Priest: To me (name) the Priest (servant), is given the most
Holy and Precious Body of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
unto the remission of my sins and unto Eternal Life.
Priest: Behold, again I draw near to Christ our Immortal King
and God.
Priest: The most Holy and Precious Blood of our Lord God and
Saviour Jesus Christ is given to me (name), the Priest (servant),
unto the remission of my sins and unto Eternal Life.
Priest: This hath touched my lips, and my iniquity shall be
taken away and my sin covered.
The part of the Deacon has been omitted.
During the singing of the Communion Hymn by the Choir, the Priest
inside the Sanctuary breaks the Holy Bread (Amnos), the Body of
Christ, into four parts.
He takes one portion and drops it in the Chalice. He blesses the
warm water brought by an Altar boy and the Deacon pours it into
the Chalice crosswise.
After reading the Communion Prayers, the Priest partakes of a
piece of the one portion of the Holy Bread and drinks from the
Chalice.
Then the Priest places the other portions of the Holy Bread in
the Chalice for the Communion for the people.
-------------------------------
Holy Communion and Thanksgiving
-------------------------------
If closed, the Royal Gate is now opened.
In some Churches the Priest reads to the people the Prayers of
Confession and Communion.
The Deacon, holding the Chalice, lifts it up, and calls the
Faithful for Communion saying:
Deacon: With the fear of God, with faith and with love draw near.
And those who are prepared to partake of Holy Communion draw
near.
At the end of giving Holy Communion, the Priest says:
Priest: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
The Priest then takes the Chalice to the Holy Table.
Choir: We have seen the true Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit,
we have found the True Faith by worshipping the Undivided Trinity; this
hath been our salvation.
On the Great Festivals, the Dismissal Hymn of the Festival of the
Day is sung , instead of the above (see Part III)
Now the Priest says inaudibly:
Priest: Be Thou exalted, O God, above the Heavens and
Thy Glory above all the earth, (thrice), Blessed is our
God,"
and then holding both the Diskarion with the Covers and the
Chalice, he faces the people and says aloud:
Priest: always, now and forever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
The Priest places the Chalice and Diskarion upon the Table of
Oblation and returns to the Altar.
In some Churches the Choir sings:
Choir: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord,
that we may sing of Thy glory; for Thou hast permitted us to
partake of Thy Holy, Divine, Immortal and Lifegiving Mysteries.
Establish us in Thy Sanctification, that all the day long we may
meditate upon Thy righteousness. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Deacon: Stand and attend. Let us who have duly received the divine, holy,
pure, immortal, heavenly, life-giving and awesome Mysteries of Christ,
worthily give thanks unto the Lord.
Deacon: Succour, save, comfort and protect us, O God, with Thy favour.
Deacon: Let us who have entreated the Lord that this whole day may be
perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, commend ourselves and one another and
our whole life to Christ, our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
The Priest folds the Antimins and places the Gospel upon it,
saying:
Here the Priest reads inaudibly (in some Churches aloud) the
prayer indicated here:
Priest: We thank Thee, O Merciful Master and Lover of our souls,
that Thou hast this day vouchsafed to give us Thy Heavenly and
immortal Mysteries; direct us into the right way, strengthen all
of us in Thy fear, watch over our life, make our footsteps safe,
through the prayers and supplications of the glorious Mother of
God and Ever-Virgin Mary and of all Thy Saints.
Priest: For Thou art our sanctification and to Thee we ascribe glory, to
the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, now and for ever and from
all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
---------------------
The Dismissal Prayers
---------------------
Priest: In peace let us depart.
Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Priest stands in front of the Icon of Christ of the
Iconostasion or facing the Altar and says aloud:
Priest: O Lord, Who blessest those that bless Thee and sanctifiest those
that put their trust in Thee, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance;
protect the whole body of Thy Church, and sanctify those who love the
beauty of Thy House. Do Thou endow them with Thy divine Power and forsake
not us who have set our hope in Thee. Grant peace to Thy world, to Thy
Churches, to the Priesthood, to our Rulers, to the army and to all Thy
people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from Thee, the Father of lights; and to Thee we ascribe glory
and thanks and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost,
now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from this time forth and
for ever more. (Thrice)
The Priest enters the Altar and goes to the Table of Oblation and
says the following prayer inaudibly:
Priest: O Christ, our God, Who art Thyself the Fullfillment of
the Law and the Prophets, and hast fulfilled all the dispensation
of the Father, do Thou always fill our hearts with joy and
gladness, now and for ever and from all Ages to all Ages. Amen.
Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: May the blessing of the Lord and His mercy always come upon you
through His divine favour and compassion; now and for ever and from all
Ages to all Ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O our God and our Hope, Glory to Thee.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) (Holy Father give the blessing.)
Priest: May Christ, our true God (Sundays only: Who rose from the dead),
have mercy upon us, through the intercessions of His most pure and Holy
Mother; through the virtue of the precious Spiritual Powers in Heaven;
through the supplications of the precious, glorious Prophet and Forerunner
John the Baptist; of the holy, glorious and honourable Apostles; of the
holy, glorious and victorious Martyrs; of our saintly and holy Fathers; of
the holy and righteous divine ancestors Joachim and Anna; of Saint (of the
day), whose memory we celebrate, and of all the Saints, and may Christ save
us through His goodness and compassion as our Merciful God.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers have mercy upon us, O Lord
Jesus Christ, our God.
Choir: Amen.
The Priest blesses the people and says:
Priest: May the Holy Trinity keep you all.
Choir: Protect, O Lord, unto years him who blesseth us and bringeth us Thy
Grace.
Thus ends the Divine Liturgy. The Priest gives to the people
Antidoron, a small piece of blessed bread; saying:
Priest: The blessing of the Lord and His mercy be with you.
The people leave in peace from the Church.
The Deacon returns to the Table of Oblation and partakes of the
remainder of the Holy Gifts and the Priest reads the Eucharistic
Thanksgiving Prayer.
-------------------
To Telos (The End).
-------------------
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