The Divine Liturgy
of our Father among the Saints
Basil the Great
Archbishop of Caesarea
In Cappadocia
It is begun thus:
Deacon: Bless, master. (Said only if a deacon serve)
Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N.; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N.); for the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this land, its authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the God-preserved Russian Land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this city (or this town, or this holy monastery), for every city and country, and the faithful that dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For seasonable weather, abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For travelers by sea, land and air; for the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
The Prayer of the First Antiphon:
O Lord our God, Whose dominion is indescribable, and Whose glory is incomprehensible, Whose mercy is infinite, and Whose love for mankind is ineffable: Do Thou Thyself, O Master, according to Thy tender compassion, look upon us, and upon this holy temple, and deal with us, and them that pray with us, according to Thine abundant mercies and compassions.
Priest: For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship; to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
At the conclusion of the antiphon, the deacon, standing in the usual place, and bowing, saith:
Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
The Prayer of the Second Antiphon:
O Lord our God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, preserve the fullness of Thy Church, sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house; do Thou glorify them by Thy divine power, and forsake not us that hope in Thee.
Priest: For Thine is the dominion, 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 ages.
Choir: Amen.
And the Second Antiphon is sung by the chanters; the deacon doeth in like manner as during the first prayer.
Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
The Prayer of the Third Antiphon
O Thou Who hast bestowed upon us these common and concordant prayers, and Who hast promised that when two or three are agreed in Thy name Thou wouldst grant their requests: Do Thou Thyself now fulfill the requests of Thy servants to their profit, granting us in this present age the knowledge of Thy truth, and in that to come, life everlasting.
Priest: For a good God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Here the doors are opened for the Small Entry. Then the Third Antiphon is chanted by the singers; or the Beatitudes, if it be Sunday. When they come to the Glory, the priest and the deacon, standing before the Holy Table, make three reverences. Then the priest, taking the Holy Gospel, giveth it to the deacon, and they go, by way of the right side, behind the Holy Table. And thus coming out by the north side, with candles going before them, they make the Small Entry; and standing in the usual place, both of them bow their heads, and the deacon, having said: Let us pray to the Lord, the priest saith the Prayer of the Entry secretly.
The Prayer of the Entry
O Master Lord our God, Who hast appointed in the heavens the ranks and hosts of angels and archangels unto the service of Thy glory: With our entry do Thou cause the entry of the holy angels, serving and glorifying Thy goodness with us. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
When the prayer is ended, the deacon saith to the priest, pointing toward the east with his right hand, holding therein the orarion with three fingers:
Bless, Master the holy entry.
And the priest, blessing, saith:
Blessed is the entry of Thy holy ones, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
After that, the deacon goeth to the bishop, or to the abbot, and he kisseth the Gospel, if he be present; if not, the priest kisseth it.
When the final verse of the antiphon hath been finished, the deacon goeth to the center, and standing in front of the priest, raiseth his hands a little, and showing the Holy Gospel, saith in a loud voice:
Wisdom, Aright!
Then, having bowed, as also the priest behind him, he goeth into the holy altar, and the deacon immediately layeth the Holy Gospel upon the Holy Table.
And the singers chant:
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ, O Son of God, Who art wondrous in the saints, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
If it be Sunday:
Who didst rise from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
When the Troparia and Kontakia are chanted, the priest says the Prayer of the Trisagion Hymn:
O Holy God, Who restest in the saints, Who art praised with the thrice-holy hymn by the Seraphim, and art glorified by the Cherubim, and art worshipped by all the heavenly hosts, Who from nonbeing hast brought all things into being, Who hast created man according to Thine image and likeness, and hast adorned him with Thine every gift; Who givest wisdom and understanding to him that asketh, and Who disdainest not him that sinneth, but hast appointed repentance unto salvation; Who hast vouchsafed us, Thy lowly and unworthy servants, to stand even in this hour before the glory of Thy holy altar, and to offer the worship and glory due unto Thee: Do Thou Thyself, O Master, accept even from the lips of us sinners the thrice-holy hymn, and visit us in Thy goodness. Pardon us every sin, voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant us to serve Thee in holiness all the days of our life, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, and of all the saints who from ages past have been pleasing unto Thee.
When they come to the last Kontakion, the deacon saith to the priest, while bowing his head and holding his orarion with three fingers of his right hand:
Bless, master, the time of the Thrice-holy.
And the priest, signing him with the sign of the Cross, saith:
For holy art Thou, O our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever: (If a deacon serve, the priest stops here; if a priest serve alone, he continues: and unto ages of ages.)
And the Kontakion having ended, the deacon cometh out through the holy doors, and standing on the ambo and pointing with his orarion, first to the icon of Christ, saith:
O Lord, save the pious and hearken unto us.
Then he pointeth to all the people, saying in a loud voice:
And unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
If there is no deacon, "O Lord, save the pious..." is omitted.
And as the Choir chants the Trisagion, both the priest and the deacon themselves say the Trisagion Hymn, making together three bows before the Holy Table. Then the deacon saith to the priest:
Command, O master.
And they proceed to the high place; and the priest, as he goeth, saith:
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Bless, master, the High Throne.
Priest: Blessed art Thou on the throne of the glory of Thy kingdom, Thou that sittest on the Cherubim, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
[It is to be noted that it is not proper for the priest to go up onto the high place, nor to sit thereon, but to sit on the south side of the high throne.] And upon the conclusion of the Trisagion, the deacon, having come toward the holy doors, saith:
Let us attend.
And the priest exclaimeth:
Peace be unto all.
And the reader saith: And to thy spirit.
And again the deacon:
Wisdom!
And the reader the prokimenon from the Psalms of David.
And then the deacon:
Wisdom!
And the reader, the title of the Epistle:
The Reading is from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Romans, or to the Corinthians, or to the Romans, or to the Galatians.
And again the deacon: Let us attend!
And when the Epistle is concluded, the priest saith:
Peace be unto thee.
And the reader: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom!
And the reader: Alleluia.
While the Alleluia is being chanted, the deacon taking the censer and incense, approacheth the priest, and taking a blessing from him, censeth the Holy Table round about, and the whole altar, and the priest.
And the priest saith this prayer:
The Prayer before the Gospel:
Shine forth within our hearts the incorruptible light of Thy knowledge, O Master, Lover of mankind, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of the preaching of Thy Gospel; instill in us also the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that, trampling down all lusts of the flesh, we may pursue a spiritual way of life, being mindful of and doing all that is well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thy Most-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The deacon, having put away the censer in the usual place, approacheth the priest, and bowing his head to him, holdeth the Holy Gospel with his orarion in the tip of his fingers, at the Holy Altar, saith [in current practice the deacon is already outside the holy doors, holding the Gospel upright on the analogion]:
Bless, master, the bringer of the good tidings of the holy Apostle and Evangelist N.
The priest, signing him with the sign of the Cross, saith:
May God, through the intercessions of the holy glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist N., give speech with great power unto thee that bringest good tidings, unto the fulfillment of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
And the deacon having said: Amen, and having venerated the Holy Gospel, taketh it, and goeth out through the holy doors, candles preceding him, and goeth forth and standeth on the ambo, or on the appointed place. And the priest, standing before the Holy Table [in current practice, behind the Holy Table, at the south side of the high place], and looking toward the west, exclaimeth:
Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Then: Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to N.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
If there be two deacons, one may say:
Wisdom, aright,then also Let us attend.
When the Gospel is concluded, the priest saith: Peace be unto thee that bringest good tidings.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
And the deacon goeth to the holy doors, and giveth the Gospel to the priest, and the holy doors are closed again. The deacon, standing in the usual place, saith:
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, the God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Deacon: Again we pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N.; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N., whose diocese it is) and all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
The Prayer of Fervent Supplication
O Lord our God, accept this fervent supplication from Thy servants, and have mercy on us according to the multitude of Thy mercies, and send down Thy compassions upon us, and upon all Thy people that await of Thee abundant mercy.
Deacon: Again we pray for this land, its authorities and armed forces.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Deacon: Again we pray for the God-preserved Russian Land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora and for their salvation.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Deacon: Again we pray to the Lord our God that He may deliver His people from enemies visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Deacon: Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, priestmonks, and all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord have mercy. Thrice.
Deacon: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable, holy Orthodox patriarchs; for pious kings and right-believing queens; and for the founders of this holy temple (if it be a monastery: this holy monastery): and for all our fathers and brethren gone to their rest before us, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Here may be inserted various additional petitions, i.e., for the ill and afflicted, the newly-baptized, etc.
Deacon: Again we pray for them that bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable temple; for them that minister and them that chant, and for all the people here present, that await of Thee great and abundant mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Priest: For a merciful God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
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Here on Ascension and certain other feasts should be said The Prayer for the Prosperity of the Church of Russia; see Appendix.
If there be offering for the departed, the deacon or priest saith the Ektenia for the Departed [not said on Sundays or Feasts]. See Appendix.
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Deacon: Pray, ye catechumens, to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Ye faithful, for the catechumens let us pray, that the Lord will have mercy on them.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He will catechize them with the word of Truth.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He will reveal unto them the Gospel of righteousness.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Ye catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
The Prayer for the Catechumens:
O Lord our God, Who dwellest in the heavens and lookest down upon all Thy works: Look upon Thy servants the Catechumens, who have bowed their necks before Thee, and grant them the easy yoke, make them honorable members of Thy holy Church, and vouchsafe them the laver of regeneration, the remission of sins, and the garment of incorruption, unto the knowledge of Thee our true God.
Here the last edge of the antimension is spread out [some do this at “That He will reveal unto them the Gospel of righteousness].
Exclamation:
That they also with us may glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The priest maketh the sign of the Cross over the antimension with the sponge, which then kisseth, and layeth on one side.
If there is a second deacon:
Second Deacon: As many as are catechumens, depart.
First Deacon: Catechumens, depart.
Second Deacon: As many as are catechumens, depart; let none of the catechumens remain; as many as are of the faithful, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
If there is only one deacon, or if the priest serves alone:
Deacon: As many as are catechumens, depart; catechumens, depart; as many as are catechumens, depart; let none of the catechumens remain; as many as are of the faithful, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The First Prayer of the Faithful:
Thou, O Lord, hast shown us this great mystery of salvation. Thou hast vouchsafed us, Thy humble and unworthy servants, to be ministrants of Thy holy altar. Do Thou enable us with the power of Thy Holy Spirit for this ministry, that, standing uncondemned before Thy holy glory, we may offer unto Thee a sacrifice of praise: for Thou art He Who worketh all things in all men. Grant, O Lord, also that our sacrifice for our sins and for the errors of the people be acceptable and well-pleasing before Thee.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
The priest’s exclamation:
For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
When a priest serveth alone, these are not said:
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Deacon: For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
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The Second Prayer of the Faithful:
O God, Who in mercy and compassion hast visited our lowliness; Who hast appointed us, Thy humble, and sinful, and unworthy servants to minister at Thy holy Altar in the presence of Thy holy glory: Do Thou strengthen us by Thy Holy Spirit for this service, and grant us speech in the opening of our mouth, with which to invoke the grace of Thy Holy Spirit upon the Gifts that we desire to offer.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
The priest saith the exclamation:
That always being guarded under Thy dominion, we may send up glory unto Thee: to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And the holy doors are opened.
Then: while the Cherubic Hymn is chanted, the deacon having taken the censer, and placed incense therein, goeth to the priest, and taking a blessing from him, censeth the Holy Table cruciformly, and the whole altar, and iconostasis, then the priest, the chanters, and the people, saying the 50th psalm, and compunctionate troparia, whatever he wisheth.
The priest saith secretly this prayer:
None is worthy among them that are bound with carnal lusts and pleasures, to approach or to draw nigh, or to minister unto Thee, O King of glory, for to serve Thee is a great and fearful thing even unto the heavenly hosts themselves. Yet because of Thine ineffable and immeasurable love for mankind, without change or alteration Thou didst become man, and didst become our High Priest, and didst deliver unto us the ministry of this liturgical and bloodless sacrifice, for Thou art the Master of all. Thou alone, O Lord our God, dost rule over those in heaven and those on earth, art borne upon the throne of the Cherubim, art Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, Thou alone art holy and restest in the saints. I implore Thee, therefore, Who alone art good and inclined to listen: Look upon me, Thy sinful and unprofitable servant, and purge my soul and heart of a wicked conscience, and, by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, enable me, who am clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this Thy Holy Table, and to perform the sacred Mystery of Thy holy and immaculate Body and precious Blood. For unto Thee do I draw nigh, bowing my neck, and I pray Thee: Turn not Thy countenance away from me, neither cast me out from among Thy children, but vouchsafe that these gifts be offered unto Thee by me, Thy sinful and unworthy servant: For Thou art He that offereth and is offered, that accepteth and is distributed, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thy Most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
When this prayer is completed, the priest and the deacon, standing before the Holy Table say also the Cherubic Hymn, thrice; and each time, at the conclusion thereof they bow once:
Priest:
Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and chant the thrice-holy hymn unto the Life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care.
Deacon:
That we may receive the King of all, Who cometh invisibly up-borne in triumph by the ranks of angels. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Only on Great Thursday this is chanted instead:
Priest:
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies; nor will I give Thee a kiss as, as did Judas; but like the thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
Deacon:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
On Great Saturday, this is chanted:
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and stand with fear and trembling; and let it take no thought for any earthly thing. For the King of Kings and Lord of lords draweth nigh to be sacrificed and given as food to the faithful.
Before Him go the choirs of angels with all the principalities and powers, the many-eyed cherubim and the six winged seraphim, covering their faces and crying aloud the hymn: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Then they go to the table of oblation, the deacon preceding, and the priest censeth the holy things, praying secretly: O God, cleanse me a sinner, thrice.
The deacon saith to the priest:
Lift up, master.
And the priest, taking the aer, layeth it upon the deacon’s left shoulder, saying:
Lift up your hands unto the holies, and bless the Lord.
Then taking the holy diskos, he placeth it upon the deacon’s head, with all attentiveness and reverence, the deacon having also the censer on one of his fingers. The priest himself taking the holy chalice in his hands, they come out by the north door, the candle-bearers going before them, and they make the circuit of the temple, while praying.
Deacon: Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness N., Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; our lord the Very Most Reverend N., Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, and First Hierarch of the Russian Church abroad; and our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N., whose diocese it is), may the Lord God remember in His kingdom always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Priest: This land, its authorities and the faithful that dwell therein, the God-preserved Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora; may the Lord God remember in His kingdom always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
The clergy, the monastics, all that are persecuted and suffer for the Orthodox Faith; the founders, benefactors and the brotherhood of this holy temple (or holy monastery), and all of you Orthodox Christians, may the Lord God remember in His kingdom always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Having passed within the holy doors, the deacon standeth to the right, and as the priest entereth the deacon saith to him:
May the Lord God remember thy priesthood in His kingdom.
And the priest saith to him:
May the Lord God remember thy sacred diaconate in His kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
And the priest then placeth the holy chalice on the Holy Table; and taking the holy diskos from the head of the deacon, placeth it on the Holy Table, saying:
The noble Joseph, having taken Thy most pure body down from the Tree and wrapped It in pure linen and covered It with spices, laid It in a new tomb.
In the grave bodily, but in hades with Thy soul as God; in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, O Christ the inexpressible.
How life-giving, how much more beautiful than Paradise and truly more resplendent than any royal palace hath Thy tomb appeared, O Christ, the source of our resurrection.
Then taking the veils from the holy diskos and the holy chalice, he layeth them to one side on the Holy Table; and taking the aer from the deacon’s shoulder, and having censed it, he covereth the Holy Gifts therewith, saying:
The noble Joseph, having taken Thy most pure body down from the Tree and wrapped It in pure linen and covered It with spices, laid It in a new tomb.
And taking the censer from the hand of the deacon, he censeth the Holy Gifts thrice, saying:
Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
And having returned the censer, and having bowed his head, he saith to the deacon:
Priest: Pray for me, brother and concelebrant.
Deacon: The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee.
Priest: The same Spirit shall minister with us all the days of our life.
Then the deacon, bowing his head, holding his orarion with three fingers of his right hand, saith to the priest:
Deacon: Remember me, holy master.
Priest: May the Lord God remember thee in His kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
And the deacon saith: Amen, and having kissed the right hand of the priest, he goeth out the north door, and standing in the usual place, saith:
Deacon: Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the precious gifts set forth, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Prayer of Oblation, after placing the Divine Gifts on the Holy Table, while the priest saith secretly:
O Lord our God, Who hast created us, and hast brought us into this life; Who hast shown us the way of salvation, Who hast granted us the revelation of heavenly mysteries: for Thou hast appointed us to this ministry by the power of Thy Holy Spirit; be pleased, therefore, O Lord, that we be servitors of Thy new covenant, ministers of Thy Holy Mysteries; accept us who draw nigh to Thy Holy Altar, according to the multitude of Thy mercies, that we may be worthy to offer to Thee this rational and bloodless sacrifice for our sins and for the errors of the people; accepting which upon Thy holy and most-heavenly and noetic Altar, as an odor of spiritual fragrance, do Thou send down upon us the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Look down upon us, O God, and look upon this our service, and accept it, as Thou didst accept the gifts of Abel, the sacrifice of Noah, the offerings of Abraham, the priesthood of Moses and Aaron, and the peace offerings of Samuel. According as Thou didst accept of Thy holy apostles this true ministry, receive thus also from the hands of us sinners these gifts in Thy goodness, O Lord; that having been vouchsafed to minister without blame at Thy Holy Altar, we may receive the reward of faithful and wise stewards in the terrible day of Thy righteous rewarding.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Pardon and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Things good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this. O Lord.
Deacon: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: Through the compassions of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess:
Choir: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and indivisible.
And the priest boweth thrice, saying secretly:
I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my foundation, and my refuge.
And he kisseth the Holy Things that are covered, thus: first, the top of the holy diskos, then the top of the holy chalice and the edge of the Holy Table before him. If there be two priests, or more, then they kiss all the holy things, and one another on the shoulder. The senior concelebrant saith:
Christ is in our midst.
And he that is kissed replieth:
He is, and shall be
Likewise the deacons, if there be two, or three, kiss each his own orarion, where the figure of the Cross is, and one another on the shoulder, saying that which the priest have said. In like manner the deacon [on the ambo] boweth, on the place where he standeth, and kisseth his orarion where the figure of the Cross is, and then exclaimeth:
The doors! The doors! In wisdom let us attend.
The priest lifteth up the aer, and holdeth it over the Holy Gifts. If there be other priest concelebrating, they likewise lift up the holy aer, and hold it over the Holy Gifts, waving it and saying, as do the people also, the Confession of Faith.
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 Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living 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 confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.
And at the conclusion of the holy Symbol, the deacon saith loudly:
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 then having taken the aer off the Holy Gifts, and kissing it, layeth it to one side, saying: The grace of our Lord…
And the deacon, having bowed, entereth the holy altar, and taking a fan, fanneth the Holy Things reverently [now done only at ordinations].
The priest’s exclamation:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.
Choir: We lift them up unto the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
Choir: It is meet and right to worship the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and indivisible.
And the priest, bowing, prayeth:
O Master, Thou Who dost truly exist, O Lord God, Father Almighty, adorable! It is truly meet and right, and fitting to the majesty of Thy holiness, to praise Thee, to hymn Thee, to bless Thee, to worship Thee, to thank Thee, to glorify Thee the only God that truly existeth, and to offer unto Thee with broken heart and humble spirit this our reasonable service; for it is Thou Who hast bestowed upon us the knowledge of Thy truth. And who hath power sufficient to express Thy might, to make all Thy praises to be heard, or to proclaim Thy wonders at all times? O Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation, visible and invisible, Who sittest on the throne of glory and lookest upon the deeps, Who art unoriginate, inscrutable, ineffable, inexpressible, immutable, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the great God and Savior, our hope, Who is the image of Thy goodness; the stamp of equal kind, in Himself showing forth Thee, the Father, the living Word, the true God, the pre-eternal Wisdom, the Life, the Sanctification, the Power, the True Light through Whom the Holy Spirit was manifested; the Spirit of Truth, the Gift of Adoption, the Pledge of inheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal good things, the life-giving Power, the Fountain of sanctification, by Whom all rational and intelligent creation is strengthened to serve Thee and evermore doth send up to Thee a doxology, for all things are Thy servants; for Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, and the many-eyed Cherubim do praise Thee; before Thee stand round about the Seraphim, each having six wings, for with two they cover their faces, and with two their feet, and with two they fly, crying one to another continually, with never-ceasing doxologies.
Priest: Singing the triumphal hymn, shouting, crying aloud and saying:
Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord 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!
And here the deacon, taking the holy star from the holy diskos, maketh the sign of the Cross above it, and kissing it, layeth it aside. Then he goeth and standeth on the right side, and having taken a fan in his hand, fanneth gently, with all attentiveness and fear, over the Holy Gifts, lest flies or other such insects settle on them.
With these blessed hosts, O Master, Lover of mankind, we sinners also cry aloud and say: Holy art Thou in truth, and Most holy, and there is no measure to the majesty of Thy holiness; and venerable art Thou in all Thy works, for in righteousness and true judgment hast Thou ordered all things for us; for, having created man, taking him from the dust of the earth, and fashioned him according to Thine image, O God, Thou didst place him in a paradise of delight, promising him life immortal, and the enjoyment of eternal good things in keeping Thy commandments; but when he disobeyed Thee, the true God, Who had created him, and was led astray by the deception of the serpent, and become mortal through his own transgression, Thou didst expel him, in Thy righteous judgment, O God, from paradise into this world, and didst return him to the earth from whence he was taken, providing for him the salvation of regeneration, in Thy Christ Himself; for Thou didst not turn Thyself away unto the end from Thy creature whom Thou hadst made, O Good One, neither didst Thou forget the work of Thy hands, but Thou didst visit him in many ways, for the sake of the tender compassion of Thy mercy; Thou didst send prophets, Thou didst perform mighty deeds by the saints, who in every generation were well-pleasing unto Thee; Thou didst speak to us by the mouths of Thy servants the prophets, proclaiming beforehand to us the salvation which was to come; Thou didst give the Law as a help; Thou didst appoint guardian angels. And when the fullness of time was come, Thou didst speak to us by Thy Son Himself, by Whom also thou madest the ages, Who, being the Brightness of Thy glory, and the Express Image of Thy person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, thought it not robbery to be equal to Thee, the God and Father; but though He was God before the ages, yet He appeared on earth and dwelt among men; and was incarnate of a holy Virgin, did empty Himself, taking on the form of a servant, being conformed to the body of our lowliness, that He might make us conformable to the image of His glory; for as by man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, so it pleased Thine Only-begotten, Who is in the bosom of Thee, the God and Father, to be born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; to be born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, that they who were dead in Adam might be made alive in Thy Christ; and become a dweller in this world, giving saving commandments, releasing us from the delusions of idols, He brought us unto knowledge of Thee, the true God and Father, having acquired us for Himself a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; and having purified us with water, and having sanctified us by the Holy Spirit, He gave Himself a ransom to death, by which we were held, sold under sin; and having descended through the Cross into hades, that He might fill all things with Himself, He loosed the pains of death; and arose on the third day, and making a way for all flesh through the resurrection from the dead, because it was not possible for the Author of Life to be held by corruption, He Who became the First-fruits of the dead, the First-born from the dead; that He might be all, in all thing preeminent; and having ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of Thy majesty on high, Who also shall come to render unto every man according to his works. And He hath left with us as memorials of His saving Passion these things which we have offered according to His commandments; for when he was about to go forth to His voluntary and ever-memorable and life-giving death, in the night in which He gave Himself for the life of the world, taking bread in His holy and most pure hands, showing it to Thee, God and Father, giving thanks, blessing it, sanctifying it, breaking it,
And Loudly he saith this:
He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: Take, eat: this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.
Choir: Amen.
While this is being said, the deacon pointeth out the holy diskos to the priest, holding his orarion with three fingers of his right hand. Likewise, when the priest saith: Drink of it, all of you, he pointeth out the holy chalice.
The priest saith secretly:
Likewise also taking the cup of the fruit of the vine, having mingled it, given thanks, blessed it, and sanctified it,
And again he exclaimeth:
He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: Drink of it, all of you: this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.
Choir: Amen.
The priest, having bowed his head, saith this prayer secretly:
This do in remembrance of Me; for as often as ye shall eat this Bread and drink of this Cup, ye do proclaim My death, ye do confess My Resurrection. Therefore we also, Master, being mindful of His saving Passion, life-giving Cross, three-day burial, and Resurrection from the dead, His Ascension into heaven, His sitting at the right hand of Thee, the God and Father, and His glorious and terrible Second Coming:
The priest exclaimeth:
Offering unto Thee Thine own of Thine own, in behalf of all and for all.
Choir: We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord; and we pray unto Thee, O our God.
The priest, having bowed his head, saith this prayer secretly:
Therefore, O Most-holy Master, also we sinners and Thine unworthy servants, having been vouchsafed to minister at Thy holy Altar, not because of our righteousness, for we have not done that which is good on the earth, but because of Thy mercies and Thy compassions, which Thou hast poured out richly upon us, dare to draw nigh unto Thy holy Altar; and having presented the sacred emblems of the Body and Blood of Thy Christ, we pray Thee, and we call upon Thee: O Holy of Holies, through the favor of Thy goodness send Thy Holy Spirit down upon us, and upon these gifts presented here, and bless them, sanctify them, and show
[It should be noted that the prayers that follow up to “This Bread…” are a later insertion which is lacking in the Greek text, and omitted by some. The sentence above continues with the words “This Bread…” which is why there is no period after “Show”] While this is being said, the deacon putteth aside the fan, which he held, or the veil, goeth to stand near the priest, and both of them bow together thrice before the Holy Table, and pray within themselves:
O God, cleanse me a sinner, and have mercy on me.
The Priest:
O Lord, Who didst send down Thy Most-holy Spirit at the third hour upon Thine apostles: Take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray unto Thee.
Deacon, the stichos: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Priest: O Lord, Who didst send down Thy Most-holy Spirit at the third hour upon Thine apostles: Take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray unto Thee.
Deacon: Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Priest: O Lord, Who didst send down Thy Most-holy Spirit at the third hour upon Thine apostles: Take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray unto Thee.
Then, the deacon having bowed his head, pointeth with his orarion to the Holy Bread, and saith in a quiet voice:
Bless, master, the Holy Bread.
And the priest, standing erect, shall sign the Holy Bread with the sign of the cross and say:
This Bread to be itself the precious Body of our Lord, and God, and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Deacon: Amen. Bless, master, the holy cup.
And the priest blessing it, saith:
And this cup to be itself the precious Blood of our Lord and God, and Savior, Jesus Christ (Deacon: Amen.), which was shed for the life of the world.
Deacon: Amen
And again the deacon, pointing with his orarion to both the Holy Things, saith:
Bless them both, master.
And the priest, blessing both the Holy Things with his hand, saith:
Changing them by Thy Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen, Amen, Amen.
And the deacon, bowing his head to the priest, saith:Remember me a sinner, holy master.
And the priest saith:
May the Lord God remember thee in His kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
And the deacon saith: Amen, and goeth to the place where he first stood.
And the priest prayeth:
And all of us who partake of the one Bread and the one Cup do Thou unite one to another, in one communion of the Holy Spirit; and cause not one of us to partake unto judgment or condemnation of the holy Body and Blood of Thy Christ; but that we may find mercy and grace together with all the saints, who from the ages have been pleasing unto Thee, forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers, and with all the righteous souls who have passed away in the faith.
And taking the censer, the priest exclaimeth:
Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
And he censeth thrice before the Holy Table:
Then the chanters chant: In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of grace, all creation, the angelic assembly, and the race of man; O sanctified temple and noetical paradise, praise of virgins, of whom God was incarnate, and became a child, He that was before the ages, even our God; for, of thy body a throne He made, and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of grace, all creation: glory to thee.
But if it be on Great Thursday, or on Great Saturday, then they chant the irmos of the 9th ode of that day.
Then the deacon censeth the Holy Table round about, and remembereth whomsoever he will, both of the living and of the dead.
(For the Living: For the Salvation, visitation, and remission of the sins of the servants of God N. N.)
(For the dead: For the repose and remission of sins of Thy servants, N. N: Give them rest, O God, in a place of brightness, whence sorrow and sighing have fled away. And give them rest where the light of thy countenance shall visit them.)
Then the Priest prayeth:
And the holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; the holy and all-praised apostles; Saint(s) N.(N.), whose memory we also celebrate; and for all Thy saints: through whose intercessions do Thou visit us, O God; and remember all that have departed in the hope of the resurrection unto life everlasting, and grant them rest where the light of Thy countenance shall visit them.
Again we pray, remember, O Lord, Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which is from end to end of the world, and give peace unto her whom thou hast purchased with the precious Blood of Thy Christ, and establish this holy temple, even unto the end of the ages. Remember, O Lord, those who have offered these Gifts unto Thee, and for whom, and by whom, and in behalf of whom they offered these.
Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit, and do good works in Thy holy churches, and those who are mindful of the poor; reward them with Thine abundant and heavenly gifts. Give them heavenly things instead of earthly, eternal things instead of temporal, incorruptible things instead of corruptible.
Remember, O Lord, those in deserts and mountains, and dens and caves of the earth.
Remember, O Lord, those who abide in virginity and godliness, and in fasting, and in purity of life.
Remember, O Lord, this land and its authorities; grant them profound and inviolable peace; move their hearts to do good things for Thy Church and all Thy people, that in their serenity we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and soberness.
Remember, O Lord, every ruler and authority and our brethren who are in their council, and all the armed forces; in their goodness do thou preserve the good, in Thy goodness make thou the evil good.
Remember, O Lord, the people here present, and those who are absent for reasonable cause, and have mercy on them and us, according to the multitude of Thy mercies; fill their treasuries with every good thing; preserve their marriage-bond in peace and concord; nourish the infants, guide the children, support the aged, comfort the fainthearted, gather the scattered, turn them back from their wandering, and unite them to Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, free those who are vexed by unclean spirits, sail with those who voyage, journey with those who travel; plead for the widows, defend the orphans, deliver the captives, heal the sick. Those under trial and in the mines, and in prison, and in bitter labors, and in all affliction, necessity, and distress, do Thou remember, O God.
And all who need Thy great loving-kindness, those who love us, and those who hate us, and those who have charged us, the unworthy, to pray for them, and all Thy people, do Thou remember, O Lord our God, and upon all pour out Thine abundant mercy, granting unto all their petitions which are unto salvation. And those whom we, through ignorance, or forgetfulness, or in the multitude of names, have not remembered, do Thou remember, O God, Who knowest the age and name of each, Who knowest each from his mother’s womb; for Thou, O Lord, art the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the Savior of the storm-tossed, the haven of the voyager, the physician of the ailing; be Thou all things to all men, Thou Who knowest every one, and his petition, his abode, and his need. Deliver, O Lord, this city (or all these, or this sacred habitation) and ever city and country from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of aliens, and civil war.
And the priest exclaimeth:
Among the first, remember, O Lord, Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness N., Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; our lord the Very Most Reverend N., Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, and First Hierarch of the Russian Church abroad; and our lord the Most Reverend N., Archbishop (or Bishop) of (name of the diocese),whom do Thou grant unto Thy holy churches, in peace, safety, honor, health, and length of days, rightly dividing the word of Thy truth.
Choir: And each and every one.
The priest prayeth secretly:
Remember, O Lord, every bishop of the Orthodox who rightly divideth the word of Thy truth.
Remember, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy compassions, also mine unworthiness, pardon me every transgression, voluntary and involuntary; and withhold not, because of my sins, the grace of Thy Holy Spirit from the Gifts offered.
Remember, O Lord, the priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, all the priestly rank, and put not to shame any of us who stand about Thy holy Altar. Visit us with Thy goodness, O Lord, appear unto us through the abundance of Thy compassions, grant us seasonable and profitable weather; give gentle rain upon the earth unto fruitfulness; bless the crown of the year with Thy goodness; calm the dissensions of the churches, quench the ragings of the nations, quickly destroy and uproot the risings of heresy through the power of Thy Holy Spirit, receive us all into Thy kingdom, showing us to be sons of light and sons of the day, grant us Thy peace and Thy love, O Lord our God, for all things hast Thou given unto us.
The priest exclaimeth:
And grant unto us that with one mouth, and one heart, to glorify and hymn Thy most honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
And turning to the people and blessing them, the priest saith:
And may the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
The deacon taketh a blessing from the priest, and having gone out to stand in the usual place, saith:
Deacon: Having called to remembrance all the saints, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the precious Gifts offered and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That our God, the Lover of mankind, having accepted them upon His holy and most heavenly and noetic altar as an odor of spiritual fragrance, will send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
O our God, O God Who saveth, do Thou teach us to thank Thee worthily for Thy benefactions, through which Thou hast dealt and dealest with us. Do Thou, O our God, Who acceptest these Gifts, cleanse us of all defilement of flesh and spirit, and teach us to achieve holiness in Thy fear, that in the witness of our pure conscience, receiving a portion of Thy Holy Things, we may be united with the Holy Body and Blood of Thy Christ; and having received Them worthily, we may have Christ living in our hearts, and become a temple of Thy Holy Spirit.
Yea, O our God, cause also that none of us may be guilty of unworthily partaking of these Thy terrible and heavenly Mysteries, neither infirm in soul and body; but grant us even until our last breath to worthily receive a portion of Thy Holy Things, on the path to life eternal, as an acceptable defense at the dread judgment seat of Thy Christ; that we also together with all the saints who from the ages have been pleasing unto Thee, may be partakers of Thine eternal good things, which Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee, O Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Pardon and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Things good and profitable for souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: And vouchsafe us, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon Thee the heavenly God as Father, and to say:
The deacon bindeth his orarion about him in the form of a cross.
People: Our Father, who art in the Heavens,* hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, * Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, * Give us this day our daily bread, * and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; * and lead us not into temptation, * but deliver us from the evil one.
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 ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
O Master, the Father of bounties, and the God of all comfort, bless, sanctify, preserve, strengthen, establish those who have bowed their heads unto Thee; remove them from every evil work, join them to every good work, and vouchsafe them to partake uncondemned of these, Thy most pure and life-giving mysteries, unto the remission of sins, and unto the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Priest: Through the grace and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The priest prayeth:
Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Thy holy dwelling-place, and from the glorious throne of Thy kingdom; and come and sanctify us, O Thou who sittest with the Father on high, and that invisibly abidest here with us; and vouchsafe by Thy strong right hand to impart unto us Thy most pure Body and precious Blood, and through us to all the people.
Then the priest boweth, and the deacon, standing before the Holy Doors, shall repeat, secretly, thrice:
O God, cleanse me a sinner, and have mercy on me.
And when the deacon seeth the priest stretch out his hand and touch the Holy Bread in order to make the holy elevation, he saith:
Let us attend.
And the priest, elevating the Holy Bread, exclaimeth:
Holy things are for the holy.
Choir: One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
And the chanters chant the communion verse of the day, or of the saint. And the deacon goeth into the holy altar, and standing at the right hand of the priest who holdeth the Holy Bread, saith:
Break the Holy Bread, master.
And the priest, breaking it into four parts with attentiveness and reverence, saith:
Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God: broken, yet not divided; ever eaten, though never consumed, but sanctifying them that partake thereof.
Concerning the Breaking of the Holy Lamb
It is necessary for thee to know, O priest, that, on breaking the holy Lamb, thou must place the side with the sign of the Cross downward to the holy diskos, the cut side upward as before, when it was sacrificed. IC, therefore, is placed at the upper part of the holy diskos, which lieth towards the east. And XC, at the bottom, on that side of the diskos with lieth to the west; and the NI upon the north side, while the KA shall be opposite, upon the south side, as it is here set forth:
IC
NI KA
XC
Taking the portion IC, therefore, place it into the holy chalice. And divide the portion XC among the priests and deacons. Divide the other two portions, namely NI and KA, among the communicants in small particles, as many as may be sufficient according to thine own estimation. But of the portion of the most holy Theotokos, or of the nine orders of saints, or any others which are upon the holy diskos, thou shalt in no wise communicate anyone; only of the two portions which remain of the Holy Lamb shalt thou give in communion. Furthermore, be it known unto thee also concerning this: that when thou dost dilute with the holy hot water the Divine Blood of the Master, then thou shalt pour with discernment so that there be enough for all that desire to partake. So also the wine and the water, when thou dost pierce the Holy Lamb, then thou art to pour at that time an amount sufficient for all; after this, thou shalt pour no more, but only that which is necessary for the dilution at: Holy things are for the holy, and thus communicate all therefrom.
The deacon, pointing to the holy chalice with his orarion, saith:
Fill the holy chalice, master.
The priest, taking the portion which lieth at the top, that is, IC, maketh a cross over the holy chalice therewith, saying:
The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen.
And thus he placeth it in the holy chalice.
And taking the warm water, he saith to the priest:
Bless the warm water, master.
The priest blesseth it, saying:
Blessed is the fervor of Thy saints, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
And the deacon poureth cruciformly into the holy chalice whatever is sufficient, saying:
The fervor of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[According to custom the priest says this prayer:
Remit, pardon, forgive, O God, our offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, in deed and word, in knowledge and ignorance, by day and by night, in mind and thought; forgive us all things, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.]
And having set aside the warm water, he standeth a little apart, and the priest saith:
Deacon, draw nigh.
And approaching, the deacon maketh a bow, reverently, asking forgiveness, and having kissed the Holy Table, saith:
Behold, I approach unto the Immortal King and our God.
Impart unto me, Master, the precious and holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.
And the priest shall give him a portion of the Holy Body, and shall say:
To the sacred Deacon N., is imparted the precious and holy and most pure Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, unto the remission of his sins, and life everlasting.
And bowing his head, the deacon goeth behind the Holy Table and prayeth as doth the priest, saying: I believe, O Lord, and the rest.
Likewise the priest, taking one portion of the Holy Bread, saith:
Behold, I approach unto the Immortal King and our God.
The precious and most holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is imparted unto me, the Priest N., unto the remission of my sins, and life everlasting.
And bowing his head, he prayeth, saying:
I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most pure Body, and that this is truly Thine Own Precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries unto the remission of sins and life everlasting. Amen.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
Let not the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be unto me for judgment or condemnation, O Lord, but for healing of soul and body.
And thus they partake of that which they hold in their hands with fear and all heedfulness. Then rising, the priest taketh the holy chalice in both hands with the cloth, and partaketh thrice from it, saying:
Of the precious and holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ do I, the servant of God, the Priest N., partake unto the remission of my sins and life everlasting.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Some say: Holy God, Holy Might, Holy Immortal, have mercy one us.
And thus, having wiped his lips and the holy chalice with the cloth which he holdeth in his hand, the priest saith:
Behold, this hath touched my lips, and taketh away mine iniquities, and purgeth away my sins.
Then he calleth the deacon, saying:
Deacon, draw nigh.
And the deacon approacheth, and boweth down once, saying:
Behold, I approach unto the Immortal King and our God.
Impart unto me, master, the precious and holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.
And the priest, giving him the chalice, saith:
The Servant of God, the Deacon N., partaketh of the precious and holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ unto the remission of his sins and life everlasting.
And having communicated the deacon, the priest saith:
Behold, this hath touched thy lips, and taketh away thine iniquities, and purgeth away thy sins.
It should be known, that if there be those that desire to partake of the Holy Mysteries, the priest breaketh the two portions of the Holy Lamb that remain, that is, NI and KA, into small pieces, so that there will be sufficient for all communicants, and then putteth them into the holy cup.
And he shall cover the holy chalice with the veil; and in like manner he shall cover the holy diskos with the star cover and the veil. Then the priest shall recite:
We thank Thee, O Lord our God, for the Communion of Thy holy, most pure, immortal, and heavenly Mysteries, which Thou hast given us for the benefaction and sanctification, and healing of our souls and bodies. Do Thou, O Master of all, grant that the Communion of the Holy Body and Blood of Thy Christ be for us unto faith unashamed, unto love unfeigned, unto an increase of wisdom, unto the healing of soul and body, unto the dispelling of every adversary, unto the fulfillment of Thy commandments, unto an acceptable defense at the dread judgement of Thy Christ.
And then they open the doors of the holy altar. And the deacon, bowing once, receiveth the holy chalice with reverence, and approacheth the doors, and elevating the holy chalice, showeth it to the people, saying:
With fear of God and with faith, draw nigh.
Choir: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us.
Then those that desire to partake draw nigh. And they come one by one, and bow down with all compunction and fear, having their arms folded on their breast. And in this manner they receive the Holy Mysteries, after the priest hath said aloud the prayer: I believe, O Lord, and I confess…
And as he communicateth each one, the priest saith:
The servant (or handmaid) of God, N., partaketh of the precious and holy Body and Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, unto the remission of sins and life everlasting.
And the deacon wipeth the communicant’s lips with the cloth, and the communicant kisseth the holy cup, and bowing, withdraweth.
And in this manner do all partake.
After communion, the priest entereth the holy altar and placeth the Holy Things on the Holy Table.
Then the deacon, holding the holy diskos above the holy chalice [while emptying the remaining Holy Bread into the chalice], saith these Hymns of the Resurrection:
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify. For Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee; we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection, for, behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His Resurrection; for, having endured crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death.
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; dance now and be glad, O Zion; and do thou exult, O pure Theotokos, in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.
O Christ, Thou great and most sacred Pascha! O Wisdom, Word and power of God! Grant us to partake of Thee more fully in the unwaning day of Thy kingdom.
While with the sponge he wipeth all the particles into the chalice with all the more reverence, he saith:
By thy precious Blood, O Lord, wash away the sins of those here commemorated, through the intercessions of Thy saints.
The priest blesseth the people, saying:
Save O God, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
And the priest turneth back to the Holy Table, and censeth it thrice, saying secretly:
Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, and Thy glory above all the earth.
Choir: We have seen the True Light, We have received the Heavenly Spirit. We have found the True Faith. We worship the Indivisible Trinity: for He hath saved us.
Then the priest taketh the holy diskos, placeth it on the deacon’s head, and the deacon receiveth it with reverence; looking out through the doors, saying nothing he goeth to the table of oblation and placeth it thereon. The priest boweth, and taketh the holy chalice, and turning to the doors, looking toward the people, he saith secretly:
Blessed is our God:
And aloud:
Always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
And he goeth to the table of oblation and placeth thereon the Holy Things.
Choir: Amen. Let our mouth be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may hymn Thy glory, for Thou hast vouchsafed us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal and life-creating Mysteries. Keep us in Thy holiness, that we may meditate on Thy righteousness all the day long. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
And the deacon having come out by the north door, and having stood in the usual place, saith:
Aright! Having partaken of the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, and life-creating, fearful Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Having asked that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
The priest, having folded the antimension, and holding the Gospel upright, maketh over the antimension the sign of the Cross [with the Gospel, before laying it upon the antimension]
He exclaimeth:
For Thou art our sanctification, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let us depart in peace.
Choir: In the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Prayer before the Ambo
O Lord Who dost bless them that bless Thee and sanctify them that put their trust in Thee: Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; preserve the fullness of Thy Church, sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house; do Thou glorify them by Thy divine power, and forsake us not that hope in Thee. Give peace to Thy world, to Thy churches, to the priests, 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 unto Thee do we send up glory and thanksgiving and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord from henceforth and forever more. Thrice. And Psalm 33: I will bless the Lord at all times…
While these prayers are being said, the deacon standeth on the right side before the icon of Christ the Master, holding his orarion, head bowed, until the completion of the prayers. These being concluded, the priest then entereth through the holy doors, and having gone to the table of oblation, he saith the following prayer:
The Prayer, when the Holy Things are to be consumed:
Fulfilled and perfected according to our power, O Christ our God, is the Mystery of Thy Dispensation; for we have had the memorial of Thy death, we have seen the image of Thy Resurrection, we have been filled with Thine endless life, we have been gladdened with Thine inexhaustible bounties, which do Thou be pleased to vouchsafe unto us all in the age to come, through the grace of Thine unoriginate Father and Thy Holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The deacon, having entered by the north side, consumeth the Holy Things with fear and with all heedfulness. The priest, having gone out, giveth the antidoron to the people. At the conclusion of the psalm and the distribution of the antidoron, he saith:
The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, and our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Thrice. Bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His most pure Mother; [and the rest]; of our father among the saints, Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia; and Saint(s) N.(N.) (whose temple it is); and Saint(s) N.(N) (of the day); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loveth mankind.
Choir: Amen.
They chant the Many Years.
The priest, having entered the holy altar, saith the Prayers of Thanksgiving.