The Evening Divine Liturgy of Epiphany of January 6
(Observed January 5th)
Priest: O heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O good One.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. (Twice)
O Lord, thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall declare thy praise. (Once)
Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/people: Amen.
The Litany of Peace
Priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For this holy house and those who with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For our (metropolitan, archbishop, or bishop), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: for our president (or head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For this city and every city and countryside and the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For healthful seasons, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For travelers by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, captives and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us O God, by thy grace.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir/people: To thee, O Lord.
Priest (quietly): O Lord our God, whose might is beyond compare, whose glory is incomprehensible, whose mercy is boundless, and whose love toward mankind is ineffable: Do thou thyself, O Master, in thy tender compassion look down upon us and upon this holy house, and grant us and those who pray with us thy rich mercies and compassions,
(Aloud) For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir/people: Amen.
Reader (or Choir/People Sing): Ps. 140 (141)
Lord, I have cried unto thee, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried unto thee, hear me: give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Hear me, O Lord.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.
Begin Censing at “as incense.”
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Reader: Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Psalm 141 (142)
I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may confess thy name:
For the righteous shall await me, until thou recompense me.
Psalm 130 (129)
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord; Lord hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
(Six Stickhera)
If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For with thee there is propitiation.
When the Forerunner saw him who is our Illumination, who doth illuminate every man, coming to be baptized, his soul rejoiced, and his hand trembled. Then, pointing to him he said to the people, Behold the Rescuer of Israel, who delivereth us from corruption. Wherefore, O Christ our God, who art sinless; glory to thee.
BECAUSE OF THY NAME HAVE I WAITED FOR THEE, 0 LORD; MY SOUL HATH WAITED UPON THY WORD, MY SOUL HATH HOPED IN THE LORD.
When the Forerunner saw him who is our Illumination, who doth illuminate every man, coming to be baptized, his soul rejoiced, and his hand trembled. Then, pointing to him he said to the people, Behold the Rescuer of Israel, who delivereth us from corruption. Wherefore, O Christ our God, who art sinless; glory to thee.
FROM THE MORNING WATCH UNTIL NIGHT, FROM THE MORNING WATCH LET ISRAEL TRUST IN THE LORD.
The hosts of the angels trembled when they beheld our Redeemer being baptized by a servant, and testified to by the presence of the Spirit, while a heavenly voice from the Father cried, saying, Verily, this One on whom the Forerunner placeth his hands, is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Wherefore, O Christ our God, glory to thee.
FOR WITH THE LORD THERE IS MERCY AND WITH HIM IS ABUNDANT REDEMPTION, AND HE WILL DELIVER ISRAEL FROM ALL HIS INIQUITIES.
The hosts of the angels trembled when they beheld our Redeemer being baptized by a servant, and testified to by the presence of the Spirit, while a heavenly voice from the Father cried, saying, Verily, this One on whom the Forerunner placeth his hands, is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Wherefore, O Christ our God, glory to thee.
PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YE NATIONS: PRAISE HIM
ALL YE PEOPLE.
The courses of the Jordan received thee, O Fountain; and the Comforter descended in the likeness of a dove. Yea, he who bowed the heavens, boweth his own head; and the clay crieth unto the potter, saying, How dost thou command me to do what is more exalted than my station? It is I who need to be baptized by thee. Wherefore, O Christ God, who art sinless, glory to thee.
FOR HIS MERCY IS GREAT TOWARD US, AND THE TRUTH OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOREVER.
When thou didst choose to save lost man, thou didst not disdain to put on the likeness of a servant; for it was meet for thee, O Lord God, to accept what is ours for our sakes; for when thou wast baptized in the flesh, O Redeemer, thou didst make us worthy of forgiveness. Wherefore, we cry to thee, O Christ our benevolent God, glory to thee.
(The People Stand)
GLORY TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: BOTH NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO TO AGES OF AGES. AMEN .
Thou didst bow thy head to the Forerunner, thereby crushing the heads of the dragons. And having stood in the streams, thou didst illuminate the whole creation. Wherefore, let it glorify thee, O Savior, thou Illumination of our souls.
While the Choir or Chanter is singing the appropriate Hymn to the Theotokos the Priest stands before the Holy Altar and says quietly the following Prayer of the Entrance:
PRIEST: (Quietly) In the evening, and in the
morning, and at noon-day we praise thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, and we pray unto thee, 0 Lord of all: Direct thou our prayer before thee as incense, and incline not our hearts unto words or thoughts of wickedness; but deliver us from all who seek after our souls. For unto thee, Lord, 0 Lord, lift we up our eyes, and in thee have we trusted.
Put us not to shame, 0 our God. For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Little Entrance
Upon completing the above Prayer the Priest carrying the Holy Gospel and preceded by the Altar servers with candle, leaves the Sanctuary by the North Door and stands before the Holy Doors. He then makes the sign of the Cross with his right hand towards the Altar, and quietly says:
Blessed is the Entrance of thy Holy Ones, always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
When the Choir or Chanter has finished the Hymn to the Theotokos (Theotokion) the Priest lifts up the Holy Gospel with both hands saying in a loud voice:
PRIEST: Wisdom, Let us be attentive.
The Priest enters the Sanctuary through the Holy Doors and places the Gospel Book on the Altar. Meanwhile the Choir sings the following Hymn:
CHOIR: Gladsome light of the Holy Glory that shines from the immortal Father in Heaven, the Holy, the Blessed, 0 Jesus Christ: Lo, now that we come to sunset, now that we see the evening light. We sing the praise of Father, Son and Holy Spirit: OneGod. Worthy art Thou to be praised at all times with voices meet for holy song, Son of God, Thou Giver of Life. Wherefore the world glorifieth Thee.
The lamps on the altar are now lit during the singing of O Gladsome Light.
The Choir or Chanter now immediately sings:
TROPARION OF THE FEAST (Tone 1): When thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, and called thee His Beloved Son! And the Spirit in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His Word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed himself to us and illumined the world, glory to thee!
Then immediately the TROPARION OF THE PATRON SAINT OF THE CHURCH.
KONTAKION OF THE FEAST (Tone 4) Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hath been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, thou hast come and appeared, O Unapproachable Light.
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For Holy art Thou, 0 our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
CHOIR: "As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia. " (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Have put on Christ, Alleluia.
As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Meanwhile the Priest reads quietly The Prayer of the Trisagion:
THE PRAYER OF THE TRISAGION
PRIEST: 0 Holy God, who restest in thy Holy Place; who art hymned by the Seraphim with thrice holy cry, and glorified by the Cherubim, and worshipped by every heavenly Power; Who out of nothing hast brought all things into being; who hast created man after thine own image and likeness and hast adorned him with thine every gift; who givest to him that askest wisdom and understanding; who despisest not the sinner, but hast appointed repentance unto salvation; who hast vouchsafed unto us, thy humble and unworthy servants, even in this hour to stand before the glory of thy Holy Altar and to offer the worship and praise which are due unto Thee: Thyself, 0 Master, accept even from the mouth of us sinners the Hymn of the Trisagion, and visit us in thy goodness. Forgive us every transgression both 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 the beginning of the world have been well-pleasing unto Thee.
For Holy art Thou, 0 our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to/the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Then the Priest, taking the censer, censes the Altar and all of the Sanctuary while he also says the Trisagion. After the censing, he makes three
low bows before the Altar; then he goes towards the High Place behind the Altar, quietly saying as he goes:
PRIEST: (Quietly) Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Then standing before the High Place, he says:
PRIEST: (Quietly) Blessed art Thou on the throne of the glory of thy kingdom, who sittest upon the Cherubim: always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
After the Choir has finished singing the Trisagion the Priest comes before the Altar and faces the people.
(The People Sit)
The Old Testament
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from Genesis (1:1-13)
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” Together these made up one day.
6 And God said, “Let there be space between the waters, to separate water from water.” 7 And so it was. God made this space to separate the waters above from the waters below. 8 And God called the space “sky.” This happened on the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky be gathered into one place so dry ground may appear.” And so it was. 10 God named the dry ground “land” and the water “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land burst forth with every sort of grass and seed-bearing plant. And let there be trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. The seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And so it was. 12 The land was filled with seed-bearing plants and trees, and their seeds produced plants and trees of like kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 This all happened on the third day. (NLT)
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from 2 Kings (2:6-14)
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader:
6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.”
But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.
7 Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. 8 Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!
9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken away?”
And Elisha replied, “Please let me become your rightful successor.”
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his robe in two.
13 Then Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14 He struck the water with the cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. (NLT)
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from 2 Kings (2:19-22)
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader:
19 Now the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in beautiful natural surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have made this water wholesome. It will no longer cause death or infertility.” 22 And sure enough! The water has remained wholesome ever since, just as Elisha said. (NLT)
The Epistle
Priest: Let us attend!
Reader: Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Confess to the Lord, for he is good.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus (2:11-3:7).
Priest: Let us attend!
Reader:
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right. 15 You must teach these things and encourage your people to do them, correcting them when necessary. You have the authority to do this, so don’t let anyone ignore you or disregard what you say.
1 Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. 2 They must not speak evil of anyone, and they must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.
4 But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. 5 He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. 7 He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life. (NLT)
Priest: Peace be to thee that readest.
Priest (quietly): Illumine our hearts, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of thy gospel teachings; implant in us also the fear of thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto thee. For thou art the Illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thine unoriginate Father and thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Wisdom! Stand upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel!
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir/people: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading is from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew (3:13-17).
Choir/people: Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee.
Priest: Let us attend!
Priest:
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John didn’t want to baptize him. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15 But Jesus said, “It must be done, because we must do everything that is right.” So then John baptized him.
16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.” (NLT)
Choir/people: Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee.
Sermon normally follows the Gospel reading. Everyone sits.
The Litany of the Faithful
(The Priest now unfolds the Antiminsion)
Priest: As many as are of the faithful, again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Wisdom!
Priest (quietly): Again and at often times we fall down before thee and beseech thee, O Good One who lovest mankind, that looking down upon our petition thou wilt cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh or spirit, and grant us to stand blamelessly and without condemnation before thy holy altar. Grant also, O God, to those who pray with us growth in life and faith and spiritual understanding. Grant them always blamelessly to serve thee with fear and love and to partake without condemnation of thy holy mysteries and to be accounted worthy of thy heavenly kingdom:
(Aloud) That guarded always by thy might we may ascribe glory unto thee to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/people: Amen.
We who mystically represent the Cherubim, and sing to the life-giving Trinity the thrice holy hymn, let us now lay aside all earthly cares: That we may receive the King of all, who comes invisibly upborne by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn
Priest (quietly): No one who is bound with the desires and pleasures of the flesh is worthy to approach or to draw nigh or to serve thee, O King of glory, for to serve thee, is a great and fearful thing even to the heavenly powers. Nevertheless through thine unspeakable and boundless love toward mankind thou didst become man, yet without change or alteration, and as Master of all didst take the name of our High Priest and delivered unto us the ministry of this liturgic and bloodless sacrifice. For thou alone, O Lord our God, rulest over those in heaven and on earth, who are borne on the throne of the cherubim, who art Lord of the seraphim and King of Israel, who alone art holy and restest in the holy place. Wherefore I implore thee who alone art good and art ready to listen: Look down upon me, a sinner and thine unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience, and by the power of thy Holy Spirit enable me, who am endued with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this thy holy table, and perform the sacred mystery of thy holy and immaculate Body and precious Blood. For I draw near unto thee, and bowing my neck I pray thee. Turn not thy face from me, neither cast me out from among thy servants, but vouchsafe that these gifts may be offered unto thee by me, thy sinful and unworthy servant; for thou thyself art he that offereth and is offered, that accepteth and is distributed, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thine unoriginate Father, and thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Cherubic Hymn
Priest (Quietly): Let us, who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, lay aside all worldly cares.
That we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia (3x)
Censing
Priest (quietly) : Blessed is our God, always, no and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen. Incense we offer unto thee O Christ our God, as a savour of spiritual sweetness, which do thou receive upon thy most heavenly altar, and send down upon us in return the grace of thine all-holy Spirit.
Priest (quietly): O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God.
Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy, according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of thy wisdom hast thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and with thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.
Priest (quietly): Like the prodigal son, I have sinned against thee, O Savior. Receive me as I repent, O Father, and have mercy on me, O God.
With the voice of the publican I cry unto thee, O Christ my Savior. Take pity on me as thou hast on him, and have mercy on me, O God.
Forgive me, brother and concelebrant.
Forgive, O God, those who hate us and those who love us.
Priest (Bowing quietly says): O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and have mercy on me.
Priest (quietly): Lift up your hands unto the holies, and bless the Lord.
God hath gone up in jubilation; the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.
The Great Entrance
(The Priest and deacon carrying the holy gifts, led by the angelic altar servers now process from the sanctuary around the nave and through the Royal Doors)
Priest: All of you, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: Our (metropolitan or archbishop or bishop), N., and all our brotherhood in Christ, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: Our president (or appropriate head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: The Orthodox servant(s) of God, NN., that he (she, they) may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, pardon and forgiveness of sins, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: The Orthodox servant(s) of God departed this life in the hope of the resurrection and life eternal, NN., the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
(The procession now enters the sanctuary through the Royal Doors while the choir and the people continue to sing)
Priest (quietly): The noble Joseph, when he had taken down thine immaculate body from the tree, wrapped it in pure linen and spices and, sorrowing, placed it in a new tomb.
Priest (quietly): In the grave with the body but in hades with the soul as God; in paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast thou, O Christ, filling all things, thyself uncircumscribed.
As life-bearing, as more splendid than paradise, and more radiant than any royal chamber, O Christ, is shown forth thy tomb, the fountain of our resurrection.
Priest (quietly): Do good, O Lord, in thy good pleasure unto Sion, 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.
* * * * * *
The Litany of Supplication
Priest: Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the precious gifts now set forth, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this holy house and those who with faith, reverence and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord,
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: All things good and profitable for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir/People: To thee, O Lord.
The Prayer of the Proskomedia
Priest (quietly): O Lord God Almighty, who alone art holy, who dost accept a sacrifice of praise from those who call upon thee with their whole heart: Receive also the prayer of us sinners, and lead us to thy holy altar, and enable us to offer unto thee gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the ignorance of the people, and make us worthy to find grace in thy sight, that our sacrifice may be acceptable unto thee and that the good Spirit of thy grace may rest upon us and upon these gifts here spread forth and upon all thy people:
(Aloud) Through the compassions of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir/People: And to thy spirit.
Priest: Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess:
Choir/People: Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and undivided.
Come to Royal Doors and say:
Priest: Christ is born!
Choir/People: Glorify Him!
People greet one another in this manner. When enough time has elapsed the priest begins with:
Priest (quietly): I will love thee, O Lord, my Strength; the Lord is my firm Foundation, my Refuge, and my Deliverer.
Priest: The doors. The doors. In wisdom let us attend.
Nicene Creed
Everyone: 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 worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very 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 heaven, and was Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;
And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures;
And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;
And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe in One Holy Catholic and ApostolicChurch.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.
Amen.
Priest: Let us stand aright. Let us stand with fear. Let us attend, that we may offer the holy oblation in peace.
Choir/People: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.
Priest: 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/People: And with thy spirit.
Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.
Choir/People: We lift them up unto the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
Choir/People: It is meet and right.
THE HOLY ANAPHORA
Priest: It is meet and right to hymn thee, to bless thee, to praise thee, to give thanks unto thee and to worship thee in every place of thy dominion; for thou art God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever-existing and eternally the same, thou and thine only-begotten Son and thy Holy Spirit. Thou it was who didst bring us from non-existence into being and when we had fallen away didst raise us up again, and didst not cease to do all things until thou hadst brought us up to heaven and hadst endowed us with thy kingdom which is to come. For all these things we give thanks unto thee, and to thine only-begotten Son and to thy Holy Spirit; for all things of which we know and of which we know not and for all the benefits bestowed upon us, both manifest and unseen. And we give thanks unto thee also for this ministry which thou dost vouchsafe to receive at our hands, even though there stand beside thee thousands of archangels and ten thousands of angels, the cherubim and the seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring aloft, borne on their wings:
Singing the triumphal hymn, shouting, proclaiming and saying:
Choir/People: 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.
Priest: With these blessed powers we also, O Master who lovest mankind, cry aloud and say: Holy art thou and all-holy, thou and thine only-begotten Son and thy Holy Spirit; holy art thou and all-holy, and magnificent is thy glory, who hast so loved thy world as to give thine only-begotten Son, that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life, who, when he had come and had fulfilled all the dispensation for us, in the night in which he was betrayed or, rather, gave himself up for the life of the world, took bread in his holy and immaculate and blameless hands; and when he had given thanks and blessed it and hallowed it and broken it, he gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying:
Priest: Take, eat. This is my Body which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins;
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: And likewise after supper, he took the cup, saying:
Priest: Drink of this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: Having in remembrance, therefore, this saving commandment and all those things which have come to pass for us: the cross, the grave, the third-day resurrection, the ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming:
Priest: Thine own of thine own, we offer unto thee in behalf of all and for all.
Choir/People: We hymn thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, O Lord. And we pray unto thee, O our God.
Priest: Again we offer unto thee this rational and bloodless worship and beseech thee and pray thee and supplicate thee: Send down thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here spread forth:
Priest: And make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ;
Amen.
Priest: And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ;
Amen.
Priest: Changing them by thy Holy Spirit;
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Priest: That to those who shall partake thereof they may be unto cleansing of soul, unto forgiveness of sins, unto the communion of thy Holy Spirit, unto the fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven and unto boldness toward thee, not unto judgment or unto condemnation. And again we offer unto thee this rational worship for all those who in faith have gone before us to their rest: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics and every righteous spirit which has completed this life in faith:
Priest: Especially our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.
(The Priest now censes the Gifts and the Sanctuary)
Priest (quietly): For the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; the holy glorious and all-laudable apostles; (N., saint of the day), whose memory we celebrate, and all thy saints, at whose supplications visit us, O God.
Priest (quietly): And be mindful of all those who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, NN., and grant them rest, O our God, where the light of thy countenance watcheth over them.
Priest (quietly): And again we beseech thee: Be mindful, O Lord of every bishop of the Orthodox, who rightly divideth the word of thy truth, of all the presbytery, the diaconate in Christ and every priestly and monastic order.
Priest (quietly): And again we offer unto thee this rational worship for the whole world, for the holy, catholic and apostolic Church, for those who live in chastity and lead a godly way of life and for all civil authorities, and our armed forces; grant them, O Lord, peaceful times, that we in their tranquility may lead a calm and peaceful life in all reverence and godliness.
Priest: Among the first be mindful, O Lord, of our (metropolitan or archbishop or bishop), N, whom do thou grant unto thy holy churches in peace, safety, honor, health and length of days, and rightly dividing the word of thy truth.
Choir/People: Amen.
Choir/People: And of all mankind.
Priest (quietly): Be mindful, O Lord, of this city in which we dwell, and of every city and countryside, and of those who in faith dwell therein. Be mindful, O Lord, of those who travel by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, captives and their salvation. Be mindful, O Lord of those who bear fruit and do good works in thy holy churches and who remember the poor; and upon us all send forth thy mercies:
(Aloud) And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and praise thine all-honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: And the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Priest: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the precious gifts which have been spread forth and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That our God, who loveth mankind, receiving them upon his holy, most heavenly and ideal altar as a savour of spiritual sweetness, will send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Asking for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir/People: To thee, O Lord.
Priest (quietly): Unto thee we commend our whole life and our hope, O Master who lovest mankind; and we beseech thee and pray thee and supplicate thee: Vouchsafe us to partake of thy heavenly and dread mysteries of this sacred and spiritual table, with a pure conscience, unto forgiveness of sins, unto pardon of transgressions, unto communion of the Holy Spirit, unto inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, unto boldness toward thee, not unto judgment nor unto condemnation:
(Aloud) And vouchsafe, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon thee, the heavenly God, as Father and to say:
All: 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 those who 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 Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir/People: And to thy spirit.
Priest: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
Choir/People: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O King invisible, who by thy boundless power hast made all things and in the multitude of thy mercy hast brought all things from nothingness into being. Do thou thyself, O Master, look down from heaven upon those who have bowed their heads unto thee; for they have not bowed down unto flesh and blood, but to thee, the fearful God. Therefore, O Master, do thou thyself distribute these gifts here spread forth, unto all of us for good, according to the individual need of each: voyage with those who sail by sea; journey with those who travel by land and air; heal the sick, thou who are the Physician of our souls and bodies.
Priest: Through the grace and compassions and love toward mankind of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest (quietly): Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from thy holy dwelling-place and from the throne of glory of thy kingdom; and come to sanctify us, O thou who sittest on high with the Father and art here invisibly present with us; and vouchsafe by thy mighty hand to impart unto us thine immaculate Body and precious Blood, and through us unto all the people.
Priest (quietly): O God, be gracious unto me, a sinner, and have mercy on me. (3x)
Priest: Let us attend.
The Holy Things are for the holy.
Choir/people: One is holy, one is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen
Choir/people: Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him in the highest! Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Priest: Divided and distributed is the Lamb of God, who is divided, yet not disunited; who is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifieth those who partake thereof.
Priest: The fullness (of the cup of faith) of the Holy Spirit.
Priest: Blessed is the warmth of thy holy things, O Lord, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Priest: The warmth (of faith, full) of the Holy Spirit.
The Pre-Communion Prayers
Priest/All: 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 first. And I believe that this is truly thine own immaculate Body and that this is truly thine own precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray thee, have mercy on me, and pardon my transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance; and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of thine immaculate mysteries unto forgiveness of sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.
Of thy mystic supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom. Not unto judgment nor unto condemnation be my partaking of thy holy mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.
Communion of the Faithful
Priest (quietly): Forgive me my sins, brother and concelebrant.
Priest (quietly while bowing): O God, be gracious unto me, a sinner, and have mercy on me. (3x)
Priest (quietly): Lo, I draw near unto Christ, our immortal King and our God.
Priest (quietly): The precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is imparted unto me, the unworthy presbyter N., unto forgiveness of my sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): The precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, is imparted unto me, the unworthy presbyter N., unto forgiveness of my sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): Lo, this hath touched my lips and shall take away mine iniquities and purge away my sins.
Priest (quietly): In that we have beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. Thy cross do we adore, O Christ, and thy holy resurrection we praise 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 adore Christ’s holy resurrection. For lo, through the cross is joy come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us sing his resurrection, for in that he endured the cross for us he hath destroyed death by death.
Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath dawned upon thee. Dance and be glad, O Sion. And delight thou, O pure Theotokos, in the rising of thy Son.
How divine! How beloved! How sweet is thy voice, O Christ! For thou hast faithfully promised to be with us to the end of the age. Having this as our anchor of hope, we the faithful do rejoice.
O Christ, great and most holy Pascha; O Wisdom, Word and Power of God: Grant that we may more perfectly partake of thee in the never-ending day of thy kingdom.
Priest: With fear of God and faith and love, draw near.
(Those who are baptized or chrismated Orthodox Christians now come forward for communion.
Those who are not members of the Orthodox Church are invited to come forward and receive of the Bread of Fellowship. Please get one piece for yourself and one to share in fellowship with someone else present)
Choir/People: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us.
Priest: The servant of God, N., partakes of the precious and all-holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, unto the forgiveness of sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest: O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.
Priest (quietly): By thy precious Blood, O Lord, wash away the sins of thy servants here commemorated, through the intercessions of all thy saints.
Priest (quietly): Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth.
Priest: Blessed is our God;
Priest: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen. When thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, and called thee His Beloved Son! And the Spirit in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His Word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed himself to us and illumined the world, glory to thee!
Priest: Stand upright. Having partaken of the divine, holy, immaculate, immortal, heavenly, life-giving and dread mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy. (or Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee.)
Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Asking that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir/People: To thee, O Lord.
The Thanksgiving Prayer
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O Master who lovest mankind, Benefactor of our souls, for that thou hast vouchsafed this day to feed us with thy heavenly and immortal mysteries. Make straight our path; establish us all in thy fear; guard our life; make firm our steps; through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and of all thy saints:
Priest: For thou art our Sanctification, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: Let us depart in peace.
Choir/People: In the name of the Lord.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
The Prayer Behind the Amvon
Priest: O Lord, who blessest those who bless thee and sanctifiest those who put their trust in thee: Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, preserve the fullness of thy Church, sanctify those who love the beauty of thy house, glorify them in recompense by thy divine power, and forsake us not who hope on thee. Give peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the priests, to the civil authorities, to the armed forces and to all thy people; for all good giving and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from thee, the Father of lights, and unto thee we ascribe glory, thanksgiving and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen
Choir/People: Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. (thrice)
The Prayer at the Consumption of the Holy Gifts
Priest (quietly): O Christ our God, who art thyself the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, who didst fulfill all the dispensation of the Father: Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you through his divine grace and love toward mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir/People: Amen.
Great Blessing of Water at Epiphany begins
Eighth tone (Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem)
CANTOR: The voice of the Lord thunders over the waters, saying, "Come, all, receive the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God, of Christ revealed."
Today the nature of the waters is sanctified, and the Jordan splits asunder, and it reverses the flow of its stream as it sees its Master cleansed.
Christ king, You came to the river as a man, hastening to receive the baptism of a servant at the hands of the Forerunner, for our sins, 0 loving Lord.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Hearkening to the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord," You came, Lord, assuming the form of a servant, asking to be baptized, though having known no sin. The waters saw You and were afraid. The Forerunner was shaken and cried out, saying, "How shall the lamp give light to the light? How shall the servant lay hand on the Master? Sanctify me and the waters, Savior, Who takes away the sin of the world."
The three readings for Epiphany now follow:
(If there is no Deacon, the Priest, during the reading of the prophecies, reads the prayer, inaudibly, "Lord, Jesus Christ, only begotten... ")
READER: The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah (Chapter 35)
DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
(The faithful are seated)
READER: The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf .unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; .the unclean shall not pass over it, and fools shall not err therein. No 1ion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.