The Evening Divine Liturgy of the Presentation of the Lord in the TempleFebruary 2nd
(Observed February 1st)
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.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou, 0 Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand? For with thee there is forgiveness.
Say, O Simeon, whom carriest thou in the temple in thing arms with rejoicing? Towards whom doest thou cry, shouting, Now I have been let to depart; for I have beheld my Savior. This is he born of the virgin. This is the Word, God of God, who was incarnate for our sakes, and saved man. Him let us worship.
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.
Say, 0 Simeon, whom carriest thou in the temple in thine arms with rejoicing? Towards whom dost thou cry, shouting, Now I have been let to depart; for I have beheld my Savior. This is he born of the virgin. This is the Word, God of God, who was incarnate for our sakes, and saved man. Him let us worship.
FROM THE MORNING WATCH UNTIL NIGHT, FROM THE MORNING WATCH LET ISRAEL TRUST IN THE LORD.
Receive, 0 Simeon, him whom Moses foresaw on Sinai below the clouds laying down the law, becoming a child, and obeying the law. He it is who uttereth the law. He it is who was symbolized by the prophets, who hath become incarnate for our sakes and saved man. Him let us worship.
FOR WITH THE LORD THERE IS MERCY AND WITH HIM IS ABUNDANT REDEMPTION, AND HE WILL DELIVER ISRAEL FROM ALL HIS INIQUITIES.
Receive, 0 Simeon, him whom Moses foresaw on Sinai below the clouds laying down the law, becoming a child, and obeying the law. He it is who uttereth the law. He it is who was symbolized by the prophets, who hath become incarnate for our sakes and saved man. Him let us worship.
PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YE NATIONS: PRAISE HIM ALL YE PEOPLE.
Come, let us also welcome Christ and receive him with divine songs of praise, whose salvation Simeon saw, of whom David speaketh. He it is who spake through the prophets, who is incarnate for our sakes, and speaketh in the law. Him let us worship.
FOR HIS MERCY IS GREAT TOWARD US, AND THE
.
TRUTH OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOREVER.
Come, let us also welcome Christ and receive him with divine songs .of praise, whose salvation. Simeon saw, of whom David speaketh. He it is who spake through the prophets, who is incarnate for our sakes, and speaketh in the law. Him let us worship.
(The people stand.)
(In the Sixth Tone:) GLORY TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: BOTH NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO AGES OF AGES. AMEN.
Today let the gate of heaven be opened; for the Word of the Father who is without- beginning,
having taken a beginning in time, not separating from his Godhead, is offered by his own will, by a virgin mother as a child forty days old in the Mosaic Temple; and the priest, his servant, receiveth him in his arms, crying with joy, Now lettest thou me depart, for mine eyes have beheld thy salvation. Wherefore, 0 thou who didst come into the world to save mankind, 0 Lord, glory to thee.
(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.
(Upon completing the above prayer, the priest, carrying the Holy Gospel and preceded by two altar boys with candles, 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:)
Priest: 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! Attend!
(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: One God. 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 choir or chanter now immediately sings the TROPARION OF THE FEAST:)
TROPARION OF THE FEAST (Tone One): Rejoice,
0 Virgin Theotokos, who art full of grace, for from thee did shine the Sun of Justice, Christ who is our God, a light to those who dwell in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, 0 righteous old man, bearing in thine arms the deliverer of our souls, who grants to us resurrection.
(Then immediately : ) SAINT OF THE CHURCH.
THE TROPARION OF THE PATRON
(Then immediately:) THE KONTAKION OF THE FEAST
(Tone One): Thou, 0 Christ God, who by thy birth, didst sanctify the virgin's womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon's arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love, for thou alone art the lover of mankind.
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.
THE TRISAGION HYMN
CHOIR: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal:
have mercy on us.
Priest: Dynamis!
Choir: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: mercy on us.
(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 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.)
Old Testament Readings
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from Exodus.
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader: (Exodus 13) 1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”
3And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4“On this day you are going out, in the month Abib. 5“And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. 6“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7“Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. 8“And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ 9“It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10“You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
11“And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, 12“that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. 13“But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14“So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 15‘And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16“It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”
(Leviticus 12) 1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. 3‘And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4‘She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled. 5‘But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.
6‘When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7‘Then he shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female. 8‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”
(Numbers 3) “All the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.”
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader: (Isaiah 6:1-12) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3 And one cried to another and said:
1 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
“Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.”
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 “Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered:
“Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant,
The houses are without a man,
The land is utterly desolate,
12 The Lord has removed men far away,
And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader: (Isaiah 19:1-21)
The burden against Egypt.
1 Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud,
And will come into Egypt;
The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,
And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.
2 “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;
Everyone will fight against his brother,
And everyone against his neighbor,
City against city, kingdom against kingdom.
3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst;
I will destroy their counsel,
And they will consult the idols and the charmers,
The mediums and the sorcerers.
4 And the Egyptians I will give
Into the hand of a cruel master,
And a fierce king will rule over them,”
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.
5 The waters will fail from the sea,
And the river will be wasted and dried up.
6 The rivers will turn foul;
The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up;
The reeds and rushes will wither.
7 The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River,
And everything sown by the River,
Will wither, be driven away, and be no more.
8 The fishermen also will mourn;
All those will lament who cast hooks into the River,
And they will languish who spread nets on the waters.
9 Moreover those who work in fine flax
And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed;
10 And its foundations will be broken.
All who make wages will be troubled of soul.
11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools;
Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel.
How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise,
The son of ancient kings?”
12 Where are they?
Where are your wise men?
Let them tell you now,
And let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan have become fools;
The princes of Noph are deceived;
They have also deluded Egypt,
Those who are the mainstay of its tribes.
14 The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst;
And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work,
As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 Neither will there be any work for Egypt,
Which the head or tail,
Palm branch or bulrush, may do.
16 In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it.17 And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it.
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.
19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them.21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.[1]
THE EPISTLE
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader: My soul doth magnify the Lord. For he hath regarded the humiliation of his handmaid.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews.
Priest: Let us be attentive!
Reader: (Hebrews 7:7-17)
7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.17 For He testifies:
1 “You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Priest: Peace be to thee that readest.
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
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: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee.
Priest: Let us be attentive! (Luke 2:22-40)
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against35 “(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.[2]
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.
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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 in our midst!
Choir/People: He is and ever shall be!
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 Choir now sings the Hermos of the Ninth Ode, with the last magnification in the Third Tone)
Choir: Let us magnify, O believers, the first-born Son, the Eternal Word of the Father, first-born of a mother who know no man; for we have beheld in the shadow of the law and the scriptures a sign, that every first-born male that openeth the wormb is called holy to God.
Keep thou, Theotokos,
Them who seek thy help;
Preserve them from life’s harms,
Thy servants true and meek.
(The Priest now censes the Gifts and the Sanctuary)
Priest (quietly while censing): 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.
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.
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.
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.