Worship. This is a word that is much talked about. But, what exactly does it mean and how do we properly go about it? In the Bible, Abraham moved into the Promised Land at the direction of God. The first thing Abraham did, as a worshipper of the One True God was to erect an altar and set about worshipping God and calling others to do the same (Gen. 12). This gives us a clue, but is not detailed enough as Moses, the writer of the book of Genesis assumed his readers would understand what he was writing about as they worshipped within this context. Moses himself, when he fled Egypt after killing a man, ended up with Jethro and his family. Jethro was a Kenite who were worshippers of the One True God and Jethro himself was a priest of God. The Kenites, as we know from archaeology, were worshippers of Yahweh and worshipped in a specially constructed tent with an area for an altar and a Holy of Holies veiled off from the rest of the tent. Moses was raised in the Egyptian court and needed to be introduced to Yahweh and his proper worship. He married Jethro’s daughter and began to learn to worship God. He met God on the mountain and it changed his life (Ex. 3). God appointed Moses as the leader of Israel and Jethro was an observer of the things Moses did and was his guide and counselor. Moses, upon his victorious emergence from Egypt with the Israelites went to the mountain and was given specific instructions on how people should live and how to properly worship God. He was told to build a Tent of Meeting and it was the same pattern as the one used by the Kenites. We are beginning to see a pattern here. God even gave instructions on special vestments for priests to set them apart and mark them out as holy. The decorations as aids to worship were given in a certain pattern, and there were icons of angels on the walls and on the Ark of the Covenant. Moses handed this worship down to his followers who passed it down to Solomon. Solomon kept this same worship form and when he built his temple to Yahweh it was in exactly the same pattern with the same sorts of images and decorations as had been commanded Moses. When this Temple was destroyed and Israel deported, the Synagogue rose as a place of learning and worship. There have been Synagogues of this period found with icons (images) decorating the walls. The Synagogue of that day had a similar pattern as handed down from Moses and when the Jews returned and rebuilt the Temple, it had the same pattern as the old Tent of Meeting, the first Temple and the Synagogues. Jesus, who has been revealed as the same God who gave the pattern of worship to Abraham, the Kenites, Moses, and Solomon, kept worshipping in this fashion himself (who was to be worshipped!) since this is the fashion he instituted and thus, gave his continuing stamp of approval on this form. The Apostles of Christ also kept worshipping in the Temple and the Synagogues (The Bible says so!) since they were good Jews. The early Church worshipped entirely in this same pattern until the Temple was destroyed and places of worship that were specifically Christian had to be obtained. Even then, the early Church kept the same worship form as handed down to the Apostles in a direct line from Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The first part of the Divine Liturgy worship service was specifically patterned after the Synagogue (not the modern synagogue, but the one that existed then, for they are a bit different, See Edersheim). The second part of the Divine Liturgy worship service, originally only for Baptized Christians, was patterned after the Temple service, but instead of a sacrifice of animals, there was the institution of the Lord’s Supper as the sacrificed Body and Blood of Christ, since he was sacrificed once and for all on the Cross. While there have been some editing efforts and updates, basically this same worship service is seen today in the Orthodox Church since the Early Church, which is now known as the Orthodox Church, believed it is wrong to add too, or take away from, the Faith once delivered to the saints.
The Divine Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
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)
The Liturgy of the Word
The Enarxis
Deacon: Bless, Master.
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
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: for our president (or head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: For healthful seasons, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us O God, by thy grace.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: 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 First Antiphon
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.
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: 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 Second Antiphon
Priest (quietly): O Lord our God, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; preserve the fullness of thy Church, sanctify those who love the beauty of thy use, and glorify them in recompense by thy divine power, and forsake us not who hope on thee.
(Aloud) For thine is the might, and thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir/people: Amen.
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/people: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: 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 Third Antiphon
Priest (quietly): O thou who hast bestowed on us these common and united supplications and dost promise that when two or three are of one accord in thy name thou wilt grant their requests: do thou also now fulfill the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this age the knowledge of thy truth, and in the age to come, life everlasting.
(Aloud) For thou art a good God and lovest mankind, 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.
Deacon (quietly): Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.
Priest (quietly): O Master, Lord our God, who hast appointed in heaven orders and hosts of angels and archangels for the service of thy glory: Cause that with our entrance there may be an entrance of the holy angels serving with us and glorifying thy goodness. 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.
Deacon (quietly): Amen.
(The Priest and deacon, led by the Altar Servers process to the front of the Icon stand bringing in the Holy Gospels)
Deacon (quietly): Bless, master, the holy entrance.
Priest (quietly): Blessed is the entrance to thy holy place, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon (quietly): Amen.
Priest: Wisdom! Stand upright!
Priest/Deacon/choir/people: O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God...
(Weekdays) who art wondrous in the saints, who sing unto thee: Alleluia.
(Sundays) who art risen from the dead, who sing to thee: Alleluia.
(Priest enters the sanctuary carrying the Gospel book and says the following prayer while the people continue to sing:)
Priest (quietly): O holy God, who restest in the 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 nothingness hast brought all things into being, who hast created man according to thine image and likeness and hast adorned him with thine every gift; who givest to him that askest wisdom and understanding, who despisest not the sinner but has 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, O Master, receive even from the mouth of us sinners the thrice-holy hymn and visit us in thy goodness. Pardon 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.
Deacon (quietly): Bless, master, the time of the thrice-holy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For holy art thou, O our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever
Deacon: And unto ages of ages.
Choir/people (sing):
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal: Have mercy on us.
Deacon: With strength!
Choir/people: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
(While the choir sings the priest says the following prayer and censes the sanctuary:)
Priest (quietly): Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. 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.
Deacon (quietly): Amen.
Deacon (quietly after the Censing is completed): Command, master.
Priest (quietly): Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon (quietly): Bless, master, the throne on high.
Priest (quietly): Blessed art thou on the throne of the glory of thy kingdom, who art enthroned upon the cherubim, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon (quietly): Amen.
The Scripture Reading
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader: (Announces the prokeimenon of the Epistle)
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: (Announces the title of the epistle)
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader: (Now reads the appointed epistle)
Priest: Peace be to thee that readest.
Deacon (quietly): Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.
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 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.
Deacon (quietly): Bless, master, him that proclaimeth the good tidings of the holy, glorious apostle and evangelist (N.).
Priest (Blessing the deacon says quietly): May God, through the prayers of the holy, glorious apostle and evangelist (N.) enable thee to proclaim the good tidings with great power, to the fulfillment of the gospel of his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Deacon (quietly): Amen. Amen. Amen. Let it be to me according to thy word.
Deacon (quietly): O holy apostle and evangelist (N.), intercede with the merciful God that he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.
Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright! Let us hear the holy gospel!
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir/people: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: The reading is from the Gospel according to (Saint N.).
Choir/people: Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee.
Priest: Let us attend!
Deacon: (Now reads the appointed Gospel lection)
Priest: Peace be to thee proclaimeth the Gospel.
Choir/people: Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee.
Sermon normally follows the Gospel reading. Everyone sits.
The Litany for the Catechumens
(May be omitted)
Deacon: Pray to the Lord, ye catechumens.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Let us, the faithful, pray for the catechumens, that the Lord will have mercy on them.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he will teach them the word of truth.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he will reveal to them the gospel of righteousness.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he will unite them to his holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Save them; have mercy on them; help them; and keep them, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord, ye catechumens.
Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest (quietly): O Lord our God, who dwellest on high and regardest the humble, who hast sent forth as the salvation of the race of men thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: Look down upon Thy servants the catechumens, who have bowed their necks before thee; make them worthy in due season of the laver of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins and the robe of incorruption. Unite them to thy holy, catholic and apostolic Church, and number them with thine elect flock.
(Aloud) That with us they may glorify 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: Amen.
The Liturgy of the Faithful
(The Priest now unfolds the Antiminsion)
Deacon: As many as are of the faithful, again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/people: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
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.
Deacon (Quietly): That we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia (3x)
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 (quielty): Like the prodigal son, I have sinned against thee, O Saviour. 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 Saviour. 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.
Deacon (quietly): Lift up, master.
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)
Deacon: 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)
Deacon (quietly): Thy priesthood, the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Priest (quietly): Thy diaconate, the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
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.
Deacon (quietly): Do good, master.
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.
* * * * * *
Deacon (quietly): Remember me (us), holy master.
Priest (quietly): The Lord God remember thee (you) in his kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
The Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the precious gifts now set forth, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord,
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir/People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
Priest: Christ is in our midst![2]
Choir/People: He is and ever shall be!
Priest (quietly): I will love thee, O Lord, my Strength; the Lord is my firm Foundation, my Refuge, and my Deliverer.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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:
Deacon: Bless, master, the holy bread.
Priest: And make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ;
Deacon: Amen.
Deacon: Bless master, the holy cup.
Priest: And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ;
Deacon: Amen.
Deacon: Bless both, master.
Priest: Changing them by thy Holy Spirit;
Deacon: Amen. Amen. Amen. Remember me a sinner, holy master.
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.
Deacon: And for those who offer these precious and holy gifts to the Lord our God, the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ and every priestly order and for their salvation, for the peace and stability of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, the salvation and help of the people here present, those whom they are remembering and of all mankind.
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 Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
(The following petitions are usually omitted)
Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the precious gifts which have been spread forth and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
(The Liturgy continues here is the above petition is omitted)
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.
Deacon: 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)
Deacon: Let us attend.
Priest: 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.
Deacon: Divide, master, the holy bread
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.
Deacon: Fill, master, the holy cup.
Priest: The fullness (of the cup of faith) of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen.
Deacon: Bless, master, the zeon.
Priest: Blessed is the warmth of thy holy things, O Lord, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
Priest: The warmth (of faith, full) of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen.
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.
Deacon (quietly): Thy priesthood, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
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 Saviour Jesus Christ is imparted unto me, the unworthy presbyter N., unto forgiveness of my sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): Deacon, draw near.
Deacon (quietly): Lo, I draw near unto Christ, our immortal King and our God.
Deacon (quietly): Master, impart unto me, the unworthy deacon N., the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto forgiveness of my sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): The precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, is imparted unto thee, the reverend deacon N., unto forgiveness of thy sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): The precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour 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): Deacon, draw near.
Deacon (quietly): Again I draw near unto Christ, our immortal King and our God.
Deacon (quietly): Master, impart unto me, the unworthy deacon N., the precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto forgiveness of my sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): The precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, is imparted unto thee, the reverend deacon N., unto forgiveness of thy sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest (quietly): Lo, this hath touched thy lips and shall take away thine iniquities and purge away thy sins.
Deacon (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.
Deacon: 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 Saviour Jesus Christ, unto the forgiveness of sins and unto life everlasting.
Priest: O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.
Deacon (quietly): By thy precious Blood, O Lord, wash away the sins of thy servants here commemorated, through the intercessions of all thy saints.
Deacon (quietly): Exalt, master.
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. Let our mouths be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory. For Thou – hast permitted us to partake of Thy Holy, Divine, Immortal, and Life-giving Mysteries. Establish us in Thy sanctification, that all the day we may meditate upon Thy Righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: 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.)
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir/People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: 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.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
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.
Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to thee.
Choir/People: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Master, bless.
The Dismissal
Priest: May (insert the appointed characteristic phrase), Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the precious and life-giving cross; by the protection of the honorable bodiless powers of heaven; at the supplications of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints (John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople; or Basil the Great archbishop of Caesarea); of the holy, glorious and right-victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers; of (patron saint of the church); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of (the saint of the day) whose memory we celebrate and of all the saints: have mercy on us, and save us, forasmuch as he is good and loveth mankind.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us.
Choir/People: Amen.
Priest: The Holy Trinity keep all of you.
[1] This is called “little” as it is a shorter procession than the “great” Entrance.
[2] During the Paschal season this becomes : “Christ is Risen!” and the response becomes: “Truly, he is Risen!”