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THE
RITE
OF THE Types of Bread Used in this Rite Using the Chalice Instead of the Ciborium for Distribution Priests make the sign of the cross over others (imparting a blessing) with the flat right hand or the right hand holding a hand cross, making a single sign of the cross. Bishops holding the crosier (or another object) in the left hand make the sign of the cross over others with the right hand, holding the first two fingers extended and the last two fingers curled. For a formal blessing, the sign is generally made with three small crosses, once at the mention of the Name of each of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. When making the sign of the cross in procession, however, single cross signs are usually more practical. Bishops not holding anything in the left hand, however, make the sign of the cross over others when practical using both hands, Sacred Ministers: All: Amice, alb, cincture, zucchetto, and biretta/kamilavka/skufia. Clergy dress according to their grade of ordination, not the function they are performing. Sub-Deacon: Tunicle. Deacon: Stole over the left shoulder. Dalmatic. Priest: Stole over both shoulders, crossed in the front. Cope. Bishop: Stole over both shoulders. Pianeta (in the style of a dalmatic, as the imperial garment symbolising the rule of Christ over the world). Cope (as the seamless garment of Christ, symbolising His holy priesthood). Omophore, in gold, with crosses at the ends and the neck, crossed in the front, left over right, worn over the pianeta. Engolpion over the omophore. Mitre. When assisting or else presiding but not celebrating the Divine Liturgy or Divine Offices, a bishop may vest in pontifical dress, which consists of cope with mitre, but without pallium, and with the cross or engolpion, but not both. When celebrating liturgy without deacons of honour and with either only one deacon or no deacons, a bishop may use simplex pontifical dress: the pallium is not used by an archbishop, and the simplex mitre as described below is used. Archbishop: As a bishop, with the addition of the pallium over the outside of the cope. Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia: As an archbishop, with the omophore with its ends straight and not crossed) over the fanon (worn under the cope), and the pallium and engolpion as usual. Falda. Mitre or,   Priest in vestments as a Sacred Minister (left) and for assisting at the altar (right) during the Divine Liturgy.  Archbishop in liturgical dress as a Sacred Minister in the Divine Liturgy or Divine Offices. Mitre The mitre of Bishops of the Gallo-Russo-Byzantine Rite is of Roman style in gold or white and gold, with jewels and icons, without lappets. The top points are either brought together and joined, surmounted by a cross, or left separate with one cross on each point. This is used as both the "precious" and "golden" mitre. The simplex mitre is of a similar style in gold with icons, with either no jewels or minimal, subdued jewels. Priests of the rite elevated to the prelatial dignity in the Patriarchal Chapter and thereby are entitled to the mitre wear a mitre in gold or white with icons, and without jewels or top cross. Colours Liturgical colours follow the liturgical calendar used throughout the Imperial Roman Church, with some exceptions. The complete colour array throughout the liturgical year is given below for this rite. However, white or gold may substitute for green, red, and blue; and purple may also substitute for rose and black. The Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia uses red and gold vestments, but may also use gold for ordinary use except at penitential rites. The use of red and gold derives from ancient Byzantine origins and symbolises the universal kingship and royal priesthood of Christ. For "dark" colours, according to custom, he uses a purple or black cope with a red pianeta when specified in the liturgical norms. On Sunday, feriae, feasts, and octaves for which green is appointed, he uses a green cope with white or gold pianeta.
Clergy Assisting at the Altar Clergy assisting at the altar wear the cassock and surplice (rochet, for prelates so entitled) with the vestment appropriate to their level of ordination, as well as their proper headwear, worn at the same time that the Sacred Ministers wear it. Stoles are not worn, Choir Dress Clergy assisting in choir and not directly serving at the altar wear the cassock and surplice. Prelates wear the rochet if entitled, as well as their proper choral garment, i.e., mozzetta, mantelletta, mantellone, or toga. Bishops wear the omophore, and likewise may wear it as appropriate over the toga with the public habit. The Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia may optionally use the pastoral stole over the mozzetta with choir dress, and the omophore over the mozzetta or toga with the audience and public habit respectively. The
Entrance Prayers
and Vesting Prayers
Before the Altar
At
the appointed time, the priest enters the
temple, and together with the
deacon (and
subdeacon), facing
East, they bow before
the altar three times, and begin:
Deacon: Master, bless. Priest:
Blessed is our
God, always, now
and ever, and to the ages
of
ages. Deacon:
Amen.
Deacon
(or priest, if celebrating
alone): Glory to Thee,
our God, glory to Thee. O
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth,
Who
are everywhere present and fill all things, The
following line is said
three times: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit... Here rise.as it was in the
beginning, is now and ever shall be, unto the ages of ages. Amen. O
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us;
O
Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O
Master, forgive our transgressions;
O
Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities
for Thy Name's sake. Lord,
have mercy. Christ,
have mercy. Lord,
have mercy. Here bow:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit... Here rise.as it was in the
beginning, is now and ever shall be, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Our
Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name;
Priest: For Thine is
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen. The
priest
and deacon then say: Have
mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us:
since
we have no defense, we
sinners offer this
supplication to Thee, O Master; have
mercy
on us. Here bow:
Glory
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Here rise.
Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee we place
our hope. Be not
exceedingly angry with us nor
mindful of our transgressions; but
look upon us even now with mercy and
deliver us from our enemies; for
Thou art our God and
we are Thy people: we
all are the work of Thy hands, and
we call upon Thy Name. Now and ever, and to
the ages of ages. Amen.
Open to us the gates of mercy,
O blessed Mother of God,
that we, who place our hope in thee, may not
perish, but that
through thee we may be delivered from
misfortune; for
thou art the salvation of
all Christians. Then
bowing
towards the crucifix or icon of Christ, they say:
We fall down and worship before thy most pure
image, O Holy and
Good One, begging forgiveness
for our offenses, O Christ our God; for Thou, of Thine own will, were pleased to ascend
upon the cross in the flesh to
deliver those whom Thou have created
from the slavery of the enemy. Therefore, we
gratefully
cry out to Thee: by Thy coming to save the world, O our Savior, Thou
have filled
all things with joy. They
then
bow towards the image or icon of the Mother of God and say the
following: O
Holy Mother of God, fount of mercy,
make
us worthy of compassion. Look
upon a sinful
people; as always,
show thy power; for,
placing our hope in thee, we
cry out to thee, “Rejoice!” as
did once Gabriel, the commander of the bodiless
Hosts. The
priest
then bows his head and says this prayer: Priest: O Lord, stretch
forth Thy hand from Thy holy place on high,
and strengthen me for this, Thine appointed
service, that,
standing uncondemned before Thy fearsome
Altar, I may celebrate the Holy and unbloody Sacrifice.
For Thine is the power and the glory unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Ascending
unto the Altar
The
priest and deacon then bow to the choirs on either side and then go
into the
Altar, but before doing so, they say the following: I
will come into Thy house, I
will bow towards Thy holy temple in fear of Thee.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness; because
mine enemies direct my way in Thy sight. For
in their mouths there is no truth;
their
heart is vain, their throat is an open sepulchre; they dealt
deceitfully with their
tongues. Judge
them, O God, and let them fall by their own counsels; according to the
multitude
of their wickedness cast them out, for they provoked Thee, O Lord. And
let all them be glad that hope in Thee,
they
shall rejoice forever, and
Thou wilt dwell
in them; and all
they that love Thy Name
shall glory in Thee. For
Thou wilt bless the righteous, O Lord: Thou
hast crowned us with a shield of Thy good will. Having
ascending
the altar they make three small bows before the Holy Table. The priest
kisses
the altar in the centre, and he standing to the right, the deacon comes
to kiss
the Holy Table in the centre. If there is a sub-deacon, the deacon
steps to the
left, and the sub-deacon kisses the altar. Priest
and Deacon (and Sub-Deacon):
Lavabo
The
priest,
deacon, and sub-deacon go to the credenza and wash there hands in
order,
assisted by the server, saying: Priest,
Deacon, and Sub-Deacon:
I
will wash my hands among the innocent,
and
I will go around Thy altar, O Lord,
that
I may hear the voice of Thy praise,
and recount
all Thy wonderful works. O
Lord, I have loved
the beauty of Thy house and
the place where
Thy glory dwells.
Destroy not my soul together with the ungodly, nor my life with men of
blood, in whose
hands are iniquities; their right hand
is full of bribes.
But as for me, I walked in my innocence, redeem me,
Note in Case Intinction will be used. Preparation
Then
standing at the Epistle (south) side of the front of the altar, with
the deacon
to the right and the
sub-deacon to the
left, the liturgy continues: Priest
(with hands joined):
O God, be
merciful to me a sinner. Thou hast redeemed us from the curse of the Law by Thy precious Blood; nailed to the Cross, and
pierced with a spear, Thou
didst pour forth immortality to all mankind.
O our Savior, glory to Thee. Deacon:
Master, bless. (here
and in other places, this is omitted if a priest is
celebrating alone) Priest: Blessed be our
God, always, now and forever,
and unto the ages of ages. Deacon:
Amen.
Priest: In remembrance
of our Lord, God, and Savior,
Jesus Christ. (Said
three times)
Like a sheep led to the slaughter. And like
a lamb without blemish, that
before its shearer
is dumb, so He
opened not His mouth. In His
humiliation judgment of Him was taken away.
Who shall declare His generation? For His life
is taken away from the earth.
The Lamb
of God, Who taketh
away the sin of the world, is
sacrificed for the life and salvation of the
world.
One of the soldiers pierced His side with
a spear, and at
once there came out blood
and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true. Commemoration
of
the Saints Priest: In honor and
memory of our most blessed Lady, the
Mother of God and ever‐Virgin Mary:
through whose prayers, O Lord,
accept
this sacrifice upon Thy most heavenly Altar. The Queen stood at Thy
right hand, vested
in robes woven with gold, adorned in many
colors.
The honorable, heavenly and bodiless Hosts.
The honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner
and Baptist, John, and all the holy prophets.
The holy, glorious and all‐praised Apostles
and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew,
James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, and
Thaddeus;
Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence,
Chrysogonus, John
and Paul;
Our holy Fathers among the Saints, the
Hierarchs:
Gregory the Great, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John
Chrysostom; Athanasius
and Cyril; Nicholas
of Myra; the
teachers of the Slavs, Cyril and Methodius,
the holy Bishop‐Martyr
Theodore of Mukachevo, Bishop-Martyr Josaphat of Polotsk, and all holy
Hierarchs,
as well as Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha,
Lucia,
Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia;
The holy Apostle, First‐Martyr and
Archdeacon Stephen, the holy Great‐Martyrs:
Demetrius, George, Theodore the Recruit, and all the holy Martyrs.
Our venerable and God‐bearing Fathers:
Anthony, Euthymius, Sabbas, Onuphrius,
and all venerable men and women.
The holy Wonder‐Workers, the
Unmercenaries: Cosmas
and Damian, Cyrus and John, Pantaleimon
and Hermolaus, and
all the holy Unmercenaries.
The holy and righteous Ancestors of God,
Joachim
and Anna.
And in memory of Saint N. (the Saint of the temple), of Saint N.
(the Saint
of the day), and of all thy Saints;
by whose merits
and prayers grant thou that in all things we may be defended with the
help of Thy
protection. Commemoration
of the Church Priest: Remember, O
Master, Lover of Mankind, our holy universal pontiff N.,
Papa-Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia, our most reverend
Archbishop and Metropolitan N., our God‐loving
Bishop N., (and
in
the case of any of these bishops themselves, they omit those of lower
grade and
say themselves “and me, Thine unworthy servant.”) and the entire
episcopate
of the Holy, Orthodox, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith, the honorable
priesthood, the
diaconate in Christ, and
all others in Holy clerical orders;
(If
in a monastery, then also add the following after the mention of
the bishop:
our Abbot (or other office), N.) and all our
brethren whom Thou, in Thy compassion,
have called to communion with Thee, O all‐good Master. Commemoration
of
the Faithful Priest:
Remember, O Lord, N. Deacon:
For our divinely‐protected
Emperor N., or King N., and all our armed forces,
let us pray to the
Lord. (or
else: For our civil authorities.) and all our
armed
forces, let us pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
For this city (or:
for this village,
or:
for this holy monastery), for every
city, countryside, and
for the faithful living therein, let
us pray
to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For favorable weather,
for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times,
let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
For those who travel by sea, air, and land, for the sick, the
suffering, the captive, and
for their safety and salvation, let
us pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
That we be delivered from all
affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
Help us, save us, have mercy
on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
Remembering our most holy, most
pure, most blessed
and glorious Lady, the
Mother of God and ever‐Virgin Mary,
with all the Saints,
let us commend
ourselves and one another, and
our whole
life, to Christ God. People:
To Thee, O Lord. Priest:
O Lord our God, Whose might is
incomparable, Whose
glory is incomprehensible, Whose
mercy is immeasurable, and
Whose love for man ineffable: from the tenderness
of Thy heart look down upon us, O Master,
and upon this holy temple.
For unto
Thee belongs all
glory and honor and worship, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
to the ages of ages. People:
Amen. Commemoration
of the Dead Priest: Remember, O
Lord, the soul of Thy servant, N. who has fallen
asleep. Deacon:
And of all our
Holy, Orthodox, Catholic, and Apostolic fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep in
the hope of resurrection, eternal
life, and communion with Thee, O
Lord, Lover of Mankind. People: Lord, have
mercy.
Deacon:
For those buried
here and those inscribed here, and
for all Orthodox and Catholic Christians
everywhere, and for
their blessed
repose, let us pray
to the Lord. People: Lord, have
mercy.
Deacon:
That they may
stand uncondemned
before the fearsome judgment‐seat
of Christ, and that
their souls be
committed to the
place of light and life
where all the Saints and righteous repose,
let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have
mercy.
Presentation
of
the Gifts Priest: Remember also,
O Lord, my unworthiness, and,
according to Thy great mercy, forgive
me my every transgression, voluntary and
involuntary. The
priest
remaining at the Epistle corner, the Deacon and Sub-Deacon go to the
credenza
and bring the veiled gifts to the altar. The Deacon lays out the
corporal, and
then the gifts are placed. The ciborium is placed behind the chalice.
The
cruets are placed with the wine on the Epistle side, water on the
Gospel side,
just off the corporal. People:
Lord, have mercy. The
priest
says the Prayer of the Offertory after the Holy Gifts have been set on
the
altar: Priest: O Lord God
Almighty, Who alone are
holy and Who
receive the sacrifice of praise from those
who call upon Thee with their whole heart, accept also the prayer of us
sinners:
draw us to Thy holy Altar, enable
us to offer
to Thee these Gifts and spiritual sacrifices
for our sins, and for the ignorances of the
people. Count us worthy
to find favor in Thy sight, that our sacrifice may be pleasing to Thee,
and that
the good Spirit of Thy grace may rest upon us, now and forever, and
unto the
ages. Censing
the Altar The
deacon
then takes the censer and, putting incense into it, says to the priest:
Deacon: Master, bless
the incense. And
immediately
he adds: Deacon: Let us pray to
the Lord. And
the
priest says the Prayer of Incense: Priest: We offer
incense to Thee, O Christ, our God,
as a pleasing fragrance that, having received
it on Thy most heavenly Altar, Thou
mayest
send down upon us in return the
grace of
Thy most Holy Spirit. Deacon:
Let
us pray to the Lord. Here
the priest, with the deacon on his right and the
sub-deacon on his left, censes the altar in the usual manner. Standing
in the
centre, he continues: Priest: O God, our God,
Who sent forth the heavenly
Bread, as food for
all the world our Lord
and God, Jesus Christ, the
Savior and Redeemer
and Benefactor, to
bless and sanctify us: bless
these Gifts here set forth before Thee and
accept them on Thy most heavenly Altar.
As Thou art good and the Lover of Mankind,
remember those who have brought the offerings
and those for whom they are being offered; and keep us without
condemnation in the
holy celebration of Thy divine Mysteries.
For sanctified and glorified is Thy most
honorable
and majestic Name, Father,
Son, and Holy
Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of
ages. Amen. The
priest then censes the offerings and
the altar again in the usual manner. He then censes the icons and major
shrines. Then he walks through the church censing the people. He then
gives the
censer to the deacon, who gives it to the server and stands to the
right of the
priest at the epistle corner. First
Psalm
The
priest, deacon, and sub-deacon standing at the Epistle corner, here is
added an
appropriate psalm or hymn (multiple psalms, hymns, or troparia may be added according to the occasion), or else the following: People: Bless the Lord,
O my soul; blessed are You,
O Lord. Bless
the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who
forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, Who
redeems your life from corruption, Who crowneth you with steadfast love
and mercy.
The
Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in
mercy. Bless
the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!
Blessed are
Thou, O Lord. Supplications At
the conclusion
of the antiphon the deacon moves to the chancel gate, faces the altar,
bows,
and says:
The
Deacon returns to the altar Priest: 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 house;
glorify them in return by Thy divine power,
and
do not forsake us who hope in Thee; For
Thine is the might, and Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the
glory, Father, Son,
+ and Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Here rise
People:
Amen. Second
Psalm
The
second
psalm as follows or another suitable psalm or hymn (here as well multiple psalms, hymns, or troparia may be added according to the occasion) is said here. People: Praise the
Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have being. Put
not your trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no
salvation. When
his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans
perish. Blessed
is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his
God, Who made heaven
and
earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice
for the oppressed; who gives
food to the hungry. The Lord sets
the
prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up
those who
are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The
Lord watches over the sojourners, He upholds the widow and the
fatherless; but the
way of the wicked He will bring to ruin. The
Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Litany The
deacon, moving to the chancel gate, facing the altar, prays the litany:
People:
To Thee, O Lord. Priest:
Thou, Who
promised
to grant the petitions of
two or three united
together in Thy Name, and
have given us the
grace to offer
these prayers with a single
and united voice, hear also now the petitions of Thy servants that will be for their
benefit, granting
us in this present age the knowledge
of Thy truth, and in the age to come eternal life.
For Thou art good, O God, and the Lover of
Mankind, and to
Thee we send up glory, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. People:
Amen. Here the deacon may optionally add one or more orations, which may be the liturgical oration of the day, orations from the table of prayers, or other orations as approved by episcopal authority. The
deacon returns to the altar. The
Beatitudes
On
Sundays and major feast days are added the Beatitudes. People: In Thy Kingdom,
remember us, O Lord, (when
Thou comest into Thy kingdom).
Blessed
are the poor in Spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are those who mourn, for
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek for
they shall inherit
the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness for
they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall
receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed
are the peacemakers, for
they shall be called
sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the
sake of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile you and
persecute
you and
utter every kind of evil against
you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward is great in heaven.
HYMN
OF THE THRICE HOLY Standing
before the altar, with the
deacon to the right and sub-deacon to the left, the priest leads the
people in
the Sanctus. People: Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have
mercy on us. (Said
three
times) Here bow:
Glory to the
Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages
of ages. Amen. Here rise.
Holy Immortal,
have
mercy on us. Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have
mercy
on us. Priest: Blessed is He
who comes in the Name of the
Lord.
Blessed art Thou on the throne of the
glory of Thy kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim,
always, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages. Epistle
Lesson The
priest
and deacon move to the sedilia and sit for the lesson. The Sub-Deacon
moves to
the chancel gate and announces the title of the Epistle: Sub-Deacon
or Reader:
A reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. Or: A reading from
the
Epistle of N. Or: A reading from
the
epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans, Or: to the
Corinthians,
Or: to the
Galatians. Deacon:
Let us be attentive!
When
the
Epistle has been read the priest says:
However,
during penitential liturgy, the Alleluia is replaced with “Let us bless
the Lord”
here and elsewhere in the liturgy. During
the
singing of the Alleluia the deacon takes the censer, puts incense into
it, and goes
to the priest: Deacon:
Master, bless
the incense. Priest:
Blessed is our
God, always now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Having
received
blessing from him, the deacon censes the altar in the usual manner, the
priest
(at the sedilia) with three single swings, the major icons and images,
the choirs,
and then the people by moving throughout the nave.
GOSPEL
The
deacon moves to the center of the altar, bows, and prays: Priest: O Master, Lover
of Mankind, shine forth within our hearts
the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open
the
eyes of our mind that we may understand the teachings of Thy Holy
Gospel.
Instill in us also the fear of Thy blessed
commandments, so that we may lead a spiritual life,
both thinking and doing
those things which are pleasing to Thee. For Thou, O Christ God, are the enlightenment of
our souls and bodies; and
to Thee we send up glory, together
with the Father, Who is without beginning,
and with Thy all‐holy, good, and
life‐creating Spirit,
now and ever, and to the ages of
ages. Amen. Going
to the priest, the Deacon says: Deacon: Master, bless
the proclaimer of the Holy Gospel. The
priest,
blessing him, says: Priest: May God grant
that
you proclaim the Word with great power,
for
the fulfillment of the Gospel of His beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Deacon:
Amen. The
deacon bows to the holy Gospel Book and
takes it from the Gospel side of the altar. He proceeds through the
chancel
gate, there joined by the candle‐bearers,
and continues to the ambo or to the place from which
the Gospel lesson is to be proclaimed. The
priest stands before the Holy Table, turns
toward the west and intones (if there be a second deacon, he intones
instead of
the priest; and note that the Bishop stands at the throne holding the
crosier,
but without the mitre): Priest:
Wisdom! Stand
aright and listen to the Holy
Gospel.
Peace
be to all. People:
And with thy spirit. Deacon:
A reading from the Holy Gospel
according to N. People:
Glory unto Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee. The
priest
intones the following, (but if there be a second deacon he intones
instead of the
priest): Priest:
Let
us be attentive! When
the
Gospel has been read, the priest says: Priest: Peace be with
thee who hast proclaimed the
Holy Gospel. People:
Glory
unto Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee. The
deacon goes to the altar (or the throne, for a bishop) and hands the
closed
Gospel Book to the priest, who kisses it and places it on the Gospel
side of
the altar. In the case of a Bishop, the Deacon himself replaces it to
the
altar. LITANY
FOR THE CATECHUMENS
The
deacon
continues: Deacon: Catechumens,
pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Faithful, let
us pray for the catechumens: O
Lord, have mercy on them. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Teach them the
word of Truth. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Reveal to them
the Gospel of righteousness.
People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Make them one
with Thy Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Save them, have
mercy on them, help them, and
protect them, O God, by Thy grace. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Catechumens,
bow your heads to the Lord. People:
To
Thee, O Lord. Deacon: All
catechumens, depart! Let
none of the catechumens remain; all
the faithful, again and again, in peace,
let us pray to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. LITURGY
OF THE FAITHFUL
Standing
before the altar, the priest prays quietly: Priest:
We give thanks
to
Thee, O Lord God of Hosts, for
having counted
us worthy to stand, at this time, before Thy holy Altar
and to bow down before Thy compassion for our
sins and for the
ignorances of the people.
Accept our prayer, O God,
and make us worthy to offer to Thee prayers
and
supplications, and unbloody sacrifices for all Thy people.
Enable us also,
whom Thou hast appointed to this Thy service by the power of the Holy
Spirit, to call
upon Thee at all times and in all places,
without blame or condemnation,
in pure witness of our conscience, that, hearing us,
You may be merciful to us in the greatness
of Thy goodness.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and
protect
us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Lord,
have mercy. Priest: For unto Thee
belongs
all glory, honor, and worship, Father,
Son,
and Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen. Deacon:
Again and again, in peace, let
us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have
mercy. Priest:
Ever and again
we
fall down before Thee, and beseech Thee,
O Good One, the Lover of Mankind; that,
looking down on our prayer, Thou
mayest cleanse our souls and bodies
from
every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant that we may stand without blame or
condemnation before
Thy holy Altar.
O God, grant to those who pray
with us growth in life and faith and spiritual understanding, that,
ever serving
Thee in fear and love, they may partake of Thy holy Mysteries without blame or
condemnation and be
accounted worthy of Thy heavenly kingdom.
Lord, have mercy. Priest
(audibly):
Let
us,
who mystically represent the Cherubim,
and
sing the thrice‐holy hymn to the
life‐creating Trinity,
now set aside all earthly cares.
That we
may receive the King of all, invisibly
escorted
by angelic Hosts. People:
Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia! (Said
three times)
Priest
(extending and raising the
hands):
Lift up your hands
to the holy place, and bless the Lord. People:
Amen. Extending
the hands, he continues:
May the Lord God remember in His kingdom all
you Orthodox and Catholic Christians,
always, now and
ever, and to the ages of ages.
(join
the hands) People: That we may
receive
the King of all, invisibly
escorted by angelic
Hosts. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Priest: The noble
Joseph took down from the Tree
Thy most pure Body. He wrapped it in pure linen,
and, with
fragrant spices, placed
it in a new tomb. Priest: Deal favorably,
O
Lord, in Thy good will with Sion,
that the
walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
Then
Thou shalt accept the sacrifice of
justice,
oblations and whole burnt offerings,
then
shall they lay calves upon Thine altar. LITANY
OF
SUPPLICATION
The
deacon
bows to the priest, then goes to the chancel gate and, facing the
altar, he says:
Deacon:
Let us complete
our prayer to the Lord. People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
For the precious
Gifts
here set forth, People:
Lord, have mercy. Deacon:
For this holy
temple
and for all who enter it with faith, People:
Lord, have
mercy. Deacon:
That
we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and The
Deacon remains at the chancel rail. CREED People: I believe in one God,
the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all
things,
visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Begotten of his
Father, before all
ages. God of God: Light of Light: very God of very God. Begotten, not
made,
being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for
us men and our salvation, came down from heaven. (Here
bow.)
And was
incarnate
by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. (Here
rise.) And was
crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried.
And the
third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures and ascended
into
Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And he shall come
again
with glory to judge both the quick and the dead ; Whose kingdom shall
have no
end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who
proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son
together is
worshipped and glorified. Who spake by the prophets. And in one, Holy, Catholic and The
deacon
makes a small bow and returns to the Altar. The
priest
turns to the people: Priest: The Lord be
with you. People:
And with thy spirit. The
priest
turns again to the East and elevating
his hands,
says: Priest: Let us lift up
our hearts! People:
We lift them up
to the Lord. Then,
crossing his hands upon his breast and bowing before the Holy Table,
the priest
says:
Priest: Let us give
thanks to the Lord. People:
It is proper and just
to worship the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy
Spirit, the
Trinity, one in essence and undivided.
The
priest
rises and, extending his hands, says: Priest: It is proper and
just
to sing hymns unto Thee, to bless Thee, to praise Thee, to give thanks
unto Thee,
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
brought us
forth from nothingness into being, and when we had fallen raised us up
again, and left
nothing undone until Thou brought us
to heaven and
bestowed upon us Thy Kingdom
to come. For all this we give thanks unto Thee,
and unto Thine only‐begotten Son, and to Thy Holy Spirit, for all that we know and
that we do not know, the
manifest and the hidden benefits bestowed
upon us.
We thank Thee also for this liturgy, which Thou hast willed to
accept from our hands,
even though there stand before Thee thousands of archangels, tens of thousands of
angels, Cherubim
and Seraphim, six‐winged,
many‐eyed, soaring
aloft on their wings, singing, shouting,
crying out, and saying the triumphal hymn: Here
bow: People:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of
Hosts, heaven and
earth are full of Thy
glory; hosanna in
the highest. Blessed
is He + Who cometh in
the Name of the Lord, hosanna
in the highest. CONSECRATION
OF THE ELEMENTS Here
the priest unveils the offerings. The host remains upon the paten. The
ciborium
containing the peoples’ hosts is placed behind the chalice. The priest
pours
the wine into the chalice, then blesses the water with the sign of the
cross
and pours a small amount into the chalice. The
priest then extends and raises his
hands, simultaneously elevating his gaze to heaven. He then joins his
hands and
prays in a subdued voice: Priest: With these blessed Powers, O Master, the Lover of Mankind we too cry out 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 majestic is Thy glory, Who so loved Thy world that Thou gavest Thine only‐begotten Son, that everyone who believeth in Him should not perish, but should have life everlasting; Who, having come and having fulfilled the whole divine plan concerning us, on the night when He was handed‐over, or rather, when He handed‐over Himself for the life of the world, He took bread into His holy and all pure and unblemished hands, He gave thanks (here bow), and He blessed it +, He sanctified it, He broke it, and gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: (The
priest holds his hands over the host.) Aloud:
Take,
eat, this
is My Body which is broken The
priest replaces the asterisk over the host. Making the sign of the
Cross upon themselves,
the priest, deacon, and sub-deacon together make a profound bow. People:
Amen. The
priest
uncovers the chalice and continues in a subdued voice: Priest: Likewise the
chalice + after supper,
saying: (The priest holds his hands over the chalice.) Aloud: Drink
of this,
all of you, this is My Blood of the New Covenant,
which is poured out for you and for
many, or the
forgiveness of sins. And
again making the sign of the Cross upon themselves, the priest, deacon,
and sub-deacon together make a profound bow. People:
Amen. The
priest
covers the chalice and prays in a subdued voice with hands joined as
usual:
Priest: Remembering,
therefore, this saving command, and
all that was done in our behalf: the
Cross, the Tomb, the Resurrection on the third
day, the Ascension
into heaven, the Sitting
at the Right Hand, the
Second and Glorious
Coming Again. The
priest uncovers the chalice. He makes the sign of the
cross thrice, saying: Offering
Thee, + (over
the host) Thine own, + (over
the chalice) from Thine own, +
(over
both the chalice and paten) ... The
priest, holding the chalice, elevates it slightly, saying: on behalf of all and for all. The priest, holding the paten, elevates it slightly, saying: World
without end. Amen. The
priest returns the host to the paten, and he, the deacon, and
sub-deacon again
make a profound bow. People:
We praise Thee, we bless Thee,
we thank Thee, O Lord, and
we pray to Thee,
our God. And
the
priest continues in a subdued voice: Priest: Moreover we
offer
to Thee this spiritual and unbloody sacrifice,
and we implore, and pray, and entreat Thee, send down Thy Holy Spirit
upon us and upon
these Gifts here set forth.
The
three
sacred ministers bow three times before the Holy Table. Priest: And make this
bread the precious Body of
Thy Christ; And that which is in this chalice, the precious Blood of
Thy Christ,
changing them by Thy Holy Spirit. Deacon:
Amen. Amen. Amen. Priest: That to those
who partake of them,
they may be for the purification of the soul, for the forgiveness of
sins, for the
communion of Thy Holy Spirit, for
the fullness of the kingdom of heaven,
for boldness before Thee,
but not for judgment or condemnation.
Moreover, we offer to Thee this spiritual
sacrifice for those
who have fallen asleep in faith: the
Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers,
Evangelists, Martyrs,
Confessors, Ascetics, and for every righteous
spirit made perfect in faith.
We offer to Thee this spiritual sacrifice
especially
for our most holy, most pure, most blessed
and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever‐Virgin Mary. Taking
the censer, again he censes the Holy
Gifts and altar in the usual manner.
The
priest continues in a subdued voice: Priest: O Lord Jesus
Christ, our God, hear
us from Thy holy dwelling‐place, from the
throne
of the glory in Thy kingdom;
and come to
sanctify us, Thou Who art seated on high with the Father, and Who yet
abide here
invisibly among us. With Thy mighty hand, deign to give us Thy most
pure Body and
precious Blood, and, through us, to all the people. The
priest
uncovers the chalice. The priest takes the host in both hands and
breaks it in
half over the chalice, saying: Priest: Broken and
distributed
is the Lamb of God, broken yet not divided,
ever eaten yet never consumed,
but
sanctifying those who partake thereof. The
priest
places the left half on the paten and then breaks a small particle from
the
right half. The small particle is placed in the chalice, saying: Priest: The fullness of
the Holy Spirit. Deacon:
Amen.
The priest bow, rises
and says:
Priest: I
will receive the bread of heaven and call upon the Name
of the Lord. Slightly inclining, the
Celebrant takes both halves of the Host between the
thumb and forefinger of his left hand, and holding then over the paten,
he strikes
his breast with his right hand, and raising his voice a little, he says
three times devoutly and humbly:
Priest: Lord,
I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my
roof; but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed. Then with his right
hand, making the Sign of the Cross with the Host over the
paten (with his left hand on the side of the paten), the priest says:
Priest: The
Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul unto
life everlasting. Amen. The priest then
reverently receives both halves of the Host, joins his
hands, and meditates a short time.
Then the priest
uncovers the Chalice, bows, collects whatever fragments may
remain on the corporal, and purifies the paten over the Chalice, saying:
Priest: What
reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits
that he hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation and call
upon
the Name of the Lord. I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be
praised,
so shall I be safe from mine enemies. The priest takes the
Chalice and making the Sign of the Cross with it,
says:
The
Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul unto
life everlasting. Amen. Elevating a particle of the Blessed Sacrament and turning towards the people, the priest says: Priest: Behold
the Lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the
sins of the world. Lord,
I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my
roof; but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed. Priest: The
Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul unto
life everlasting. Amen. Priest:
Grant
that what we have received with the mouth, O Lord,
we may keep with a pure heart; and that from this temporal gift may
come unto
us life everlasting. Priest:
May
the flesh which I have taken and the Blood which I
have drunk, O Lord, cleave unto mine inmost soul, and grant that no
spot of sin
may abide in me, whose meat hath been thine incorrupt and Holy
Sacraments. Who
livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen. POSTCOMMUNION
Priest: Save Thy
people, O God, and bless Thine inheritance.
People:
Amen. Priest:
May our mouths
be
filled with Thy praise, O Lord, so
that we
may sing of Thy glory, for
Thou hast made
us worthy to partake of
Thy holy, divine,
immortal and life‐creating
Mysteries. Keep us
in Thy holiness, so
that all the day long we may meditate on Thy
righteousness. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! (Alleluia
is omitted during
penitential rites.) Priest: We give thanks
to
Thee, O Master, Lover of Mankind,
benefactor
of our souls, that
this day Thou hast made
us worthy of Thy
heavenly and immortal Mysteries.
Make straight our path, confirm
us in our
fear of Thee, guard
our life, make firm
our steps, through
the prayers and intercession of the glorious
Mother of God and ever‐Virgin Mary, and
of
all Thy Saints. For Thou art our sanctification, and to Thee we send up
glory, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and unto
the ages of ages. People:
Amen. Turning
to the people, the Deacon says: Deacon:
Let us go forth
in peace. People: In the Name of the Lord. In the case of a Liturgy of the Dead,
instead the Deacon says: Turning
to the people, the priest blesses the people, saying: Priest: May almighty
God bless you, Father, Son, + and Holy Ghost. People:
Amen.
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