The Order for a Moleben

As a Reader Service

 

 

Note: The translation used is primarily that of Fr. Lawrence of Jordanville.   The order of service is based primarily on the Reader Service Typikon by Bishop Daniel (the Old Rite Bishop of the ROCA) and translated by Fr. George Lardas.  All the psalms are from The Psalter According to the Seventy, © Copyright Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. Some other material, such as prayers and hymns, are also Copyright HTM, used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, beyond printing out a single copy for personal non-commercial use, without the prior written authorization of Holy Transfiguration Monastery. 

 

Senior Reader:  Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. 

 

Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

 

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

 

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 the ages of ages. Amen.

 

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

 

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

 

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

 

Senior Reader:  O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

 

Reader: Amen.

 

Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

 

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

O come, let us worship God our King.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.

 

Psalm 142

O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.  For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth.  He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled.  I remembered days of old, I meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee like a waterless land.  Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away.  Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.  Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have I put my hope.  Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.  Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.  Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name's sake, O Lord, shalt Thou quicken me.  In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies.  And Thou shalt cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant. 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.  Glory to Thee, O God.  Thrice.

 

Choir: (In the tone of the troparion to be chanted):  God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us.  Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Reader: Stichos 1:  O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever.

Choir:  God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us.  Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Stichos 2:  Surrounding me they compassed me, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off.

Choir:  God is the Lord….

Stichos 3:  I shall not die, but live, and I shall tell of the works of the Lord.

Choir:  God is the Lord….

Stichos 4:  The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.  This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Choir:  God is the Lord….

 

Then the troparion, twice.  Glory… Both now…  Its Theotokion.

 

If it is a Moleben to the Theotokos, this troparion, 4th Tone:

 

To the Theotokos let us run now most earnestly, we sinners all and wretched ones, and fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls:  O Lady, come unto our aid, have compassion upon us; hasten thou for we are lost in a throng of transgressions.  Turn not thy servants away with empty hands, for thee alone do we have as our only hope.  Twice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Never, O Theotokos, will we cease to speak of thy powers, unworthy as we are.  For if thou didst not intercede in prayer, who would have delivered us from so many dangers?  Who would have kept us free until now?  Let us never forsake thee, O Lady, for thou dost ever save thy servants from all perils.

 

If it is a Moleben for the ailing, this troparion, 4th Tone:

O Christ, Who alone art quick to help, show from on high a speedy visitation to thy suffering servant(s) and deliver him (her)(them) from illness and bitter pain, and raise him (her)(them) up to praise and glorify Thee unceasingly, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Lover of mankind.  Twice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

As once, O Savior, Thou didst raise up Peter’s mother-in-law, and the paralyzed man who was carried on his bed, so also now, O Compassionate One, visit and heal Thy suffering servant(s), lying on the bed of sickness, and wounded with a mortal wound, for Thou alone didst bear the infirmities, pains and diseases of our race, and Thou canst do all things, for Thou art plenteous in mercy.

 

Psalm 50

 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and 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 art 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. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

 

Senior Reader:  O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

 

Choir:  Amen.

 

After this, a canon (or a canon with an Akathist) is chanted, with refrains such as the following:

 

To the Savior:  O Sweetest Jesus, save us!

 

And after each ode:

 

            Deliver Thy servants from harm, O Thou Who art plenteous in mercy, for we fervently flee unto Thee, the merciful Redeemer, Master of all, O Lord Jesus.

 

To the Theotokos:  O most holy Theotokos, save us!

 

            And after each ode:

 

            Save thy servants from harm, O Theotokos, for all we, after God, flee unto thee, as to an unassailable wall and intercessor.

            Look with loving-kindness, O all-hymned Theotokos, upon my cruel bodily suffering, and heal the sickness of my soul.

 

To a Saint, or Several Saints:

 

Apostle:  Holy Apostle of Christ _____, pray to God for us!

 

Evangelist:  Holy Apostle and Evangelist _____, pray to God for us!

 

Prophet:  Holy Prophet of God ______, pray to God for us!

 

Hierarch: Holy Hierarch Father _____, pray to God for us!

 

            Martyr:  Holy (Great) Martyr(s) _____, pray to God for us!

 

            Hieromartyr:  Holy Hieromartyr _____, pray to God for us!

 

            Monastics:  Venerable Father (Mother) _____, pray to God for us!

 

            Righteous non-monastics:  Righteous Father (Mother) _____, pray to God for us!

 

            Fools for Christ:  Holy Blessed _____, pray to God for us!

 

            Unmercenary healers:  Holy unmercenary and wonderworker _____, pray to God for us!

 

            There are of course other refrains, and these vary somewhat according to local customs.

 

            And after each ode:

 

            Pray to God for us, O holy _____, for we fervently flee unto thee (you), the speedy helper(s) and intercessor(s) for our souls.

 

               At the Third Ode, "Glory, Both now," the Sessional Hymn.  At the Sixth Ode, "Glory, Both now," the Kontakion and the Ikos.  Then, the Prokimenon appointed for Matins, or if it is a Moleben to the Lord or the Theotokos, you can use one of these prokimena:

 

To the Savior:

 

Reader:  The Prokimenon in the 4th Tone:  O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth.

Choir: O Lord, hear my prayer….

Reader:  Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good.

Choir: O Lord, hear my prayer….

Reader:  O Lord, hear my prayer

Choir:  give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth.

 

To the Theotokos:

 

Reader:  The Prokimenon in the 4th Tone:  I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.

Choir:  I shall commemorate….

Reader:  My heart hath poured forth a good word.

Choir:  I shall commemorate….

Reader:  I shall commemorate thy name

Choir:  in every generation and generation.

 

For the Ailing:

 

Reader:  The Prokimenon in the 4th Tone:  Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, for my bones are troubled.

Choir: Have mercy on me…

Reader:  For in death there is none that is mindful of thee.

Choir: Have mercy on me…

Reader:  Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak

Choir:  heal me, for my bones are troubled.

 

Then, after the Prokimenon:

 

Senior Reader:  O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

 

Choir:  Amen.

 

Reader:  Let every breath praise the Lord.

Choir: Let every breath praise the Lord.

Reader:  Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Choir:  Let every breath praise the Lord.

Reader:  Let every breath

Choir:  praise the Lord.

 

Senior Reader:  The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint ____.

 

Choir:  Glory to Thee, O Lord, Glory to Thee.

 

The Gospel is then read in a normal voice.  The Gospel should be the one appointed at Matins, or see the ones in the appendix.

 

Choir:  Glory to Thee, O Lord, Glory to Thee.

 

Then the 7th, 8th, and 9th Odes are chanted as above.

 

Then:

Note: The appointed Zadostoinik can be sung instead of “It is truly meet….” 

                It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless, and Mother of Our God.  More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

Then the prayer for the Canon (or Akathist), or one of the following can be done if the Moleben is to the Theotokos, or for the Ailing:

To the Theotokos:

O our most blessed Queen, O Theotokos our hope, guardian of orphans, intercessor for strangers, joy of the sorrowful, protectress of the wronged:  thou seest our misfortune, thou seest our affliction; help us, for we are infirm; feed us, for we are strangers.  Thou knowest our offence: absolve it as thou wilt, for we have no other help beside Thee, no other intercessor, nor good consoler, except thee, O Mother of God.  Do thou preserve and protect us unto the ages of ages.

                        For the Ailing:

O Master Almighty, O Holy King, who chastenest and destroyest not, Who strengthenest the falling, and settest aright the fallen, Who correctest the bodily affliction of mankind:  We pray Thee, O our God, visit Thine infirm servant(s) ____ with Thy mercy, pardon him (her)(them) every sin, voluntary and involuntary.  Yea, O Lord, send down Thy healing power from heaven, touch his (her) (their) body, quench the fever, subdue passion and every subtle infirmity.  Be the healer of Thy servant(s) ____.  Raise him (her)(them) from his (her)(their) bed of suffering healed and whole; grant him (her)(them) to be well-pleasing unto Thy Church and doing Thy will.  For Thine it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory:  to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir:  Amen.

Then:

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 the ages of ages. Amen.

 

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

 

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

 

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

 

Senior Reader:  O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

 

Reader: Amen.

 

               Then Troparion, "Glory," the Kontakion, "Both now," the Theotokion according to the tone of the Troparion.  [Or one could simply do the Troparion, Glory… Both now, and Theotokion, as at the beginning of the Moleben, if the Kontakion is not known, or readily available]

 

Choir:  Lord, have mercy.  40x.

 

Senior Reader:  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

Choir: More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

           

            Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.  (Thrice)   

            O Lord, Bless.

Senior Reader (Facing the East, rather than facing the people):    O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, of _____ (The Patron of the Temple ), of _____ (saints of the day), and all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind. 

Choir:  Amen.

 

Appendix:

 

Gospel Readings:

 

For every request:  Matthew 7:7-11

 

For the most holy Theotokos:  Luke 1:39-49, 56

 

For the Ailing: Luke 10:16-21

 

If the service is to a Saint, the Gospel reading will be found in Matins in the service to that Saint.

 

 

Return to the Reader Service Horologion

 

 

 

 

           

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

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