The Divine Liturgy

 

Note: The translation used is primarily that of Fr. Lawrence of Jordanville.   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. 

Deacon: Bless, master. (Said only if a deacon serve)

Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon or Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N.; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N.); for the venerable priesthood, the deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For this land, its authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For the God preserved Russian Land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For this city (or this town, or this holy monastery), for every city and country, and the faithful that dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For seasonable weather, abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For travelers by sea, land and air; for the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To Thee O Lord...(Slowly, if there be no deacon)

Priest: For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship; to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

The First Antiphon

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul; blessed art Thou, 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 that He hath done for thee. *  Who is gracious unto all thine iniquities, Who healeth all thine infirmities. * Who redeemeth thy life from corruption, Who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion. * Who fulfilleth thy desire with good things; thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle's. * The Lord performeth deeds of mercy, and executeth judgment for all them that are wronged. * He hath made His ways known unto Moses, unto the sons of Israel the things that He hath willed. * Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. * Not unto the end will He be angered, neither unto eternity will He be wroth. * Not according to our iniquities hath He dealt with us, neither according to our sins hath He rewarded us. * For according to the height of heaven from the earth, the Lord hath made His mercy to prevail over them that fear Him. * As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our iniquities from us. *  Like as a father hath compassion upon his sons, so hath the Lord had compassion upon them that fear Him; * for He knoweth whereof we are made, He hath remembered that we are dust. * As for man, his days are as the grass; as a flower of the field, so shall he blossom forth. * For when the wind is passed over it, then it shall be gone, and no longer will it know the place thereof. * But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, even unto eternity, upon them that fear Him. * And His righteousness is upon sons of sons, upon them that keep His testament and remember His commandments to do them. * The Lord in heaven hath prepared His throne, and His kingdom ruleth over all. * Bless the Lord, all ye His angels, mighty in strength, that perform His word, to hear the voice of His words. * Bless the Lord, all ye His hosts, His ministers that do His will. * Bless the Lord, all ye His works, in every place of His dominion.

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

Bless the Lord, O my soul, * and all that is within me * bless His holy name; * blessed art Thou, O Lord.

 

In the parishes it is often the custom to chant only the following selected verses:

Abbreviated First Antiphon

 

Bless the Lord, O my Soul; * blessed art Thou, 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 that He hath done for these. * Who is gracious unto all thine iniquities, * Who healeth all thine infirmities. * Who redeemeth thy life from corruption, * Who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion. * Who fulfilleth thy desire with good things; * thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle’s. * Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, * long-suffering and plenteous in mercy.

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

          Bless the Lord, O my soul, * and all that is within me * bless His holy name; blessed art Thou, O Lord.

_______________________________________________________

Deacon or Priest: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

Priest: For Thine is the dominion, 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 the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

The Second Antiphon

 

Glory to the Father, * and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit. * Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord in my life, I will chant unto my God for as long as I have my being. *  Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. * His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return unto his earth.  In that day all his thoughts shall perish. * Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, * Who hath made heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is therein. * Who keepeth truth unto eternity, Who executeth judgment for the wronged, Who giveth food unto the hungry. *  The Lord looseth the fettered; the Lord maketh wise the blind; the Lord setteth aright the fallen; * the Lord loveth the righteous; the Lord preserveth the proselytes. * He shall adopt for His own the orphan and widow, and the way of sinners shall He destroy. * The Lord shall be king unto eternity; thy God, O Zion, unto generation and generation.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.  Only-Begotten Son and Word of God, Thou Who art immortal, and didst deign for our salvation to become incarnate of the holy Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, without change becoming man, and Who wast crucified, O Christ God, trampling down death by death: Thou Who art one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

_______________________________________________________

Deacon or Priest: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

Priest: For a good God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, 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.

Third Antiphon

 

          In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, * when Thou comest in Thy kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

          [In 12 verses]

Blessed are they that mourn, * for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, * for they shall inherit the earth.

          [In 10 verses]

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, * for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, * for they shall obtain mercy.

          [In 8 verses]

Blessed are the pure in heart, * for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, * for they shall be called the sons of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, * and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, * for great is your reward in the heavens.

          Glory to the Father, * and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

Both now and ever, * and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

The Small Entry

Deacon or Priest: Wisdom! Aright!

Choir:

O come let us worship and fall down before Christ, [Who rose from the dead,]* O Son of God, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

*This is how it is sung on Sundays, but on weekdays sing “Who art wondrous in the saints”, unless it is a feast of the Theotokos, in which case we sing “through the prayers of the Theotokos”.  If it is a great feast of the Lord, we sing the appointed Entry Verse, or “Introit”.

 

Troparia & Kontakia

 

[The appointed Troparia and Kontakia of the day]

 

Then:

Priest: For holy art Thou, 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: (If a deacon serve, the priest stops here; if a priest serve alone, he continues: and unto ages of ages.)

Deacon: O Lord, save the pious and hearken unto us.

Choir: O Lord, save the pious and hearken unto us.

If there is no deacon, "O Lord, save the pious..." is omitted.

Choir: Amen.

 

Trisagion*

 

*When “as many as have been baptized…” or “Before Thy Cross…” are appointed, they are sung in place of the Trisagion.

 

          Holy God, Holy mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us.  (x3)

          Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.  Holy Immortal have mercy on us. 

          Holy God, Holy mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. 

 

The Epistle

Deacon or Priest: Let us attend.

Priest or Bishop: Peace be unto all.

Reader: And to thy spirit.

Deacon or Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Prokimenon in the ___Tone: (And he gives the words of the Prokimenon. The Choir chant it.)

Reader: Stichos. The Choir repeat the Prokimenon.

Reader: In the ___Tone: (And he gives the second prokimenon.) (Or, if there be only one prokimenon, he may give a second stichos; otherwise he will give the first half of the prokimenon, and Choir chant the second half.)

Deacon or Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Reading from:-(the Acts of the Holy Apostles, or: the catholic Epistle of N., or: the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the N.)

Deacon or Priest: Let us attend.

Reader: If it be from the Acts: In those days...

If it be from the Epistles of St. John: Beloved...

If it be from the Epistles of St. Paul: Brethren...

or: My son Timothy...

And when the Epistle is concluded:

Priest or Bishop: Peace be unto thee.

Reader: Alleluia in the __ Tone. (If there be two prokimena, he may also give a stichos before the Choir chant the first time.)

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Reader: Stichos. Choir chant second time in same tone.

Reader: In the __Tone: Stichos. Choir chant final time.

The Gospel

Priest: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

Priest: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to N.

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

Priest: Let us attend.

Then the Gospel is read…

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

_______________________________________________________

The Litany of Fervent Supplication

Deacon or Priest: Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

--Again we pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N.; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N., whose diocese it is) and all our brethren in Christ.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.  Slowly, if there is no Deacon

--Again we pray for this land, its authorities and armed forces.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

 

--Again we pray for the God preserved Russian Land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora and for their salvation.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

--Again we pray to the Lord our God that He may deliver His people from enemies visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

--Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, priestmonks, and all our brethren in Christ.

Choir: Lord have mercy. Thrice.

--Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable, holy Orthodox patriarchs; for pious kings and right-believing queens; and for the founders of this holy temple (if it be a monastery: this holy monastery): and for all our fathers and brethren gone to their rest before us, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Here may be inserted various additional petitions, i.e., for the ill and afflicted, the newly-baptized, etc.

--Again we pray for them that bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable temple; for them that minister and them that chant, and for all the people here present, that await of Thee great and abundant mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Priest: For a merciful God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, 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.

The Litany of the Catechumens

Deacon or Priest: Pray, ye catechumens, to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Ye faithful, for the catechumens let us pray, that the Lord will have mercy on them.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That He will catechize them with the word of Truth.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That He will reveal unto them the Gospel of righteousness.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Ye catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord. (Slowly, if there be no deacon.)

Priest: That they also with us may glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

The Litany of the Faithful

Deacon or Priest: As many as are catechumens, depart; catechumens, depart; as many as are catechumens, depart; let none of the catechumens remain; as many as are of the faithful, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Slowly if there be no deacon.)

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Wisdom!

Priest: For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

--Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Slowly, if there be no deacon.)

_______________________________________________________

If there be no deacon, the following petitions are not said:

--For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

_______________________________________________________

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Wisdom!

Priest: That always being guarded under Thy dominion, we may send up glory unto Thee: to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

The Cherubic Hymn

Choir: Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and chant the thrice-holy hymn unto the Life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care.

The Great Entry

Deacon: Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness N., Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; our lord the Very Most Reverend N., Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, and First Hierarch of the Russian Church abroad; our lord the Most Reverend  N., Archbishop (or Bishop) of ____________, may the Lord God remember in His kingdom always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Priest: This American land, its authorities and the faithful that dwell therein, the God-preserved Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, may the Lord God remember in His kingdom always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

The clergy, the monastics, all that are persecuted and suffer for the Orthodox Faith; the founders, benefactors and the brotherhood of this holy temple (or holy monastery), and all of you Orthodox Christians, may the Lord God remember in His kingdom always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen. That we may receive the King of all, Who cometh invisibly upborne in triumph by the ranks of angels. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

_______________________________________________________

Deacon or Priest: Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For the precious gifts set forth, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Slowly, if there be no deacon.)

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--Pardon and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--Things good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this. O Lord.

--A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

Priest: Through the compassions of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Priest:  Peace be unto all.

Choir:  And to thy spirit.

Priest or Bishop: Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess:

Choir: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and indivisible.

--The doors! The doors! In wisdom let us attend.

The Creed

 

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 ages; / Light of Light, true God of true 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 the heavens, / and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man;  / And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, / and suffered and was buried; / And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; / And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; / And shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; / Whose kingdom shall have no end. / And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; / Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets. / In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. / I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. / I look for the resurrection of the dead, / and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Anaphora

Deacon or Priest: Let us stand well, let us stand with fear, let us attend, that we may offer the holy oblation in peace.

Choir: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.

Priest or Bishop: 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: And with thy spirit.

--Let us lift up our hearts.

Choir: We lift them up unto the Lord.

--Let us give thanks unto the Lord.

Choir: It is meet and right to worship the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and indivisible.

--Singing the triumphal hymn, shouting, crying aloud and saying:

Choir: 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!

If it be the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

--Take, eat: this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.

Choir: Amen.

--Drink of it, all of you: this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.

Choir: Amen.

 

But if it be the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great:

--He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: Take, eat: this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.

Choir: Amen.

--He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: Drink of it, all of you: this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.

Choir: Amen.

 

-- Offering unto Thee Thine own of Thine own, in behalf of all and for all.

Choir: We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord; and we pray unto Thee, O our God.

--Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

If it be the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

Choir: 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, thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

          Or the Zadostoinik of the Feast

 

But if it be the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great:

Choir: In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of grace, all creation, the angelic assembly, and the race of man; O sanctified temple and noetical paradise, praise of virgins, of whom God was incarnate, and became a child, He that was before the ages, even our God; for, of thy body a throne He made, and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of grace, all creation: glory to thee.

Or, on the great feasts, the appointed megalynarion.

 

Priest: Among the first, remember, O Lord, our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N.; and our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; and our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N.), whom do Thou grant unto Thy holy churches, in peace, safety, honor, health, and length of days, rightly dividing the word of Thy truth.

Choir: And each and every one.

Priest or Bishop: And grant us with one mouth, and one heart, to glorify and hymn Thy most honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Priest or Bishop: And may the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.

Choir: And with thy spirit.

Deacon or Priest: Having called to remembrance all the saints, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--For the precious Gifts offered and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That our God, the Lover of mankind, having accepted them upon His holy and most heavenly and noetic altar as an odor of spiritual fragrance, will send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Slowly, if there be no deacon.)

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

 

--An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--Pardon and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--Things good and profitable for souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

--Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

Priest or Bishop: And vouchsafe us, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to dare to call upon Thee the heavenly God as Father, and to say:

Choir: 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.

Priest or Bishop: 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 the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

--Peace be unto all.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

Deacon or Priest: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord. (Slowly.)

Priest or Bishop: Through the grace and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen. (Slowly.)

Deacon or Priest: Let us attend!

Priest or Bishop: Holy Things are for the holy.

Choir: One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

And the communion hymn. The communion verse for most Sundays is: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

_______________________________________________________

During the communion of the clergy, selected hymns may be chanted, or the Prayers before Holy Communion may be read. Then:

Deacon or Priest: With fear of God and with faith, draw nigh.

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

Priest or Bishop: 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 chief. Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most pure Body, and that this is truly Thine Own Precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries unto the remission of sins and life everlasting.

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.

Let not the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be unto me for judgment or condemnation, O Lord, but for healing of soul and body.

And as each person receiveth Holy Communion, the priest or bishop saith:

The servant (or handmaid) of God, N., partaketh of the precious and holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ unto the remission of sins and life everlasting.

Choir: Receive ye the Body of Christ; taste ye of the Fountain of Immortality. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Priest or Bishop: Save O God, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Choir: We have seen the True Light, We have received the Heavenly Spirit. We have found the True Faith. We worship the Indivisible Trinity: for He hath saved us.

Priest or Bishop: Always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen. Let our mouth be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may hymn Thy glory, for Thou hast vouchsafed us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal and life-creating Mysteries. Keep us in Thy holiness, that we may meditate on Thy righteousness all the day long. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Deacon or Priest: Aright! Having partaken of the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, and life-creating, fearful Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Having asked that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

Priest or Bishop: For Thou art our sanctification, 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.

-- Let us depart in peace.

Choir: In the name of the Lord.

Deacon or Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Prayer Behind the Ambo:

Priest: O Lord Who dost bless them that bless Thee and sanctify them that put their trust in Thee: Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; preserve the fullness of Thy Church, sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house; do Thou glorify them by Thy divine power, and forsake us not that hope in Thee. Give peace to Thy world, to Thy churches, to the priests, and to all Thy people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from Thee, the Father of lights, and unto Thee do we send up glory and thanksgiving and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord from henceforth and forever more. Thrice. 

Psalm 33

 

I will bless the Lord at all times, * His praise shall continually be in my mouth. *In the Lord shall my soul be praised; * let the meek hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, * and let us exalt His name together. * I sought the Lord, and He heard me, * and delivered me from all my tribulations.

Come unto Him, and be enlightened, * and your faces shall not be ashamed. * This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, * and saved him out of all his tribulations.

The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear Him, * and will deliver them. * O taste and see that the Lord is good; * blessed is the man that hopeth in Him.

O fear the Lord, all ye His saints; * for there is no want to them that fear Him. * Rich men have turned poor and gone hungry; * but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good thing.

Come ye children, hearken unto me; * I will teach you the fear of the Lord. * What man is there that desireth life, * who loveth to see good days?

 Keep thy tongue from evil, * and thy lips from speaking guile. * Turn away from evil, and do good; * seek peace, and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, * and His ears are opened unto their supplication. * The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, * utterly to destroy the remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, * and He delivered them out of all their tribulations. * The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, * and He will save the humble of spirit. *

Many are the tribulations of the righteous, * and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all. * The Lord keepeth all their bones, * not one of them shall be broken.

The death of sinners is evil, * and they that hate the righteous shall do wrong. * The Lord will redeem the souls of His servants, * and none of them will do wrong that hope in Him.

Priest or Bishop: The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

--Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir: 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. Father (master) bless.

Priest or Bishop: May Christ our true God, (on Sundays: Who rose from the dead), through the intercessions of His most pure Mother; of the holy and glorious apostles; of our father (or Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia); and Saint(s) N.(N.) (to whom the church is dedicated); and Saint(s) N.(N) (of the day); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loveth mankind.

Choir: Amen.

             Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N.; * our Lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, * and our Lord the Most Reverend Archbishop (or Bishop) N.; * the brotherhood of this holy temple (or monastery), and all Orthodox Christians: * preserve, O Lord, for many years.

The End of the Divine Liturgy

Prayers after Holy Communion

 

Priest:  Glory to Thee O God. Thrice

 

Reader: I thank Thee, O Lord my God, that Thou hast not rejected me, a sinner, but hast vouchsafed me to be a communicant of Thy holy Things. I thank Thee that Thou hast vouchsafed me, the unworthy, to partake of Thy most pure and heavenly Gifts. But, O Master, Lover of mankind, Who for our sake didst die and rise again and didst bestow upon us these dread and life-creating Mysteries for the well-being and sanctification of our souls and bodies, grant that these may be even unto me for the healing of both soul and body, for the averting of everything hostile, for the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, for the peace of the powers of my soul, for faith unashamed, for love unfeigned, for the fullness of wisdom, for the keeping of Thy commandments, for an increase of Thy divine grace, and for the attainment of Thy Kingdom; that being preserved by Them in Thy holiness, I may remember Thy grace always, and no longer live for myself, but for Thee, our Master and Benefactor; and thus when I have departed this life in hope of life eternal, I may attain unto everlasting rest, where the sound of them that keep festival is unceasing and the delight is endless of them that behold the ineffable beauty of Thy countenance. For Thou art the true desire and the unutterable gladness of them that love Thee, O Christ our God, and all creation doth hymn Thee unto the ages. Amen.

 

Of St. Basil the Great, 2:

 

O Master Christ our God, King of the ages and Creator of all things, I thank Thee for all the good things Thou hast bestowed upon me and for the communion of Thy most pure and life-creating Mysteries. I pray Thee, therefore, O Good One and Lover of mankind: Keep me under Thy protection and in the shadow of Thy wings and grant me, even unto my last breath, to partake worthily, with a pure conscience, of Thy holy Things unto the remission of sins and life eternal. For Thou art the Bread of Life, the Source of Holiness, the Giver of good things, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Verses of Metaphrastes, 3:

 

O Thou Who givest me willingly Thy Flesh as food, Thou Who art fire that doth consume the unworthy, let me not be scourched, O my Creator. But rather, enter Thou into my members, into all my joints, my reigns, my heart.  Burn up the thorns of all my sins.  Purify my soul, sanctify my thoughts.  Strengthen my substance together with my bones.  Enlighten my simple five senses.  Nail down the whole of me with the fear of Thee.  Ever protect, preserve, and keep me from every soul-corrupting deed and word.  Purify, cleanse and adorn me; make me comely, give me understanding and enlighten me.  Show me to be the dwelling-place of Thy Spirit alone, and no longer a habitation of sin, that from me as Thine abode through the entry of Communion, every evildoer, every passion may flee as from fire.  As intercessors I offer unto Thee all the saints, the commanders of the bodiless hosts, Thy Forerunner, the wise apostles, and Thine undefiled pure Mother, whose entreaties do Thou accept, O my compassionate Christ, and make Thy servant a child of light.  For Thou alone art our sanctification, O Good One,  and the radiance of our souls, and unto Thee as God and Master, we all send up glory as is meet, every day.

 

 

Another Prayer:

 

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, may Thy Holy Body be unto me for life eternal, and Thy Precious Blood for the remission of sins; and may this Eucharist be unto me for joy, health, and gladness. And at Thy dread Second Coming, vouchsafe me, a sinner, to stand at the right hand of Thy glory, through the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother and of all the saints.

 

 

Another Prayer, To the Most Holy Theotokos:

 

O most holy Lady, Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, my hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy; I thank thee that thou hast vouchsafed me, who am unworthy, to be a partaker of the most pure Body and precious Blood of thy Son. O thou who gavest birth to the True Light, do thou enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart; thou who gavest birth to the Source of Immortality, revive me who am dead in sin; thou who art the lovingly-compassionate Mother of the merciful God, have mercy on me and grant me compunction and contrition in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and the recall of my thoughts from captivity. And vouchsafe me until my last breath to receive without condemnation the sanctification of the most pure Mysteries for the healing of soul and body; and grant me tears of repentance and confession, that I may hymn and glorify thee all the days of my life, for blessed and most glorified art thou unto the ages. Amen.

 

Then:

 

Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

 

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice

 

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

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

Reader: Amen.

 

 

 

 

If it is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

 

Troparion to St John Chrysostom, Eighth Tone:

 

Reader: Grace shining forth from thy mouth like a beacon hath illumined the universe, and disclosed to the world treasures of uncovetousness, and shown us the heights of humility; but while instructing by Thy words, O Father John Chrysostom, intercede with the Word, Christ our God, to save our souls.

 

Glory...

 

Kontakion, 6th Tone:

From the heavens hast thou received divine grace, and by thy lips thou dost teach all to worship the One God in Trinity, O John Chrysostom, all blessed righteous one. Rightly do we acclaim thee, for thou art a teacher revealing things divine.

 

But if it is the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great:

 

Thy fame hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy word.  Thereby thou hast divinely taught the Faith; thou hast made manifest the nature of created things; thou hast made the moral life of men a royal priesthood.  O Basil, our righteous father, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

 

Glory…

 

Thou didst prove to be an unshakable foundation of the Church, giving to all mortals an inviolate lordship, and sealing it with thy doctrines, O righteous Basil, revealer of heavenly things.

 

Both now...

 

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, O Mediation unto the Creator unfailing, disdain not the suppliant voices of sinners; but be thou quick, O good one, to help us who in faith cry unto Thee; hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

 

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

 

Priest: Most Holy Theotokos save us!

 

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.

 

Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ, our God and our hope, glory to Thee.

 

Choir: 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)

 

Father, bless.

 

Priest: May Christ our true God (Who rose from the dead), through the intercessions of His most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.

 

Choir: Amen.  Lord, have mercy.  (Thrice)