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
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.
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
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.
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.
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”.
[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.
*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
Deacon or
Priest:
Let us attend.
Reader: If it be from the Acts:
In those days...
If it be from
the Epistles of
If it be from
the Epistles of
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
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
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
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.
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
--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
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.
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
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
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
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
Troparion to
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)