MATINS
CHOIR
Mode pl. 4.
God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.[SAAS]
Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.
Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.
Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
From Octoechos - - -
Resurrectional Apolytikion.
You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You![GOASD]
For the Apostle.
Mode 3.
O holy Apostle Ananias, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses.[SD]
Glory. For the Devout Man.
In you, O Father, is preserved undistorted what was made in the image of God; for taking up the cross, you followed Christ and by example taught, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Romanos, your spirit rejoices with the angels.[SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
You were born of a Virgin, and You endured crucifixion for us, O good Lord. By Your death You divested death of spoils, and You displayed resurrection, as God. Please do not despise us, the work of Your hand. Demonstrate Your loving kindness, O merciful Master. Defer to Your Mother, the Theotokos, when she intercedes on our behalf, and save us, Your people in despair, O Savior.[GOASD]
PRIEST
Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
( Lord, have mercy. )
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
( To You, O Lord. )
For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
( Amen. )
Kathisma I.
Mode pl. 4. Automelon.
Ἀνέστης ἐκ νεκρῶν.
O Life of all, You rose from the dead; and an Angel, * his countenance like lightning, called out to the women, * "Weep no more! But go quickly and bring to the Apostles the tidings of joy. * Sing out in exultation, 'Truly risen from the dead is Christ the Lord, * who was well pleased to save the human race, as God our only Savior.'"[GOASD]
Glory.
Mode pl. 4. By conceiving the wisdom.
Τὴν Σοφίαν καὶ Λόγον.
Having risen indeed from the tomb, O Lord, * as recorded in Scripture, You told the devout * women to proclaim Your resurrection to the Apostles. * Then Peter came out and he ran to the tomb; * he was amazed beholding the light in the sepulcher. * Looking in he saw that Your holy body was missing; * the napkin and linen cloths were by themselves, lying separately. * Then he believed it and cried aloud, * "Glory to You, Christ God, for You save all people, O Savior! * You are the reflection of the Father's glory!"[GOASD]
Let us sing hymns extolling the holy ark * and the heavenly gate and the shining cloud, * the all-holy mountain, and the heavenly ladder, * the allegorical Paradise and the release of Eve, * the great and precious treasure of the entire world. * For in her humanity's salvation was accomplished; * through her has the world received the forgiveness of age-old sins. * Let us therefore cry out to her, * "Intercede with your Son and our God, that He grant forgiveness of their offenses * to those who reverently honor your all-holy childbirth."[GOASD]
Kathisma II.
Human beings put a seal on Your tomb; an Angel rolled the stone away from its door. Women saw You risen from the dead, O Savior, and they brought the joyful news to Your disciples in Zion, that You the life of all had risen, and that the bonds of death were shattered. Glory to You, O Lord![GOASD]
The women who were taking the burial spices * heard an angelic voice from the sepulcher saying, * "Weep no more! And instead of your sorrow take with you the tidings of joy. * Sing out in exultation, 'Truly risen from the dead is Christ the Lord, * who was well pleased to save the human race, as God our only Savior.'"[GOASD]
In you, O Lady full of grace, all creation rejoices, the hosts of Angels and the human race. O consecrated temple and allegorical Paradise, virgins boast of you. For God became incarnate from you, yes, our eternally existing God became a child from you. He made a throne of your womb, and He made your body wider than the heavens. In you, O Lady full of grace, all creation rejoices. Glory to you![GOASD]
Resurrectional Evlogetaria.
Mode pl. 1.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
When the hosts of the Angels saw how You were accounted among the dead, they all marveled. You, O Savior, are the One who destroyed the might of death; and when You arose You raised Adam with yourself and from Hades liberated everyone.[SD]
"Why do you mingle the ointments with your tears full of pity, O women disciples?" Thus the Angel who was shining in the tomb cried to the myrrh-bearing women. "See for yourselves the empty tomb and understand, that the Savior has risen from the sepulcher."
Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women were hastening to Your tomb lamenting. But the Angel appeared to them and uttered, "The time for lamentation has ended; weep no more. Go announce the Resurrection to the Apostles."
When the myrrh-bearing women had come with their spices to Your sepulcher, O Savior, they heard the voice of an Angel clearly speaking to them, "Why do you account among the dead the One who lives? For as God, He has risen from the sepulcher."
We bow down in worship to the Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence; and we cry aloud with the Seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O Lord.
Both now.
Giving birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you delivered Adam from sin, and to Eve you have rendered joy in place of sorrow. He who from you became incarnate, God and man, has directed to life him who fell from it.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)
For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
READER
Hypakoe. Mode pl. 4.
The Myrrh-bearing Women went to the tomb of the Giver of Life, seeking the immortal Master among the dead. And receiving good tidings of joy from the Angel, they reported to the Apostles, that the Lord had risen, granting the great mercy to the world.[GOASD]
Anavathmoi.
First Antiphon. Mode pl. 4.
From my youth the enemy tempts me, with the pleasures he inflames me. But trusting in You, O Lord, I repel and vanquish him.[GOASD]
Let those who hate Zion become like the grass before it is plucked up. For Christ will cut their necks in pieces with the cutting blade of torments.[GOASD]
Glory. Both now.
In the Holy Spirit is the life of all things living. He is light from light and great God. We extol Him with the Father and the Logos.[GOASD]
Second Antiphon.
Let my heart be humble-minded and covered with the fear of You, O Lord, lest it be exalted and fall from You, all-compassionate Master.[GOASD]
Whoever hopes in the Lord will not fear when He will judge and punish all things with fire.[GOASD]
In the Holy Spirit every holy person sees and speaks as a prophet. They do sublime miracles, praising the one God in three persons. For though It shines with three-fold light, yet the Godhead rules as monarch.[GOASD]
Third Antiphon.
I cried to You, O Lord. Attend to me. Incline Your ear to me who am crying, and purify me prior to taking me from this life.[GOASD]
Everyone who sets in the earth, his mother, will again return thence, to receive the torments or honors for his life's actions.[GOASD]
From the Holy Spirit comes theology. One God, thrice-holy: The Father is without beginning, and the Son came from Him eternally, and the Spirit, sharing form and throne, shone at once from the Father.[GOASD]
Antiphon IV.
Behold now, what is so good or so pleasant as for brethren to dwell together? For in this the Lord has promised life everlasting.[GOASD]
He who adorns the lilies of the field commands us not to be concerned about our clothing.[GOASD]
In the Holy Spirit, the unifying Cause, all things are sustained in peaceful coexistence. This is so for He is God, with the Father and the Son being truly one in essence.[GOASD]
Prokeimenon.
The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. (2)
Verse: Praise the Lord, O my soul!
The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations.[SAAS]
The Canon
Canon for the Resurrection.
Ode i. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.
Ἁρματηλάτην Φαραώ.
The rod of Moses working wonders once submerged Phar'onic charioteers * when it smote the waters * in the figure of a cross and thereby split the sea in two; * while it rescued on dry land wayfaring fugitive Israel, * which to God resoundingly sang a song.[SD]
Troparia.
Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
How can we all not be amazed by the almighty divinity of Christ! * From the Savior's Passion * pour out incorruption and dispassion to believers all; * from His holy side that was pierced ever flows an immortal fount; * from His empty tomb, everlasting life.[SD]
The holy Angel, whom the women see today, appears so glorious, * wearing the resplendent * emblems of intrinsic and immaterial purity, * his appearance alone indicating the resurrection's light, * crying out, "The Lord is risen indeed!"[SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokion.
All generations call you blest, proclaiming glorious things concerning you, * as the only woman * who held God the Logos in her womb, remaining ever pure, * Virgin Mother of God; therefore we the faithful all honor you * as our mighty champion after God.[SD]
Canon for the Apostle.
From Menaion - - -
Mode pl. 4. N/M (Of old when the Israelite.)
Ὑγρὰν διοδεύσας.
Apostle of Christ, intercede for us.
Let all of us faithful open our mouths in praise and sing with clear language the memory of the chief-shepherd Ananias and with him let us sing to our God.[VPA]
The famous Ananias leads the spotless bride, the Church of Christ here present, to the immaculate bridegroom; with her we sing brightly to God.[VPA]
Having been a disciple from the beginning, you preside over the recovery of sight for the new disciple who had previously been a persecutor, and you chant: Let us sing to our God.[VPA]
The orders of angels and mortals unceasingly honor you, unwedded mother for you held in your arms their Creator as a babe.[VPA]
Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.
Ὁ στερεώσας κατʼ ἀρχάς.
In the beginning, You O Christ, * established all of the heavens, * and You made firm the earth upon the waters, * with intelligence divine. Confirm me on the Church's rock. * No one but You is holy, and only You love humanity.[SD]
Condemned was Adam when he ate * and tasted sin in the Garden. * But Your physical Passion that has saved us * vindicated him, O Lord, because You were not liable * to have to undergo death, * since You were sinless, O Christ our God.[SD]
The resurrection's brilliant light, * my God and Savior Lord Jesus, * shined on people who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. * And by His own divinity, * He bound the strong man devil, * and then He plundered his house and goods.[SD]
You are superior to all * the Angels, O Theotokos, * the Cherubim and Seraphim, O Virgin. * Only you held in your womb God, who is uncontainable. * And therefore all believers * ever extol you and call you blessed.[SD]
Mode pl. 4. N/M (Lord, You are the firm.)
Σὺ εἶ τὸ στερέωμα.
Apostle, following the direction of your Teacher you became a high-priest and a sacrifice in contests.[VPA]
Make the Redeemer merciful to those who sing to you, Apostle Ananias, through your petitions to which He listens.[VPA]
The Lord shackled the entire attack of the beast for you, for He was seen in indescribable light and darkened its countenance.[VPA]
All of us Christians have you as a refuge and a wall; we glorify you unceasingly, unwedded one.[VPA]
DEACON
For You are our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Resurrectional Kontakion.
When You rose from the grave, You also raised the dead, and You resurrected Adam. Because of Your Resurrection, Eve is rejoicing, and people the world over celebrate Your resurrection from the dead, O very merciful Lord.[GOASD]
Oikos.
When You ransacked the realm of Hades, and You raised the dead, O long-suffering Master, You met the Myrrh-bearing Women, and You gave them joy in place of sorrow. You showed Your Apostles the marks of Your victory, O Savior and Giver of Life, and You illumined creation, O benevolent God. Therefore the world also celebrates Your resurrection from the dead, O very merciful Lord.[GOASD]
Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion
From the Menaion.
On October 1, we commemorate the holy Apostle Ananias.
On this day we commemorate our devout father Romanos, the Poet of Kontakia.
On this day we commemorate the holy martyrs Michael of the Monastery of Zovi and with him thirty-six holy monks who were martyred in the parish of Sevastoupolis.
On this day we commemorate the six holy monastic martyrs who died by the sword.
On this day we commemorate the holy martyr Domninus.
On this day we remember the holy Protection of our all-holy Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.
Devout St. John Koukouzelis, the sweet voice, who lived an ascetic life in the environs of Great Lavra on Athos, reposed in peace.
Devout St. Gregory, the domestikos, who lived an ascetic life at Great Lavra on Athos and received a gold coin from the Theotokos, reposed in peace.
By the intercessions of Your Saints, O Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Katavasias of Theotokos
Ode i. Mode 4.
I open my mouth and pray the Spirit fill it, like David said, * to pour out a good word to the Queen and Mother of God. * I will celebrate * her feast with joy and gladness * and sing to her merrily, lauding her miracles.[SD]
Ode iii.
Establish your servants who extol you, * O Mother of God, for they have formed * a spiritual choir for you * the living and abundant fount; * and graciously in your divine glory give glorious crowns to them.[SD]
Ode iv.
When the Prophet Habakkuk heard the divine * and incomprehensible counsel of Your Incarnation * from the Virgin, O Most High, * considering, he cried aloud: * Glory to Your power, O Lord my God.[SD]
Ode v.
Amazed was the universe by your divine magnificence. * You who were perpetually virgin * carried the heavenly God of all in your womb * and gave birth to the eternal Son, * who awards salvation to all who sing hymns of praise to you.[SD]
Ode vi.
O godly-minded believers, come * and celebrate this sacred and venerable feast and thus extol * the Theotokos, and clap our hands, * and glorify our God who was truly born of her.[SD]
Ode vii.
Godly-minded three * did not adore created things in the Creator's stead; * rather, disdaining the threat * of fire, they trampled it, and joyfully they sang: * "O supremely praised * and most exalted Lord and God * of the fathers, You are blessed."[SD]
Ode viii.
We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.
Guiltless were those Servants in the furnace. * The Son of the Theotokos went and rescued them. * He who was prefigured then, * having been incarnate now, * is gathering the whole wide world into His Church to sing: * "O all you works of the Lord, to all ages * sing praises to the Lord and exalt Him beyond measure."[SD]
Stand for the Gospel reading.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For You are holy, our God, who rest among the Saints, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen.
Mode 2.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. (2) Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.[SAAS]
Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.
( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )
Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.
Peace be with all.
( And with your spirit. )
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Let us be attentive.
( Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. )
PRIEST (from the altar table)
Eothinon 6
Luke. 24:36-53
At that time, having risen from the dead, Jesus stood among His disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish [and some honeycomb], and He took it and ate before them. Then He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.[RSV]
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. Your Cross, O Christ, we venerate, and Your holy Resurrection we praise and glorify. For You are our God; apart from You we know no other; we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ; for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to the whole world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection; for having endured the Cross for us, He destroyed death by death.[GOA]
Psalm 50 (51).
Mode 2. (or the Mode of the week)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.
Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me.
Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged.
For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me.
Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom.
You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.
You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice.
Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit.
I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness.
O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.
Then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. And have mercy on me, O God.[SAAS]
At the intercession of the Apostles, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.[SD]
At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.[SD]
Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.
Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, has granted us eternal life and great mercy.[SD]
O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Look upon Your world with mercy and compassion. Raise the Orthodox Christians in glory, and send down upon us Your rich mercies, through the intercessions of our most pure Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonder-workers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the victorious, Demetrios the Myrobletes, Theodore Teron, and Theodore Stratelates; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the Hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; the holy Apostle Ananias, and our devout father Romanos the Melodist, whose memory we observe, and all Your saints; We beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. (12)
Through the mercy, compassion, and love of mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Stand for the singing of Ode ix.
Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of the light.
Ode ix.
The Magnificat. Mode 4.
Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.[NKJV]
Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.[SD]
Verse: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.[NKJV]
Verse: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.[NKJV]
Verse: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.[NKJV]
Verse: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.[NKJV]
Verse: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.[NKJV]
Ode ix. Katavasia. Mode 4.
All you born on earth, * with festival lamps in hand, in spirit leap for joy; * and all you the heavenly angelic orders, join in and celebrate; * and honoring the sacred wonders of the Mother of God, * sing the joyful salutation, "O rejoice, * Theotokos, all-blest, ever-virgin pure!"[SD]
For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Holy is the Lord our God. (2)[SAAS]
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at the footstool of His feet.
For He is holy.
Exaposteilarion.
Eothinon 6.
Mode 2. Let us in faith.
Τοῖς Μαθηταῖς συνέλθωμεν.
Proving to Your disciples that * You are human in essence, * O Savior, You partook of food * after Your resurrection. * You stood among them and taught them * that they should preach repentance. * You promised them that You would send * the Holy Spirit. Then You were lifted up * and ascended to the heavenly Father. * O God, beyond divine, and man, * glory to Your resurrection![GOASD]
O Ananias, you became * one of Christ's first disciples. * His eyesight you restored to Paul, * the new divine disciple. * Therefore we sing and extol him * and you, O Saint, together, * as an inspired hierarch, * as a divine Apostle, and as a true * Martyr and a herald of God and preacher, * and one who ardently entreats * on behalf of the whole world.[SD]
For the Devout Man. And also Theotokion.
In sacred songs inspired by God * you have elucidated * Christ's divine and ineffable * economy, O blessed * St. Romanos; you have honored * all the Saints with divine hymns; * and you have joyously extolled * the all-pure Virgin Mother of God and true * Theotokos, O devout most wise Father. * Now standing near the Trinity * with her, commemorate us.[SD]
Lauds. Mode pl. 4.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God.[SAAS]
Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God.[SAAS]
Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light.
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord's name.
For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.
He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps.
Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word.
Mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars.
Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds.
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth.
Young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord's name, for His name alone is exalted.
His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people.
A hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him.
Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.
Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.
Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him.
For the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.
The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds.
The high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand.
To deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples.
To shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron.
Resurrectional Stichera.
To fulfill among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones.[SAAS]
Lord, even though You were standing at The Pavement * and Pontius Pilate was judging You, * still You were seated with the Father * on the throne, from which You never left. * And when You rose from the dead * as God, in Your benevolence, * You freed the world from the devil's bondage, * as our Savior most compassionate.[GOASD]
Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.[SAAS]
Lord, even though You were buried as a mortal * in a sepulcher by Jewish men, * yet a guard of soldiers was watching * over You as though a sleeping king. * As the treasure house of life, * they made it secure with a seal. * But You rose, and You have granted * our souls incorruptibility.[GOASD]
Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness.[SAAS]
Lord, You have given us Your Cross as a weapon * against the devil, our enemy. * He is gripped with fear and he trembles, * for he cannot bear to see its might, * because it raises the dead; * it neutralized the power of death. * Therefore we worship You and honor * Your burial and resurrection.[GOASD]
Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre.[SAAS]
Your Angel, who announced Your resurrection, * on the one hand frightened * the soldiers guarding Your tomb, O Lord, * on the other hand he said to the women, * "Why do you seek the living among the dead? * As God, He has risen, * and He has granted life to the entire world."[GOASD]
Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute.[SAAS]
You suffered through crucifixion, O Lord, impassible in Your divinity. You accepted three-day burial, to free us from slavery to the enemy, and to make us immortal and alive, through Your resurrection, O benevolent Christ our God.[GOASD]
Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord.[SAAS]
I venerate and glorify and extol Your resurrection from the sepulcher, O Christ. Through it You freed us from the inescapable dungeon of Hades, and as God You have granted to the world life eternal and the great mercy.[GOASD]
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hand be lifted high, and do not forget Your poor to the end.[SAAS]
The villains set a guard of soldiers to watch Your tomb that was holding life, and they secured it with a seal. But You, as God immortal and almighty, rose on the third day.[GOASD]
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous things.[SAAS]
O Lord, when You proceeded to the gates of Hades, and You had shattered them, then the prisoner cried out and said, "Who is this? For not only is he not condemned to the lowest parts of the earth, but he has also torn down the prison of death, as if it were a tent. I received him as a mortal man, and I tremble at him as God." O almighty Savior, have mercy on us![GOASD]
Glory. Mode pl. 2.
O Christ, the true peace of God to humanity, when You gave Your peace to the disciples, after the resurrection, they were frightened and thought that they were seeing a ghost. But You quieted their troubled souls by showing them Your hands and Your feet. And while they still disbelieved, You ate the food and reminded them of the teachings, and then You opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Then You affirmed the promise of the Father, and while You blessed them, You departed for heaven. And now, as they did then, we worship You, O Lord. Glory to You![GOASD]
You are supremely blessed, O Virgin Theotokos. For through Him who from you became incarnate, Hades has been captured, and Adam has been called back; the curse has been killed, and Eve has been freed; death has been put to death, and we have been brought back to life. Therefore we extol Him and cry out, "O Christ our God, You are blessed, for so was Your good pleasure. Glory to You!"[GOASD]
Stand for the Great Doxology.
Great Doxology
Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind.[SD]
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.
Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You who take away the sins of the world.
Accept our supplication, You who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.
Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.
Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.
Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.
Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.
Continue Your mercy to those who know You.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
After the Doxology, sing the following Resurrectional Troparion.
Mode 4. (or the Mode of the week)
Today has salvation come to pass in the world. Let us sing to Him who resurrected from the tomb and is the Author of our life. For, destroying death by death, He gave us the victory and the great mercy.[SD]
Or, according to the older practice:
Mode pl. 4. (or the Mode of the week)
When You rose from the sepulcher and broke the bonds of Hades, You repealed the sentence of death, O Lord, and delivered all from the snares of the enemy. And when You showed yourself to Your Apostles, You sent them out to preach, and through them You granted peace to the whole world, O only very merciful One.
LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Unless otherwise indicated, the texts of the prayers and hymns of the Divine Liturgy are produced and approved for use by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Master, give the blessing.
Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
THE LITANY OF PEACE OR GREAT LITANY
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
For the Great and Holy Church of Christ, for our Holy Archdiocese, [for this Holy Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
PRIEST (in a low voice)
THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON
Lord, our God, Whose dominion is incomparable and glory incomprehensible; Whose mercy is immeasurable, and love for mankind ineffable: Look upon us and upon this holy house in Your loving-kindness, and grant to us and to those who pray with us Your abundant mercy and compassion.
For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
First Antiphon. Mode 2.
Verse 1: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything within me, bless His holy name.[SAAS]
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.[GOA]
Verse 2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His rewards.[SAAS]
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.
Verse 3: The Lord prepared His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.[SAAS]
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
THE SMALL LITANY
THE PRAYER OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON
Lord, our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the fullness of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who have set our hope in You.
Second Antiphon. Mode 2.
Verse 1: Praise the Lord, O my soul! I shall praise the Lord while I live; I shall sing to my God as long as I exist.[SAAS]
Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.[GOA]
Verse 2: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob; his hope is in the Lord his God.[SAAS]
Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.
Verse 3: The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations.[SAAS]
Only-begotten Son and Logos of God, being immortal, You condescended for our salvation to take flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and, without change, became man. Christ, our God, You were crucified and conquered death by death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.[GOA]
THE PRAYER OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON
Lord, You have granted us to offer these common prayers in unison and have promised that when two or three agree in Your name, You will grant their requests. Fulfill now, O Lord, the petitions of Your servants as may be of benefit to them, granting us in the present age the knowledge of Your truth, and in the age to come eternal life.
For You, O God, are good and love mankind, and to You we offer glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.
Verse 1: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.[SAAS]
Verse 2: Let heaven and earth praise Him.[SAAS]
THE SMALL ENTRANCE
As the Third Antiphon is being sung (with its verses), the Priest and Deacon bow three times before the holy Table. Then the Priest gives the holy Gospel to the Deacon, who kisses the Priest's hand as he receives it, and then circles the holy Table with the Priest following him. Preceded by altar servers holding candles and fans, they exit through the north door for the so-called Small Entrance. When there is no Deacon, the Priest takes the holy Gospel and holds it up in front of his face. When they reach the center of the church, they stop and bow their heads, and the Deacon says in a low voice:
DEACON (in a low voice)
Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
THE ENTRANCE PRAYER
Master, Lord our God, Who has established the orders and hosts of angels and archangels in heaven to minister to Your glory, grant that holy angels may enter with us, that together we may celebrate and glorify Your goodness. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Master, bless the holy entrance.
Blessed be the entrance of Your holy ones always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Wisdom. Arise.
Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead.[GOA]
We sing to You, Alleluia.
Hymns After the Small Entrance.
For St. Ananias.
For St. Romanos.
Apolytikion of the Parish Church
(Apolytikion of the Parish Church.)[GOA]
Kontakion. Mode 2.
O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.[SD]
THE PRAYER OF THE TRISAGION HYMN
O Holy God, Who is resting among the holy ones, praised by the Seraphim with the thrice-holy voice, glorified by the Cherubim, and worshiped by every celestial power, You have brought all things into being out of nothing. You have created man according to Your image and likeness and adorned him with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to the one who asks, and You overlook not the sinner, but have set repentance as the way of salvation. You have granted us, Your humble and unworthy servants, to stand even at this hour before the glory of Your holy Altar of sacrifice and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the Trisagion Hymn also from the lips of us sinners, and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive all our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship You in holiness all the days of our lives, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.
For You, our God, are holy, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever,
And to the ages of ages.
THE TRISAGION HYMN
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)[GOA]
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Dynamis.
Command, Master.
Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.
Master, bless the throne on high.
Blessed are You upon the throne of the glory of Your kingdom, enthroned upon the Cherubim always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.[GOA]
The Epistle
17th Sunday
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4. Psalm 75.
Pray and return to the Lord Your God.[SAAS]
Verse: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.[SAAS]
Wisdom.
The reading is from Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians.
2 Cor. 6:16-18; 7:1
Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.[RSV]
Peace be with you the reader.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is sung thrice. Verses may be found in the Liturgy - Variable Parts of the day.)
THE PRAYER OF THE HOLY GOSPEL
Shine in our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind that we may comprehend the proclamations of Your Gospels. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having trampled down all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the illumination of our souls and bodies, and to You we offer up glory, together with Your Father, Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Gospel
2nd Sunday of Luke
Lk. 6:31-36
The Lord said, "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."[RSV]
Peace be with you.
Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
THE SERMON
(According to ancient tradition, the sermon was delivered following the readings.)
__________
(The litanies of Supplication and for the Catechumens and the First Prayer of the Faithful have been omitted.)
THE SECOND PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Again and countless times we fall down before You, and we implore You, O Good One, Who loves mankind: That You, having regarded our prayer, may cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant to us to stand before Your holy Altar of sacrifice, free of guilt and condemnation. Grant also, O God, to those who pray with us, progress in life, faith, and spiritual understanding. Grant that they always worship You with awe and love, partake of Your Holy Mysteries without guilt or condemnation, and be deemed worthy of Your celestial Kingdom.
That, ever guarded by Your might, we may ascribe glory to You, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
THE GREAT ENTRANCE
The Cherubic Hymn.
Let us, who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside every worldly care. So that we may receive the King of all.[GOA]
THE PRAYER OF THE CHERUBIC HYMN
No one bound by carnal desires and pleasures is worthy to approach, draw near, or minister to You, the King of Glory. For to serve You is great and awesome even for the heavenly powers. Yet, because of Your ineffable and immeasurable love for mankind, You impassibly and immutably became man. You, as the Master of all, became our high priest and delivered unto us the sacred service of this liturgical sacrifice without the shedding of blood. Indeed, Lord our God, You alone reign over the celestial and the terrestrial; borne aloft on the cherubic throne, Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, the only holy and resting among the holy ones. I now beseech You, Who alone are good and inclined to hear: Look down upon me, Your sinful and unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and heart of a wicked conscience; and enable me, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before Your holy Table and celebrate the Mystery of Your holy and pure Body and Your precious Blood. I come before You with my head bowed, and I implore You: Turn not Your face away from me, nor reject me from among Your children, but make me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, worthy to offer these gifts to You. For You are the One Who both offers and is offered, the One Who is received and is distributed, O Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory, with Your Father, Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us, who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside every worldly care. * So that we may receive the King of all. Who is invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
May the Lord God remember all of you in His Kingdom always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Who is invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.[GOA]
THE LITANY OF COMPLETION
Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.
For the precious Gifts here presented, let us pray to the Lord.
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.
( Grant this, O Lord. )
For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.
For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.
For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.
THE OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lord God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart, even so, accept from us sinners our supplication, and bring it to Your holy Altar of sacrifice. Enable us to offer You gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our own sins and the failings of Your people. Deem us worthy to find grace in Your sight, that our sacrifice may be well pleasing to You, and that the good Spirit of Your grace may rest upon us and upon these gifts presented and upon all Your people.
Through the mercies of Your only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
And with your spirit.
Let us love one another, that with oneness of mind we may confess:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Trinity, one in essence and undivided.[GOA]
Or, for concelebrations:
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my foundation, my refuge, my deliverer.[SAAS]
The doors! The doors! In wisdom, let us be attentive!
PEOPLE
THE SYMBOL OF OUR FAITH
I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.[GOA]
THE HOLY ANAPHORA
Let us stand aright! Let us stand in awe! Let us be attentive, that we may present the Holy Offering in peace.
A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord.
It is proper and right.
It is proper and right to hymn You, to bless You, to praise You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in every place of Your dominion. For You, O God, are ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, existing forever, forever the same, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us out of nothing into being, and when we had fallen away, You raised us up again. You left nothing undone until you had led us up to heaven and granted us Your Kingdom, which is to come. For all these things, we thank You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit: for all things we know and do not know, for blessings manifest and hidden that have been bestowed on us. We thank You also for this Liturgy, which You have deigned to receive from our hands, even though thousands of archangels and tens of thousands of angels stand around You, the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many eyed, soaring aloft upon their wings,
Singing the triumphal hymn, exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying…
Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.[GOA]
Together with these blessed powers, Master, Who loves mankind, we also exclaim and say: Holy are You and most holy, You and Your onlybegotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. Holy are You and most holy, and sublime is Your glory. You so loved Your world that You gave Your only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. When He had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and blessing, He hallowed and broke it, and 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.
Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying,
Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.
Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again.
Your own of Your own we offer to You, in all and for all.
We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Lord our God.[GOA]
Once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood, and we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented,
And make this Bread the precious Body of Your Christ.
And that which is in this Cup, the precious Blood of Your Christ.
Changing them by Your Holy Spirit.
( Amen. Amen. Amen. )
So that they may be for those who partake of them for vigilance of soul, remission of sins, communion of Your Holy Spirit, fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven, boldness before You, not for judgment or condemnation. Again, we offer You this spiritual worship for those who have reposed in the faith: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous spirit made perfect in faith,
Especially for our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.
Hymn to the Theotokos.
It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Logos. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.[GOA]
For Saint John the prophet, forerunner, and Baptist; for the holy, glorious, and most praiseworthy apostles; for Saint(s) (Name), whose memory we celebrate; and for all Your saints, through whose supplications, visit us, O God. And remember all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection to life eternal (here the Priest commemorates by name those departed whom he wishes). Grant them rest, O our God, where the light of Your countenance keeps watch. Again we beseech You, Lord, remember all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the word of Your truth, the presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and every priestly and monastic order. Again we offer You this spiritual worship for the whole world, for the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and for those living pure and reverent lives. For civil authorities and our armed forces, grant that they may govern in peace, Lord, so that in their tranquility we, too, may live calm and serene lives, in all piety and virtue.
Among the first remember, Lord, our Archbishop (name): grant him to Your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, and health, unto length of days, rightly teaching the word of Your truth.
Lord, have mercy.
And remember those whom each one of us has in mind, and all the people.
(The preferred response is:)
Remember, Lord, Your Holy Great Church, our Sacred Archdiocese, this city in which we live, and every city and land, and the faithful who live in them. Remember, Lord, those who travel by land, sea, and air; the sick; the suffering; the captives; and their salvation. Remember those who bear fruit and do good works in Your holy churches and those who are mindful of the poor, and upon us all send forth Your mercies.
And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
And the mercies of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you all.
Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the precious Gifts here presented and consecrated, let us pray to the Lord.
That our God Who loves mankind, having accepted them at His holy and celestial and mystical altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send down upon us the divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Show Petitions
Having asked for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
We entrust to You, loving Master, our whole life and hope, and we beseech, pray, and implore You: Grant us to partake of Your heavenly and awesome Mysteries from this sacred and spiritual table with a clear conscience for the remission of sins, the forgiveness of transgressions, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and boldness before You, not unto judgment or condemnation.
And grant us, Master, with boldness and without condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.[GOA]
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
We give thanks to You, invisible King, Who by Your boundless power fashioned the universe, and in the multitude of Your mercy brought all things from nothing into being. Look down from heaven, O Master, upon those who have bowed their heads before You, for they have not bowed before flesh and blood, but before You, the awesome God. Therefore, O Master, make smooth and beneficial for us all, whatever lies ahead, according to the need of each: Sail with those who sail, travel with those who travel, heal the sick, Physician of our souls and bodies.
Through the grace, compassion, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Hearken, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You Who are enthroned with the Father on high and are present among us invisibly here. And with Your mighty hand, grant Communion of Your most pure Body and precious Blood to us, and through us to all the people.
The Holy Gifts for the holy people of God.
One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.[GOA]
Show Pre-Communion Prayers
Communion Hymn. Psalm 148.
Praise the Lord from the heavens. Alleluia.[SAAS]
With the fear of God, faith, and love, draw near.
And the people receive Holy Communion. The Priest receives the holy Chalice from the hands of the Deacon and begins communing the people, saying to each one:
The servant of God (Name) partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ for the remission of sins and life eternal.
Hymns During Holy Communion
Save, O God, Your people, and bless Your inheritance.
Hymn after Holy Communion.
We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.[GOA]
Exalt, Master.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth.
Blessed is our God.
Always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Arise! Having partaken of the divine, holy, pure, immortal, heavenly, life-creating, and awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord.
Having prayed for a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
THE THANKSGIVING PRAYER
We give thanks to You, Master Who loves mankind, benefactor of our souls, that even on this very day You have made us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Make straight our path, fortify us in Your fear, guard our life, make secure our steps, through the prayers and supplications of the glorious Theotokos and ever virgin Mary and of all Your saints.
For You are our sanctification, and to You we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Let us go forth in peace.
THE PRAYER BEHIND THE AMBON
O Lord, Who blesses those who bless You and sanctifies those who put their trust in You, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the whole body of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who have set our hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the clergy, to our civic leaders, to the armed forces, and to all Your people. For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights. To You we give glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and to the ages. (3)[GOA]
Christ our God, You are the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. You have fulfilled the Father's entire plan of salvation. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord come upon you by His divine grace and love for mankind, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.
May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, the holy Apostle Ananias, and our devout father Romanos the Melodist, whose memory we observe, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and merciful and loves mankind.
Lord, protect for many years the one who blesses and sanctifies us.[GOA]
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Powered by Ekklesia 360