The Orthodox Pages THE PEOPLE'S HANDBOOK
HOLY AND GREAT
WEDNESDAY (SUNG ON HOLY WEDNESDAY MORNING)
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DEACON: Master, give the blessing. The Priest making with the Gospel book the sign of the Cross over the antiminsion shall say: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God.
THE INTRODUCTORY PSALM 103 [104] Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art become exceeding magnified: Thou hast put on praise and majesty: Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who supporteth his upper chambers in the waters: Who appointeth the clouds for His ascent: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind. Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. Who hath established the earth upon its sure foundation; it shall not be moved for ever and ever. The deep like a garment is His mantle; the waters shall stand upon the mountains. At Thy rebuke they shall flee; at the voice of Thy thunder they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains go down, unto the place which Thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they shall not pass over, neither turn again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the valleys; the waters shall run among the mountains. They shall give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses shall wait to quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the air make their habitation; they shall give voice from the midst of the rocks. He watereth the mountains from His chambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men. That he may bring forth bread out of the earth: and wine maketh glad the heart of man. To make his face cheerful with oil: and bread strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon which Thou hast planted. There shall the sparrows make their nests; the house of the heron is chief among them. The high mountains are a refuge for the harts, so also is the rock for the hares. He hath made the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down. Thou appointedst darkness, and there was night, wherein all the beasts of the forest shall go abroad. Young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their eat from God. The sun arose, and they were gathered together, and they shall lay them down in their dens. But man shall go forth unto his work, and to his labour until the evening. O Lord, how magnified are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made all things; the earth is filled with Thy creation. So is this great and wide sea also, wherein are things creeping innumerable, creatures small and great. There go the ships, there this dragon, whom Thou hast made to play therein. All things look unto Thee, that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. When Thou givest it them, they shall gather it; when Thou openest thine hand, all things shall be filled with good. When Thou turnest away Thy face, they shall be troubled; Thou shalt take away their breath, and they shall fail, and return to their dust. Thou shalt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord endure for ever; the Lord shall rejoice in His works. He looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble; He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my words be pleasing unto Him; and I will be glad in the Lord. O that sinners might be consumed out of the earth, and the workers of iniquity, that they be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. The sun knoweth his going down. Thou appointedst darkness, and there was night. O Lord, how magnified are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made all things. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Our hope, glory be to Thee, O Lord. After the introductory psalm, the Priest [or Deacon] shall say the Great litany. In peace let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition. For the peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray unto the Lord. For the peace and union of the whole world, and for the good estate of the holy churches of God, let us pray unto the Lord. For this holy temple and for them that enter therein with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray unto the Lord. For our Archbishop [Name], for the honourable order of priesthood, and for the diaconate which is in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray unto the Lord. For this city [village, monastery]; for every city and land, and for them that dwell therein with faith, let us pray unto the Lord. For fair seasons and the abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray unto the Lord. For them that travel by land, by water, by air; for the sick and the suffering, for those in captivity, And for their salvation, let us pray unto the Lord. That we may be deliver from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. And the Reader shall read the first stasis of the 18 Kathisma of the Psalter. Psalms 119-123 [120-124]
PSALM 119 [120] In mine affliction I cried unto the Lord; and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee, or what shall be added unto thee, for a deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of the desert. Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged; I have dwelt with the tents of Kedar; my soul hath long been a sojourner. With them that hated peace I was peaceable; when I spake to them, they made war against me without a cause. PSALM 120[121] I lifted up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Let not thy foot be moved, and let not thy keeper slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord shall keep thee; the Lord is thy shelter upon thy right hand. The sun shall not burn thee by day, neither the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; the Lord shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy coming in and thy going out, from this time forth, and even for evermore. PSALM 121 [122] I was glad because of them that said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet have stood within thy courts, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city whose fellowship is complete. For thither the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Ask now for the things which are for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the prosperity of them that love thee. Let peace be with thy strength, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I spake peace concerning thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought thy good. PSALM122 [123] Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a handmaid look unto the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we are utterly filled with abasement. Our soul hath been exceedingly filled with it; let reproach come upon those that prosper, and abasement upon the proud. PSALM 123 [124] If it had not been that the Lord was with us, now may Israel say; if it had not been that the Lord was with us, when men rose up against us; then they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us: then the waters had overwhelmed us. Our soul had passed through the torrent; then had our soul passed through the overwhelming water. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow out of the snare of the hunters: the snare is broken, and we are delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. When the reader hath finished the first stasis of the Kathisma he shall say Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever and for ever: world without end. Amen. Alleluia [3] Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Kyrie eleison. [3] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And the Priest [or Deacon] shall say the small litany Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST For Thine is the might, and Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. READER: Amen. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. And the reader shall read the second stasis of the Kathisma: Psalms 124-128 [125-129] PSALM 124 [125] They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion; he that dwelleth in Jerusalem shall never be moved. The mountains are round about her; so the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth even for ever. For the Lord shall not suffer the rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel. PSALM 125 [126] When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that are comforted. Then was our mouth was filled with gladness, and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, and we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. They went on and wept, as they cast their seed. But they shall come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. PSALM 126 [127] Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, he that keepeth it watcheth but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early; ye rise up after resting, ye that eat the bread of sorrow, while He hath given his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, the reward of the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hands of a mighty man, so are the children of the outcast. Blessed is the man that shall satisfy his desire with them; they shall not be ashamed when they shall speak with their enemies in the gate. PSALM 127 [128] Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, that walk in His ways. Thou shalt eat the fruit of thy labours; blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord bless thee out of Zion, and mayest thou see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. And mayest thou see thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel. PSALM 128 [129] Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, may Israel now say; many a time have they fought against me from my youth up; yet they have not prevailed against me. The sinners wrought upon my back, they prolonged their iniquity. The Lord is righteous; He hath cut asunder the necks of the wicked. Let them all be ashamed and turned back that hate Zion. Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it is uprooted. Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom. Neither have they which go by said, The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.
When the reader hath finished the second
stasis of the Kathisma he shall say Alleluia [3] Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Kyrie eleison. [3] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And the Priest[or Deacon] shall say the small litany Again and again in peace, let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST For Thou, O God, art good and loving-kind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. READER: Amen. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. And the reader shall read the third stasis of the Kathisma: Psalms 129-133 [130-134] PSALM 129 [130] Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? for there is forgiveness with Thee. For Thy name's sake have I waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited for Thy word. My soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. PSALM 13O [131] Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor are mine eyes lofty; neither have I exercised myself in great matters, or in things too wonderful for me. If I had not been humble minded, but had exalted my soul, like a child that is weaned from its mother, so wouldest Thou have requited my soul. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth, and for ever. PSALM 131 [132] Lord, remember David and all his meekness; how he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the God of Jacob: I will not go into the tabernacle of my house; I will not go up into the couch of my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, nor rest to my temples, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the God of Jacob. Behold, we heard it in Ephratha; we found it in the fields of the wood. Let us go into His tabernacles; let us worship at the place where His feet have stood. Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest; Thou, and the ark of Thine holiness. Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy just shall rejoice. For Thy servant David's sake turn not away Thy face from Thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne, If thy children will keep My covenant and these testimonies that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion, He hath chosen it for His habitation. This is my rest for ever and ever; here will I dwell, for I have chosen it. I will abundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice with joy. There will I make to spring forth an horn for David; I have ordained a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon himself shall My holiness flourish. PSALM 132 [133] Behold now, what is as good or as pleasant as for brethren to dwell together in unity? It is like the oil of myrrh upon the head, that runneth down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that runneth down to the skirts of his garment; as the dew of Hermon, that descendeth upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded His blessing, even life for evermore. PSALM 133 [134] Behold now, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which stand in the house of the Lord, even in the courts of the house of our God. Lift up your hands by night unto the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
When
the reader hast finished the third stasis of the Kathisma he shall say
And the Priest [or Deacon] shall say the small litany Again and again in peace, let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST For Thou art our God, the God of mercy and salvation, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR:Amen. And the choir shall sing psalm 140 [141] “Lord, I cry unto Thee” Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Incline
not my heart to evil words,
to make excuse
with pretexts for sins. The righteous shall chasten me with mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head. For yet shall my prayer be in the presence of their pleasures; their judges have been swallowed up against the rock.
They
will hear my words, for they are sweet. As when a lump of For mine eyes are unto Thee, Lord, O Lord; in Thee have I hoped; take not away my soul. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of the workers of iniquity. The sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until that I pass hence.
PSALM 141 [142] I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make supplication. I will pour out my supplication before Him; I will show before Him my trouble. When my spirit was fainting within me, then Thou knewest my paths. In this way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld; but there was none that knew me. Flight failed me, and there is none that watcheth for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O Lord; I said, Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my supplication, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name. Tone 1 O Son of the Virgin, the harlot knowing thee to be God, besought thee weeping, for she had committed acts worthy of tears, crying: Loose my debt, as I unloose my plaited hair, love her who loves thee, though she be justly despised, and with the publicans I shall proclaim thee, O Benefactor who lovest mankind. The righteous shall await me, until Thou shalt reward me. The harlot mingled the precious myrrh with tears and poured it upon thy most pure feet as she kissed them. Straightway thou didst justify her. Grant forgiveness also unto us, O thou who for our sakes hast suffered and save us. PSALM 129 [130] Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord. Lord hear my voice. When the sinful woman offered the myrrh, then the disciple came to an agreement with the transgressors. She rejoiced to pour out what was precious, he make haste to sell the One who is beyond price priceless. She acknowledged the Master, he severed himself from the Master. She was set free, and Judas became the slave of the enemy. How dreadful is slothfulness! How great is repentance! Grant it me, O Saviour, thou who for our sakes hast suffered and save us. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. Oh wretchedness of Judas! He saw the harlot kissing the feet, and with deceit he pondered on the betrayal with a kiss. She unloosed her plaited hair, and he was bound with fury, offering instead of myrrh, the stench of evil, for envy knows not how to choose its own advantage. Oh wretchedness of Judas! From this, O God, deliver our souls. If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee. Tone 2 The sinful woman hastened to purchase myrrh, that precious myrrh, to anoint the Benefactor, and she cried aloud to the merchant: Give me the myrrh, that I may anoint him who has erased all my sins. For Thy name's sake have I waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited for Thy word. My soul hath hoped in the Lord. Tone 6 Sunken in sin, she found thee the haven of salvation, and pouring out the myrrh with tears, she cried to thee: Lo, thou art he who bears the repentance of sinners. O Master, save me, in thy great mercy, from the turbulent waves of my sin. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope in the Lord. Today Christ comes to the house of the Pharisee, and a sinful woman approaches and fall down at his feet, crying: Behold her who is sunken in sin, filled with despair because of her deeds, whom in thy goodness thou didst not abhor. Grant me, O Lord, forgiveness from my evil deeds and save me. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. The harlot spread out her hair before thee, O Master, Judas spread out his hands to the transgressors, she to receive forgiveness, he to receive silver. Therefore we cry aloud to thee who wast sold and hast set us free, O Lord, glory to thee. PSALM 116 [117] O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. A foul-smelling and defiled woman drew near to thee, shedding tears upon thy feet, O Saviour, and proclaiming thy Passion. How can I gaze upon thee, O Master, for thou hast come to save me a harlot. I am dead, however raise me from the depths as thou hast raise Lazarus from the tomb on the fourth day. Accept me who am wretched, O Lord, and save me. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. She who was in despair on account of her life, and well known for her ways, drew near to thee bearing the myrrh and cried aloud: O thou who wast born of a Virgin, reject me not the harlot, despise not my tears, O Joy of the angels, but accept me in repentance, she whom thou didst not abandon when in sin, O Lord, through thy great mercy. Glory be to the Father… Now and for ever… By Cassiani the Nun Tone 8 O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving thy divinity, assumed the work of a myrrh-bearer, and lamenting brought myrrh to thee before thy burial. Woe is me, she said, for the night has become for me a tormenting hell, dark and moonless, full of sinful desire. Accept the fountain of my tears, O thou who carries in the clouds the waters of the sea. Incline to the groanings of my heart, O thou, who in thine ineffable self-abasement hast bowed the heavens. I shall kiss thy most pure feet and wipe them again with the hairs of my head; those feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise and hid herself in fear. Who can search out the multitude of my sins and the depths of thy judgements, O Saviour of my soul? Despise not me thy servant, O thou whose mercy is without measure. During the singing of the “Glory… Now and for ever…” the Priest [and Deacon] shall make the Little Entrance with the Holy Gospel. The Priest blessing the incense shall say: Blessed is our God always, now and for ever: world without end. And he [they] shall pass behind the Altar and go out by the north door. And standing in the customary place the Priest [Deacon] shall say: Let us pray unto the Lord. And bowing his [their] head the Priest shall say: Evening, and morning, and at noon we praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, and we pray unto Thee, O Master of all: let our prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and incline not our hearts to any evil thing. But keep us from all who would lay a snare for our souls; for our eyes wait upon Thee, O Lord. In Thee, O Lord, is our trust. Confound us not, O God. For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. DEACON: Bless master, the holy entrance. And the Priest giving the benediction shall say: Blessed is the entrance into the holiest, always, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. And the Priest [or Deacon] shall cense the throne and the Icons of the Iconostasis. Then holding the censer high he shall cry in a loud voice: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. READER O Gladsome light of the holy glory, of the Immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed, Jesus Christ. As we approach the setting of the sun, and see the evening light, we hymn Thee, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God. Meet it is at all times for Thee to be praised by righteous voices, O Son of God, the Giver of life. Wherefore the world glorifies Thee. PRIEST [or Deacon]: Evening. READER: The Prokhimenon. Tone 4. Psalm 135 O give thanks unto the God of heaven; Verse: O give thanks unto the God of gods; PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. READER: The reading is from the Book of Exodus. PRIEST [or Deacon]: Let us give heed. And the reader shall read the Lesson. Exodus 2: 11-23 (18:4) And it came to pass in that length of days, when he was grown, that Moses went out unto his brethren the sons of Israel: and looked on their toil: and he spieth an Egyptian smiting a certain Hebrew of his brethren the sons of Israel. And looking this way and that way, he seeth no man; and he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. And he went out the second day; and he seeth two Hebrew men striving together; and he sayeth to him that was in the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as yesterday thou killedst the Egyptian? Then Moses feared, and said, If it be thus, this thing is become known. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses: and Moses departed from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and when he was come into the land of Midian, he sat down upon the well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, which fed their father Jethro’s sheep: and they came and drew water, until they filled their pitchers to water their father Jethro’s sheep. And the shepherds came, and drove them away: but Moses stood up, and rescued them, and drew water for them, and watered their sheep. And they came to Reuel their father; and he said unto them, How is it that ye are come so quickly to day? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us from the shepherds, and drew water for us, and watered our sheep. And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? and why is it that ye have left the man? call him therefore, that he may eat bread. And Moses stayed with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter to wife. And the woman conceived and bare a son; and Moses called his name Gershom, saying, I am a sojourner in a strange land. And she conceived again and bare a second son and he called him Eliezer, saying, For the God of my father is mine help, and He hath delivered me from the hand of Pharaoh.
And having finished the Lesson he shall announce the Prokhimenon for the second lesson READER: The Prokhimenon. Tone 4. Psalm 137 Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not the work of Thy hands. Verse: I will give Thee thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart And then he [or the Deacon] shall say aloud: At thy bidding. Whereupon the Priest, holding a lighted candle and the censer in his right hand and standing before the Holy Altar facing towards the east shall make the sigh of the Cross and exclaim: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. And passing through the Holy Doors, he shall face the Icon of Christ and say: The Light of Christ, And facing the people and blessing them with the candle and censer he shall say: Lighteth every man. And entering the sanctuary, he shall lay aside the censer. The Reader shall announce the second Lesson. The reading is from the Book of Job. PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. Let us attend. Job 2: 1-10 And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the devil came also among them to stand before the Lord. And the Lord said unto the devil, From whence comest thou? Then the devil said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world under heaven, and from walking the whole earth round about. And the Lord said unto the devil, Hast thou then considered My servant Job, that there is none of men like him in the earth, an harmless, and true, and godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet holdeth fast to innocency, although thou toldst Me to destroy his substance without cause. And the devil answered the Lord and said, Skin for skin, all whatsoever a man hath will he give to pay for his life. Nay, but put forth Thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh; and he will bless Thee to Thy face. And the Lord said unto the devil, Behold, I do deliver him up to thee; only spare his life. So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from his feet to his head. And he took him a potsherd to scrape away the discharge withal; and he sat down upon the dunghill without the city. And when much time had passed, his wife said unto him, How long wilt thou persevere, saying, Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, even thy sons and thy daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb, which I bare in vain with sorrows; and thou thyself sittest down to pass the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms; and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, awaiting the going down of the sun, that I may rest from my travails and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die. But he looked on her, and said unto her, Thou hast spoken as one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things? In all these things that happened unto him, did not Job sin at all with his lips before God. PRIEST: Peace unto thee [that readeth]. READER: And unto thy spirit. PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. And taking up the censer and standing before the Holy Altar the Priest shall cense whilst singing: Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord. And the choir shall repeat this four times, but before each the Priest shall announce the verse from each side of the Holy Altar censing each side as he goes. Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me: hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me, give ear to the voice of my prayer, when I cry unto Thee, hear me, O Lord. Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Let my prayer be set forth... Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuse with pretexts for sins. Let my prayer be set forth... And censing the Prothesis: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Let my prayer be set forth... And standing again before the Holy Altar facing east the Priest shall sing: Let my prayer be set forth, And passing through the Holy Doors and facing the Icon of Christ he shall sing: Before Thee as incense; And censing the rest of the Iconostasis and the people the choir shall take up the rest of the hymn singing: And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. PRIEST That we may be accounted worthy to hear the Holy Gospel, let us beseech the Lord our God. Peace unto all. PRIEST [or Deacon] PRIEST PRIEST And after the reading of the Gospel the Priest shall bless the Deacon saying: Peace unto thee [that dost preach the good tidings]. PRIEST [or Deacon] Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say, CHOIR: Kyrie eleison [3] And after each petition. O Almighty Lord, God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hear us and have mercy. Have mercy upon us, O God, after Thy great goodness. We pray Thee, hear us and have mercy. Again we pray for our Archbishop [Name], and for all our brethren in Christ. O Lord our God, accept this fervent supplication from Thy servants, and have mercy upon us according unto the multitude of Thy mercies; and send down Thy compassions upon us and upon all Thy people who await Thy great and bountiful mercy. For Thou art a merciful God, and a lover of mankind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST [or Deacon]: Catechumens, pray ye unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison. And after each petition. Let us, the faithful, pray for the catechumens. That the Lord may have mercy upon them. That He may instruct them in the word of truth. That He may reveal unto them the gospel of righteousness. That He may unite them to His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Save, have mercy, help and preserve them, O God, by Thy grace. Catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord. PRIEST THE PRAYER FOR THE CATECHUMENS O God, our God, Creator and Author of all things; who willest that all should be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth: look upon Thy servants the Catechumen, and deliver them from the delusion of old, and from the wiles of the adversary: and call them unto life eternal, enlightening their souls and bodies, and numbering them among Thy reasonable flock, which is called by Thy holy Name. That they also with us may glorify Thy sublime and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST [or Deacon] As many as are catechumens depart: catechumens depart: As many as are to be illuminated draw near. Pray all ye that are to be illuminated. Let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison. And after each petition. Ye faithful, for these brethren that are preparing for holy illumination, and for their salvation, let us pray unto the Lord. That the Lord our God may establish them and strengthen them, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may enlighten then with the light of knowledge and godliness, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may vouchsafe unto them, at the appropriate time, the washing of regeneration, the remission of sins, and the garment of incorruption, let us pray unto the Lord. That they may be born again of water and the Spirit, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may grant unto then the perfection of faith, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may number them with His holy and chosen flock, let us pray unto the Lord. Save, have mercy, succour and preserve them, O God, by Thy grace. As many as are preparing for illumination, bow your heads unto the Lord. THE PRAYER FOR THOSE THAT ARE PREPARING FOR HOLY ILLUMINATION PRIEST Reveal Thy countenance, O Lord, unto them that are preparing for holy illumination, and who desire to cast off the filthiness of sin. Illumine their understanding, establish them in faith, confirm them in hope, and perfect them in love. Make them honourable members of Thy Christ, who gave Himself a ransom for our souls. For Thou art our illumination, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST [or Deacon] As many as are to be illumined depart: all that are preparing to be illumined depart: as many as are catechumens depart: let not any of the catechumens remain. As many as are faithful, Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Wisdom. THE FIRST PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL PRIEST O God, great and praiseworthy who through the life-giving death of Thy Christ hast translated us from corruption to incorruption: Do Thou deliver all our senses from the passions of death, imposing on them as a good guide the reasoning from within. And let our eye be blind to every evil sight, let our ear be deaf to all idle words, and our tongue be purged from unseemly speech. Purify our lips that praise Thee, O Lord; cause our hands to abstain from sinful deeds and to do only those things that are pleasing in Thy sight, establishing all our members and our mind by Thy grace. For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST [or Deacon] Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Wisdom. THE SECOND PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL PRIEST O holy Master, who art most good, we pray Thee who art rich in mercy, be merciful unto us sinners, and make us worthy to receive Thine only-begotten Son and our God, the King of glory. For behold, His most pure Body and life-giving Blood entering at this present hour are about to be laid upon this mystical altar, invisibly attended by the multitude of angelic hosts. Grant that we may partake of them without condemnation; that through them, the eyes of our understanding being enlightened, we may become children of light and the day. According to the gift of Thy Christ, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. And the Choir shall sing slowly and solemnly the following hymn in place of the Cherubic Hymn. Now the heavenly powers invisibly do worship with us: for behold, the King of glory entereth. Behold, the mystical sacrifice all accomplished is borne on high. In faith and love let us draw near that we may become partakers of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. And when the Choir has finished the Priest [or the Deacon] shall say: Let us complete our supplication unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition For the precious and presanctified gifts here set forth, let us pray unto the Lord. That our God, which loveth mankind, who hath received them unto His holy and heavenly and spiritual altar for a sweetsmelling savour of spiritual fragrance, may send down upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray unto the Lord. That He may deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. That this whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, let us entreat the Lord. CHOIR: Grant us O Lord. And after each petition For an angel of peace, faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us entreat the Lord. For pardon and remission of our sins and transgression, let us entreat the Lord. For things good and profitable to our souls, and peace for the world, let us entreat the Lord. That we may pass the remainder of our lives in peace and repentance, let us entreat the Lord. For a Christian ending to our life, painless, without shame and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us entreat the Lord. Having besought the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. THE PRAYER AT THE SETTING OF THE HOLY GIFTS UPON THE ALTAR PRIEST O God of ineffable and unseen mysteries, with whom are the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who hast revealed unto us the service of this ministry, and of Thy great love toward mankind hast appointed us sinners to offer unto Thee gifts and sacrifices for our sins and for the errors of the people: do Thou, O invisible King, that performest things great and incomprehensible, glorious and wonderful, which are without number, look upon us Thine unworthy servants who stand before this sacred altar, as standing before Thy throne of cherubim, on which resteth Thine only-begotten Son and our God, through the dread mysteries here set forth. And having delivered us and all Thy people from all our uncleanness, hallow all our souls and bodies with the sanctification that cannot be taken away. That with a pure conscience, a face unashamed and with an enlightened heart, we may partake of these divine and hallowed things and being quickened by them, we may be united unto Thy Christ Himself, our true God, who hath said: He that eateth by flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him; that with Thy Word, O Lord, dwelling in us and walking with us, we may become the temple of Thy most Holy and venerable Spirit, redeemed from every snare of the devil, manifest in deed or word or thought; and may obtain the good things promised us, with all Thy saints who have been well-pleasing to Thee since the world began. And vouchsafe, O Lord, that boldly and without condemnation we may dare to lift our voices unto Thee, O heavenly God and Father, and say: And the Priest, [the Deacon] the choir and all the people recite the Lord’s Prayer. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.And having finished, the Priest shall say: PRIEST For Thine is the kingdom. The power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST Peace unto all. CHOIR: And unto thy spirit
PRIEST[or Deacon] Let us bow down our heads before the Lord. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST O God, who alone art good and compassionate, who dwellest in the highest and lookest down on the humble, with a compassionate eye look down upon all Thy people and protect them. And vouchsafe that all of us may partake without condemnation of these Thy life-giving mysteries: for unto Thee we have bowed our heads awaiting for Thy bountiful mercy. Through the grace and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. The Priest, bowing his head shall say also this prayer: Give heed, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Thy holy dwelling place, and from the glorious throne of Thy kingdom, and come to sanctify us, O Thou that sittest on high with the Father and art here invisibly present with us. And vouchsafe by Thy mighty hand to impart unto us of Thy most pure Body and precious Blood; and through us unto all Thy people. And making three prostrations the Priest shall say to himself: O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and be merciful unto me. Then he [or the Deacon] shall say aloud: Let us give heed. And with deep reverence and awe, the Priest shall touch the life-giving bread beneath the Aer that covereth the Holy Gifts saying: The Presanctified Holy Things unto the holy. Here the Priest shall remove the Aer and the Asterisk and laying them aside shall continue with the communion in the usual manner. DEACON Break, O Master, the Holy Bread. The Priest taking the Holy Bread shall break it in four parts saying: Broken and divided is the Lamb of God; which being broken yet is not divided; Being ever eaten, never is consumed; But sanctifieth them that partake thereof. And he shall place the four pieces on the holy paten, laying the ΙC at the top of the paten. The ΧC at the bottom, the ΝΙ to his own left-hand side and the ΚΑ to his right. DEACON: Fill, Master the Holy Cup. And the Priest taking from the paten the particle, which lies uppermost, that marked IC, shall make therewith the sign of the Cross over the chalice, and placing it therein shall say: The fullness of the Holy Spirit. DEACON: Amen. And taking the Zeon [warm water] he shall say to the Priest: Bless, Master, the fervency. The Priest blessing the warm water shall say: Blessed is the fervency of Thy saints, always, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. And the Deacon shall pour into the chalice, crosswise, so much as suffices saying: The fervency of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen And making three prostration he [they] shall say to himself [themselves]: O God, be gracious unto me, and have mercy upon me. And taking and dividing the particle of the Holy Bread with the XC, the Priest shall place a piece in the palm of his right hand saying: Behold, I draw near unto Christ our Immortal King and God. The precious and most holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, is imparted unto me [Name] the unworthy Priest, for the remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Deacon, draw near. DEACON Behold, I draw near unto Christ our Immortal King and God. O Master, impart unto me [Name], the unworthy Deacon, the precious and most holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. PRIEST The precious and most holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, is imparted unto thee [Name] the reverend Deacon, for the remission of thy sins and unto life everlasting. Then the Priest shall divide the two remaining portions, the NI and the KA, into small particles sufficient for all and with extreme care shall place the divided particles of the Lamb into the chalice saying naught. Then taking up the chalice he [or the Deacon] shall show it to the people saying: With fear of God, with faith and love draw near. CHOIR: Amen. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us. And as many as desire to communicate shall now approach one by one in an orderly fashion bearing themselves with all godly humility and awe. The Priest shall communicate to each the Holy Mysteries saying to each: The servant of God [Name] partaketh of the precious and most holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the remission of his/her sins and unto life everlasting. Or The Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Or The Body and Blood of Christ. And when all have communicated the Priest shall bless the people with the chalice saying: Save, O God, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. And he shall go into the sanctuary and place the chalice on the Holy Altar. CHOIR I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Taste ye the heavenly Bread and the cup of life; and see how gracious is the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. DEACON Exalt, O Master. The Priest shall cense the Holy Gifts thrice saying to himself: Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Thy glory be above all the earth. And giving the censer to the Deacon, he shall take up the paten with the asterisk and the veils, and set it upon the Deacon’s head who shall proceed to the offertory table where he shall set it down. But if the Priest celebrates alone he shall take up the paten with the asterisk and the veils with his left hand and the chalice with his right saying in secret: Blessed is our God; And turning to face the people he shall say aloud: Always, now and for ever: world without end. And he shall proceed to the offertory table and there set them down: the choir meanwhile singing “Let our mouths be filled”. And when the choir is finished,the Priest [or the Deacon] shall say:
Be upright: having partaken of the divine, holy, undefiled, immortal, heavenly, life-giving and awesome mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Having prayed that this whole evening be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God. PRIEST We give Thee thanks, O God and Saviour of all men, for all the good things that Thou hast bestowed upon us, and for the communion of the holy Body and Blood of Thy Christ. And we beseech Thee, O Master and lover of mankind, keep us safe under the shadow of Thy wings; and grant unto us even unto our last breath to partake worthily of Thy holy Gifts, unto the enlightening of our souls and bodies, and unto the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. And taking up the Gospel Book he shall make with it the sign of the Cross over the antiminsion and lay the Book upon it saying: For Thou art our sanctification, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Let us depart in peace. PRIEST [or Deacon] Let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR Kyrie eleison [3]. Holy father, give the blessing. And going out of the Sanctuary by the Holy Doors, the Priest shall stand below the chancel steps and say the following prayer. PRIEST O Master Almighty, who didst create all things in wisdom, and by Thine ineffable providence and great goodness hast brought us to these most solemn days, for the purification of our souls and bodies, for the restraint of the passions, and for the hope of the resurrection. Thou who in the forty days didst deliver unto Thy servant Moses the God-engraved tables of stone, grant also unto us, O Thou who art good, to fight the good fight, to finish the course of the fast, to preserve the faith undivided, to crush the heads of the invisible dragons, to be manifested victorious over sin, and to come to worship, without condemnation, the holy resurrection. For blessed and glorified be Thy most honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. CHOIR: Amen.
Blessed
is the Name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
[3] As the choir sing “Blessed is the name…” the Priest shall enter the sanctuary and going to the offertory table shall say the following prayer silently. O Lord our God, who hast brought us to these most solemn days and hast made us partakers of Thy dread mysteries, join us to Thy reasonable flock, and proclaim us heir of Thy kingdom, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Then facing the people he [or the Deacon] shall say: Let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR Kyrie eleison The Priest standing by the Holy Doors shall bless the people saying: May the blessing and mercy of the Lord come upon you, by His divine grace and loving-kindness, always, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST Glory be to Thee, O our God, glory be to Thee. CHOIR: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirt, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Kyrie eleison [3]. Holy father, give the blessing. THE DISMISSAL May the Lord, who cometh to the voluntary passion, for our salvation, Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most holy Mother; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protection of the heavenly bodiless hosts; through the supplications of the glorious Prophet and Forerunner, John the Baptist; of the holy and all-glorious Apostles; of the holy, glorious and triumphant martyrs; of our holy God-bearing fathers; of our father among the saints, Gregory Dialogos, Pope of Rome; of [name of the saint to whom the Church is dedicated]; of the holy and righteous progenitors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints, have mercy upon us, and save our souls: For He is good and loving-kind.
And the Reader shall recite the following Psalms PSALM 33 (34) I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall be praised in the Lord; let the meek hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name for ever. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all mine troubles. 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 troubles. The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear Him, and shall 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. The rich are become poor, and have suffered hunger; 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 he that desireth life, that 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 open unto their supplication. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, and will save such as be of an humble spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but 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 the sinners is evil, and they that hate the righteous shall go astray. The Lord shall redeem the souls of His servants, and none of them that hope in Him shall go astray. PSALM 144 (145) I will exalt Thee, O God my king, and I will bless Thy name for ever, yea, for ever and ever. Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name for ever, yea, for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and there is no end of His greatness. Generation and generation shall praise Thy works, and shall declare Thy might. They shall speak of the majesty of the glory of Thy holiness, and shall tell of Thy wondrous works. And they shall speak of the might of Thy marvellous acts, and tell of Thy majesty. They shall utter the memory of the abundance of Thy goodness, and shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. The Lord is full of compassion, and merciful; longsuffering, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Let all Thy works praise Thee, O Lord, and let Thy saints bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and tell of Thy dominion. To make known to the sons of men Thy dominion, and the glorious majesty of Thy kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth in every generation and generation. The Lord is faithful in all His words, and holy in all His works. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all look to Thee in hope, and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and fillest with Thy favour every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love Him, but all the wicked will He destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever. PRIEST By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. CHOIR: Amen.
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