THE PEOPLE'S HANDBOOK
OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
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The prayers of the Divine Liturgy are from the ORTHODOX LITURGY by the Holy Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex, but with changes in places.
PRIEST Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST In peace let us pray unto the Lord. 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 delivered 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.
PRIEST: [SILENTLY] THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON O Lord our God, whose might is ineffable; whose glory passeth all understanding; whose mercy is infinite; whose love toward mankind is beyond utterance: do Thou, O Sovereign Lord, of Thy compassion look down upon us, and upon this holy temple; and bestow upon us, and upon them that now make their supplications with us, Thy bountiful goodness and mercy. 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 choir shall sing the first Antiphon or the Psalm of the Typika. Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God have their own special Antiphons.
PSALM 102 (103) Bless the Lord, O my soul. Blessed art Thou, O Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth Thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and glorious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As Far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him. And His righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth all. Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Blessed art Thou, O Lord. OR THE FIRST ANTIPHONBless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. By the Prayers of the Mother of God, Saviour, save us. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. By the Prayers of the Mother of God, Saviour, save us. The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth all. By the Prayers of the Mother of God, Saviour, save us.
PRIEST Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy.
PRIEST 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: [SILENTLY] THE PRAYER OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON O Lord our God, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Preserve the fullness of Thy Church. Sanctify them that love the habitation of Thy house. Do Thou by Thy divine power exalt them unto glory; and forsake us not who put our trust in Thee. 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. CHOIR: Amen. And the choir shall sing the second Antiphon or the Psalm of the Typika. PSALM 145 (146) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth. In that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is. Which keepeth truth for ever: which executeth judgement for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous: the Lord preserveth the strangers. He relieveth the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. O Only-begotten Son and word of God, O Thou who art Immortal, yet for our salvation didst deign to be incarnate of the holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change was made man. O Christ, our God, who was crucified for us, and by death, didst overcome death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, save us.
OR THE SECOND ANTIPHON Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. ON SUNDAYS Save us, O Son of God, Thou who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee, Alleluia. ON WEEKDAYS Save us, O Son of God, Thou who art wonderful in the saints, who sing to Thee, Alleluia. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Save us, O Son of God… Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. O Only-begotten Son and word of God, O Thou who art Immortal, yet for our salvation didst deign to be incarnate of the holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change was made man. O Christ, our God, who was crucified for us, and by death, didst overcome death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, save us.
PRIEST Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy.
PRIEST 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: [SILENTLY] THE PRAYER OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON O Thou who hast given us grace with one accord to make our common supplications unto Thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in Thy name Thou wilt grant their request: fulfil now, O Lord, the petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. 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. CHOIR: Amen. During the singing of the hymn of the day or the Beatitudes, the Priest shall exit the sanctuary holding the Gospel Book for the Little Entrance. And standing in the customary place shall say silently: Let us pray unto the Lord. O Master and Lord our God, who stablished the heavenly orders and hosts of angels and archangels to minister unto Thy glory: Grant that the holy angels may enter with our entrance, to minister with us, and with us to glorify Thy goodness. 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. And the Priest giving the benediction with his right hand shall say: Blessed is the entrance into the holiest, always, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Then the Priest and raise his hands and shew the Holy Gospel, and making the sign of the Cross with it shall cry in a loud voice: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. The choir shall sing the hymn of the day, the hymn to the saint to whom the Church is dedicated, the hymn to St. Barnabas, the patron saint of Cyprus, and the Kontakion of the day or feast. For the Sunday hymns and for Great Feasts see RESURRECTION HYMNS and TROPARIA AND KONTAKIA FOR THE GREAT FEASTS, For saints see APOLYTIKIA FOR SAINTS
APOLYTIKION FOR ST. GEORGE Tone 4 As the one renowned for setting captives free, * and for defending those in poverty, * the physician of the sick and the champion of kings, * do thou, o Victory-bearer and Great Martyr George, * intercede to Christ our God * for the salvation of our souls.
APOLYTIKION FOR ST. BARNABAS Tone 1 The great glory of Cyprus, the preacher of the world, * the first amongst the Antiochians, * the architect of Christian calling, * the renowned pioneer of Rome,* and the divine hauler of the nations,* the vessel of grace, the kinsman of the Holy Spirit, * the travelling companion of the holy and great Apostle Paul, * first amongst the Seventy, equal to the Twelve. * Let us all the faithful piously come together * and crown Barnabas with hymns * for he intercedes with Christ * to have mercy upon our souls.
KONTAKION FOR MOST SUNDAYS O steadfast help and shield of Christians; * constant advocate with the creator: * despise not the prayers of sinners, who call upon thee, * but of thy goodness attend unto our aid * who in faith cry out to thee. * Make speed to make supplication; *make haste to intercede; * O Mother of God who dost *ever watch over them that honour thee.
ON SATURDAYS As first-fruits of nature the world offers to Thee, * O Lord and Husbandman of creation, * the God-bearing Martyrs. * By their intercessions * and through the Mother of God, * preserve Thy Church in profound peace, O Most Merciful.
While the choir sing the hymns the Priest shall say the Prayer of the Thriceholy hymn in a low voice O Holy God, who restest in the holies; unto whom the seraphim sing the thriceholy song; whom the cherubim glorify, and all the heavenly hosts adore; who didst bring into being all that exists; who didst create man in Thine image and likeness, and didst adorn him with Thine every gift; who givest wisdom and understanding to him that asketh, and art not wroth with the sinner, but dost grant repentance to salvation; who hast deemed us, Thine humble and unmeritable servants, worthy at this hour to stand before the glory of Thy Holy Altar, to bring unto Thee rightful worship and praise: accept, O Master, from the mouths of us sinners the thriceholy hymn, and visit us with Thy goodness. Pardon our offences, voluntary and involuntary. Sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant us to serve Thee in holiness, all the days of our life. By the prayers of the Mother of God, and of all the saints which have been well pleasing unto Thee since the world began. Let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy.
PRIEST For Thou our God art holy, 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. PRIEST O Holy God, holy and Strong, holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy kingdom, that sittest upon the cherubim; always, now and for ever: world without end. Amen O Lord and lover of mankind: make the imperishable light of Thy divine knowledge to shine in our hearts; and open the eyes of our understanding that we may apprehend the preaching of Thy Gospel. Implant in us likewise awe of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling under feet all the lusts of the flesh we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing always such things as are pleasing in Thy sight. For Thou art the enlightening of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
PRIEST PRIEST Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say, CHOIR: Kyrie eleison [3] And after each petition.
PRIEST 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. Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all the pious Orthodox Christians who dwell or visit this city, [village] the parishioners, the Church committee, those who give help and those who have dedicated gifts in this holy temple. Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy Church and for all our departed fathers, brethren, and Orthodox Christians everywhere who have fallen asleep. If there be a commemoration of them that are fallen asleep the Priest may also say: Again we pray for the repose of the soul[s] of the departed servant[s] of God [Name(s)], and for the forgiveness of his [her, their] every transgression, voluntary and involuntary. Again we pray for them that strive and bring forth the fruit of good works in this holy and venerable temple; for them that serve, and them that sing; and for all the people here present 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.
The following petitions for the Catechumen are usually omitted. PRIEST: 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.
THE PRAYER FOR THE CATECHUMENS PRIEST O Lord our God who dwellest on high, and dost look upon the lowly; who for the salvation of mankind didst send forth Thine Only-begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ: look upon Thy servants, the catechumens, who bow down their necks before Thee; and deem them worthy, at the appropriate time, of the washing of regeneration, of the remission of sins, of the garment of incorruption. Unite them to Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; and number them among Thy chosen flock. 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 As many as are catechumens depart: catechumens 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.
FIRST PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL We give thanks unto Thee, O Lord God of hosts, who hast accounted us worthy also now to stand before Thy Holy Altar and to bow down and beseech Thy compassions for our sins and the errors of the people. Accept, O God, our prayer; make us to become worthy to offer unto Thee prayers and supplications, and the bloodless sacrifice for all Thy people: and enable us, whom Thou hast appointed to this Thy ministry, by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, to call upon Thee, at all times and in every place, without impediment and without condemnation, with a clear testimony of our conscience, so that hearing us Thou mayest be gracious unto us in the multitude of Thy goodness. 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: Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace. Wisdom.
SECOND PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL That being ever guarded by Thy might we may give glory to Thee, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. And when the Priest has entered the Sanctuary the choir shall continue: During the singing of the Cherubicon, the Priest bowing his head shall say the following prayer on behalf of himself. THE PRAYER OF THE CHERUBICON The prayer being finished, the Priest shall say the Cherubic hymn thrice, making a reverence at the end of each repetition. Then the Priest taking up the censer and blessing the incense in the usual way, shall cense the Holy Table round about, the prothesis, the Iconostasis and the people saying secretly “We have seen the resurrection of Christ” and then Psalm 50 up to the verse “O God Thou wilt not despise”. Then standing before the Holy Altar, he shall make three lowly reverences saying to himself: O Saviour, I have sinned before Thee as the Prodigal Son, accept me, O Father, as a penitent, and have mercy upon me, O God. With the voice of the Publican I cry unto Thee, O Christ Saviour. Be gracious unto me, as Thou wast with him, and have mercy upon me, O God. And bowing humbly to the people he shall say in a low voice: May God forgive them that hate us and them that love us. Then shall he proceed to the offertory table saying as he goes: O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and have mercy upon me. [3] And the Priest taking the aer | |||
