THE CHOIR'S HANDBOOK
OF THE PRESANCTIFIED
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The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified is celebrated on every Wednesday and Friday of Great Lent, on Thursday of the fifth week for the Great Canon, on Great Monday, Great Tuesday, Great Wednesday, on the Feast of the First and Second findings of the head of St. John the Baptist [24th February], on the Feast of the Forty holy martyrs [9th march], and on any other local feast if it falls on a Monday to Friday in Great Lent. The Feast of the Annunciation, on whatever day it falls on, is always celebrated with the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified is celebrated always after the Office of Hours with the Vespers service and is usually celebrated by one Priest without a Deacon, except on feast days and in Holy Week where there are readings from the Gospels.
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 very great; Thou hast clothed Thyself with praise and honour: who dost robe Thyself with light as a garment; spreading out the heavens as a curtain. Who covers His chambers with waters; who makes the clouds his chariots: who walks on the wings of the wind. Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flaming fire. Who establishes the earth on her sure foundation: it shall not be moved forever. The deep, as it were a garment, is His covering: the waters shall stand on the hills. At Thy rebuke they shall flee; at the voice of Thy thunder they shall be alarmed. They go up to the mountains, and down to the plains, to the place which Thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass, neither shall they turn again to cover the earth. He sends forth His fountains among the valleys: the waters shall run between the mountains. They shall give drink to all the wild beasts of the field: the wild asses shall take of them to quench their thirst. By them shall the birds of the sky lodge: they shall utter a voice out of the midst of the rocks. He waters the mountains from His chambers: the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He makes grass to grow for the cattle, the green herb for the service of men, to bring bread out of the earth; and wine makes glad the heart of man, to make his face cheerful with oil: and bread strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of sap; even the cedars of Lebanon which He has planted. There the sparrows will build their nests; and the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are a refuge for the stags, and the rock for the rabbits. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down. Thou didst make darkness, and it was night; in it all the wild beasts of the forest will be abroad: even young lions roaring for prey, and to seek meat for themselves from God. The sun arises, and they shall be gathered together, and shall lie down in their dens. Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labour till evening. How great are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou wrought them all: the earth is filled with Thy creation. So is this great and wide sea: there are things creeping innumerable, small animals and great. There go the ships; and this dragon whom Thou hast made to play in it. All wait upon Thee, to give them food in due season. When Thou hast given it them, they will gather it; and when Thou hast opened Thine hand, they shall be filled with good. But when Thou hast turned away Thy face, they shall be troubled: Thou wilt 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 be for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works; who looks upon the earth, and makes it tremble; who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord while I live; I will sing praise to my God while I exist. Let my meditation be sweet to Him: and I will rejoice in the Lord. Let the sinners fail from off the earth, and transgressors, so that they shall be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. The sun knows his going down, Thou didst make darkness, and it was night. How great are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou wrought them all. 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... For the peace and union of the whole world... For this holy temple and for them... For our Archbishop [Name], for the honourable... For this city [village, monastery]; for every city... For fair seasons and the abundance... For them that travel by land, by water... That we may be deliver from all tribulation... Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us... Mindful of our most holy and undefiled... CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST For unto Thee belong all glory... CHOIR: Amen. And the Reader shall read the reading the first stasis of the 18 Kathisma of the Psalter. Psalms 119-123 [120-124] PSALM 119 [120] In my distress, I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? Or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
PSALM 120[121] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. PSALM 121 [122] I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the House of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
PSALM122 [123] Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. PSALM 123 [124] If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 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... Mindful of our most holy and undefiled... CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST: For Thine is the might... 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, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not 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.And as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel. PSALM 125 [126] When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are Glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
PSALM 126 [127] Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. PSALM 127 [128] Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
PSALM 128 [129] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. Neither do they which go by say, the blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord. When the reader hath finished the second 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: 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... Mindful of our most holy and undefiled... CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST: For Thou, O God, art good and loving-kind... 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 supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 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 mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever. PSALM 131 [132] Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
PSALM 132 [133] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. PSALM 133 [134] Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servant of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in 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 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. Alleluia [3] Glory be to Thee, O God. [3]
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... Mindful of our most holy and undefiled... CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST: For Thou art our God, the God of mercy... CHOIR:Amen.
And the choir shall sing psalm 140 [141] “Lord, I cry unto Thee” in the tone of the first hymn. Lord, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me. Make haste unto me, O Lord. Lord, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee. Make haste unto me, O Lord. Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Make haste unto me, O Lord. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity, and let me not eat of their dainties. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil. Which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. When their judges are overthrown in stormy places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord: in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape. PSALM 141 [142] I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before Him; I shewed before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger that I.
And then the following as verses before the appointed hymns. 10 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name. The righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me 8 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 supplications. 6 If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord. 4 More than they watch for the morning: I say, more than they watch for the morning. 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. 2 PSALM 116 [117] O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And the Choir shall sing the appointed hymn for the Glory. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. And the Choir shall sing the Theotokion.
THE LITTLE ENTRANCE
PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. And the choir shall sing the evening hymn “O Gladsome light”. 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... Psalm...
PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. READER: The reading is from the Book of Genesis [or Exodus]. PRIEST [or Deacon]: Let us give heed.
And the reader shall read the Lesson. And having finish the Lesson he shall announce the Prokhimenon for the second lesson 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.
The Reader shall announce the second Lesson. The reading is from the Book of Proverbs [or Job] PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. Let us attend.
And after the reading: 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.
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 cry unto Thee: make haste unto me. Make haste unto me, O Lord. Lord, I cry unto Thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee. Make haste unto 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 any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity, and let me not eat of their dainties. 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.
If the Liturgy of the Presanctified is offered to celebrate the commemoration of a certain saint’s day or in Holy week the reader shall announce the Apostle reading. And the choir shall sing the Alleluia with the appointed verses whilst the Priest [or Deacon] censes in the customary way.
PRIEST [or Deacon]: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. PRIEST: Peace unto all.
PRIEST [or Deacon] PRIEST: Let us give heed. 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... Have mercy upon us, O God... Again we pray for our Archbishop [Name]... Again we pray for mercy, life... Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable... 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]... Again we pray for them that strive... For Thou art a merciful God... 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... Catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord. PRIEST THE PRAYER FOR THE CATECHUMENS O God, our God, Creator and Author of all things... That they also with us may glorify... CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST [or Deacon] As many as are catechumens depart... As many as are faithful, Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord. CHOIR: Kyrie eleison. And after each petition. Succour, save, h | |||
