Byzantine Altar Book

a
The
Divine Liturgies
of
the Byzantine Rite
© 2002 Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, N.A. Synod

a
The
Divine Liturgy
of
St. John Chrysostom
1
2
Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
Archbishop of Constantinople
Those coming for the celebration are invited to bring gifts for sharing in the celebration. The
bread and wine are brought for sharing in the Divine Liturgy while other foods are brought for sharing
in the fellowship after the Liturgy. Prior to the start of the Liturgy, the bread and wine are given to
the celebrant who takes them to the side altar and prepares them for the Liturgy.
The clergy and people gather for the procession into the nave of the church. When all is ready
the procession to the altar is begun. The ministers, which shall include Cross-bearer, candle-bearers,
and incense; and the Celebrant leads the congregation into the nave. The procession to the altar shall
be accompanied by Psalm 95. During Lent another psalm is used as indicated below:
Come, let us cry out with joy to The Lord,

acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
acclaim him with music.
For The Lord is a great God,

a king greater than all the gods.
In his power are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are his;
the sea belongs to him, for he made it,
and the dry land, moulded by his hands.
Come, let us bow low and do reverence;

kneel before The Lord who made us!
For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold,
the flock of his hand.
During Lent the procession to the altar shall be accompanied by Psalm 51:
Have mercy on me, O God,
in your faithful love,
in your great tenderness
wipe away my offences;
wash me clean from my guilt,

purify me from my sin.
For I am well aware of my offences,
my sin is constantly in mind.
Against you, you alone, I have sinned,

I have done what you see to be wrong,
that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence,
and your victory may appear when you give judgement,
3
Remember, I was born guilty,
a sinner from the moment of conception.
But you delight in sincerity of heart,
and in secret you teach me wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop till I am clean,

wash me till I am whiter than snow.
Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
and the bones you have crushed will dance.
Turn away your face from my sins,

and wipe away all my guilt.
God, create in me a clean heart,
renew within me a resolute spirit,
do not thrust me away from your presence,

do not take away from me your spirit of holiness.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
I shall teach the wicked your paths,

and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, God,
God of my salvation,
and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice.
Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will speak out your praise.
Sacrifice gives you no pleasure,
burnt offering you do not desire.
Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,

a broken, contrite heart you never scorn.
In your graciousness do good to Zion,
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,

-burnt offerings and whole oblations-
and young bulls will be offered on your altar.
Upon reaching the altar, the celebrants and the deacons pray the prayer to the Holy Spirit and then
venerate the altar, gospel book and hand cross. The celebrant then incenses the altar, icons and the
whole church. During this incensation, a hymn may be sung. When the incensing is completed, the
celebrant intones the blessing:
4
Blessed is the kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
From Easter Sunday to Ascension Thursday we begin the liturgy with the Easter tropar sung three times.
First by the celebrant, then by the people:

Christ has risen from the dead! By death He conquered death and to those in the
graves, he granted life!
*** ALL BE SEATED ***
Celebrant (or Deacon) -- In peace, let us pray to the Lord!
All respond: Lord, have mercy. (repeated after each petition.)
Celebrant (or deacon):

--For peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
--For peace in the whole world, for the well-being of the holy churches of God and
for their holy union, let us pray to the Lord.
--For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence and the love of
God, let us pray to the Lord.
--For all the holy Patriarchs; for the most reverend Metropolitans and Archbishops,
our Metropolitan, N., our Archbishop N., for the God-loving bishops, for our bishop,
N., for the holy priesthood the deaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people,
let us pray to the Lord.
--For our civil authorities and all those in the service of our country, let us pray to the
Lord.
--For this city of, N.,(village of, N., or town of, N.,) for every city, countryside and for
those who live within them, let us pray to the Lord.
5
--For seasonable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful
times, let us pray to the Lord.
--For those who travel by sea, air, land, or in the vastness of the heavens, for the sick,
the suffering, the captive and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
--That we be delivered from all affliction, wrath and need, let us pray to the Lord.
--Protect us, save us, show us your mercy, and preserve us, O God, by your grace.
--Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious lady, the
Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and
one another, and our whole life, to Christ, Our God.
All respond: To You, O Lord.
Celebrant:
You, O Lord, promised to grant the petitions of two or three

united together in Your name, and have given us to offer these
prayers with a single and united voice; also hear now the requests
of Your people for their benefit, giving us the knowledge of Your
truth in the present time and granting life eternal in the age to
come. For you, O God, are gracious and You love mankind, and
to You we render glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The singers them begin singing the First Antiphon, Psalm 102, or the Antiphons of the Feast.
Bless The Lord, my soul,
from the depths of my being, his holy name;
bless The Lord, my soul,
never forget all his acts of kindness.
He forgives all your offences,

cures all your diseases,
he redeems your life from the abyss,
crowns you with faithful love and tenderness;
he contents you with good things all your life,
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renews your youth like an eagle's.
The Lord is tenderness and pity,

slow to anger and rich in faithful love;

bless The Lord, my soul.
Then the people sing the Second Antiphon, Psalm 142:

Praise The Lord, my soul!
I will praise The Lord all my life,
I will make music to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in any child of Adam,

who has no power to save.
When his spirit goes forth he returns to the earth,
on that very day all his plans come to nothing.
How blessed is he who has Jacob's God to help him,

his hope is in The Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.
He keeps faith for ever,

gives justice to the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry;
The Lord sets prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind,

lifts up those who are bowed down.
The Lord protects the stranger,
he sustains the orphan and the widow.
The Lord loves the upright,

but he frustrates the wicked.
The Lord reigns for ever, your God,
Zion, from age to age.
7
Then the people continue:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
O only-begotten Son and Word of God, who, being immortal, deigned for our salvation to become
incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and became man without change; You were
also crucified, O Christ our God, and by death have trampled death, being One of the Holy Trinity,
glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit save us.
Although optional, the people then may chant the Third Antiphon, The Beatitudes. During the Easter
Season, the Troparion and verses from Resurrection Matins are taken at this place:
In thy kingdom remember us, O Lord,
when you come into your kingdom.
How blessed are the poor in spirit:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness:

they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:

they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness:

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.
During the singing of the Hymn of the incarnation, or if it is sung, the Thrid Antiphon, the celebrant
removes the Book of Gospels from the altar. Either carrying it himself or giving it to the deacon, they
exit the sanctuary in procession out the north door, around the church and to the Ambo for the Liturgy
of the Word. Upon reaching the foot of the Ambon, the celebrant prays the following. If the space is
too small to have a separate ambon, the celebrant returns to the altar and places the Gospel Book
upright in the middle of the altar. :
8
Celebrant:
O Lord, our Master and God, Who in heaven established orders

and armies of angels and archangels for the service of Your
glory, make this our entrance to be an entrance of holy angels,
serving together with us, and with us glorifying Your goodness.
For to you is due all glory honor and worship, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Deacon:: Rev. Father, Bless the Holy Entrance.
Celebrant, while giving his blessing:
+Blessed is the entrance of your saints, always now and ever and
forever.
All respond: Amen.
The celebrant, or Deacon holds the Book of Gospel aloft and proclaims:
Wisdom, let us be attentive!

The Book of Gospels is enthroned in a place of reverence within the Ambon and ministers enter the Ambon
while the people sing:
Come let us worship and bow before Christ, O Son of God (on Sunday) Risen from the dead (on
weekdays: wondrous in your saints) Save us who sing to you. Alleluia!
The Troparia of the day are now sung. When they are completed, the Celebrant prays the following.
Z
9
Celebrant:
O holy God, Who abide in the saints, Who are praised by the
thrice-holy voice of the Seraphim, and are glorified by the
Cherubim, and are adored by all the heavenly powers; Who
brought all things out of nonexistence into being, and created
mankind in Your own image and likeness and adorned it with
Your every gift; giving wisdom and understanding to those who
ask, not despising the sinner, and ordaining repentance for our
salvation.
You have allowed us, Your children, to stand at this time before
the glory of Your holy Altar and to offer you adoration and
praises; accept from our lips, the Thrice-holy Hymn, and deal
with us according to Your kindness. Forgive us every offense,
voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and bodies, and
grant that we may serve you in holiness all the days of our life;
through the prayers of the holy Theotokos and all the saints, who
have pleased you from the beginning of time.
For you are Holy, our God, and to you we give glory, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The people sing:

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us.(Three times)
On feasts where a baptism may be celebrated:

All you, who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Alleluia!(Three Times)
On feast of the Holy Cross:

We bow to your Cross, O Lord and we praise your holy Resurrection.(Three times)
When the hymn is completed the congregation is invited to be seated and listen to the Word of God for
the day. The celebrant, from the presider's seat, announces the Liturgy of the Word. Before taking his
seat upon the throne he blesses it saying:
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Blessed are you on the throne of the glory of your kingdom, enthroned upon the
Cherubim, always, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
*** PLEASE BE SEATED ***
Celebrant: Wisdom!
Reader: A reading from ....
Celebrant: Let us be attentive!

Reader: The reading begins.
After the first reading a psalm and a responsory is sung. Following this psalm, if there is one to be read,
the second reading is introduced as above. Following the second reading the Gospel Acclamation is sung.
*** PLEASE STAND ***
All sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Verses are chanted and the Alleluia is repeated after each verse.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
During the singing of the Alleluia verses, the celebrant or deacon approach the Book of Gospels and
carries it to the lectern if there is an Ambon, otherwise, the Gook of Gospels is incensed at the altar.
Upon reaching the lectern the Book of Gospels is enthroned and the celebrant, while incensing the Book
of Gospels, recites the follow prayer:
O gracious Master, infuse in our hearts the spotless light of your

Divine Wisdom and open the eye of our mind that we may
understand the teaching of your holy Gospel. Instill in us also a
love of your blessed commandments so that, having released all
worldly desires, we may lead a spiritual life both thinking and
doing everything to glorify you. For you, O Christ, are the
enlightenment of our souls and bodies; and to you we give glory,
together with our eternal Father, and with your all-holy, good and
life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
11
If there is a deacon present, and they are to read the gospel, the following dialogue is prayed between
the deacon and the celebrant
.
Deacon: Reverend Father (Most Reverend (Arch)Bishop), bless the announcer of
the Holy Gospel of the apostle and evangelist, N.
Celebrant (Bishop): May God, through the prayers of the Holy, glorious and illustrious
apostle and evangelist, N., grant that you announce the Word with great power,
for the fulfillment of the Gospel of the beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The celebrant will intone aloud.

Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel!
Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. N.
If there is no deacon, or if the celebrant is proclaiming the Gospel, the following is chanted by the
celebrant:
Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the reading of the Holy

Gospel according to Saint N.
All respond: Glory be to you, O Lord, glory be to you.

The gospel is now chanted. When the gospel is completed, all respond by singing:
Glory be to you, O Lord, glory be to you.

The homily is now given. The celebrant may speak on any issue or concern that they feel called to speak
upon. What is said may not be the expressed teaching of the church. Following the homily, the celebrant
returns the Book of Gospels to the altar and remains at the altar.
Standing before the Royal Doors the Deacon begins the following. If there is no deacon, the celebrant
continues:
12
--Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say.
All respond: Lord, have mercy. (And after each petition.)

--O Lord almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear and have mercy.
--Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy; we pray you, hear and
have mercy.
All respond: Lord have mercy (three times)
--We also pray all the holy Patriarchs; for the most reverend Metropolitans and
Archbishops, our Metropolitan, N., our Archbishop N., for the God-loving bishops,
for our bishop, N., for those who serve and have served in this holy house, for our
spiritual fathers and mothers, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In Monasteries:
--We also pray for all the holy Patriarchs; for the most reverend Metropolitans and
for our bishop, N., for our most venerable hieromonks: proto-archimandrite N.,
archimandrite N., proto-hegumen N., and hegumen N., for those who serve and have
served in this holy monastery, for our spiritual fathers and mothers, and for all our
brothers and sisters in Christ.
--We also pray for our civil authorities, and all those in the service of our country.
--We also pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant mercy,
for those who have shown us mercy, and for all Christians of the true faith.
Second prayer of the faithful.
Celebrant:
We bow down before you, and beseech you, O gracious lover of

mankind, that you hear our prayer and cleanse our souls and
bodies of every defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant that we may
stand before your holy altar without blame. Bestow, O God, also
upon those who pray with us, advancement in faith and life and
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spiritual understanding. Grant that they who serve you in awe
and love, may partake of your holy mysteries and be deemed
worthy of your heavenly kingdom. That, being ever protected by
your power, we may render glory to you, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The Celebrant may omit the follow and proceed to the cherubic hymn
Celebrant (or Deacon):

Let us pray for the catechumens everywhere, that the Lord have mercy on them.
All respond: Lord, have mercy.
Celebrant:
O Lord, Our God, who dwells on high and behold the humble,
who for the salvation of mankind have sent down your only
begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ, look upon your
children, the catechumens, who have bowed their heads to you,
and deem them worthy in due time of the waters of regeneration,
of the remission of sins, and of the robe of incorruption. Instruct
them in the word of truth, reveal to them the Gospel of righteous-
ness, unite them with your holy, catholic, and apostolic church,
and number them among the chosen flock. That with us they
also may praise your most honored and sublime name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.

In preparation for the procession of the gift to the altar, the congregation stands and sings the Cherubic
Hymn. The hymn is sung three times.
14
Let us who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice holy hymn to the life-
creating Trinity, now set aside all earthly cares. That we may welcome the King of all, invisibly
escorted by angelic hosts. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Meanwhile the celebrant goes to the side altar and washes his hands while reciting Psalm 26: 6-8.
I will wash my hands in innocence and join the procession round your altar, O Lord,
to make heard the sound of thanksgiving, to proclaim all your wonders. O Lord, I
love the beauty of your house and the place where your glory dwells.
Returning and facing the altar, with outstretched arms, the celebrant now prays silently:
No one who is bound by earthly desires and pleasures is able to come

to you, approach you or minister to you, the King of Glory, for to
minister to you is great and awesome, even to the heavenly powers
themselves. Yet, because of your ineffable and boundless love for us,
though in nature unchanged and unchangeable, you became man and
where made high priest and gave into our keeping the holy office of
this liturgical unbloody, sacrifice. For you alone, O Lord our God,
rule over all things in heaven and on earth, and are borne on the
cherubic throne, and are the Lord of the seraphim and King of Israel,
who alone are holy and dwell in the saints. Therefore, I beseech you,
who are gracious and ready to hear me; look favorably upon me, your
humble child, and cleanse my heart and soul of an evil conscience,
and with the power of the Holy Spirit, enable me who have been
clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this holy altar,
and to offer the sacrifice of your sacred and most pure body and
precious blood. With bowed head, I approach you and implore you,
turn not your face away from me, nor exclude me from among your
children, but allow these gifts to be offered to you by me, your humble
minister; for it is you, O Christ our God, who offer and are offered,
who receive and are distributed, and to you we render glory, with your
eternal Father and with your all-holy, gracious and life-creating Spirit,
now and ever, and forever. Amen.
15
During the singing of the hymn, the offering is taken from the congregation, the altar is incensed by the
deacon or celebrant in preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Following the hymn, the chalice,
filled with wine, and the bread which was prepared previous to the start of the liturgy, are brought to
the altar in procession. During this procession, the celebrant chants:
May the Lord God remember in His kingdom, all the holy
Patriarchs; the most reverend Metropolitans and Archbishops,
our Metropolitan, N., our Archbishop, N., the God-loving
bishops, our bishop, N., (our very reverend father proto-archi-
mandrite, archimandrite, our proto-hegumen, our hegumen) and
the entire priestly, diaconal and monastic order, our civil
authorities and all in the service of our country, the noble and
ever-memorable founders and benefactors of this holy Church
(monastery), and all you Christians of the true faith, always now
and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen. That we may welcome the King of all, invisibly escorted by angelic hosts.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Having received the gifts and having placed the gifts of bread and wine on the altar, the celebrant covers
them with the large veil while praying:
The noble Joseph took down your most pure body from the cross,
wrapped it in a clean shroud, and with fragrant spices laid it in
burial in a new tomb.
And taking the censer from the deacon, he incenses the holy gifts three times saying:
Deal favorably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion, that the
walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then you shall accept the
sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings, then
shall they lay calves upon your altar.
The following may be omitted:
Celebrant (or deacon): --Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.
16
All respond: Lord, have mercy. (Repeat after each petition)
--For the precious gifts here offered, let us pray to the Lord.
--For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the love of
--Protect us, save us, have mercy on us and preserve us, O God, by your grace.
--That this whole day (night) may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and without fault, let us
beseech the Lord.
All respond: Grant it, O Lord. (And repeat after each petition).
--For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us
beseech the Lord.
--For the pardon and remission of our sins and offenses, let us beseech the Lord.
--For what is good and beneficial to our souls and for the peace of the world, let us
beseech the Lord.
--That we may spend the rest of our life in peace and repentance, let us beseech the
Lord.
--For a Christian, painless, unashamed, peaceful end of our life, and for a good
account before the Christ, let us beseech the Lord.
--Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the
Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and
one another, and our whole life, to Christ, our God.
All respond: To you, O Lord.
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Celebrant:
O Lord God Almighty, who alone are holy and receive this
sacrifice of praise from those who call upon you with their whole
heart, accept our prayers; bring us to your holy altar, enable us to
offer you these gifts and this spiritual ministry for ourselves and
for your people: and may we continue to find favor in your sight
and our offerings remain pleasing to you, that the good Spirit of
your grace may rest in us and upon these gifts here present, and
upon all your people. Through the mercies of your only-begotten
Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your all holy,
gracious and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant: Peace be with you. +

All respond : And with your Spirit.
Let us love one another, and show each other a sign of forgive-
ness and peace.
All respond: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the trinity, one in substance and
undivided.
All exchange a sign of peace.

During the Pentecost Season: During Easter Season:
Greeting:Christ is among us! Greeting: Christ is Risen!
Response: He is and shall be! Response: He is truly Risen!
With wisdom and attention, let us profess our faith.
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All respond:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and

earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before
all ages. Light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made
of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were
made. Who for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven
and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the virgin and
became man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day,
according to the scriptures. And he ascended into heaven, and
sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again in
glory, to judge the living and the dead, and of his kingdom there
will be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of
Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father
and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the
prophets. In one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I profess
one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection
of the dead; and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Let us stand aright, let us stand in awe, let us be

attentive, to offer this holy liturgy in peace.

All respond: The offering of peace, the liturgy of praise.
Celebrant facing the people and blessing them:
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, + and the love of God the
Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
All respond: And with your Spirit.
Returning to the altar-
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Celebrant: Let us lift up our hearts.
All respond: We have them lifted up to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord!

All respond: It is proper and just.
Celebrant:
It is proper and just to sing hymns to you, to bless you, to praise

you, to thank you, to worship you in every place of the kingdom;
for you are God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehen-
sible, ever existing yet ever the same, you and your Son, and
your Holy Spirit; you brought us from nonexistence into being
and raising us again when we fall, You leave nothing undone,
bringing us to heaven and bestowing upon us your future
kingdom. For all this we give thanks to you and to your only-
begotten Son and to your Holy Spirit, for all that we know and
that we do not know, the manifest and the hidden benefits
bestowed upon us. We thank you also for this liturgy which you
have willingly accepted from our hands, even though there stand
before you thousands of Archangels, tens of thousand of angels,
cherubim and seraphim, six-winged, many eyed, soaring aloft on
their wings. Singing, shouting, crying out and saying the
triumphal hymn:
All respond: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory; hosanna
in the highest. Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the
highest.
On Sunday: PLEASE REMAIN STANDING
On Weekdays: PLEASE KNEEL
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Celebrant:
With these blessed powers, O loving and kind Master, we too cry
out and say: holy are you and all holy, you, and your only-
begotten Son, and your Holy Spirit; holy are you and all holy and
splendorous is your glory. Who so loved the world that you sent
us your only-begotten Son, that everyone who believes in him
should not perish but should have life everlasting; who, having
come and having fulfilled the whole divine plan concerning us,
on the night when he was betrayed, or rather, when he surren-
dered himself for the life of the world, took bread into his holy
and all pure and immaculate hands, gave thanks and blessed, +
sanctified, and broke it, gave it to his holy disciples and apostles,
saying:
Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you for the
remission of sins.
The celebrant and all the ministers make a profound bow of reverence, while all respond:
Amen.
Celebrant: Likewise, taking the chalice after supper, saying:
Drink of this, all of you, this is my blood of the new testament,

which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.
The celebrant and all the ministers make a profound bow of reverence, while all respond:.
Amen.
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The Celebrant, with crossed hands, raises the gifts, the discos in his right hand and the chalice in his lift and makes the
sign of the cross with the gifts while entoning:
Remembering this saving command, and all that was done in our
behalf: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the
ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand, the second
and glorious coming, we offer to you, these gifts from your own
gifts, in behalf of all and for all.
All respond: We praise you, we bless you, we thank you, O Lord, and we pray to you, our God.
The celebrant bows and flutters his hands three times over the mysteries as he says:
Moreover, we offer this spiritual and unbloody sacrifice and we

implore, pray and entreat you, send down your Holy Spirit upon
us and these gifts lying before us. And make this bread + the
precious body of your Christ, and that which is in this chalice +
to be the precious blood of your Christ, Changing them + by your
Holy Spirit.
That those who partake of them, they may be for the purification
of the soul, for the remission of sin, for the communion in your
Holy Spirit, for the fullness of the heavenly kingdom and
confidence in you.
Moreover, we offer you this spiritual sacrifice for those who have
departed in the faith, the forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics and
for every spirit made perfect in faith.
Taking the incense and incensing the gifts the celebrant continues:
Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed and
glorious lady, The Theotokos and ever virgin Mary.
22
All respond: It is truly proper to glorify you, who have borne God, the ever-blessed, Immaculate
and The Theotokos. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than
the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, you truly The Theotokos, we magnify.
During the Easter Season:

The angel exclaimed to Mary, full of grace: "Rejoice, O Pure Virgin, again, I say 'Rejoice!'
Your son is risen from the grave on the third day and has raised the dead. Let all nations rejoice."
Shine in splendor, O new Jerusalem; for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. O Sion sing
with joy and rejoice. And you pure Theotokos, rejoice in the resurrection of your Son.
Celebrant:
For the holy prophet, precursor and baptist John, for the holy
glorious and illustrious Apostles, for St. Joseph, your father on
earth, for Saint N., whose memory we celebrate, for Saint N.,
patron(ess) of this house, and for all your Saints, through whose
prayers, O God, visit us.
Remember also all who have departed in the hope of resurrection

unto eternal life.
(The celebrant mentions the names he wishes)
Grant them rest where the light of your face shines.
Moreover we pray you, O Lord, remember the entire episcopate

of the true believers, who faithfully teach the word of your truth,
the entire priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all others in
holy orders.
We further offer this liturgy for the whole world, for the holy,
catholic and apostolic church, for those who live in chastity and
venerable conduct; for our civil authorities, and all in the service
of our country. Grant them a peaceful term, that we also, sharing
their peace, may lead a quiet and calm life in piety and dignity.
23
Among the first, O Lord, remember all your holy Patriarchs;
your most reverend Metropolitans and Archbishops, our metro-
politan, N., our archbishop, N., your God-loving bishops, our
bishop, N., preserve them for your holy churches, in peace,
safety, honor, and health, for many years, as they are faithful in
the teaching of your truth. And remember all your people.
Remember, O Lord, this city in which we live, and every city and
countryside, and those living within them. Remember, O Lord,
those who travel by sea, air, land, and the vastness of the
heavens, the sick, suffering, the captive and their safety and
salvation. Remember those who bear offerings and perform good
deeds in your holy churches and those who remember the poor,
and upon all of us send your mercies.
Grant that we, with one voice and one heart, may glorify and
praise your most honored and sublime name, Father, Son and the
Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The celebrant blesses the people saying:
May the mercies of our great God and Savior, + Jesus Christ, be
with all of you.
Celebrant:(or deacon)
--Now that we have remembered all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray
to the Lord.
24
--For the precious gifts offered and consecrated, that our God, in His love for us, may
receive them on His holy and heavenly and mystical altar, unto an aroma of spiritual
fragrance, may send down upon us in return the divine grace and gift of the Holy
Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

--That this whole day (night) may be perfect, holy, peaceful, let us beseech the Lord.
beseech the Lord.
beseech the Lord.
Lord.
--Asking for unity in Faith, and for communion in the Holy Spirit, let us commend
ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ, our God.
25
Celebrant:
In you, O gracious Master, we place our whole life and hope and
we beseech, pray and implore you, that we may partake with a
pure conscience of your heavenly and awesome mysteries from
this sacred and spiritual altar, for the remission of sins, for the
pardon of transgressions, for the communion in the Holy Spirit,
for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, and for trust in you.
Grant, O Lord, that we may with confidence, dare call upon you,
our Father, the God of Heaven, and say:
All respond:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy

kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation but deliver us from evil.
Celebrant:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant, blessing the people:
Peace be with you. + .

All respond: And with your spirit.
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

All respond: To you , O Lord.
26
Celebrant:
We give thanks to you, O King invisible, who by your immeasur-

able power have fashioned all things, and in the greatness of your
mercy have brought all things out of nonexistence into being.
Look from heaven, O Lord, upon those who bow their heads to
you, for they do not bow to flesh and blood, but to you the
awesome God. Therefore, O Master, make straight for our good
the present way, according to the needs of each: travel with those
who travel, cure those who are sick, O healer of souls and bodies.
Through the grace and loving-kindness of your only-begotten
Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your holy,
gracious, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant:
Look down, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy
dwelling-place and from the throne of glory of Your kingdom,
and come to sanctify us, you who are seated on high with the
Father, and dwell here invisibly among us, and deem it proper to
impart to us, with your mighty hand, Your most pure body and
precious blood, and through us, to all your people.
Let us be attentive!
The celebrant raises the holy bread over the discos.
Celebrant: Holy gifts for the holy people of God.

All respond : One is holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, for the glory of God the Father. Amen.
While the proceeding is being sung, the celebrant breaks the holy bread and places it in the following
pattern:
27
IC
NI KA
XC
Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God, broken yet not divided, ever eaten
yet never consumed, sanctifying those who partake thereof.
Placing the IC in the chalice, the celebrant says:
The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
All recite together:
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly the Christ, the
Son of the Living God, who came into this world to save us.
Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God;
for I will not give you a kiss, as did Judas but like the thief I
confess to you: Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your
kingdom. May the partaking of these mysteries be for the healing
of my soul and body. O Lord, I also believe that this which I am
about to receive is your most precious body and life-giving
blood, which, I pray, allow me to receive for the remission of my
sins and life everlasting. Amen.
The celebrants reverently receive the body and blood of Our Lord saying:
The precious and most holy body of Our Lord and God and
Savior Jesus Christ, is given to me, the priest N., for the remis-
sion of my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
I, a servant of God, the priest N., partake of the precious and holy
blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the
remission of my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
28
The celebrant then places the Body into the Chalice filled with the Blood and prepares to distribute the
Holy Communion. The Celebrant then invites the congregation to receive:
Approach with the love of God and with faith.

All respond: Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; God is the Lord and has revealed
himself to us.
From Easter Sunday to Ascension Thursday we respond:

Christ has risen from the dead! By death He conquered death and to those in the graves, he granted
life!
The celebrant gives each communicant the Body and Blood according to the ancient custom. During the
distribution of communion, an appropriate hymn may be sung. Some feasts have their own hymn.
Following the distribution of Communion the celebrant places all the remaining Holy Body into the chalice
then the celebrant blesses the people with the chalice filled with the remaining Body and Blood, saying:
Save your people, O God, and bless your inheritance!

All respond: We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the
true faith, and we worship the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.

life!
From Ascension Thursday to Pentecost we respond:

Be exalted above the heavens, O Lord, and let your glory be over all the earth!
After incensing the gifts, the celebrant shows the gifts to the people before taking them to the side
altar where the remainder is consumed and the vessels are cleaned. As he does so he intones:
Blessed is our God, always now and ever and forever.

All Respond:
May our lips be filled with your praise O Lord, so that we may sing of your glory. For you
have made us worthy to partake of your holy, divine, immortal, and life creating mysteries. Keep
us in your holiness, so that all the day long we may live according to your word. Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
29
life!
From Ascension Thursday to Pentecost we respond:

Be exalted above the heavens, O Lord, and let your glory be over all the earth!
While the gifts are being consumed:
You, O Christ, Our God, who are the fulfillment of the law and
the prophets, have fulfilled the whole plan of the Father, fill our
hearts with joy and gladness, always, now and ever, and forever.
Amen.
The altar is cleaned and the corporal folded and the gospel book is replaced over the corporal. The
celebrant returns to the presider's chair for a moment of silence, then he stands and moves to his place
before the altar and prays:
Having received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly

and life-creating, awesome mysteries of Christ, arise, let us
joyfully thank the Lord.
All Respond: Lord, have mercy.
Celebrant:
We give thanks to you, O Master, lover of mankind, benefactor

of our souls, that this day (evening) you have deemed us worthy
of your heavenly and immortal mysteries. Make straight our
path, confirm us in our love of you, guard our lives, make firm
our steps, through the prayers and intercession of the glorious
Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and of all the Saints. For you
are our sanctification and we render glory to you, Father, Son,
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
All respond: Amen.
30
Celebrant: Let us go forth in peace.
All respond: In the name of the Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord.

Celebrant turns to face the people and in blessing, with outstretched arms, says:
O Lord, blessing those who bless you and sanctifying those who
trust in you, save your people and bless your inheritance,
preserve the fullness of your church, sanctify those who love the
beauty of your house; glorify them in return by your divine
power, and do not forsake us who trust in you. Grant peace to
your world, to your churches, to the priests, to our civil authori-
ties and to all your people. For every good gift and every perfect
gift is given from you, the Father of lights: and we render glory,
thanksgiving and worship to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever. (Three times)
The celebrant blesses the people with the sign of the cross saying:
+The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His Grace and
Loving Kindness, always now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The celebrant then prays:
Glory be to you, O Christ, our God, our hope; glory be to you.
31
All respond:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Give the blessing.
Celebrant:
May Christ our true God (if it be Sunday: risen from the dead) through
the prayers of the of His most Holy Mother, and of St Joseph,
your father on earth, and of the holy, glorious and illustrious
apostles, and of our holy father John Chrysostom, archbishop of
Constantinople, and of St. (whose church it is ) patron of this house,
and of St. (whose day it is ) whose feast we celebrate today and of all
the saints have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he
loves mankind.
All respond: Amen.
From Easter Sunday to Ascension Thursday we end the liturgy with the Easter tropar sung three times.
Celebrant: Christ is Risen!

Response: He is Truly Risen!
First by the celebrant, next by the people:

Christ has risen from the dead! By death He conquered death and to
those in the graves, he granted life!
Celebrant: Christ is risen from the dead! By death He conquered death...
All respond: and to those in the graves, he granted life!
Celebrant: And to us he granted life eternal....
All respond: let us glorify his resurrection.
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DISMISSALS AT DIVINE LITURGY
FIXED OR IMMOVABLE FEASTS
Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God through the prayers of the of His
most Holy Mother whose Nativity we gloriously celebrate today; St.
Joseph, his earthly father; our holy father John Chrysostom, arch-
bishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints have mercy on us and
save us, for he is gracious and he loves mankind.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14)
most Holy Mother and St. Joseph, his earthly father; by the power of
the honorable and life-giving cross, the exaltation of which we
gloriously celebrate today; our holy father John Chrysostom, arch-
Patronage of the Theotokos (October 1)
most Holy Mother whose Patronage we gloriously celebrate today; St.
Joseph, his earthly father; our holy father John Chrysostom, arch-
33
Feast of the Archangel Michael and all Angels (November 8)
most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father; the intercession of
the honorable heavenly powers whose feast we gloriously celebrate
today; our holy father John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople,
and of all the saints have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious
and he loves mankind.
Presentation of the Theotokos (November 21)
Celebrant:May Christ our true God through the prayers of the of His
most Holy Mother whose Presentation we gloriously celebrate today;
St. Joseph, his earthly father; our holy father John Chrysostom,
archbishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints have mercy on us
and save us, for he is gracious and he loves mankind.
Conception of the Theotokos (December 8)
most Holy Mother whose Conception we gloriously celebrate today;
Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (December 25)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God who for our salvation, was born in
a cave in Bethlehem of Judea and lay in a manger, through the prayers
of the of His most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father; our
holy father John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and of all
the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he
loves mankind.
34
Theophany (January 6)
Celebrant:May Christ our true God, who for our salvation deigned to
be baptized in the Jordan by John, through the prayers of the of His
most Holy Mother; St. Joseph, his earthly father; our holy father John
Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints, have
mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he loves mankind.
Presentation of Our Lord (February 2)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, who, for our salvation, deigned to
be held in the embrace of the righteous Simeon, through the prayers of
his most holy Mother; St. Joseph, his earthly father; our holy father
John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints
have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he loves
mankind.
Annunciation of the Theotokos (March 25)
most Holy Mother whose Annunciation we gloriously celebrate today;
Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of the of His
most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father; of the honorable,
glorious prophet, the forerunner and baptizer of the Lord, John, whose
nativity we gloriously celebrate today and of our holy father John
Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints, have
35
Saints Peter and Paul (June 29)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of the of His
most Holy Mother; St. Joseph, his earthly father; of the holy, glorious
and illustrious apostles, Peter and Paul, whose feast we gloriously
celebrate today, our holy father John Chrysostom, archbishop of
Constantinople, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for
he is gracious and he loves mankind.
Saint Elias (July 20)
: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most
Celebrant
holy Mother; St. Joseph, his earthly father; of the holy, glorious and
illustrious prophet Elias, the Thesbite whose fiery ascent to the
heavens we gloriously celebrate today; our holy father John
Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints have
Transfiguration (August 6)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, who was transfigured in glory in
the presence of his holy disciples and apostles on Mount Tabor,
through the prayers of the of His most Holy Mother; St. Joseph, his
earthly father; our holy father John Chrysostom, archbishop of
Constantinople, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for
Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15)
: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most
Celebrant
holy Mother whose Dormition we gloriously celebrate today; St.

Joseph, his earthly father; our holy father John Chrysostom,
36
a
The
Divine Liturgy
of
St. Basil the Great
37
The Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated on:
Dec. 24-- Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord except if it falls on a Saturday or
Sunday.
Dec. 25-- Nativity of our Lord except if it falls on a Monday through Friday.
Jan. 1-- Feast of the naming of Jesus and Feast of St. Basil the Great.
Jan. 5-- Vigil of the Theophany except if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Jan. 6-- Feast of the Theophany except if it falls on Monday through Friday.
Sundays of the Great Lent except Palm Sunday.
Holy and Great Thursday.
Holy and Great Saturday.
38
Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great
Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Those coming for the celebration are invited to bring gifts for sharing in the celebration. The
bread and wine are brought for sharing in the Divine Liturgy while other foods are brought for sharing
in the fellowship after the Liturgy. Prior to the start of the Liturgy, the bread and wine are given to
the celebrant who takes them to the side altar and prepares them for the Liturgy.
The clergy and people gather for the procession into the nave of the church. When all is ready
the procession to the altar is begun. The ministers, which shall include Cross-bearer, candle-bearers,
and incense; and the Celebrant leads the congregation into the nave. The procession to the altar shall
be accompanied by Psalm 95. During Lent another psalm is used as indicated below:
Come, let us cry out with joy to The Lord,

acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
acclaim him with music.
For The Lord is a great God,

a king greater than all the gods.
In his power are the depths of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are his;
the sea belongs to him, for he made it,
and the dry land, moulded by his hands.
Come, let us bow low and do reverence;

kneel before The Lord who made us!
For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold,
the flock of his hand.
During Lent the procession to the altar shall be accompanied by Psalm 51:
Have mercy on me, O God,
in your faithful love,
in your great tenderness
wipe away my offences;
wash me clean from my guilt,

purify me from my sin.
For I am well aware of my offences,
my sin is constantly in mind.
Against you, you alone, I have sinned,

I have done what you see to be wrong,
that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence,
and your victory may appear when you give judgement,
39
Remember, I was born guilty,
a sinner from the moment of conception.
But you delight in sincerity of heart,
and in secret you teach me wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop till I am clean,

wash me till I am whiter than snow.
Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
and the bones you have crushed will dance.
Turn away your face from my sins,

and wipe away all my guilt.
God, create in me a clean heart,
renew within me a resolute spirit,
do not thrust me away from your presence,

do not take away from me your spirit of holiness.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
I shall teach the wicked your paths,

and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, God,
God of my salvation,
and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice.
Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will speak out your praise.
Sacrifice gives you no pleasure,
burnt offering you do not desire.
Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,

a broken, contrite heart you never scorn.
In your graciousness do good to Zion,
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,

-burnt offerings and whole oblations-
and young bulls will be offered on your altar.
Upon reaching the altar, the celebrants and the deacons pray the prayer to the Holy Spirit and then
venerate the altar, gospel book and hand cross. The celebrant then incenses the altar, icons and the
whole church. During this incensation, a hymn may be sung. When the incensing is completed, the
celebrant intones the blessing:
40
Blessed is the kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
*** ALL BE SEATED ***
Celebrant (or Deacon) -- In peace, let us pray to the Lord!
All respond: Lord, have mercy. (repeated after each petition.)

--For peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
--For peace in the whole world, for the well-being of the holy churches of God and
for their holy union, let us pray to the Lord.
--For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence and the love of
--For all the holy Patriarchs; for the most reverend Metropolitans and Archbishops,
our Metropolitan, N., our Archbishop N., for the God-loving bishops, for our bishop,
N., for the holy priesthood the deaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people,
let us pray to the Lord.
--For our civil authorities, and all those in the service of our country, let us pray to
the Lord.
--For this city of, N.,(village of, N., or town of, N.,) for every city, countryside and for
those who live within them, let us pray to the Lord.
--For seasonable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful
times, let us pray to the Lord.
--For those who travel by sea, air, land, or the vastness of the heavens, for the sick,
the suffering, the captive and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
41
--Protect us, save us, show us your mercy, and preserve us, O God, by your grace.
--Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious lady, the
Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and
one another, and our whole life, to Christ, Our God.
All respond: To You, O Lord.
Celebrant:
You, O Lord, promised to grant the petitions of two or three

united together in Your name, and have given us to offer these
prayers with a single and united voice; also hear now the requests
of Your people for their benefit, giving us the knowledge of Your
truth in the present time and granting life eternal in the age to
come. For you, O God, are gracious and You love mankind, and
to You we render glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The singers them begin singing the First Antiphon, Psalm 102, or the Antiphons of the Feast.
bless The Lord, my soul,
never forget all his acts of kindness.
He forgives all your offences,

cures all your diseases,
he redeems your life from the abyss,
crowns you with faithful love and tenderness;
he contents you with good things all your life,
renews your youth like an eagle's.
The Lord is tenderness and pity,

slow to anger and rich in faithful love;
42
bless The Lord, my soul.
Then the people sing the Second Antiphon, Psalm 142:

Praise The Lord, my soul!
I will praise The Lord all my life,
I will make music to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in any child of Adam,

who has no power to save.
When his spirit goes forth he returns to the earth,
on that very day all his plans come to nothing.
How blessed is he who has Jacob's God to help him,

his hope is in The Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.
He keeps faith for ever,

gives justice to the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry;
The Lord sets prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind,

lifts up those who are bowed down.
The Lord protects the stranger,
he sustains the orphan and the widow.
The Lord loves the upright,

but he frustrates the wicked.
The Lord reigns for ever, your God,
Zion, from age to age.
Then the people continue:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
O only-begotten Son and Word of God, who, being immortal, deigned for our salvation to become
incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and became man without change; You were
also crucified, O Christ our God, and by death have trampled death, being One of the Holy Trinity,
glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit save us.
Although optional, the people then may chant the Third Antiphon, The Beatitudes. During the Easter
Season, the Troparion and verses from Resurrection Matins are taken at this place:
43
In thy kingdom remember us, O Lord,
when you come into your kingdom.
How blessed are the poor in spirit:
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness:

they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:

they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness:

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.
During the singing of the Hymn of the incarnation, or if it is sung, the Thrid Antiphon, the celebrant
removes the Book of Gospels from the altar. Either carrying it himself or giving it to the deacon, they
exit the sanctuary in procession out the north door, around the church and to the Ambo for the Liturgy
of the Word. Upon reaching the foot of the Ambon, the celebrant prays the following. If the space is
too small to have a separate ambon, the celebrant returns to the altar and places the Gospel Book
upright in the middle of the altar.
Celebrant:
O Lord, our Master and God, Who in heaven established orders

and armies of angels and archangels for the service of Your
glory, make this our entrance to be an entrance of holy angels,
serving together with us, and with us glorifying Your goodness.
For to you is due all glory honor and worship, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
44
Deacon:: Rev. Father, Bless the Holy Entrance.
Celebrant, while giving his blessing:
+Blessed is the entrance of your saints, always now and ever and
forever.
All respond: Amen.
The celebrant, or Deacon holds the Book of Gospel aloft and proclaims:
Wisdom, let us be attentive!

The Book of Gospels is enthroned in a place of reverence within the Ambon and ministers enter the Ambon
while the people sing:
Come let us worship and bow before Christ, O Son of God (on Sunday) Risen from the dead (on
weekdays: wondrous in your saints) Save us who sing to you. Alleluia!
The Troparia of the day are now sung. When they are completed, the Celebrant prays the following.
Celebrant:
O holy God, Who abide in the saints, Who are praised by the
thrice-holy voice of the Seraphim, and are glorified by the
Cherubim, and are adored by all the heavenly powers; Who
brought all things out of nonexistence into being, and created
mankind in Your own image and likeness and adorned it with
Your every gift; giving wisdom and understanding to those who
ask, not despising the sinner, and ordaining repentance for our
salvation.
You have allowed us, Your children, to stand at this time before
the glory of Your holy Altar and to offer you adoration and
praises; accept from our lips, the Thrice-holy Hymn, and deal
with us according to Your kindness. Forgive us every offense,
voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and bodies, and
grant that we may serve you in holiness all the days of our life;
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through the prayers of the holy Theotokos and all the saints, who
have pleased you from the beginning of time.
For you are Holy, our God, and to you we give glory, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The people sing:

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us.(Three times)
On feasts where a baptism may be celebrated:

All you, who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Alleluia!(Three Times)
On feast of the Holy Cross:

We bow to your Cross, O Lord and we praise your holy Resurrection.(Three times)
When the hymn is completed the congregation is invited to be seated and listen to the Word of God for
the day. The celebrant, from the presider's seat, announces the Liturgy of the Word. Before taking his
seat upon the throne he blesses it saying:
Blessed are you on the throne of the glory of your kingdom, enthroned upon the
Cherubim, always, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Celebrant: Wisdom!
Reader: A reading from ....

Reader: The reading begins.
After the first reading a psalm and a responsory is sung. Following this psalm, if there is one to be read,
the second reading is introduced as above. Following the second reading the Gospel Acclamation is sung.
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All sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Verses are chanted and the Alleluia is repeated after each verse.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
During the singing of the Alleluia verses, the celebrant or deacon approach the Book of Gospels and
carries it to the lectern if there is an Ambon, otherwise, the Gook of Gospels is incensed at the altar.
Upon reaching the lectern the Book of Gospels is enthroned and the celebrant, while incensing the Book
of Gospels, recites the follow prayer:
O gracious Master, infuse in our hearts the spotless light of your

Divine Wisdom and open the eye of our mind that we may
understand the teaching of your holy Gospel. Instill in us also a
love of your blessed commandments so that, having released all
worldly desires, we may lead a spiritual life both thinking and
doing everything to glorify you. For you, O Christ, are the
enlightenment of our souls and bodies; and to you we give glory,
together with our eternal Father, and with your all-holy, good and
life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
If there is a deacon present, and they are to read the gospel, the following dialogue is prayed between
the deacon and the celebrant
.
Deacon: Reverend Father (Most Reverend (Arch)Bishop), bless the announcer of
the Holy Gospel of the apostle and evangelist, N.
Celebrant (Bishop): May God, through the prayers of the Holy, glorious and illustrious
apostle and evangelist, N., grant that you announce the Word with great power,
for the fulfillment of the Gospel of the beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The celebrant will intone aloud.

Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel!
Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. N.
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If there is no deacon, or if the celebrant is proclaiming the Gospel, the following is chanted by the
celebrant:
Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the reading of the Holy

Gospel according to Saint N.
All respond: Glory be to you, O Lord, glory be to you.

The gospel is now chanted. When the gospel is completed, all respond by singing:
Glory be to you, O Lord, glory be to you.

The homily is now given. The celebrant may speak on any issue or concern that they feel called to speak
upon. What is said may not be the expressed teaching of the church. Following the homily, the celebrant
returns the Book of Gospels to the altar and returns to stand before the Royal Doors.
The Deacon begins the following. If there is no deacon, the celebrant continues:

--Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say.
All respond: Lord, have mercy. (And after each petition.)

--O Lord almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear and have mercy.
--Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy; we pray you, hear and
have mercy.
All respond: Lord have mercy (three times)
--We also pray all the holy Patriarchs; for the most reverend Metropolitans and
Archbishops, our Metropolitan, N., our Archbishop N.,, for the God-loving bishops,
for our bishop, N., for those who serve and have served in this holy house, for our
spiritual fathers and mothers, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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In Monasteries:
--We also pray for all the holy Patriarchs; for the most reverend Metropolitans and
for our bishop, N.,for our most venerable hieromonks: proto-archimandrite N.,
archimandrite N., proto-hegumen N., and hegumen N., for those who serve and have
served in this holy monastery, for our spiritual fathers and mothers, and for all our
brothers and sisters in Christ.
--We also pray for our civil authorities, and all those in the service of our country.
--We also pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant mercy,
for those who have shown us mercy, and for all Christians of the true faith.
Second prayer of the faithful.
Celebrant:
We bow down before you, and beseech you, O gracious lover of

mankind, that you hear our prayer and cleanse our souls and
bodies of every defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant that we may
stand before your holy altar without blame. Bestow, O God, also
upon those who pray with us, advancement in faith and life and
spiritual understanding. Grant that they who serve you in awe
and love, may partake of your holy mysteries and be deemed
worthy of your heavenly kingdom. That, being ever protected by
your power, we may render glory to you, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.

The Celebrant may omit the follow and proceed to the cherubic hymn
Celebrant (or Deacon):

Let us pray for the catechumens everywhere, that the Lord have mercy on them.
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Celebrant:
O Lord, Our God, who dwells on high and behold the humble,
who for the salvation of mankind have sent down your only
begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ, look upon your
children, the catechumens, who have bowed their heads to you,
and deem them worthy in due time of the waters of regeneration,
of the remission of sins, and of the robe of incorruption. Instruct
them in the word of truth, reveal to them the Gospel of
righteousness, unite them with your holy, catholic, and apostolic
church, and number them among the chosen flock. That with us
they also may praise your most honored and sublime name,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.

In preparation for the procession of the gift to the altar, the congregation stands and sings the Cherubic
Hymn. The hymn is sung three times.
Let us who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice holy hymn to the life-
creating Trinity, now set aside all earthly cares. That we may welcome the King of all, invisibly
escorted by angelic hosts. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Meanwhile the celebrant goes to the side altar and washes his hands while reciting Psalm 26: 6-8.
I will wash my hands in innocence and join the procession round your altar, O Lord,
to make heard the sound of thanksgiving, to proclaim all your wonders. O Lord, I
love the beauty of your house and the place where your glory dwells.
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Returning and facing the altar, with outstretched arms, the celebrant now prays silently:
No one who is bound by earthly desires and pleasures is able to come

to you, approach you or minister to you, the King of Glory, for to
minister to you is great and awesome, even to the heavenly powers
themselves. Yet, because of your ineffable and boundless love for us,
though in nature unchanged and unchangeable, you became man and
where made high priest and gave into our keeping the holy office of
this liturgical unbloody, sacrifice. For you alone, O Lord our God,
rule over all things in heaven and on earth, and are borne on the
cherubic throne, and are the Lord of the seraphim and King of Israel,
who alone are holy and dwell in the saints. Therefore, I beseech you,
who are gracious and ready to hear me; look favorably upon me, your
humble child, and cleanse my heart and soul of an evil conscience,
and with the power of the Holy Spirit, enable me who have been
clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this holy altar,
and to offer the sacrifice of your sacred and most pure body and
precious blood. With bowed head, I approach you and implore you,
turn not your face away from me, nor exclude me from among your
children, but allow these gifts to be offered to you by me, your humble
minister; for it is you, O Christ our God, who offer and are offered,
who receive and are distributed, and to you we render glory, with your
eternal Father and with your all-holy, gracious and life-creating Spirit,
now and ever, and forever. Amen.
During the singing of the hymn, the offering is taken from the congregation, the altar is incensed by the
deacon or celebrant in preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Following the hymn, the chalice,
filled with wine, and the bread which was prepared previous to the start of the liturgy, are brought to
the altar in procession. During this procession, the celebrant chants:
May the Lord God remember in His kingdom, all the holy
Patriarchs; the most reverend metropolitans and archbishops, our
metropolitan, N., our archbishop, N., and the God-loving
bishops, our bishop, N., (our very reverend father proto-
archimandrite, archimandrite, our proto-hegumen, our hegumen)
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and the entire priestly, diaconal and monastic order, our civil
authorities and all in the service of our country, the noble and
ever-memorable founders and benefactors of this holy Church
(monastery), and all you Christians of the true faith, always now
and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen. That we may welcome the King of all, invisibly escorted by angelic hosts.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Having received the gifts and having placed the gifts of bread and wine on the altar, the celebrant covers
them with the large veil while praying:
The noble Joseph took down your most pure body from the cross,
wrapped it in a clean shroud, and with fragrant spices laid it in
burial in a new tomb.
And taking the censer from the deacon, he incenses the holy gifts three times saying:
Deal favorably, O Lord, in your good will with Sion, that the
walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then you shall accept the
sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings, then
shall they lay calves upon your altar.
Celebrant (or deacon): --Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.
--For the precious gifts here offered, let us pray to the Lord.
--For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the love of
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--That this whole day (night) may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and without fault, let us
beseech the Lord.
beseech the Lord.
beseech the Lord.
Lord.
--Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the
Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and
one another, and our whole life, to Christ, our God.
Celebrant:
O Lord, Our God, you created us and brought us into this life.
You have shown us the way to salvation and have given us the
revelation of the heavenly mysteries. You yourself have
appointed us to this service by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Therefore, O Lord, be pleased to make us ministers of your new
covenant and receivers of your holy mysteries. According to
your abundant mercy, receive us, who have approached your
holy altar, so that we may offer you this spiritual and bloodless
liturgy for ourselves and for your people. Having received this
ministry as an aroma of agreeable fragrance upon your heavenly,
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holy, and mystical altar, send down upon us the grace of your
Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and consider this our
ministry and accept it as you once accepted the gifts of Abel, the
sacrifices of Noah, the first-fruit offerings of Abraham, the
priesthood of Moses and Aaron, and the peace-offerings of
Samuel. Just as you accepted this true ministry from the hands
of your Apostles, now, O Lord, in your goodness, accept these
gifts from our hands. Having thus been shown worthy to
minister at your holy altar without blame, may we obtain the
reward of faithful and wise stewards on the awesome day we
reunite with you. Through the grace of your Son, with whom
you are blessed, together with your all holy, gracious and life-
creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant: Peace be with you. +

Let us love one another, and show each other a sign of

forgiveness and peace.
All respond: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in
substance and undivided.
All exchange a sign of peace

Greeting: Christ is among us!
Response: He is and shall be!
With wisdom and attention, let us profess our faith.
54
All respond:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and

earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before
all ages. Light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made
of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were
made. Who for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven
and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the virgin and
became man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day,
according to the scriptures. And he ascended into heaven, and
sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again in
glory, to judge the living and the dead, and of his kingdom there
will be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of
Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father
and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the
prophets. In one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I profess
one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection
of the dead; and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Let us stand aright, let us stand in awe, let us be attentive, to offer

the holy oblation in peace.
All respond: The offering of peace, the sacrifice of praise.
Celebrant facing the people and blessing them:
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, + and the love of God the
Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
Facing the altar -
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Celebrant: Let us lift up our hearts.
All respond: We have them lifted up to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord!

All respond: It is proper and just.
Celebrant:
O Master, you are Lord, God the Father, almighty and adorable!
It is truly proper and just and befitting the magnificents of your
holiness to praise you, to sing to you, to bless you, to worship
you, to thank you, to glorify you, the only true God, and with a
pure heart and spirit to offer you this, our spiritual service; for
you have granted us the revelation of your truth. Who is able to
proclaim your might, or make known all your praises, or to speak
of all your wonders done in every age?
O Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth and of all creation both
visible and invisible, you are enthroned in glory, and behold the
earth. You are eternal, invisible, beyond our understanding,
boundless and immutable. O Father of our Great God, Savior
and Lord, Jesus Christ, who is our hope, the image of your
goodness and the seal bearing your likeness--you are revealed
through Him. He is the living word, true God, eternal wisdom,
life, sanctification, power, and the true light through whom the
Holy Spirit manifested himself. He is the spirit of truth, the gift
of filial adoption, the pledge of our future inheritance, the
beginning of eternal goodness, the life-giving power, the fountain
of sanctification through whom every rational and intelligent
creature is empowered to serve you and to render to you an
unending hymn of praise because all things are yours.
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You are praised by the angels, archangels, thrones, dominations,
principalities, powers, and the many-eyed cherubim. You are
attended by the seraphim, each with six wings; two wings cover
their face, two their feet, and with two they fly, and they call one
to the other with unceasing and incessant hymns of praise,
singing, shouting, crying out and saying the triumphal hymn:
All respond: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts,
heaven and earth are full of your glory; hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest.
*** REMAIN STANDING ***

Celebrant:
With these blessed powers, O Master and lover of mankind, we

also cry out and say: holy are you; truly, most holy!
Immeasurable is the majesty of your holiness. You are revered
in all your deeds; for with truth and justice you have brought all
things to pass for us. Taking dust from the earth, O God, you
formed mankind and honored it with your own image. You
placed us in a garden of delight and promised us the never-
ending enjoyment of blessings and also immortality. But we had
separated ourselves from you, the true God who created us; and
by our own transgressions became subject to death.
In your wisdom, O God, you brought us into this world and

returned us to the earth from which we had been taken, and
devised for us the regeneration which is in your Christ. Yet, O
Gracious Lord, you do not turn away from your creation, nor do
you forget the work of your hands but you visit us in various
ways. Because of your gracious loving-kindness: you sent
prophets and wrought mighty works through the Saints, who in
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every generation have been pleasing to you. You spoke to us
through the prophets, who foretold the salvation which was to
come. You gave the law as an aid, and appointed angels as our
guardians: and when the fullness of time had come, you spoke to
us through your Son himself, through whom you created the
temporal world.
He, being the reflection of your glory and the expressed image of
your person, and sustaining all things by his powerful word, did
not deem equality with you, our God, something to be
tenaciously held; and though remaining everlasting God, he
appeared on earth and lived among us.
He became incarnate from the holy virgin and emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave and becoming conformed to the state
of our humanity so that he might raise us to the image of his
glory. For since, by a man, sin entered the world, and death
through sin, so your only-begotten Son, though being in your
bosom, graciously willed to be born of a woman, the holy
Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary. He was subject to the law in
order to condemn sin in his flesh so that those who died in Adam
might in Him, your Christ, be made to live again.
Living in this world, he gave us precepts for salvation, and

turning us away from the deceit of idolatry, he brought us to the
knowledge of you, the true God.
He took us to himself as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a

holy nation. Having cleansed us with water and having
sanctified us with the Holy Spirit, he surrendered himself as a
ransom to death by which we were held captive, having been sold
58
into bondage under sin. Descending by the cross into the realm
of death that he might fulfill all things through himself, he loosed
the bonds of death. Because it was impossible that the author of
life should be the victim of corruption, he rose on the third day,
preparing the way for the resurrection of all flesh from the dead.
He thus became the first-fruits of the harvest of the departed, the
first-born of the dead, that in all things he might have pre-
eminence over all.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of your

majesty on high and shall come to reward each of us.
He left us these memorials of his salutary passion, these which

we have set forth according to his command. For when he was
about to go to his voluntary, ever-memorable and life giving
death, on the night when he surrendered himself for the life of the
world, he took bread into his holy and most pure hands, and
having offered it to you, God and Father, he gave thanks, blessed
it, + sanctified it, and broke it. He gave it to his holy disciples
and apostles saying:
Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you for the
remission of sins.
The celebrant and all the ministers make a profound bow of reverence and all respond:
Amen.
59
Celebrant:
Likewise, he also took the cup of the fruit of the vine, and when
he had mixed it and had given thanks, blessed it, + and sanctified
it, he gave it to his holy disciples and apostles saying:
Drink of this, all of you, this is my blood of the new testament,

which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.
The celebrant and all the ministers make a profound bow of reverence and all respond:
Amen.
Celebrant:
Do this in remembrance of me, for as often as you eat this bread

and drink this cup you proclaim my death and profess my
resurrection.
The celebrant, with crossed hands, the right taking the discos and the left taking the chalice, lifts them
and, making the sign of the cross with them intones:
Therefore, O Master, remembering his saving passion, his life-

giving cross, the three days he spent in the tomb, together with
the resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven as
well as his being enthroned at your right hand, God and Father,
and finally his glorious and awesome second visit, we offer to
you, these gifts, from your own gifts, in behalf of all and for all.
All respond: We praise you, we bless you, we thank you, O Lord, and we pray to you
Our God.
Celebrant:
For this reason, all-holy Master, since you have enabled us, your
children, to minister at your holy altar--not because of our
righteousness but because of your mercies and compassion which
you have so richly poured out upon us--we have the courage to
approach your holy altar, and, while offering you the symbol of
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the body and blood of your Christ, O Holy of Holies, that,
according to the good pleasure of your kindness, your Holy Spirit
may come upon us and upon the gifts offered to you, and bless
and sanctify them and, show: this bread + to be the precious body
of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and this chalice + to
be the precious blood of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
poured forth + for the life of the world.
So that all of us who become partakers of this one bread and

chalice may be united with one another in the communion of this
one Holy Spirit, and that none of us partake of the Holy Body
and Blood of your Christ for judgement or condemnation.
Rather, may we obtain forgiveness and grace together with all the
saints who through the ages have been well pleasing to you: with
the forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers,
evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers, and with every spirit
made perfect in the faith.
Taking the incense and incensing the gifts, the celebrant sings:
May we obtain mercy and grace especially with our most holy,
most pure, and most blessed and glorious lady, The Theotokos
and every-virgin Mary.
All respond: In you, O Woman Full of Grace, the angelic choirs and the human race
-- all creation rejoices. O Sanctified Temple, Mystical Paradise, and Glory of Virgins,
He, Who is our God from before all ages, took flesh from you and became a child.
He made your womb a throne, and greater than the heavens. In you, O Woman full
of grace, all creation rejoices. All praise be to you!
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Celebrant:
May we obtain mercy and grace with the holy prophet,

forerunner and baptizer, John; with the holy, glorious and
praiseworthy apostles; St. Joseph, your earthly father; with Saint,
N.,whose memory we celebrate, and Saint, N., patron(ess) of this
house and with all your Saints, through whose prayers, O God,
visit us.
Remember also those who have departed in the hope of rising

again to eternal life. We pray for the forgiveness and repose of
your servant(s) N., in a place of light from which grief and
mourning have been driven away. Grant them rest, O God, and
let them repose where the light of your face shines forth.
We also pray to you, remember, O Lord, your holy, catholic and

apostolic church which extends from one end of the earth to the
other; give peace to her whom you have redeemed with the
precious blood of your Christ; make firm this holy church until
the end of time.
Remember, O Lord, those who have offered these gifts to you,

and those for whom, and through whom, and the purpose for
which they were offered.
Remember, O Lord, the donors and benefactors of your holy

churches and those who remember the poor. Shower us with your
rich and heavenly blessing; bestow upon us your heavenly gifts,
eternal gifts, and incorruptible gifts.
Remember, O Lord, those who are in deserts and mountains, and

in the dens and caves of the earth. Remember those who live in
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virginity and piety, and those who practice asceticism and live
saintly lives.
Remember, O Lord, our civil authorities, and give them profound

and enduring peace; instill into their hearts good things for your
church and for all your people, that in their tranquility, we may
lead a calm and quiet life in all piety and integrity. Remember,
O Lord, every authority, and all in the service of our country.
Preserve the virtuous in goodness and by your kindness, bring
those who choose evil to good.
Remember, O Lord, the people here present and those who are
absent for honorable reasons, and have mercy on them and on us
according to the greatness of your goodness. Fill their houses
with every good thing; preserve their marriages in peace and
harmony; instruct the children, guide the young, support the
aged, encourage the faint-hearted, collect the scattered, lead back
those who have gone astray and unite them in your holy catholic
and apostolic church. Free those who are bothered by unclean
spirits, journey with travelers, defend widows, protect orphans,
free those in captivity, and heal the sick.
Remember, O God, those who are on trial, in prisons, and at hard

labor, as well as those in any affliction, need, or distress.
Remember those who are in need of your great tenderness of
heart, those who love us, those who hate us, and those who have
asked us to pray for them.
Remember, O Lord our God, all your people, and upon all of
them pour forth your rich mercy, granting those petitions which
are for their benefit. You, yourself, remember those whom we
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have not remembered through ignorance or forgetfulness or
multitude of names, because you know the name and age of all;
you know each one even from their mother's womb. For you, O
Lord, are a help to the helpless, a hope to the hopeless, a savior
of those in peril, a harbor for voyagers, a physician for the sick.
Be all things to all people; for you know each one and their
requests, each home and its needs. Keep, O Lord, this city and
country from plague, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, and
civil war and riot.
Among the first, O Lord, remember all your holy Patriarchs; your
most reverend Metropolitan and Archbishops, our metropolitan,
N., our archbishop, N., your God-loving Bishops, our bishop, N.,
preserve them for your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, and
health for many years as they remain faithful to your word. And
remember all your people.
Remember, O Lord, the children of God, N., and grant salvation,

visitation, and the forgiveness of his (her-their)sins.
Remember also my unworthiness, O Lord, according to the

multitude of your mercies, forgive my every transgression
committed deliberately or through human frailty; and because of
my choices do not withhold any grace of your Holy Spirit from
these gifts here present.
Remember, O Lord, the priesthood, the deaconate in Christ, and

every clerical order, and let none of us who surround your altar
be put to shame.
64
Visit us with your grace, O Lord. Reveal yourself to us through
your rich mercy. Grant us a healthful and agreeable climate and
gentle showers upon the earth, that it may be fruitful; and in your
goodness, bless the due cycle of the seasons.
By the power of your Holy Spirit, heal the schism in your

churches, restrain the raging of nations, and quickly restore the
teachings of truth. Receive us all into your kingdom, making us
children of the light and children of the day. Grant us your peace
and love, O Lord our God, for you have given all things to us.
Grant that we, with one voice and one heart, may glorify and
praise your most honored and sublime name, Father, Son and the
Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The celebrant blesses the people saying:
May the mercies of our great God and savior, + Jesus Christ, be
with all of you.
Celebrant:
--Now that we have remembered all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray
to the Lord.
--For the precious gifts offered and consecrated, that our God, in His love for us, may
receive them on His holy and heavenly and mystical altar, unto an aroma of spiritual
fragrance, may send down upon us in return the divine grace and gift of the Holy
Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
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--That this whole day (night) may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and without sin, let us
beseech the Lord.
beseech the Lord.
beseech the Lord.
Lord.
--Asking for unity in Faith, and for communion in the Holy Spirit, let us commend
ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ, our God.
Celebrant:
O God, our God of salvation, teach us to thank you for your

benefits which you have bestowed on us in the past and still
bestow on us in the present. In accepting these gifts purify us
from every stain of body and soul. Teach us how to perfect our
holiness through reverence for you so that, receiving a portion of
these your holy gifts we may be united to the holy body and
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blood of your Christ. Having received them may we have Christ
living in our hearts and may we become temples of your Holy
Spirit. Especially, O God, let none of us become guilty regarding
these awesome and heavenly mysteries of yours, nor let us
become weakened in spirit or body by partaking of them
unworthily.
O Lord, grant that we, even until our last breath, may receive a
portion of your holy gifts as a provision for the journey to eternal
life. Then, together with the saints who have been pleasing to
you at all times, may we become partakers of your eternal
blessings which you have prepared for those who love you.
And make us worthy, O Lord, that we may with confidence dare

call upon you, the God of Heaven, Father; and say:
All respond:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy

kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation but deliver us from evil.
Celebrant:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant, blessing the people:
Peace be with you. + .

All respond: And with your spirit.
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Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

All respond: To you , O Lord.
Celebrant:
O Master and Lord, Father of mercies and God of all consolation,

bless, sanctify, guard, confirm and strengthen those who have
bowed their heads to you. Deliver them from every evil deed and
incline them to every good, and make them partakers of these,
your most pure and life-giving mysteries for the remission of
their sins and for communion of the Holy Spirit. Grant this
through the grace and loving-kindness of your Son, with whom
you are blessed, together with your holy, gracious, and Life-
creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant:
Look down, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy
dwelling-place and from the throne of glory of Your kingdom,
and come to sanctify us, you who are seated on high with the
Father, and dwell here invisibly among us, and deem it proper to
impart to us, with your mighty hand, Your most pure body and
precious blood, and through us, to all your people.
Let us be attentive!
The celebrant raises the holy bread over the discos.
Celebrant: Holy gifts for the holy people of God.

All respond: One is holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, for the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
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While the proceeding is being sung, the celebrant breaks the holy bread and places it in the following
pattern:
IC
NI KA
XC
Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God, broken yet not divided, ever eaten
yet never consumed, sanctifying those who partake thereof.
Placing the IC in the chalice, the celebrant says:

The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
All recite together:
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, who came into this world to
save us. Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper,
O Son of God; for I will not give you a kiss, as did Judas
but like the thief I confess to you: Remember me, O Lord,
when you come into your kingdom. May the partaking of
these mysteries be for the healing of my soul and body. O
Lord, I also believe that this which I am about to receive is
your most precious body and life-giving blood, which, I
pray, allow me to receive for the remission of my sins and
life everlasting. Amen.
The celebrants reverently receive the body and blood of Our Lord.
The precious and most holy body of our Lord and God and
Savior Jesus Christ is given to me, the priest, N., for the
remission of sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
I, a servant of God, the priest N., partake of the precious and holy
blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ for the
remission of my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
69
After putting the remaining particles into the chalice, the celebrant invites the congregation to receive:
Approach with the love of God and with faith.

All respond: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, God is the Lord, and
has revealed himself to us.
During the distribution of communion, an appropriate hymn may be sung. Some feasts have their own hymn.
Following the distribution of Communion, the celebrant blesses the people with the chalice filled with
the remaining body and blood, saying:
Save your people, O God, and bless your inheritance!

We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we
All respond:
have found the true faith, and we worship the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has
saved us.
After incensing the gifts, the celebrant shows the gifts to the people before taking them to the side
altar where the remainder is consumed and the vessels are cleaned. As he does so he intones:
Blessed is our God, always now and ever and forever.

All Respond:
May our lips be filled with your praise O Lord, so that we may sing of your
glory. For you have made us worthy to partake of your holy, divine, immortal, and
life creating mysteries. Keep us in your holiness, so that all the day long we may live
according to your word. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
While the gifts are being consumed the priest says:
The mystery of your plan, O Christ our God, has been completed
and perfected as far as it was in our power. We have
commemorated your death; we have seen the figure of your
resurrection; we have been filled with your unending life; we
have enjoyed your inexhaustable delights. Grant that we may
know of all this in the world to come, through the grace of your
eternal Father and your holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now
70
and ever, and forever. Amen.
The altar is also cleaned and the corporal folded and the gospel book is replaced over the corporal.
The celebrant returns to the presider's chair for a moment of silence, then he stands before the altar
and prays:
Having received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly

and life-creating, awesome mysteries of Christ, arise, let us give
thanks to the Lord.

Celebrant:
We thank you, O Lord our God, for having partaken of your

holy, most pure, immortal, and heavenly mysteries which you
have given us for the benefit and sanctification and healing of our
souls and bodies. O Master of all, grant that the communion of
the holy body and blood of your Christ may be for a faith that
cannot be confounded, for a love that does not pretend, for a
wisdom that is complete, for a healing of our souls and bodies,
for the defeat of every enemy, for the full observance of your
commandments, and for an acceptable offering before your
Christ. For you are our sanctification and we render glory to you,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and
forever.
All respond: Amen.
Celebrant: Let us go forth in peace.

All respond: In the name of the Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord.
71
Celebrant turns to face the people and in blessing, with outstretched arms, says:
O Lord, blessing those who bless you and sanctifying those who
trust in you, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Preserve the fullness of your church, sanctify those who love the
beauty of your house; glorify them in return by your divine
power, and do not forsake us who trust in you. Grant peace to
your world, to your churches, to the priests, to our civil
authorities and to all your people. For every good gift and every
perfect gift is given from you, the Father of the lights of heaven:
and we render glory, thanksgiving and worship to you,+ the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever. (Three times)
The celebrant blesses the people with the sign of the cross saying:
+The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His Grace and
Loving Kindness, always now and ever, and forever.
All respond: Amen.
The celebrant then prays:
Glory be to you, O Christ, our God, our hope; glory be to you.

All respond:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever,
and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Give the blessing.
Celebrant:
May Christ our true God (if it be Sunday: risen from the dead) through
the prayers of the of His most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his
earthly father; and of the holy, glorious and illustrious apostles,
and of our holy father Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in
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Cappadocia, and of St. (whose church it is ) Patron of this house, and
of St. (whose day it is ) whose feast we celebrate today and of all the
saints have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he
loves mankind.
All respond: Amen.
73
DISMISSALS FOR FIXED AND
MOVABLE FEAST DAYS
The Nativity of Jesus (December 25)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, Who, for our salvation, was born
in a cave in Bethlehem of Judea and lay in a manger, through the
prayers of the of His most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father;
and of the holy, glorious and illustrious apostles, and of our holy father
Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and of all the
saints have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he loves
mankind.
The Circumcision of our Lord and Feast of St. Basil the Great (January 1)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, Who, for our salvation, submitted
to circumcision on the eighth day according to the law, through the
prayers of the of His most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father;
and of the holy, glorious and illustrious apostles, and of our holy father
Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and of all the
saints have mercy on us and save us, for he is gracious and he loves
mankind.
The Theophany (January 6)
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, Who, for our salvation, deigned
to be baptized in the Jordan by John, through the prayers of the of His
most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father; and of the holy,
glorious and illustrious apostles, and of our holy father Basil the Great,
archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and of all the saints have mercy
on us and save us, for he is gracious and he loves mankind.
74
Holy and Great Thursday
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, Who, because of his surpassing
graciousness, showed us the most excellent way of humility when He
washed his disciple's feet, and condescended even unto the cross and
burial, and who, for our salvation, at his mystical supper gave us his
true body to eat and his true blood to drink, through the prayers of the
of His most Holy Mother, St. Joseph, his earthly father; and of the
holy, glorious and illustrious apostles, and of our holy father Basil the
Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and of all the saints have
Holy and Great Saturday
Celebrant: May Christ our true God, Who, for our salvation was placed
in a tomb and descended to the realm of Death because of the deeds of
mankind, through the prayers of the of His most Holy Mother, St.
Joseph, his earthly father; and of the holy, glorious and illustrious
apostles, and of our holy father Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea
in Cappadocia, and of all the saints have mercy on us and save us, for
75

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a

the Byzantine Rite

© 2002 Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, N.A. Synod

St. John Chrysostom

© 2002 Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, N.A. Synod

Come, let us cry out with joy to The Lord,

For The Lord is a great God,

Come, let us bow low and do reverence;

wash me clean from my guilt,

Against you, you alone, I have sinned,

Purify me with hyssop till I am clean,

Turn away your face from my sins,

do not thrust me away from your presence,

I shall teach the wicked your paths,

Lord, open my lips,

Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,

Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,

First by the celebrant, then by the people:

*** ALL BE SEATED ***

Celebrant (or Deacon) -- In peace, let us pray to the Lord!

All respond: Lord, have mercy. (repeated after each petition.)

Celebrant (or deacon):

All respond: To You, O Lord.

You, O Lord, promised to grant the petitions of two or three

He forgives all your offences,

The Lord is tenderness and pity,

Bless The Lord, my soul,

Then the people sing the Second Antiphon, Psalm 142:

Do not put your trust in princes, in any child of Adam,

How blessed is he who has Jacob's God to help him,

He keeps faith for ever,

The Lord gives sight to the blind,

The Lord loves the upright,

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness:

Blessed are the pure in heart:

Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness:

Rejoice and be glad,

O Lord, our Master and God, Who in heaven established orders

Celebrant, while giving his blessing:

Wisdom, let us be attentive!

The people sing:

On feasts where a baptism may be celebrated:

On feast of the Holy Cross:

*** PLEASE BE SEATED ***

Celebrant: Let us be attentive!

*** PLEASE STAND ***

All sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O gracious Master, infuse in our hearts the spotless light of your

The celebrant will intone aloud.

Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. N.

Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the reading of the Holy

Celebrant: Let us be attentive!

Glory be to you, O Lord, glory be to you.

*** PLEASE BE SEATED ***

All respond: Lord, have mercy. (And after each petition.)

Celebrant (or deacon):

All respond: Lord have mercy (three times)

We bow down before you, and beseech you, O gracious lover of

Celebrant (or Deacon):

All respond: Lord, have mercy.

*** PLEASE STAND ***

No one who is bound by earthly desires and pleasures is able to come

The following may be omitted:

* ALL BE SEATED *

* PLEASE BE SEATED *

* PLEASE STAND *

* PLEASE BE SEATED *

* PLEASE STAND *