DCSC · Digital Chant Stand Companion
← 2026-03-08

GOA Digital Chant Stand Services for Sunday, Mar 8, 2026

Midnight Office → Matins → Divine Liturgy → Vespers, in one continuous scroll

Midnight Office · Octoechos - Mode pl. 2.

PRIEST

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

READER: Amen.

PRIEST

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, treasury of good things and giver of life: come; take Your abode in us; cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good one.

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

READER

Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar.

CHOIR

Canon for the Trinity.

Ode i.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (When they had walked.)

To the melody, “As on dry land Israel walked.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

We extol three divine hypostases of single nature, identical essence, our good and humane God, who grants us forgiveness of offenses.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Only Lord, superessential, thrice-radiant in persons and one Godhead, give us understanding, and count us worthy of Your divine illumination.

Paul, who was like the bridal escort of the Church of the Gentiles, taught her to worship You, one God in three hypostases, from whom and through whom and in whom all things came to be.

Notation for your part

O Theotokos, the spiritual Sun came forth from your womb, and He shined on us with rays of the thrice-radiant Godhead. We devoutly extol Him, and we call you blessed.

Notation for your part

Ode iii.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (No one is holy.)

To the melody, “There is none holy as You, O Lord.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O thrice-radiant God, You ordered the heavenly Ranks, and You equipped them to sing thrice-holy hymns. We pray You accept us when we sing with them the praises of Your goodness.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

As we extol the only immutable, triple, consubstantial, single Godhead, we earnestly entreat You to send down to us forgiveness of our many sins.

O Father, the unoriginate Nous, O consubstantial Logos of God, O good and right Holy Spirit, guard all who faithfully extol Your dominion, O compassionate Lord.

Notation for your part

O pure Virgin, my God became man by nature in your womb. He arrested the spread of corruption, and He alone freed our first ancestors from the ancient guilty verdict.

Kathisma.

Mode pl. 2. When You had fulfilled.

To the melody, “Fulfilling the dispensation for our sake.”

Master, Lord and God, we entreat, look down from heaven, * and behold our lowliness, in Your great compassion; * and have mercy, O all-good One, in Your benevolence. * There is no one else from whom we hope * to obtain the forgiveness of * all the sins we are guilty of. * So please be with us, O God, and against us is none.

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 2. When You had fulfilled.

Lady, good and pure, we entreat, look down from heaven, * and behold our many wounds and the pain we suffer; * and have mercy, holy Virgin all-immaculate. * Cure the searing of our consciences * with your mercy like refreshing dew. * We your servants long to hear you say * that you are with us, and thus against us there is none.

Notation for your part

Ode iv.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (The holy Church of God.)

To the melody, “Christ is my power.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O thrice-radiant Unity, we implore You exalt our minds, and uplift the souls and hearts of those who extol You, and count us worthy of Your illumination and splendor.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O only undepictable and unchanging Trinity, transform me and transfigure me from every vice to virtue, and make me resplendent with Your radiance.

O Unity in three hypostases, You first conceived of them and then with wisdom gave existence to the ministering ranks of the Angels. Accept me as I join them praising of Your benevolence.

O ever-virgin Theotokos, it was in your womb that the connaturally uncreated and eternal God assumed created human nature and refashioned it.

Ode v.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (With Your divine light.)

To the melody, “By Your divine radiance, O Good One.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O Master, as we consider the divine nature, that it is providential and able to preserve and save all things, and thrice-radiant and one, we rise early in the morning to You, praying that You forgive our sins.

Notation for your part

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O unoriginate Father and God, and co-eternal Son, and Holy Spirit, the monarchical Trinity, we pray You strengthen us who sing Your praise, and deliver us from all abuse and affliction.

Notation for your part

O Sun of glory, train me with Your theurgic radiance, and ever guide me to be well-pleasing to Your Godhead in three hypostases, and make me a partaker of Your Kingdom on high.

O immutable Logos of God, You hold and preserve all things with your almighty hand. Guard and preserve us who are glorifying You, at the intercession of the Mother of God who gave birth to You.

Notation for your part

Ode vi.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (I see when my life.)

To the melody, “Beholding the sea of life.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O thrice-radiant Godhead, grant wisdom and understanding to those who sing Your praise, and count them all worthy to be enlightened with the rays of the illuminating beauty of Your benevolence.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O thrice-radiant Godhead, grant wisdom and understanding to those who sing Your praise, and count them all worthy to be enlightened with the rays of the illuminating beauty of Your benevolence.

O undivided Light, in essence thrice-radiant, almighty, and unapproachable: shine in the hearts of those who faithfully praise Your dominion, and launch them towards Your divine love.

O Ever-Virgin, the Lord who upholds all things clearly dwelt in you, and He taught humanity to worship one thrice-radiant essence of the Godhead.

Notation for your part

Kathisma.

Mode pl. 2. When You had fulfilled.

To the melody, “Fulfilling the dispensation for our sake.”

We entreat You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, * look upon us who, though clay, join the fiery angels, * as we worship You with faith and as we glorify * Your dominion, O merciful Lord. * e know no other God but You. * We extol You, and we long to hear * You tell us, “I am with you, and against you is none.”

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 2. When You had fulfilled.

Look at us, we pray you, all-lauded Theotokos. * Shine into our darkened hearts God’s illumination, * and enlighten us, your flock, O all-immaculate. * We know that you can do anything * you will, as the Mother of your own * Creator. And we long to hear * you tell us, “I am with you, and against you is none.”

Ode vii.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (In the furnace the Lord’s Angel.)

To the melody, “The Angel made the furnace pour dew.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O Unity thrice-radiant in hypostases, grant me a strong mind, that I may keep and obey Your divine commandments, and that I may always sing to You with faith: Blessed are You, the God of our fathers.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

You are extolled as identical in nature, God ineffably single, and in persons having the number of the Trinity. Preserve us, one and all, from various temptations and calamities.

O Trinity, You present the difference in hypostatic properties simply and without confusion, clearly unchanging in nature. We glorify You, one God in essence, consubstantial, and co-eternal.

O immaculate Virgin, our superessential God truly assumed our nature from your pure womb; and He taught all to sing: “Blessed are You, the God of our fathers.”

Ode viii.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (From the flame.)

To the melody, “From the flame You made dew flow for the holy ones.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

I implore You grant me forgiveness of offenses, and free me from the various passions, O consubstantial Trinity and Unity in three hypostases, that I may glorify You unto all the ages.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

It is said You delight in mercy, O merciful God. O thrice-radiant Unity and consubstantial Trinity, have mercy on all who glorify your majesty.

Co-eternal light of eternal light, the Logos was begotten of the Father, from whom the light, the Spirit, proceeds. In faith we glorify the Trinity, exalting beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Notation for your part

O immaculate Virgin, you gave birth to the Physician of humanity, the almighty Logos, Christ the Lord, who heals the ancestral wound of all who exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Ode ix.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (It is impossible.)

To the melody, “Impossible it is for mortals to see God.”

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O Master, the ranks of Cherubim, are unable to gaze at the glory of Your beauty. So they cover themselves with their wings and unceasingly sing the thrice-holy hymn, and they glorify Your single Godhead’s dominion in three hypostases.

Notation for your part

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

O never-setting Sun, only all-merciful God in three hypostases, grant Your radiance to the hearts of Your servants. Illumine our souls, and free us from many offenses, and count us worthy of Your immortal life.

Notation for your part

O Godhead, coequal, tri-solar, and light-giving light, illumine those who sing of You with faith, and deliver them from dark misdeeds. Count them worthy of Your luminous mansions, O God supremely good.

O all-lauded Virgin, your Son fashioned humanity of old with wisdom, and when it was corrupted He refashioned it through you. And with the never-setting brightness of the divine light, He filled all who glorify you evermore as the true Theotokos.

Notation for your part

Megalynaria to the Trinity

Mode 2.

It is truly proper to extol the Trinity divine and holy: Unoriginate Father, Maker of all, co-eternal Logos, begotten before all time without change from the Father, and the all-holy Spirit, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father timelessly.

Notation for your part

It is truly proper to extol and to glorify You, God the Logos. The Cherubim shudder and tremble at You, and the hosts of heaven offer hymns of glory to You; for You rose from the grave within three days. With fear we glorify You, Christ the Giver of Life.

Come and let us all sing inspired songs, * solemnly extolling as is proper to the divine * Father, Son, and all-holy Spirit, one dominion, * one kingdom, one in essence, three in hypostases.

Notation for your part

Immaculate Virgin, when creation saw your Son risen, as befits God, it was filled with great joy and ineffable gladness, and it glorified the Savior, and it honored you.

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

READER: Amen.

CHANTER

Troparia of Compunction. Mode pl. 2.

Have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. For with nothing to say in our own defense, we sinners offer this supplication to you our Master. Have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy on us, for in You we trust. Be not enraged with us greatly, nor remember our iniquities. But look upon us now, being compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we Your people, all of us the work of Your hands, and now we have invoked Your name.

Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of the Christian race.

READER

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

May God have compassion on us and bless us; may his face shine upon us and have mercy on us.

READER

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Holy father, bless.

PRIEST

May He who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Let us pray for the peace of the world.

READER (intoned after each petition)

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For the pious and Orthodox Christians.

For our our Archbishop (name).

For our nation.

For the armed forces.

For our absent fathers, brothers and sisters.

For those who help us and those who serve us.

For those who hate us and those who love us.

For those who have asked us, the unworthy, to pray for them.

For the release of the captives.

For those sailing the seas.

For those laid up with illnesses.

Let us also pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth.

And for all our fathers and brethren departed this life, those who lie here in peace, and the Orthodox everywhere.

Let us say for ourselves, also: Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

READER: Amen.

Matins · Octoechos - Mode pl. 2.

CHOIR

Mode pl. 2.

God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.

Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 2. Automelon.

To the melody, “The angelic powers were at Your tomb.”

When the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, * the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. * And standing by the sepulcher was Mary, who was seeking Your immaculate body. * Unassailed by Hades, You divested it of spoils. * Then You met the Virgin. You granted life. * O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

Mode pl. 4.

Beacon of Orthodox belief, the strong support of the Church and her teacher inspired by God, you are the ornament of monks, the unassailable champion of theologians, O Gregory the Wonder-worker and the boast of Thessalonica, the messenger of grace. Forever earnestly entreat for the salvation of our souls.

Mode pl. 4.

You were born of a Virgin, and You endured crucifixion for us, O good Lord. By Your death You divested death of spoils, and You displayed resurrection, as God. Please do not despise us, the work of Your hand. Demonstrate Your loving kindness, O merciful Master. Defer to Your Mother, the Theotokos, when she intercedes on our behalf, and save us, Your people in despair, O Savior.

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Kathisma I.

Mode pl. 2.

The sepulcher had been opened, and Hades was lamenting. And Mary cried aloud to the Apostles in hiding, “You laborers of the vineyard, go out and proclaim the message of the resurrection: The Lord has risen and granted to the world the great mercy.”

Standing by Your sepulcher was Mary Magdalene, O Lord, and she was weeping loudly; and mistaking You for the gardener, she said to You, “Where have you laid Him who is everlasting life? Where have you hidden Him who sits enthroned upon the Cherubim? Out of fear, those who guarded Him became like dead men. Either give my Lord to me or cry aloud along with me, ‘You were among the dead and raised the dead. Glory to You!’”

You who called her who was blessed among women Your Mother, proceeded to the Passion, of Your own will, O Lord. On the Cross, You shined Your light, seeking Adam, as You wished; and You said to the Angels, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that was lost.” You have arranged everything wisely. Glory to You!

Kathisma II.

Mode pl. 2.

Life was placed in the tomb, and a seal was placed on the stone. The soldiers were guarding Christ like a sleeping king. Then the Lord struck His enemies and stunned them, as He awoke and rose.

Jonah was a sign of Your burial, and Symeon revealed Your rising as God, O immortal Lord. In the tomb as a dead man, You went down into Hades, and You broke down its gates. Then You rose from the dead without decay as the Master, for the salvation of the world, O Christ our God, giving light to those who sat in darkness.

O Virgin Theotokos, implore Your Son, Christ our God, who voluntarily was nailed to the Cross, and who rose from the dead; and entreat Him to save our souls.

Notation for your part

Resurrectional Evlogetaria.

Mode pl. 1.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Notation for your part

When the hosts of the Angels saw how You were accounted among the dead, they all marveled. You, O Savior, are the One who destroyed the might of death; and when You arose You raised Adam with yourself and from Hades liberated everyone.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Notation for your part

“Why do you mingle the ointments with your tears full of pity, O women disciples?” Thus the Angel who was shining in the tomb cried to the myrrh-bearing women. “See for yourselves the empty tomb and understand, that the Savior has risen from the sepulcher.”

Notation for your part

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Notation for your part

Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women were hastening to Your tomb lamenting. But the Angel appeared to them and uttered, “The time for lamentation has ended; weep no more. Go announce the Resurrection to the Apostles.”

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Notation for your part

When the myrrh-bearing women had come with their spices to Your sepulcher, O Savior, they heard the voice of an Angel clearly speaking to them, “Why do you account among the dead the One who lives? For as God, He has risen from the sepulcher.”

Notation for your part

We bow down in worship to the Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence; and we cry aloud with the Seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O Lord.

Notation for your part

Giving birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you delivered Adam from sin, and to Eve you have rendered joy in place of sorrow. He who from you became incarnate, God and man, has directed to life him who fell from it.

Notation for your part

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

READER

Hypakoe. Mode pl. 2.

By your voluntary, life-giving death, O Christ, You smashed the gates of Hades as God, and You opened to us the ancient Garden of Paradise. Then rising from the dead, You delivered our life from destruction.

CHOIR

Anavathmoi.

Antiphon 1. Mode pl. 2.

I lift my eyes to You in heaven, O Logos. Show me mercy, so that I may live in You.

Have mercy on us who are the object of contempt, O Logos, and make us Your useful vessels.

In the Holy Spirit is the cause of the salvation of all. When He blows on anyone as befits His nature, He quickly uplifts them from anything mundane, He gives them wings, He gives them growth, He gives them high position.

Notation for your part

Antiphon 2.

If the Lord had not been with us, none of us could have withstood a single battle with the foe. Those who are victorious are from here exalted.

Let not my soul be caught like a sparrow in their teeth, O Logos. Woe is me! How shall I be delivered from the enemy, enamored with sin as I am?

In the Holy Spirit deification is possible for all, good pleasure, understanding, peace, and blessing. He has the same energies as the Father and the Logos.

Notation for your part

Antiphon 3.

Those who trust in the Lord are fearsome to foes and marveled by all, for they look up to heaven.

Having You as helper, the inheritance of the righteous do not stretch out their hands in lawlessness, O Savior.

In the Holy Spirit is universal dominion, which the armies in heaven worship, as does every breathing being on earth.

Notation for your part

Prokeimenon.

O Lord, raise up Your power, and come for our salvation. (2)

Verse: Give heed, O You who shepherd Israel.

O Lord, raise up Your power, and come for our salvation.

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are the King of peace and the savior of our souls, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

READER

Resurrectional Kontakion.

Christ God, the Giver of Life, resurrected all who had ever died, from the dismal caverns, with His vivifying hand, and He granted resurrection to our mortal human nature. For He is the Savior of all, the resurrection and the life, and God of the universe.

Oikos.

O Giver of Life, we the faithful extol and venerate Your cross and burial; for You, O immortal, omnipotent God, overpowered and vanquished the netherworld. You crushed the gates of Hades, O God, and You destroyed the power of death. Now we, born on earth, with fervor sing praise to You who rose from the dead, destroyed the power of the murderous foe, resurrected everyone who believed in You, rescued the world from the sting of the serpent, and as the ultimate strong man freed us from the foe’s deception. From now on we solemnly sing the praises of Your resurrection, by which You saved us, as God of the universe.

Kontakion.

Mode pl. 4. O Champion General.

With one accord, we sing your praises, Father Gregory * who speaks from God, sonorous trumpet of theology, * and divine and sacred organ of holy wisdom. * But as intellect that stands before the Intellect, * unto Him direct our intellect, so unto you * we may cry aloud: Rejoice, O herald of grace.

Oikos.

As a herald of mysteries, you appeared on earth plainly, proclaiming things divine unto mortals. Endowed with a human mind and flesh, and yet speaking in the tongue of the bodiless, you amazed us and convinced us to cry out to you, O godly rhetor:

Rejoice, O herald of grace.

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On March 8, we commemorate our devout father Theophylactos the Confessor, Bishop of Nikomedia.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Paul of Plousias, the Confessor.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Apostle Hermes, whom the Apostle Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romans.

On this day the holy Martyr Dion died by the sword.

On this day devout Saint Dometios died in peace.

From the Triodion.

On this day, the second Sunday of Lent, we observe the memory of our Father among the Saints Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica.

By his intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

CHOIR

Katavasias of Theotokos

Ode i. Mode 4.

I open my mouth and pray the Spirit fill it, like David said, * to pour out a good word to the Queen and Mother of God. * I will celebrate * her feast with joy and gladness * and sing to her merrily, lauding her miracles.

Ode iii.

Establish your servants who extol you, * O Mother of God, for they have formed * a spiritual choir for you * the living and abundant fount; * and graciously in your divine glory give glorious crowns to them.

Ode iv.

When the Prophet Habakkuk heard the divine * and incomprehensible counsel of Your Incarnation * from the Virgin, O Most High, * considering, he cried aloud: * Glory to Your strength, O Lord my God.

Ode v.

Amazed was the universe by your divine magnificence. * You who were perpetually virgin * carried the heavenly God of all in your womb * and gave birth to the eternal Son, * who awards salvation to all who sing hymns of praise to you.

Ode vi.

O godly-minded believers, come * and celebrate this sacred and venerable feast and thus extol * the Theotokos, and clap our hands, * and glorify our God who was truly born of her.

Ode vii.

Godly-minded three * did not adore created things in the Creator’s stead; * rather, disdaining the threat * of fire, they trampled it, and joyfully they sang: * “O supremely praised * and most exalted Lord and God * of the fathers, You are blessed.”

Notation for your part

Ode viii.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Guiltless were those Servants in the furnace. * The Son of the Theotokos went and rescued them. * He who was prefigured then, * having been incarnate now, * is gathering the whole wide world into His Church to sing: * “O all you works of the Lord, to all ages * sing praises to the Lord and exalt Him beyond measure.”

Notation for your part

Stand for the Gospel reading.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For You, our God, are holy, and You rest among the holy ones, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Mode 2.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. (2) Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

PRIEST

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (from the altar table)

Eothinon 6

Luke. 24:36 – 53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city of Jerusalem, until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

READER

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. Your Cross, O Christ, we venerate, and Your holy Resurrection we praise and glorify. For You are our God; apart from You we know no other; we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ; for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to the whole world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection; for having endured the Cross for us, He destroyed death by death.

CHOIR

Psalm 50 (51).

Mode 2. (or the Mode of the week)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.

Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me.

Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged.

For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me.

Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom.

You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.

You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice.

Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit.

I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness.

O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings.

A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.

Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

Then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings.

Then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. And have mercy on me, O God.

Idiomela from the Triodion.

Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life, for early in the morning my spirit hastens to Your holy temple, bringing the temple of my body all defiled. But as one compassionate, cleanse me, I pray, by Your loving-kindness and mercy.

Notation for your part

Guide me in the paths of salvation, O Theotokos, for I have befouled my soul with shameful sins and I heedlessly squandered all of my life’s resources. By your intercession deliver me from every uncleanness.

Idiomelon. Mode pl. 2.

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.

When I ponder in my wretchedness on the many terrible things that I have done, I tremble for that fearful day, the Day of Judgment. But trusting in the mercy of Your compassion, like David I cry to You, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy.”

PRIEST

We beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (12)

PRIEST

Through the mercy, compassion, and love for humankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Stand for the singing of Ode ix.

DEACON

Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of the light.

CHOIR

Ode ix.

The Magnificat. Mode 4.

Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Notation for your part

Verse: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Notation for your part

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Notation for your part

Verse: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

Notation for your part

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Notation for your part

Verse: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Notation for your part

Verse: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Notation for your part

Verse: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Notation for your part

Ode ix. Katavasia. Mode 4.

All you born on earth, * with festival lamps in hand, in spirit leap for joy; * and all you the heavenly angelic orders, join in and celebrate; * and honoring the sacred wonders of the Mother of God, * sing the joyful salutation, “O rejoice, * Theotokos, all-blest, ever-virgin pure!”

Notation for your part

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Mode 2.

Holy is the Lord our God. (2)

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at the footstool of His feet.

For He is holy.

Exaposteilarion.

Eothinon 6.

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

To the melody, “Let us join the Disciples.”

Proving to Your disciples that * You are human in essence, * O Savior, You partook of food * after Your resurrection. * You stood among them and taught them * that they should preach repentance. * You promised them that You would send * the Holy Spirit. Then You were lifted up * and ascended to the heavenly Father. * O God, beyond divine, and man, * glory to Your resurrection!

Notation for your part

For the Hierarch.

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

To the melody, “Let us join the Disciples.”

Rejoice, the holy fathers’ boast, * mouth of the theologians! * Rejoice, O wisdom’s dwelling place, * tabernacle of stillness! * Rejoice, O greatest of teachers! * Rejoice, O sea of discourse, * instrument of the active life, * summit of contemplation, and one who heals,* illnesses and passions besetting mankind! * Rejoice, the Holy Spirit’s shrine, * dead and alive, O Father!

Notation for your part

Theotokion.

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

To the melody, “Let us join the Disciples.”

All-holy Lady Queen of all, * come to our aid in dangers. * Anticipate adversities. * Be with us in our hour * of need, indeed at the Last Day. * Let not Satan or Hades, * nor yet perdition capture us. * But through your intercession, enable all * to appear not guilty before the fearful * judgment-seat of your Son and God, * O Lady Theotokos.

Notation for your part

Lauds. Mode pl. 2.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God.

Notation for your part

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God.

Notation for your part

Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light.

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord’s name.

For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.

He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps.

Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word.

Mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars.

Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds.

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth.

Young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord’s name, for His name alone is exalted.

His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people.

A hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him.

Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.

Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.

Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him.

For the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.

The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds.

The high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand.

To deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples.

To shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron.

Resurrectional Stichera.

Mode pl. 2.

To fulfill among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones.

Notation for your part

O Lord, Your Cross is life and resurrection for us Your people. And now that we trust in it, we extol You, our God who has risen. Have mercy on us.

Mode pl. 2.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Notation for your part

O Lord, Your burial has opened Paradise to the human race. And now that we have been set free from death and decay, we extol You, our God who has risen. Have mercy on us.

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 2.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness.

Let us extol the Father and the Spirit, and also Christ, who rose from the dead; and to Him let us cry aloud, “You are our life and resurrection. Have mercy on us.”

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 2.

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre.

You rose within three days from the tomb, * O Christ, as holy Scripture says, * also raising our progenitor with You. * Now all mankind together * forever glorifies You, and we extol Your resurrection, O Lord.

Notation for your part

Prosomia. For the Hierarch.

Mode 1. For all the powers of heaven.

To the melody, “O joy of the ranks of heaven.”

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute.

While in the world, you attained to a life of blessedness. * And now you are exulting with the ranks of the blessed * and dwell, O Bishop Gregory, in the land of the meek, being meek yourself. * And you are rich in God’s miracle-working grace, * which you grant to those who honor you.

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

While in the world, you attained to a life of blessedness. * And now you are exulting with the ranks of the blessed * and dwell, O Bishop Gregory, in the land of the meek, being meek yourself. * And you are rich in God’s miracle-working grace, * which you grant to those who honor you.

Verse: The mouth of a righteous man distills wisdom; the lips of righteous men distill grace.

O blessed father, you cut down the thorns of heresy, * and in their place you planted sacred Orthodox dogmas. * And with your words you watered the seed of the Faith, thus increasing it splendidly. * And as a practical farmer you brought to God * ears of wheat increased a hundredfold.

Verse: O Lord, Your priests shall clothe themselves in righteousness; Your saints shall greatly rejoice.

The ranks of angels and mankind marveled, O blessed one, * at the illustrious glory of your life which was blameless. * For as a steadfast athlete by your resolve you distinguished yourself indeed * as an ascetic and hierarch, and of God * a worthy minister and genuine friend.

Mode pl. 2.

To those walking in the darkness of their sins You have shone as light, O Christ, during the season of self-control. And reveal to us the auspicious day of Your Passion, so that we may cry to You, “Arise, O God, have mercy on us.”

You are supremely blessed, O Virgin Theotokos. For through Him who from you became incarnate, Hades has been captured, and Adam has been called back; the curse has been killed, and Eve has been freed; death has been put to death, and we have been brought back to life. Therefore we extol Him and cry out, “O Christ our God, You are blessed, for so was Your good pleasure. Glory to You!”

Notation for your part

Stand for the Great Doxology.

Great Doxology

Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind.

Notation for your part

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You who take away the sins of the world.

Accept our supplication, You who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.

Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

After the Doxology, sing the following Resurrectional Troparion.

Mode 4. (or the Mode of the week)

Today has salvation come to pass in the world. Let us sing to Him who resurrected from the tomb and is the Author of our life. For, destroying death by death, He gave us the victory and the great mercy.

Notation for your part

Divine Liturgy · Octoechos - Mode pl. 2.

DEACON

Master bless.

PRIEST

Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

DEACON

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the Holy and Great Church of Christ of Constantinople, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Holy Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord, our God, whose dominion is incomparable and glory incomprehensible; whose mercy is immeasurable, and love for humankind ineffable: Look upon us and upon this holy house in Your loving-kindness, and grant to us and to those who pray with us Your abundant mercy and compassion.

PRIEST (aloud)

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Antiphon 1. Mode 2.

Verse 1: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything within me, bless His holy name.

Notation for your part

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His rewards.

Notation for your part

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 3: The Lord prepared His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Notation for your part

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Small Litany

DEACON

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord, our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect all the members of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who have set our hope in You.

PRIEST (aloud)

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Antiphon 2. Mode 2.

Verse 1: Praise the Lord, O my soul! I shall praise the Lord while I live; I shall sing to my God as long as I exist.

Notation for your part

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob; his hope is in the Lord his God.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Notation for your part

Only-begotten Son and Logos of God, being immortal, You condescended for our salvation to take flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and, without change, became man. Christ, our God, You were crucified and conquered death by death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.

Notation for your part

Small Litany

DEACON

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord, You have granted us to offer these common prayers in unison and have promised that when two or three agree in Your name, You will grant their requests. Fulfill now, O Lord, the petitions of Your servants as may be of benefit to them, granting us in the present age the knowledge of Your truth, and in the age to come eternal life.

PRIEST (aloud)

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Antiphon 3.

Mode pl. 2.

Verse 1: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 2. Automelon.

When the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, * the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. * And standing by the sepulcher was Mary, who was seeking Your immaculate body. * Unassailed by Hades, You divested it of spoils. * Then You met the Virgin. You granted life. * O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

Verse 2: Let heaven and earth praise Him.

When the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, * the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. * And standing by the sepulcher was Mary, who was seeking Your immaculate body. * Unassailed by Hades, You divested it of spoils. * Then You met the Virgin. You granted life. * O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

As the Third Antiphon is being sung (with its verses), the Priest and Deacon bow three times before the holy Table. Then the Priest gives the holy Gospel to the Deacon, who kisses the Priest’s hand as he receives it, and then circles the holy Table with the Priest following him. Preceded by altar servers holding candles and fans, they exit through the north door for the so-called Small Entrance. When there is no Deacon, the Priest takes the holy Gospel and holds it up in front of his face. When they reach the center of the church, they stop and bow their heads, and the Deacon says in a low voice:

DEACON (in a low voice)

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Master, Lord our God, who has established the orders and hosts of angels and archangels in heaven to minister to Your glory, grant that holy angels may enter with us, that together we may celebrate and glorify Your goodness. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Master, bless the holy entrance.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Blessed be the entrance of Your holy ones always, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON (aloud)

Wisdom. Arise.

CHOIR

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead.

Notation for your part

We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

CHOIR

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 2. Automelon.

To the melody, “The angelic powers were at Your tomb.”

When the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, * the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. * And standing by the sepulcher was Mary, who was seeking Your immaculate body. * Unassailed by Hades, You divested it of spoils. * Then You met the Virgin. You granted life. * O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

For the Hierarch.

Mode pl. 4.

Beacon of Orthodox belief, the strong support of the Church and her teacher inspired by God, you are the ornament of monks, the unassailable champion of theologians, O Gregory the Wonder-worker and the boast of Thessalonica, the messenger of grace. Forever earnestly entreat for the salvation of our souls.

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

Mode pl. 4. Automelon.

To the melody, “To you, the Champion Leader.”

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

O Holy God, who is resting among the holy ones, praised by the Seraphim with the thrice-holy voice, glorified by the Cherubim, and worshiped by every celestial power, You have brought all things into being out of nothing. You have created man according to Your image and likeness and adorned him with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to the one who asks, and You overlook not the sinner, but have set repentance as the way of salvation. You have granted us, Your humble and unworthy servants, to stand even at this hour before the glory of Your holy Altar of sacrifice and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the Trisagion Hymn also from the lips of us sinners, and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive all our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship You in holiness all the days of our lives, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.

PRIEST (aloud)

For You, our God, are holy, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever…

DEACON

and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Trisagios Hymn

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Notation for your part

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Notation for your part

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

DEACON

Dynamis.

DEACON (in a low voice)

With your blessing, Master.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Master, bless the throne on high.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Blessed are You upon the throne of the glory of Your kingdom, enthroned upon the Cherubim always, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

CHOIR

Dynamis.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Notation for your part

The Epistle

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

READER

Verse: To You, O Lord, I cry; O my God.

DEACON

Wisdom.

READER

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

READER

Heb. 1:10 – 14; 2:1 – 3

“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.” But to what angel has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

PRIEST

Peace be with you the reader.

CHOIR

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

(Alleluia is sung thrice. Verses may be found in the Liturgy - Variable Parts of the day.)

The Holy Gospel

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Shine in our hearts, O benevolent Lord, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind that we may comprehend the proclamations of Your Gospels. Instill in us the fear that Your blessed commandments inspire, so that, crushing carnal desires, we may seek the spiritual citizenship, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the illumination of our souls and bodies, and to You we offer up glory, and to Your Father, who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

DEACON

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

PRIEST

Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

DEACON

Mk. 2:1 – 12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

PRIEST

Peace be with you who read the Gospel.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

(The litanies of Supplication and for the Catechumens and the First Prayer of the Faithful have been omitted.)

PRIEST (in a low voice)

O God, with mercy and tender love You visited our lowliness and let us Your humble servants stand before Your holy glory to liturgize at Your holy Altar of sacrifice, sinful and unworthy that we be. We pray You enable us to perform this ministry by the power of Your Holy Spirit, and give us the words to speak when we open our mouths to invoke Your Holy Spirit’s grace on the gifts about to be offered.

PRIEST (aloud)

That, ever guarded by Your might, we may ascribe glory to You, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

The Cherubic Hymn.

Let us, who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside every worldly care. So that we may receive the King of all.

Notation for your part

PRIEST (in a low voice)

No one bound by carnal desires and pleasures is worthy to approach, draw near, or minister to You, the King of Glory. For to serve You is great and awesome even for the heavenly powers. Yet, because of Your ineffable and immeasurable love for humankind, You impassibly and immutably became man. You, as the Master of all, became our high priest and delivered unto us the sacred service of this liturgical and bloodless sacrifice. Indeed, Lord our God, You alone reign over the celestial and the terrestrial; borne aloft on the cherubic throne, Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, the only holy and resting among the holy ones. I now beseech You, who alone are good and inclined to hear: Look down upon me, Your sinful and unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and heart of a wicked conscience. Vested as I am with the grace of priesthood by the power of Your Holy Spirit, make me sufficient to stand before Your holy Table and perform the sacrament of Your holy and pure Body and Your precious Blood. I come before You, with my head bowed, and I implore You: Turn not Your face away from me, nor reject me from among Your children, but make me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, worthy to offer these gifts to You. For You are the One who both offers and is offered, the One who is received and is distributed, O Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory, and to Your Father, who is without beginning, and Your all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Let us, who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside every worldly care. * So that we may receive the King of all. Who is invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. (3)

DEACON

May the Lord God remember all of you in His kingdom always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

DEACON

Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the precious Gifts here presented, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord our God, You created us and brought us into this life, showed us ways that lead to salvation, and granted us revelation of heavenly mysteries. You are the One who by the power of Your Holy Spirit ordained us to this ministry. Be indeed well pleased, Lord, that we became ministers of Your new covenant and celebrants of Your holy sacraments; and as we approach Your holy Altar of sacrifice, accept us, in the abundance of Your mercy, and make us worthy to offer You this rational and bloodless sacrifice for our own misdeeds and those committed in ignorance by the people. Accept it on Your holy and celestial and spiritual Altar of sacrifice as a sweet and pleasing aroma, and in return send down to us the grace of Your Holy Spirit.

Look upon us, O God, and have regard for this our worship, and accept it as You accepted Abel’s offering, Noah’s sacrifice, Abraham’s whole burnt offering, the ministrations of Moses and Aaron, and Samuel’s peace offerings. And as You accepted this true worship from Your holy Apostles, so also accept these gifts from the hands of us sinners, in Your goodness, O Lord. May we be granted to serve at Your holy Altar of sacrifice without blame and obtain the reward for being faithful and wise stewards on that fearful day of Your just recompense.

PRIEST

Through the mercies of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us love one another, that with oneness of mind we may confess:

CHOIR

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Trinity, one in essence and undivided.

Notation for your part

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my foundation, my refuge, my deliverer.

DEACON

The doors! The doors! In wisdom, let us be attentive!

PEOPLE

The Creed

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.

CHOIR: Amen.

DEACON

Let us stand aright! Let us stand in awe! Let us be attentive, that we may present the Holy Offering in peace.

CHOIR

A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.

PRIEST

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

PRIEST

Let us lift up our hearts.

CHOIR

We lift them up to the Lord.

PRIEST

Let us give thanks to the Lord.

CHOIR

It is proper and right.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

The One Who Is, Master, Lord God, Father, Ruler over all: You are to be worshiped. Indeed it is proper and right and fitting the magnificence of Your holiness to praise You, extol You, bless You, adore You, thank You, and glorify You, the only God who truly exists, and to offer You this our rational worship with a broken heart and humble spirit; for You are the One who granted us the knowledge of Your truth. And who is sufficient to tell Your mighty deeds and make all Your praises heard and describe all Your wonders in every season?

Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth and all creation visible and invisible, who sit upon the throne of glory and behold the depths, unoriginate, unseen, incomprehensible, uncircumscribed, unalterable: You are the Father of our Lord and great God and Savior Jesus Christ, our hope. He is the image of Your goodness, an exact seal, showing You the Father in himself; the living Logos, true God, eternal wisdom, life, sanctification, power, the true light. Through Him was the Holy Spirit manifested, the Spirit of truth, the gift of adoption, the pledge of future inheritance, the firstfruits of the eternal blessings, the life-giving power, the source of holiness. Through the Spirit are all rational and spiritual creatures enabled to worship You, and they offer up perpetual glorification to You, for all things are Your servants.

And they all praise You, angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers, and the many-eyed cherubim. Around You stand seraphim; each one has six wings. With two they cover their faces, with two they cover their feet, and with two they fly. And one cries to another with unceasing voices and resounding glorification.

PRIEST (aloud)

Singing the triumphal hymn, exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying…

CHOIR

Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Notation for your part

PRIEST (in a low voice)

We sinners join these blessed hosts and shout to You and say, O benevolent Master: Holy are You; indeed, all-holy, and there is no limit to the magnificence of Your holiness. And You are upright in all Your works; all that You have done to us, You have done in righteousness and true judgment. When You fashioned man from the earth and honored him with Your image, O God, You placed him in the Garden of Eden and promised him immortal life and the enjoyment of eternal blessings if he kept Your commandments. But he disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and he succumbed to the serpent’s deceit, and he died because of his own offenses; and You, O God, in Your righteous judgment, expelled him from Paradise to this world. You returned him to the earth from which he was taken, and You provided for his salvation by regeneration, which is in Your Christ.

For You did not forever reject Your creature that You made, O Good One; You did not forget the work of Your hands, but rather in Your tender mercy You visited us in many ways: You sent Prophets; You did signs through Your saints who pleased You in every generation; You spoke to us by the mouths of the Your servants the Prophets and announced to us salvation that was to come; You gave the Law to help us; You appointed Angels to guard us.

And when the time had fully come, You spoke to us through Your Son, through whom You also created the world. Since He reflects Your glory and bears the very stamp of Your nature, and He upholds the universe by His word of power, He did not count equality with You, God the Father, a thing to be grasped; but rather being eternal God, He was seen upon the earth and lived among men. He became incarnate from a holy Virgin and emptied himself; He took the form of a servant and became like our lowly body, in order to make us be like His glorious image.

Because sin came into the world through a man and death through sin, O God and Father, Your only-begotten Son, who is in Your bosom, was well pleased to be born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, to be born under the law, and to condemn sin in His flesh, so that as in Adam all die, so also in Him, Your Christ, all be made alive. Living in this world and leaving saving commandments, He delivered us from the error of idolatry and led us to the knowledge of You, the true God and Father; and He acquired us as His own special people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. He cleansed us by water and sanctified us with the Holy Spirit, and He gave himself as an exchange to death, by which we were held captive, sold under sin. Through the cross He descended into the netherworld, so that He might fill all things with himself, and He loosed the pangs of death. He rose on the third day and for all flesh opened the way to resurrection from the dead, as it was not possible for Him, the Author of life, to be held by corruption. And thus He became the first fruits of those who have died, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. He ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of Your majesty on high; and He will come to render to each, according to their works.

He left us with these memorials of His saving Passion, which we have set before You according to His commands. When He was about to go to His voluntary, celebrated, and life-giving death, on the night when He gave himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy and immaculate hands, showed it to You, God and Father, and when He had given thanks, blessed it, hallowed it, and broken it,

PRIEST (aloud)

He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

In the same way He also took the cup of the fruit of the vine and mingled it, when He had given thanks, blessed it, and hallowed it,

PRIEST (aloud)

He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles and said, “Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

“Do this in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim My death, and you confess My resurrection.” Therefore, O Master, as we also now remember His saving Passion, His life-giving crucifixion, His three-day burial, His resurrection from the dead, His ascent into heaven, His seating on the right hand of You, God the Father, and His glorious and awesome Second Coming,

PRIEST (aloud)

Your own of Your own we offer to You, in all and for all.

CHOIR

We praise You. We bless You. We give thanks to You, O Lord; and we pray to You, our God.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

All-holy Master, we approach Your holy Altar of sacrifice with confidence, even we Your sinful and unworthy servants, who are allowed to liturgize at Your holy Altar of sacrifice, not because of any virtue of ours, since we have done nothing good on earth, but because of Your mercies and tender love that You richly poured on us. And we present the elements that will become the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, and we pray You and implore You, O Holy of holies, that by Your benevolent good pleasure Your Holy Spirit come upon us and these gifts here presented, and that He bless them and hallow them,

DEACON (in a low voice)

Bless, Master, the Holy Bread.

PRIEST

and make this bread be the precious Body of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ,

DEACON

Amen.

Bless, Master, the holy Cup.

PRIEST

and this cup be the precious Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ,

DEACON

Amen.

Bless, Master, both the Holy Gifts.

PRIEST

which was shed for the life and salvation of the world.

DEACON

Amen. Amen. Amen.

PRIEST

We also pray You will unite us all who partake of the one bread and cup to one another, in the communion of the one Holy Spirit. And please let none of us partake of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ unto judgment or condemnation; but rather may we obtain mercy and grace with all the saints who throughout the ages have pleased You, the ancestors, forefathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers, and every righteous spirit departed in faith.

PRIEST (aloud)

Especially our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.

CHOIR

Hymn to the Theotokos.

In you, O Lady full of grace, all creation rejoices, the hosts of Angels and the human race. O consecrated temple and allegorical Paradise, virgins boast of you. For God became incarnate from you, yes, our eternally existing God became a child from you. He made a throne of your womb, and He made your body wider than the heavens. In you, O Lady full of grace, all creation rejoices. Glory to you!

Notation for your part

PRIEST (in a low voice)

And also with the holy prophet, forerunner, and baptist John, the holy, glorious, and all-lauded Apostles; [the saint whose memory we celebrate] and all Your saints, at whose entreaties visit us, O God.

Also remember all who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection to eternal life [here the priest commemorates the names of the deceased], and grant them rest where the light of Your face is beaming.

Furthermore, we pray You, Lord, remember the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, which is throughout the world, and which You obtained with the precious blood of Your Christ, and give her peace. And also reinforce this holy church building until the end of time.

Remember, O Lord, those who brought You these gifts, and those for whom and through whom they offered them, and their requests. Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit and do good works in Your holy churches and who remember the poor. Please reward them with Your rich and heavenly gifts. In return for transient and perishable things on earth, grant them eternal and imperishable things in heaven. Remember, O Lord, those who dwell in deserts and on mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Remember, O Lord, those who lead a celibate life in chastity, godliness, and asceticism.

Remember, O Lord, our elected officials, whom you have allowed to govern on earth. Equip our government with the armor of truth and with the shield of Your good pleasure. Protect our country in time of war. Strengthen our armed forces, and exalt their right hand. Make our country strong, and subdue all hostile foreign powers. Grant our public officials profound and enduring peace. Whisper in their hearts good things about Your Church and all Your people, so that they may perform their duties in tranquility, and we may live a quiet and peaceful life, in all piety and propriety. Remember, O Lord, everyone in government, all civil servants, and the armed forces. Preserve in Your goodness those who are good; in Your kindness make good those who are bad.

Remember, O Lord, the people here present and those who are absent with good cause. Have mercy on them and on us, according to the abundance of Your mercy. Fill their shelves with goods; preserve their marriages in peace and harmony; nurture the infants; instruct the youth; support the elderly; encourage the fainthearted; reunite the dispersed; return those who succumbed to error and unite them to Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Free those who are troubled by unclean spirits. Travel with those who travel. Defend the widows; protect the orphans; free the captives; heal the sick. Remember, O Lord, those who are on trial, in labor camps, in exile, in bitter servitude, and any affliction, necessity, or distress, and everyone in need of Your great compassion; and those who love us and those who hate us; those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy though we may be. Remember, O Lord our God, all Your people, and pour out Your rich mercy on all of them, and grant everyone their requests that contribute to their salvation. Remember, O God, everyone whom we have failed to commemorate, either through ignorance or omission or because of the many names, since You know the name and age of each, even from their mother’s womb.

For You, O Lord, are the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the savior of those in trouble, the port for travelers, and the physician of the sick. Be all things to all people, for You know everyone, what they seek, where they live, and what they need. Lord, deliver this city and every city and town from famine, pandemic, earthquake, flood, fire, criminal violence, foreign invasion, and civil war.

PRIEST (aloud)

Among the first remember, Lord, our Archbishop (name). grant him to Your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, and health, unto length of days, rightly teaching the word of Your truth.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

And remember those whom each one of us has in mind, and all the people.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Remember, O Lord, all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the word of Your truth. And in the abundance of Your tender mercies, O Lord, remember me, who am unworthy. Forgive my every transgression, voluntary and involuntary. And please do not withhold the grace of Your Holy Spirit from these gifts on account of my sins. Remember, O Lord, the priests, the deacons in Christ, and all the clergy. Let none of us surrounding Your holy Altar of sacrifice be disgraced.

Visit us in Your goodness, O Lord; reveal Yourself to us in Your rich and tender mercies. Grant our weather to be temperate and beneficial; send gentle rains to the earth so that it may be fruitful; bless the crown of the year with Your goodness. End the schisms of churches; extinguish the insolence of nations; bring outbreaks of heresy to a quick end, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Make us children of the light and of the day, and receive us all into Your kingdom. Grant us Your peace and Your love, O Lord our God. Indeed You have given us everything.

PRIEST (aloud)

And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST

And the mercies of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

DEACON

Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the precious Gifts here presented and consecrated, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

That our benevolent God, having accepted them at His holy and celestial and mystical altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send down upon us the divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

(The rest of this litany, which was previously said above, is nowadays usually and correctly omitted.)

DEACON

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

Having asked for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

O our God, the God who saves, teach us how to worthily thank You for the good things You have done and still do for us. O our God, who have accepted these gifts, cleanse us from every defilement of body and spirit, and teach us how to make holiness perfect in the fear of You, so that receiving the portion of Your holy sacrament with a clear conscience, we may be united to the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ; and having received them worthily, we may have Christ dwelling in our hearts and become a temple of Your Holy Spirit.

And we implore You, our God, please do not count any of us guilty of profaning Your awesome and heavenly sacrament, nor make anyone weak in soul and body for partaking of them unworthily. But rather allow us to receive a portion of Your holy sacrament worthily, to our last breath, as provision for eternal life and an acceptable defense at the awesome judgment seat of Your Christ, so that along with all the saints who throughout the ages have pleased You, we too may become partakers of Your eternal blessings, that You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord.

PRIEST (aloud)

And grant us, Master, with boldness and without condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:

PEOPLE

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord and Master, Father of mercies and God of all comfort, bless and sanctify those who have bowed their heads to You; guard, fortify, and strengthen them. Keep them away from every wicked deed, and attach them to every good deed. And allow them to partake of Your immaculate and life-giving sacrament, without condemnation, for the forgiveness of sins and communion of the Holy Spirit.

PRIEST (aloud)

Through the grace, compassion, and love for humankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Hearken, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You who are enthroned with the Father on high and are present among us invisibly here. And with Your mighty hand, grant Communion of Your most pure Body and precious Blood to us, and through us to all the people.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

PRIEST

The Holy Gifts for the holy people of God.

CHOIR

One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Notation for your part

PEOPLE

The selection and text of the following prayers may be different from what is used in your parish.

I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You, have mercy on me and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, in knowledge or in ignorance. And make me worthy, without condemnation, to partake of Your pure sacrament for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Amen.

As I am about to receive holy communion, * O Maker, I pray You not burn me partaking, * since You are fire consuming the unworthy, * but rather purge me of any defilement.

Receive me, today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas. But like the Robber I confess to You. Remember me, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom.

Seeing the deifying Blood, O human, shudder, * for it is a live coal that burns the unworthy. * The Body of God both deifies my spirit * and feeds my mind in extraordinary manner.

You have enraptured me, O Christ, * with Your longing and transformed me with love divine. * I pray, completely consume * with immaterial fire all my sins. * And count me worthy to be filled * fully with the delight in You, * that I may magnify * both Your Comings, O good Master, exultantly.

How shall I enter into the splendor of Your saints since I am unworthy? For if I dare to enter the wedding hall along with them, my garment will betray me, for it is not fit for the wedding; and then I shall be bound and cast out by the Angels. I pray You to wash away the stains on my soul, and save me, O benevolent Lord.

Benevolent Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these Holy Gifts be to my judgment because I am unworthy, but rather for the purification and sanctification of both soul and body and the pledge of the life and kingdom to come. It is good for me to cleave unto God and to place in Him the hope of my salvation.

Receive me, today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas. But like the Robber I confess to You. Remember me, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom.

CHOIR

Communion Hymn. Psalm 148.

Praise the Lord from the heavens. Alleluia.

Notation for your part

DEACON

With the fear of God, faith, and love, draw near.

The people come up to receive Holy Communion. The Priest receives the holy chalice from the hands of the Deacon and begins communing the people, saying to each one: The Body and Blood of Christ, for the remission of sins and life eternal.

PRIEST

Save, O God, Your people, and bless Your inheritance.

CHOIR

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Mode 2.

We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Exalt, Master.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth. (3)

Blessed is our God.

PRIEST (aloud)

Always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

DEACON

Arise! Having partaken of the divine, holy, pure, immortal, heavenly, life-creating, and awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Having prayed for a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

We thank You, O Lord our God, for the communion of Your holy, immaculate, immortal, and heavenly sacrament, which You have granted us for the benefit, 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 to us for faith unashamed, love unfeigned, fulness of wisdom, healing of soul and body, deterrence from everything contrary, observance of Your commandments, and for an acceptable defense at the dread judgment seat of Your Christ.

PRIEST (aloud)

For You are our sanctification, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST: Let us go forth in peace.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

O Christ our God, You accept this rational and bloodless sacrifice as a sacrifice of praise and pleasing worship. You are the lamb and Son of God who take away the sin of the world, the blameless young bull that does not accept the yoke of sin, and who were offered for us of Your own will. You are broken but not divided, eaten but never depleted; and You sanctify those who eat. Indeed, You made us partakers of Your holy Body and precious Blood, this ineffable, heavenly, and awesome sacrament, in remembrance of Your voluntary Passion and life-giving resurrection on the third day. Preserve us in Your holiness, us Your servants, those who minister, who govern faithfully, who serve in the armed forces, and the people here in attendance.

And grant us to meditate on Your righteousness at all times and in every season, so that being guided to Your will and doing what is pleasing to You, we may become worthy to stand at Your right hand when You come to judge the living and the dead. Rescue our brethren who are captives, visit those who are ill, pilot travelers who are in danger, and give rest to the souls of all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the eternal life, where the light of Your face shines; and hear the prayers of all who need Your help.

For You are the giver of good things, and we offer up glory to You and Your Father, who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and to the ages. (3)

PRIEST (in a low voice)

O Christ our God, the sacrament of Your dispensation is completed and finished as far as it is in our power. We had the memorial of Your death; we saw the image of Your resurrection; we were filled with Your everlasting life; we experienced Your inexhaustible delight. Please allow us all to enjoy it in the age to come, by the grace of Your Father who is without beginning and Your holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord come upon you by His divine grace and love for humankind, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

May He who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, our father among the saints Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, whose memory we celebrate, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

CHOIR

Lord, protect for many years the one who blesses and sanctifies us.

PRIEST

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

CHOIR: Amen.

Vespers · Memory of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia

PRIEST

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Stand for the reading of the Introductory Psalm.

While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest stands in front of the holy Table and reads the so-called Lamp-lighting Prayers.

READER

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 103 (104).

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He who covers His upper chambers with water, who makes the clouds His means of approach, who walks on the wings of the winds, who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; it shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night.

O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Our hope, O Lord, glory to You.

DEACON

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For the Holy and Great Church of Christ of Constantinople, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Holy Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Mode pl. 4.

Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You. Hear me, O Lord.

Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.

Notation for your part

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, a door of enclosure about my lips.

Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.

With men who work lawlessness; and I will not join with their choice ones.

The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.

For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures. Their judges are swallowed up by the rock.

They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so their bones were scattered beside the grave.

For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You; in You I hope; take not my soul away.

Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.

Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.

I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.

I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.

When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.

For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.

I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.

Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.

I cried to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.”

Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.

Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord.

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

From the Triodion.

Mode pl. 4. Immense is the perdition.

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You.

Offending You immensely, * I can only expect immense punishment, * the grinding teeth and inconsolable cries and tears, * unquenchable fire, the darkness, the netherworld. * O just and impartial Judge, * grant me to weep abundant tears, * that by fasting I might attain * the forgiveness of all my offenses, as I cry to You: * Master, be compassionate towards me, * for Your mercy is great and abundant, O Christ.

Mode pl. 4. Immense is the perdition.

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord.

O Logos, seek and find me * like a sheep that is lost on the treacherous * mountains of sinfulness; call me to come back to You. * Banish far from me, even from my memory, * the bad habits I have formed. * Revive me who have died in sin. * Purify me through discipline, * frequent tearful prayer and fasting, as I now cry out to You: * Master, be compassionate towards me, * for Your mercy is great and abundant, O Christ.

Mode pl. 4.

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

As we embark on the third week of Lent, O believers, let us extol the Holy Trinity, and joyfully press forward. As we obliterate the carnal passions from our souls, let us pick the divine flowers of virtue and weave them into crowns for the Day of days, so that wearing these crowns we may all extol Christ as the victor.

Idiomela. For the Saints.

Idiomelon. Mode 2.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions.

Notation for your part

Bravely enduring the present, rejoicing in what they hoped for, the holy Martyrs said to one another: “Are we not stripping off our garments? So let us also put off the old man. Winter is bitter, but Paradise is sweet. Freezing is painful, but the reward is pleasant. Let us not waver, O fellow soldiers. Let us endure for a little while, so that we may wear the crowns of victory that are given by Christ God, the Savior of our souls.”

Idiomelon. Mode 2.

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples.

Notation for your part

Throwing off all their garments, entering the lake without flinching, the holy Martyrs said to one another: “For the sake of Paradise, which we forfeited of old, let us not cling to our corruptible garments today. Once because of the snake, we put on a garment of mortality; so let us now take it off for the general resurrection. Let us think nothing of the icy frost that melts, and let us hate the flesh, so that we may wear the crowns of victory that are given by Christ God, the Savior of our souls.”

Notation for your part

Idiomelon. Mode 2.

For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Viewing the torture as pleasure, running to the freezing lake as to warm comforts, the holy Martyrs said to one another: “Let us not shrink from the winter weather, so that we may escape the fiery Gehenna. Let our feet be burnt so they can dance forever. Let our hands drop off, so we may lift them to the Lord. And let us have no pity for our mortal nature. Let us choose death, so that we may wear the crowns of victory that are given by Christ God, the Savior of our souls.”

Mode 2.

They looked at the lake and saw Paradise; they felt the freezing cold and imagined summer heat. Your Martyrs were mentally unafraid of the tyrants’ threats, O Christ our God. Brave as they were, they did not shrink from the onset of torture. Shielded by the divine armor of the Cross, these mighty men defeated the enemy; and for this each was awarded the crown of grace.

Mode 2. Joseph took You down.

To the melody, “When from the Tree.”

I am wholly carried away * by the works of darkness, O Lady, and by my own will have marred * the beauty of Baptism, and I the wretch now wear * the equipment of one condemned * to darkness. And therefore * I entreat you, O all-blameless Virgin, by your might * break up all the clouds of my passions. * Save me who am naked, and clothe me * in the shining robe of immortality.

Stand for the Entrance.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

ENTRANCE PRAYER

In the evening, in the morning, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Master of all, benevolent Lord. Let our prayer be set forth before You as incense. Incline not our hearts to evil words or thoughts, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For our eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You, and in You we hope. Leave us not embarrassed, O our God.

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise.

CLERGY AND PEOPLE

Mode 2.

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You.

Notation for your part

DEACON

The evening Prokeimenon!

CHOIR

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4.

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

Verse: And the salvation of Your presence, O God, lays hold of me.

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

Verse: Let the poor behold this, and be glad; seek God, and your soul shall live.

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

And again:

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

DEACON

Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us all say.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Lord, Ruler of all, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

PRIEST

For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Stand for the reading of prayer.

READER

O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

DEACON

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, 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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord our God, who inclined the heavens and came down for the salvation of humankind, look upon Your servants and Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You, the fearsome yet compassionate Judge, not expecting human help, but awaiting Your mercy and anticipating Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and the coming night, from every enemy, from all demonic activity against them, from unprofitable reflections, and from wicked thoughts.

PRIEST (aloud)

Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Aposticha. From the Triodion.

Idiomelon. Mode pl. 4.

My mind was restless, and I threw off my Father’s bridle, and cohabited with animalistic sinful thoughts, squandering all I had on loose living, wretch that I am! I forsook the food that confirms the heart, and fed on the pleasures that fill one for a while. O good Father, I pray You, do not close me off from Your loving affection, but open Your heart, take me back like the Prodigal Son, and save me.

Notation for your part

Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us.

My mind was restless, and I threw off my Father’s bridle, and cohabited with animalistic sinful thoughts, squandering all I had on loose living, wretch that I am! I forsook the food that confirms the heart, and fed on the pleasures that fill one for a while. O good Father, I pray You, do not close me off from Your loving affection, but open Your heart, take me back like the Prodigal Son, and save me.

Notation for your part

For the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 4.

Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant.

Martyrs of the Lord, you sanctify every locality, and you heal every infirmity. And now we pray you to intercede that our souls be delivered from the snares of the enemy.

Mode 2.

In his Psalms David said prophetically, “We went through fire and water, and You led us into a refreshing place.” And you, O Martyrs of Christ, fulfilled these words by your actions, for you indeed went through fire and water, and you entered the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, O Athletes forty in number, intercede for us, that we may obtain the great mercy.

Mode 2.

O Mother of God, I have committed my every hope wholly unto you. Keep me under your shelter.

Stand for the reading of prayers

PRIEST

Song of Simeon

PEOPLE

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Apolytikion.

Mode 1.

The holy martyrs suffered painful tortures for Your sake, O Lord; be compelled by what they endured, and heal our every pain, we entreat You, O only benevolent God.

Mode 1. The stone having been sealed.

To the melody, “The stone having been sealed.”

When Gabriel had said to you, “Rejoice!” blessed Virgin, * and you had voiced your assent, the Lord of all became incarnate * in you, who became the holy Ark, * as righteous King David said of old. * You carried your Creator, and thus your womb was wider than the heavens. * Glory to Him who dwelt inside of you! * Glory to Him who came forth from You! * Glory to Him who through your childbirth has set us free!

Notation for your part

READER

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

Blessed is Christ our God, the One who is, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST

O heavenly King, uphold our rulers, strengthen the Faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world. Protect this holy Church (or, Monastery); grant our departed fathers and brethren that they may dwell with the righteous, and accept us in repentance and confession; for You are good and benevolent.

We now make three prostrations: i.e. we recite the Prayer of St. Ephrem (quietly or mentally), and with each verse we make a bow or prostration.

While it has become customary for this prayer to be recited by someone aloud, nevertheless the indicated practice is that it be recited inaudibly and mentally by everyone, clergy and congregants alike, with the accompanying bows etc.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

Then we make the sign of the cross 12 times, each time saying, “God, be gracious to me a sinner and have mercy on me.” Then we repeat the third verse of the Prayer (quietly or mentally) and make a final bow or prostration.

READER

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Father, bless!

PRIEST

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and the holy and glorious Great Forty Martyrs of Sebastia, whose memory we celebrate; and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

CHOIR: Amen.