DCSC · Digital Chant Stand Companion
← 2026-08-02

GOA Digital Chant Stand Services for Sunday, Aug 2, 2026

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

Midnight Office · Octoechos - Mode pl. 4.

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. 4. N/M (The rod of Moses.)

Ἁρματηλάτην Φαραώ.

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

We come before the tri-solar King and Lord, who provides for all. He alone is good by nature and He has the unitary glory of the Godhead. He is God and monarch. To Him we sing the thrice-holy hymn.

Notation for your part

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

By God-inspired sayings and prophecies from on high, we have been clearly instructed to glorify in three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, the one divinely sovereign, omnipotent, eternal, creative, co-beginningless nature.

Notation for your part

Of old, when Abraham joyfully gave hospitality in a sacred type to God, the Creator of all, the Lord in three hypostases, he came to know the single dominion of the three hypostases, and thus he became an initiate of sacred mysteries.

O all-pure Lady, you remained a virgin and yet gave birth to Christ. For our sake, He assumed our nature, and after as before He remained unchanged. I pray you unceasingly entreat Him to forgive me my sins and to deliver me from temptations.

Notation for your part

Ode iii.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (In the beginning.)

Ὁ στερεώσας κατʼ ἀρχάς.

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

The Prophet Isaiah saw You, the unapproachable God and King of glory, seated on a lofty throne, as Cherubim and Seraphim with unceasing hymns glorified You, the Monad in three hypostases.

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

The Logos alone was begotten of the Father as from a Mind, and the Spirit also proceeded from Him ineffably. We have understood this from correct reasoning and the teachings of Scripture, and thus we worship one tri-solar God.

The One who is the unbegotten Father begets the Son without change, light from light, and sends forth by procession the Spirit, consubstantial light, omnificent and equal in honor.

Notation for your part

O Virgin Mother Mary, you became the pure temple of Christ. He brought all things into being and ordered them and sustains them, omnificently and omnisciently. I pray you, as His Mother, to ask Him to be gracious to me.

Notation for your part

Kathisma.

Mode pl. 4. When he perceived.

To the melody, “When the Bodiless learned of the secret command.”

We the believers now extol the great and mighty deeds * of the tri-solar God and Maker of the universe. * By a simple command God created everything: * the choirs of the angelic orders on high, * the ranks of the Church’s hierarchy on earth; * so that all sing together, “Holy, Holy, Holy are You! * We praise and we glorify * Your dominion, most benevolent God.”

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 4. When he perceived.

Mother of never changing God, my heart is ever * subject to change, and tends to sin, for I am careless * and the devil assaults me with cunning temptations. * Good Lady, I pray you strengthen my weakened soul, * imploring Your Son and Master on my behalf. * And with gratitude I will sing, “O Mary, Mother of our God, * have mercy on the flock that you have been given, O all-blameless one.”

Notation for your part

Ode iv.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (You are my strength.)

Σύ μου ἰσχύς.

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

When Christ, the Sunrise of righteousness, appeared to those in darkness, He dispelled the long unlit night of the passions, and He brought the rising of the Godhead’s light, simple in essence, thrice-radiant in rays, which we ever extol and glorify.

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

The Lord of glory, Trinity in persons, in nature simple and unapproachable, is extolled by the mouths of Seraphim, and glorified by our lips of clay, as we say, “O King of all, to Your servants grant mercy and forgiveness of sins.”

O invisible, divine, and Holy Trinity, humane, compassionate, and all-merciful, You sustain all beings. Please do not completely forget me, Your supplicant. Please do not annul the covenant You made with Your servants in Your ineffable mercy.

The pre-eternal Logos found you alone from all time to be beautiful, like that beauty of Jacob, and He dwelt in you, all-pure Virgin, where, in His compassion, he refashioned human nature. Unceasingly entreat Him to rescue me from all distress.

Notation for your part

Ode v.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (Why reject me.)

Ἵνα τί με ἀπώσω.

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

We glorify You, three co-eternal persons, yet one Lord, the divine nature, simply distinguishing and uniting. And with faith we sing, O divine Holy Trinity, rescue Your servants from distress.

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

I greatly lament the infirmity of my mind: how, against my will, I succumb to involuntary changes. I pray You, O Holy Trinity the source of life, establish me firmly in virtue.

I am heavy with the drowsiness of sin and headed toward the sleep of death. I pray You, O humane and most benevolent and all-merciful divine Holy Trinity, take pity on me and wake me up.

O all-pure, all-blameless, Virgin Mother, full of divine grace, please ask your Son and God and Lord to be gracious to me. I entreat you, quickly free me your servant from my passions and sins.

Ode vi.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (Be gracious to me.)

To the melody, “Be gracious to me, O Savior.”

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

We imitate the hierarchies of the celestial intelligences, and in thrice-holy songs from mouths of clay, we glorify You, O super-essential Trinity, ruling as monarch over all.

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

One God in three hypostases, You fashioned man in Your image, and wisely You brought all things from nonexistence into being. I worship, adore, extol, and magnify You.

Notation for your part

God, the Ruler of all, alone incomprehensible, please dwell in me in, O tri-solar Master, in Your ineffable mercy, and illumine me, and grant me understanding, O compassionate Lord.

O all-immaculate, all-holy Lady, you became the temple of the uncontainable God. Please pray that I, too, become a temple of His divine grace. Also, keep me safe and sound.

Kathisma.

Mode pl. 4. When he perceived.

To the melody, “When the Bodiless learned of the secret command.”

As we confess our faith in God, the Holy Trinity, * simple, unmingled, indivisible, immutable, * unoriginate Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, * the three consubstantial persons, in nature one, * we sing with the holy angels, “Holy are You, * Father, Son, and the Spirit, the all-holy and divine, * be merciful to us whom You * have created in Your image, O Lord.”

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 4. When he perceived.

We ever thank you, O all-holy Theotokos, * and magnify you the all-pure one; and we worship * and extol your divine Son, Maiden highly favored. * All-merciful Virgin, therefore we cry aloud * unceasingly praying, “Save us, since you are good. * Snatch us out from the frightening * examination of accounts * by demons in the hour of trial. * May we your servants not be ashamed.”

Notation for your part

Ode vii.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (The fire in Babylon.)

Θεοῦ συγκατάβασιν.

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

O God, Trinity and Monad, of old in Your ineffable wisdom and the ocean of Your goodness, You gave me the gift to be Your servant. I pray You do so again, now, O merciful Lord, and free me from distress and sins and passions.

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

O God, Trinity and Monad, of old in Your ineffable wisdom and the ocean of Your goodness, You gave me the gift to be Your servant. I pray You do so again, now, O merciful Lord, and free me from distress and sins and passions.

O Father, the unbegotten Nous, O Logos, begotten of Him, O divine Spirit, inexplicably proceeding from the Father, I sing to You, O God, tri-solar Monarch: You are blessed, O God of our Fathers.

Notation for your part

O immaculate Virgin, I am dying, for I drank the poison of sin. With faith I pray to you, who gave birth to the Author of life. O all-pure Lady, intercede for me, your servant, and bring me back to life, and free me from distress and sins and passions.

Ode viii.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (The tyrant king.)

Ἑπταπλασίως κάμινον.

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

O incomprehensible God and monarchical Lord, You are light, never-setting, thrice-resplendent, tri-solar, monarchical, most simple. I pray You now enlighten my dark and gloomy heart, and make it radiant and luminous, so that I may extol You and glorify You, unto all the ages.

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

The most divine Seraphim out of reverence cover their faces and feet with their most sacred wings, unable to look at Your extraordinary beauty, O divine Monarchy, source of goodness, most holy Trinity. Yet we faithfully dare to extol and glorify You, unto all the ages.

My God, You are unoriginate, omnipotent, all-benevolent, initiator, beneficent, boundless, uncaused Cause, Creator, eternal, providential, Savior of the universe; Monad in essence, and a Trinity in persons. I faithfully glorify You, unto all the ages.

O all-immaculate Lady, the never-setting Sun rose on the earth through your virginal childbirth. He rid humanity of the dreary night of idolatry. I pray you enlighten me now with the rays of His divinity, and protect me your servant.

Ode ix.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (The heavens.)

Ἐξέστη ἐπὶ τούτῳ.

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

We now glorify You, Ruler of all, omnificent, omnipotent, Nature, above time, source of life, compassionate, humane, good, monarchical Trinity. We pray for forgiveness of sins, world peace, and unanimity among the Churches.

Notation for your part

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

We now glorify You, Ruler of all, omnificent, omnipotent, Nature, above time, source of life, compassionate, humane, good, monarchical Trinity. We pray for forgiveness of sins, world peace, and unanimity among the Churches.

Notation for your part

We extol You, the one Dominion and thrice-radiant, unitary, tri-solar Godhead; and we pray that in Your goodness, You receive us, and free us from our offenses, temptations, and troubles; and quickly restore peace and unity to the Churches, in Your benevolence.

O Christ my Savior, You dwelt in the Virgin’s womb, and You appeared to Your world as both God and man, truly immutable and without confusion. You also promised to be with Your servants always. So we pray that grant peace to all Your flock, at Your Mother’s intercessions.

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.

Hypakoe. Mode pl. 4.

The Myrrh-bearing Women went to the tomb of the Giver of Life, seeking the immortal Master among the dead. And receiving good tidings of joy from the Angel, they reported to the Apostles, that the Lord had risen, granting the great mercy to the world.

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. 4.

CHOIR

Mode pl. 4.

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. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You!

Mode 4. Come quickly.

To the melody, “Come quickly.”

O Stephen, a crown of royalty was laid on your head * for contests you courageously endured for Christ our God, * as first among Martyr saints. * You refuted the ravings of the Jews who accused you, * and you saw your Savior at the right hand of the Father. * We pray that you will ever entreat Him to save our souls.

Notation for your part

Mode 4.

O Theotokos, revealed through you to us on earth was the mystery, that was hidden for ages and unknown by the angels. God became incarnate, uniting natures without confusion, and for us He voluntarily accepted crucifixion, through which He resurrected the first-formed man, and He saved our souls from death.

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. 4. Automelon.

To the melody, “You rose from the dead.”

O Life of all, You rose from the dead; and an Angel, * his countenance like lightning, called out to the women, * “Weep no more! But go quickly and bring to the Apostles the tidings of joy. * Sing out in exultation, ‘Truly risen from the dead is Christ the Lord, * who was well pleased to save the human race, as God our only Savior.’”

Notation for your part

Mode pl. 4. By conceiving the Wisdom.

To the melody, “Having conceived the Wisdom and Word.”

Having risen indeed from the tomb, O Lord, * as recorded in Scripture, You told the devout * women to proclaim Your resurrection to the Apostles. * Then Peter came out and he ran to the tomb; * he was amazed beholding the light in the sepulcher. * Looking in he saw that Your holy body was missing; * the napkin and linen cloths were by themselves, lying separately. * Then he believed it and cried aloud, * “Glory to You, Christ God, for You save all people, O Savior! * You are the reflection of the Father’s glory!”

Notation for your part

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.

Kathisma II.

Mode pl. 4.

Human beings put a seal on Your tomb; an Angel rolled the stone away from its door. Women saw You risen from the dead, O Savior, and they brought the joyful news to Your disciples in Zion, that You the life of all had risen, and that the bonds of death were shattered. Glory to You, O Lord!

Mode pl. 4. O Life of all, You rose.

To the melody, “You rose from the dead.”

The women who were taking the burial spices * heard an angelic voice from the sepulcher saying, * “Weep no more! And instead of your sorrow take with you the tidings of joy. * Sing out in exultation, ‘Truly risen from the dead is Christ the Lord, * who was well pleased to save the human race, as God our only Savior.’”

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

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. 4.

The Myrrh-bearing Women went to the tomb of the Giver of Life, seeking the immortal Master among the dead. And receiving good tidings of joy from the Angel, they reported to the Apostles, that the Lord had risen, granting the great mercy to the world.

CHOIR

Anavathmoi.

Antiphon 1. Mode pl. 4.

From my youth the enemy tempts me, with the pleasures he inflames me. But trusting in You, O Lord, I repel and vanquish him.

Notation for your part

Let those who hate Zion become like the grass before it is plucked up. For Christ will cut their necks in pieces with the cutting blade of torments.

Notation for your part

In the Holy Spirit is the life of all things living. He is light from light and great God. We extol Him with the Father and the Logos.

Notation for your part

Antiphon 2.

Let my heart be humble-minded and covered with the fear of You, O Lord, lest it be exalted and fall from You, all-compassionate Master.

Whoever hopes in the Lord will not fear when He will judge and punish all things with fire.

In the Holy Spirit every holy person sees and speaks as a prophet. They do sublime miracles, praising the one God in three persons. For though It shines with three-fold light, yet the Godhead rules as monarch.

Notation for your part

Antiphon 3.

I cried to You, O Lord. Attend to me. Incline Your ear to me who am crying, and purify me prior to taking me from this life.

Everyone who sets in the earth, his mother, will again return thence, to receive the torments or honors for his life’s actions.

From the Holy Spirit comes theology. One God, thrice-holy: The Father is without beginning, and the Son came from Him eternally, and the Spirit, sharing form and throne, shone at once from the Father.

Notation for your part

Antiphon 4.

Behold now, what is so good or so pleasant as for brethren to dwell together? For in this the Lord has promised life everlasting.

Notation for your part

He who adorns the lilies of the field commands us not to be concerned about our clothing.

In the Holy Spirit, the unifying Cause, all things are sustained in peaceful coexistence. This is so for He is God, with the Father and the Son being truly one in essence.

Notation for your part

Prokeimenon.

The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. (2)

Verse: Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Notation for your part

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

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.

When You rose from the grave, You also raised the dead, and You resurrected Adam. Because of Your Resurrection, Eve is rejoicing, and people the world over celebrate Your resurrection from the dead, O very merciful Lord.

Oikos.

When You ransacked the realm of Hades, and You raised the dead, O long-suffering Master, You met the Myrrh-bearing Women, and You gave them joy in place of sorrow. You showed Your Apostles the marks of Your victory, O Savior and Giver of Life, and You illumined creation, O benevolent God. Therefore the world also celebrates Your resurrection from the dead, O very merciful Lord.

Kontakion. For Protomartyr.

Mode pl. 4.

First to be sown on earth by the heavenly Husbandman, O all-famed Stephen; first to shed your blood on the earth for Christ, O blessed one; you were the first to be honored by Him with the crown of victory in heaven, as the beginning of martyr athletes, O first crowned champion of the Martyrs.

Oikos.

Looking at the flowers of Paradise, which fill the whole world with their delightful sweetness, I am astonished at the strange sight of them; for even in the freezing cold of winter, they blossom all the more, a thing unheard of for flowers. Such is Christ’s Martyr, who blossomed first of all, and became a door to those who compete lawfully and flower in the cold of torments. He has shown the unerring path to those who desire to compete, he is the good leader of the race, who shone forth brightly in labors, the first crowned champion of the Martyrs.

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 2, we commemorate the recovery of the Relic of Saint Stephen, the Protomartyr and Archdeacon.

On this day we also commemorate the finding of the relics of the holy Martyrs Maximus, Dadas, and Quintilian.

On this day we also commemorate the consecration of the holy Church of Saint John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist, near the most-holy Great Church.

On this day we commemorate the holy Martyr Phocas, and also the Emperor Justinian of pious memory, in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy and save us. Amen.

CHOIR

Ode i. Katavasia. Mode 4.

When the hosts of Israel crossed the Red Sea, * passing through the midst of the sea on foot, and did not get wet, * they beheld Pharaoh’s army, * the horsemen and chosen captains, submerged beneath the waters. * With great rejoicing they sang this song, * “Let us sing to our God, for He is greatly glorified.”

HIERARCH

Ode iii. Katavasia. Mode 4.

Weakened is the bow of mighty men, * and those who are weak are girded with strength from our righteous God. * For this reason, as it is written, my heart is strengthened in the Lord.

LEFT CHOIR

Ode iv. Katavasia. Mode 4.

I have heard about Your glorious divine economy, O Christ my God, * that You were born of the virgin Maiden, * so as to free from error those who cry to You, * Glory to Your strength, O Lord my God.

HIERARCH

Ode v. Katavasia. Mode 4.

You divided the light from the primordial darkness, * so that Your works, in the light, may sing praises to You, * the Creator, O Christ. * We now entreat You: * In Your light make straight our ways.

LEFT CHOIR

Ode vi. Katavasia. Mode 4.

When I was afflicted, I cried out to the Lord my God, * the Lord of Deliverance. I prayed and He heard my voice.

HIERARCH

Ode vii. Katavasia. Mode 4.

Servants in Babylon, of old, * those three descendants of Abraham, trampled on the furnace fire. * In hymns they cried out to You, * “O Lord and God of our fathers, You are blessed.”

LEFT CHOIR

Ode viii. Katavasia. Mode 4.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Once in Babylon, those Servants, * on fire with divine zeal and longing, * courageously defying the threat * of both the tyrant and the flame, * were thrown into the midst of the furnace. * As they were refreshed with dew, * they were singing, “O all you works of the Lord, praise and bless the Lord.”

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 John.

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (from the altar table)

Eothinon 9

John. 20:19 – 31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

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.

At the intercession of the Apostles, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.

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

Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, has granted us eternal life and 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.

Your childbirth occurred without corruption. * It was God, wearing flesh, who came forth from your all-holy womb. * He was seen upon the earth and lived among men, O Theotokos; * therefore we all magnify you.

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.

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 9.

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

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

The doors where the Apostles were * being shut, Lord, You entered. * You gave them peace and breathed on them * and filled them with the power * and grace of the Holy Spirit. * You spoke to them concerning * binding of sins and loosing them. * Then You came eight days later and showed Your side * and Your hands, as tangible proof to Thomas. * With him we also cry aloud: * You are our Lord and our God.

For Protomartyr.

For the Saint.

Mode 2. With the disciples.

Τῶν Μαθητῶν ὁρώντων σε.

St. Stephen was the first one to be a Martyr; * he also was the first to become a Deacon, * for he was filled with grace, as it was written. * Behold, his relics were transferred * to the imperial City, * pouring out grace and miracles.

Theotokion.

Mode 2. With the disciples.

You truly carried Christ in your womb, O Virgin, * when from your precious blood He became incarnate. * The armies of heaven that stand around Him * do so with awe, for they cannot * endure to gaze at the brightness * of His ineffable essence.

Notation for your part

CHANTER

Your blessing, holy Master! Mode pl. 4.

CHOIR

Lauds. Mode pl. 4.

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. 4.

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

Notation for your part

Lord, even though You were standing at The Pavement * and Pontius Pilate was judging You, * still You were seated with the Father * on the throne, from which You never left. * And when You rose from the dead * as God, in Your benevolence, * You freed the world from the devil’s bondage, * as our Savior most compassionate.

Mode pl. 4.

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

Notation for your part

Lord, even though You were buried as a mortal * in a sepulcher by Jewish men, * yet a guard of soldiers was watching * over You as though a sleeping king. * As the treasure house of life, * they made it secure with a seal. * But You rose, and You have granted * our souls incorruptibility.

Mode pl. 4.

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

Lord, You have given us Your Cross as a weapon * against the devil, our enemy. * He is gripped with fear and he trembles, * for he cannot bear to see its might, * because it raises the dead; * it neutralized the power of death. * Therefore we worship You and honor * Your burial and resurrection.

Mode pl. 4.

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

Your Angel, who announced Your resurrection, * on the one hand frightened * the soldiers guarding Your tomb, O Lord, * on the other hand he said to the women, * “Why do you seek the living among the dead? * As God, He has risen, * and He has granted life to the entire world.”

For Protomartyr.

Mode 4. You have given.

To the melody, “You have given a sign.”

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

On earth like an angel, Protomartyr Stephen went up to You * in the heavens, where he beheld * divine glory, insofar as a man is able; * for initiated was he in mysteries of God, * the unapproachable Holy Trinity. * And henceforth he proclaims Your power, which is incomprehensible, * by which You, Jesus, saved our souls, as our Lord and almighty God.

Notation for your part

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

On earth like an angel, Protomartyr Stephen went up to You * in the heavens, where he beheld * divine glory, insofar as a man is able; * for initiated was he in mysteries of God, * the unapproachable Holy Trinity. * And henceforth he proclaims Your power, which is incomprehensible, * by which You, Jesus, saved our souls, as our Lord and almighty God.

Notation for your part

Verse: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree; he shall be multiplied like the cedar in Lebanon.

When your holy relics were transferred, O Stephen, all-glorious * Protomartyr, your beauty shone, * adorned as you were in rays of the cures and healing * that through you the Lord worked. * And by your miracles you gave * to all believers the cheer and joy of God. * We faithfully extol the Lord who is benevolent, and we sing, * “Jesus Christ, you have saved our souls, as our Lord and almighty God.”

Verse: Those planted in the house of the Lord shall blossom forth in the courts of our God.

Protomartyr Stephen, your all-holy tongue was the precious pen * of a swift-writing ready scribe, * recording the truth of God, teaching all the people, * who become enlightened. * You brought us back from errant ways, * and from our ignorance to the truth of God. * We hold the celebration of your sacred memory annually, * and we honor you and extol the events of your martyrdom.

Eothinon 9.

As revealed at the end of the ages, O Christ, You came on the evening of that first day of the week, and You stood among Your friends. And by the miracle of Your entry through the doors that were shut, You verified the miracle of Your resurrection from the dead. You filled the disciples with joy, and imparted to them the Holy Spirit; and You gave them the authority to forgive sins. Moreover You did not leave Thomas to drown beneath the waves of disbelief. And now we pray You also grant to us true knowledge and forgiveness of offenses, O compassionate Lord.

Notation for your part

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. 4.

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. 4.

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

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You!

Verse 2: Let heaven and earth praise Him.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, 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. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Notation for your part

CHOIR

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

Hymns after the Entrance.

CHOIR

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and consented to a three-day burial, to free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to You!

For Protomartyr.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

To the melody, “Come quickly.”

O Stephen, a crown of royalty was laid on your head * for contests you courageously endured for Christ our God, * as first among Martyr saints. * You refuted the ravings of the Jews who accused you, * and you saw your Savior at the right hand of the Father. * We pray that you will ever entreat Him to save our souls.

Notation for your part

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung.

Then:

Kontakion.

Grave Mode.

Upon the mountain were You transfigured, and Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they were able, O Christ our God; so that when they would see You crucified they might understand that Your Passion was deliberate, and declare to the world that in truth You are the Father’s radiance.

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: In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.

DEACON

Wisdom.

READER

The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

READER

1 Cor. 3:9 – 17

Brethren, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw — each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.

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 Matthew.

PRIEST

Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

DEACON

Mt. 14:22 – 34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was out on the sea, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

PRIEST

Peace be with you who read the Gospel.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Again and countless times we fall down before You, and we implore You, O good and benevolent Lord: That You, having regarded our prayer, may cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant to us to stand before Your holy Altar of sacrifice, free of guilt and condemnation. Grant also, O God, to those who pray with us, progress in life, faith, and spiritual understanding. Grant that they always worship You with awe and love, partake of Your holy sacrament without guilt or condemnation, and be deemed worthy of Your celestial kingdom.

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.

DEACON (in a low voice)

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 God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart, even so, accept from us sinners our supplication, and bring it to Your holy Altar of sacrifice. Make us sufficient to offer You gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our own misdeeds and those committed in ignorance by the people. Deem us worthy to find grace in Your sight, that our sacrifice may be well pleasing to You, and that the good Spirit of Your grace may rest upon us and upon these gifts presented and upon all Your people.

PRIEST (aloud)

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

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)

It is proper and right to hymn You, to bless You, to praise You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in every place of Your dominion. For You, O God, are ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, existing forever, forever the same, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us out of nothing into being, and when we had fallen away, You raised us up again. You left nothing undone until you had led us up to heaven and granted us Your kingdom, which is to come. For all these things, we thank You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit: for all things we know and do not know, for blessings manifest and hidden that have been bestowed on us. We thank You also for this Liturgy, which You have deigned to receive from our hands, even though thousands of archangels and tens of thousands of angels stand around You, the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many­ eyed, soaring aloft upon their wings,

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)

Together with these blessed powers, benevolent Master, we also exclaim and say: Holy are You and most holy, You and Your only‐begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. Holy are You and most holy, and sublime is Your glory. You so loved Your world that You gave Your only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. When He had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and blessing, He hallowed and broke it, and gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying:

PRIEST (aloud)

Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

And likewise the cup after supper, saying:

PRIEST (aloud)

Drink of it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and everything that was done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the ascent into the heavens, the seating at the right hand, and the glorious coming again,

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)

Once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood, and we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented,

DEACON (in a low voice)

Bless, Master, the Holy Bread.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

And make this Bread the precious Body of Your Christ.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Amen.

Bless, Master, the holy Cup.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

And that which is in this Cup, the precious Blood of Your Christ.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Amen.

Bless, Master, both the Holy Gifts.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Changing them by Your Holy Spirit.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Amen. Amen. Amen.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

So that they may be for those who partake of them for vigilance of soul, remission of sins, communion of Your Holy Spirit, fullness of the kingdom of Heaven, boldness before You, not for judgment or condemnation. Again, we offer You this spiritual worship for those who have reposed in the faith: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous spirit made perfect in faith,

PRIEST (aloud)

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

CHOIR

Hymn to the Theotokos.

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Logos. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.

Notation for your part

PRIEST (in a low voice)

For Saint John the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist; for the holy, glorious, and most praiseworthy apostles; for Saint(s) (name), whose memory we celebrate; and for all Your saints, through whose supplications, visit us, O God. And remember all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection to life eternal (here the Priest commemorates by name those departed whom he wishes). Grant them rest, where the light of Your countenance keeps watch. Again we beseech You, Lord, remember all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the word of Your truth, the presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and every priestly order. Again we offer You this spiritual worship for the whole world, for the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and for those living pure and reverent lives. For civil authorities and our armed forces, grant that they may govern in peace, Lord, so that in their tranquility we, too, may live calm and serene lives, in all piety and virtue.

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, Lord, Your Holy Great Church of Constantinople, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Holy Metropolis], this city in which we live, and every city and land, and the faithful who live in them. Remember, Lord, those who travel by land, sea, and air; the sick; the suffering; the captives; and their salvation. Remember those who bear fruit and do good works in Your holy churches and those who are mindful of the poor, and upon us all send forth Your mercies.

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)

We entrust to You, benevolent Master, our whole life and hope, and we beseech, pray, and implore You: Grant us to partake of Your heavenly and awesome sacraments from this sacred and spiritual table with a clear conscience for the remission of sins, the forgiveness of transgressions, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance of the kingdom of Heaven, and boldness before You, not unto judgment or condemnation.

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)

We give thanks to You, invisible King, who by Your boundless power fashioned the universe, and in the multitude of Your mercy brought all things from nothing into being. Look down from heaven, O Master, upon those who have bowed their heads before You, for they have not bowed before flesh and blood, but before You, the awesome God. Therefore, O Master, make smooth and beneficial for us all, whatever lies ahead, according to the need of each: Sail with those who sail, travel with those who travel, heal the sick, Physician of our souls and bodies.

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

and the following:

Communion Hymn. Psalm 18.

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 give thanks to You, benevolent Master, benefactor of our souls, that even on this very day You have made us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal sacraments. Make straight our path, fortify us in Your fear, guard our life, make secure our steps, through the prayers and supplications of the glorious Theotokos and ever­ virgin Mary and of all Your saints.

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 Lord, who blesses those who bless You and sanctifies those who put their trust in You, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the whole body 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. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the clergy, to our civic leaders, to the armed forces, and to all Your people. For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights. To You we offer up glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy 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)

Christ our God, You are the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. You have fulfilled the Father’s entire plan of salvation. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness always, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Memorial Service

CHOIR

Evlogetaria for the Dead

Mode pl. 1.

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

The choir of Saints has found the fountain of life and the door of Paradise. May I also find the way through repentance. I am the lost sheep: O Savior, call me back and save me.

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

Of old, You created me from nothing and honored me with Your divine image. But when I disobeyed Your commandment, You returned me to the earth from which I was taken. Lead me back again to Your likeness, so that the ancient beauty may be refashioned.

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

I am an image of Your ineffable glory, though I bear the scars of my transgressions. Take pity on me, the work of Your hands, Master, and cleanse me by Your compassion. Grant me the desired homeland for which I long, making me again a citizen of Paradise.

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

Give rest, O God, to Your servant(s), and place him (her, them) in Paradise where the choirs of the Saints and the righteous, O Lord, will shine as the stars of heaven. To Your departed servant(s) give rest, O Lord, overlooking all his (her, their) offenses.

Notation for your part

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

Notation for your part

Let us devoutly praise the threefold radiance of the one God as we sing: Holy are You, the Father without beginning, the co-eternal Son, and the divine Spirit. Illumine us who worship You in faith and deliver us from the eternal fire.

Notation for your part

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

Rejoice, gracious Lady, who gave birth to God in the flesh for the salvation of all, and through whom the human race has found salvation. Through you, pure and blessed Theotokos, may we find Paradise.

Notation for your part

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God.

Kontakion. Mode pl. 4.

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul(s) of Your servant(s) where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.

Notation for your part

Among the spirits of the righteous perfected in faith, give rest, O Savior, to the soul(s) of Your servant, keeping it (them) in the blessed life which is from You, O loving One.

In your place of rest, O Lord, where all Your saints repose, give rest also to the soul of Your servant, for You alone are immortal.

Notation for your part

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

Notation for your part

You are our God who descended into Hades and loosened the pains of those who were held captive. Grant rest also, O Savior, to the soul of Your servant.

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

You the only pure and spotless Virgin, who ineffably gave birth to God, intercede for mercy and forgiveness of the soul of your servant(s).

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 the repose of the soul of the departed servant of God (name), who has fallen asleep, and for the forgiveness of all his (her) sins, voluntary and involuntary.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

May the Lord God place their souls where the righteous repose. Let us ask for the mercies of God, the kingdom of Heaven, and the forgiveness of their sins from Christ our immortal king and God.

CHOIR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

O God of spirits and of all flesh, You trampled upon death and abolished the power of the devil, giving life to Your world. Give rest to the soul(s) of Your departed servant(s) (name) in a place of light, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain, sorrow, and sighing have fled away. As good and benevolent God, forgive every sin he (she, they) has (have) committed in word, deed, or thought, for there is no one who lives and does not sin. You alone are without sin. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your word is truth.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For You are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your departed servant(s) (name), Christ our God, 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.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST

Eternal be your memory, brother worthy of blessedness and everlasting memory. (3)

CHOIR

Mode 3.

Eternal be his memory. Eternal be his memory. Eternal be his memory. (3)

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, of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, the transfer of whose holy relic 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 · Octoechos - Mode pl. 4.

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.

CHANTER

Your blessing, holy Master! Mode pl. 4.

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.

Stichera for the Master.

Mode pl. 4. What a paradoxal.

To the melody, “O what a paradox.”

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

I carry on so indifferently! Alas! I squander the time * of my life in uncertainty, * for I have not taken stock * of my sins, which are numerous, * nor have I pondered the terrifying threat * of death and judgment impartial in the end. * Who will deliver me * from the condemnation to eternal fire, * unless You, O God supremely good, take pity on me.

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

Woe be to you, sorry soul of mine, for you will surely lament * at the judgment, when you recall * all your deeds, when righteous souls * are invited to enter God’s * eternal Kingdom, and you have been condemned * to endless fire on account of your misdeeds! * Sigh, weep, and run to Christ * the Redeemer, being on this side of death. * Wash away the multitude of your iniquities.

For the Angels.

Mode pl. 4. Lord, even though.

To the melody, “O Lord, though You stood before the tribunal.”

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

Lord our God, hosts of incorporeals praise You and glorify You unceasingly, * as they are enjoying the beauty of Your ineffable loveliness, * and as Your tri-solar light abundantly illumines them. * Now through their guardianship, O Savior, * and their intercessions, save our souls.

For the Saints.

Mode pl. 4. Your martyr Saints.

To the melody, “Your Martyrs, O Lord.”

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

O Lord, when Your ascetic Saints diminished in themselves the carnal passions * by imitating the bodiless Angels, * unceasing prayer, and self-control, * glowing with dispassion and illustrious, * they illumined hearts and minds of multitudes. * Bestow upon Your people great mercy, at the fervent appeals of these Your Saints.

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

Notation for your part

Isakius and Dalmatus confronted heresies with zeal and valor, * the one of Arius, the latter later * that of Nestorius, and won. * They were both the allies of the Orthodox, * and they both were glorified by everyone. * Now at their intercessions, * grant unto us, Your people, Your great mercy, O Christ.

Notation for your part

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

You scintillate resplendently in the ascetic sphere like luminaries, * O holy Fathers, therefore you illumine * the hearts and souls of monks and nuns, * banishing demonic darkness far from them. * Therefore you are honored even after death, * praying for the salvation * of all who celebrate your all-holy memory.

Mode pl. 4. Your martyr Saints.

To the melody, “Your Martyrs, O Lord.”

My private thoughts are sordid, and my lips deceitful; and my deeds and actions * are all despicable. What should I do now? How shall I stand before the Judge? * Pray for me, O Virgin Lady, to your Son, * who is your Creator and your Lord and God, * that He receive my spirit * when I am in repentance, in His compassion for me.

Notation for your part

(No Entrance)

Stand for the hymn.

READER

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.

DEACON

The evening Prokeimenon!

CHOIR

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4.

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.

Verse: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.

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 of the Octoechos.

Mode pl. 4.

Angels unceasingly extol You the King and Lord and Master. But I, like the Publican, am bowed as I implore You: O God, be gracious to me and save me.

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.

O soul of mine, since you are immortal, let not mundane concerns inundate you. Come to your senses, and pray to your Benefactor: “O God, be gracious to me and save me.”

Notation for your part

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.

For the Martyrs.

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.

To the melody, “O what a paradox.”

Animate palace of God, rejoice. * Rejoice, O rational dove. * O rejoice, holy city of * your Creator. Battlement * of the faithful and refuge, rejoice; * and the protection of those who hope on you, * and their salvation, and their deliverance. * Ladder and bridge, rejoice, * that conveys to heaven the believers all. * Ever-blessed one, rejoice. * all-holy Lady, rejoice.

Notation for your part

Stand for the reading of prayers

PRIEST

Song of Simeon

At Vespers during the first two weeks of August, with some exceptions, the appointed Supplicatory Canon to the Most-holy Theotokos is appended.

Service of the Great Paraklesis to the Most-holy Theotokos

READER

Psalm 142 (143).

O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant.

Then “God is the Lord” is sung four times, with or without the verses.

CHOIR

Mode 4.

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.

Troparia.

Mode 4. You who were lifted.

To the melody, “You who were lifted on the Cross voluntarily.”

O humble sinners, let us now run in earnest * unto the Theotokos, and in repentance * fall down to her and cry out from the depths of our souls: * Show compassion unto us * and provide your assistance. * Hasten; we are perishing * in our many transgressions. * Turn not your servants empty-handed away; * for we have found you, O Lady, our only hope.

Notation for your part

We the unworthy shall not ever be silent, * O Theotokos, from proclaiming your powers. * For were you not concerned to intercede for us, * who would have delivered us * from such manifold dangers, * and who else would up to now * have preserved us in freedom? * O Lady, we shall not depart from you, * for you ever save your servants * from evils of every kind.

READER

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.

The Canon

CHOIR

Ode i. Mode pl. 4. The rod of Moses.

Ἁρματηλάτην Φαραώ.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Relentless onslaughts of distressing troubles now disquiet my humble soul. * And the gloomy clouds of tribulation shroud my heart. * But since you are, O Bride of God, * Theotokos and Mother * of the divine pre-eternal Light, * shine on me the light that is full of joy.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

I have been saved from countless grave necessities and tribulations and woes, * hostile adversaries * and from life’s calamities * by your prevailing power; hence, * all-immaculate Maiden, * I praise and magnify the immense * sympathy and solace you offer me.

Notation for your part

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

Notation for your part

Now trusting fully in your mighty patronage, for safety there have I fled; * and unto your shelter * have I run wholeheartedly, * O Lady, and I bend my knees * and lament sighing deeply. * Do not disdain me the wretched one. * For you are the refuge of Christians all.

Notation for your part

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

I shall not cease from speaking most emphatically of your magnificent deeds. * For were you not always * standing up on my behalf, * petitioning your Son and God, * from so violent a tempest * and such formidable jeopardy, * who else would there be to deliver me?

Ode iii. O divine Master Builder.

To the melody, “O divine Fashioner of the vault of heaven.”

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Altogether bewildered, with pain I cry unto you. * Come to me, O earnest protection, and hasten to provide * assistance unto me, * your poor and mis’rable servant * ardently imploring for * the aid which comes from you.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Now, O Maiden, upon me * your servant you have indeed * magnified your mercies, O Lady, and beneficial deeds. * Therefore I sing your praise * and glorify you and honor * your extensive patronage * to which there is no end.

Notation for your part

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

Notation for your part

I am drowning, O Lady, under the tide of distress, * and I am distraught by the blizzard of life’s adversities. * Come quickly, I entreat, * and lend a hand of assistance. * For you are my Patroness * earnestly helping me.

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

I acknowledge, O Lady, as Theotokos in truth * you who have destroyed the dominion of death; for you gave birth * to Him who is the Life, * and from the prison of Hades * unto life you raised me up * who tumbled down to earth.

Notation for your part

Deliver us your humble servants from perils, O Theotokos, as for refuge, after God, we all flee to you, an impregnable fortress and protection.

Look graciously upon your servant, all-praiseworthy Theotokos, and upon my painful physical suffering, and remedy my anguish of spirit.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

PRIEST

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

Again we pray for the servants of God… (At this time the Priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is sung.)

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

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.

Kathisma.

Mode 2. In seeking the heights.

Τὰ ἄνω ζητῶν.

O Mother of God, intently we cry out to you * the wellspring of mercy and the refuge of the world. * O vehement advocate, * unassailable fortress, anticipate * and deliver us from perilous ordeals, * O Lady who alone are swift to fend for us.

Ode iv. You are my strength.

Σύ μου ἰσχύς.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Where, in the end, * am I to find other patronage? * Where shall I seek refuge, where shall I be saved? * Whom shall I have as my fervent aid, * who, alas, am rattled * by life’s afflictions and turbulence? * I hope and I take courage * and I boast in you only; * and I run to your shelter. Deliver me.

Notation for your part

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O purest Maid, * now I proclaim and I magnify * the sweet river of your tender-loving care * which has refreshed with abundant gifts * my completely wretched * and humble soul which is burning in * the furnace of disasters * and of grievous afflictions. * And I run to your shelter. Deliver me.

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

Notation for your part

You are the pure, * you are the Virgin, the undefiled, * whom alone I have as an impregnable * fortress and wall, shelter and defense, * weapon of salvation. * Do not despise me the prodigal, * O hope of the dejected, * O ally of the feeble, * O assistance and joy of the suffering.

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

O Lady, how * shall I be able to worthily * tell of your immeasurable charity * that you pour out constantly on me * like refreshing water * to soothe my painfully burning soul? * O providence and labors * of benevolent kindness * which from you I have plentifully enjoyed!

Ode v. Why reject me, Your servant.

Ἵνα τί με ἀπώσω.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Now I gratefully cry out: * Rejoice, O virgin Mother; rejoice, O Bride of God! * O divine protection * and impregnable fortress and shield, rejoice! * O rejoice, the helper * and the defense and the salvation * of your servants who faithfully run to you!

Notation for your part

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

They who hate me have vainly * readied all their arrows and swords and have dug a pit. * And my wretched body * they are seeking to strike at and tear apart. * And they are attempting, * O purest Maiden, to reduce me * to the ground. So come quickly and rescue me.

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

Notation for your part

Out of every affliction, * illness and necessity and harm deliver me. * O all-lauded Maiden, * by your power preserve me uninjured from * enemies that hate me * and war against me. And from danger * keep me covered beneath your protective veil.

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

What can I now present you * as a worthy gift in token of my gratitude * for your boundless kindness * and the bounties that I have enjoyed from you? * Therefore am I praising * and glorifying and exalting * your ineffable sympathy unto me.

Ode vi. I pour out my supplication.

To the melody, “I pour out my supplication to the Lord.”

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

My mis’rable * soul and heart are covered up * by the clouds of pain and sorrow, O Damsel, * causing in me a condition of darkness. * But since you gave birth to Light unapproachable, * dispel them far away from me * with the breath of your holy petitioning.

Notation for your part

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

I recognize * you as solace in trouble, * and I know you as the healer of ailments, * and as the one who to death dealt destruction, * and as a river of life inexhaustible, * and as a quick and eager source * of assistance for those in calamities.

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

Notation for your part

I do not hide * the abyss of your mercy, * nor the wellspring of your infinite wonders, * nor yet the truly perpetual fountain * of the compassion, O Lady, you have for me. * But rather I confess to all * and announce and proclaim and enunciate.

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

The dizzying * cares of life surround me now * like the bees round a honeycomb, O Virgin; * and being seized of my heart, O pure Maiden, * they sorely sting it with darts of adversities. * Oh, how I wish to find in you * a defender and helper and rescuer!

Deliver us your humble servants from perils, O Theotokos, as for refuge, after God, we all flee to you, an impregnable fortress and protection.

Look graciously upon your servant, all-praiseworthy Theotokos, and upon my painful physical suffering, and remedy my anguish of spirit.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

PRIEST

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

Again we pray for the servants of God… (At this time the Priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is sung.)

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

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.

Kontakion. Mode 2.

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.

Notation for your part

Prokeimenon. Psalm 44 (45).

I will remember your name from generation to generation. (2)

Verse: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. For the King desired your beauty.

I will remember your name from generation to generation.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

PRIEST

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

PRIEST

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST

10:38 – 42; 11:27 – 28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

CHOIR

Father, Word and Spirit, the Trinity in Union, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.

Mode pl. 2. When the saints deposited.

Ὅλην ἀποθέμενοι.

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

O Lady, entrust me not * to any human protection, * but rather accept the prayer * of your humble supplicant, * O all-holy one. * Troubles encompass me. * No more can I endure * all the arrows demons shoot at me. * From every side am I * under fire, mis’rable that I am. * Shelter I do not possess, * and no consolation have I but you. * Patronage and hope of * the faithful, Sovereign Lady of the world, * O disregard not my litany. * Do that which is best for me.

Theotokia.

No one who runs to you for help comes back from you ever frustrated in his cause, O Virgin Theotokos. But he asks for the favor and receives the bestowal which is appropriate for his request.

You are a turning for the better for those in trouble and deliverance of the sick, O Virgin Theotokos. Save your people and your flock, since you are the peace of the embattled, tranquil calm of those in agitation, and the believers’ only patronage.

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.

Ode vii. Servants, descendants.

Παῖδες Ἑβραίων.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Mother of Light and Theotokos, * now illuminate me lying in the darkness * of the nighttime of sin, * O pure and stainless vessel * of light, that I may glorify * you with longing, O pure Maiden.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Shelter, assistance and protection, * and the cause of boasting be for me the sinner * who am destitute now * of every help, O Virgin. * The power of the helpless are you, * and the hope of the despairing.

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

Notation for your part

I have enjoyed so many favors; * hence with all my soul and reason I extol you. * With my heart and my lips * I glorify you, Lady. * How awesome are your charity * and your never ending wonders!

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

Graciously look upon your servant, * and attend to the affliction that besets me. * And redeem me from all * calamities, temptations * and perils and from injury, * in your infinite compassion.

Ode viii. O extol Him.

Τὸν ἐν ὄρει ἁγίῳ.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Overlook not your servant who is drowning * in the billowing waves * of everyday existence. * O noble Virgin, lend a helping hand to me * in your great compassion; * for I am exhausted by life’s unending evils.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Tribulations and crises and privations * and the trials of life * have found me, O pure Maiden. * On every side temptations have surrounded me. * Care for me and help me * and provide protection beneath your mighty shelter.

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

Notation for your part

I have found you a harbor in the tempest, * and rejoicing and happiness in sorrows, * a speedy help in sickness and infirmity, * also a protectress * in ordeals, and likewise a rescuer in perils.

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

O rejoice, fiery throne of the Master! * O rejoice, sacred manna-holding vessel! * O golden lampstand, unextinguished torch, rejoice! * Pride of pious virgins, * O rejoice, the glory and ornament of mothers!

Ode ix. The heavens were astounded.

Ἐξέστη ἐπὶ τούτῳ.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O pure one, unto whom else am I to flee? * Where am I now to run? Where shall I be saved? Where shall I go? * Where am I to find any other place * of refuge, other fervent aid, * or another helper in my distress? * My hope is in you only. * In you alone I glory. * And taking courage, I have fled to you.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Impossible it is to enumerate * your magnificent wonders, O Bride of God, and to acclaim * aptly the unfathomable abyss * of your stupendous miracles * that are done continually for all * who honor you with longing * and faithfully pay rev’rence * to you the true Birthgiver of our God.

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

Notation for your part

With grateful hymns I glorify and extol * your immeas’rable mercy, and I acknowledge unto all * the enormous power that you possess, * O Lady. And the benefits * which you have so lavishly poured on me * I magnify and herald * with heart and soul, O Virgin, * and with my mind and tongue forevermore.

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

Accept my poor and negligible appeal; * and my weeping and tears and my sighing too do not ignore. * But since you are good, come unto my aid, * fulfilling my petitions all. * You can do all things, as the Mother of * our God and Lord Almighty. * Just nod in the direction * of my lamentable humility.

Notation for your part

Megalynaria.

It is truly right to call you blessed, Theotokos, the ever-blessed and all-blameless one and the Mother of our God.

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

Offering this chanting of hymns to you, * we accord you honor as the Lady of all the world, * higher than the heavens and purer than the sunshine, * O Maiden who redeemed us * from the ancestral curse.

Notation for your part

Owing to the multitude of my sins, * ailing is my body and diseased also is my soul. * O help me, I pray you the hope of the despairing. * To you I come for refuge, * O Maiden full of grace.

From unworthy servants of yours accept * petitions requesting mediation on our behalf * with Him whom you brought forth, O Mother of the Savior. * Become our Mediatrix, * O Lady of the world.

Notation for your part

Unto you the Birthgiver of our God * praised by all, rejoicing now we eagerly chant this ode. * Together implore with the Forerunner and all Saints * that unto us compassion * be shown, O Mother of God.

Notation for your part

Speechless be the lips of impious men * who refuse to rev’rence your august Icon which is called * the Mother of God the Directress, and was painted * by the divine Apostle * Luke the Evangelist.

During the feast of the Transfiguration, the following Megalynarion for that feast may be inserted here.

Wishing to display power from on high * and the Father’s wisdom to Your three holy and divine * Disciples, O Christ, You ascended Mount Tabor, * and shining as the Master, * there You illumined them.

Then, the Megalynarion of the local church.

Then, the following:

Join the Theotokos, all you arrays * of angelic powers, honored Forerunner of the Lord, * holy Twelve Apostles * and all the Saints together, * and pray for our salvation, and intercede for us.

Notation for your part

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.

CHOIR

Amen.

Troparia. 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.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

PRIEST

Again we pray for the protection of the Holy and Great Church of Christ of Constantinople, our Sacred Archdiocese, (and this Holy Metropolis), this city and every city and land, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, civil strife, and accidental death. That our good and benevolent God may be merciful, gracious, and forgiving, and may divert and disperse all anger and disease coming against us, and deliver us from His impending justified threat and have mercy on us.

Again we pray that the Lord our God may hear the prayer of us sinners, and have mercy on us.

Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of earth and of those far off at sea, and forgive us, O Master, forgive us our sins, and have mercy on us. 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.

DEACON

Wisdom.

READER

Master bless.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Amen.

READER

The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy and Great Church of Christ of Constantinople, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Holy Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

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 of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

CHOIR

Exaposteilaria. Mode 3.

Apostles, you have assembled * from every corner of the earth * here in Gethsemane today; * now come and bury my body. * And You, my Son and my God, * receive my departing spirit.

O sweetness of the Angels, * O joy of those in affliction, * and the protectress of Christians, * O Virgin Mother of the Lord, * come to my aid and redeem me * from the eternal torments.

I have you as mediatrix * before the God who loves mankind. * May He not censure my actions * in the sight of the Angels. * I entreat you, O Virgin, * come quickly to my assistance.

O Tower fashioned of pure gold, * and City which has a twelvefold wall, * O Throne aglitter with sunshine, * magnificent Chair of the King, * incomprehensible wonder, * how did you nurse the Master?

PRIEST

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

CHOIR: Amen.