The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Purple Robes, Silver Censor, Fr’s Candle in base.
Having observed all the foregoing preparations, the priest and deacon begin thus:
Deacon: Bless, master.
The priest makes the sign of the Cross with the Gospel over the antimension and says:
Open royal doors, lights on.
Priest: BLESSED IS THE KINGDOM of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Close Royal doors, lights off.
Reader: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who are everywhere and fill all things. Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! (3)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Spirit, Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy Spirit, Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. They 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 trespasses against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Come, let us worship God, our King.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
The priest goes out by the north door to stand with head uncovered, he quietly reads the prayers of light beginning with the fourth prayer, as the first three will be said at the three litanies.
Psalm 104
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great!
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
who covers Yourself with light as with a garment,
who stretched out the heavens like a tent,
who laid the beams of Your chambers on the waters,
who makes the clouds Your chariot,
who rides on the wings of the wind,
who makes the winds Your messengers,
fire and flame Your ministers.
You set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be shaken,
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
At Your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of Your thunder they took to flight.
The mountains rose,
the valleys sank down to the place which You appointed for them.
You set a bound which they should not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
By them the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
From Your lofty abode You water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your work.
You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth,
and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon which He planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has her home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the badgers.
You made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises they get away,
and lie down in their dens.
Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
the earth is full of Your creatures.
Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with things innumerable,
living things both small and great.
There go the ships, and Leviathan which You formed to sport in it.
These all look to You, to give them their food in due season.
When You give to them, they gather it up;
when You open Your hand, they are filled with good things.
When You hide Your face, they are dismayed;
when You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When You send forth Your Spirit,
they are created;
and You renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever,
may the Lord rejoice in His works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke!
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to Him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Fourth Prayer
Quietly
Priest: O Thou who, with never-silent hymns and never-ceasing songs of glory, art hymned by the holy powers: Fill our mouths with thy praise, that we may magnify thy holy name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all those who fear thee in truth and keep thy commandments, through the intercessions of the holy theotokos and of all thy saints. For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Fifth Prayer
Quietly
Priest: O Lord, O Lord, who upholdest all things in the undefiled hollow of thy hand, who showest long-suffering upon us all and repentest thee at our wickedness: Remember thy compassions and thy mercy. Visit us with goodness; grant that, through the remainder of the present day, by thy grace, we may avoid the diverse subtle snares of the evil one; and preserve our lives unassailed, through the grace of thine all-holy Spirit. Through the mercy and love toward mankind of thine Only-begotten Son with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Sixth Prayer
Quietly
Priest: O God, great and wonderful, who with ineffable loving-kindness and great riches of providence orderest all things and bestowest upon us earthly good things, who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through the good things already bestowed upon us, and hast made us to shun all evil during that part of the day which is past: Grant that we may also fulfill the remainder of this day without reproach before thy holy glory, and hymn thee, the only Good One, our God, who lovest mankind. For thou art our God and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Seventh Prayer
Quietly
O Great and most high God, who alone hast immortality and dwellest in light unapproachable; who hast made all creation in wisdom; who hast divided the light from the darkness and hast appointed the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars also to govern the night; and who hast vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour also to come before thy presence with confession and to offer unto thee our evening hymn of glory: Do thou thyself, O Lord who lovest mankind, direct our prayer as incense before thee and accept it as a savor of sweet-smelling fragrance; and grant that we may pass the present evening and the coming night in peace. Endue us with the armor of light. Deliver us from the terror of the night and from everything that walks in darkness, and grant that the sleep which thou hast appointed for the repose of our in5rmity may be free from every imagination of the devil. Yea, O Master of all, Bestower of good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, call to remembrance thy name in the night, that, enlightened by meditating on thy commandments, we may rise up in joyfulness of soul to glorify thy goodness, offering up to thy tender love prayers and supplications for our sins and for those of all thy people, whom do thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos. For thou art a good God and lovest mankind, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
As the psalm concludes, at Alleluia… the priest and deacon bow to each other, and the
Deacon, standing before the holy doors, raises his orarion in his right hand and says:
The Great Litany
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: 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.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our Metropolitan N., for our Bishop [or Archbishop] N., for the honorable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this country, its President, for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this city,’ for every city and countryside, and for the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For seasonable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For travelers by land, by sea, and by air; for the sick and the suffering; for captives and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To You, O Lord.
Priest in
And the priest:
Prayer of the First Antiphon
Priest: O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, give ear to our prayer and attend to the voice of our supplication. Work upon us a sign for good. Lead us in thy way, that we may walk in thy truth. Make glad our hearts, that we may fear thy holy name. For thou art great and doest wonders. 9ou alone art God, and among all the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, mighty in mercy, gracious in strength, to aid and to comfort and to save all those who put their trust in thy holy name.
Exclamation: For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The reader then reads the first antiphon of the appointed kathisma from the Psalter.
Meanwhile, the priest and deacon, with heads uncovered, make two prostrations before the presanctified Gifts in the artophorion on the holy table. With the Gospel stood upright behind the antimension, the priest unfolds the antimension and places the paten on it. The deacon assists the priest with the artophorion. With the spoon in his right hand and the spear in his left, the priest takes the presanctified Lamb from the artophorion and places it with great reverence on the paten, saying nothing. Then he and the deacon make a third prostration before the holy table.
The First Antiphon (Psalms 120-124)
Reader: In my distress I cry to the Lord
that He may answer me.
Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips
from a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given to you
and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue.
A warrior’s sharp arrows
with glowing coals of the broom tree.
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar.
Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
I lift up my eyes to the hills
from where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved,
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper,
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil,
He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
l was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord,
our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up.
The tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls and security within your towers.
For my brethren and companions’ sake
I will say, peace be within you.
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek Your good.
To You, I lift up my eyes,
O, You who are enthroned in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress.
So our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Too long our soul has been sated with the scorn of those who are at ease,
the contempt of the proud.
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, let Israel now say
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us;
then they would have swallowed us alive,
when their anger was kindled against us.
Then the flood would have swept us away;
the torrent would have gone over us, the raging waters.
Blessed be the Lord
who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. {3x}
As the antiphon concludes, the Deacon bows at the high place and goes out by the north door to stand before the holy doors, bows, and says:
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest:
Prayer of the Second Antiphon:
O Lord, rebuke us not in thine anger, neither chasten us in thy wrath, but deal with us according to thy mercy, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us to the haven of thy will, enlighten the eyes of our hearts to the knowledge of thy truth, and vouchsafe that the remainder of this day and our whole life may be peaceful and without sin, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints.
Exclamation: For thine is the might, and thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The reader then begins the second antiphon of the appointed kathisma from the Psalter.
Meanwhile, the priest and deacon make two prostrations before the holy table. The priest takes the censer, and the deacon, with his candle, goes to stand behind the holy table, across from the priest. Together they go around the holy table three times, censing the presanctified Gifts. After the censing, both make a third prostration before the holy table.
Prepare Censor
The Second Antiphon (Psalms 125—129)
Reader: Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved but abides forever.
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem,
so the Lord is round about His people from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
upon the land allotted to the righteous.
Lest the righteous put forth their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts.
But those who turn aside their crooked ways,
the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be in Israel!
When the Lord brought back those who returned to Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them;
the Lord has done great things for us, we are glad.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy,
he that goes forth weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil, so He gives to His beloved sleep.
Lo, sons are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks to his enemies in the gate.
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in His ways.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be happy and it shall be well with you.
your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you from Zion,
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
May you see your children’s children,
peace be upon Israel.
Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth,
let Israel now say,
sorely have they afflicted me from youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back;
they made long their furrows.
The Lord is righteous,
He has cut the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion,
be put to shame and turned backward.
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up,
with which the reaper does not fill his hand,
or the binder of sheaves his bosom.
While those who pass by do not say:
the blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. {3x}
As the antiphon concludes, the Deacon, standing again before the holy doors, bows, and says:
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest:
Prayer of the Third Antiphon
Priest: O Lord, our God, remember us sinners and thine unprofitable servants when we call upon thy holy name, and put us not to shame in our expectation of thy mercy, but grant us, O Lord, all our petitions which are unto salvation, and vouchsafe that we may love and fear thee with all our hearts and do thy will in all things.
Exclamation: For thou art a good God and lovest mankind, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The reader then reads the third antiphon of the appointed kathisma from the Psalter.
During the reading, the presanctified Lamb is borne to the table of oblation in this way: the priest and deacon again make two prostrations before the holy table.’ Then the priest, with all heed, takes up the paten with both hands and, raising it to the height of his brow, carries it to the table of oblation, passing by way of the high place. The deacon goes before and, with censer in his right hand and candle in his left, walks backwards, censing the holy Gifts. The priest places the paten on the table of oblation, to the le6 of the chalice. He pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying nothing. He censes the star, the veils, and the aer, covering the paten and the chalice as usual, but saying only Let us pray to the Lord for each. In some places, the curtain is drawn closed during the third Antiphon.
Prepare Censor and Priest’s Candle. During the third antiphon, the deacon (or subdeacon) will lead the priest with censor and candle to the table of oblation.
Third Antiphon (Psalms 130-134)
Reader: Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications.
If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
that You may be feared.
I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits, and in His word I hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchman for the morning,
more than the watchman for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord there is mercy.
And with Him is plenteous redemption,
And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high.
I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul
like a child quieted at its mother’s breast.
O Israel, hope in the Lord,
from this time forth and forevermore.
Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor,
all the hardships he endured.
How he swore to the Lord,
and vowed to the mighty one of Jacob;
I will not enter my house or get into my bed;
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.
Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah,
we found it in the fields of Ja-ar.
Let us go to His dwelling place,
let us worship at His footstool.
Arise, O Lord, and go to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your might.
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let Your saints shout for joy.
For Your servant David’s sake
do not turn away the face of Your anointed one.
The Lord swore to David a sure oath
from which He will not turn back.
One of the sons of your body
I will set on your throne.
If your sons keep my covenant
and my testimonies which I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
shall sit upon your throne.
For the Lord has chosen Zion,
He has desired it for His habitation
This is my resting place forever,
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provisions,
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
and her saints will shout for joy.
There I will make a horn to sprout for David.
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will Clothe with shame,
but upon himself his crown will shed its luster.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity.
It is like the precious oil upon the head
running down upon the beard,
the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life for evermore!
Come, bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
He who made heaven and earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You,O God. {3 x}
After concluding these actions, he does not say the Prayer of the Offering (for the offering is already complete), but only: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
The deacon places a candle before the holy Gifts, and the priest censes them. Both priest and deacon make a third prostration. The priest returns to the holy table, folds the antimension, and lays the Gospel down over it.
Meanwhile, the Deacon leaves the altar in the usual manner, goes before the holy doors, and says:
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Prepare Censer
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest:
Priest: For Thou art our God, a merciful and saving God, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The deacon returns to the altar and makes the usual bows. The singers begin Lord, I call upon thee… in the tone of the first sticheron appointed in the Triodion.
The deacon takes the censer from the server and raises it for the priest to bless. Then he performs the great censing while the appointed stichera are sung.
Psalm 141
People: Lord, I call upon You, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I call upon You, hear me. Receive the voice of my prayer when I call upon You. Hear me, O Lord. Let my prayer arise in Your sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.
Reader: Set a guard O Lord, before my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips! Turn not my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity; and let me not join their chosen ones! Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness, but let the oil of the wicked never anoint my head; for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that the word of the Lord is true. As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward You, O Lord God; in You I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers! Let the wicked together fall into their own nets, while I escape. I cry with my voice to the Lord, with my voice I make supplication to the Lord, I pour out my complaint before Him, I tell my trouble before Him. When my spirit is faint, You know my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. I look to the right and watch, but there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains for me, no man cares for my soul. I cry to You, O Lord; I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me!
{See handout for verses}
(10) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name.
(9) The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.
(8) Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.
(7) Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
(6) If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You.
(5) For Your name’s sake I have waited for You, O Lord, my soul has waited for Your word; my soul has hoped on the Lord.
(4) From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope on the Lord.
(3) For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plenteous redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
Prepare Candles and censor.
(2) Praise the Lord, all nations. Praise Him, all peoples.
(1) For His mercy is confirmed on us, and the the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Subdeacons open royal doors, censor to deacon/priest, proceed to high place and lead priest out.
At the concluding sticheron (at Now and ever…) the holy doors are opened. The priest and deacon bow twice before the holy table, kiss the Gospel and the holy table respectively, and bow a third time. The deacon again takes up the censer’ and leads the priest out of the altar by way of the high place and the north door. As they approach the holy doors, they pray quietly:
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Priest: In the evening and in the morning and at noonday we praise thee, we bless thee, we give thanks to thee, and we pray unto thee, O Master of all, Lord who lovest mankind: Direct thou our prayer as incense before thee, and incline not our hearts unto words or thoughts of evil, but deliver us from all who seek after our souls. For unto thee, Lord, O Lord, lift we up our eyes, and in thee have we hoped. Put us not to shame, O our God. For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The deacon then stands facing north, and, taking the censer in his left hand, he points with his orarion towards the holy place and says:
Deacon: Bless, master, the holy entrance.
The priest blesses the entrance, saying:
Priest: Blessed is the entrance of thy saints, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The deacon again censes the priest and, turning east, stands at the entrance and waits. When the sticheron is finished, he makes the sign of the Cross with the censer and exclaims:
Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright!
The singers sing Gladsome Light, and the deacon enters the altar by the holy doors and censes the four sides of the holy table. He gives up the censer, kisses the holy table, and goes to the high place with the priest.
The priest, meanwhile, kisses the icon of the Lord, turns and blesses the servers…
Servers renenter, go to high place and put away candles.
…and kisses the icon of the Mother of God. He enters the altar, kisses the holy table, and goes to the high place. The deacon stands toward the north and the priest toward the south. They bow to the high place and to each other. And when the hymn is completed:
Deacon: Let us attend.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: Thge prokimen in the _______ Tone.
The reader and singers sing the first prokimenon from the Triodion in the usual manner.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: The reading from Genesis [or Exodus].
Deacon: Let us attend.
Subdeacons, close royal doors. Prepare censor and Candle.
The deacon closes the holy doors as the reader begins the first lesson from the Triodion. When the reading is concluded, the holy doors are opened.
Subdeacons open royal doors
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: The prokimenon in the _______ Tone.
The reader and singers sing the second prokimenon from the Triodion in the usual manner. At its conclusion, the deacon turns to the priest and exclaims:
Deacon: Command.
The priest takes the candlestick with its candle and the censer in both hands and, facing east toward the holy table, makes the sign of the Cross while saying in a loud voice:
Priest: Wisdom. Let us attend.
The people prostrate themselves, and the priest turns west toward the people and exclaims:
Servers prostrate.
Priest: The Light of Christ illumines all!
Retrieve candle and censor from priest.
The priest turns back to the holy table and gives away the candle and censer. The reader immediately says:
Reader: The reading from Proverbs [or Job].
Priest: Let us attend.
Close royal doors
The deacon closes the holy doors as the reader begins the second lesson from the Triodion.
If there are three Old Testament lessons appointed in the Menaion for the eve of a polyeleos- rank feast, they are read here.
At the completion of the readings the priest says:
Priest: Peace be to thee [that readest].
Open Royal Doors
Censor with LOTS of incense
The deacon opens the holy doors and exclaims:
Deacon: Wisdom.
Servers Prostrate
The priest takes the censer and stands swinging it in front of the holy table. The singers chant these verses from Psalm 140 in a solemn manner, while all except the priest and the singers prostrate themselves.
Psalm 140
Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
Refrain: Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
Lord, I have cried to thee, hear me; hear the voice of my prayer when I cry to thee. Hear me, O Lord.
Refrain: Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips.
Refrain: Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
During the next verse, the priest and deacon go to stand before the table of oblation, where the priest censes the holy Gifts continuously.
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, nor to practice wicked deeds.
Refrain: Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
The priest gives the censer to the deacon, who censes the holy Gifts during the final verse. Meanwhile, the priest returns to the holy table and there prostrates himself.
Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense:
and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
The Psalm finished, the priest standing before the holy table, makes three prostrations, saying:
Prayer of St. Ephraim
O Lord, and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (prostration)
But give rather a spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. (prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother: for blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)
Close Holy Doors
The holy doors are now closed and the deacon, standing before them, says:
The Augmented Litany
Deacon: Let us all say, with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: O Lord almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
The priest unfolds the lower part of the antimension; the upper portion is left folded.
Deacon: Again we pray for our Metropolitan N., for our Bishop [or Archbishop] N., for priests, deacons, and all other clergy, and for all our brethren in Christ.
People: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Meanwhile, the Priest:
Priest: O Lord, our God, accept this fervent supplication of thy servants, and have mercy on us according to the multitude of thy mercy. Send down thy bounties upon us and upon all thy people, who await the rich mercy that comes from thee.
Deacon: Again we pray for this country, its President (or the title of the highest civil authority), for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces.
People: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Deacon: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable holy Orthodox Patriarchs; and for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church (or holy monastery); [for NN.,] and for all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox departed this life before us, who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Deacon: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God, [NN., and for] the brethren of this holy temple, and for the pardon and remission of their sins.
People: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Deacon: Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all venerable temple; for those who labor and those who sing; and for all the people here present, who await thy great and rich mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
And the Priest:
Exclamation: For thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The Deacon continues:
The Litany for the Catechumens
Deacon: Pray to the Lord, ye catechumens.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Let us the faithful pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may teach them the word of truth.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may reveal to them the gospel of righteousness.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may unite them to his Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord, ye catechumens.
People: To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest:
O God, our God, the Creator and Maker of all things, who willest that all men should be saved and should come to the knowledge of the truth: Look upon thy servants the catechumens, and deliver them from the ancient delusion and from the wiles of the adversary. Call them unto life eternal, enlightening their souls and bodies and numbering them with thy rational Flock, which is called by thy holy name.
Exclamation: That with us they also may glorify thine all-honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
The priest completely unfolds the antimension.
Beginning on Wednesday in the fourth week of Lent:
Deacon: As many as are preparing for illumination, draw near. Pray, ye who are preparing for illumination.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Ye faithful, for the brethren who are preparing for holy illumination and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the Lord our God may establish and strengthen them.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may enlighten them with the light of knowledge and godliness.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may grant them in due time the laver of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins, and the robe of incorruption.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may beget them anew by water and the Spirit.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may bestow upon them the perfection of the faith.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That he may number them with his holy and elect Fock.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: As many as are preparing for illumination, bow your heads unto the Lord.
People: To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest:
Reveal, O Master, thy countenance to those who are preparing for holy illumination and who long to put away the pollution of sin. Enlighten their understanding, establish them in the faith, strengthen them in hope, perfect them in love. Show them to be honorable members of thy Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for our souls.
Exclamation: For thou art our Illumination, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Deacon: Let us, the faithful, again and again in peace pray unto the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Meanwhile, the Priest:
O God, great and praiseworthy, who by the life-giving death of thy Christ hast translated us from corruption to incorruption: Do thou free all our senses from deadly passions, by setting over them as a good guide the understanding that is within us. And let our eyes abstain from every evil sight, our hearing be inaccessible to idle words, and our tongues be purged of unseemly speech. Make clean our lips which praise thee, O Lord. Make our hands to refrain from base deeds and to work only that which is well-pleasing to thee, fortifying all our members and our mind by thy grace.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Priest: For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
If the priest serves without a deacon, these petitions are not said:
Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: 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.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all affiction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Meanwhile, the priest:
O Master, holy and exceeding good, we implore thee, who art rich in mercy: Be gracious to us sinners, and make us worthy of the reception of thine Only- begotten Son and our God, the King of glory. For behold, his immaculate Body and life-giving Blood, entering at this present hour, are about to be set forth upon this mystical table, invisibly escorted by multitudes of heavenly hosts. Grant us to partake of them without condemnation, that, through them the eye of our mind may be illumined, and we may become children of the light and of the day.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Prepare Censor
Deacon: Wisdom.
Light Candles
Priest: Through the gift of thy Christ, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Open Royal Doors. Censor to priest.
The Great Entrance
The holy doors are opened. The deacon returns to the sanctuary. As the singers begin Now the powers of heaven… the deacon takes the censer and, after receiving the priest’s blessing, censes the holy table, the table of oblation, the sanctuary, and the priest.
When the deacon Fnishes his censing, he stands to the right of the priest before the holy table and both recite the hymn of the entrance three times, the priest raising his hands and the deacon his orarion, and both bowing at the end of each recitation:
Censor from priest, subdeacon proceeds to area outside table of oblation. Servers to high place.
Priest: Now the powers of heaven invisibly with us do serve. Lo, the King of Glory enters. Lo, the mystical sacrifice is upborne, fulfilled.
Deacon: Let us draw near in faith and love, and become communicants of life eternal. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
They kiss the holy table and then go to the table of oblation, where they make three prostrations before the holy Gifts, saying each time: O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.
The priest censes the holy Gifts three times and then gives the censer to the deacon. He puts the aer on the deacon’s left shoulder and then takes the paten with the holy Lamb in his right hand and the chalice in his left hand. Holding the paten at the height of his brow and the chalice breast-high, he leaves the altar through the north door, preceded by the servers carrying candles and the deacon who walks backwards and censes the Gifts. The entrance is made in silence, all prostrate in prayer.
The priest, preceded by the deacon, enters the sanctuary through the holy doors and places the holy Gifts on the holy table. The deacon stands at his right. As they enter the sanctuary, the singers complete the hymn of entrance: Let us draw near….
The servers go out north door and to the tetrapod. The subdeacon leads the priest out censing, stays on the ambo moving to the south door. The priest enters the royal doors, the subdeacon the south door and goes to side of alter to give the censor to the priest.
The priest takes the veils off the paten and chalice and places them at the corners of the holy table. He takes the aer from the deacon’s shoulder and, having censed it, he lays it over the paten and the chalice, saying nothing. He takes the censer from the deacon and censes the holy Gifts three times, saying nothing. The deacon receives a blessing from the priest.
Then, standing before the holy table, the priest makes three prostrations, saying:
Prayer of St. Ephraim
O Lord, and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (Prostration)
But give rather a spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. (Prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother: for blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration)
Close Holy Doors
The holy doors and curtain are closed.
The Deacon, having gone out through the north door to stand before the holy doors, says:
The Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the precious Gifts now offered and presanctified, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That our God, who loves mankind, having received them upon his holy and noetic altar above the heavens as a sweet spiritual fragrance, will send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Meanwhile, the priest:
Priest: O God, of unutterable and unseen mysteries, with whom are the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who hast revealed the service of this liturgy to us, who hast set us sinners, through thy great love toward mankind, to offer to thee Gifts and sacrifices for our own sins and for the ignorance of the people: Do thou thyself, O invisible King, who doest things great and inscrutable, glorious and marvelous, which cannot be numbered, look upon us thine unworthy servants, who stand at this holy altar as at thy cherubic throne, upon which resteth thine Only-begotten Son and our God, in the dread Mysteries that are set forth; and having freed us and thy faithful people from all uncleanness, sanctify all our souls and bodies with the sanctification which cannot be taken away; that unashamed, with heart illumined, of these divine, sanctified things, and by them being given life, we may be united unto thy Christ himself, our true God, who has said: ‘Whoso eats my Flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him;’ that by thy Word, O Lord, dwelling within us and sojourning among us, we may become the temple of thine all-holy and adorable Spirit, redeemed from every diabolical wile, wrought either by deed or word or thought, and may obtain the good things promised to us with all thy saints, who in all ages have been well-pleasing unto thee.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: All things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, and peaceful, and a good defense before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us ask.
People: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: And make us worthy, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call on thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
Kneel
All: 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 the evil one.
Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
People: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
People: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: O God, who alone art good and tender-hearted, who dwellest on high and regardest things below: Look with thy tender- hearted eye upon all thy people, and keep them. Make us all worthy, without condemnation, to partake of these, thy life-giving Mysteries, for unto thee have we bowed our heads, awaiting from thee thy rich mercy.
Through the grace and compassion and love toward mankind of thine Only-begotten Son with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People; Amen.
Priest: Attend, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, out of thy holy dwelling place, from the throne of the glory of thy kingdom, and come to sanctify us, O thou who sittest on high with the Father and art here invisibly present with us, and by thy mighty hand deign to impart unto us thy most pure Body and precious Blood, and through us to all the people.
While this is said, the deacon, standing before the holy doors, crosses his orarion over his shoulders. The priest, along with the deacon at his place, makes three bows before the holy table, saying each time: O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.
Subdeacon with hot water to the alter.
The divine Gifts being covered, the priest puts his hand under the aer and touches the life giving Bread with great reverence and fear.
Deacon: Let us attend.
Priest: The presanctified Holy things are for the holy.
People: One is holy, one is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Holy Communion
The communion hymn, O taste and see… is sung. If an Epistle and Gospel were read for a feast, then the corresponding communion hymn is also sung.
The priest lays aside the aer. The deacon returns to the sanctuary through the south door and, standing on the right side of the priest, says:
Deacon: Break, master, the holy bread.
The priest breaks the holy bread into four parts, with heed and reverence, saying:
Priest: Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God: broken, yet not divided; ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifying those who partake thereof.
The priest arranges the parts of the holy Lamb on the holy paten in the form of a cross. The portion IC is placed at the upper side of the paten, toward the east, XC at the bottom, toward the west, NI on the north side and KA on the south side. The portion IC is to be placed in the chalice. The portion XC is for the communion of the celebrants, to be divided among the priests and deacons. The other two portions, NI and KA, are divided into smaller particles, as many as may be needed for the communion of the faithful.
Deacon: Fill, master, the holy cup.
As the priest places the portion IC into the chalice, he makes the sign of the Cross with it over the chalice, saying:
Priest: The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen. Bless, master, the warm water.
The priest blesses the warm water, saying:
Priest: Blessed is the warmth of thy holy things always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The deacon pours a sufficient quantity of water into the chalice cross-wise, saying:
Deacon: The warmth of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The priest breaks the portion XC into a number of pieces corresponding to the number of clergy who are to commune.
Priest: Deacon, draw near.
Deacon: Lo, I draw near unto Christ, our immortal king and God.
The deacon approaches and bows, asking forgiveness; he then kisses the holy table and says:
Deacon: Give unto me, master, the precious and holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.
The priest gives the deacon a portion of the holy bread, saying:
Priest: To the deacon N. is given the precious, holy, and most pure Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of his sins and unto life everlasting.
The deacon kisses the priest’s hand as he receives the holy bread, and goes behind the holy table and prays with bowed head: I believe, O Lord…
As the priest takes a portion of the holy bread for himself, he says:
Priest: The precious and most holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is given unto me, the unworthy priest N., for the remission of my sins and unto life everlasting.
And he prays:
All: O Lord, and I confess that thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who camest into the world to save sinners, of whom I am first. I believe also that this is truly thine own most pure Body, and that this is truly thine own precious Blood. Therefore, I pray thee: Have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, committed in knowledge or in ignorance. And make me worthy to partake without condemnation of thy most pure Mysteries, for the remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen. Of thy mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant, for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither like Judas will I give thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom. May the communion of thy holy Mysteries be neither to my judgment nor to my condemnation, O Lord, but to the healing of soul and body.
Then they partake of what they hold in their hands with all fear and great care.
The priest rises and takes the holy chalice in both hands with the cloth, and drinks from it three times, saying:
Priest: The precious and holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is given unto me, the unworthy priest N., for the remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.
The priest wipes the chalice and his lips with the cloth and says:
Priest: Lo, this has touched my lips and shall take away my iniquities and cleanse my sins.
The priest then summons the deacon:
Priest: Deacon, draw near.
The deacon approaches and bows, saying:
Deacon: Lo, I draw near unto our immortal King and God. Give unto me, master, the precious and holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.
The priest holds the chalice and says:
Deacon: The servant of God, Deacon N., partakes of the precious and holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of his sins, and unto life everlasting.
When the deacon has partaken, the priest says:
Priest: Lo, this has touched thy lips, and shall take away thine iniquities, and cleanse thy sins.
The priest divides the portions NI and KA of the Lamb, and the deacon puts them into the chalice. He lays a folded cloth and the spoon on top of the chalice and opens the curtain and holy doors. The priest gives the chalice to the deacon who goes through the holy doors and says:
Servers out
Open Royal Doors
Priest: In the fear of God, with faith and love, draw near.
Choir: I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall always be on my lips.
Those who will receive the divine Mysteries then approach. They come one by one with all contrition and fear, holding their hands folded on their breast. The priest says to each communicant:
Priest: The servant (or handmaid) of God N. partakes of the precious and holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and unto life everlasting.
During the communion of the people, the choir sings: O taste and see that the Lord is good. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The deacon holds the cloth and wipes the lips of each communicant. After all have been communicated, the priest returns to the sanctuary and places the chalice on the holy table.
The priest then blesses the people saying:
Priest: O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.
Choir: Taste the heavenly Bread and the Cup of life, and see how good the Lord is. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Censor to Priest at the alter.
The priest covers the chalice with one veil, and places the other vessels and veils on the paten as usual. He censes the Gifts and then gives the censer and the paten to the deacon, who carries it with reverence to the table of oblation.
Take Censor to the table of oblation.
The priest takes the chalice in his right hand and says in a low voice Blessed is our God. Then he turns to the people and, lifting the chalice, says aloud:
Priest: Always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
The priest carries the chalice to the table of oblation and then censes it three times.
People: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of thy glory; for thou hast made us worthy to partake of thy holy, divine, immortal, and life-creating Mysteries. Keep us in thy holiness, that all the day we may meditate upon thy righteousness. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Thanksgiving and Dismissal
The priest returns to the holy table and folds up the antimension. The deacon, having unbound his orarion, goes out to stand before the holy doors and says:
The Litany of Thanksgiving
Deacon: Stand upright! Having partaken of the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, life-giving, and dread Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Asking that the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To thee, O Lord.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O God, the Savior of all, for all the good things which thou hast vouchsafed unto us, and for the Communion of the holy Body and Blood of thy Christ. And we beseech thee, O Master who lovest mankind, to keep us under the shelter of thy wings. And grant that, even to our last breath, we may worthily partake of thy holy things, unto the illumination of soul and body, and unto the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.
The priest, having folded up the antimension, makes the sign of the Cross over it with the holy Gospel as he says:
Priest: For thou art our sanctification, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Priest. Amen.
Priest: Let us depart in peace.
People: In the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
The priest walks out the holy doors to stand on the Floor of the nave, at the foot of the ambo, where he says this prayer aloud:
Priest: O Master, who in wisdom hast fashioned all creation; who, through thine ineffable providence and great goodness, hast led us to these all-revered days for purification of souls and bodies, for restraint of passions, and for hope of the resurrection; who, during the forty days, didst put into the hands of thy servitor Moses the tablets in letters divinely inscribed: Grant unto us also, O Good One, to fight the good fight, to complete the course of the fast, to preserve the faith intact, to crush the heads of invisible serpents, to be shown to be conquerors of sin, and, without condemnation, also to attain unto and to worship the holy Resurrection. For blessed and glorified is thine all-honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Choir: Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and for evermore. (thrice)
And Psalm 33: I will bless the Lord at all times….
The priest enters the sanctuary through the holy doors and, making the sign of the Cross over the deacon’s head, says the following prayer:
Priest: O Lord our God, who hast led us to these all-revered days and hast made us communicants of thy dread Mysteries: Unite us to thy rational Flock, and show us to be heirs of thy kingdom, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
On Holy Wednesday, after Blessed be the name of the Lord… and I will bless the Lord…, the priest says the Prayer of St. Ephraim for the last time:
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (prostration)
But give rather a spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. (prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother: for blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)
The priest blesses the people, saying:
Priest: The blessing of the Lord be upon you through his grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to thee.
People: Glory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Father, bless.
The priest turns to the people and says:
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of our father among the saints, Gregory the Dialogist, the Pope of Rome; of N. (of the temple); of N. (of the day) whose memory we keep this day; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for he is good and loves mankind.
The polychronion is sung, and the people come forward to receive the antidoron bread.
Meanwhile, the Prayers of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion may be read aloud for all to hear, or the priest reads them for himself upon returning to the altar.
At their conclusion: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart… Holy God… O most holy Trinity… Our Father… the appropriate troparia, and the priest gives the dismissal:
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for he is good and loves mankind.
People: Amen.
The deacon consumes the holy Gifts at the table of oblation in the usual manner, with all reverence and care. As he concludes, he says, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart… and the rest, as the priest did before.
The end of the Divine Liturgy of the PresanctifiedGifts.