A Priest's Prayer Book

Compiled and edited by DAVID F. ABRAMTSOV 1971 ST. GERMAN’S CHAPEL PRESS Thompson Ridge, NY 10985 Revised 2006 Priest Daniel Swires

Preface

The chief aim of this manual is to provide a convenient collection of some of the prayers most needed by priests in emergencies, and in making sick calls. To make the book more useful, some prayers and blessings of "sacramentals" have been included.

The prayers in these pages have been selected from the Euchologia of the Greek, Serbian, and Russian Churches, and several of them appear in English for the first time.

The compiler is indebted to the Reverend Fathers Anastasius Bandy, Feodor Kovalchuk, and Peter Krochta for furnishing the texts of several of the prayers and assisting in the translation, and to Mr. Christopher Kothe for his general help. Special thanks are due The Very Reverend Stephen H. R. Upston, Ph.D., for reading the manuscript and for offering many valuable suggestions and criticisms. D.F.A.

The Usual Beginning

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

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

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

O most-holy Trinity, have mercy on us!
O Lord, cleanse us from our sins!
O Master, pardon our transgressions!
O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name’s sake!

Lord, have mercy (3x).

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 are in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your 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 Yours are 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. Amen.

PRAYER FOR A WOMAN IN HARD LABOR AT CHILDBIRTH

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD God Almighty, the Creator of all things and the Giver of knowledge to mankind: who did fashion the body of man from the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and granted him Your blessing, that he might increase and multiply by means of the birth of children: We ask You now, who love mankind, to bless this Your handmaiden, [NAME], who is with child, granting her help and comfort at this trying time; ease her labor, and bring her to safe delivery. Yea, O Lord, open the treasury of Your mercies, and Your compassion unto her, and let her give birth to a fruitful vine, to be a cause of joy to her all the days of her life: For blessed are You, and Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR A WOMAN ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER CHILDBIRTH

(The usual beginning)

Theotokion

Tone 5

Hail, O impassable Gate of the Lord! Hail, O Wall and Protection of those who flee unto you! Hail, untroubled Haven and Unwedded One who gave birth in the flesh to your Maker and God; do not cease your intercessions for those who praise and worship Him of your Nativity.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Master, Lord Almighty, Who heals every sickness and every weakness: So now, heal this Your handmaiden, [NAME], who has given birth, and raise her from the bed on which she lies. For, according to the words of the Prophet David, in sins were we conceived, and all are defiled before You. Preserve her and this child which she has borne. Cover her with the shelter of Your wings from this day until her last, through the intercessions of the Most-holy Theotokos and of all the Saints, for blessed are You unto ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Master, Lord our God, Who were born of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; Who, as an infant, were laid in a manger, and, as a Child, were held up to be seen: Sonow, have mercy on this, Your handmaiden, who has given birth to this child. Forgive all her transgression, both voluntary and involuntary, and protect her from every oppression of the devil. Preserve the child she has borne from every spell, from every cruel thing, from every storm of adversity, from evil spirits, whether of the day or of the night. Keep this woman under Your mighty hand and grant her a speedy recovery. Cleanse her of every sin, and heal her sufferings. Grant her health and strength of soul and body, and encompass her with bright and radiant angels; and preserve her from every approach of invisible spirits. Yea, O Lord, preserve her from sickness and infirmity, from jealousy and envy, and from the evil eye. Have mercy on her and the newborn child, according to Your great mercy. Cleanse her bodily afflictions. By Your quick mercy lead her to recovery in her body. Grant that the infant which has been born of her may worship in the earthly Temple which You have prepared for the glorification of Your Holy Name. For to You 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.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, our God, Who were well-pleased to come down from the heavens, and to be born of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, for the salvation of us sinners, Who knows the frailty of human nature: According to the multitude of Your compassions, forgive the sins of Your handmaiden, [NAME], who has borne a child. For You have said, O Lord, “Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth and have dominion over it.” Therefore, we, Your servants, beseech You, and trusting in Your ever-patient love for mankind, with fear do we cry out to the Kingdom of Your holy Name: Look down from heaven and behold the feebleness of us who are condemned, and be gracious to Your handmaiden, [NAME], and to all the household into which this child has been born, and to all who have touched her, and to all here present, granting forgiveness since You are a Good God and the Lover of Mankind; for You alone have the power to forgive sins; through the prayers of the Most-holy Theotokos, and of all Your Saints. Amen.

After the prayers the Priest shall give the woman who has given birth three sips of Holy Water saying:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And the Dismissal of the day is pronounced.

PRAYER AT THE NAMING OF A CHILD

On the eighth day after birth the sponsor shall bring the Child to the vestibule of the Temple and stand before the Doors, or the Priest shall come to the home.

(The usual beginning)

Then the Apolytikion of the day or the Patron Saint of the Temple is said.

The Priest shall say this prayer, making the sign of the Cross upon the forehead, lips and breast of the Infant where indicated:

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord our God, we entreat You, and we supplicate You, that the light of Your countenance be signed on this, Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], and that the Cross of Your Only-begotten Son be signed in his (her) heart and understanding, so that he (she) may flee from the vanity of the world and from every evil snare of the enemy, and may follow after Your commandments. And grant, O Lord, that Your holy name may remain unrejected by him (her), and that, in due time, he (she) may be joined to Your Holy Church, and that he (she) may be perfected by the dread Mysteries of Your Christ, so that, having lived according to Your commandments, and having preserved the seal unbroken, he (she) may receive the blessedness of the elect in Your kingdom: By the grace and love for mankind of Your Only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Taking the Infant in his arms, the Priest shall stand before the doors of the Temple, or before an icon of the most holy Theotokos, and make the sign of the cross with the Infant, saying:

Rejoice, O virgin Theotokos, full of Grace! From you has shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those who sat in darkness! Rejoice and be glad, O righteous Elder; you accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who grants us the resurrection.!

The Dismissal

May [He Who deigned to be carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon for our salvation,] Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of Saint ______ (whose name was given), and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and He Loves mankind.

PRAYER FOR A WOMAN AFTER A MISCARRIAGE

(The usual beginning)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Master, Lord our God, Who were born of the holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary; Who, as an infant, were laid in a manger: So now, according to Your great mercy, have mercy on this, Your handmaiden [NAME], whose child has died. Forgive all her transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, and protect her from every oppression of the devil. Cleanse her of every sin, and heal her sufferings. Grant her health and strength of soul and body, and encompass her with bright and radiant angels. Preserve her from every approach of invisible spirits. Yea, O Lord, preserve her from sickness and infirmity. Cleanse her bodily afflictions and inward travail. By Your quick mercy lead her to recovery. And with trembling we cry out and say, “Look down from the Heavens and behold our helplessness.” And, according to Your great mercy, as the Good God and the Lover of Mankind, have mercy on her, through the prayers of Your most-pure Mother, and of all the Saints. For to You 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.

PRAYER FOR A WOMAN TWENTY DAYS AFTER CHILD-BIRTH

Said in the home.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD OUR GOD, the true Bread of our Life, who have cleansed and regenerated us through Your incarnate dispensation, and have commanded us, Your unworthy servants, to bless and to sanctify those who approach Your holy Name: O Lord our God, purify also Your handmaiden, [NAME], through the purification of twenty days, and bless her and guard her and the infant to which she has given birth, and the leaven of her hands and all the works of her hands, that she may, without hindrance, nurture all in her house according to Your holy Will, that we may glorify and worship Your infinite goodness in the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A BRIEF FORM OF BAPTISM IN CASE OF NECESSITY

(The usual beginning)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord God Almighty, the Author of all creation, visible and invisible, Who made the heavens, the earth, and the sea, and all that is in them; Who gathered the waters together in one gathering; Who shut up the Abyss and sealed it by Your terrible and glorious Name; Who raised up the waters above the heavens: You have fixed the earth above the waters; You have established the sea by Your power; You have crushed the heads of the dragons in the waters. Therefore, who shall oppose You? O Lord, look down on this Your creature, and this water, and give it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it the fountain of incorruption, the gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, the remedy of infirmities; the final destruction of demons, unassailable by hostile powers, filled with angelic might, that they who plot against Your creature may flee from him (her). For I have called upon Your Name, O Lord, which is wonderful, and glorious, and awesome even to adversaries.

And the Priest shall pour oil into the water in the form of the Cross

Then he baptizes saying:

The servant of God [NAME], is baptized in the Name of the Father. Amen.

And of the Son. Amen.

And of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After this he shall vest him, and anoint him with Holy Chrism, saying:

The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then he circles the font with the child three times singing:

As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia.

The Dismissal

May He Who deigned to be baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of St. (of the temple).....; of St. (of the day) , whom we commemorate today; 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.

CONDITIONAL BAPTISM: If any doubt exists as to whether or not Holy Baptism has previously been administered, the following formula is used:

The servant of God, [NAME], if not already baptized, is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A BRIEF FORM FOR THE RECEPTION OF CONVERTS

To be used when the convert is mortally ill.

(If the convert is extremely weak and at the point of death, this first prayer may be omitted.)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who alone are holy, and rest in the Saints; who because of Your great and immeasurable love toward mankind, do always offer unto those who have sinned many pathways to repentance, and show unto those who have wandered from the truth the right way unto knowledge of You, the only true God, who are glorified and adored in the Trinity, that not one of them should perish, but that all may be saved, and come to the understanding of the truth: We thank You, we glorify and magnify You, for You have kindled in the heart of this, Your reason-endowed creature, [NAME], the light of knowledge of Your truth, and have granted him (her) to have recourse unto Your Holy Apostolic Orthodox Catholic Church. Illumine his (her) heart, O Master, we humbly ask You, with the perfect light of the grace of Your Holy Spirit unto the enlightening of his (her) mind in the truth of Your Holy Gospel. Grant that he (she) may sincerely, irrevocably and without hypocrisy unite himself (herself) to Your Holy Catholic Church, and truly accept and confess the Orthodox Catholic faith. Number him (her) with Your chosen flock, and unite him (her) to Your Holy Church. Make him (her) a vessel of honor, and the temple of Your Holy Spirit; that, being ever nourished and guided by the Same, he (she) may keep Your saving commandments; and that doing Your gracious, acceptable and perfect will, he (she) may be granted to receive Your heavenly good things, together with all those who are well-pleasing to You: For You are the God of mercy and compassion and love toward mankind, and will that all men should be saved, and to You 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.

Let the Priest now hear the general confession of the person who is embracing Orthodoxy, after which he shall pronounce the Absolution from Excommunication:

May God Who pardoned David through Nathan the Prophet when he confessed his sins, Who pardoned Peter who wept bitterly for his denial, the Harlot who wept at His feet, the Publican and the Prodigal, forgive you all things, through me a sinner, both in this world and in the world to come, and set you uncondemned before His terrible Judgment Seat. And I, your unworthy priest, do conjoin you to the unity of the faithful, and the body of Christ’s Church and do communicate you with the Divine Mysteries of the Church: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If the convert is from a non-Orthodox Catholic body where the Sacrament of Chrismation is absent, the Priest shall anoint him on the forehead with Holy Chrism, saying:

The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And the convert is immediately administered the Holy Mysteries from the Reserved Sacrament according to the Order of Communion of the Sick.

OFFICE AT THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

Let the child who desires to be born again as a son or daughter stand within the doors of the Holy Sanctuary,* and he who wishes to receive him as such shall stand outside. Both hold lighted candles in their hands.

The Priest vested in his sacerdotal vestments, begins:

(The usual beginning)

and the Apolytikion of the day, and the Kontakion of the Temple.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD OUR GOD, who by Your beloved child, our Lord Jesus Christ, called us children of God through adoption and the grace of Your omnipotent and Holy Spirit, and said, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son: Do You, the Same King, who loves mankind, look down from Your holy dwelling place upon these Your servants and unite their natures, which You have begotten separated one from another according to the flesh, through Your Holy Spirit, into father and son (daughter); confirm them in Your love; bind them through Your benediction; bless them to Your glory; strengthen them in Your faith, preserving them always, and do not renounce them for what proceeds from out of their lips. Be the mediator for their promises, that their love which they have confessed to You be not torn asunder even to the end of their lives, and be kept sincerely, alive in You our only living and true God, and grant them to be heirs of Your kingdom: For unto You 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.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

O Master and Lord, who are the Maker of all creatures, who by the first Adam made the bonds of kinship according to the natural flesh, and through Christ Jesus, Your beloved Son and our God, by grace showed us also as Your kindred; these Your servants bow their heads unto You, who alone know all things even before they happen, and ask of You a blessing, and that in You they may receive that for which they hope: the bond, inscribed in each other, of father and son (daughter); and that living worthily in You in adoption to sonship (daughtership) they may keep themselves in due constancy, that as in all things, so in this may be glorified Your Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And let the father receive his son (daughter) from the Sanctuary, and the son (daughter) shall fall down at the feet of the father, who shall place his foot upon the son’s (daughter’s) neck and say:

Today you are my son (daughter), this day I have begotten you.

And he shall raise him (her) up, and they shall kiss each other.

And the Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal of the day, and bless them and instruct them.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK

i. ALMIGHTY MASTER, Physician of our souls and bodies, who makes humble and raises up, who chastens and again heals: Visit with Your mercy our ailing brother (sister) [NAME]: stretch forth Your arm that is full of health and healing, and heal him (her), raising him (her) up from his (her) bed and infirmity. Restrain the spirit of weakness, cast off from him (her) every soreness, every ailment, every wound, every fever and seizure: And if he (she) has iniquities or transgressions, loose remit and forgive them for the sake of Your love towards mankind. Yea, O Lord, pity Your creature, through Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

ii. ALMIGHTY MASTER, Holy King, who chastens and yet slays not; who raises up those who fall, and restores those who are cast down; who relieves the bodily afflictions of men: We ask You, our God, visit with Your mercy Your ailing servant, [NAME]: forgive him (her) every transgression, whether voluntary or involuntary. Yea, O Lord, send down from heaven Your healing power; touch the body; quench the fever; soothe the suffering, and banish every hidden ailment. Be the physician of Your servant, [NAME]: raise him (her) up from the bed of ailment and from his (her) couch of vexation whole and perfectly restored, granting him (her), through Your Church, to be well-pleasing unto You, and to do Your will: For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You 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.

iii. O LORD OUR GOD, who by Your word alone healed chronic and temporal diseases; who also cured the kinswoman of Peter of fever; who chastens with pity and heals according to Your goodness, and can put aside every malady and infirmity: now, also, relieve Your servant, [NAME], and cure him (her) of the sickness with which he (she) is grieved, and lift him up from his (her) bed of affliction, sending upon him (her) Your mercy; and grant him (her) health and complete cure: For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You 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.

IN FEVER

O LORD JESUS CHRIST our God, who are a River of Water in a dry place, and the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land, who at the prayer of Your Apostle Peter rebuked the fever of his mother-in-law: Hear, we implore You, our supplication for this Your servant, [NAME], unto the remission of his (her) sins. And inasmuch as You are compassionate grant him (her) ease and refreshment, and refuge with You from the heat and pain of his (her) illness. Quench with Your omnipotent right hand the fire possessing him (her), alleviate the pain, and mercifully raise him (her) up from his (her) bed of sickness: For You are a merciful God, who loves mankind, and to You 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.

FOR A SICK CHILD

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, who came into this world as a little child, and who, though Very God, was subject to Your earthly parents: Grant that this Your child, [NAME], may bear what has been given him (her), and readily obey those You have set over him (her). Look mercifully, we ask You, upon him (her), and in Your great love grant him (her) relief from his (her) pain. Yea, O Lord, Son of God, grant to send Your holy Angel from heaven, to guard, cherish, protect, visit and defend this Your child, [NAME], sick in his (her) tender age. Stretch forth Your holy right hand upon him (her), that restored to the vigor of health he (she) may attain to fullness of years, and serve You faithfully and gratefully all his (her) life and become an heir of Your kingdom. For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and to You 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.

WHEN SICKNESS INCREASES

O LORD JESUS CHRIST our Savior, for our sakes You were born, for our sakes You hungered and thirsted, for our sakes You suffered, and gave Your life over to death; and as You make Your servant, [NAME], to share in Your sufferings, make him (her) to share also in Your grace. May Your precious Blood wash away the stains of his (her) sins. May Your righteousness cleanse away his (her) unrighteousness. Look rather upon his (her) faith in You than upon his (her) works when he (she) stands before You as Judge. As sickness increases on him (her), so increase unto him (her) Your plenteous grace. Let not his (her) faith waver, nor his (her) hope fail, nor his (her) love wax cold; let not the dread of death cause him (her) to cast away his (her) trust in You, or to place it anywhere but in You, but looking steadfastly unto You to the last let him (her) say, “Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit,” and so enter into Your everlasting kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

BEFORE AN OPERATION

O LORD JESUS CHRIST our God, who patiently endured the scourging and wounding of Your sacred Body, that You might save the souls and bodies of Your people: Look graciously upon the suffering body of this Your servant [NAME], and strengthen him (her) to bear patiently whatever You shall see fit to give him (her). Bless the means employed for working out his (her) cure, and grant that he (she) may so endure his (her) sufferings in the flesh that the wounding of his (her) body may avail for the correcting and salvation of his (her) soul: For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your unoriginate Father, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

AFTER AN ACCIDENT

Or for one injured in body

O LORD God our Savior, who rule over all, who are the Physician and Helper in sickness, the Deliverer from pain, who stretched out Your hand to save Your Apostle Peter, when sinking in the water: Mercifully grant Your help and healing to this Your servant, [NAME], who has fallen into affliction and has suffered grievous injury of body, and grant that he (she), calling upon You in faith, may be restored by Your loving-kindness. Yea, O long-suffering Lord, show Your compassion and mercy upon him (her) that he (she) may glorify Your divine power, and bless Your holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

AFTER AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

ALMIGHTY GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of mankind, who give us our life in this world that we may prepare for the life to come, who have delivered Your servant, [NAME], from blood-guiltiness: Have pity, we ask You, upon him (her), who would rashly have thrown away Your gift, and as You have in mercy defeated his (her) designs, so grant to him (her) time and grace for repentance. Graciously look upon him (her), and in Your compassion forgive him (her) what he (she) has done amiss through the malice of the Enemy. Restore him (her) by Your grace, strengthen him (her) with Your might, and bring forth from his (her) heart tears of sorrow, that he (she) may weep for his (her) sins committed against You, and by Your mercy obtain pardon for them: For You are the God of the penitent, and to You 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.

THANKSGIVING FOR RELIEF THROUGH AN OPERATION

ALMIGHTY GOD, who casts down that You may lift up, and wounds unto healing, who looses and again binds up: We thank You that You have not seen fit to give Your servant, [NAME], over unto death, but have shown Your compassion upon him (her) and have preserved and corrected him (her) and helped him (her) in his (her) misery. Mercifully look down, we ask You, upon this Your servant, [NAME], to whom You have granted ease and relief, and grant that the chastisement of his (her) body may avail for the purifying of his (her) soul; and that the good work begun in him (her) may be fulfilled in Your good pleasure, and that he (she) may be brought to everlasting life; through the grace of Your Only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your All-holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

THANKSGIVING FOR RECOVERY

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Life and Strength of all who put their trust in You, whose mercies are without number, and the treasury of whose goodness is infinite: We give You thanks for the blessings which You have bestowed upon Your servant, [NAME], and we humbly ask You to continue Your goodness towards us. And as You have been pleased to restore Your servant to his (her) bodily health, so endue his (her) soul with all heavenly graces, and perseverance in good works, and prepare us by Your blessings in this life for the enjoyment of eternal happiness in the life to come; for unto You are due all glory, thanksgiving and worship, with Your unoriginate Father; and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A BRIEF FORM OF CONFESSION

The Priest, vested in an Epitrachelion, shall say:

(The usual beginning)

Troparia

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for laying aside all excuse, we sinners offer to You, as to our Master, this supplication: have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:

O Lord, have mercy on us, for in You have we put our trust. Do not be angry with us, nor remember our iniquities, but look down on us even now, since You are compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we are Your people; we are all the work of Your hands, and we call upon Your Name.

…now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O blessed Theotokos, open the doors of compassion to us whose hope is in you, that we may not perish but be delivered from adversity through you, who are the salvation of the Christian people.

After this let the Priest carefully examine the penitent, and give him his penance.

And, if he desires, let him say this prayer:

O Lord God, the salvation of Your servants, merciful, compassionate, and long-suffering; Who forgives our evil deeds, not desiring the death of a sinner, but that he turn from his way and live: Show mercy, now, on Your servant, [NAME], and grant to him (her) an image of repentance, forgiveness of sins and deliverance, pardoning all his (her) sins, whether voluntary or involuntary. Reconcile him (her) and unite him (her) to Your Holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom, with You, are due all dominion and majesty, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest shall then say the prayer of Absolution:

Slavonic Form

May our Lord and God Jesus Christ, through the grace and bounties of his love towards mankind, forgive you my child, [NAME], all your transgressions; and I, an unworthy priest, through the power given to me by him, do forgive and absolve you from all your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Greek Form

May God Who pardoned David through Nathan the Prophet when he confessed his sins, Who pardoned Peter who wept bitterly for his denial, the Harlot who wept at His feet, the Publican and the Prodigal, forgive you all things, through me a sinner, both in this world and in the world to come, and set you uncondemned before His terrible Judgment Seat. Now, having no further care for the sins which you have confessed, depart in peace.

As the Priest concludes the Prayer of Absolution, he shall sign the penitent cross-wise with his right hand.

After all have been confessed, he shall say:

It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim: without corruption you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.

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

The Dismissal

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his most pure Mother; and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

If the person confessing is mortally ill and death is imminent, the Priest shall say only the Prayer of Absolution.

THE OFFICE OF HOLY UNCTION

[An abridged form for use over those in danger of immediate death]

Let a small table be prepared, upon which there shall be placed a vessel containing wheat, and on the wheat another smaller empty vessel. Lighted candles are thrust into the wheat around the smaller vessel. Wands wrapped with cotton for the Anointing shall be prepared. The Holy Gospel and Cross are placed on the table. Lighted candles are held by all present. The Priest shall be vested in an Epitrachelion and Phelonion. Taking the censer containing incense, the Priest shall cense the table cross-wise and the people and the whole room: and, then, standing before the table, facing the east, he shall begin:

(The usual beginning)

Troparion

Tone 4

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Christ, Who alone hastens to defend, manifest Your speedy visitation from on high upon Your sick servant. Deliver him (her) from his (her) infirmities and cruel pain. Raise him (her) up again to sing praises to You, and without ceasing to glorify You, Who alone loves mankind.

Ektenia

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy. (after each petition).

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

For the peace of the whole world, the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and the union of all people, let us pray to the Lord.

For this oil, that it may be sanctified by the power, operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

For the servant (handmaiden) of God [NAME], and for the visitation by God upon him (her); that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon him (her), let us pray to the Lord.

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

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

Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves, each other, and all our life unto Christ our God. To You, O Lord.

The Priest shall pour wine and pure olive oil into the vessel, and then read the Prayer for the Sanctification of Oil.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, Who heals the disorders of our souls and bodies, through Your mercies and compassion: As the same Lord, sanctify this oil, O Master, that it may be a means of cure for those anointed with it, for relief from all passions, defilement of flesh and spirit, and every evil; that in this may be glorified Your most holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Lections

The Prokeimenon

Tone 1

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, // as we have put our hope in You.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous; praise befits the just.

THE EPISTLE, Sec. 57 [James 5:10-17]

Tone 8

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia (Tone 8).

I will sing to You of mercy and judgment, O Lord.

THE GOSPEL, Sec. 53 [Luke 10:25-38]

Ektenia

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

Again we pray for the servant (handmaiden) of God [NAME], for mercy, life, peace, salvation, and visitation, and for the pardon and remission of his (her) sins. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

That he (she) may be pardoned all his (her) sins, both voluntary or involuntary, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

For You are a merciful God and You love mankind, and to You 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.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Holy of Holies, eternal and without beginning; Who sent down Your Only-begotten Son to heal every sickness and every wound of our souls and bodies: Send down Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this Oil and cause it to be, for Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], who is about to be anointed, perfect remission of his (her) sins, and for inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. For it is Yours to be merciful and to save us, O our God; and to You we send up glory, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your All-holy, and Good, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

After the Prayer, the Priest shall take one of the wands, dip it in the Holy Oil, and anoint the sick person, in cross-form; on the forehead, the nostrils, the cheeks, the lips, the breast, and on both sides of the hands, saying this Prayer:

O holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, Who sent Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to heal every sickness and to deliver from death: Heal, also, Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], from the infirmities of body and soul which hinder him (her) and make him (her) live, by the grace of Your Christ: Through the prayers of our Most-pure Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary; by the protection of the honorable and bodiless powers of heaven; by the power of the precious and life-creating Cross; through the protection of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and unmercenary Physicians, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermalaeus, Samson and Diomedes, Photius and Anicetas; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints. For You are the Fountain of healing, O our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit, one in essence, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

At the conclusion of the Anointing, the sick person, if he be able, shall himself stand, or, supported by someone, he shall stand or sit. But if he be not able, the Priest shall approach him, as he lies on his couch. And the Priest, taking the Holy Gospel and opening it, shall lay it with the writing down on the head of the sick person, the Book being held by the other Priests if there are any present.

The principal Priest shall not lay on his hand, but shall say aloud, this Prayer:

O holy King, Deeply-compassionate and Greatly-merciful Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the living God, Who does not desire the death of a sinner, but that he should turn from his way and live: I do not lay my sinful hand on the head of him (her) who has come to You in iniquities, and asks of You, through us, remission of his (her) sins, but through Your strong and mighty hand, which is in this, Your Holy Gospel, that is now held [by my fellow ministers] on the head of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME]. And [with them] I, also, implore and entreat Your merciful compassion and love for mankind, which does not wish to remember evil, O God our Savior, Who by Your prophet Nathan granted remission of sins to the penitent David, and accepted Manasseh’s prayer of repentance. As the same Lord, receive also with Your compassionate and forgiving love towards mankind, Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], who repents of his (her) own sins, overlooking his (her) transgressions. For You are our God, Who has commanded us to forgive, even to seventy times seven, those who fall into sin. For as is Your majesty, so also is Your mercy: and to You are due all glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Taking the Holy Gospel from the head of the sick person, the Priest shall give it to him to kiss.

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

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. [Father, Bless!]

The Dismissal

May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His Most-pure Mother; by the power of the precious and life-creating Cross; of the holy glorious and all-praised Apostle James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem and brother of God; and of all the Saints; save us and have mercy on us, for He is good, and He loves mankind.

If death is imminent and there is no time to say the complete Office of Holy Unction over one who is sick, the Priest may say only the Prayer for the Sanctification of Oil: "O Lord, who through Your mercies ...".

Then shall the Priest anoint the sick person, saying the Prayer of Anointing: "O holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies...", and pronounce the above Dismissal.

THE ORDER FOR COMMUNION OF THE SICK

A small table shall be placed near the bed of the sick person. It shall be covered with a clean white cloth and on it there should be an Icon of Christ, two lighted candles, a glass of warm water, a spoon, Holy Water and a paper napkin.

The Priest shall take a part of the Holy Reserved Sacrament, put it into the Chalice, and pour therein a little wine, as much as may be sufficient for the sick person to receive.

(The usual beginning)

Reader: Amen.

Lord, have mercy (Twelve times).

Glory: now and ever:

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!

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by 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. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.

And in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world2 to come. Amen.

Of Your mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Your mystery to Your enemies, neither like Judas will I give You a kiss; but like the thief will I confess You: remember me, O Lord, in Your kingdom.

Glory:

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere and fulfill 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!

…now and ever:

We have acknowledged God Who was incarnate of you, O Virgin Theotokos. Beseech Him to save our souls.

Lord, have mercy (Forty times).

Then shall the Priest say these prayers:

i. O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Who alone has the power to forgive sins as the Good God and Lover of Mankind: Overlook all the sins of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], whether committed in knowledge or in ignorance, and grant him (her) without condemnation to receive Your Most-holy Mysteries, neither for judgment nor for condemnation, but for the cleansing of soul and body, and for the inheritance of Your Kingdom, as You are his (her) help, a firm wall and bulwark against the Adversary, and for the cleansing of his (her) sins. For You are a merciful God and the Lover of Mankind, and to You we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

ii. O Lord, I know that I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, in the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and fallen into ruin, and You will not find in me a place worthy to lay Your head. But, as You desire to abide with me, I have come to You, trusting in You alone. Enter into me and cleanse me from all bodily and spiritual filth. Be to me a Helper and Defender, and grant me to stand at Your right hand, through the prayers and supplications of our Most-pure, sovereign Lady, and Ever-virgin Mary, and of all the Saints who from the ages have been well-pleasing to You. For You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

iii. May the Most-merciful Lord God be gracious to you. May the Lord Jesus Christ grant you every good petition. May the Lord Almighty deliver you from every calamity. May the Lord teach you. May the Lord give you understanding. May the Lord help you. May the Lord save you. May the Lord protect you. May the Lord preserve you. May the Lord cleanse you. May the Lord fill you with spiritual joy. May the Lord be the defender of your soul and body. May the Lord, as He is merciful and gracious and the Lover of Mankind, grant you forgiveness of sins. May the Lord God, Jesus Christ, in the day of judgment, be merciful to you and bless you all the days of your life. For to Him belong all glory, honor and worship, together with His Father Who is without beginning, and His Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

If the sick person has already confessed, he is now communicated with the Holy Mysteries. But if not the Priest shall bid those present to withdraw temporarily, and shall question the sick person concerning his various transgressions, being careful that nothing shall be concealed, or unconfessed because of shame.

After the confession, the Priest shall say this prayer:

O Lord our God, Who remitted the sins of Peter and the Harlot through their prayers, and justified the Publican who acknowledged his own transgressions: Accept the confession of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], and as You are good, overlook his (her) sins, whether voluntary or involuntary, by word, or by deed, or by thought, by which he (she) has sinned against You. For You alone have the power to remit sins, as You are a merciful and compassionate God, and to You 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.

Then the Priest says the Prayer of Absolution (See above).

In the presence of the whole household, the Priest shall take up the Chalice, and say the Prayers before Communion:

I believe, O Lord, and I confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am first. I believe also that This is truly Your own most pure Body, and that This is truly Your own precious Blood. Therefore, I implore You: have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, committed in knowledge or in ignorance. And count me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your most pure Mysteries, for the remission of my sins, and unto eternal life. Amen.

Of Your mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Your mystery to Your enemies, neither like Judas will I give You a kiss; but like the thief will I confess You: remember me, O Lord, in Your kingdom.

May the communion of Your holy Mysteries be neither to my judgment, nor to my condemnation, O Lord, but to the healing of soul and body.

Then shall the Priest communicate the sick person, saying:

The servant (handmaiden) of God, [NAME], partakes of the precious and most holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and for eternal life.

Then the following is said by the Reader or Priest:

Master, now let Your servant depart in peace according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all people: a light for revelation to the gentiles and for the glory of Your people Israel.

Then, the Trisagion. O Most Holy Trinity. Our Father: For Yours are the kingdom:

and the Apolytikion of the day, followed by:

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

By the prayers of all the Saints and of the Theotokos, O Lord, grant us Your peace and be merciful to us, as You alone are compassionate.

Lord have mercy (Thrice).[Father, Bless!]

And the Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal of the day.

THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION

Glory to You, O God (Thrice).

I thank You, O Lord my God, for You have permitted me, the unworthy, to commune of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts. Let Your holy Body be my eternal life; Your precious Blood, my remission of sins. Let this Eucharist be my joy, health, and gladness. Make me, a sinner, worthy to stand on the right hand of Your glory at Your awesome second Coming, through the prayers of Your most pure Mother and of all the saints. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THE DYING

At the parting of the soul from the body.

i. O MASTER and Lord Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who wills that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth; who desires not the death of a sinner, but that he should turn from his way and live: We implore You, absolve the soul of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], from every bond, and free him (her) from every oath. Remit his (her) transgressions, both in knowledge and in ignorance, both of deed and of word, which he (she) has committed from his (her) youth up, and has sincerely confessed or concealed, either through forgetfulness or through shame. For You alone loose bonds, and restore the contrite, and are the hope of the despairing, and can remit the sins of every man who puts his trust in You. Yea, O Lord who love mankind, command that he (she) be released from the bonds of the flesh and of sin. Receive in peace the soul of this Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], and give it rest in that place where all Your Saints dwell; through the grace of Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

ii. O MASTER, Lord our God Almighty, who wills that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth; who desires not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and be saved: We ask You and entreat You, absolve the soul of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], from every bond, free it from every oath. For You loose those who are bound, and restore those who are cast down, and are the Hope of the hopeless. Wherefore, O Master, command that the soul of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], be set free in peace, to rest in Your eternal habitations with all Your Saints; through Your Only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

iii. For One Who Has Suffered Long

O LORD OUR GOD, in Your ineffable wisdom You have created man, fashioning him out of the dust, and adoring him with comeliness and goodness, as an honorable and heavenly acquisition, to the praise and magnificence of Your glory and kingdom, that You might bring him into Your image and likeness; yet forasmuch as he transgressed the command of Your statute, having accepted the image but did not preserve it, and because, also, that evil be not eternal, You have ordained, through Your love for mankind, dissolution of the same; and as God of our Fathers, through Your Divine Will, You have cleft and dissolved this insoluble bond, that the body should be dissolved into the elements of which it was fashioned, and that the soul should be translated to that place from whence it was taken, even until the general Resurrection. Therefore we ask You, the Father unoriginate and immortal, and Your Only-begotten Son, and Your All-holy Spirit, that You will loose [NAME], from the body unto repose; entreating also forgiveness by Your ineffable goodness if he (she) in any wise, whether in knowledge or in ignorance, have offended You, or is under the ban of a priest, or has embittered his (her) parents, or has broken a vow, or has fallen into any evil doing through the malice of the Devil: Yea, O Master, Lord our God, hear me a sinner and Your unworthy servant in this hour, and loose Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], from this intolerable sickness and the bitter impotency which holds him (her), and give him (her) rest where the souls of the righteous dwell: For You are the repose of our souls and bodies, and to You 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.

PRAYER OF ABSOLUTION OF A DYING PERSON

MAY our Lord and God Jesus Christ, through the grace and bounties of his love towards mankind, forgive you, my child, [NAME], all the transgressions of your whole life; And I, an unworthy priest, implore Him, that You be forgiven and absolved in this world and in that to come: In the name ? of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. PRAYER FOR A PERSON CONDEMNED TO DEATH MOST merciful, all-bountiful, all-good Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, our Savior: You graciously deigned, because of Your love toward sinful man, to accept condemnation unto death; to be crucified, for the sake of our salvation, and upon the Cross gave up Your righteous Spirit into the hands of God the Father: We ask You, most gracious Master, look also with Your compassion upon this Your servant condemned to death by the judgment of men: Remit his (her) mortal fault, inspire in him (her) true repentance, that he (she) may, if even in this hour before death, also confess You, his (her) God and Savior, as once did the wise thief, and be granted mercy from You. Yea, O Lord long-suffering and of many mercies, do not condemn by Your just judgment this condemned sinner [NAME], pardon his (her) transgressions; deliver him (her), by this penalty of death, from death ever-lasting prepared for unrepentant sinners, that he (she) may glorify You with all the sinners who have repented and been justified through You; because You alone are sinless, and unto You are due all glory, honor and worship, together with Your unoriginate Father, and the all-holy and life-creating Spirit: always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL FROM THE BODY

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

REMEMBER, O Lord our God, Your servant our brother (sister), [NAME], deceased in the faith and hope of life everlasting; and inasmuch as You are good and love mankind, loose, remit and forgive his (her) every voluntary and involuntary transgression, releasing the sins, and destroying the unrighteousness. Deliver him (her) from eternal torment and the fires of Gehenna. Grant him (her) to enjoy and partake of Your eternal bliss prepared for those who love You: for he (she) has sinned, yet he (she) has not rejected You, and has believed without misgiving in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, God glorified in the Trinity, and has confessed in orthodox wise, even to his (her) last breath, oneness in the Trinity and Trinity in unity. Be therefore merciful unto him (her), looking rather upon his (her) works, and since You are bountiful, give him (her) rest with all Your Saints: for there is no one who lives and does not sin, but You alone are without sin, and Your righteousness endures forever; and You are the only God of mercy, and bounty and love for mankind, and to You 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.

THE LITANY FOR THE DECEASED

(The usual beginning)

Troparia

Tone 4

Give rest to the soul of Your servant, O Savior, with the spirits of the righteous made perfect. Guard him (her) for the blessed life with You, O Lover of mankind. In Your rest where all Your saints repose, O Lord, give rest also to the soul of Your servant, for You alone are immortal.

Glory:

You are the God Who descended into the realm of death, and destroyed the suffering of those imprisoned there. Give rest also to the soul of Your servant.

…now and ever:

Only pure and undefiled Virgin who conceived God without seed, pray that the soul of your servant may be saved.

Ektenia

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

Lord have mercy. (Thrice).

Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant (handmaiden) of God, [NAME], who is fallen asleep; and that he (she) may be pardoned all his (her) sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice).

Again we pray that the Lord God will establish his (her) soul where the Just repose.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice).

For the mercies of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the remission of his (her) sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.

Grant this, O Lord.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

And the Priest shall say this prayer:

O God of spirits, and of all flesh, You have trampled death and made the devil powerless, and have given life to Your world. May You, Yourself, Lord, give rest to the soul of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], who has fallen asleep, in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose; where all suffering, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.

Since You are a good and loving God, pardon every transgression which he (she) has committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought; for there is no one who lives yet does not sin, for only You are without sin. Your righteousness is an eternal righteousness, and Your word is truth.

For You are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your servant (handmaiden) [NAME] who has fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father, Who is without beginning, and Your most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.The Dismissal

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word, true Theotokos, we magnify you.

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope; glory to You!Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy (Thrice).

Father, bless!

Priest: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure mother, of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable apostles, of our pious and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, place the soul of His departed servant (handmaiden) in the mansions of the righteous. May He grant him (her) repose in the bosom of Abraham and number him (her) with the righteous; and may He have mercy on us, for He is good and loves mankind.

And the Priest shall proclaim:

Give rest eternal in blessed falling asleep, O Lord, to the soul of Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME], who has departed this life, and make his (her) memory to be eternal!

Reader: Memory eternal! (Thrice)

Priest: May the Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Who gave His divine commandments to His holy disciples and apostles, that they should bind and loose the sins of the fallen, and we, in turn, have received authority to do the same, forgive you, my spiritual child, whatever transgressions you have committed in life, voluntary or involuntary, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then all shall say slowly and quietly:

May God beatify and give him (her) rest, and be merciful to us, forasmuch as he is good and loves mankind.

At the Litany, from St. Thomas Sunday until the Ascension of Christ, we sing:

Blessed is our God: Christ is risen from the dead: trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life: Thrice.

Then the Trisagion and the rest.

At the Dismissal, instead of More honorable than the Cherubim, we say:

Shine, Shine, O new Jerusalem: for the glory of the Lord has shone on you! Rejoice and be glad, O Zion; and you, O Pure Theotokos, be glad in the rising of your Son.

After: Glory to You, O Christ our God: we sing: Christ is risen and all the rest as usual.

PRAYER FOR A DECEASED CHILD

Said instead of O God of spirits in the Litany for the Deceased.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST our God, who have promised to bestow the kingdom of heaven upon those who have been born of water and of the Spirit, and in a blameless life are translated unto You, and have said, "Let the children come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven": We humbly ask You to grant, according to Your unfailing promise, the inheritance of Your kingdom to Your servant (handmaiden), the blameless child, [NAME], now removed from us. And grant that we also may blamelessly pass through and make a Christian ending of our life, and be established in the heavenly mansions with all Your Saints: For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of all Your servants, and of Your servant (handmaiden), this child, [NAME], now departed from us, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your unoriginate Father, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

PARTING PRAYER AFTER THE DEATH OF A CHILD

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD, who guards children in this life, and in the world to come have prepared for them the amplitude of Abraham’s bosom, and, because of their purity, radiant angelic abodes wherein the spirits of the Righteous dwell: Do You, O Christ, the same Master, receive in peace the soul of Your servant (handmaiden), the child, [NAME]. For You have said, "Let the children come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven": For unto You are due all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

COMMENDATION OF THE DEAD

Prayer for one who is to be carried forth for burial.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O GOD, who have authority of life and death, God of spirits and Master of all flesh, God who kills and makes alive, who brings down to the gates of Hades and brings up, who creates the spirit of man within him and takes to Yourself the souls of the Saints and gives rest, who alters and changes and transforms Your creatures, as is right and expedient, being Yourself alone incorruptible, unalterable and eternal: We ask You for the repose and rest of this Your servant (handmaiden), [NAME]: give rest to his (her) soul, his (her) spirit, in places of verdure, in chambers of rest with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all Your Saints: and raise up his (her) body in the day which You have ordained, according to Your promises which cannot lie, that You may render to it also the heritage of which it is worthy in Your holy pastures. Remember not his (her) transgressions and sins: and cause his (her) going forth to be peaceful and blessed. Heal the grief of those who love him (her) with the spirit of consolation, and grant us all a good end through the grace of Your Only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your All-holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

INTERMENT OF THE DEAD

The Trisagion shall be sung while the coffin is taken from the hearse to the grave, and the rest of the Litany for the Dead shall be said while the remains are placed in the grave. After Memory eternal, the Priest, taking earth upon a shovel, shall cast it cross-wise over the coffin, saying:

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all they that dwell therein.

Then the Priest pours oil from the sanctuary lamp (into which the oil remaining from Holy Unction is poured) or if the deceased has received the Sacrament of Holy Unction, what remains is used, or he scatters ashes out of the censer, and the coffin is lowered and the grave filled up as usual, while the following is sung:

Troparion

Tone 8

Open wide, O earth, and receive what was formed from you by the hand of God. Receive that which returns to you, its mother, for the Creator has taken away that which was of His image. Receive this body, O earth, as it is your own.

THE SANCTIFICATION OF WATER IN BRIEF

This form for the blessing of water may be said in the home and elsewhere. It shall never replace the Great and Lesser Orders for the Sanctification of Water said in the Temple

(The usual beginning)

Troparion

Tone 6

Send down grace from heaven, O Giver of Life, and sanctify this water, and make it to be a purification of all impurity. (Thrice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O GOD greatly-exalted, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who alone does wonders which cannot be numbered; whose voice is upon the many seas, and beholding whom the waters are afraid, and the deeps agitated, and the water roars greatly; whose way is in the sea and path in the vast deep, and whose footsteps cannot be known; Who, through the baptism of Your Only-begotten Son incarnate, and the descent upon him of the All-holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and by Your paternal voice, did sanctify the streams of Jordan: We, Your unworthy servants, now humbly ask and entreat You: Send down the grace of the All-holy Spirit upon this water, and bless, purify and sanctify it with Your heavenly benediction, and grant unto it the grace and blessing of Jordan, and the power of purification of all impurity, and expelling of demons and all their assaults and snares. And by the power, operation and grace of the All-holy Spirit, manifest it to be to all Your servants who with faith shall drink thereof, receive it and be sprinkled therewith, for the remission of sins, release from passions, the expelling of every evil, an increase of virtue, the healing of infirmities, the blessing and sanctification of homes and of every place, the expelling of hurtful and all pernicious things, and the acquisition of Your grace: For You bless and sanctify all things, O our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads to the Lord. To You O Lord.

And the Priest shall say this prayer:

O LORD who sanctified the waters of Jordan by the manifestation of Your Christ: Incline Your ear and hear me, and bless us all who by the bending of our necks express obedience to You; and enable us to be filled with Your sanctification by the reception of this water; and may the same be unto us for health in our souls and bodies:

Exclamation: For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory, with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And taking the cross, the Priest shall immerse it in the water, in cross-form, while singing:

Troparion

Tone 1

O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians, over their adversaries. And by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation!. (Thrice).

And the Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal.

A PRAYER FOR THE BLESSING OF WATER

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O GOD greatly-exalted, who does wonders which cannot be numbered: Come now to Your servants who are asking You, O Master, and send Your Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water (the Priest blesses the water thrice with his right hand); and grant Your servant who shall drink thereof, receive it and be sprinkled therewith, release from passions, remission of sins, healing of infirmities, and freedom from every evil thing; grant him (her) also the confirmation and sanctification of his (her) home, the purification of all impurity, and the expelling of devilish snares: For blessed and glorified is Your 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. Amen.

Meanwhile, the Kontakion may be sung:

Kontakion

Tone 4

You have revealed Yourself today to the universe, and Your Light, O Lord, is signed upon us, who with knowledge praise You: You are come and are manifest, O Light inaccessible.

The Dismissal

May He Who deigned to be baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother; and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

And the Priest proclaims the Many Years:

Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health, salvation, and furtherance in all things, to Your servants, [NAME/NAME], who dwell here; and preserve them for many years!

Many years! (Thrice.)

A FORM FOR BLESSING HOMES AT THEOPHANY

(The usual beginning)

Troparion

Tone 1

When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to You, and called You His beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself and have enlightened the world, glory to You!

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O God our Savior, the True Light, Who were baptized in the Jordan by John to renew all people by the waters of regeneration, and Who condescended to enter under the roof of Zacchaeus, bringing salvation to him and to all his house: As the same Lord, also keep safe from harm those who dwell here; grant to them Your blessing, purification and health of body; grant all their petitions that are for their salvation and eternal life; for You are blessed, together with Your eternal Father and Your Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And the Priest shall sprinkle the dwelling with Holy Water.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF CANDLES

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the True Light, Who enlightens every man that comes into the world, pour out Your blessing on these candles, and hallow them by the light of Your Grace; and grant, O Merciful One, that as these lights, kindled with a visible flame, scatter the darkness of night, so also may our hearts, by an invisible fire, that is, enlightened by the glowing of the Holy Spirit, avoid the blindness of all manner of sin; so that we may see those things that are pleasing unto You, and availing for our salvation, with the cleansed eye of our soul, so that we, having overcome the darkness of this world, may be granted to attain to the light that never fades: For You are our Savior, and to You do we send up glory, with Your unoriginate Father, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The candles shall be sprinkled with Holy Water.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF PALMS ON PALM SUNDAY

The Priest shall cense the palms cross-wise, and say the prayer:

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy. O Lord our God, Who sit upon the cherubim, You have reaffirmed Your power by sending Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save the world through His Cross, Burial, and Resurrection. When He came into Jerusalem to suffer His voluntary Passion, the people that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death took boughs of trees and branches of palms as signs of victory, thus foretelling His Resurrection. O Master, keep and preserve us who, in imitation of them, carry palms and branches in our hands on this eve of the Feast. As we join the crowds and the children who sang “Hosanna” to You, may we, with hymns and spiritual songs, attain the life-creating Resurrection on the third day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. The palms shall be sprinkled with holy water

PRAYERS AT THE BLESSING OF FOOD ON THE HOLY AND GREAT SUNDAY OF PASCHA

Blessed is our God: Amen.

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life. (Thrice.)

If the Paschal food is blessed before Easter midnight services, i.e., on Holy Saturday, the following Troparion shall be sung instead:

Tone 2

When You condescended to death, O Life immortal, You slew Hades by the lightning of Your divinity; but when You also raised the dead from the nethermost abodes, all the heavenly powers cried: O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You.

i. Flesh-meat

Let us pray to the Lord.Lord have mercy.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, look down upon this meat, and sanctify it, as You sanctified the ram which the faithful Abraham brought to You, and as the lamb which Able offered to You as a whole-offering; likewise, also, the fatted calf which You commanded to be slain for Your prodigal son when he returned to You, that, as he was counted worthy to delight in Your good things, so may we also delight in those things that are sanctified and blessed by You for the nourishment of us all. For You are the true Nourishment, and the Giver of good things, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your Most-holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

ii. Cheese and eggs and other foods

O Master, Lord our God, Author and Creator of all things: Bless the cheese and the eggs, and preserve us in Your goodness, that, as we partake of them, we may be filled with Your gifts, ungrudgingly bestowed, and with Your ineffable goodness. For Yours is the might, and 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. Amen.

The foods shall be sprinkled with Holy water.

The Dismissal of the day is pronounced.

PRAYER AT THE PARTAKING OF GRAPES

This prayer is said over grapes which are brought into the Temple to be blessed on the Feast of the Transfiguration at places where there are vineyards. But in some countries, where there are no vineyards, apples are brought into the temple on that day, and the prayer for those who offer first fruits is said. Each fruit is brought in its season to the Temple for a blessing.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

Bless, O Lord, this new fruit of the vine, which, through the wholesomeness of the air, and through showers of rain and temperate weather, You are well-pleased should attain to ripeness at this time. May our partaking of this birth of the vine be for gladness, and for the offering of a gift to You for the cleansing of sins, through the sacred and holy Body of Your Christ, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO OFFER FIRST-FRUITS

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O Master, Lord our God, Who command everyone to bring as an offering Your own of Your own, and grant to them in return Your eternal good things; Who favorably accepted the offering of the widow which was according to her ability: Now also accept the things offered by Your servant(s) [NAME], and count them worthy to lay up the same in Your eternal treasury. Grant to him, (her, them) an abundant harvest of Your worldly good things, together with all things that are profitable to him (her, them). For blessed is Your Name, and glorified is Your Kingdom: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYER AT THE PARTAKING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS OF SUMMER

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O LORD our God, who in Your great compassion have led us to this season, who have blessed the cycle of the year and have crowned it with fruit bearing; You who in Your great patience have commanded the earth to bring forth for us fruits for nourishment: O adorable Lord, grant that the partaking of the first-fruits and the harvest of summer be unto peace and health and concord for Your servants, and grant to us the plenteous increase of every kind of good thing: For You are the Bestower of goodness, and to You 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.

PRAYER AT THE SANCTIFICATION OF ANY FRAGRANT HERBAGE

(The usual beginning)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O Lord God Almighty, Who fill all things according to Your word, and Who commanded the earth to bring forth every fruit in its season and to give it to mankind for gladness and for life: O All-good Master, bless and sanctify by Your Holy Spirit, this seed and various herbage brought into this holy temple; and cleanse from every defilement these, Your servants taking this herbage and seed, and fill their homes with every good fragrance, that these may become, for all that preserve them with faith, and cense with it, preservation and deliverance from every increase of enemies, and for the banishment of every illusion which comes from the action of the devil, whether by day or by night, as well as for the blessing of souls and bodies for Your faithful people, and for the blessing of their work, houses and other places. For all that take this herbage, let them receive for themselves protection of souls and bodies, and may the healing mystery of Your Grace be for our salvation. And in whatever place it may be put, or wherever it may be used, let it be received for a blessing; and may Your right hand shelter it, driving away every adverse power from here, to the glory of Your most-holy, majestic and worshiped Name: to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest shall sprinkle the herbage thrice with Holy Water pronouncing the usual formula of sprinkling and Sanctification.

Then shall he pronounce the Dismissal of the day.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF NEW WINE

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD our God, who are good and love mankind, look upon this wine, and upon those who partake thereof, and bless it as You blessed Jacob’s well, and the pool of Siloam, and the chalice of Your holy Apostles. And as You blessed six water pots and changed water into wine, when You came into Galilee, and manifested Your glory to Your holy Disciples and Apostles: So now, the same Lord, send down Your Holy Spirit upon this wine and bless it in Your holy Name: For You bless and sanctify and increase all things, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF SALT

Let us pray to the Lord

Lord, have mercy. O GOD our Savior, who came into Jericho to the Prophet Eliseus, and healed the injurious water with salt: So now bless this salt, and change it into the sacrifice of gladness: For You are our God, and to You 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.

THE ORDER FOR THE BLESSING OF A NEW HOUSE

The Priest having come into the house which is to be blessed, has with him Holy Water and an aspergillum, and oil in a small vessel, which he places on a table covered with a clean white cloth and upon which is also placed a small Gospel and Cross and two lighted candles. On each of the four walls inside the house a cross shall be traced. The Priest, vested in an epitrachelion (and phelonion if he desires), faces the East, and begins:

The usual beginning

Reader: Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory: Now and ever: Come, let us worship,

Psalm 90

He who lives by the help of the Most High will pass the night in the protection of the God of Heaven. He will say to the Lord, “You are my protector and my refuge, my God,” and in Him I will hope. For He will deliver you from the trap of the hunters and from the embarrassing word. He will overshadow you with His shoulders, and under His wings you will hope. His truth will surround you with armor. You will not be afraid of any terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day--of a thing going by in the dark, of an accident or a noonday demon. A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Only with your eyes you will look on, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope; You made the Most High Your refuge. No evils will come to you, and no scourge will come near your dwelling. For He will command His angels regarding you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will step on the asp and the adder; the lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he has set his hope on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. He will call to Me and I will answer him. I am with him in trouble, I will deliver him and glorify him. With a long life I will satisfy him, and I will show him My salvation.”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. (Thrice).

Troparion

Tone 8

As salvation came to the house of Zacchaeus at Your entrance, O Christ, and likewise now at the entrance of Your sacred ministers, and, with them, Your holy Angels, grant Your peace to this house and mercifully bless it, saving and illumining all that are about to live in it.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

Priest: O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Who were pleased to enter under the roof of Zacchaeus the Publican, and brought salvation to him and all his house: Preserve, now, unharmed by any evil thing, them that have desired to live here, and offer to You prayers and supplications through us who are unworthy, blessing them and this habitation, and keeping their life always free from snares, abundantly granting them, by Your blessing, every good thing that is profitable for them. For unto You is due all glory, honor and worship, together with Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit. Bow your heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

And the Priest shall read this prayer:

O Master, Lord our God, Who live on High and look down upon the lowly; Who blessed the house of Laban at the entrance of Jacob, and the house of Potiphar at the coming of Joseph; Who blessed the house of Abinadab with the carrying in of the Ark; and Who, in the days of the Advent in the flesh of Christ, our God, granted salvation to the house of Zacchaeus: Bless also this house, and encompass with the fear of You, them that are about to live in it, and keep them unharmed by adversaries; and send down Your blessing from Your dwelling on High, and bless and increase every good thing in this house:

Exclamation: For Yours it is to be merciful and to save us, O our God, and to You 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.

Then shall be blessed the oil thrice with his right hand, saying:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And he shall say this prayer:

O Lord, our God, look down now with mercy on the prayer of Your lowly and unworthy servant, and send down the Grace of Your Most-holy Spirit on this oil, and sanctify it, that it may be for the sanctification of this place and this house [that has been constructed], and for the expelling of every contrary power and satanic snare: For You are He that blesses and sanctifies all things, O Christ, our God, and to You 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.

Then shall the Priest take Holy Water and sprinkle all the walls of the house cross-wise, and every room, saying:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, by the sprinkling of this Holy Water, let every evil demonic activity be put to flight. Amen.

Having sprinkled the whole house, the Priest shall take the oil and anoint with it the walls of the house in the places where the sign of the Cross was traced, beginning at the Eastern wall of the house, then the Western, then the Northern, and finally the Southern wall, saying at each:

This house is blessed through the anointing of this Holy Oil, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After completion of the anointing, lighted candles shall be placed before each anointed cross on each wall.

Meanwhile, the People shall sing:

Troparion

Tone 5

Bless this house, O Lord, and fill it with Your earthly good things. And keep unharmed from every evil circumstance them that are about to live in it with piety. And grant to them every heavenly abundance and Your earthly blessing. And, as You are compassionate, have mercy, according to Your great mercy.

After the Troparion has been sung and the anointing completed, the Priest shall stand facing the East, and if he so desires, he may read this Gospel lection:

Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

THE GOSPEL: Luke, Sec. 94

Let us attend! At that time, Jesus came to Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Psalm 100

I will sing to You, O Lord, of mercy and justice3, I will sing praise and understand in a faultless way. When will You come to me? I have walked in my house in the innocence of my heart. I set no unlawful thing before my eyes,4 I hate those who do wrong, no crooked heart has joined me. A villain who avoided me, I refused to know. The man who in secret talks against his neighbor, him I drive away. A man with a proud eye and a greedy heart, with him I was not eating.5 My eyes are on the faithful of the land, that they may sit with me. He who walks in a blameless way has been employed in my service. One who acts proudly has not lived in my house; one who talks wrong things will not prosper in my sight. Each morning I put to death all the sinners of the land, to destroy all evildoers from the city of God.

While the Psalm is being said, if the Priest so desires, let him cense the whole house.

Ektenia

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we implore You, hear us and have mercy. Lord, have mercy (Thrice).

Again we pray that He will send down His blessing on this house and on His servant(s), [NAMES], and everyone that is about to live in it in piety, and that He will send to them His Angel of mercy, who will preserve and protect them from every evil thing, and will guide them to the performing of every virtue and the fulfilling of the holy commandments of Christ; and that He will protect them from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion or civil war, and from sudden death; that that He will grant them health and will encompass them with length of day, and will grant them abundance in everything, let us all say: O Lord, hear us and have mercy. Lord, have mercy (Thrice).

Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off on the sea; and be gracious, be gracious, O Master, to us sinners and have mercy on us. For You are a merciful God, the Lover of mankind, and to You 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.

And the Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal of the day.

And he shall proclaim the "Many Years" to the inhabitants of the new house.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF VEHICLES OF TRAVEL

The usual beginning

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O MASTER, Lord our God, hear our prayer, and bless this vehicle with Your holy right hand. Send down upon it Your Guardian Angel, that all who desire to journey in it may be preserved safely and shielded from every evil end. And as the Ethiopian man, riding in the chariot and reading Your holy prophecy, was granted faith and grace through Your Apostle, so now manifest the path of salvation to Your servants who shall travel by this vehicle, that with Your helping grace they may be clothed with good works, and after the completion of this life, may be granted everlasting joy in Your heavenly kingdom: For Yours are the might, and the kingdom, and the power, and to You 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.

The Priest shall sprinkle the vehicle with Holy Water.

The Dismissal

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his most pure Mother; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of heaven; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy Martyr Christopher; of Saint [NAME], whom we commemorate today; and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for he is good and loves mankind.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF A GRAVE IN AN UNCONSECRATED CEMETERY

Let us pray to the Lord

Lord have mercy.

O MASTER, Lord our God, through whose mercy faithful souls are given rest, bless the grave of this Your servant, [NAME], and send down Your holy Angel to guard it: that the body which shall be buried herein, may receive an place of repose even unto Your Second Coming and the Resurrection of this Your servant; while the soul, loosed from every sinful bond, may be granted everlasting joy in Your heavenly and holy Courts: For You are the King of peace, and the Savior of our souls, and to You 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.

The Priest shall sprinkle the grave or tomb with Holy Water.

[MISSING FROM PAGE 93 Prayer at the Blessing of a Cemetery Monument]

ORDER FOR THE BLESSING AND SANCTIFICATION OF ICONS

The usual beginning

Reader: Lord, have mercy (Twelve times). Glory: Now and ever: Come, let us worship,

Psalm 88

I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; I will tell Your truth with my mouth to all generations. For You have said, “Mercy will be built up forever.” Your truth will be prepared in the heavens. “I have made a covenant with My chosen people, I have sworn to My servant David: I will prepare Your Son6 for an eternal reign and I will build up your throne for all generations.” The heavens confess Your wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints. For who in the clouds7 is equal to the Lord? And who is like the Lord among the sons of God? God, Who is glorified in the council of the saints, is great and terrible8 above all those around Him. O Lord, God of hosts, who is like You? You are powerful, O Lord, and Your truth is around You. You rule the raging of the sea, You calm the surge of its waves. You have humbled the proud one like a wounded man, with the arm of Your power You have scattered Your enemies. The heavens are Yours and the earth is Yours, the world and its fullness You have founded. The north and the sea You have created, Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. You have an arm with power; let Your hand be strengthened, Your right hand exalted. Justice and judgment are the preparation for Your throne, mercy and truth pave the way for Your presence. Blessed are the people who know the joyful shout! They will walk, O Lord, in the light of Your presence and they will rejoice in Your name all day long and by Your righteousness9 they will be exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your goodwill we are raised to power. For our protection comes from the Lord and from the Holy One of Israel, our King. Then You spoke in a vision to Your sons and said, “I have laid help on a strong man, I have raised up one chosen out of My people. I have found My servant David, with My holy oil I have anointed him. For My hand will help him and My arm will strengthen him. The enemy will get no help in him10 and the son of lawlessness will not continue to harm him. And I will cut down his enemies before his face and those who hate him I will put to flight. And My truth and My mercy will be with him, and in My name he will rise to power. And I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He will call upon Me and say: ‘You are my Father, my God and the protector of my salvation.’ And I will make him My firstborn, high above the kings of the earth. I will keep My mercy for him forever, and My covenant with him will be secure. And I will establish his sons forever and ever and his throne as the days of heaven. If his sons forsake My law and do not walk by My judgments, if they profane My requirements and do not keep My commandments, I will visit their sins with a rod and their wrongdoings with a scourge. Yet I will not withdraw My mercy from them and I will do them no injustice in my truth. I will never break My covenant or reject what has gone from My lips. Once I have sworn by My holy place11 I will not lie to David. His sons will continue forever12 and his throne like the sun before Me, and like the moon that is poised forever, and like the faithful witness in heaven13.” But You have rejected and spurned us, You have delayed Your Christ. You have dissolved the covenant with Your servant, You have profaned his sanctuary to the ground. You have broken down all his defenses, You have put cowardice in his strongholds. All who pass that way plunder him, he has become a disgrace to his neighbors. You have raised up the right hand of those who oppress him, You have gladdened all his enemies. You have foiled the help of his sword and You have not helped him in battle. You have made an end of his purification, You have torn down his throne to the ground. You have shortened the days of his life, You have poured shame upon him. How long, O Lord, will You turn away? Will Your anger burn like fire until the end? Remember what my purpose is. Have You created in vain all the sons of men? Who is the man who will live and will not see death? Will he deliver his soul from the clutch of hell? Where are Your old-time mercies, O Lord, which You swore to David by Your truth? Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I have borne in my bosom from many nations, with which Your enemies reproach us, O Lord, with which they reproach the ransom of Your Christ. Blessed is the Lord forever. Amen. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O Lord Almighty, God of our Fathers, glorified and worshiped in the Holy Trinity, Whom neither mind is able to comprehend nor word able to express, Whom no one among men has ever seen, as we have learned from the Holy Scriptures, thus we believe and thus we confess You, God the Father without beginning, and Your Son, one in essence, co-enthroned with Your Spirit. In the Old Law You revealed Yourself to Your Patriarch Abraham in the image of the three Angels, and in the latter days after the Incarnation of the Only-begotten Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the Ever-virgin Mary, in the Baptism by John in the Jordan, in the truly-bright Transfiguration on Tabor, in the most-glorious Ascension on Olivet, You showed us the image of the Most-holy Trinity; You instructed us also to honor the wonderworking Image Not-Made-By-Hands of our Lord Jesus Christ depicted on the towel and sent to Abgar, the Prince of Edessa, which healed him and many others sick with the wounds of sickness; You did not reject, but accepted also the images and likeness of Your holy Saints. Look down now, also, on this (these) Icon(s) which Your servants have fashioned in honor and glory of You, (One in Trinity, the Holy and Glorious God,) (and Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,) (and Your most-pure and truly-blessed Mother, our Sovereign Lady, the Most-holy Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary,) and in memory of Your Saint(s) [NAMES],) and bless it (them) and sanctify it (them) and grant it (them) healing power, that it (they) may drive away every snare of the devil, that it (they) may cause the prayers of all diligently praying before it (them) to be heard, that they may draw down Your mercy and love for mankind, and that they may receive Grace. For You are our sanctification, and to You 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.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

The Priest shall bow his head and says this prayer:

O eternal, invisible and incomprehensible Lord, Who in ancient times, in the Old Law, commanded that in the Tent of the Testimony and Temple of Solomon there be made likenesses of the cherubim of wood, gold and embroidery, and Who now accepts images not only in remembrance of Your saving benefactions and divine manifestations to the Human race, made in honor and glory of Your most-holy Name, but also do not reject those fashioned in remembrance of and in imitation of Your holy Saints, attend to our humble prayer: Bless this (these) Icon(s) and sanctify it (them), and grant it (them) grace and power to drive out demons and to heal all infirmities:

Exclamation: For You are He that blesses and sanctifies all things, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest shall sprinkle the icon(s) with Holy Water, saying:

This icon is (these icons are) sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen (Thrice).

And having sprinkled it, the Priest shall cense it and venerate and kiss it. The People shall sing the Troparia of the Saint or event depicted by the icon, and the Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal mentioning the Feast or Saint.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF A CROSS WORN ON THE BREAST

The cross is placed upon the Holy Alter, and after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, or Matins, or the Hours, or Vespers, before the Dismissal, the Priest shall say: O Heavenly King, etc. If the cross is blessed at any other time, the Priest shall begin:

The usual beginning

Troparion

Tone 1

O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by the virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation.

Glory:

Kontakion

Tone 3

As You were voluntarily crucified for our sake, grant mercy to them that are called by Your name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace.

…now and ever:

Theotokion

Tone 6

Steadfast protectress of Christians, constant advocate before the Creator: do not despise the cry of us sinners, but in your goodness come speedily to help us who call upon you in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you. Amen.

The Priest shall sprinkle the cross with Holy Water, saying:

This Emblem of the Cross is blessed and sanctified by the Grace of the Most-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this Holy Water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen (Thrice).

And the Priest shall pronounce the usual Dismissal, and give the cross to whomever it belongs.

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF A MEDAL

The usual beginning

Let us pray to the Lord

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD our King, Sovereign of all, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who commanded Moses, Your servant, to place the images of the Cherubim in the holy Tabernacle upon either side of the mercy-seat: Grant, we ask You, O our King, to send down the grace of Your Holy Spirit and Your Angel upon this medal, and, in Your fatherly goodness, bless and sanctify it, and grant that whoever wears it, mindful of the mystery which it represents, may be kindled with devout affections and increase in holiness of life; endow it with the aid of Your protection against all snares of the Enemy, and make it to be a guardian of soul and body; through the grace, and compassion, and love of Your only-begotten Son, and our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ who loves mankind: For unto You are due 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 Priest shall sprinkle the medal with Holy Water, saying:

This image is sanctified by the Grace of the Most-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this Holy Water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

The Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal of the day mentioning the Saint represented by the medal

PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OF A PRAYER BOOK OR BIBLE

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O HOLY MASTER, omnipotent Father, God from all eternity, who gave Your servant Moses the Tablets on which You were graciously pleased to inscribe the statutes of the Law, that all living beings might keep them: So, now bless and sanctify this book, which contains within it Your holy law and the glorification of Your Name, and of the all-blessed Virgin Theotokos, and all Your Saints. Grant us, through Your abundant compassion, so to use it, that it may serve for the healing and salvation of our souls: For You are a God of mercies and bounties, and to You 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.

And the Priest shall sprinkle the book with Holy Water.

PRAYER FOR THE BLESSING OF ANY OBJECT

The usual beginning

Let us pray to the Lord

Lord, have mercy.

O CREATOR and Author of the human race, Giver of spiritual grace and Bestower of eternal salvation: Send down Your Holy Spirit with a blessing from on high upon this object; that fortified by the power of heavenly protection, it may be a help unto bodily salvation, defense and aid, unto those who shall desire to use it: For You bless and sanctify all things, and to You 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.

The Priest shall sprinkle the object thrice with Holy Water, pronouncing the usual formula of blessing.

Then he shall pronounce the Dismissal of the day.

OFFICE AT THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARRIAGE OF DIVORCED PERSONS

Blessed is. our God always: now and. ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And the Priest shall say these verses:

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord; all they who walk in His paths

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

For great and awesome is God over all who are about him.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

The Lord shall guard his mercy forever, and his covenant is sure. Glory and wealth shall be in his house.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You. For the hand of the Lord will help him, and his arm shall strengthen him.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Your wife shall be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of your house.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Your children like a newly-planted olive orchard around your table.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

The Lord in Zion shall so bless you, that you shall see the good things of Jerusalem all your life long.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Ektenia

In peace lit us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

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

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, the welfare of the holy Churches of \God, and the union of all people, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For [his Beatitude] Metropolitan [NAME]; for [his Grace] our Bishop [NAME]; for the honorable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the servants of God, [NAME] and [NAME], who are now being rejoined in marriage that there may be granted to them an undisgraced life and a blameless state and uncondemned conduct, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That there may be granted unto them a cohabitation of concord and love, of progress in good works, and of length of days, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

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

Lord, have mercy.

Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

To You, O Lord.

For to You belong 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.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O MASTER who loves mankind, King of the ages and, Creator of all things, who have destroyed the partition-wall of hatred and. have granted peace to the race of men: We ask You and we entreat You, behold these Your servants, [NAME] and [NAME], and pour down upon them Your blessing. Restore the peace which has been disturbed, and implant love towards one another in their hearts. Richly bestow upon them spiritual peace and a life without plots, that continuing in spiritual tranquility, they may enjoy Your blessings and glorify You, the only God of love: For You bless and sanctify all things, and. to You 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.

The Dismissal

May He Who by His presence at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee declared marriage to be an honorable estate, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, God-crowned Kings and Saints equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen; of the holy Great Martyr, Procopius; and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

THE BENEDICTION AND CONFIRMATION OF THE HETERODOX MARRIAGE OF A COUPLE EMBRACING ORTHODOXY

The Priest shall inquire publicly of the man, saying:

Have you, [NAME], a good, free and unconstrained will and a firm intention to keep unto yourself as wife this woman, [NAME] whom you see here before you?

And he shall answer:

I have.

And the Priest shall inquire of the woman, saying:

Have you, [NAME], a good, free and unconstrained will and a firm intention to keep unto yourself as husband this man, [NAME] whom you see here before you?

And she shall answer:

I have

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

And the Priest shall add this Blessing:

May the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the all-holy, consubstantial and life-creating Trinity, one Godhead, and one Kingdom, bless you; and grant to you length of days, fair children, prosperity of life, and faith: and fill you with an abundance of all earthly good things, and make you worthy to obtain the blessings of the promise: through the prayers of the holy Theotokos, and of all the Saints.. Amen.

And the Priest shall pronounce the Dismissal as above.

PRAYER SAID IN TIME OF WAR

Let us pray to the Lord

Lord, have mercy.

O LORD GOD of hosts, God of our salvation, who alone does wonders; look upon Your humble servants in mercy and bounty, and in Your love for mankind hear us and have mercy on us: for our foes are gathered against us, to destroy us and to bring ruin to our sanctuaries. Help us, O God our Savior, and deliver us, for the glory of Your Name’s sake, and let the words spoken by Moses to the Israelite people be applied to us: ‘Behold, stand fast and see the salvation which is from the Lord. The Lord shall fight for you.’ Yea, Lord God, our Savior, our strength, our hope and protection, do not remember the lawlessness and unrighteousness of Your people, nor turn away from us in Your wrath; but in Your mercies and bounties visit Your humble servants who prostrate themselves before Your loving-kindness; rise to our aid and grant our warriors to triumph in Your Name; and forgive the transgressions of those whom You have called to lay down their lives in battle, and on the day of Your just retribution bestow upon them crowns of incorruption: For You are the Protection and Victory and Salvation of those who hope on You, and to You 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.

THE BLESSING OF WARRIORS GOING INTO COMBAT

The usual beginning

Troparion

Tone 1

O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; grant victory over our adversaries, and by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your inheritance.

Let us pray to the Lord

Lord, have mercy.

O MASTER, Lord God of our fathers, we ask You and we humbly implore You: Mercifully behold the supplication of us, Your unworthy servants, and as of old You deigned to ascend with Moses, Your well-pleasing servant, leading Your people Israel from Egypt to the promised land: so now, go with these Your servants, [NAME, NAME], and with these warriors, and be their Helper and Defender, and preserve them both at day and at night inviolate and unharmed from every evil circumstance, malady, famine and flood, and every fear. And as You strengthened Joshua the son of Nun by the cross-wise raising of Moses’ hands upon Amalek and upon the Canaanite kingdom warring against them, that they might be prevailed against, and thus laid waste to Zeb, and Zebee and Salmana, and all their princes; and as You aided Gideon with three hundred chosen men to vanquish the multitudes of Midian: so now, grant these Your faithful servants, strength, power and courage, aid and protection. And like as You assisted the first among Christian sovereigns, Constantine, to conquer Your defiant foes by a heavenly manifestation: so now, mercifully grant triumph and victory over our enemies to these Your faithful servants; and encompass them in warfare from all directions with Your Angel; and arm them with the power and defense of the precious and life-creating Cross, in the Name of You, God the Father, and Your beloved Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Your most holy and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest shall turn to face the fighting men, and, blessing them with his right hand, he shall say:

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

Still facing the men, the Priest shall say this prayer:

O LORD our God, who hearkened unto Moses who raised his hands to You, and strengthened the people of Israel against Amalek, and allowed the sun to stop as a sign of victory for the embattled Joshua the son of Nun: So now, hear our entreaty for these warriors gathered here, and bless and strengthen them; grant them courage against the opposing foes, send to them a radiant Angel; remove from Your servants now going out to battle, and from every one of us, all famine and destruction, and deliver us from the fire, sword and invasion of enemies, and from every adverse uprising. Be their co-traveler and grant them all their petitions which are unto salvation: teach them and give them understanding. Save, defend, protect, purify and fill them with spiritual joy; be the protector and defender of their souls and bodies, and since You are good and merciful and love mankind, grant them forgiveness of sins in the day of judgment. Be merciful unto them and unto us all, and bless us all the days of our life: that receiving aid and protection and deliverance from You, we may ever render, without hindrance, glory and thanksgiving to You: For You are a Fortress and Firm Foundation for Your people, and to You we send up glory, with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And the Priest shall bless them saying:

The blessing of the Lord be upon you all: take courage and let your hearts be strengthened, and place your trust in the Lord, for he shall vanquish our foes. Amen.

And he shall sprinkle them all with Holy Water cross-wise while the People sing:

Troparion

Tone 4

O Lord, as You aided meek David to vanquish the foreigner, so You assist Your faithful people; and with the armor of the Cross, crush down our enemies; show upon us, O Merciful One, Your mercy of old, that they may truly know that You are God; and that we who trust in You may triumph: diligently entreating Your most pure Mother to grant us peace and great mercy.

The Dismissal

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his most pure Mother, by the power of the precious and life-creating Cross; by the protection of the holy and great angelic leaders Michael and Gabriel, and of all the Bodiless Hosts of heaven; of the holy Great-martyrs George, Demetrius, Procopius, Theodore Stratelates and Theodore Tiro; and of all his Saints, have mercy on you and strengthen you in the day of battle, and save us, for he is good and loves mankind.

SUPPLEMENT

ORDER FOR SANCTIFICATION AND BLESSING OF SERVICE VESSELS

Chalice, paten, star and spoon with their three coverings when brought forth together.

A table appropriately covered is placed before the Holy Doors and on it are set the vessels. The Priest, vested with Epitrachelion and Phelonion proceeds through the Holy Doors with the censer, and having censed cross-wise, begins as usual.

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen. Lord have mercy (12 times); Glory, now and ever…

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!

Psalm 22

The Lord is my shepherd and I will lack nothing. He settles me in a place of green grass, beside restful water He nourishes me. He corrects my soul, He guides me on the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. For even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, because You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me. You anoint my head with oil, and Your cup inebriates me with love14 -- how very strong it is! And Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord for the length of my days.15

Glory, ... Now and ever. Amen.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice.)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Our Master, Lord God Almighty! Having given to Your servant Moses the law, the statutes and rituals, You commanded that vessels of gold and silver be fashioned and sanctified in the sanctuary, which was erected to the glory of Your all-holy Name, for the bringing forth of various sacrifices to You, our true God (since these were the shadow and image of our present true bloodless sacrifice). O Lord, Who love mankind, bless at this present time this paten, chalice, star and spoon with their coverings, and sanctify them with the power, action and grace of Your all-holy and life-creating Spirit, so that on them may be brought forth the true, living, bloodless and verbal sacrifice , the all-holy Flesh of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who for our sake and for the sake of our salvation offered Himself once as a Sacrifice upon the altar of the Cross. For unto You with Him and Your all-holy good and life-creating. Spirit, is due all glory , honor and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all! And to your spirit.

Bow your heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

The Priest, bowing his head, says this prayer:

O Lord our God, look down upon the prayer of Your unworthy servant, and. send down the abundance of Your blessings on these vessels, and sanctify them by Your Holy Spirit in the sprinkling of this- holy water, making them worthy receptacles of the most-pure body and most precious Blood of Your Christ.

Exclamation: For You are the fountain of sanctification, and unto You we send up glory, honor and worship, together with Your Only-begotten Son and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit , now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest, sprinkling the vessels with holy water, says:

These vessels are sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spi rit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

If he now intends to celebrate, the Priest, takes up the vessels, carries them into the Sanctuary and, setting them on the Table of Preparation, begins the service. If he is not to celebrate, the Priest pronounces the usual daily Dismissal, and carries the vessels into the Sanctuary.

PRAYER OVER THE PATEN ALONE

When blessing only the Paten, the beginning is ordinary: Psalm 22, the reading of the preceding prayer omitting the naming of the other vessels, the silent prayer with bowed head, and the sprinkling with holy water as indicated in the preceding rubric.

PRAYER OVER THE CHALICE ALONE

that is: A NEW CHALICE

The usual beginning)

Psalm 22, and then:

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Almighty Master, Lord God of our fathers, we implore You, we appeal to You, and diligently ask You to send down the grace of Your all-sanctifying and life-creating Spirit upon this chalice, (if, there be covers and spoon, say this: and upon all its garnishment) and bless, purify and sanctify the cup of Your priest Melchisedek, and the cup of the holy apostles at the mystical supper of Your Christ causing it to be worthy of Your sacrificial offering, unto the bringing forth in it to You, the God and Father , of the most propitious bloodless sacrifice of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ: with Whom to You, and to Your most-holy and life-creating Spirit is due all glory, honor, and worship, now and ever, and unto: ages of ages. Amen.

The rest, as in the preceding rubric.

PRAYER FOR BLESSING A NEW PATEN STAR SEPARATELY

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who was born in a cavern from a Virgin, and having guided the Magi to worship You by a star: we humbly ask You, to send now Your heavenly blessing upon this star, and bless and sanctify it, so that it may be a worthy ornament serving Your holy mysteries, and a remembrance and glorification of Your God-incarnate birth from the Virgin. For You are He Who blesses and sanctifies all things, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your Father Who has no beginning, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

After the prayer with bowed head, the Priest sprinkles the star with holy water, saying:

This star is sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spirit , through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

PRAYER WHEN BLESSING A NEW SPOON FOR THE DIVINE MYSTERIES

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord God Almighty, Who purified the prophet with a coal taken from the seraphim with pincers and applied to the lips prefiguring at one time the power of the Divine Mysteries of the Flesh and Blood of Your Christ, which is given at this present time by a spoon to Your faithful people unto cleansing from defilement of sins: mercifully look down, now, on our prayers, and send down Your heavenly blessing upon this spoon, and bless and Sanctify it, making it a worthy vessel to receive and to serve up the most-pure Body and precious Blood of Your Christ. For You are the fountain of sanctification, and the giver of all good things, and to You we send up g1ory, thanksgiving and worship, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And after this prayer with bowed head the Priest shall sprinkle the spoon with holy water, saying:

This spoon is sanctified by the grace of The All-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

And then it is placed together with the other sacred vessels.

Let it be known, if and when these service vessels must be renewed, re-gilded or restored by hands other than of the priest, after that they must be blessed and sanctified by the same forgoing ritual. If you do otherwise, O Priest, you commit mortal sin, for you degrade Christ’s Mysteries.

BLESSING OF NEW COVERS FOR THE HOLY SACRAMENT

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, God Almighty, Who clothe Yourself with light as with a garment, Who invests the heavens with clouds and covers Your sublimity with the waters: we humbly ask You to look down upon our diligent prayer and send down Your heavenly blessing upon these coverings (or this covering) and bless, purify and sanctify them (it), to make them (it) worthy to cover the Holy and divine Mysteries of the Flesh and Blood of Your Christ, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest, sprinkling the covers, says:

These coverings are sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and. of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

BLESSING OF A NEW TABERNACLE

Or any vessel intended to contain the Divine Mysteries of Christ.

On a table appropriately covered and placed before the Holy Doors, the new tabernacle (vessel, pyxis) is set. The Priest, vested in epitrachelion and phelonion, exits through the Holy Doors and censes the tabernacle crosswise, beginning as usual.

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Psalm 131

Remember David, O Lord, and all his meekness.16 How he swore to the Lord and vowed to the God of Jacob:17 I will not enter my house, or go under its roof, or climb onto my bed. I will give no sleep to my eyes, no repose to my eyelids, no rest to my temples, until I find a place for the Lord, a temple for the God of Jacob. Behold, we heard it was in Ephratha, we found it in the fields of the wood. Let us enter His temples, let us worship at the place where His feet have stood. Arise, O Lord, into Your resting place,18 You and the ark of Your holiness. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness and let Your saints rejoice. For Your servant David’s sake, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed One.19 The Lord swore a truth to David and He will not annul it: “One of your sons I will set on your throne. If your sons will keep My covenant and these testimonies which I will teach them, then their sons forever will sit on your throne. For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it as a dwelling for Himself. This is My rest forever and ever; here I will live, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will be shouting for joy. There I will make the power20 of David grow. I have prepared a lamp for My Christ. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on Him My holiness will blossom.”

Glory, now and ever ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord our God, Who has the heavens as a throne and the earth for a footstool, even all the universe cannot contain You, neither can the minds of Angels or men comprehend the magnitude of Your glory nor worthily tell of You: however, for the sake of merciful compassion and love for mankind, You permitted Yourself unspeakably to be contained within a Virgin’s womb and became man, remaining true God, to appropriate man to Yourself under the visible guise of bread and wine, giving Your own Flesh and Blood to the faithful. But since You are God, existing everywhere and fulfilling all, yet as God and as man, in heaven on the right hand of the Father, and on earth desiring truly to be present in the most-pure mysteries only by Your Flesh and Blood: therefore, I now humbly implore You, look down mercifully upon our prayer and upon this vessel which was made to Your glory, and send down upon it Your heavenly blessing; bless, purify and sanctify it so that it may be a worthy receptacle, even a new tomb and treasure box for Your holy and life-creating mysteries of Your most pure Body and sacred Blood. For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory with Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads unto the Lord. To, You, O Lord.

The Priest, with bowed head, says this prayer:

O Lord our God, incline Your ear and hear me, as You promised for the sake of mercy and love for mankind to be with us without interruption till the end of time, and send the grace of Your most pure Spirit; and through the sprinkling of this holy water, bless and sanctify this vessel, which was made to be a repository for the divine mysteries of Your Flesh and Blood.

Exclamation: For You are He Who blesses and sanctifies all things, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your Father Who has no beginning, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest sprinkles the vessel with holy water, saying:

This tabernacle is sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

Pronouncing the usual daily Dismissal, the Priest places the Holy Tabernacle on the Holy Altar, and places into it the Divine Sacrament.

BLESSING OF THE ILITON

The Iliton is made of delicate and fine material, linen or silk, somewhat larger than the Antimins. Spreading the I1iton on the Ho1y Altar, the Priest, vested in Epitrachelion and Phelonion, censing the Holy Altar crosswise, shall then stand in front of the Altar and begin as usual:

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Psalm 110

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart, in the council and congregation21 of the righteous22. Great are the works of the Lord, adapted to all His purposes.23 Confession and magnificence are His work, and His righteousness continues forever and ever. He has made a memorial of His wonders;24 the Lord is merciful and compassionate: He gives food to those who fear Him, He will remember His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of His hands are truth and judgment; all His commandments are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, they have been made in truth and justice. He sent redemption to His people, He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and terrible is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and all who practice it have a good understanding. His praise continues forever and ever.

Glory, now and ever ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Son and Word of the living God, Who deigned for the sake of our salvation to be incarnate of the all-pure Virgin, and after birth to be wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid within a manger: Who, after death on the Cross, which You endured voluntarily for our sake, deigned to be wrapped with a pure shroud and head-covering and placed within the tomb: We now ask You, and humbly pray, that You will send the divine blessing and grace of Your Holy Spirit upon this Iliton, and bless, purify and sanctify it, making it worthy to consecrate upon it the divine mysteries of Your all-pure Body and honorable Blood, to Your glory and of Your unoriginate Father, the Only-begotten One and Your life-creating Spirit, and for the salvation of Your people. For You are our sanctification and to You we send up glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads unto the Lord. To, You, O Lord.

The Priest, with bowed head, says this prayer:

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, accept this diligent prayer from us Your unworthy servants, and as You are good and love mankind, deign now to send down the holy blessing on this Iliton, and bless and sanctify it by Your Holy Spirit in the sprinkling of this holy water, as You blessed Your holy burial shroud. Make it to be a new head napkin and shroud for Your Most-pure body and Precious Blood.

Exclamation: For You are He Who blesses and sanctifies all things, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your unoriginate Father, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest sprinkles the Iliton with holy water, saying:

This Iliton is sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Sprit, through the sprinkling with this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

Then the usual daily Dismissal.

BLESSING OF NEW PRIEST’S VESTMENTS

Sticharion, epitrachelion, belt, cuffs, and phelonion

On an appropriate table set before the Holy Doors the new vestments intended to be blessed are placed. The Priest proceeds through the Holy Doors with the censer, and having censed the vestments crosswise, begins as usual:

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Glory: now and ever ...

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!

Psalm 132

Behold, how good and how delightful it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like the oil of myrrh on the head, which was running down on the beard, on Aaron’s beard, which was running down to the edge of his garment. It is like the dew of Hermon which descends on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing: life for all eternity.25

Glory: now and ever ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord God Almighty, Who set in motion from the beginning, all that is profitable for the human race; Who willed that temples should be erected to Your holy Name by hands of men, and that these should be consecrated to Your glory, and that these places should be called the abode of Your Glory; Who through Your servant Moses commanded that the vestments of the high priests, the priests, and the Levites, and other various adornments should be made for the magnificence and beauty of Your sanctuary and altar: Now mercifully hear our supplication and bless, purify and sanctify this (these) Vestment(s) (he names them) in honor of and to the glory of Your most-holy Name, for the adornment and splendor of the servants of Your (Holy Altar and the preparation of Your Holy Mysteries) (divine Services), through me, Your humble and unworthy servant, that they may be shown worthy of every doxology to Your most-holy Name; and for Your (priestly) servants who shall be vested therein, that they be a deliverance and protection from all snares and temptation of enemies, that they be for a means of pleasing You, for worthy service (of Your Holy Mysteries, and for the ministration of Your Grace and mercies) (at Your divine Services): Through the Grace and compassion and love for mankind of Your Only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads unto the Lord. To You, O Lord.

The Priest, with bowed head, says this prayer:

O Master, God Almighty, Giver of all good things and Fountain of sanctification: Look down even now on our prayers and these Vestments (he names them) prepared for the adornment and splendor of Your (priestly) servers, and make them, by the grace of Your Most-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this Holy Water, to be blessed, holy and sanctified, and all those who shall vest themselves with them, to be worthy to serve (Your Holy Mysteries) (at Your divine Services) and to please You at all times.

Exclamation: For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your Most-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest sprinkles them with holy water, saying:

This (These) Vestment(s) (he names them) is (are) sanctified by the Grace of the Most-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this Holy Water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

There is no dismissal if the Priest is to liturgize. He shall carry the vestments into the sanctuary, vest in them and proceed with the service. If no service is to follow, the usual daily Dismissal is pronounced and the vestments are taken into the sanctuary and placed on the Altar.

BLESSING OF ALTAR COVERINGS

INDITIA: vestments for the Altar (Prestol) and the Altar of Oblations (Sacrificial Table)

Placing these vestments upon an appropriate table before the Holy Doors, the Priest, vested in Epitrachelion and Phelonion, proceeds through the Holy Doors with the censer, and having censed the vestments crosswise, begins as usual:

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Glory: now and ever ...

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!

Psalm 92

The Lord reigns as King,26 He is clothed with beauty, the Lord is clothed and surrounded with power. He has made the world firm and it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been prepared from of old,27 You are from all eternity. The rivers have risen, O Lord,28 the rivers have raised their voices, the rivers will lift their waves above the roars of many waters. Wonderful are the ocean breakers, wonderful is the Lord on high! Your testimonies may be fully trusted.29 Holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, forever.

Glory: now and ever ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord God, Father Almighty, Who command Your servant and lawgiver Moses on Mount Sinai to prepare various adornments, coverings and vestments to be used at services at the ark of the covenant and at Your lawful sanctuary: So now, we diligently implore You, as You then compassionately accepted those things and sanctified them by the hand of Aaron, mercifully accept even these things and by the hand of me, a sinful servant, through Your Holy Spirit, bless, purify, sanctify and make them worthy to cover and adorn the divine altar and sacrificial table of Your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. For from You on high is given all good, and every perfect gift descends; and to You we send up glory together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads unto the Lord. To You, O Lord.

The Priest, with bowed head, says:

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear me, Your unworthy servant, and bless, purify and sanctify these covering vestments to be used for the holy altar and sacrificial table of Your Christ, through Your all-sanctifying grace, in the sprinkling of this holy water.

Exclamation: For You are He Who blesses and sanctifies all things, O our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Only begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest sprinkles them with holy water, saying:

These coverings (vestments) are sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

And having completed the usual dismissal, the Priest shall take the coverings and cover the Altar and the Sacrificial Table.

BLESSING OF NEW CHURCH VESSELS

Many together, or, individually, such as: censer, offering plate, spear, water vessels, sprinkler, zeon (cup) and other altar pertinences.

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

Glory: now and ever ...

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!

Psalm 25

Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence, and by hoping in the Lord I shall not grow weak. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; burn my heart30 and my thoughts. For Your mercy is before my eyes, and I delight in Your truth. I do not sit with a frivolous gathering and I will not go with lawbreakers. I hate the company of evildoers and I will not sit with godless people. I will wash my hands among the innocent and I will encircle Your altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of praise and tell of all Your wonders. Lord, I love the beauty of Your house and the place of the temple of Your glory. Do not destroy my soul with the godless and my life with men of blood, in whose hands are wrongdoings, whose right hand is full of bribes. But I have walked in my innocence; deliver me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on the straight path; I will bless You, O Lord, in the churches.

Glory: now and ever ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord God Almighty, God of our fathers, Who have said through Your chosen vessel, the Apostle Paul, that all Your creation is good and nothing is rejected, which is sanctified by prayers and Your divine word: we humbly pray! Mercifully look down upon our prayer and upon these vessels (this vessel, OR, name it) which Your servants have provided to the glory of Your all-holy name and to the service of this holy altar, and, with Your heavenly blessing and the prayer of us, Your unworthy slaves and servants, mercifully bless and sanctify, and make them (it) to be worthy of service before Your holy altar, bestowing upon the donors Your heavenly grace, granting them remission of sins and making them communicants of Your kingdom. For You are the God of mercy, compassion and love of mankind, and to You we send up glory, together with Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace be unto all. And to your spirit.

Bow your heads unto the Lord. To You, O Lord.

The Priest, with bowed head, prays:

We humbly implore You, O Lord our God! Look down upon our prayer, and send down Your blessing upon these vessels (this vessel, OR, name it) and through the sprinkling of this holy water bless and sanctify them (it) making them (it) to be worthy of service to Your holy altar.

Exclamation: For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest sprinkles with holy water, saying:

These vessels (this vessel, OR, name it) are (is) blessed by the grace of the All-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Thrice)

Then, the usual Dismissal, and the vessels are taken into the sanctuary.

BLESSING FOR FURNISHINGS

Pews, lecturns, reader’s stand, etc.

O Creator and Author of the human race, Giver of spiritual grace and giver of eternal salvation, Who did instruct that all things would be done unto Your glory: look down upon the labors of Your humble servants. Send down Your blessings from on high on these furnishings, which exemplify the fruity of the efforts of Your faithful servants, and are offered in order that they may beautify Your Holy House.

Exclamation: For You bless and sanctify all things, and to You 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.

A CONCILIATIVE PRAYER FOR THOSE IN ENMITY

We thank You, O Master Lover of mankind, King of the ages and giver of good things, Who has destroyed the middle wall of partition of enmity and has given peace to the generation of mankind, and Who has now granted peace to Your servants: instill the fear of You in them and establish love of one for the other; extinguish every dispute, and take away all temptation for disagreement.

Exclamation: For You are our peace, and to You 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.

APPENDIX A

A NOTE ON THE FORM FOLLOWED IN BENEDICTIONS

The priest is vested in accordance with the importance of the item blessed. When he blesses altar or liturgical vessels or vestments, he is fully vested (these blessings almost always take place in the Liturgy after the Prayer behind the Ambon). At other blessings the priest is vested in a Rason (Riasa) and Epitrachelion. No service may be performed without at least the Epitrachelion. In case of emergency the Priest may use even a ribbon or some similar object for an Epitrachelion. He merely blesses it with his hand before it is used. After such use, however, this ribbon must never be used for its former function. It should be burned.

The object to be blessed is placed on an Analogion or Tetrapodion (if in Church) or on a table covered with a clean white cloth (if at home). If there is a Reader present, he says the preliminary prayers, i.e., The Trisagion, etc., through Our Father, and sings or reads the Apolytikion or Psalm after Our Father. If there is no Reader, the Priest shall read these prayers.

While the prayers are said, the Priest usually censes the object cross-wise (i.e., from all four sides, once or three times).

Then the Priest says the prayer of blessing found in the Euchologion. If, as sometimes happens, the priest is requested to bless some object for which there is no prayer, he uses the prayer for blessing any object, adjusting it to suit the circumstances, or he reads some suitable Psalm if he has no Euchologion with him.

After the prayer, the Priest sprinkles the object once (or thrice) cross-wise, with an aspergillum (or in a private home it may be more convenient to use a Holy Water bottle), and he says the usual formula of blessing.

In general there are two types of formulas. One is used for blessing sacred objects used liturgically: "This (or these), [NAME OF OBJECT], is (are) blessed and sanctified by the grace of the All-holy Spirit through the sprinkling of this holy water, etc." The other formula is used for blessing objects which are brought to church to be blessed but are not used liturgically is: "This (or these), [NAME OF OBJECT], is (are) blessed and sanctified through the sprinkling of this holy water: In the Name of the Father, etc ..." This latter formula is used for blessing a cross worn on the breast, church bells, the Artos, Paschal food, candles on the Presentation of Christ, Palms, first-fruits on the Transfiguration, herbage on the Assumption, etc.

Unless indicated, most other ordinary objects are simply sprinkled cross-wise with Holy Water without any formula (although the Priest may say: "In the Name of the Father, etc.").

Following the sprinkling of the object, the Priest pronounces the Dismissal. First he says: Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to You. And the People or Reader answers: Glory to the Father ... Now and ever ... Lord, have mercy (three times), and says: Father, bless. If a Priest does the service himself, the last two words are, of course, omitted. Then the Priest pronounces the Dismissal of the Day (see Appendix B). While concluding the Dismissal, the Priest blesses the people with the hand cross.

If the blessing takes place in the fields, the Priest always faces the East; if in Church, he faces the Alter; if in a home, he faces an Icon which is placed towards the East.

APPENDIX B,/p>

THE DAILY DISMISSALS

Sunday

May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother; of the holy glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of Saint (of the temple); of Saint (of the day), whom we commemorate today; 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.

Weekdays

May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother;

(Monday) by the protection of the honorable bodiless powers of heaven;

(Tuesday) of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John;

(Wednesday & Friday) by the power of the precious and life-creating Cross;

of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles;

(Thursday) of our father among the saints, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia;

(Saturday) of the holy, glorious, and right-victorious martyrs;

of St. (of the temple.....; of (of the day) , whom we commemorate today; 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.

APPENDIX C

RECEPTION OF ORTHODOX CATHOLIC FAITHFUL TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER PARISH

(or joining the parish for the first time)

This reception is to take place immediately before the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Orthodox Catholic faithful should first present a letter of transfer from the former parish Priest, along with transcripts of Baptismal and Marital records if possible. Those to be received shall prepare themselves to receive Holy Communion.

The priest reads the full names of those to be received into the fellowship of the parish, stating the parish from which they are transferring, and asking them to approach the front of the temple (to stand before the ambon), with these words:

Let those who are communicants of other Orthodox Catholic parishes of the Church of Christ, and who desire to enter into the fellowship of this parish, present themselves to be received.

Then the Priest addresses them as follows:

Beloved in Christ, you have already confessed Christ’s Faith and are communicants of His holy Church.

Do you now re-affirm that same Faith, and pledge to persevere in it as (a) parishioner(s) of this church?

Answer: I do.

Do you promise to make frequent use of the means of grace afforded by this holy Church particularly in the reception of the Holy Mysteries?

Answer: I do.

Do you intend to share fully in the Divine Services, devotions, and good works of the Faithful of this parish?

Answer: I do.

Do you promise to abide by all the rules and statutes of this parish and to uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?

Answer: I do.

Then the Priest says:

The servant(s) of God, [NAME, NAME], is (are) received and admitted into the communion of this holy parish and to participation in all that pertains to it: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Merciful God and Father of all, who calls all men to build of themselves a spiritual house and to offer You spiritual sacrifices, look now with Your mercy on this (these) Your servant(s) whom we receive in Your holy Name to a share in all spiritual blessings of this parish. Enable them, and all who labor in this church and parish, to live together in harmony and in holiness; to assist one another by word and example in the performance of their duties to You and their fellow man, and to preserve their loyalty and fidelity to You and to Your holy Church. Grant them a spirit of gentleness and patience, steadfastness of faith, and perseverance in all good works. Make them, to the praise of Your Christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Your possession. May those whom You have purchased with the precious Blood of Your Christ be sanctified through their fellowship with one another. Shepherd them under Your right hand, and cover them under Your wings, and grant to them to fight the good fight, to finish their course, and to keep the faith, immutably, unblamably, and irreprovably, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, with whom to You and to the Holy Spirit, be glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Priest asks those newly-received to turn and face the remaining Faithful and, asking the latter to stand, he addresses them, saying:

Brothers and Sisters, these persons [NAMES] whom we this day receive into the communion of this holy parish, is (are) commended to your love, care and prayers. Do all in your power to increase his (her, their) faith, to confirm his (her, their) hope, to perfect him (her, them) in love, maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The newly-received parishioner(s) then take their places among the Faithful, and the Priest proceeds with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, during which the new members partake of the Holy Mysteries.

OFFICE FOR THE INDUCTION OF PAROCHIAL OFFICERS

(Churchwardens, parochial councilors, board members, trustees, etc.)

On the Sunday following the annual meeting of the parish, or as soon thereafter as possible, the newly-elected councilors (or by whatever name those who manage the temporal affairs of a parish are known), before or after the Liturgy or other service, shall come to stand before a tetrapodion in the church. On it shall be placed the holy Gospel and Cross. The Dean of the district (or other representative of the bishop) vested in Epitrachelion and Phelonion, shall address the Faithful as follows:

People of this parish, those whom you have elected as councilors are now to be admitted to their office. Because their office is of such importance and responsibility, it is to be hoped that you have chosen only such persons as will faithfully perform their duties. Support them in their work for God and His Church and especially pray for them.

Then the Dean begins:

The usual beginning

Reader: Amen.

Psalm 83

How beloved are Your temples, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs and pines for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. For even a sparrow finds herself a house and the turtle-dove a nest for herself where she may lay her young--Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who live in Your house! They will praise You forever and ever. Blessed is the man whose help is from You! He has arranged in his heart steps of ascent in the valley of weeping, in the place he has made. For the Lawgiver also will give blessings.31 They will go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; listen,32 O God of Jacob. See, O God, our Protector, and look upon the face of Your Christ. For one day in Your courts is better than thousands. I would choose to be cast aside in the house of my God rather than live in the tents of sinners. For the Lord loves mercy and truth; God will give grace and glory: the Lord will not withhold good things from those who walk in innocence. O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man who hopes in You.

Glory: Now and ever ...

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (Thrice).

And the Apolytikion of the Temple is sung.

Then the Parish Priest presents the church officers to the Dean, saying:

Very Reverend Father, I present to you these persons [NAME, NAME], (he announces their names) who have been elected councilors of this parish, and I certify that they are communicants in good standing, and that no objection has been taken to their election.

Then addressing the candidates, the Dean says:

[NAME, NAME], beloved Brothers (and Sisters): you have been duly elected councilors of this parish. Your office is sacred by reason of its importance not only to this parish’s welfare but to the extension of the Kingdom of God. Your office gives you the opportunity to serve that Kingdom. May you be faithful stewards for the Lord God in the dedication of your time and talents to the welfare of his holy Church.

(Here, if he wishes, he may quote the relevant paragraphs from the diocesan ordinance, statutes, by-laws, etc., or from the local parochial by-laws, defining the duties of various church officers.)

[NAME, NAME], do you here in the presence of God and before these faithful declare that you will fulfill loyally and faithfully the duties of the office to which you have been chosen in this parish, abiding by the statutes of the Church?

And each candidate answers:

Answer: I will, the Lord being my helper.

Do you promise to promote the peace, unity, purity, and tranquility of the church?

Answer: I do.

Let us ask the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

The Dean then says:

Lord God of our Fathers, who built the Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the head cornerstone: grant that these Your servants may work in union with Your holy purpose, and in living unity with Your beloved Son our Savior, that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, they may be inspired by the love of You and the desire to extend Your Kingdom among all men. Bless and guide their good works in Your holy Church. Prosper their undertakings, grant them perseverance in their labors, and stimulate others by their example to like zeal in Your service. Grant them so to be joined together in unity of spirit with Your Church, that they may be made a holy temple acceptable to You, our unoriginate Father, co-unoriginate Son, and Life-creating Spirit, to whom we render glory, honor, and worship: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Peace to unto all. And to your spirit.

Let us bow our heads to the Lord. To You, O Lord.

O Lord God, Heavenly Father, who in Your good and beneficent care for Your Church, have given to this parish men (and women) willing to serve it for Your sake, grant these Your servants, we ask You, the gifts of Your Holy Spirit that they may give themselves wholly to the service to which they have been called, with all fidelity, reverence, sincerity and singleness of mind. Let Your blessing descend upon this parish, and so lead and direct it by Your Spirit, that it may be a church holy and without blemish. For You are a merciful God and You love mankind, and to You 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.

If an oath is to be administered, it may be done at this point.

Then the Dean imparts this blessing, facing the church officers:

Bend your knees to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice).

Almighty God, one in the Trinity, who has called you to the service of His Church, bless you, enlighten you, and strengthen you in your service, that you may prove good and faithful stewards, to the glory of His all holy Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And the office is concluded with the Dismissal of the day. The newly-inducted church officers come forward to venerate the holy Gospel and Cross which the Dean and local pastor shall hold for veneration. If he wishes, the Dean may proclaim the "Many Years" to the newly-inducted church officers.

The entire newly-elected council as a body should communicate of the Holy Mysteries at the first Sunday Liturgy following their induction.

PRAYER FOR AN ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

O Merciful and Almighty God, who visits the humble and consoles us by the affection of our brothers and sisters; extend Your grace to this assembly, that by means of those in whom You live, we may feel that You have come to visit us. Send to us the Spirit of Love to preside over us now in all our concerns and deliberations for the welfare of this parish. We thank You for all the blessings of the past year, and pray, that obedient to Your commandments, we may advance together and prosper in the year ahead. Help us all to give of ourselves to You, to be ready to make sacrifices of time, energy and money for the extension of Your Kingdom.

We ask You to guide us in our choice of worthy parish officers (councilors, churchwardens, etc.) who will discharge their duties faithfully and in holy fear of You.

We praise You for those of Your servants who labored and prayed here before us, and especially those who have fallen asleep since we last gathered together here. Grant them eternal rest with the saints who have been well-pleasing to You, pardoning their every transgression. For You are a good God and You love mankind and to You 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.

*If the child be a girl, she shall stand in the threshold.
2 Literally “age”.
3Gk. krisis as Mt. 23:23.
4Ps. 65:18.
51 Cor. 5:11.
6Lit. “Seed”.
7Gk. clouds = skies, heavens.
8Ps. 75:13.
9or “justice”.
10Jn. 14:30.
11i.e., Heaven. Cp. Deut. 32:40 LXX.
12Jer. 33:20.
13Rev. 3:14.
14Ps. 15:5; Eph. 5:18.
15or “for as long as I live”.
163rd beatitude (Mt. 5:5). Freedom from anger.
172 Sam. 7.
18Ps. 131:8-10 = 2 Chr. 6:41-42 LXX.
19or Christ.
20Lit., “horn”. Refers to Christ and the people of God.
21Gk. synagogue.
22Lit. “straight, honest” as in Ps. 26:11; 31:11.
23or “discovered in everything delightful of His”.
24Ex. 14:12-27; Lk. 22:19.
25Lit., “Life till ever”. 1 Jn. 5:11.
26Pss. 92, 96, 98 begin identically.
27Ps. 89:2; Mt. 13:35.
28Rev. 17:15; Jn. 7:38.
29Ps. 118:2.
30Lit. “reins, kidneys”.
31As well as direction, He gives blessings.
32 Or “give ear.”