Romanian Orthodox Mission of Saint Gregory the Theologian

Active in Sydney’s North

The Divine Liturgy

- The Second Lenten Sunday -
Saturday, 23 March (for Sunday, 24 March) from 5:30pm

Initial blessing
Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
All: Amen.1

Great litany
Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us
pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the stability of the holy
Churches of God and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord,
have mercy.

Deacon: For this assembly and those who participate in it with faith,
reverence and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For Patriarch Daniel and Bishop Mihail, the honourable

priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and laity, let us pray
to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this land, its civil authorities and all its people, let us pray to
the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this city, and every city and country, and the faithful who live
in them, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For seasonable weather, the abundance of the fruits of the earth,
and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.
1The text of the liturgy is largely that of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Text slightly
adjusted by p. D. Costache. The changes reflect the practice of the Romanian Orthodox Church and
are mindful of the particularities of the Orthodox mission in Australia.
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Deacon: For those who are travelling by land, sea or air, the sick, the
suffering, for captives, and the safety of them all, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, anger, danger and distress,
let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by
your grace. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed, glorious Lady

Birthgiver-of-God and ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us
commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
All: To you, O Lord.

Priest: Lord our God, whose might is beyond compare and whose glory is
beyond understanding, whose mercy is beyond measure and whose love
for us is beyond telling; in your loving kindness, Master, look upon us and
upon this holy assembly, and grant to us, and to those who pray with us,
the riches of your mercy and compassion. For to you belong all glory,
honour and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the
ages of ages. All: Amen.

Antiphon 1: Selection from Psalm 102 [103]

Reader: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his
holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems
your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who
satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed
like the eagle’s. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and
abounding in steady love. He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above
the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as
the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As
a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for
those who fear him.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and
to the ages of ages. Amen.

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All sing: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his
holy name. Blessed are you, O Lord.

Small litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have
mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by
your grace. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed, glorious Lady

Birthgiver-of-God and ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us
commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
All: To you, O Lord.

Priest: Lord our God, save your people and bless your inheritance; protect
the whole body of your Church; sanctify those who love the beauty of your
house; glorify them in return by your divine power, and do not forsake us
who hope in you. For yours is the dominion, and yours is the kingdom and
the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to
the ages of ages. All: Amen.

Antiphon 2: Selection from Psalm 145 [146]

Reader: Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord in my life, I
will sing to my God while I have my being. Blessed are those whose help
is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in their God, the Lord. Who has made
heaven and earth, the sea and all that is therein. Who keeps truth for ever,
who executes judgement for the wronged, who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the fettered, the Lord gives wisdom to the blind, the Lord
restores the broken down, the Lord loves the righteous, the Lord watches
over strangers. He will take up the orphan and widow… The Lord will
reign for ever, your God, O Sion, to generation after generation.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and
to the ages of ages. Amen.
All sing (A sixth century hymn): Only-begotten Son and Word of God, you
who are immortal, you consented for our salvation to be incarnate of the
holy Birthgiver-of-God and ever-virgin Mary, without change becoming
human. And you were crucified, Christ our God, by death trampling on
death. You who are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
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Small litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have
mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by
your grace. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed, glorious Lady

Birthgiver-of-God and ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us
commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
All: To you, O Lord.

Priest: You who have given us these prayers to offer together and in
harmony, and have promised to grant the requests of even two or three
who join together in your name, fulfil now the petitions of your servants
for their benefit, granting us the knowledge of your truth in the present
age, and in the age to come eternal life. For you are a good and loving
God, and to you we offer glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever
and to the ages of ages. All: Amen.

Antiphon 3: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)

All sing: In your kingdom remember us, Lord, when you come in your
kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all
kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

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 THE FIRST PROCESSION

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Master, Lord our God, who have established in heaven orders and
armies of Angels and Archangels for the service of your glory, let there be
with our entrance an entry of holy Angels, serving with us and joining us
in glorifying your goodness. For to you belong all glory, honour and
worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of
ages. All: Amen.
Priest: Blessed is the entrance of your saints, always, now and ever and to
the ages of ages. All: Amen.
Deacon: Wisdom. Attend.
All sing: Come let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, Son of
God, who rose from the dead; we sing to you, Alleluia.

Resurrectional hymn (tone two) When you descended unto death, O

Lord, who yourself are immortal life, then did you mortify hades by the
lightning flash of your divinity. Also, when you raised the dead from the
netherworld, all the powers of the heavens were crying out: O giver-of-life,
Christ our God, glory to you.

Annunciation forefeast hymn (tone four) Today is the prelude of the joy
of the universe, which exhorts us to sing hymns before the festival. For
behold, Gabriel is coming, and he will say: Rejoice, Virgin full of grace;
the Lord is with you.

Hymn for Saint Gregory Palamas (tone eight) Beacon of orthodoxy, the
Church’s support and teacher, you are the adornment of monks, the
unassailable champion of theologians, O Gregory the Wonder-worker and
the boast of Thessalonica, the messenger of grace. Forever earnestly
entreat for the salvation of our souls.

Patronal hymn of Saint Gregory the Theologian (tone one) The pastoral
flute of your theology conquered the trumpets of orators. For it searched
the depths of the Spirit and you were enriched with the beauty of words.
Intercede to Christ our God, O Father Gregory, that our souls may be
saved.

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 THE THRICE-HOLY HYMN

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Holy God, resting among the holy, who with the thrice-holy hymn
are praised by the Seraphim, glorified by the Cherubim and worshipped by
every heavenly Power; who brought all things from non-being into being;
who created humanity in your image and likeness and adorned them with
your every gift; who give wisdom and understanding to those who ask, and
do not overlook the sinner, but have established repentance for salvation;
who have made us, your lowly and unworthy servants, worthy to stand at
this hour before the glory of your holy altar and offer the worship and
praise due to you; accept, Master, the thrice-holy hymn even from the
mouth of us sinners, and visit us in your goodness. Forgive us every
offence, both voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and bodies, and
grant that we may worship you in holiness all the days of our life, through
the intercessions of the holy Birthgiver-of-God and all the Saints who in
every age have been pleasing to you. For you, our God, are Holy, and to
you we offer glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the
ages of ages. All: Amen.

All sing: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
(thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and
to the ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Deacon: Fervently!
All sing: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

READINGS

Priest: Let us attend. Peace be with you all. Reader: And with your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom! Reader: The reading is from the Letter to the Hebrews.
Priest: Let us attend.
Reader: In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens
are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all
wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing
they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.
But to which of the angels has he ever said, Sit at my right hand until I
make your enemies a footstool for your feet? Are not all angels spirits in
the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit
salvation? Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard,
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so that we do not drift away from it. For if the message declared through
angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just
penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was
declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who
heard him.
Sisters and brothers, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest,
holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the
heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices
day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this
he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high
priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which
came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for
ever. Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a
high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty
in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord,
and not any mortal, has set up.

Priest: Peace be with you, the reader. All sing: Alleluia! (3 times)

Priest: Make the pure light of your divine knowledge shine within our
hearts, loving Master, and open the eyes of our mind to understand the
message of your Gospel. Instil in us also the fear of your blessed
commandments, so that having trampled down all desires of the flesh, we
may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that
are pleasing to you. For you are the illumination of our souls and bodies,
Christ our God, and to you we offer glory, with your eternal Father and
your all-holy, good and lifegiving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of
ages. All: Amen.

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

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark. Let us
attend! The Lord said, I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life
for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own
the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and
the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away
because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I
know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I
know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep
that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen
to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

All: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you.

SUPPLICATIONS

Fervent supplication
Deacon: Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say:
All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we ask you, hear us and
have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.

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Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we ask
you, hear us and have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Again, we pray for Patriarch Daniel and Bishop Mihail. All:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Again, we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation,
pardon and forgiveness of sins for the servants of God, all devout and
Orthodox Christians who live in or visit this city, and all those who
worship with this holy assembly. All: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Again, we pray for all our devout and Orthodox brothers and
sisters who have gone to their rest before us, and lie asleep in all the world.
All: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord our God, accept this fervent supplication from your servants,
and have mercy on us according to the abundance of your mercy, and send
down your compassion on us and on all your people, who await your rich
mercy. For you are a merciful and loving God, and to you we offer glory,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
All: Amen.

Litany for believers

Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have
mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by
your grace. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Wisdom! Priest: O God, you have visited our lowliness in mercy
and compassion. You have set us, your lowly, sinful, and unworthy
servants, to serve at your holy altar before your holy glory. Strengthen us
for this service with the power of your Holy Spirit, and grant speech to our
lips that we may invoke the grace of your Holy Spirit upon the gifts that
are about to be offered. That always protected by your power, we may
offer you glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages
of ages. All: Amen.

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 THE SECOND PROCESSION

Reader: Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and who sing the
thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care
that we may receive the King of all, invisibly attended by the angelic
orders. Alleluia. [Repeated as many times as needed till the priest finishes
to cense the assembly]

Procession
Priest: May the Lord God remember all of you in his kingdom, always,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. All: Amen

THE OFFERING

Litany of offering
Deacon: Let us complete our prayer to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the precious gifts presented, let us pray to the Lord. All:
Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this holy house and those who enter it with faith, reverence
and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, anger, danger and distress,
let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by
your grace. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let
us ask of the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For an Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls

and bodies, let us ask of the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For pardon and forgiveness of our sins and offences, let us ask of
the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For that which is good and beneficial to our souls, and for peace
in the world, let us ask of the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.
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Deacon: That we may complete the remainder of our life in peace and
repentance, let us ask of the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: That the end of our life may be Christian, painless, unashamed
and peaceful, and for a good defence at the fearful judgement seat of
Christ, let us ask of the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed, glorious Lady

Birthgiver-of-God and ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us
commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
All: To you, O Lord.

Priest: Lord, our God, you created us and brought us into this life. You
have shown us the way to salvation and have bestowed upon us the
revelation of heavenly mysteries. You have appointed us to this service by
the power of your Holy Spirit. Grant, therefore, O Lord, that we may be
accepted as servants of your New Covenant and ministers of your holy
mysteries. Accept us as we draw near to your holy altar, according to the
multitude of your mercy, that we may be worthy to offer you this spiritual
sacrifice without the shedding of blood, for our sins and for the
transgressions of your people. Grant that, having accepted this sacrifice
upon your holy, heavenly, and spiritual altar as an offering of spiritual
fragrance, you may in return send down upon us the grace of your Holy
Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and consider our worship, and accept it as
you accepted the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the burnt offerings
of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, and the peace
offerings of Samuel. As you accepted this true worship from your holy
apostles, accept also in your goodness, O Lord, these gifts from the hands
of us sinners, that being deemed worthy to serve at your holy altar without
blame, we may obtain the reward of the faithful stewards on the fearful
day of your just judgment. Through the compassion of your only-begotten
Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your all-holy, good and
life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. All: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with you all. All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess:
All: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity of one essence and inseparable.

[All exchange the kiss of peace, saying: Christ is in our midst!]

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Deacon: The doors, the doors; in wisdom let us attend.

The Creed of Nicaea and Constantinople

All: I believe in one God, Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of
the Father before all ages, light from light, true God from true God,
begotten not made, of one essence with the Father; through him all things
were made. Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human,
and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried,
and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ascended into
heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again
in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no
end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the
Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and
glorified, and who spoke through the Prophets.
In one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come.
Amen.

The Holy Offering

Deacon: Let us stand well; let us stand with fear; let us attend, that we may
make the holy offering in peace. All: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of
praise.

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. All: And with your
spirit.

Priest: Let us lift up our hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord. All: It is proper and right.

Priest: Master, Lord, God, worshipful Father almighty, it is truly just and
right to the majesty of your holiness to praise you, to hymn you, to bless
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you, to worship you, to give thanks to you, to glorify you, the only true
God, and to offer to you this our spiritual worship with a contrite heart and
a humble spirit. For you have given us to know your truth. Who is worthy
to praise your mighty acts? Or to make known all your praises? Or tell of
all your wonderful deeds at all times? Master of all things, Lord of heaven
and earth, and of every visible and invisible creation, you are seated upon
the throne of glory and behold the depths. You are without beginning,
invisible, incomprehensible, beyond words, unchangeable. You are the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great God and Saviour of our
hope, the image of your goodness, the true seal of revealing in himself
you, the Father. He is the living Word, the true God, eternal wisdom, life,
sanctification, power, and the true light. Through him the Holy Spirit was
manifested, the spirit of truth, the gift of adoption, the pledge of our future
inheritance, the first fruits of eternal blessings, the life-giving power, the
source of sanctification through whom every rational and spiritual creation
is made capable of worshiping you and giving you eternal glorification, for
all things are subject to you. For you are praised by the angels, archangels,
thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers, and the many eyed
Cherubim. Round about you stand the Seraphim, one with six wings and
the other with six wings; with two they cover their faces; with two they
cover their feet; with two they fly, crying out to one another with
unceasing voices and ever-resounding praises, singing the victory hymn,
exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying:

All: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your
glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Priest: Together with these blessed powers, loving Master, we sinners also
cry out and say: Truly you are holy and most holy, and there are no bounds
to the majesty of your holiness. You are holy in all your works, for with
righteousness and true judgment you have ordered all things for us. For
having made human beings by taking dust from the earth, and having
honoured them with your own image, O God, you placed them in a garden
of delight, promising them eternal life and the enjoyment of everlasting
blessings in the observance of your commandments. But when they
disobeyed you, the true God who had created them, and were led astray by
the deception of the serpent, becoming subject to death through their own
transgressions, you, O God, in your righteous judgment, expelled them
from paradise into this world, returning them to the earth from which they
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were taken, yet providing for them the salvation of regeneration in your
Christ. For you did not forever reject your creation whom you made, O
good one, nor did you forget the work of your hands, but because of your
tender compassion, you visited them in various ways: You sent forth
prophets; you performed mighty works by your saints who in every
generation have pleased you. You spoke to us by the mouth of your
servants the prophets, announcing to us the salvation which was to come;
you gave us the law to help us; you appointed angels as guardians. And
when the fullness of time had come, you spoke to us through your Son
himself, through whom you created the ages. He, being the splendour

of your glory and the image of your being, upholding all things by the
word of his power, thought it not robbery to be equal with you, God and
Father. But, being God before all ages, he revealed himself on earth and
lived with humankind. Becoming incarnate from the holy Virgin, he
emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, conforming to the body of
our lowliness, that he might change us in the likeness of the image of his
glory. For, since through a human being sin came into the world and
through sin death, it pleased your onlybegotten Son—who is in your
bosom, God and Father, born of a woman, the holy Birthgiver-of-God and
ever-virgin Mary, born under the law—to condemn sin in his flesh, so that
those who died in Adam may be brought to life in him, your Christ. He
lived in this world, and gave us precepts of salvation. Releasing us from
the delusions of idolatry, he guided us to the sure knowledge of you, the
true God and Father. He acquired us for himself, as his chosen people, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation. Having cleansed us by water and sanctified
us with the Holy Spirit, he gave himself as ransom to death in which we
were held captive, sold under sin. Descending into hades through the cross,
that he might fill all things with himself, he loosed the bonds of death. He
rose on the third day, having opened a path for all flesh to the resurrection
from the dead, since it was not possible that the author of life would be
dominated by corruption. So he became the first fruits of those who have
fallen asleep, the first born of the dead, that he might be himself the first in
all things. Ascending into heaven, he sat at the right hand of your majesty
on high and he will come to render to all according to their works. As
memorials of his saving passion, he has left us these gifts which we have
set forth before you according to his commands. For when he was about to
go forth to his voluntary, ever memorable, and life-giving death, on the
night on which he was delivered up for the life of the world, he took bread
in his holy and pure hands, and presenting it to you, God and Father, and
offering thanks, blessing, sanctifying, and breaking it he gave it to his holy
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disciples and apostles saying: Take, eat, this is my body which is broken
for you, for the forgiveness of sins. All: Amen.
Priest: Likewise, he took the cup of the fruit of vine, and having mingled
it, offering thanks, blessing, and sanctifying it, he gave it to his holy
disciples and apostles saying: Drink from it all of you, this is my Blood of
the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many, for the
forgiveness of sins. All: Amen.
Priest: Do this in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this Bread
and drink this Cup, you proclaim my death, and you confess my
resurrection. Therefore, Master, we also, remembering His saving passion
and life-giving cross, his three-day burial and resurrection from the dead,
his ascension into heaven, and enthronement at your right hand, God and
Father, and his glorious and awesome second coming, your own from your
own we offer you, in every way and for everything.
All sing: We praise you, we bless you, we give thanks to you, O Lord, and
we entreat you, our God.
Priest: Therefore, most holy Master, we also, your sinful and unworthy
servants, whom you have made worthy to serve at your holy altar, not
because of our own righteousness (for we have not done anything good
upon the earth), but because of your mercy and compassion, which you
have so richly poured upon us, we dare to approach your holy altar, and
bring forth the symbols of the holy Body and Blood of your Christ. We
pray to you and call upon you, O Holy of Holies, that by the favour of your
goodness, your Holy Spirit may come upon us and upon the gifts here
presented, to bless, sanctify, and make this bread to be the precious Body
of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. All: Amen.
Priest: And this cup to be the precious Blood of our Lord and God and
Saviour Jesus Christ. All: Amen.
Priest: Shed for the life and salvation of the world. All: Amen. Amen.
Amen.
Priest: And unite us all to one another who become partakers of the one
Bread and the Cup in the communion of the one Holy Spirit. Grant that
none of us may partake of the holy Body and Blood of your Christ to
judgment or condemnation, but, that we may find mercy and grace with all
the saints who through the ages have pleased you: forefathers, fathers,
patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors,
teachers, and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith. [For them we
offer you these gifts,] Especially for our all-holy, pure, most blessed,
glorious Lady Birthgiver-of-God and ever-virgin Mary.

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Reader: In you, O Lady full of grace, rejoices all creation, the orders of
angels and the human race together. O hallowed temple and thinking
paradise, the pride of virgins, from you God became incarnate and our God
who existed before the ages became a child. For he made your womb a
throne for himself and your body he made wider than the heavens. In you,
O Lady full of grace, rejoices all creation. Glory to you.

Priest: For Saint John the prophet, forerunner, and baptist, for the holy,
glorious, and most honourable apostles, and for all your saints, through
whose supplications, O God, visit us. Remember also all who have fallen
asleep in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. Grant them rest, our
God, where the light of your countenance shines. Again, we pray to you,
be mindful of your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, which is from one
end of the inhabited earth to the other. Grant peace to that which you have
obtained with the precious blood of your Christ. Strengthen also this holy
gathering to the end of the ages. Remember, Lord, those who have brought
you these gifts, and for whom and through whom and the intentions for
which they were offered. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do
good works in your holy churches, and those who remember the poor.
Reward them with your rich and heavenly gifts. Grant them in return for
earthly things, heavenly gifts; for temporal, eternal; for corruptible,
incorruptible. Remember, Lord, those who are in the deserts, on
mountains, in caverns, and in the chambers of the earth. Remember, Lord,
those living in chastity and godliness, in asceticism and holiness of life.
Remember, Lord, this country and all those in public service whom you
have allowed to govern on earth. Grant them profound and lasting peace.
Speak to their hearts good things concerning your Church and all your
people that through the faithful conduct of their duties we may live
peaceful and serene lives in all piety and holiness. Sustain the good in their
goodness; make the wicked good through your goodness. Remember,
Lord, the people here present and those who are absent with good cause.
Have mercy on them and on us according to the multitude of your mercy.
Fill their treasuries with every good thing; preserve their marriages in
peace and harmony; nurture the infants; instruct the youth; strengthen the
aged; give courage to the faint hearted; reunite those separated; bring back
those in error and unite them to your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Free those who are held captive by unclean spirits; sail with those who
sail; travel with those who travel; defend the widows; protect the orphans;
liberate the captives; heal the sick. Remember, Lord, those who are in
exile, in harsh labor, and those in every kind of affliction, necessity, or
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distress; those who entreat your loving kindness; those who love us and
those who hate us; those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy
though we may be. Remember, Lord our God, all your people, and pour
out your rich mercy upon them, granting them their petitions for salvation.
Remember, O God, all those whom we have not remembered through
ignorance, forgetfulness or because of their multitude since you know the
name and age of each, even from their mother’s womb. For you, Lord, are
the helper of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the saviour of the
afflicted, the haven of the voyager, and the physician of the sick. Be all
things to all, you who know all people, their requests, their households,
and their needs. Deliver this community and city, O Lord, and every city
and town, from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, invasion of
foreign enemies, and civil war. Among the first remember, Lord, our
Patriarch Daniel and our Bishop Mihail; grant to your holy Churches that
they remain in peace, safety, honour, health and length of days, rightly
teaching the word of your truth.
All: And all men and all women.
Priest: Remember, Lord, all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the word
of your truth. Remember, Lord, my unworthiness according to the
multitude of your mercies; forgive my every transgression, both voluntary
and involuntary. Do not take away the grace of your Holy Spirit from these
gifts presented because of my sins. Remember, Lord, the presbyters, the
diaconate in Christ, and every order of the clergy, and do not reject any of
us who stand about your holy altar. Visit us with your goodness, Lord;
manifest yourself to us through your rich compassion. Grant us seasonable
weather and fruitful seasons; send gentle showers upon the earth so that it
may bear fruit; bless the crown of the year of your goodness. Prevent
schism in the Church; pacify the raging of the heathen. Quickly stop the
uprisings of heresies by the power of your Holy Spirit. Receive us all into
your kingdom. Declare us to be sons and daughters of the light and of the
day. Grant us your peace and love, Lord our God, for you have given all
things to us. And grant that with one mouth and one heart we may glorify
and praise your all-honoured and majestic name, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
Priest: And the mercies of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ will be
with you all.
All: And with your spirit.

HOLY COMMUNION
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Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace
let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the precious gifts presented and sanctified, let us pray to the
Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That our loving God, who has received them on his holy,
heavenly and spiritual altar, as a sweet-smelling spiritual fragrance, may
send down to us in return divine grace, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let
us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the
Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life
to Christ our God. All: To you, O Lord.

Priest: Our God, the God who saves, you teach us justly to thank you for
the good things which you have done and still do for us. You are our God
who has accepted these gifts. Cleanse us from every defilement of flesh
and spirit, and teach us how to live in holiness by your fear, so that
receiving the portion of your holy gifts with a clear conscience we may be
united with the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ. Having received them
worthily, may we have Christ dwelling in our hearts, and may we become
the temple of your Holy Spirit. Yes, our God, let none of us be guilty
before these, your awesome and heavenly mysteries, nor be infirm in body
and soul by partaking of them unworthily. But enable us, even up to our
last breath, to receive a portion of your holy gifts worthily, as provision

for eternal life and as an acceptable defence at the awesome judgment seat
of your Christ. So that we also, together with all the saints who through the
ages have pleased you, may become partakers of your eternal good things,
which you, Lord, have prepared for those who love you. And make us
worthy, Master, that we may with boldness and without condemnation dare
to call upon you, the heavenly God, as Father, and say:
All: Our Father in heaven, blessed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who are indebted to us. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. All: Amen.

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Priest: Peace be with you all. All: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord. All: To you, O Lord.
Priest: Lord Master, the Father of mercies and God of every consolation,
bless sanctify, guard, fortify, and strengthen those who have bowed their
heads to you. Distance them from every evil deed. Lead them to every
good work and make them worthy to partake without condemnation of
these, your most pure and life-giving mysteries, for the forgiveness of sins
and for the communion of the Holy Spirit. Through the grace and
compassion and loving kindness of your only-begotten Son, with whom
you are blessed, together with your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. All: Amen.
Priest: Hear us, Lord Jesus Christ our God, from your holy dwelling and
from the throne of glory of your kingdom, and come to sanctify us, you
who sit above with the Father and are here present with us unseen; and by
your mighty hand be pleased to share your pure Body and precious Blood
with us, and through us, with all the people.

Deacon: Let us attend. Priest: The holy gifts for the holy ones.
All: One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Priest: The lamb of God is broken and distributed, broken yet not divided,
ever eaten yet never expended, but sanctifying those who partake.
Priest: The fullness of the Holy Spirit! All: Amen
Priest: Blessed is the heat of your holy things, always, now and ever and
to the ages of ages. All: Amen.
Priest: The heat of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

[Communion of clergy]

Priest: With fear of God, with faith and love, draw near.

[Communion of believers]

Priest: Save, O God, your people and bless your inheritance.

Reader: We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit,
we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, which has
saved us.

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Priest: Be exalted above the heavens, O God, and your glory above all the
earth. Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
All: Amen.
Reader: Let our mouth be filled with praise, Lord, that we may sing of
your glory, for you have made us worthy to partake of your holy mysteries.
Keep us in your holiness, as all the day we meditate upon your
righteousness. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Thanksgiving litany
Deacon: Attend. Having partaken of the divine, holy, pure, immortal,
heavenly and life-giving awesome mysteries of Christ, let us give proper
thanks to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by
your grace. All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Having asked that this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful
and sinless, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life
to Christ our God. All: To you, O Lord.

Priest: We thank you, Lord, our God, for the communion of your holy,
most pure, immortal, and heavenly mysteries which you have granted us
for the benefit, sanctification, and healing of our souls and bodies. Grant,
Master of all, that the communion of the holy body and blood of your
Christ may become for us faith unashamed, love unfeigned, fulness of
wisdom, healing of soul and body, repelling of every hostile adversary,
observance of your commandments, and an acceptable defence at the
dread judgment seat of your Christ. For you are our sanctification, and to
you we offer glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the
ages of ages. All: Amen.

DISMISSAL

Priest: Let us go forth in peace. All: In the name of the Lord.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Lord, who bless those who bless you, and sanctify those who put
their trust in you, save your people and bless your inheritance; protect the
whole body of your Church; sanctify those who love the beauty of your
house; glorify them in return by your divine power, and do not forsake us
who hope in you. Grant peace to your world, to your Churches, to the
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priests, to those in authority, and to all your people. For every good act of
giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from you, the
Father of lights, and to you we offer glory and thanks and worship, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. All: Amen.
All sing: Blessed be the name of the Lord, from now and for evermore. (3)

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: May the blessing and mercy of the Lord come upon you, through
his grace and loving kindness, always, now and ever and to the ages of
ages. All: Amen.
Priest: Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Reader: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; Both now
and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy. Lord, have mercy. Father, bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead, through the
prayers of his all-pure and blameless holy Mother; of the holy, glorious
and praiseworthy Apostles; of our father among the saints, Basil the Great
of Cappadocian Caesarea; of Saint Gregory the Theologian of
Constantinople; of Saint Gregory Palamas of Thessaloniki and Saint
Artemon of Seleucia, whose memory we keep today; of the holy and
righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the Saints, have
mercy on us and save us, as a good and loving God.
All: Amen.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers and Mothers, Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
All: Amen.

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