2008 Paschal Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

"Christos Anesti! Christ Is Risen! With these great and beautiful words, I greet you with love on this great day of Holy Pascha. These words announce the triuphant Resurrection of Jesus Christ and they fill all of our hearts with joy..."
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Vespers With the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

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PRIEST: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

READER: Amen.

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

PSALM 103/104

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, you are great indeed! Clothed in pomp and brilliance, arrayed with light as with a cloak, stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth, establishing your lofty halls on water. You make the clouds your conveyance, you surge on the wings of the wind. You make the winds your messengers, and flaming fires your attendants.

You settled the earth on its foundation: it shall stand unmoved from age to age. The abyss covered it like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke, they take to flight, at the peal of your thunder, they flee. They hurdle the hills and run down the dales to the place you have chosen for them. You have set up a boundary not to be passed: they shall never return to cover the earth.

Down in the gullies, you make springs to rise; waters shall flow between the mountains. They shall give drink to the beasts of the field; wild asses will seek them to quench their thirst. The birds of the sky shall abide by them; from among the rocks, they will raise their song. From your lofty halls you refresh the hills; the earth shall be fed with the fruit of your works.

You make green pastures for the cattle and food-plants for the service of man, so that bread may be drawn from the earth, and wine that gladdens the heart of man; so that oil may put a gleam on his face, and that bread may strengthen the heart of man. The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. Sparrows shall build their nests in them, herons shall call them their home. To the deer belong the high mountains; to rodents, the shelter of the rock.

You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows the time of its setting. You establish darkness, and it is night, wherein the forest creatures prowl. Young lions roar for their prey, and call out to God for their meat. As the sun rises, they will come together, and lay themselves down in their dens. Man will go out to his labor, and work until eventide.

How great are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all. The earth is filled with your creatures, even the wide and open sea. Within it are countless creeping things, living beings small and large. Upon it there are ships a-sailing, and the great beast you made to have fan. All of them look to you to give them their food in due season. You provide and they gather up; you open your hands, and they are full. You hide your face, and they cringe; you suspend their breath, and they die and return to their dust. You send forth your breath, and they live; you renew the face of the earth.

May the Lord's glory endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in his works. He looks upon the earth, and makes it quake; he touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I will praise my God as long as I last. Would that my thoughts be pleasing to him, and I will rejoice in the Lord. May the sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

The sun knows the time of its setting. You establish darkness and it is night.
How great are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to you, O God. (2) Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to you, O God. 0 Lord our hope, glory to you.

THE GREAT LITANY OF PEACE

DEACON: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For heavenly peace and the salvation of our souls let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For peace in the whole world, the stability of God's Holy Churches and for the oneness of all, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For this holy house, and all who enter it with faith, reverence and godly fear, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For our Archbishop (N.), our Bishop (N.), the worthy priesthood, the deacons in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For our country, the President, and all in public service, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For this city and this Parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For temperate weather, abundance of the goods of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For those who travel, by land, sea and air, for those who are sick or suffering or in captivity, and for their safekeeping, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That we may be spared all affliction, violence, danger and want, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON

PRIEST: (inaudibly) Gracious and merciful Lord, forbearing and generous in mercy, hear our prayer and heed the voice of our entreaty. Give us a sign of Your favor. Lead us in Your way, that we may walk in Your truth; gladden our hearts, that we may be in awe of Your holy name, for You are great in the wonders You perform. You alone are God, and among all deities none is Your like, O Lord: mighty in mercy and benevolent in might, helping and comforting and saving all who trust in Your holy name.

PRIEST: For all glory, honor and worship are Your due, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

After which the gates of the Royal doors are closed and the Reader reads the eighteenth division of the Psalter.

While the first stasis of the Kathisma is being read, the Priest, making three deep prostrations, opens the Tabernacle (Artophorion) and censing the gifts, he places the paten (diskarion) on the open antimension on the Holy Altar. With great reverence he places a "Lamb " upon it. Then, covering it with the veil, and led by the censer, he proceeds to the Prothesis.

There he pours wine and water into the chalice in the usual way, covers it with the second veil, then both vessels with the aer. These actions are accompanied simply by the "Through the prayers of the Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us. " When the Presanctified Gifts have been covered, he proceeds to the Little Synapte, or short petition.

THE FIRST SETTING

PSALM 119/120

In my distress, I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me. O Lord, save me from lying lips, and from a treacherous tongue. What shall be given you and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? The sharpened arrows of a warrior with firebrands made of the broom tree. Woe is me that my exile has been so long; that I have set up tent in the camp of Kedar. Too long have I stayed among those who hate peace. I was peaceable, but when I spoke to them, they warred against me without cause.

PSALM 120/121

I lifted up my eyes to the hills whence help shall come to me. My help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to stumble; nor shall the Guardian fall asleep. Behold, he will neither sleep nor slumber, the Watcher over Israel. The Lord will keep watch over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not scorch you by day, nor shall the moon fail you by night. The Lord will preserve you from every evil, the Lord will safeguard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and your going henceforth and for evermore.

PSALM 121/122

I was happy when they said to me: "Let us go to the house of the Lord." Our feet stood within your courts, Jerusalem, Jerusalem built as a city whose people are as one. For there did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord as it was decreed to Israel to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there have been placed thrones for judgment, thrones for the house of David. Pray, then, for the peace of Jerusalem, and may prosperity be with those who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity upon your towers. For the sake of my brethren and my friends, I have indeed asked peace for you; for the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I have earnestly sought your good.

PSALM 122/123

I have lifted up my eyes to you who dwell in heaven. As the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until he has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have had more than our fill of contempt: yes, our soul has been more than glutted. May disgrace fall on the prosperous, and contempt on the proud.

PSALM 123/124

Had not the Lord been with us, let Israel now say, had not the Lord been with us at the time men rose against us, truly, they would have swallowed us alive when their fury was inflamed against us; truly, the water would have drowned us, the torrent would have swept over us. Truly, the raging waters would have overwhelmed us. Blessed be the Lord who has not abandoned us as prey to their teeth. Like a bird of passage we were rescued from the fowler's net. The snare was torn asunder, and we escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)

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

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

DEACON: Again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

THE PRAYER OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON

PRIEST: (inaudibly) O Lord, do not rebuke us in Your anger; do not chastise us in Your wrath; but deal with us according to Your loving kindness, as Healer and Physician of our souls. Guide us to the harbor of Your will; enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we may know Your truth; and grant that the rest of this day may be peaceful and without sin, as may our whole life, through the prayers of the Theotokos and of all tile saints.

PRIEST: For Yours is the dominion, and Yours the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

THE SECOND SETTING OF THE PSALTER

PSALM 124/125

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion which cannot be moved, which shall stand forever. Mountains are all around Jerusalem, as the Lord is around his people, now and forever. For the Lord will not let the scepter of the wicked rule over the land of the just, lest the just themselves apply their hands to iniquities. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those whose heart is upright. But those who stray into crooked ways, the Lord will expel with evildoers. Peace upon Israel!

PSALM 125/126

When the Lord returned the captives of Sion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. Then it was said among the Gentiles, "The Lord has done great things for them. " The Lord has done great things for us: we have been made to rejoice. O Lord, return our captives as streams return to the south. Those who weep as they sow shall rejoice as they reap. Though they went forth shedding tears as they scattered their seeds, they shall return rejoicing, bearing with them their sheaves.

PSALM 126/127

Unless the Lord build the house, in vain do the builders toil; unless the Lord guard the city, in vain does the watchman keep watch. In vain do you rise early: you get up after rest only to eat the bread of grief, for he provides for his beloved while they sleep. Behold, the Lord's inheritance is his children, and his reward, the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior, so are the children of the exiles. Blessed the man who will be able to fill his quiver with them: they shall never be put to shame when they meet their foes at the gates.

PSALM 127/128

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. You shall eat of your hand's labor: blessed are you, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your house: your children like olive shoots around your table. Behold, in this way shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Sion, and may you see the wealth of Jerusalem all the days of your life. And may you see your children's children. Peace upon Israel!

PSALM 128/129

Often have they assailed me since my youth: let Israel say it! Often have they assailed me since my youth, but they have not prevailed over me. The wicked plowed my back: they increased their iniquity. But the righteous Lord has cut asunder the neck of the sinners. Let them all be confounded and turned back, those who hate Sion: let them become like grass on the house-tops which withers before it can sprout; with which the reaper fills not his hand, nor the binder of sheaves his arms, while those who pass by do not say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon you!" We have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)

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

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

DEACON: Again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

PRAYER OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON

PRIEST: (inaudibly) Lord our God, be mindful of us sinners and Your unfit servants, even as we call upon Your holy name; and do not put us to shame for having placed our hope in Your mercy; but grant, O Lord, all that we ask for our salvation; and make us worthy to love and fear You with all our heart, and in all things to do Your wilt.

PRIEST: For You are a good and loving God, and to You we offer the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

THE THIRD SETTING OF THE PSALTER

PSALM 129/130

Out of the depths I have cried out to you: Lord, Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my plea. If you retain sins, Lord, O Lord, who can stand? With you there is forgiveness. For your name's sake, O Lord, I have waited for you. My soul has waited for your promise, my soul has hoped in the Lord. My soul has trusted in the Lord, from the morning watch till night. Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love and in him is full redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

PSALM 130/131

O Lord, my heart is not uplifted, nor are my eyes upraised. I have not busied myself with lofty pursuits, nor with wonders too great for me. If I have failed to remain humble, but instead have exalted my soul, as a weaned child is treated by its mother, so will you deal with my soul. Let Israel hope in the Lord, henceforth and forever.

PSALM 131/132

O Lord, remember David and all his forbearance, how he swore to the Lord, and made a vow to the God of Jacob: "I will not enter the tent, my abode, nor get up on the couch of my repose; I will give no sleep to my eyes, nor to my eyelids any slumber, nor to my temples any rest, until I find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. " Behold, I have heard of it in Ephrata: we found it in the forest clearings. Let us enter into his tabernacles, let us worship where his feet once stood. Arise, O Lord, and go to your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.

May your priests be clothed in righteousness, and your faithful ones rejoice. For the sake of David your servant, turn not away the face of your anointed one. The Lord swore to David a promise which he will not retract: "One of your own flesh I will place on your throne. If your sons will keep my covenant and the revelations I will offer them, their sons also shall be seated upon your throne for evermore. " For the Lord has elected Sion, he has chosen it for his dwelling:

"This is my home for ever and ever; here I will dwell because I have chosen it. I will bless abundantly her provisions; I will feed her poor with bread; I will clothe her priests with salvation, and the faithful shall exult with joy. There will I raise the pride of David; I have readied a lamp for my anointed one. I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on him my crown shall shine.

PSALM 132/133

Behold how good and pleasant it for brothers to dwell in unity. It is as ointment upon the head, which runs down over the beard, the beard of Aaron, runs down to the hem of his garment. It is like the dew of Hermon which falls on the mountains of Sion, for there the Lord has ordained the blessing: life for evermore.

PSALM 133/134

Behold now, bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. By night, lift up your hands to the holy places and bless the Lord. May the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Sion.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (2)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. Lord our hope, glory to You.

DEACON: Again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

THE PRAYER OF THE FOURTH ANTIPHON

PRIEST: (inaudibly) Praised by the heavenly powers with hymns that are never silent and doxologies that never cease, fill our lips with praise of You, that we may fitly magnify Your holy name. And grant us a portion and share with all who truly fear You and keep Your commandments; at the intercession of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints.

PRIEST: For You are our God, a God who shows mercy and saves, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

He then sings the opening verses of Psalm 140/141 in the appointed tone:

PSALM 140/141

O Lord, I have cried out to you: hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me; hearken to the voice of my prayer as I cry out to you, hear me , O Lord.

As the second verse begins, the Priest invokes a blessing on the incense and the Deacon censes in the usual manner.

Let my prayer rise as incense before you; the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, and a gate to contain my lips.
Let not my heart incline to evil deeds, to finding excuses for sinful doings.
In the company of men who work iniquity, and I will not partake of their delicacies.
Let the just man chasten me with kindness and chide me.
But the oil of the wicked shall never touch my head,
yet even then would I pray for their good will.
Their judges were dashed against the rock:
they shall hear my words, how sweet they are.
As a lump of clay broken on the ground, so shall their bones be strewn near the grave.
On you, Lord, O Lord, my eyes are fixed; in you have I trusted: take not my life.
Keep me from the snare which they have set for me, and from the traps of wicked men.
The wicked shall fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.

PSALM 141/142

With my voice, I cried out to the Lord, with my voice, I implored the Lord.
Before him, I will pour out my prayer; in his presence, I will tell of my distress.
When my spirit was fainting within me, you knew my paths.
On that very road I was-walking, they set a trap for me.
I looked to my right and observed: no one was aware of me.
I had no means of escape: no one would take care of my life.
I cried out to you, O Lord, and said, "You are my hope, my share in the land of the living.
Attend to my supplication, for I am laid very low.
"Deliver me from my oppressors, for they are too strong for me.
Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name. "

The Hymnology and Old Testament Readings For Each Presanctified Will Be Found By Clicking The Appropriate Link

WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK

FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK

FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK

WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK

FRIDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK

WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK

FRIDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK

WEDNESDAY BEFORE PALM SUNDAY

FRIDAY BEFORE PALM SUNDAY

MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK

TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

PRIEST: Peace be to you.

DEACON: Wisdom.

When the reading is concluded, the priest censes the Holy Altar, pausing at each side, singing antiphonally with the Cantor the "Katefthynthito", "Let my prayer rise as incense before You..." introducing each reprise with a verse from Psalm 140/141:

PRIEST: Let my prayer rise as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

The priest then moves to the south of the Holy Table and censes, chanting aloud.

PRIEST: O Lord, I have cried out to You: hear me; hearken to the voice of my prayer as I cry out to You.

CANTOR: Let my prayer rise as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

The priest then moves to the rear of the Holy Table and censes, chanting aloud.

PRIEST: Verse: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, and a gate to contain my lips.

CANTOR: Let my prayer rise as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

The priest then moves to the north of the Holy Table and censes, chanting aloud.

PRIEST: Verse: Let not my heart incline to evil deeds, to finding excuses for sinful doings, in the company of men who work iniquity, and I will not partake of their delicacies.

CANTOR: Let my prayer rise as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

The priest then moves in front of the Holy Table and censes, chanting aloud.

PRIEST: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

CANTOR: Let my prayer rise as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

The priest standing before the Holy Table repeats.

PRIEST: Let my prayer rise

Coming through the Royal Gates and censing the icon of Christ the Lord he chants.

as incense before You.

He then censes the remaining icons and the faithful as the Cantor chants.

CANTOR: the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

If the Feast of a Saint is being commemorated the appropraiate Epistle and Gospel is now read.

The Deacon exits from the north door (or the Priest standing before the Holy table) and chants the Fervent Supplication.

THE FERVENT SUPPLICATION

DEACON: Let us say with our whole heart and our whole mind, let us say.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. (threefold)

DEACON: Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON: Have mercy on us, O God, in Your great goodness; we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON: Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON: Again we pray for our Archbishop (N.), and our Bishop (N.).

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

According to the practice of the Ecumenical Patriarchate the Litany ends here.

Prayer of the Fervent Supplication

PRIEST: (During the Litany of Fervent Supplication: inaudibly) Lord our God, accept this fervent prayer by Your servants, and have mercy on us, and in the abundance of Your compassion have pity on us and on all Your people, who await Your plenteous mercy.

PRIEST: For You are a merciful and loving God, and to You we give glory: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

Here the Priest makes the sign of the Cross over the Antimension with the Book of Gospels.

THE LITANY FOR THE CATECHUMENS

DEACON: You who are Catechumens, pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: You faithful, let us pray for the Catechumens.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That the Lord will show them mercy.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That He will instruct them in the word of His truth.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That He will reveal to them the Gospel of righteousness.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Save them, have mercy on them, help them and keep them, O God, in Your grace.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: You who are Catechumens, bow your heads to the Lord.

Prayer for the Catachumens

PRIEST: (inaudibly) O God, our God, Author and Creator of all things, it is Your will that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Look upon Your servants the Catechumens, and free them of ancient error and from the wiles of the enemy. Call them to eternal life, illuminating their souls and bodies, and numbering them among Your reasoning flock, on which Your holy name is invoked.

PRIEST: That with us they too may glorify Your most noble and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forevermore.

CANTOR: Amen.

Here the Priest unfolds the Antimension as in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

DEACON: All Catechumens, depart. The Catechumens, depart. All who are admitted for Illumination, depart. Pray, all you who preparing for Illumination. Let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Catechumens, depart. Let none of the Catechumens remain.

DEACON: All we faithful once again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Wisdom!

The First Prayer of the Faithful

PRIEST: (inaudibly) O God, great and praised, through the lifegiving death of Your Christ, You have borne us from corruption to immortality. Liberate all our senses from killing passion, setting over them as a benevolent sovereign our inner reason. Let the eye be averted from every evil sight, and the ear be deaf to idle talk.

May the tongue be purged of unseemly speech. Purify these lips that praise You, Lord. Make our hands abstain from wicked deeds, doing only such things as are pleasing to You, thus sealing with Your grace all our members, and our mind.

PRIEST: For all glory, honor and worship are Your due: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forevermore.

CANTOR: Amen.

DEACON: Again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Wisdom!

The Second Prayer of the Faithful

PRIEST: (inaudibly) Holy Master, infinitely good, we entreat You, rich in mercy, to be gracious to us sinners, and to make us worthy to receive Your only Son and our God, the King of Glory. For behold, His spotless body and lifegiving blood are about to make their entrance at this hour, to be laid on this mystical table, invisibly attended by a multitude of the heavenly host. Grant that we may receive them in blameless communion, so that as the eyes of our understanding see the light, we may become children of light and of day.

PRIEST: Through the gift of Your Christ with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good and lifegiving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

In place of the Hymn of the Cherubim, which is normally sung at the Entrance of the Holy Gifts, the following hymn is sung:

CANTOR: Now the Powers of Heaven minister invisibly with us. For, behold, the King of Glory enters.

The hymn breaks off at this point. In total silence the Gifts are carried into the Soleas by the priest whose head is covered by the Aer, then into the Sanctuary, and placed on the Holy Altar. As these are the Presanctified Gifts, already consecrated, the people kneel in deep reverence during their Entrance.

They rise as the hymn concludes:

CANTOR: Behold, the mystical sacrifice, fully accomplished, is ushered in. In fervent faith let us draw near, that we may become sharers in everlasting life. Alleluia.

THE COMPLETION LITANY

DEACON: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: For the Precious Gifts here set forth and presanctified, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That our loving God, having received them at His holy and mystical and celestial altar as a sweet spiritual fragrance, will in turn send upon us His divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: That we may be spared all affliction, violence, danger and want, let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, in Your grace.

That this whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, let us ask of the Lord.

CANTOR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

CANTOR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON: Forgiveness of our sins and offenses let us ask of the Lord.

CANTOR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON: All that is good and profitable for our souls, and peace in the world, let us ask of the Lord.

CANTOR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON: That we may live out our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

CANTOR: Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON: A Christian end to our lives, peaceful, free of suffering and shame, and a good defense at the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.

CANTOR: Grant this, O Lord.

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

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST: During the Completion Litany: (inaudibly) O God of ineffable and unseen mysteries, in You are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, yet You have revealed to us this Liturgy and, in Your great love for mankind, appointed us sinners to offer gifts and sacrifices to You, for our sins and for the failings of the people. Invisible King, You perform works great and inscrutable, glorious and extraordinary, beyond number. Look upon us Your undeserving servants as we stand, as at Your throne of the Cherubim at this Your holy altar, where Your only-begotten Son, our God, rests in the awesome mysteries here offered.

Freeing us all, and Your faithful people, of all uncleanness, sanctify all of us, soul and body, with a sanctification that cannot be taken away. Thus, partaking of these divine Blessings with pure conscience, faces unblushing, hearts enlightened, and being quickened by them, we may be united to Your Christ Himself, our true God. For He said: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in him. " Having Your Word indwelling and moving within us, we may thus become the temple of Your all-holy and worshipful Spirit, free of every wide of the Evil One affecting our acts, our words, our thoughts, and so obtain the blessings promised to us as to Your Saints who have pleased You through the ages.

PRIEST: And make us worthy, Master, with confidence and without fear of reproach, to make bold to call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:

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

PRIEST: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be to all.

CANTOR: And to you spirit.

DEACON: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST: (inaudibly) O God, You alone are compassionate and good. Dwelling on high, yet looking upon the lowly, regard Your people with tender eye and safeguard diem. Count us all worthy to partake without reproach of these Your lifegiving Mysteries. For it is to You that we bow our heads, in the hope of Your rich mercy.

Lifting the Asterisk from the Paten:

PRIEST: Through the grace, mercy and love for us of Your only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good and lifegiving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

PRIEST: (inaudibly) Lord Jesus Christ, hear us from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your kingdom and come to sanctify us. Though enthroned with the Father on high, yet present here in our midst, unseen, deign by Your mighty hand to give us a share of Your Pure Body and Precious Blood, and through us to all Your people.

With the Holy Gifts still covered by the veil, the Priest touches the consecrated "Lamb ".

DEACON: Let us be attentive

PRIEST: The Presanctified Holy Gifts for the holy people of God.

CANTOR: One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. (Followed by the Communion Hymn:)

CANTOR: Taste and see how good the Lord is. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

THE FRACTION AND COMMUNION

The priest now uncovers the Gifts and performs the fraction in the usual manner.

DEACON: Master, break the Holy Bread.

He breaks the Amnos into its four quarters.

PRIEST: (In a low voice:) The Lamb of God is broken and shared, broken but not divided; forever eaten yet never consumed, but sanctifying those who partake of Him.

DEACON: Master, fill the Cup.

He places the portion marked IC (Jesus) in the chalice, saying:

PRIEST: The fullness of the Holy Spirit.

DEACON: Amen.

DEACON: Master, bless the Zeon.

PRIEST: Blessed is the fervor of Your Saints, now and forevermore. Amen.

Pouring the Zeon into the chalice, he says:

DEACON: The fervor of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

THE PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION

I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest. I also believe that this is truly Your spotless Body, and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Wherefore I pray to You: have mercy on me and forgive my offenses, whether intended or not, whether committed in word or in deed, knowingly or unknowingly; and count me worthy to share without judgment in Your pure Mysteries, for remission of sins and for everlasting life. Amen.
You have beguiled me with yearning, O Christ, and by love divine transformed me. Consume my sins in ethereal flame, and let me be filled with the sheer delight of You, O Gracious Lord, that leaping for joy, I may magnify both Your Advents.

How shall I, so unworthy, come into the splendor of Your Saints? If I make bold to enter the bridal feast, my clothing will reproach me since it is not a wedding garment. Then I shall be bound and cast out by the angels. In Your love, Lord, purge my soul and save me.

Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ my God, let not these holy gifts become a judgment against me because of my unworthiness, but for the cleansing and sanctification of both soul and body, and as a pledge of the future life and the kingdom. It is good for me to cling to God, to place in Him my hope for salvation.

And as he makes three prostrations before the altar:

Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical supper; for I will not reveal the Mystery to Your enemies, nor give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess You: Lord, remember me in Your kingdom.

Bowing to the people in a gesture of mutual forgiveness, he then turns to the altar to receive, saying to the deacon:

PRIEST: Brother and con-celebrant, forgive me the unworthy Priest.

DEACON: May the Lord forgive both you and us.

PRIEST: May the Lord forgive me a sinner, and have mercy on me. (3)

He then takes a portion of the Lamb, saying:

PRIEST: Behold, I approach Christ, our immortal King and God. The precious and most holy Body of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is given to me (N.) the unworthy Priest, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

Then, drinking from the cup:

Behold, again I approach Christ, our immortal King and God. The precious and most holy, pure and lifegiving Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is given to me (N.) the unworthy Priest, for forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

Wiping the rim of the chalice and reverencing it, he adds:

This has touched my lips; it takes away my iniquities and cleanses me of my sins.

The deacon then also receives according to the established order.

Then the following prayer:

PRIEST: We thank You, God and Savior of all, for all the blessings You have bestowed on us, and for the communion of the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ. And we pray You, loving Lord, keep us in the shelter of Your wings, and grant that, to our very last breath, we may partake worthily of Your sanctifying blessings, for the enlightenment of soul and body, for the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom.

THE COMMUNION OF THE FAITHFUL

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

CANTOR: God is Lord and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

When all have received the Holy Eucharist, the Priest holds the chalice aloft and says:

PRIEST: God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance.

In place of the customary "We have seen the light... " we sing:

CANTOR: I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever on my lips. Taste the heavenly bread and the cup of life, and see how good the Lord is. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

PRIEST: (As he censes the Holy Gifts: inaudibly) Be exalted, O , above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth (3)

The Deacon receives the Paten from the Priest and takes it to the Prothesis.

The Priest lifting the Chalice prays before the Holy Table.

PRIEST: (inaudibly) Blessed is our God

Then, holding the Chalice aloft, covered, he faces the people and adds:

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

CANTOR: Amen.

After returning the Holy Vessels to the Prothesis the Priest folds the Antimension.

DEACON: Let us be attentive! Having received the divine, holy, pure, immortal, life giving and awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us give fitting thanks to the Lord.

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

Having asked that this whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful and free of sin, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

CANTOR: To You, O Lord.

He makes the sign of the Cross with the Book of Gospels over the now folded Antimension.

PRIEST: For You are our sanctification, and to You we give the glory: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

CANTOR: Amen.

PRIEST: Let us depart in peace.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Holy Father, give the blessing.

PRIEST: (Standing before the icon of Christ) Almighty Lord, You have created all things in wisdom. In Your inexpressible providence and great goodness You have brought us to these saving days, for the cleansing of our souls and bodies, for control of our passions, in the hope of the Resurrection. After the forty days You delivered into the hands of Your servant Moses the tablets of the law in characters divinely traced. Enable us also, O benevolent One, to fight the good fight, to complete the course of the fast, to keep the faith inviolate, to crush underfoot the heads of unseen tempters, to emerge victors over sin and to come, without reproach, to the worship of Your Holy Resurrection. For blessed and glorified is Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forevermore.

CANTOR: Amen. May the name of the Lord be praised, from this time forth and to the endless ages.

This is sung three times as the Priest goes to the Prothesis, saying:

PRIEST: Lord our God, You have guided us to these most holy days, and admitted us as participants to Your awesome Mysteries. Unite us to Your spiritual flock and declare us heirs to Your kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CANTOR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: May the blessing of the Lord and His mercy come upon you, through His divine grace and love, always, now and forevermore.

CANTOR: Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

PRIEST: Glory to You, O God, our hope, glory to You.

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His most pure and holy Mother; the power of the precious and lifegiving Cross; the protection of the honorable, bodiless heavenly powers; the supplications of the honorable, glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist; the holy, glorious and victorious Martyrs; our venerable and godly Fathers; the holy and righteous ancestors Joachim and Anna; of Saint (the Saint of the day) whose memory we keep today; and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

NOTE: The reading of Psalms 33/34 and 144/145 is prescribed at this point as the faithful receive the antidoron.

PSALM 33/34

READER: I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever on my lips. My soul shall glory in the Lord: let the meek hear and rejoice. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Approach the Lord and be enlightened, and your face shall never be shamed. This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his afflictions.

The angel will stand guard around those who fear the Lord and save them. Taste and see how good the Lord is. Blessed is the man who hopes in him. Fear the Lord, all you his faithful ones, for those who fear him shall want for nothing. The rich have become poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good. Come, children, hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Which of you desires life, and loves to see the good days? Keep your tongue from wickedness, and your lips from deceitful speech; turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the just and his ears are open to their pleas; the face of the Lord is turned against sinners, to erase their memory from the earth. The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and he delivered them from all their trials. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and he will save the humble in spirit. Many are the trials of the righteous, but out of them all the Lord will deliver them. He protects every bone in their body: not a single one of them will be broken. The death of sinners is painful; those who hate justice shall be damned. The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him shall be lost.

PSALM 144/145

I will exalt you, my God and my king, and bless your name for ever and ever. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever. The Lord is great and greatly to be praised, and to his greatness there is no end. Age after age will praise your works, and proclaim your might. They will tell the glorious splendor of your holiness, they will recount your wondrous works; they will speak of the power of your awesome deeds, they will declare your greatness. They will recall your abundant goodness and will exult in your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful: he is long-suffering and abounding in love.

The Lord is good towards everyone, and his grace extends over all his works. Let all your works give thanks to you, Lord, and all your faithful ones bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known your might to the children of men, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages and your dominion is for all generations. The Lord keeps faith in all his promises and is hallowed in all his works. The Lord supports all who are failing, and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look up to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hands and satisfy all living beings; the Lord is just in all his ways, and faithful in all his works. The Lord is close to all who pray to him, those who call upon him in truth. He will meet the desire of those who fear him, and hear their pleas and save them. The Lord keeps watch over those who love him, but the wicked he will utterly destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name, for ever and to all eternity.

PRIEST: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

CANTOR: Amen.

Wendesday of the First Week

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the "O Lord I have cried out... "

Verse: Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the eighth tone.

Come, faithful ones, as we fast bodily, let us also fast in spirit. Let us undo every tie to injustice; let us break all stifling covenants with violence; let us burst every wrongful contract; let us give bread to the hungry and bring the poor and homeless into our houses, that we may receive from Christ His great mercy.

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

Verse: Out of the depths I have cried out to you: Lord, O Lord, hear my voice.

Martyrikon

If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, it is due to the Saints. For they inclined their necks to the sword for You who made the heavens incline and descended. They shed their blood for You who emptied Yourself and took on the form of a servant. They were humbled even to death, imitating Your humility. Through their prayers, in the abundance of Your compassion, O God, have mercy on us.

Verse: Let your ears be attentive to the sound of my plea.

Prosomoion of Joseph. In the second tone.

Sending you forth as flashes of light into all the world, Jesus the true Sun dispelled the darkness of error by the brilliance of your spiritual preaching, God-witnessing Apostles; and He enlightened those who were caught in the miserable gloom of ignorance. Implore Him, therefore, to send us light in His great mercy.

Verse: If you retain sins, Lord, O Lord, who can stand? With you there is forgiveness.

By the same hymnographer. In the second tone.

The virtuous Elijah, mounting a divine chariot and made transparent by fasting, was raised to heavenly heights. Envy him, my poor soul, and fast from all evil, envy and discord, and from the fruits of pleasure, that you may escape the torment of eternal hell-fire, crying out to Christ, "Lord, glory to You!"

Verse: For your name's sake, O Lord, I have waited for you. My soul has waited for your promise, my soul has hoped in the Lord.

A hymn by Theodore. In the fifth tone.

Divine Apostles, fervent intercessors for the world and champions of the Orthodox, having the advantage of boldness before Christ our God, ask for us, we pray you most venerable ones, that we may make good use of the time of fasting, and so receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity. Glorious great preachers, pray for our souls.

There follow four prosomoia from the Menaion, with the appropriate verses, relating to the Saint of the following day or, should there be one, of the Saint of the day being celebrated.

As the dogmatic hymn (doxastikon) is sung, the Royal Doors are opened. The Deacon and Priest exit the Sanctuary from the north door and come to the chancel (soleas) carrying the censer, and the Entrance takes place.

If however it is a Feast day, e.g. St. Haralambos, the Forty Holy Martyrs, as well as during Holy Week, and there is to be a Gospel reading, the Book of the Gospels is carried.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. (in a low voice)

PRIEST: (inaudibly) At nightfall, dawn and noon, we sing to You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we beseech You, Master of all, Lord and lover of mankind: guide our prayers aright as an offering of incense before You. Let not our hearts be led to wicked thoughts or words, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For it is on You, Lord, Lord, that our eyes are fixed, and in You that we have our hope; do not put us to shame, O our God. For all glory, honor and adoration are Your due, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

DEACON: Master, bless the Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon (or the Priest) censing towards the East (or on the vigil of a Feast holding the Gospel Book aloft) says aloud:

DEACON: Wisdom! Attend!

In the Presanctified the Entrance Hymn is not usually sung but intoned.

O joyful radiance of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Having come to the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody, 0 Son of God, giver of life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory.

Having reentered the Sanctuary, the Deacon announces:

DEACON: The evening.

READER: Prokeimenon. Fifth tone. Psalm 11.

You, O Lord, will safeguard us and save us.

Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the pious man is no more.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The Reading is from Genesis. (1:24-32 and 2:1-3)

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER: And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds. " And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the cattle according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. " So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. " And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. " And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening there was morning, a sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation.

READER: Prokeimenon. Seventh tone. Psalm 12

Look upon me, and hear me, O Lord my God!

Verse: How long, O Lord, will you forget me? Forever?

And he chants in a louder voice: Order!

The Priest, holding aloft the censer and a lighted candle, stands before the Holy Table and says:

PRIEST: Wisdom! Let us attend!

Then, turning to the people, standing in the Royal Arch he proclaims:

PRIEST: The light of Christ enlightens all!

He blesses the congregation making the sign of the Cross with the candle and returns before the Holy Table.

READER: The reading is from Proverbs. (2:11-22)

DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER: My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you; understanding will guard you; delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil; men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

You will be saved from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the shades; none who go to her come back nor do they regain the paths of life.

So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and men of integrity will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

Click Here To Return To The Continuation of the Liturgy

Friday of the First Week

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the "O Lord I have Cried out... "

CANTOR: Verse: Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Idiomelon in the fifth tone.

Come, faithful ones, let us perform God's works in the light, conducting ourselves becomingly as in the day, willingly setting aside every wrongful judgment against our neighbor, so as not to put an obstacle for scandal in his path. Let us have done with desires of the flesh, while increasing the gifts of the soul. Let us give bread to the needy, and so come to Christ in penitence, crying, "Our God, have mercy on us. "

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

The Martyrika, in the eight tones, from Appendix II, beginning on page 160. The priest will announce the tone for the given week.

The following four Idiomela are for St. Theodore of Tyre.

Second tone.

CANTOR:

Verse: From the morning watch till night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Come, all you devotees of the martyrs, let us rejoice spiritually and celebrate; for today the Martyr Theodore sets before us a mystical table, to gladden us celebrants to cry out to him: "Rejoice, invincible Champion, who brought to naught the threats of earthly tyrants; rejoice, who gave your earthly body over to tortures for Christ our God; rejoice, who proved yourself as a soldier of the heavenly army. For all this we implore you, Martyrs' pride, intercede for our souls. "

Verse: For with the Lord is steadfast love and in him is full redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Martyr Theodore, with the God-given grace of your miracles you enfold all who come to you in faith. By that grace we praise you, saying: You free captives, you heal the sick, you enrich the poor and rescue those at sea. You restrain your petitioners from running away in vain, and make clear the injury done to those who are plundered, O Champion. Thus you train soldiers to abstain from pillage; compassionately you grant the petitions of the young; you become a fervent protector of those who hold your sacred memorial. With them, most holy Champion, number us who hymn your martyrdom in asking of Christ His great mercy.

Verse: Praise the Lord, all you nations; exalt him all you peoples.

You proved yourself God's supreme gift, Martyr Theodore; for even after the end, as if still alive, you grant the askings of those who come to you. Thus, when a woman's son was captured at spear's point by a pagan army, the widow stood drenching your Church with her tears, while you, mounting a white horse in your pity, presented her invisibly with her son, never ceasing afterward to work miracles with him. But entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Verse: For mighty is his love for us, and the truthfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Named after divine gifts, I honor you, thrice-blessed Theodore. For as an unwaning luminary of the divine light, you lit up all creation with your deeds. Mightier than fire, you put down the flames and shattered the skull of the evil dragon. Wherefore Christ, won over by your deeds, crowned your holy head, Great Martyr and Champion. Having boldness before God, pray earnestly for our souls.

Doxastikon in the sixth tone.

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

Using the apostate Tyrant as his instrument, the Evil One sought by a cruel device to defile the devout people as they purified themselves by fasting, giving them food polluted by abominable sacrifices. But you foiled his intrigue by a wiser one of your own. Coming before the Hierarch, you explained your profound plan while revealing the monstrous may be kept harmless against the machinations of the Evil One.
trickery. Therefore, offering you a sacrifice of thanksgiving, we proclaim you a savior, conducting annual memorial of the miracle, beseeching God, through your intercessions, Great Martyr Theodore, that we may be kept harmless against the machinations of the Evil One.

The Theotokion in the tone of the Day.

Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

If however it is a Feast day, e.g. St. Haralambos, the Forty Holy Martyrs, as well as during Holy Week, and there is to be a Gospel reading, the Book of the Gospels is carried.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. (in a low voice)

DEACON: Master, bless the Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon (or the Priest) censing towards the East (or on the vigil of a Feast holding the Gospel Book aloft) says aloud:

DEACON: Wisdom! Attend!

In the Presanctified the Entrance Hymn is not usually sung but intoned.

O joyful radiance of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Having come to the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody, O Son of God, giver of life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory.

Having reentered the Sanctuary, the Deacon announces:

DEACON: The evening.

READER: Prokeimenon. Fifth tone. Psalm 19.

May the Lord hear you on the day of affliction.

Verse: May the name of the God of Jacob shield you.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The Reading is from Genesis. (2:20-25, 3: 1-20)

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER: Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from Adam he made into a woman and brought her to Adam. Then Adam said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. " Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die."'

But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. " So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. " He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Adam said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.

The Lord said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. "

To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

READER: Prokeimenon. Sixth tone. Psalm 20.

Be exalted, O Lord, in your power.

Verse: O Lord, the king shall rejoice in your strength.

And he chants in a louder voice: Order!

The Priest, holding aloft the censer and a lighted candle, stands before the Holy Table and says:

PRIEST: Wisdom! Let us attend!

Then, turning to the people, standing in the Royal Arch he proclaims:

PRIEST: The light of Christ enlightens all!

He blesses the congregation making the sign of the Cross with the candle and returns before the Holy Table.

READER: The Reading is from Proverbs. (3:19-34)

DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER: The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight,
and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" ---when you have it with you. Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.

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WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the "O Lord I have cried out... "

Verse: Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the first tone.

Having undertaken the spiritual fast, brethren, speak no cunning with the tongue, nor put any obstacle before your brother to scandalize him. But brightening the torch of the soul with penitence, let us cry tearfully to Christ: "As loving Lord, forgive us our transgressions."

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the first tone.

Verse: Out of the depths I have cried out to you: Lord, O Lord, hear my voice.

Martyrikon

All-praiseworthy Martyrs, the earth did not conceal you, but Heaven received you. The gates of Paradise were opened to you, and once within, you enjoyed the life of the Cross. Intercede with Christ that our souls may be granted peace and His great mercy.

Verse: Let your ears be attentive to the sound of my plea.

Stichera Prosomoia composed by the Poet Joseph. In the third tone.

Lord, as good and compassionate, enable us, through the prayers of the divine Apostles, to carry out the time of the Fast in an attitude of contrition, that being saved we may all glorify you.

Verse: If you retain sins, Lord, O Lord, who can stand? With you there is forgiveness.

Great and awesome Your coming, Lord, when You will sit and execute just judgment. But do not judge me, who am already judged; but as God spare me through the acceptable intercessions of the Apostles.

Verse: For your name's sake, O Lord, I have waited for you. My soul has waited for your promise, my soul has hoped in the Lord.

A poem by Theodore in the sixth tone.

Apostles of Christ, luminous among mortals, treasures rich in the all-wise knowledge of our God, through your prayers deliver from temptation those who praise you in song; and make the time of Fasting peaceful for us, rewarding us to live free of all evil. Thus attaining to the Passion of Christ in a manner pleasing to Him, we may make bold to offer hymns to our God.

There follow four prosomoia from the Menaion, with the appropriate verses, relating to the Saint of the following day or, should there be one, of the Saint of the day being celebrated.

If however it is a Feast day, e.g. St. Haralambos, the Forty Holy Martyrs, as well as during Holy Week, and there is to be a Gospel reading, the Book of the Gospels is carried.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. (in a low voice)

DEACON: Master, bless the Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon (or the Priest) censing towards the East (or on the vigil of a Feast holding the Gospel Book aloft) says aloud:

DEACON: Wisdom! Attend!

In the Presanctified the Entrance Hymn is not usually sung but intoned.

O joyful radiance of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Having come to the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody, O Son of God, giver of life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory.

Having reentered the Sanctuary, the Deacon announces:

DEACON: The evening.

READER: Prokeimenon. Sixth tone. Psalm 31.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones.

Verse: Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The Reading is from Genesis. (4:16-26)

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER: Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech. And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle. His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and the pipe. Zillah bored Tubalcain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, hearken to what I say: I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold. "

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, for Cain slew him. " To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

READER: Prokeimenon. First tone. Psalm 32.

Lord, let your loving mercy be upon us.

Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones.

And he chants in a louder voice: Order!

The Priest, holding aloft the censer and a lighted candle, stands before the Holy Table and says:

PRIEST: Wisdom! Let us attend!

Then, turning to the people, standing in the Royal Arch he proclaims:

PRIEST: The light of Christ enlightens all!

He blesses the congregation making the sign of the Cross with the candle and returns before the Holy Table.

READER: The Reading is from Proverbs. (5:15-23; 6:1-3)

DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER: My son, drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely hind, a graceful doe. Let her affection fill you at all times with delight, be infatuated always with her love.

Why should you be infatuated, my son, with a loose woman and embrace the bosom of an adventuress? For man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he watches all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is caught in the toils of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is lost.

My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger; if you are snared in the utterance of your lips, caught in the words of your mouth; then do this, my son, and save yourself.

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FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the "O Lord I have cried out... "

Verse: Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Idiomelon in the fourth tone.

Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. In Your abundant mercy visit my soul; lift the burden of my transgressions and forgive, only Loving One.

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

Idiomelon in the fourth tone.

Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. In Your abundant mercy visit my soul; lift the burden of my transgressions and forgive, only Loving One.

The Martyrika, in the eight tones, form Appendix A. The priest will announce the tone for the given week.

There follow four prosomoia from the Menaion, with the appropriate verses, relating to the Saint of the following day or, should there be one, of the Saint of the day being celebrated.

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

The Hymn for the Dead, in the same tone.

Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Theotokion in the same tone.

If however it is a Feast day, e.g. St. Haralambos, the Forty Holy Martyrs, as well as during Holy Week, and there is to be a Gospel reading, the Book of the Gospels is carried.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. (in a low voice)

DEACON: Master, bless the Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon (or the Priest) censing towards the East (or on the vigil of a Feast holding the Gospel Book aloft) says aloud:

DEACON: Wisdom! Attend!

In the Presanctified the Entrance Hymn is not usually sung but intoned.

Having reentered the Sanctuary, the Deacon announces:

DEACON: The evening.

READER: Prokeimenon. Fourth tone. Psalm 39.

Your mercy and your truth have helped me always.

Verse: I waited patiently for the Lord.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The Reading is from Genesis. (5:32 - 6:8)

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER: After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the Father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

When men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took to wife such of them as they chose. Then the Lord said, "My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh, but his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. " The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, man and beast and creeping things, and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them. " But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

READER: Prokeimenon. Sixth tone. Psalm 40.

I said, "O Lord, have mercy on me!"

Verse: Blessed is the helper of the poor and needy.

And he chants in a louder voice: Order!

The Priest, holding aloft the censer and a lighted candle, stands before the Holy Table and says:

PRIEST: Wisdom! Let us attend!

Then, turning to the people, standing in the Royal Arch he proclaims:

PRIEST: The light of Christ enlightens all!

He blesses the congregation making the sign of the Cross with the candle and returns before the Holy Table.

READER: The Reading is from Proverbs. (6:20 - 7: 1)

DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER: My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart always, tie them about your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adventuress.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for a harlot may be hired for a loaf of bread, but an adulteress stalks a man's very life. Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.

Do not men despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry? And if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. He who commits adultery has no sense; he who does it destroys himself. Wounds and dishonor will he get, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. He will accept no compensation, nor be appeased though you multiply gifts.

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live.

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WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the "O Lord I have cried out... "

Verse: Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the first tone.

Having wastefully squandered my patrimony, I am destitute, living in the land of knaves. And in my foolishness I have become like the dumb animals, bereft of all divine grace. And so repenting, I cry out to You the loving and compassionate Father, "I have sinned; accept me in penitence, O God, and have mercy on me. "

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

Verse: Out of the depths I have cried out to you: Lord, O Lord, hear my voice.

Martyrikon

Martyrs of the Lord, you are living oblations, spiritual burnt-offerings, perfect sacrificial victims for God, knowing God and known of Him; sheep whose sheepfold is secure against wolves. Intercede, that we too may graze with you by restful waters.

Verse: Let your ears be attentive to the sound of my plea.

Stichera Prosomoia, Poems of Joseph. In the sixth tone.

Apostles, who have seen God, beams of the intelligible sun, ask light for our souls, rid us of the dark gloom of the passions and intercede that we may see the saving light of day, by prayers and intercessions, cleansing hearts which the Evil One has wounded; that saved by faith, we may ever honor you, who by your all-wise preaching have preserved the world.

Verse: If you retain sins, Lord, O Lord, who can stand? With you there is forgiveness.

A Prodigal, an alien in a far country of disgrace, I have spent in evil-doing, O Father, the riches you entrusted to me and am spent with hunger. Here I am clothed in the shame of my transgressions, but naked of Grace, crying out to you, "I have sinned. " For I know your goodness. Accept me, compassionate Christ, as one of Your hirelings, through the prayers of the Apostles who have loved You.

Verse: For your name's sake, O Lord, I have waited for you. My soul has waited for your promise, my soul has hoped in the Lord.

Another Prosomoion, by Theodore. In the same tone.

Apostles of the Savior, luminaries of the Universe, well-doers and saviors, like heavenly messengers you tell of the God of glory; and adorned as with stars with your miracles and your prodigies of healing, you carry your supplications for us earnestly to the Lord, that He will receive our prayers as a precious fragrance, and make us all worthy, both to venerate the lifegiving Cross and to look upon it in awe. As we worship it, 0 Savior, as loving God send down Your mercies on us.

There follow four prosomoia from the Menaion, with the appropriate verses, relating to the Saint of the following day or, should there be one, of the Saint of the day being celebrated.

If however it is a Feast day, e.g. St. Haralambos, the Forty Holy Martyrs, as well as during Holy Week, and there is to be a Gospel reading, the Book of the Gospels is carried.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. (in a low voice)

DEACON: Master, bless the Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon (or the Priest) censing towards the East (or on the vigil of a Feast holding the Gospel Book aloft) says aloud:

DEACON: Wisdom! Attend!

In the Presanctified the Entrance Hymn is not usually sung but intoned.

O joyful radiance of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Having come to the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody, O Son of God, giver of life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory.

Having reentered the Sanctuary, the Deacon announces:

DEACON: The evening.

READER: Prokeimenon. Fourth tone. Psalm 51.

I have always trusted in God's mercy from age to age.

Verse: Why do you flaunt your sin, O mighty one? All day long your tongue has plotted iniquity.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The Reading is from Genesis. (7: 6-9)

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER: Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark, to escape the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah.

READER: Prokeimenon. Fourth tone. Psalm 52.

When the Lord ends Israel's captivity,

Verse: Jacob shall exult and Israel shall be glad.

The fool said in his heart, "There is no God."

And he chants in a louder voice: Order!

The Priest, holding aloft the censer and a lighted candle, stands before the Holy Table and says:

PRIEST: Wisdom! Let us attend!

Then, turning to the people, standing in the Royal Arch he proclaims:

PRIEST: The light of Christ enlightens all!

He blesses the congregation making the sign of the Cross with the candle and returns before the Holy Table.

READER: The Reading is from Proverbs. (9:12-18)

DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER: My son, if you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. A foolish woman is noisy; she is wanton and knows no shame. She sits at the door of her house, she takes a seat on the high places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" And to him who is without sense she says, "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. But hasten away, delay not in the place, neither fix your eye upon her: for thus shall you go through strange water; but abstain from strange water, and do not drink of a strange fountain that you may live live long, and years of life may be added to you.

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FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the " O Lord I have cried out... "

Verse: Release me from prison , that I may give thanks to your name.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the seventh tone.

In the manner of the Prodigal, I have tamed by back on Your grace, Lord, and having squandered the riches of Your goodness, I have hastened to You, loving one, crying, "God, I have sinned. Have mercy on me. "

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the seventh tone.

In the manner of the Prodigal, I have turned by back on Your grace, Lord, and having squandered the riches of Your goodness, I have hastened to You, loving one, crying, "God, I have sinned. Have mercy on me.”

The Martyrika, in the eight tones, form Appendix II. The priest will announce the tone for the given week.

There follow four prosomoia from the Menaion, with the appropriate verses, relating to the Saint of the following day or, should there be one, of the Saint of the day being celebrated.

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

The Hymn for the Dead in the tone of the Week

Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Theotokion in the tone of the Week

If however it is a Feast day, e.g. St. Haralambos, the Forty Holy Martyrs, as well as during Holy Week, and there is to be a Gospel reading, the Book of the Gospels is carried.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. (in a low voice)

PRIEST: (inaudibly) At nightfall, dawn and noon, we sing to You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we beseech You, Master of all, Lord and lover of mankind: guide our prayers aright as an offering of incense before You. Let not our hearts be led to wicked thoughts or words, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For it is on You, Lord, Lord, that our eyes are fixed, and in You that we have our hope; do not put us to shame, O our God. For all glory, honor and adoration are Your due, Fattier, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

DEACON: Master, bless the Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

The Deacon (or the Priest) censing towards the East (or on the vigil of a Feast holding the Gospel Book aloft) says aloud:

DEACON: Wisdom! Attend!

In the Presanctified the Entrance Hymn is not usually sung but intoned.

O joyful radiance of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Having come to the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody, O Son of God, giver of life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory.

Having reentered the Sanctuary, the Deacon announces:

DEACON: The evening.

READER: Prokeimenon. Fourth tone. Psalm 59.

Give us help out of trouble, for vain is the salvation of man.

Verse: O God, you have rejected us and destroyed us; you had been angry, and yet took pity on us.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The Reading is from Genesis. (8: 4-21)

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER: And in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made, and sent forth a raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground; but the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put forth his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and lo, in her mouth a freshly plucked olive leaf, so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she did not return to him any more.

In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God said to Noah, "Go forth from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh --- birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth --- that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply upon the earth. " So Noah went forth, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. And every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves upon the earth, went forth by families out of the ark.

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the pleasing odor.

READER: Prokeimenon. Sixth tone. Psalm 60.

O God, hear my plea, attend to my prayer.

Verse: Thus will I sing to your name for evermore, fulfilling my vows day by day.

And he chants in a louder voice: Order!

The Priest, holding aloft the censer and a lighted candle, stands before the Holy Table and says:

PRIEST: Wisdom! Let us attend!

Then, turning to the people, standing in the Royal Arch he proclaims:

PRIEST: The light of Christ enlightens all!

He blesses the congregation making the sign of the Cross with the candle and returns before the Holy Table.

READER: The Reading is from Proverbs. (10:31 - 11:12)

DEACON: Wisdom. Let us be attentive

READER: The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

When the wicked dies, his hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nought. The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead. With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

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WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK

The following verses and hymns are chanted at the "O Lord I have cried out... "

Verse: Release me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the fourth tone.

The Fast that yields blessings is now at its midpoint, having in the days past been acceptable, and promising benefits in the days yet to come. For persevering in the good increases its benefits. Therefore we cry to Christ, the giver of all good things, "You who fasted for our sakes and endured the Cross, make us fit to share without reproach Your divine Passover, living in peace and worthily glorifying You with the Father and the Spirit. "

Verse: The just shall gather around me when you give me my due reward.

An additional sticheron in the fifth tone.

As we e

2008 Paschal Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Prayers

Services

Occasional Services

The Paschal Greeting

Additional Prayers And Services

Vespers With the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

For additional prayers and services visit the Online Chapel section of the web site for Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

PSALM 103/104

THE GREAT LITANY OF PEACE

THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON

THE FIRST SETTING

PSALM 119/120

PSALM 120/121

PSALM 121/122

PSALM 122/123

PSALM 123/124

THE PRAYER OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON

THE SECOND SETTING OF THE PSALTER

PSALM 124/125

PSALM 125/126

PSALM 126/127

PSALM 127/128

PSALM 128/129

PRAYER OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON

THE THIRD SETTING OF THE PSALTER

PSALM 129/130

PSALM 130/131

PSALM 131/132

PSALM 132/133

PSALM 133/134

THE PRAYER OF THE FOURTH ANTIPHON

PSALM 140/141

PSALM 141/142

The Hymnology and Old Testament Readings For Each Presanctified Will Be Found By Clicking The Appropriate Link

THE FERVENT SUPPLICATION

Prayer of the Fervent Supplication

THE LITANY FOR THE CATECHUMENS

Prayer for the Catachumens

The First Prayer of the Faithful

The Second Prayer of the Faithful

THE COMPLETION LITANY

THE FRACTION AND COMMUNION

THE PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION

THE COMMUNION OF THE FAITHFUL

THE DISMISSAL

PSALM 33/34

PSALM 144/145

Wendesday of the First Week

Sticheron Idiomelon in the eighth tone.

Martyrikon

Prosomoion of Joseph. In the second tone.

By the same hymnographer. In the second tone.

A hymn by Theodore. In the fifth tone.

Friday of the First Week

Idiomelon in the fifth tone.

Second tone.

Doxastikon in the sixth tone.

The Theotokion in the tone of the Day.

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK

Sticheron Idiomelon in the first tone.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the first tone.

Martyrikon

Stichera Prosomoia composed by the Poet Joseph. In the third tone.

A poem by Theodore in the sixth tone.

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK

Idiomelon in the fourth tone.

Idiomelon in the fourth tone.

The Hymn for the Dead, in the same tone.

The Theotokion in the same tone.

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK

Sticheron Idiomelon in the first tone.

Martyrikon

Stichera Prosomoia, Poems of Joseph. In the sixth tone.

Another Prosomoion, by Theodore. In the same tone.

FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK

Sticheron Idiomelon in the seventh tone.

Sticheron Idiomelon in the seventh tone.

The Hymn for the Dead in the tone of the Week

The Theotokion in the tone of the Week