Vespers
Vespers

Great Vespers

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

 

Reader:  Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

 

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who are everywhere and fill all things. Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

 

Come, let us worship God, our King. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.

 

            Psalm 104

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty, who covers Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretched out the heavens like a tent, who laid the beams of Your chambers on the waters, who makes the clouds Your chariot, who rides on the wings of the wind, who makes the winds Your messengers, fire and flame Your ministers. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be shaken, You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place which You appointed for them. You set a bound which they should not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From Your lofty abode You water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your work. You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the badgers. You made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep forth. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises they get away, and lie down in their dens. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan which You formed to sport in it. These all look to You, to give them their food in due season. When You give to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are filled with good things. When You hide Your face, they are dismayed; when You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in His works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more!

 

{North Server: Open Door for Priest to exit.}

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul! The sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness and it is night. O Lord, how manifold are Your works. In wisdom You have made them all!

 

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

 

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to You, O God. {3x}

 

 

 

 

The Great Litany

 

Priest:  In peace let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

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

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

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

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

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

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For the President and all civil authorities of this country, and for those serving in its Armed Forces, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For this city, for every city and countryside, and for the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For travelers by land, by sea, and by air; the sick; the suffering; the captives; and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your Grace.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

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

 

People: To You, O Lord.

 

If there is no Kathisma, proceed to the “Prayer of the Incense ”.

 

Kathisma Prayer

 

Priest:  O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and of great mercy, give heed to our prayers, and attend to the voice of our supplications. Work upon us a sign for good. Guide us in Your way that we may walk in Your truth. Gladden our hearts that we may fear Your holy name, for You are great and You work wonders. You alone are God, and among the gods there is none like You, O Lord, powerful in mercy and good in might, to help and to comfort and to save all those who hope in Your holy name.

 

{South Server: Open Door for Priest to enter.}

 

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

Here follows the First Kathisma, prescribed for the Resurrection. Certain feasts do not call for a Kathisma.

 

 

The Vesper Kathisma

 

Cantor: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked.

 

People: {Refrain} Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Cantor: For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. {Refrain}

 

Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling! {Refrain}

 

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him! {Refrain}

 

Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! {Refrain}

 

Salvation is of the Lord! Your blessing be upon Your people! {Refrain}

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, {Refrain}

 

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. {Refrain}

 

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God! {3x}

 

 

{Prepare  Censor for Priest}

 

 

Prayer of the Incense

 

Priest:  Again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  In the evening, in the morning, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You: O Master of all, O Lord, the Lover of mankind, let our prayer arise in Your sight as incense, and incline not our hearts to words or thoughts of evil, but rescue us from all who seek after our souls. For our eyes are toward You, O Lord: Lord, in You we put our hope. Put us not to shame, O our God.

 

For to You are due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

 

{Give Censor to the Priest}

 

People:  Amen.

 

 

            Psalm 141

            (Sung in the proper tone)

 

People:  Lord, I call upon You, hear me.

Hear me, O Lord.

Lord, I call upon You, hear me.

Receive the voice of my prayer

when I call upon You.

Hear me, O Lord.

Let my prayer arise

in Your sight as incense,

and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

Hear me, O Lord.

 

Reader:  Set a guard O Lord, before my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips! Turn not my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity; and let me not join their chosen ones! Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness, but let the oil of the wicked never anoint my head; for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that the word of the Lord is true.

 

{North Server- Open door for Priest to Exit}

 

{Prepare priest’s Phalone}

 

As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward You, O Lord God; in You I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers! Let the wicked together fall into their own nets, while I escape. I cry with my voice to the Lord, with my voice I make supplication to the Lord, I pour out my complaint before Him, I tell my trouble before Him. When my spirit is faint, You know my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. I look to the right and watch, but there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains for me, no man cares for my soul. I cry to You, O Lord; I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry; for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are too strong for me!

 

Depending upon the number of hymns to be sung on “Lord I Call, "(see handout) the Reader inserts the following verses from the Psalms as needed:

 

(10) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name.

 

(9) The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.

 

(8) Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice.

 

(7) Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

 

(6) If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You.

 

(5) For Your name’s sake I have waited for You, O Lord, my soul has waited for Your word; my soul has hoped on the Lord.

 

(4) From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope on the Lord.

 

(3) For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.

 

(2) Praise the Lord, all nations. Praise Him, all peoples.

 

(1) For His mercy is confirmed on us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

 

{Prepare Candles}

 

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

 

{South Server- Priest Reenters, Take Censor}

 

{North Server- Take Phalone to Priest}

 

{As the priest opens the royal doors at “…Now and ever…” North Server turn on lights.}

 

 

 

At “Glory. . . , now and ever” the Holy Doors are opened. The Entrance is made with the censer or the Gospel book when appropriate.

 

The Priest blesses the Entrance saying:

 

Priest:  Blessed is the entrance of Your holy ones, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

 

 

The Hymn of Entrance

 

People:  Gladsome Light of the Holy Glory of the immortal, Father, heavenly, Holy, blessed: O Jesus Christ! Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for right it is at all times, to worship You with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of life. Therefore all the world glorifies You.

 

Side Lights Up

 

 

The Evening Prokeimenon

 

Priest:  Wisdom! Let us be attentive! Peace be to all!

 

The Prokeimenon in the __________ Tone:

 

The Priest chants the Prokeimenon and the people respond.

 

            Saturday—Tone 6

The Lord is King! /He is robed in majesty. The Lord is robed, He is girded with strength.

 

Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved, Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.

 

Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits Your house, 0 Lord, forevermore.

 

 

            Sunday—Tone 8

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

 

You who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

 

 

            Monday—Tone 4

The Lord hears me, / when I call to Him.

When I called, the God of my righteousness heard me.

 

 

            Tuesday—Tone 1

Your mercy, O Lord, / shall follow me all the days of my life.

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.

 

 

            Wednesday—Tone 5

Save me, O God, by Your name / and judge me by Your strength.

 

Hear my prayer, 0 God, give ear to the words of my mouth.

 

 

            Thursday—Tone 6

My help comes from the Lord, / who made heaven and earth.

 

I lift up my eyes to the hills from where my help will come.

 

 

            Friday—Tone 7

You, O God are my helper / and Your mercy shall go before me.

 

Deliver me from my enemies, O God, and protect me from those who rise up against me.

 

 

On feast days, lessons from the Old Testament are now chanted followed by the Evening Prayer, “Grant, O Lord ” on page 19. Otherwise, the following litany is offered.

 

 

Litany of Fervent Supplication

 

Priest:  Let us say with all our soul and all our mind, let us say.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  O Lord almighty, the God of our fathers, we implore You, hear us and have mercy.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

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

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest:  Again we pray for [His Beatitude] Metropolitan __________,' for [His Grace] our Bishop __________; for priests, deacons, and all other clergy, and for all our brethren in Christ.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest: Again we pray for the President and all civil authorities of this country and for those serving in its Armed Forces.

 

People: Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest: Again we pray for the blessed and ever memorable founders of this holy house; for all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox departed this life before us, __________, (and all those we call to mind) who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord.

 

People: Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God __________, (and all those we call to mind) and for the pardon and remission of then sins.

 

People: Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest: Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable house; for those who labor and those who sing; and for all the people here present, who await Your great and rich mercy.

 

People: Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest:  For You are a merciful God, and love mankind, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

Priest:  Amen.

 

 

Evening Prayer

 

Grant, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen. Let Your mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope on You. Blessed are You, O Lord: teach me Your statutes. Blessed are You, O Mas- ter: make me to understand Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Holy One: enlighten me with Your precepts. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of Your hands. To You belongs worship, to You belongs praise, to You belongs glory; to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

 

The Evening Litany

 

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

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

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

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest: That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Priest: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Priest: For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Priest: For all things that are good and profit- able for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Priest: That we may complete the remaining  time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People:  Grant this, O Lord.

 

Priest:  For a Christian ending to our life; pain- less, blameless and peaceful: and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People:  Grant this, O Lord.

 

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

 

People:  To You, O Lord.

 

Priest:  For You are a good God and love mankind, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People:  Amen.

 

Priest:  Peace be unto all.

 

People:  And to your spirit.

 

Priest:  Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

 

People: To You, O Lord.

 

The Prayer with Bowed heads

 

Priest: O Lord our God, Who bowed the heavens and came down for the salvation of the human race; look upon Your servants and Your inheritance; for to You, the awesome Judge, Who yet love mankind, have Your servants bowed their heads and submissively bent their necks, not waiting for help from men, but asking for Your mercy and looking confidently for Your salvation. Guard them at all times, both during this present evening and in the approaching night, from every foe, from all adverse powers of the Devil, from vain thoughts, and from evil imaginations.

 

Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Your Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

0n Feast Days, the Litia may be served here. Otherwise we continue with the Aposticha (see handout).

 

The Litia

 

People: Verses as indicated, (see handout).

 

 

The Great Intercessory Prayer

 

Priest: O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance… (See page 39)

 

 

The Sunday Aposticha

 

 

People: Verses as indicated, (see handout).

 

 

Reader: The Lord is King, He is robed in majesty.

 

 

People: Verses as indicated, (see handout).

 

 

Reader: For He has established the world so that it shall never be moved.

 

 

People: Verses as indicated, (see handout).

 

 

Reader: Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for evermore.

 

 

People: Verses as indicated, (see handout).

 

 

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

 

 

People: Verse on the “Glory. . .” if any, (see handout).

 

 

Reader: Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

 

People: Theotokion, (see handout).

 

 

 

The Prayer of Simeon

 

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

 

Reader:  Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. {3x}

 

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

 

Most-holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

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

 

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

 

Priest:  For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

 

The Sunday Troparia (Sung in the proper tone)

 

People: (See handout)

 

 

When the Litia has been served, here follows the blessing of the Loaves, wheat, wine and oil on page 44.

 

If Great Vespers is served separately, it concludes here with the proper Dismissal. Otherwise follows the Paleoleos on page 29.

 

 

The Dismissal

 

If the Litia has been served:

 

People: Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. {3x}

 

Priest: The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

If the Litia has not been served:

 

Priest:  Wisdom!

 

People:  Father bless.

 

Priest:  + Christ our God, the Existing One, is blessed always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

Priest: Preserve, O God, the holy Orthodox faith and Orthodox Christians, unto ages of ages.

 

People:  Most holy Theotokos, save us. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you.

 

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to You.

 

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

 

Lord, have mercy. {3x} Father bless.

 

Priest: May {He who rose from the dead,} Christ our true God, through the most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles, of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, to whom this temple is dedicated, of (Saint of the day), whom we commemorate today; of (the American saints), of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us for He is a good God and loves mankind.

 

People: Amen.

 

 

If the Litia has been served, and Great Vespers is served separately, the faithful come forward here to receive the blessed bread and wine and to be anointed with the blessed oil.

 

 

 

The Cathedral Vigil

 

 The Poleoleos

 

People:  Praise the name of the Lord, you servants of the Lord. {Alleluia, 3X}

 

Praise the Lord out of Zion, who dwells at Jeruselum. {Alleluia, 3X}    

 

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, for His mercy endures forever. {Alleluia, 3x}

 

O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy endures forever. {Alleluia, 3x}

 

 

During Pre-Lent and Lent Psalm 136 “By the waters of Babylon” is sung here.

 

On certain feasts, the “Magnfiication” is sung here.

 

The following is sung for the Resurrection, otherwise proceed to the Morning Prayer on page 31.

 

 

Blessed are You, O Lord

 

People: {Refrain} Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!

 

The angelic host was filled with awe when it saw You among the dead! By destroying the power of death, O Savior, You raised Adam and saved all mankind from hell! {Refrain}

 

In the tomb, the radiant angel cried to the myrrh-bearers, “Why do you women mingle myrrh with your tears? Look at the tomb and understand! The Savior is risen from the dead! {Refiain}

 

Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearers ran with sorrow to Your tomb. But an angel came to them and said: “The time for sorrow has come to an end! Do not weep but announce the Resurrection to the Apostles! {Refrain}

 

The myrrh-bearers were sorrowful as they neared Your tomb, but the angel said to them: “Why do you number the living among the dead? Since He is God, He is risen from the tomb!”

 

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

 

We worship the Father, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence. We cry with the seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy, are You, O Lord!

 

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

Since you gave birth to the Giver of Life, O Virgin, you redeemed Adam from his sin! You gave joy to Eve instead of sadness! The God-Man Who was born of you has restored to life those who had fallen from it.

 

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. {3x}

 

 

Morning Prayer

 

Priest:  Again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have nmercy.

 

Priest:  O Lord our God, who has assembled us by a holy call, that even in the evening we might lift up our hands and give thanks to You for the judgments of Your righteousness. Accept our prayers and petitions; the thanksgiving of our evening worship. Grant unto us, O God, a faith unashamed, a sure hope, and a love that is sincere. Bless our comings and goings, our works and deeds, our words and thoughts. And grant that we may begin this day, praising, singing and blessing your ineffable goodness.

 

Priest:  For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

For the Resurrection, the Hypakoe from the Octoechos is now sung, (see handout) followed by the Matins Prokeimenon.

 

On feast days the appointed Sessional Hymn is sung (see handout) and then the following.

 

People:  From my Youth People: From my youth, many passions have fought against me. but help me and save me, O my Savior!

 

You who hate Zion shall be put to shame by the Lord. You shall be withered up like grass by the fire!

 

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

 

Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit and is exalted in purity. Illumined by the Holy Trinity, in a sacred mystery.

 

Matins Prokeimenon

 

Priest:  Wisdom! Let us be attentive! Peace be to all!

 

The Prokeimenon in the __________ Tone:

 

The Priest chants the Prokeimenon and the people respond.

 

            Tone 1

“I will now arise,” says the Lord; / “I will set myself for salvation and not draw back from it!”

The Lord’s words are pure words.

 

            Tone 2

Arise, O Lord my God, in the decree which You have commanded, / and the assembly of peoples will surround You!

O Lord my God, I have set my hope on You!

Save me!

 

            Tone 3

Say among the nations that the Lord is King, / for He has established the world so that it shall never be moved!

Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

 

            Tone 4

Arise, O Lord, and help us! / Deliver us for Your name’s sake!

We have heard with our ears, O God, and our fathers have told us!

 

            Tone 5

Arise, O Lord my God! Let Your hand be lifted up, / for You reign forever!

I will give thanks to You with my whole heart, O Lord! I will proclaim all Your wonders!

 

            Tone 6

O Lord, stir up Your might / and come to save us!

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock.

 

            Tone 7

Arise, O Lord my God, and let Your hand be lifted up! / Do not forget Your poor until the end! I will give thanks to You with my whole heart, O Lord! I will proclaim all Your wonders.

 

            Tone 8

The Lord will reign forever; / Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live!

 

 

Ekphonesis

 

Priest:  Let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest:  For You are holy, O our God, who rests in the saints, and unto You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

Priest:  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

 

People:  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

 

Priest:  Praise God in His sanctuary! Praise Him in His mighty firmament.

 

People:  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

 

Priest:  Let everything that has breath.

 

People:  Praise the Lord.

 

The Gospel Reading

 

Priest:  And that we may be accounted worthy of hearing the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest:  Wisdom, let us be attentive, let us listen to the Holy Gospel! + Peace be to all.

 

People:  And to Your Spirit.

 

Priest:  The reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint __________.

 

People:  Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. Let us be attentive!

 

(The Priest chants the Gospel).

 

People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

 

If it is a feast day, the Post-Gospel Hymns are sung here (see handout) followed by the Dismissal.

 

If it is the Resurrection, the following is sung.

 

Sunday Resurrection Troparia

 

People: Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We venerate Your Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection, for You are our God, and we know no other than You, we call on Your name.

 

Come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christi’s holy resurrection! For, behold, through the Cross, joy has come into all the world. Let us ever bless the Lord, praising His resurrection, for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by death!

 

Jesus has risen from the grave as He foretold, granting us eternal life and great mercy!

 

The Priest brings out the Holy Gospel, carrying it on his chest, and places it upon the Analogion. He venerates it and returns to the Ambo.

 

 

The Dismissal

 

Priest:  Wisdom.

 

People:  Father, bless.

 

Priest:  + Christ our God, the Exiting One, is blessed, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People:  Amen.

 

Priest:  Preserve, O God, the holy Orthodox faith and Orthodox Christians unto ages of ages.

 

The Priest bows toward the icon of the Theotokos on the Iconostasis, saying:

 

Priest:  Most holy Theotokos, save us.

 

People:  More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you.

 

The Priest bows toward the icon of Christ on the lconostasis, saying:

 

Priest:  Glory to You, O Christ, our God and our hope, glory to You.

 

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

 

Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Father, bless.

 

Priest:  May [He Who rose from the dead,] Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to whom this temple is dedicated, (of the day), whom we commemorate today; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us for He is good and loves mankind.

 

People: Amen.

 

The faithful now approach to venerate the Gospel, and, fi it is a Great Feast, to be anointed by the Priest with the blessed oil.

 

+++

 

 

The Litia

 

As the appointed Stichera are sung. the Clergy kiss the Altar Table, and, with the Acolytes exit through the Deacon Doors and proceed to the vestibule.

 

The Priest stands in the center, the Acolytes in front of him and to each side.

 

The Great Intercessory Prayer

 

Priest:  O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Visit Your world in mercy and compassion. Exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians, and send down on us Your rich mercies; through the prayers of our most-pure Lady, the Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of heaven; through the supplications of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles, Mary Magdalen; of our fathers among the saints, hierarchs and ecumenical teachers: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our fathers among the saints Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Irenaeus of Lyons, Cyprian of Carthage, Ambrose of Milan, Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory of Rome, Augustine of Canterbury, and Theodore of Tarsus; of our fathers among the saints: Innocent, the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to America; Jacob, Enlightener of the Upic and Athabascan peoples; Nicholas of Zhicha and South Canaan; Tikhon, Enlightener of North America and Patriarch of Moscow; Raphael of Brooklyn and John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco; of Juvenaly, Protomartyr of America and the martyred Aleut Peter; of the New-martyrs and Passion-bearers of Russia, especially the martyrs John of Chicago and Alexander of New York; and our venerable father Herman, Elder and Wonderworker of Alaska and all America; of St. John of Kronstadt; and our father-among-the-saints, Alexis of Minneapolis and Wilkes-barre, defender of the Orthodox Church in America; of Saint (of the day); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, hear us sinners who pray to You, and have mercy on us.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {12x}

 

Priest:  Again we pray for [His Beatitude] Metropolitan , for [His Grace] our Bishop , and for all our brotherhood in Christ; and for every Christian soul afflicted and weary in well-doing, in need of God’s mercies and help; for the protection of this city (or country- side, or town, or village, or holy

abode), and for those who dwell therein, for the peace and quietness of the whole world; for the good estate of the holy churches of God; for the salvation and help of our fathers and brethren who with diligence and fear of God labor and serve; for those who are absent and those who are abroad; for the healing of those who lie in sickness; [especially__________ ]; for the repose, refreshment and blessed memory and forgiveness of sins of all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox departed this life before us, [especially__________] who lie here and everywhere; for the deliverance of captives; for our brethren who are serving, and for all who serve and have served in this holy temple (or holy abode), let us say.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {12x}

 

Priest:  Again we pray for the President and all civil authorities of this country, and for those serving in its armed forces, and that He will keep this city (or countryside, or town, or village, or holy abode) and every city and countryside from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion or civil war, and from sudden death; that our good God, the Lover of mankind, will be gracious, favorable, and conciliatory, and turn away and dispel all the wrath stirred up against us, and all sickness, and may deliver us from His righteous chastisement which impends against us, and have mercy on us.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest:  Again we pray that the Lord God will hear the voice of supplication of us sinners and have mercy on us.

 

People:  Lord, have mercy. {3x}

 

Priest:  Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off on the sea; and be gracious, be gracious, O Master, to us sinners and have mercy on us. For You are a merciful God, the Lover of mankind, and to You we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People:  Amen.

 

Priest:  + Peace be unto all.

 

People:  And to your spirit.

 

Priest:  Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

 

People:  To You, O Lord.

 

 

The Prayer With Heads Bowed

 

O Master, great in mercy, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, through the intercessions of our most-pure Lady, and of all the saints, make our prayer acceptable, grant us forgiveness of our trespasses, hide us under the shelter of Your wings, drive away from us every enemy and adversary, give peace to our life, O Lord, have mercy on us and on Your world, and save our souls, for You are good and You love mankind.

 

People: Amen.

 

The procession proceeds to the center where the table is prepared with the tray of loaves, wheat, wine, and oil. The Priest stands facing East. The Servers stand on the sides, facing inward.

 

Then the Aposticha is sung and Great Vespers continues. See page 22.

 

At the conclusion of “The Lords’ Prayer” the Priest takes the censer and censes around the table on which lies the Litia tray while the people sing the Troparion three times (or as prescribed by the Rubrics in accordance with the nature of the feast). On the last time around, he censes the festal icon and the five loaves from the front only.

 

The Blessing of the Bread

 

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Priest: O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who blessed the five loaves in the wilderness and with them satisfied the five thousand, + bless these loaves, wheat, wine, and oil, and multiply them in this city, and in all the world, and sanctify all the faithful who partake of them. For it is You, O Christ our God, Who bless and sanctify all things, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father, Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

If Great Vespers is served separately, return to the Dismissal on page 25. Otherwise proceed to page 26.

 

 

 

 

                                                       

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