(CELEBRATED ON THE MORNING OF HOLY THURSDAY BY ANTICIPATION)
Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
Reader: Come, let us worship and fall down before 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.
While the psalm is being read, the priest prays the Prayers of Lighting of the Lamps here .
The Psalm Of Introduction Psalm 103
Reader: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly. Confession and majesty hast Thou put on, Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, Who stretchest out the heaven as it were a curtain; Who supporteth His chambers in the waters, Who appointeth the clouds for His ascent, Who walketh upon the wings of the winds, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
Who establisheth the earth in the sureness thereof; it shall not be turned back forever and ever. The abyss like a garment is His mantle; upon the mountains shall the waters stand. At Thy rebuke they will flee, at the voice of Thy thunder shall they be afraid. The mountains rise up and the plains sink down, unto the place where Thou hast established them. Thou appointedst a bound that they shall not pass, neither return to cover the earth.
He sendeth forth springs in the valleys; between the mountains will the waters run. They shall give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild asses will wait to quench their thirst. Beside them will the birds of the heaven lodge, from the midst of the rocks will they give voice. He watereth the mountains from His chambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men, to bring forth bread out of the earth; and wine maketh glad the heart of man. To make his face cheerful with oil; and bread strengtheneth man's heart.
The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon, which Thou hast planted. There will the sparrows make their nests; the house of the heron is chief among them. The high mountains are a refuge for the harts, and so is the rock for the hares. He hath made the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down. Thou appointedst the darkness, and there was the night, wherein all the beasts of the forest will go abroad; young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their food from God.
The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together, and they lay them down in their dens. Man shall go forth unto his work, and to his labor until the evening. How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all. The earth is filled with Thy creation. So is this great and spacious sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, small living creatures with the great. There go the ships; there this leviathan, whom Thou hast made to play therein.
All things wait on Thee, to give them their food in due season; when Thou givest it them, they will gather it. When Thou openest Thy hand, all things shall be filled with goodness; when Thou turnest away Thy face, they shall be troubled. Thou wilt take their spirit, and they shall cease; and unto their dust shall they return. Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let the glory of the Lord be unto the ages; the Lord will rejoice in His works. Who looketh on the earth and maketh it tremble, Who toucheth the mountains and they smoke. I will sing unto the Lord throughout my life, I will chant to my God for as long as I have my being. May my words be sweet unto Him; I will rejoice in the Lord. O that sinners would cease from the earth, and they that work iniquity, that they should be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The sun knoweth his going down. Thou appointedst the darkness, and there was the night. How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. ( thrice )
O our God and our Hope, glory to Thee!
The Litany of Peace
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. ( after every petition ) Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this holy house and those who with faith, reverence and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our father and metropolitan, N., (our bishop, N.), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our country, its president (or appropriate head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this city and every city and countryside and the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For healthful seasons, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For travelers by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, the captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, 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. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
"O Lord, I Have Cried" In Tone Two
Choir: O Lord, I have cried out unto Thee, hear Thou me; hear Thou me, O Lord. O Lord, I have cried out unto Thee, hear Thou me. Give ear to the voice of my supplication when I cry out unto Thee: hear Thou me, O Lord.
Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as the incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice; hear Thou me, O Lord.
- Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a protecting door round about my lips.
- Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.
- With men that work iniquity; and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
- The just man shall correct me in mercy and shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.
- For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased; their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.
- They shall hear my words, for they are sweet; as when the thickness of the earth is broken upon the ground, their bones are scattered by the side of hades.
- But to Thee, O Lord, Lord, are mine eyes; in Thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
- Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and the traps of the workers of iniquity.
- Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I alone escape.
- I cried unto the Lord with my voice, with my voice unto the Lord, did I make my supplication.
- I poured out my supplication before Him; I showed before Him my trouble.
- When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path.
- In the way wherein I walked have they secretly laid a snare for me.
- I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me.
- Refuge failed me; no one cared for my soul.
- I cried unto Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
- Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low.
- Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.
Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy Name.
Verse 9. The righteous shall wait for me until Thou recompense me.
Verse 8. Out of the depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord, Lord hear my voice.
Verse 7. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
For Holy Friday in Tone Two
Verse 6. If Thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee there is forgiveness.
Now doth the Sanhedrin of the Jews come together to deliver to Pilate the Artificer and Creator of all. What lawless men! How faithless! For they prepare for judgment Him that cometh to judge the quick and the dead; they make ready for the Passion Him that healeth our passions. O long-suffering Lord, great is Thy mercy; glory be to Thee.
Verse 5. Because of Thy Name have I waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon Thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
Now doth the Sanhedrin of the Jews come together to deliver (repeat above)
Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord.
The iniquitous Judas, who with Thee dipped his hand into the dish at the supper, O Lord, hath lawlessly stretched forth his hands to receive the pieces of silver. And he that calculated the price of the myrrh, did not shrink from selling Thee the Priceless One. He that put forth his feet to be washed, deceitfully kissed the Master that he might betray Him to the lawless. Cast out of the choir of the Apostles, and casting away the thirty pieces of silver, he saw not Thy Resurrection on the third day; whereby do Thou have mercy on us.
Verse 3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is abundant redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
Judas, the betrayer, being deceitful, betrayed the Saviour and Lord with a deceitful kiss; he sold the Master of all to the transgressors like a slave. But as a sheep to the slaughter, so did He follow; He that is the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, the only Plenteous in Mercy.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye people.
Judas, the servant and deceiver, the disciple and traitor, the friend and devil, hath been exposed by his deeds. For he followed the Teacher, and within himself meditated betrayal. He said to himself: I will betray Him, and profit from the money I gather. He sought both to sell the myrrh and to capture Jesus by guile. He offered a kiss and betrayed Christ; and as a sheep to the slaughter, so did He follow, He Who alone is compassionate and the Friend of man.
Verse 1. For His mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.
That Lamb of Whom Isaiah preached, cometh to voluntary slaughter; and He giveth His back to scourges, and His cheeks to smitings. He turned not His face away from the shame of spitting; and He is condemned to a shameful death. Of His own will, the Sinless One accepteth all, that He might grant unto all the Resurrection from the dead.
Doxasticon For Holy Friday In Tone Six
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Verily Judas is of that generation of vipers who ate manna in the wilderness and murmured against Him Who nourished them; for while the food was yet in their mouth, the ungrateful people spake against God. And this impious man, having the Heavenly Bread in his mouth, wrought the betrayal of the Saviour. O insatiable mind and inhuman audacity! He sold Him Who nourished him, and delivered unto death the Master Whom he kissed. Of a truth, this iniquitous man is their son, and, with them, he hath inherited perdition. But spare our souls such inhumanity, O Lord, for Thou alone art incomparable in longsuffering.
The Entrance
(While the Doxasticon is chanted, the following dialogue occurs QUIETLY as the clergy make the entrance with the GOSPEL BOOK, not the censer.)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Master, Lord our God, Who hast appointed in Heaven orders and hosts of angels and archangels for the service of Thy glory: Cause that with our entrance there may be an entrance of holy angels serving with us and glorifying thy goodness. For unto Thee are due all glory, honor and worship: to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(The clergy process to the center of the solea and recite this next dialogue QUIETLY.)
Deacon: Bless, father, the holy entrance.
Priest: Blessed is the entrance to thy holy place, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(After the choir has finished, the following is said ALOUD.)
Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright!
O Gladsome Light
Choir: O gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy and blessed Father: O Jesus Christ. Lo now that we have come to the setting of the sun, as we behold the evening light we hymn Thee: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be magnified by joyous voices, O Son of God and Giver of life. Wherefore the whole world doth glorify Thee.
- No Daily Prokeimenon is sung, and the Readings are immediately begun.
The Old Testament Readings
The First Reading
Deacon: The evening prokeimenon. Reader: Deliver me, O Lord, from wicked men who imagine mischief in their heart. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The reading is from the book of the Exodus. (Exodus 19:10-19) Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go down to the people and solemnly charge them and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes. Let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Thou shall set bounds for the people all around saying Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely die. Not a hand shall touch it the shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live. When the trumpets sound and the cloud is over the mountain, then they shall go up on the mountain." So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day do not go near your wives." Then it came to pass on the third day, that in the morning there were sounds and lightnings and a thick cloud on mount Sinai; the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
The Second Reading
Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Deliver me from mine enemies O God. Save me from those who work iniquity. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Book of Job. (38:1-21; 42:1-5) Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: "Who is this who hides counsel from me and confines words in his heart and thinks to conceal them from me? Gird thy waist like a man; I will question thee, and you will answer me. Where were you when I I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars were made, and all my angel praised me in a loud voice. I forced shut up the the womb; I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling and I fixed my limit for it and set bars and doors; and I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, and here you proud waves must stop!' Have you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the the dawn to know its place that it might take hold of the ends of the earth and the wicked be shaken out of it? Or did you take clay of the ground and form a living creature and set it with the power of speech upon the earth? From the wicked have you removed light and crushed the arm of the proud Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, what is the extent of it? Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory and know the paths to its home? Do you know it because you were born then or because the number of your days is great?" Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that thou canst do everything, and that no purpose of thine can be withheld from thee. Thou didst ask, Who is this who hides counsel from thee Or who keeps back his words, and thinks to hide them from thee? Or who can tell me what I did not know?' But hear me, O Lord, and let me speak thou didst say, 'I will question thee, and you will answer me.' I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee."
The Third Reading
Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from prophecy of Isaiah. (50:4-11) Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word. He awakens me morning by morning he awakens my ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened my ear; I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave my back to those who struck me and my cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me, will not be disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like a solid rock, and I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies me: who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near me. Surely the Lord God will help me; who will condemn me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of his Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God. Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled; this is what you will have from my hand: You will lie down in sorrow.
Prayer Of The Trisagion Hymn
Priest: ( quietly ) O holy God, who restest among the holy ones, who art hymned by the seraphim with the thrice-holy cry and glorified by the cherubim and worshipped by every heavenly power, who out of nothing hast brought all things into being, who hast created man according to thine own image and likeness and hast adorned him with thine every gift, who givest to him that asketh wisdom and understanding, who despisest not the sinner but hast appointed repentance unto salvation, who hast vouchsafed unto us, thy humble and unworthy servants, even in this hour, to stand before the glory of thy holy altar and to offer the worship and praise which are due unto thee: Thyself, Ο Master, receive even from the mouth of us sinners the thrice-holy hymn and visit us in thy goodness. Pardon us every transgression both voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies; and grant us to serve thee in holiness all the days of our life, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints, who from the beginning of the world have been well-pleasing unto thee. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever… Deacon: ...and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Trisagion Hymn
Choir: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (thrice) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Deacon: With strength! Choir: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us.
The Epistle
Deacon: Let us attend! Reader: The rulers gathered together against the Lord and against His anointed. Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? Deacon: Wisdom! Reader: The reading from the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. (11:23-32) Deacon: Let us attend! Reader: Brethren, I received from the Lord that which I also handed to you: that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same manner he also took the cup after supper saying: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many have died; For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world. Priest: Peace be to thee that readest! Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
The Gospel
Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Priest: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee. Deacon: Let us attend! Deacon: Matthew 26:2-20 The Lord said to his disciples, "You know that after two days the Pascha is coming and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and took counsel together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult among the people." Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment; and she poured it on his head as he sat at table. But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant saying, "Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver Jesus to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Jesus. Now on the first day of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Pascha?" Jesus said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The Teacher says, "my time is at hand; I will keep the Pascha at your house with my disciples." And the disciples did they prepared Pascha. When it was evening, with his twelve disciples.
John 13:3-17 And knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, Jesus rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not realize now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that is why he said, "You are not all clean." When he had washed their feet and taken this garments and resumed his place, he said to them: "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed art thou if you do them."
Matthew 26:21-39 And as they were eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" He answered and said "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" Jesus said to him, "You have said so." Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, "Drink of it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I anew with you in my Father's kingdon drinkit they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will fall away because of me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I am raised up I will go before you to Galilee." Peter declared to him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly, say to you this very night, before the cock crows you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you! And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go yonder and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then Jesus said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with me." And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou willest."
Luke 22:43-45 And there appeared to Jesus an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Matthew 26:40-27:2 And, getting up from prayer, Jesus came to his disciples, and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done." And again he came and found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again Jesus went away and prayed for the third time saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep on now and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand." While he was still speaking, behold, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man, seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail Master!" And Judas kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot now appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels But How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out against a robber with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And going inside, he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the elders and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death; but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward At last two came forward and said, “This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temples of God and to build it in three days." And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him I adjure you by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy! Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard now his blasphemy! What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is it that struck you?" Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him and said "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But Peter denied it before them all saying, “I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him and said to the bystanders, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again Peter denied with an oath "I do not know the Man!" After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the Man!" And Immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly. When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took council against Jesus to put him to death And they bound him, and led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Prayers Before the Great Entrance
The Prayer of the Litany for the Catechumens [14]
Priest: O Lord our God, who dwellest in the heavens and lookest down upon all thy works: Look upon thy servants the catechumens, who have bowed their necks before thee, and grant them the light yoke. Make them honorable members of thy holy Church, and make them worthy of the laver of regeneration, the remission of sins and the robe of incorruption, unto knowledge of thee, our true God, that with us they may glorify thine all-honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Prayer of the First Litany of the Faithful
Priest: Thou, O Lord, hast shown us this great mystery of salvation; thou hast made us, thy humble and unworthy servants to be ministrants of thy holy altar. Do thou enable us by the power of thy Holy Spirit for this service, that, standing uncondemned before thy holy glory, we may offer unto thee a sacrifice of praise, for thou art he who worketh all things in all men; grant, O Lord, that our sacrifice may be acceptable and well-pleasing in thy sight for our own sins and for the ignorance of the people. For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Prayer of the Second Litany of the Faithful
Priest: O God, who in mercy and compassions hast visited our lowliness, who hast set us, thy humble and sinful and unworthy servants, before thy holy glory to minister at thy holy altar: Strengthen us by the power of thy Holy Spirit for this ministry, and grant us utterance in the opening of our mouth to invoke the grace of thy Holy Spirit upon the gifts about to be set forth. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Wisdom. Priest: That guarded always by thy might we may ascribe glory unto thee, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Anti-Cherubic Hymn
Choir: Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas.
• After the Great Entrance, the choir concludes the hymn:
But like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.
Priest (quietly) : No one who is bound with the desires and pleasures of the flesh is worthy to approach or to draw nigh or to serve thee, O King of glory, for to serve thee is a great and fearful thing even to the heavenly powers. Nevertheless through thine unspeakable and boundless love toward mankind thou didst become man, yet without change or alteration, and as Master of all didst take the name of our High Priest and deliver unto us the ministry of this liturgical and bloodless sacrifice. For thou alone, O Lord our God, rulest over those in heaven and on earth, who art borne on the throne of the cherubim, who art Lord of the seraphim and King of Israel, who alone art holy and restest in the holy ones. Wherefore I implore thee who alone art good and art ready to listen: Look down upon me, the sinner and thine unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience, and by the power of thy Holy Spirit enable me, who am endued with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this thy holy table, and perform the sacred mystery of thy holy and immaculate Body and precious Blood. For I draw near unto thee, and bowing my neck I pray thee. Turn not thy face from me, neither cast me out from among thy children, but vouchsafe that these gifts may be offered unto thee by me, thy sinful and unworthy servant; for thou thyself art he that offereth and is offered, that accepteth and is distributed, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thine unoriginate Father, and thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen .
Priest: Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas. Deacon: But like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.
Priest: O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God.
Priest (Psalm 50): Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy, according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out mine transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and with thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.
Priest: O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and have mercy on me. Priest: Forgive me, brother and concelebrant. Priest: Forgive, O God, those who hate us and those who love us. Deacon: Lift up, master. Priest: Lift up your hands unto the holies, and bless the Lord.
The Great Entrance
Deacon: All of you, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Our father and metropolitan, N., the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Our president (or appropriate head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: The servants of God, NN., that they may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, pardon and remission of sins, the Lord God remember them in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: The servants of God departed this life in the hope of the resurrection and life eternal, NN., the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. That we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: Thy priesthood, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Priest: Thy diaconate, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Do good, master. Priest: Do good, O Lord, in thy goodwill unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
The priest returns the censer and bows his head toward the east saying to the deacon: Priest: Remember me, brother and concelebrant. Deacon: Thy priesthood may the Lord God remember is his kingdom, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Liturgy of the Faithful [15]
The deacon now bows his head and holds his orarion in his right hand, saying: Deacon: Pray for me, O holy master. Priest: May the Holy Spirit descend upon thee and the power of the Most High overshadow thee. Deacon: May the same Spirit serve with us all the days of our life. Remember me, O holy master. Priest: Thy diaconate may the Lord God remember in his kingdom, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen.
The Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. ( repeat for the following petitions ) Deacon: For the precious gifts now set forth, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this holy house, and those who with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord. Choir: Grant this, O Lord. ( repeat for the following petitions ) Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: All things good and profitable for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of Christ, let us ask. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, 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. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord, our God, who hast created us, and hast brought us into this life, who hast shown us ways of salvation, graciously bestowing upon us the revelation of heavenly mysteries: Thou art he who hath appointed us to this ministry by the power of thy Holy Spirit; graciously grant us, therefore, O Lord, to be servitors of thy new covenant, ministers of thy holy mysteries. Receive us who draw near to thy holy altar, according to the fulness of thy mercy, that we may be worthy to offer unto thee this rational and bloodless sacrifice for our own sins, and for the ignorance of the people, which do thou receive upon thy holy, most heavenly and spiritual altar as an aroma of sweetness, and send down upon us in return the grace of thy Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and behold this our worship, and receive it as thou didst receive the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the burnt-offerings of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, the peace-offerings of Samuel. Even as thou didst receive at the hands of thy holy apostles this true worship, so also do thou in thy goodness, O Lord, receive from the hands of us sinners these gifts: that, having been accounted worthy to minister at thy holy altar, we may receive the recompense of wise and faithful stewards, in the fearful day of thy just requiting, Through the compassions of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Priest: Through the compassions of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Deacon: Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess: Choir: Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and undivided. Priest: I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my firm Foundation, my Refuge, and my Deliverer. Deacon: The doors. The doors. In wisdom let us attend.
The Creed
People: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds. Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And he was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And on the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Holy Anaphora (The Offering of the Holy Gifts)
Deacon: Let us stand aright. Let us stand with fear. Let us attend, that we may offer the holy oblation in peace. Choir: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise. Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Choir: And with thy spirit. Priest: Let us lift up our hearts. Choir: We lift them up unto the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks unto the Lord. Choir: It is meet and right.
Priest (quietly) : O Existing One, Master Lord, God, almighty and adorable Father: It is truly meet and right and befitting the majesty of thy holiness that we should praise thee, hymn thee, bless thee, worship thee, give thanks unto thee and glorify thee, the only truly existing God, and offer unto thee with contrite heart and spirit of humility this our rational worship; for thou art he that hath graciously bestowed upon us the knowledge of thy truth. And who is sufficient to speak of thy mighty acts, to make all thy praises to be heard, or to tell of all thy wonders at every season? O Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation both visible and invisible who sittest upon the throne of glory and beholdest the depths, who art unoriginated, invisible, incomprehensible, uncircumscript, immutable, the Father of our Lord; the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, our Hope, who is the Image of thy goodness, the Seal of equal type, in himself showing forth thee, the Father, the living Word, the true God, the Wisdom before all ages, the Life, Sanctification, Power, the true Light, through whom the Holy Spirit was manifested; the Spirit of truth, the Gift of adoption, the Pledge of the inheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal good things, the life-giving Power, the Fountain of sanctification, by whom enabled every rational and intelligent creature doth serve thee and ascribe to thee perpetual praise, for all things are thy servants. Yea, angels and archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers and the many-eyed cherubim praise thee; round about thee stand the six-winged seraphim; with two they cover their faces, with two their feet and with two they fly, continually crying out to one another with unceasing praises,
While the priest says the following exclamation, the deacon lifts up the star and makes the sign of the cross with it over the diskos then he kisses it and puts it aside on the covers. [16]
Priest: Singing the triumphal hymn, shouting, proclaiming, and saying: Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Priest: With these blessed powers, O Master who lovest mankind, we sinners also do cry aloud and say: Holy art thou, of a truth, and all-holy, and there are no bounds to the majesty of thy holiness, and just art thou in all thy works, for in righteousness and true judgment hast thou ordered all things for us. When thou hadst fashioned man, taking him from the dust of the earth, and hadst honoured him with thine own image, O God, thou didst set him in the paradise of delight, promising him life eternal and the enjoyment of everlasting good things in keeping thy commandments. But when he disobeyed thee, the true God, who had created him, and was led astray by the guile of the serpent and rendered subject to death through his own transgressions, thou didst banish him, in thy righteous judgment, O God, from paradise into this world, and didst turn him again to the earth from which he was taken, providing for him the salvation of regeneration, which is in thy Christ himself. Yet thou didst not turn thyself away forever from thy creature whom thou hast made, O good One, neither didst thou forget the work of thy hands; but thou didst visit him in diverse manners, through thy tender mercies. Thou didst send forth prophets; thou didst perform mighty works by thy holy ones who, in every generation, were well-pleasing unto thee; thou didst speak to us by the mouths of thy servants the prophets, who foretold unto us the salvation which was to come; thou didst give us the Law as an aid; thou didst appoint guardian angels. And when the fulness of time was come, thou didst speak unto us through thy Son himself, by whom also thou madest the ages, who, being the Brightness of thy glory and the express Image of thy person and upholding all things by the word of his power, thought it not robbery to be equal to thee, the God and Father. But though he was God before all the ages, yet he appeared upon earth and dwelt among men and was incarnate of a holy virgin and emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant, becoming conformed to the body of our lowliness, that he might make us conformable to the image of his glory. For as by man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, so it seemed good unto thine only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of thee, the God and Father, to be born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; to be born under the Law, that he might condemn sin in his flesh, that they who were dead in Adam might be made alive in him thy Christ. And becoming a citizen of this world and giving commandments of salvation, he released us from the delusion of idols and brought us into a knowledge of thee, the true God and Father, having won us unto himself for his own people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; and having purified us by water and having sanctified us by the Holy Spirit, he gave himself a ransom to death, whereby we were held, sold into bondage under sin. And having descended into hades through the cross, that he might fill all things with himself, he loosed the pains of death and rose again on the third day, making a way for all flesh unto the resurrection from the dead, for it was not possible that the Author of life should be held by corruption, that he might be the First-fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the First-born from the dead, that he might be in all things the first among all. Ascending into heaven, he sat down at the right hand of thy majesty on high; and he shall come again to render unto every man according to his works. And he hath left with us, as memorials of his saving passion, these things which we have set forth according to his commandments. For when he was about to go to his voluntary and ever-memorable and life-giving death, in the night in which he gave himself up for the life of the world, he took bread in his holy and immaculate hands; and when he had shown it unto thee, the God and Father, and given thanks and blessed it and hallowed it and broken it, He gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying: Priest: Take, eat. This is my Body which is broken for you, for the remission of sins. Choir: Amen. Priest: In like manner, having taken the cup of the fruit of the vine and mingled it and given thanks and blessed it and hallowed it, He gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying:
Priest: Drink of this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins. Choir: Amen. Priest: Do this in remembrance of me; for as often as you shall eat this bread and drink this cup, you do proclaim my death and confess my resurrection. Wherefore, O Master, we also, having in remembrance his saving passion and life-giving cross, his three day entombment and resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven and sitting at the right hand of thee, the God and Father, and his glorious and fearful second coming: Priest : Thine own of thine own, we offer unto thee, in behalf of all and for all. Choir: We hymn thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, O Lord, and we pray unto thee, O our God. Priest: Wherefore, O all-holy Master, we also, thy sinful and unworthy servants, who have been made worthy to minister at thy holy altar, not through our own righteousness, for we have done no good deed upon earth, but because of thy mercies and compassions which thou hast richly poured out upon us, have now boldness to draw near unto thy holy altar; and presenting unto thee the antitypes of the holy Body and Blood of thy Christ, we pray thee and implore thee, O Holy of holies, by the favor of thy goodness, that thy Holy Spirit may descend upon us and upon these gifts here spread forth and bless them and hallow them and show, Deacon: Bless, master, the holy bread. Priest: This bread to be itself the precious Body of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ; People: Amen. Deacon: Bless, master, the holy cup. Priest: And this cup to be itself the precious Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, People: Amen. Deacon: Bless both, master. Priest: Which was shed for the life of the world and its salvation; People: Amen. Amen. Amen.
Priest: And as for us, partakers of the one bread and of the cup, do thou unite all to one another unto communion of the one Holy Spirit, and grant that no one of us may partake of the holy Body and Blood of thy Christ unto judgment or unto condemnation, but rather that we may find mercy and grace with all the holy ones who through the ages have been well pleasing unto thee: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith,
The priest censes the gifts, saying: Priest: Especially our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary;
He gives the censer back to the deacon, who censes around the Holy Table and stands behind it and commemorates those who are to be prayed for that day among the living and departed, while the choir chants the Megalynarion
Megalynarion
All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace: the angelic hosts and the race of men. O hallowed temple and spiritual paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God who is before all the ages; for he made thy womb a throne, and thy body more spacious than the heavens. All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee.
During the Megalynarion, the priest quietly prays:
Priest: The holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; the holy glorious and all-laudable apostles; NN. (saints of the day), whose memory we celebrate, and all thy saints, at whose supplications visit us, O God. And be mindful of all those who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, NN., and grant them rest, where the light of thy countenance watcheth over them. And again we pray thee: Be mindful, O Lord, of thy holy, catholic and apostolic Church, which is to the ends of the world; and give peace unto her whom thou hast purchased with the precious Blood of thy Christ; and establish thou this holy house, even unto the ends of the age. Be mindful, O Lord, of those who have set before thee these gifts, and those for whom and through whom and in behalf of whom they have offered them. Be mindful, O Lord, of those who bear fruit and do good works in thy holy churches and who remember the poor; requite them with thy rich and heavenly gifts; give them things heavenly for things earthly, things eternal for things temporal, things incorruptible for things corruptible. Be mindful, O Lord, of those in the deserts, the mountains and in caverns and pits of the earth. Be mindful, O Lord, of all those who live in virginity and reverence, in asceticism and who lead a godly way of life. Be mindful, O Lord, of all civil authorities and of our armed forces; grant them a secure and lasting peace; speak good things into their hearts concerning thy Church and all thy people, that we in their tranquility may lead a calm and peaceful life in all reverence and godliness. Establish the good in thy goodness, and make good the evil by thy benevolence. Be mindful, O Lord, of the people here present and of those who are absent for reasonable cause, and have mercy upon them and upon us, according to the multitude of thy mercy. Fill their treasuries with every good thing; maintain their marriage-bonds in peace and concord; rear the infants; guide the young; support the aged; encourage the faint-hearted. Collect the scattered, and turn them from their wandering astray, and unite them to thy holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Set at liberty those who are vexed by unclean spirits; travel with those who journey by land and sea and air; defend the widows; protect the orphans; free the captives; heal the sick; and be mindful, O God, of those who are under judgment, in the mines, in exile, in bitter servitude, in every tribulation, necessity and danger, and all who beseech thy great loving-kindness; and be mindful, O Lord our God, of those who love us and those who hate us and those who have enjoined us, unworthy though we be, to pray for them, and of all thy people, and upon them all pour out thy rich mercy, granting to all their petitions which are unto salvation. And those whom we through ignorance or forgetfulness or the multitude of names have not remembered, do thou thyself remember, O God who knowest the time of life and name of each and knowest every man even from his mother's womb. For thou, O Lord, art the Helper of the helpless, the Hope of the hopeless, the Saviour of the storm-tossed, the Haven of the voyager, the Physician of the sick. Be thou thyself all things to all men, O thou who knowest every man, his petition, his dwelling-place and his need. Deliver, O Lord, this city and every city and countryside from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion and civil war.
Clergy: Among the first be mindful, O Lord, of our father and metropolitan, N., whom do thou grant unto thy holy churches in peace, safety, honor, health and length of days, and rightly dividing the word of thy truth. Deacon: And of the people here present, and those whom they are remembering, and of all mankind. Choir: And of all mankind.
Priest: Be mindful, O Lord, of every bishop of the Orthodox, who rightly divideth the word of thy truth. Be mindful also, O Lord, of my unworthiness, according to the multitude of thy compassions; pardon me every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary, and withhold not, because of my sins, the grace of thy Holy Spirit from these gifts here spread forth. Be mindful, O Lord, of the presbytery, the diaconate in Christ and every priestly order, and put not to confusion any one of us who stand about thy holy altar. Visit us with thy benevolence, O Lord; manifest thyself unto us in thy rich compassions; grant us temperate and healthful seasons; give gentle showers upon the earth unto fruitfulness; bless the crown of the year of thy goodness; make the schisms of the Churches to cease; quench the ragings of hostile nations; speedily destroy, by the power of thy Holy Spirit, uprisings of heresies; receive us all into thy kingdom, showing us to be sons of the light and sons of the day; and grant unto us thy peace and thy love, O Lord our God, for all things hast thou given unto us. And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and praise thine all-honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Priest: And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and praise thine all-honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: And may the mercies of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all. Choir: And with thy spirit.
The Litany Before the Lord's Prayer
Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: For the precious gifts which have been spread forth and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: That our God, who loveth mankind, having received them upon his holy, most heavenly, and ideal altar as an aroma of spiritual sweetness, will send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Asking for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: O our God, the God of salvation, teach us to thank thee worthily for thy benefits, which thou hast ever bestowed and dost yet bestow among us. Do thou, O our God who receivest these gifts, purify us from every defilement of flesh and spirit; teach us to perfect holiness in fear of thee, that we, receiving a portion of thy holy things in the witness of a pure conscience, may be united with the holy Body and Blood of thy Christ and that, having received them worthily, we may have Christ abiding in our hearts and may become a temple of thy Holy Spirit. Yea, O our God, cause also that none of us may be guilty of these thy dread and heavenly mysteries or infirm in soul or in body through an unworthy partaking; but enable us, even unto our last breath, worthily to receive a portion of thy holy things, as a support upon the road to life eternal and as an acceptable defense at the fearful judgment seat of thy Christ. That we also, together with all the saints who in all ages have been well-pleasing unto thee, may be made partakers of thine everlasting good things, which thou hast prepared for those who love thee, O Lord. Priest: And vouchsafe, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
The Lord's Prayer
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: O Master Lord, the Father of compassions and the God of all comfort: Bless, sanctify, guard, strengthen, and fortify those who have bowed their heads unto thee; withdraw them from every evil work; unite them to every good work; and graciously grant that without condemnation, they may partake of these thine immaculate and life-giving mysteries unto the remission of sins and unto the communion of the Holy Spirit, Through the grace and compassions and love toward mankind of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Elevation
Priest: Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from thy holy dwelling-place and from the throne of glory of thy kingdom; and come to sanctify us, O thou who sittest on high with the Father and art here invisibly present with us; and vouchsafe by thy mighty hand to impart unto us thine immaculate Body and precious Blood, and through us unto all the people. Priest: O God, be gracious unto me, the sinner, and have mercy on me. (twice) Priest: I exalt thee, O my King and my God. (once) Deacon: Let us attend. Priest: The Holy Things are for the holy. Choir: One is holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Communion
Deacon: Divide, master, the holy bread. Priest: Divided and distributed is the Lamb of God, who is divided, yet not disunited; who is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifieth those who partake thereof. Deacon: Fill, master, the holy cup. Priest: The fullness of the Holy Spirit. Deacon: Amen. Deacon: Bless, master, the warm water. Priest: Blessed is the warmth of thy holy things, O Lord, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen. Deacon: The warmth of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The faithful now say the Pre-Communion Prayers, found here .
The choir sings the koinonikon (communion hymn) of the day or feast while the clergy receive holy communion.
Koinonikon (Communion Hymn) For Holy Thursday In Tone 8
Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.
Deacon: With fear of God and faith and love, draw near. Choir: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; the Lord is God and hath appeared unto us.
After the clergy have finished communing the faithful, the priest says: Priest: O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.
Post-Communion Hymn
Instead of “We have seen the true light,” sing the following hymn: Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.
The priest and deacon enter the sanctuary through the holy doors, and the priest places the chalice on the antiminsion. The deacon lifts the diskos over the chalice and with the sponge carefully wipes the remaining particles into the chalice, saying: Deacon: By thy precious Blood, O Lord, wash away the sins of thy servants here commemorated, through the intercessions of the Theotokos and all thy saints.
The deacon covers the chalice with the communion cloth and places the covers and the star on the diskos. Then the priest censes the Holies three times, and the deacon says to the priest: Deacon: Exalt, master. Priest: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
The priest gives the diskos to the deacon who lifts it above his head and carries it to and places it upon the prothesis. The priest lifts the chalice and, turning to face the people, says (without blessing): Priest: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of thy glory; for thou hast permitted us to partake of thy holy, divine, immortal and life-giving mysteries. Establish us in thy Sanctification that all the day we may meditate upon thy righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The Litany of Thanksgiving
Deacon: Stand upright. Having partaken of the divine, holy, immaculate, immortal, heavenly, life-giving, and awesome mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Asking that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O Master who lovest mankind, Benefactor of our souls, for that thou hast vouchsafed this day to feed us with thy heavenly and immortal mysteries. Make straight our path; establish us all in thy fear; guard our life; make firm our steps; through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and of all thy saints. For thou art our Sanctification, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Let us go forth in peace. Choir: In the name of the Lord. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Prayer Behind the Amvon
Priest: O Lord, who blessest those who bless thee and sanctifiest those who put their trust in thee: Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, preserve the fullness of thy Church, sanctify those who love the beauty of thy house, glorify them in recompense by thy divine power, and forsake us not who hope on thee. Give peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the priests, to the civil authorities, to the armed forces and to all thy people; for all good giving and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from thee, the Father of lights, and unto thee we ascribe glory, thanksgiving and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. (thrice)
While the choir chants the above, the priest (through the holy doors) and the deacon (through the north door) enter the sanctuary and go directly to the prothesis. Standing before the prothesis, the priest says: Priest: The mystery of thy dispensation, O Christ our God, hath been accomplished and perfected, as far as is in our power, for we have had the memorial of thy death, we have seen the type of thy Resurrection, we have been filled with thine unending life, we have enjoyed thine inexhaustible delight, which also in the world to come be well-pleased to vouchsafe us all, through the grace of thine unoriginate Father, and of thy holy good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen . After the prayer, the priest blesses the deacon to consume the remaining holy gifts and returns to the holy table. Afterward, the deacon says: Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Priest: The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you through his divine grace and love toward mankind always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to thee. Choir: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Father bless.
The Dismissal
Priest: May He Who showed us the most excellent way of humility when He washed the feet of His disciples, and condescended even unto the Cross and burial because of His exceeding goodness, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind. Choir: Amen. Priest : Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. Choir : Amen.