The priest goes to the Table of Preparation and takes the diskos and chalice and makes the Great Entrance.
PRIEST: May the Lord God remember in His kingdom, Our Holy universal Supreme Pontiff N . . ., the Pope of Rome, our most reverend Archbishop and Metropolitan N . . ., and our God loving Bishop N . . ., and the entire priestly, diaconal, and monastic order, our civil authorities, and all our armed forces, the noble and ever memorable founders and benefactors of this holy Church, (our suffering brethren), and all you orthodox Christians, always, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
That we may welcome the King of all, invisibly escorted by angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Priest (silently): The noble Joseph took down Your most pure body from the cross, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and with fragrant spices laid it in burial in a new tomb.
Covering the holy gifts, he says:
Priest (silently): In Your goodness, show favor to Sion: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, (burnt offerings wholly consumed), then You will be offered young bulls on Your Altar.
(CONGREGATION SITS)
PRIEST: Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For the precious gifts placed here, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: That we be delivered from affliction, wrath and need, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
Priest (silently): Oh Lord God Almighty, Who alone are Holy and receive the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart, accept the prayer also of us sinners; bring us to Your holy altar, enable us to offer to You gifts and spiritual sacrifice for our sins, and for the people's transgressions; and deem us also worthy to find favor in Your sight, that our sacrifice may be pleasing to You, and that the good Spirit of Your grace may rest in us and upon these gifts here present, and upon all Your people.
PRIEST: Through the mercies of Your only-be gotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all holy, gracious and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
( CONGREGATION STANDS )
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
PEOPLE: And with your Spirit.
PRIEST: Let us love one another, so that with one mind we may confess:
PEOPLE: The Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in substance and undivided.
The priest makes three bows, kisses the holy gifts covered with the holy veil, the diskos, the chalice, then the edge of the Altar and prays each time:
Priest (silently): I will love You, O Lord, my strength, the Lord is my fortress and my refuge.
PRIEST: The doors, the doors, in wisdom let us be attentive.
PEOPLE: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father. By whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And He became flesh by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. He was also crucified for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. And of His kingdom there will be no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, and who spoke through the prophets. And one holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And I await the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRIEST: Let us stand well, let us stand with fear, let us be attentive, to offer the holy oblation in peace.
PEOPLE: The mercy of peace, the sacrifice of praise.
PRIEST: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
PEOPLE: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: Let us lift up our hearts.
PEOPLE: We have lifted them up to the Lord.
PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
PEOPLE: It is proper and just to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in substance and undivided.
Priest (silently): It is proper and just to sing hymns to You, to bless You, to praise You, to thank You, to worship You in every place of Your kingdom; for You are God ineffable inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever existing, yet ever the same, You, and Your only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit; You brought us forth from non-existence into being, and raised us up again when we had fallen, and left nothing undone, until You brought us to heaven and bestowed upon us Your future kingdom. For all this we give thanks to You, and to Your only-begotten Son, and to Your Holy Spirit, for all that we know and that we do not know, the manifest and the hidden benefits bestowed upon us. We thank You also for this ministry, which You have willed to accept from our hands, even though there stand before You thousands of archangels, myriads of angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, six winged, many-eyed, soaring aloft on their wings.
PRIEST: singing shouting, crying out and saying the triumphal Hymn:
( CONGREGATION KNEELS )
PEOPLE: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest.
Priest (silently): With these blessed powers we also, O Master, Lover of men cry and say: Holy are You and all holy, You, and You; only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit; holy are You and all holy and magnificent is Your glory, who so loved Your world that You gave Your only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but should have life everlasting; Who, having come and having fulfilled the whole Divine plan concerning us, on the night when He was betrayed, or rather, when He surrendered Himself for the life of the world, He took bread into His holy and all pure and Immaculate hands, gave thanks and blessed, (priest blesses bread) sanctified, broke and 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.
PEOPLE: Amen.
Priest (silently): In like manner (priest blesses chalice) also the chalice, after the supper, saying:
PRIEST: Drink of this all, THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.
PEOPLE: Amen.
Priest (silently): Remembering, therefore, this salutary command, and all that was done in our behalf: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven the sitting at the right hand, the second and glorious coming.
The priest lifts the chalice and diskos up and makes the sign of the cross with them, saying:
PRIEST: Thine own of Thine own, we offer You, in behalf of all, and for all.
(CONGREGATION STANDS)
PEOPLE: We praise You, we bless You, we thank You, O Lord, and we pray to You, our God.
Priest (silently): Again we offer to You this spiritual and unbloody sacrifice, and we implore and pray, and entreat You, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here present. (Blessing the bread) And make this bread the precious body of Your Christ. (Blessing the chalice) And that which is in this chalice, the precious blood of your Christ. (Blessing both) Having changed them by Your Holy Spirit:
Priest (silently): So that to those who partake of them, they may be for the purification of the soul, for the remission of sins, for the communion in Your Holy Spirit, for the fullness of the heavenly kingdom, for confidence in You, not for judgment or condemnation.
Priest (silently): Moreover, we offer to You this spiritual sacrifice for those who departed in the faith; the forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics and for every righteous spirit who has died in the faith.
PRIEST: Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary.
PEOPLE: It is truly proper to glorify you, who have borne God, the ever-blessed and immaculate and the Mother of our God. More honorable than
the Cherubim and be- yond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a Virgin, gave birth to God the Word, you, truly the Mother of God, we magnify.
PEOPLE: The Angel greeted the Blessed Mother: "Hail, O pure Virgin." And he said again: "Hail, for after three days your Son rose from the grave, and lifted up the dead. Wherefore, O people, rejoice.
"Shine forth, shine forth, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is upon you. O Sion, exult and rejoice today. And you, O pure Mother of God, glory in the resurrection of Him whom you bore."
Priest (silently): For the holy prophet, precursor and Baptist John, for the holy glorious and illustrious apostles, for Saint N . . ., whose memory we celebrate, and for all Your saints, through whose prayers, O God, visit us.
Remember also all who have departed in the hope of resurrection unto eternal life. (Priest mentions those deceased he wishes to remember) And grant them rest where the light of Your face shines.
Moreover, we pray you, O Lord, remember the entire episcopate of the orthodox, who faithfully dispense the word of Your truth, the entire priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all others In holy orders.
We further offer You this spiritual sacrifice for the whole world, for the holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, for those who live in chastity and venerable conduct; for our civil authorities and for all the armed forces. Grant them, O Lord, a peaceful rule, that we also, sharing their tranquillity, may lead a tranquil and calm life in all piety and dignity.
PRIEST: Among the first, O Lord, remember our holy universal Pontiff N . . ., the Pope of Rome, our most reverend Archbishop and Metropolitan N . . ., our God-loving Bishop N . . ., preserve them for Your holy churches, in peace, safety, honor, and health, for many years, as they faithfully dispense the word of Your truth.
PEOPLE: And for all Your people.
Priest (silently): Remember, O Lord, this city in which we dwell and every city and country, and those who live with faith therein. Remember, O Lord, those who travel by sea, air and land, the sick, the suffering, the captive, and their safety and salvation. Remember, O Lord, those who bear offerings and perform good deeds in Your holy churches, and those who remember the poor, and upon all of us send down Your mercies. (priest mentions those of the living whom he wishes to remember).
PRIEST: And grant that we, with one voice and one heart, may glorify and praise Your most honorable and sublime name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
PRIEST: And may the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, be with all of you.
PEOPLE: And with your spirit.
( CONGREGATION SITS )
PRIEST: Having remembered all the saints again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For the precious gifts offered and consecrated. Let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord have mercy.
PRIEST: That Our God, in His love for man, may receive them on His Holy and heavenly and spiritual Altar, as an aroma of spiritual fragrance, and send down upon us in return the divine grace and gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST (silently): In You, O Gracious Master, we place our whole life and hope, and we beseech, pray and implore You: make us worthy to partake with a pure conscience of Your heavenly and awesome mysteries from this sacred and spiritual altar, for the remission of sins, for the pardon of transgressions, for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, for confidence in You, and not for judgment, nor condemnation.
PRIEST: Help, save, have mercy, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: That this whole day may be perfect holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us beseech the Lord.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord.
PRIEST: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us beseech the Lord.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord.
PRIEST: For the pardon and remission of our sins and offenses, let us beseech the Lord.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord.
PRIEST: For what is good and beneficial to our souls and for peace in the world, let us beseech the Lord.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord.
PRIEST: That we may spend the rest of our life in peace and repentance, let us beseech the Lord.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord. PRIEST: For a Christian, painless, blameless, peaceful end of our life, and for a good account before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us beseech the Lord.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord.
PRIEST: Having prayed for unity of faith, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ, our God.
PEOPLE: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST: And grant, O Master, that we may with confidence and without condemnation dare call upon You, heavenly God, the Father, and say:
(CONGREGATION STANDS )
PEOPLE: 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 Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
PEOPLE: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: Bow your heads to the Lord.
PEOPLE: To You, O Lord.
Priest (silently): We give You thanks, O invisible King, Who by Your immeasurable power has fashioned all things, and in the greatness of Your mercy has brought all things out of non-existence into being. Look down from heaven, O Lord, upon those who have bowed their heads unto You, for they do not bow to flesh and blood, but to You, the awesome God. Therefore, O Master, grant us of these gifts present before us for our good, according to the need of each; sail with those who sail, travel with those who travel, cure those who are sick, O Physician of souls and bodies.
PRIEST: Through the grace, the mercies and the loving kindness of Your only-begotten Son with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
Priest (silently): Look down, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You Who are seated on high with the Father, and dwell here invisibly among us, and deem it proper to impart to us, with Your mighty hand, Your most pure body and precious blood, and through us, to all Your people.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (3 times).
PRIEST: Let us be attentive. Holy things for the holy.
( CONGREGATION KNEELS )
PEOPLE: One is holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, for the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Praise the Lord from the heavens, Praise Him in the highest. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and taken to Yourself, O Lord, And their memory endures throughout all generations, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
People: Receive the Body of Christ, taste of the Source of life (3 times) .
Priest reverently breaks the Lamb into four parts and says:
Priest (silently): Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God, broken yet not divided, ever eaten yet never consumed, but sanctifying the communicants.
Priest takes the Holy Eucharist, saying:
Priest (silently): The precious and most holy body of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, is given to me N . . ., a priest, for the remission of my sins and life everlasting. Amen.
I believe O Lord, and confess that You are indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am the first.
Of Your mystical supper, make me a partaker, this day, Son of God, for I will not speak of Your mysteries to our enemies, nor like Judas, will I give You a kiss, but like the good thief will I confess to You.
Remember me, O Lord, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Not for judgment, nor for condemnation be for me the partaking of these Your Holy Mysteries, O Lord, but for the healing of my body and soul.
O God, be merciful to me a sinner. God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me. Innumerably have I sinned, forgive me, O Lord.
The priest partakes of the Precious Blood and says:
Priest (silently): I the servant of God, priest N . . . partake of the precious and Holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
He wipes his lips, and the edge of the chalice with the towel and says:
Priest (silently): Behold, this has touched my lips, and shall take away my iniquities, and shall cleanse my sins.
Priest turns to people and says:
PRIEST: With fear of God and faith approach.
Those going to communion go to the altar.
PEOPLE: Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord: the Lord is God and has revealed Himself to us.
PRIEST & PEOPLE: I believe, O Lord, and confess that You are indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of Whom I am the first.
Of Your mystical supper, make me a partaker this day, O Son of God, for I will not speak of Your mysteries to Your enemies, nor like Judas will I give You a kiss, but like the good thief will I confess to You.
Remember me, O Lord, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Not for judgment, nor for condemnation be for me the partaking of these Your Holy Mysteries O Lord, but for the healing of my body and soul.
O God be merciful to me a sinner. God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me. Innumerably have I sinned, forgive me, O Lord.
Priest giving Communion to each says:
The servant of God N . . ., partakes of the precious, most holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ for the remission of his (her) sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
While the priest gives Communion to the people the congregation sings an appropriate hymn (see page 86 and 87).
PRIEST: Save Your people, O God, and bless Your inheritance.
PEOPLE: We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith, and we adore the undivided Trinity as it has saved us.
Priest (silently): Be You exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory all over the earth. Blessed be our God:
PRIEST: Always, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
( CONGREGATION STANDS )
PEOPLE: May our mouths be filled with Your praise, O Lord, so that we may sing Your glory, for You have deemed us worthy to partake of Your holy, divine, immortal and life-giving mysteries. Keep us in Your holiness, so that all day long we may learn Your righteousness. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
( CONGREGATION SITS )
PRIEST: Having received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly and life-giving, awe some mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Help, save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Having prayed that this whole day be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ, our God.
PEOPLE: To You, O Lord.
Priest (silently): We give thanks to You, O Master lover of mankind benefactor of our souls, that even this day You have deemed us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal mysteries. Make straight our path, confirm us in our fear of You, guard our life, make firm our steps, through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all Your saints.
Priest makes the sign of the cross with the Gospel Book, saying:
PRIEST: For You are our sanctification, and we render glory to You. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
(CONGREGATION STANDS )
PRIEST: Let us go forth in peace.
PEOPLE: In the name of the Lord.
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: O Lord, Who bless those who bless You, and sanctify those who trust in You, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, preserve the fullness of Your Church, sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house; glorify them by Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the priests, to our civil authorities and to all Your people. For every good bestowal and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights; and we render glory, thanksgiving, and adoration to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and for ever (3 times).
Priest (silently): You, O Christ, Our God, Who are the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, have fulfilled the whole plan of the Father, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always, now and ever and forever. Amen.
PRIEST: The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
PRIEST: Glory be to You, O Christ, our God, our Hope: Glory be to You.
PEOPLE: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Bless us.
PEOPLE: Christ is risen from the dead, conquering death by death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Bless us.
Priest: May He Who has the power over the living and the dead, Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and all laudible apostles, of our venerable and God-fearing fathers, and of all the saints, establish in the mansions of the righteous the soul of His servant N . . ., who has been taken from us, (or: the sould of His servants who have been taken from us), give him (her, them) rest in Abraham's bosom, and number him (her, them) among the just, and have mercy upon us and save us, for He is gracious and loves mankind.
People: Amen.
Priest: O Lord grant eternal rest, In blessed dormition, to the ever- remembered soul of your servant N . . ., (or: to the ever-rembered souls of Your servants, N . . . and make his, ( her, their) memory eternal.
People: Let his (her, their) memory be eternal. (3 times).
PRIEST: May Christ, our true God (on Sundays: risen from the dead through the prayers of His most Holy Mother, and of the holy, glorious and illustrious apostles, and our holy father John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, and of Saint (N . . . whose church it is) and of Saint (N . . . whose feast it is) and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is gracious and loves mankind.
PEOPLE: Amen.
PRIEST & PEOPLE: Christ is risen from the dead, conquering death by death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life (3 times).
And He gave us eternal life, we bow down to the third day Resurrection!
The priest goes to the Table of Preparation to consume the remainder or the Sacred Species. The altar boy pours wine and water into the chalice and the priest washes his fingers. It is customary for the people to remain in the church and pray or meditate until this rite has been completed as the Blessed Sacrament is still exposed.