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Triodion

On Saturday before Meat-fare - Saturday of Souls - On Friday Evening

Mode pl. 2. On Friday Evening

__________

VESPERS

PRIEST

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest stands in front of the holy Table and reads the so-called Lamp-lighting Prayers.

READER

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

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

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

Stand for the reading of the Introductory Psalm.

Psalm 103 (104).

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He who covers His upper chambers with water, who makes the clouds His means of approach, who walks on the wings of the winds, who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; it shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night.

O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom. [SAAS]

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

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Our hope, O Lord, glory to You.

THE PEACE LITANY

DEACON

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

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

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

For the Holy and Great Church of Christ, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Sacred Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

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

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

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

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

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

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Mode pl. 2.

Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]

Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, a door of enclosure about my lips.

Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.

With men who work lawlessness; and I will not join with their choice ones.

The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.

For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures. Their judges are swallowed up by the rock.

They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so their bones were scattered beside the grave.

For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You; in You I hope; take not my soul away.

Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.

Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.

I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.

I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.

When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.

For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.

I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.

Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.

I cried to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.”

Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.

Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord.

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

Hide Stichologia

For the Martyrs. Mode pl. 2.

From Triodion - - -

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]

Your Martyrs did not renounce You, O Lord, nor did they deviate from Your commandments. By their intercessions, have mercy on us. [SD]

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]

They who witnessed for You, O Christ, endured many tortures, and in heaven finally received the crown of glory, that they might intercede on behalf of our souls. [SD]

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]

The prize-winning Martyrs and citizens of heaven contended on earth and endured many tortures. By their intercessions and prayers, O Lord, preserve us all. [SD]

Stichera from the Triodion.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 4. (not metered)

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]

As we the faithful observe today the memory of the dead from the beginning, all by name, those who lived with faith and true religion, let us extol the Lord and Savior, entreating Him, that they offer a good defense in the hour of judgment to our God, Who judges the entire earth, and that they come to stand at His right hand in joy, in the portion of the righteous, in the bright inheritance of the saints, and that they be counted worthy of His heavenly kingdom. [SD]

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]

O Savior, You purchased us mortals with Your blood, and by Your death delivered us from bitter death, and granted us life everlasting by Your resurrection. We pray You, Lord, to grant repose to all who in true faith have died, in deserts or cities, on land or sea, or anywhere, be they kings, priests, bishops, ascetics and monastics, of every age and every race, and count them worthy of Your heavenly kingdom. [SD]

For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]

O Christ, by Your resurrection from the dead, death no longer has dominion over those who die in true faith. Therefore, we earnestly entreat You grant repose in Your courts, in the bosom of Abraham, to Your servants who have worshiped You purely from the days of Adam until now, our fathers and brethren, friends and relatives, and every human being who has lived this life faithfully, and who has passed on to You in various ways, O God, and count them worthy of Your heavenly kingdom. [SD]

Glory.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

I grieve and I lament when I think about death, and when I see the beauty, which God made for us in His image, lying formless in the grave, without glory and unsightly. Amazing! What is this mystery that happened to us? How were we given over to decay and coupled with death? Indeed, as it is written, this is all by the command of God, who grants repose to those who have passed away. [SD]

Both now. Mode pl. 2.

From Octoechos - - -

The First Theotokion of the Mode.

Who can not call you blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who can not extol your extraordinary childbirth? The Only-begotten Son, who timelessly shone forth from the Father, ineffably became incarnate and was born from you, O pure one. Being divine by nature, for us He became human by nature, not divided into two persons, but acknowledged in two natures without confusion. To Him pray fervently, O noble and all-blessed Lady, and implore Him to have mercy on our souls. [GOASD]

(No Entrance)

Stand for the hymn.

READER

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You. [SD]

DEACON

The evening Prokeimenon!

CHOIR

Mode pl. 4.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse: And their memorial abides from generation to generation. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Stand for the reading of prayer.

READER

O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Amen. )

LITANY OF COMPLETION

DEACON

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR (after each petition)

Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

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

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

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

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

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord our God, who inclined the heavens and came down for the salvation of humankind, look upon Your servants and Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You, the fearsome yet compassionate Judge, not expecting human help, but awaiting Your mercy and anticipating Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and the coming night, from every enemy, from all demonic activity against them, from unprofitable reflections, and from wicked thoughts.

PRIEST (aloud)

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

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Aposticha.

Mode pl. 2.

Your Cross, O Lord, became for the Martyrs an invincible weapon. For they saw the death awaiting them and yet foresaw the life to come, and thus by their hope in You they were strengthened. By their supplications, have mercy on us. [SD]

Verse: Their souls shall dwell among good things. [SAAS]

Your creative command was my beginning and real existence; for wishing to construct me as a living creature from both visible and invisible natures, You fashioned my body from earth, and You gave me a soul by Your divine and life-giving breath. Therefore, O Savior, give rest to Your servants, in the land of the living, where the righteous dwell. [SD]

Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. [SAAS]

Of old in Eden, the eating of the fruit turned out to be painful, when the serpent spat out his venom. Through Adam, death entered, and it devoured the entire human race. Then the Master came and put the dragon down, and He granted us resurrection. Let us shout to Him, “Spare us, O Savior; and to those whom You have taken grant repose with Your elect.” [SD]

Glory.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

Both now. Theotokion.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 2. You rose within three days.

O Christ, at the entreaties of her * who bore You, and of all the Saints, * of your Martyrs, * your Apostles, Hierarchs, * monastic Saints and Prophets, * together with the Righteous, * repose Your servants who have fallen asleep. [SD]

Stand for the reading of prayers

PRIEST

Song of Simeon.

Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. [NKJV]

CHOIR

Canon for the Dead.

Ode i.

Mode pl. 2. When they had walked.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

In the celestial chambers forevermore, * the courageous martyr saints importunely pray to You: * Grant the faithful whom You have transferred * from the earth, that they obtain eternal goods, O Christ. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

After adorning with order all things, O Lord, * You made me the human being a composite animal * between greatness and humility. * Thus, O Savior, grant repose unto Your servants’ souls. [SD]

Glory.

In the beginning You ordered that I should be * a citizen of Paradise and its tiller. But when I * disobeyed, then You evicted me. * Thus, O Savior, grant repose unto Your servants’ souls. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

He who of old formed our own primal mother Eve * from a rib of Adam now has arrayed himself in flesh * taken from your undefiled womb, * O pure Lady. Thereby He dissolved the might of death. [SD]

Ode iii.

Mode pl. 2. No one is holy.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

Your martyr athletes did compete * lawfully, O Life-giver. * And adorned with the crowns of the victory by You, * from You they ask the eternal redemption for the faithful passed away. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

With many portents and with signs * in the past You chastised me * who was wand’ring in error. * In these latter days, O Lord, * You emptied yourself, and thus sought and found and saved me, O compassionate One. [SD]

Glory.

O Good One, justify by faith * and by grace those who parted * from the unstable motion of things in flux unto You, * and count them worthy to dwell in eternal habitations pleasantly. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

No one is free of blame like you, * O all-pure Theotokos. * You alone of all women in your womb ever conceived * without a man and gave birth to the true God * who destroyed the power of death. [SD]

Ode iv.

Mode pl. 2. The holy Church of God.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

You put the choruses of martyrs with the hosts * of the angels and showed thus the tokens of * superior wisdom and Your superexcellent goodness * with regard to gifts, O sovereign Lord. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

That they who were translated unto You attain * Your ineffable glory, vouchsafe, O Christ, * wherein is the dwelling place of those who truly rejoice * and the sound of pure exultant joy. [SD]

Glory.

Accept them praising Your divine and sovereign rule, * whom from earth You have taken unto yourself, * making them children of light and also purifying them * from the gloom of sin, merciful Lord. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

The Lord selected you, O Damsel, for himself, * as an all-spotless temple, all-holy ark, * immaculate vessel and the beauty of Jacob, * and the virgin place of holiness. [SD]

Ode v.

Mode pl. 2. With Your divine light.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

The martyr saints have been offered up * even as a sacred whole-burnt offering and as the first-fruits of * human nature unto the glorified God, * and thus for our salvation they ever arbitrate. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Bestow the heavenly way of life, * sovereign Master, and the distribution of Your charismatic gifts * on Your faithful servants who have before us gone to sleep, * according them redemption from their offenses all. [SD]

Glory.

Vouchsafe to those who are now deceased * Your heavenly rule, Master compassionate, only immortal Lord, * who alone by nature are the Creator of life, * the sea of benevolence truly unsearchable. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O sovereign Lady of all the world, * the Lord who was born from you became the strength and song and salvation of * those who were perishing, and He delivered from the gates * of Hades those who faithfully pronounce you blest. [SD]

Ode vi.

Mode pl. 2. I see when my life.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

O good One, upon the cross being nailed, You gathered thus * unto yourself the martyr saints * imitating Your passion, O only Lord. * And therefore we pray to You: * Grant repose unto those translated unto You. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

From earth You have taken Your faithful servants to yourself, * Redeemer who are awesome in * Your ineffable glory. Be now well pleased * that they meet You cheerfully on the clouds, * when You come again to judge the world. [SD]

Glory.

The fountain of life are You who in manliness divine, * O Master, brought out those who were * bound in fetters. O Lord, cause Your servants who have faithfully passed away * unto You, to settle in paradisal delight. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

To earth we were sent again for transgressing the divine * command of our Creator God. * But through you unto heaven were we from earth * exalted, O Virgin Maid, * having shaken off the corruption of death. [SD]

Ode vii.

Mode pl. 2. In the furnace the Lord’s Angel.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

Lord, the Martyrs were redeemed from the primordial * transgression by Your holy blood. * Being sprinkled now with their own blood clearly they portray * the slaughter You willingly endured. * And they cry out: O God of the fathers, blessed are You. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

O supremely life-originating Word of God, * You put insolent death to death. * O benevolent Lord, receive now those who fell asleep * believing, O Christ, and who extol * and sing to You: O God of the fathers, blessed are You. [SD]

Glory.

O divinely sovereign Master who by Your divine * breath animated me the man, * in Your mercy, account worthy of Your kingly rule * Your servants who passed away, O Christ, * to sing to You: O God of the fathers, blessed are You. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

You became exalted higher than creation all, * O blameless one, conceiving our God * who has shattered the gates of death and crushed the bars thereof. * And therefore we faithful offer hymns * extolling you, O pure one, as the Mother of our God. [SD]

Ode viii.

Mode pl. 2. From the flame.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

Demonstrating yourselves to be steadfast in the feats * of the contest, O Martyrs of Christ, you were adorned * with the crown of victory, O Prize-winners, crying out: * Unto all the ages, supremely we exalt You. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Those believers who sacredly have departed life * and to You, sovereign Master, have passed do now accept * graciously, compassionate Lord, and grant rest to them. * Unto all the ages, supremely they exalt You. [SD]

Glory.

Be well pleased, O our Savior, that those who fell asleep * before us should abide now in the land of the meek, * having justified them by grace and by faith in You. * Unto all the ages, supremely they exalt You. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O all-blessed and pure one, we all pronounce you blest, * as the woman who gave birth unto the Word of God * who is truly blest, and became flesh for our sake. * Unto all the ages, supremely we exalt Him. [SD]

Ode ix.

Mode pl. 2. It is impossible.

By the intercessions of Your Martyrs, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of Your servants.

The hope of blessings to come intensified * the choirs of the martyr saints, and towards ardent love for You * it incited them, being for them a clear * foretoken of the truly unshakeable repose; * which to the departed faithful grant, since You are good, O Lord. [SD]

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

O Christ, deem worthy of Your divine and bright * illumination those who have in faith been translated hence; * and as You alone are very merciful, * grant them repose within the bosom of Abraham; * and account them worthy of Your own eternal blessedness. [SD]

Glory.

Since You are gracious and all-compassionate * by nature, and delight in steadfast love and are an abyss * of compassion, O Savior, to those whom You * translated from this place of punishment and from the * shadow of death, wherein shines Your light assign a place, O Lord. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O pure one, we know you as the tablet of * the law of grace, the holy tabernacle and sacred ark. * For through you to those who have been justified * by the blood of the One who became incarnate from * your womb has been given absolution, O all-blameless one. [SD]

Heirmos.

It is impossible for God to be seen * by people; and angelic orders dare not to look at Him. * But the Word incarnate has been seen by mankind, through you, O all-pure Virgin. * Now magnifying Him, * joining the celestial hosts, all generations call you blest.

PEOPLE

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

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

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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 and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

From Triodion - - -

Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 4.

O only Creator who with benevolence arrange all things with depth of wisdom, and impart to all what is beneficial, O Lord, grant repose to the souls of Your servants. For they have placed their hope in You our Creator and Fashioner and God. [SD]

Glory.

For they have placed their hope in You our Creator and Fashioner and God. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

We have you as a fortress and a port and an acceptable intercessor with God, whom you bore, O unwedded Theotokos, the salvation of the faithful. [SD]

DEACON

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, the hieromonks, the hierodeacons, the monastics, and all our brotherhood in Christ.

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep before us, who here have been piously laid to their rest, as well as the Orthodox everywhere.

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

( Lord, have mercy. (3) )

PRIEST

For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Among the spirits of the righteous perfected in faith, give rest, O Savior, to the soul(s) of Your servant, keeping it (them) in the blessed life which is from You, O loving One. [GOA]

In your place of rest, O Lord, where all Your saints repose, give rest also to the soul of Your servant, for You alone are immortal. [GOA]

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

You are our God who descended into Hades and loosened the pains of those who were held captive. Grant rest also, O Savior, to the soul of Your servant. [GOA]

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

You the only pure and spotless Virgin, who ineffably gave birth to God, intercede for mercy and forgiveness of the soul of your servant(s). [GOA]

DEACON

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for the blessed memory and eternal repose of all pious Orthodox Christians who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection unto life everlasting, emperors, patriarchs, bishops, priests, hieromonks, deacons, monastics, fathers, forebears, grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, spouses, children, siblings, and all our relatives, from the beginning until the end of time; and for the forgiveness of all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

May the Lord God place their souls where the righteous repose. Let us ask for the mercies of God, the kingdom of Heaven, and the forgiveness of their sins from Christ our immortal king and God.

CHOIR

Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

O God of spirits and of all flesh, You trampled upon death and abolished the power of the devil, giving life to Your world. Give rest to the souls of Your departed servants, emperors, patriarchs, bishops, priests, hieromonks, deacons, monks, nuns, and all pious Orthodox Christians who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection unto life everlasting, from all the ends of the world, fathers, forebears, grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, spouses, children, siblings, and all our relatives. Give them rest in a place of light, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain, sorrow, and sighing have fled away. As good and benevolent God, forgive every sin they have committed in word, deed, or thought, for there is no one who lives and does not sin. You alone are without sin. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your word is truth.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For You are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of all the departed faithful Orthodox Christians, Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory, and to Your Father, who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Mode 3.

Eternal be their memory. Eternal be their memory. Eternal be their memory. (3)

DEACON

Wisdom.

( Father, bless! )

PRIEST

Blessed is Christ our God, the One who is, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

HIERARCH or READER

The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Sacred Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

PRIEST

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

CHOIR

Amen.