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Triodion

Palm Sunday - On Sunday Evening at Vespers

__________

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. 4.

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

Stichera for the Feast.

From Triodion - - -

Idiomelon 1. Mode pl. 4.

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

Rejoice and be glad, O city of Zion; rejoice and leap for joy, O Church of God. For behold, your King has come in righteousness, seated on a foal, and by children extolled: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You who have an abundance of tender mercies. Have mercy on us.” [SD]

Repeat.

Idiomelon 1. Mode pl. 4.

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

Idiomelon 2. Mode pl. 4.

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

The Savior came today to the city of Jerusalem, to fulfill the Scripture. And everyone took branches of palm trees, and spread their garments on the road for Him, recognizing that He is our God, to whom the Cherubim unceasingly sing: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You who have an abundance of tender mercies. Have mercy on us.” [SD]

Repeat.

Idiomelon 2. Mode pl. 4.

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

Idiomelon 3. Mode pl. 4.

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

O Good One, You ride on the Cherubim, and You are praised by the Seraphim. And now You rode on a foal, like David said, and children extolled You as God. The Jews blasphemed, in violation of the Law. Your sitting on the foal prefigured that untamed Gentiles would be converted from unbelief to faith. Glory to You, O Christ; only You are merciful and benevolent. [SD]

Repeat.

Idiomelon 3. Mode pl. 4.

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

Glory.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Both now.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Stand for the Entrance.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

ENTRANCE PRAYER

In the evening, in the morning, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Master of all, benevolent Lord. Let our prayer be set forth before You as incense. Incline not our hearts to evil words or thoughts, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For our eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You, and in You we hope. Leave us not embarrassed, O our God.

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise.

CLERGY AND PEOPLE

Mode 2.

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

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4.

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. (2) [SAAS]

Verse: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

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

LITANY OF FERVENT SUPPLICATION

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Lord, Ruler of all, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

CHOIR

Amen.

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.

From Triodion - - -

Idiomelon. Mode 2.

O believers, as we come together, let us proceed from holy Feast to holy Feast, from palms and branches, to the saving solemn ceremony of the Passion of Christ; and we shall observe how He undergoes His voluntary Passion for our sake, and gives His life as ransom for the whole world. Let us thank Him and sing the appointed hymns, extolling Him and saying, “O fountain of compassion and harbor of salvation, glory to You, O Lord!” [SD]

Idiomelon. Mode 3.

Verse: Sing a new song to the Lord. [SAAS]

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. He is the Judge of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Let no one enter tempting us about our blameless faith; but let us approach Christ, in meekness and with fear, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [SD]

Idiomelon. Grave Mode.

Verse: All the ends of the earth saw the salvation of our God. [SAAS]

O congregation of the Synagogue, as a woman that loves evil things, an adulteress, unfaithful to her husband, why do you hold a covenant to which you are not heir? Why do you boast of the Father, since you rejected the Son? At least be embarrassed by your own children, who are shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” [SD]

Glory.

From Triodion - - -

Mode 2. Idiomelon.

Both now.

From Triodion - - -

Mode 3. Idiomelon.

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

From Triodion - - -

Canon of Compline.

By Andrew of Crete.

Ode i. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

To the Lord who crushed combatants * by His strong and upraised arm * for His people Israel, * and led them as they passed over the Red Sea, * let us sing, for He is our deliverer and God and greatly glorified. [GOASD]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Ye faithful, let us follow Joseph in his chastity: through the practice of the virtues let us live with all vigilance, and so let us come to know Him who has honoured men by creating them in His own image. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Those who are barren of good actions are like the fig tree. Let us avoid its fruitlessness, lest we be dried up as it once was, pre figuring the synagogue that was covered with leaves but bore no fruit. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Joseph is an image of the Master: he was thrown into a pit and sold by his brethren, but he suffered all these things with patience, as a true figure of Christ. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

O brethren, let us flee from the fruitlessness of the fig tree and understand the meaning of this example. May we not be withered as it once was, when He who loves mankind can1e to it in hunger. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

In haste to suffer for the world, Jesus goes up of His own will with His disciples to the city of Jerusalem, where He will undergo His voluntary Passion. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Cleaving to the Lord as He makes haste to suffer all things, let us prepare ourselves for spitting, mockery and disgrace, that, remaining faithful to Him in His holy Passion, we may be glorified with Him. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

He who suffers for us heals our passions by His Passion; for willingly He undergoes in our human nature His life-giving sufferings, that we may be saved. [KW]

Glory. For the Trinity.

I glorify Three without beginning; I sing the praises of Three Holies; I proclaim Three coeternal in One Essence. For the one God is glorified in Father, Son and Spirit. [KW]

Both now. Theotokion.

The rod of Moses and the rod of Aaron underwent by God’s providence a strange transformation that surpasses human understanding; and thy womb, O Mother of God, has given birth in a manner altogether new. [KW]

Kathisma.

Mode 4. (NM)

May the reproach of the fig tree not overtake thee; but make haste, my soul, and from the soil of thy heart bear good fruit for Christ thy Creator, and offer it to Him in repentance. [KW]

Ode viii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

O extol Him, who on the holy mountain * showed His glory, as Lord, * and in the bush with fire * revealed to Moses knowledge of the mystery * of the Ever-Virgin, supremely exalting Him unto all the ages. (2) [GOASD]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Let us adorn our life with chastity and guard the faith with wisdom; let us seek the ways of righteousness, that we may follow Christ with courage and be crucified with Him. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Joseph the Patriarch found another Eve in the Egyptian woman, yet he was not deceived or led into any act of wickedness: but he stood firm as adamant and was not caught by the passions of sin. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

O my Saviour, journeying along the paths of life, Thou hast hungered by Thine own free choice, desiring the salvation of all: for Thou wast hungry for the conversion of those who had turned away from Thee. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

O Adam our first father, after tasting from the Tree, thou knewest that thou wast naked, and in shame thou hast clothed thyself in fig leaves; and so thou hast prefigured the Synagogue that was stripped naked of Christ’s grace. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Make ready before thy departure, O my soul; prepare thyself for the life that is to come, Christ hastens to suffer for thy sake, that He may glorify thee: make haste to suffer with Him, to be crucified and to die with Him. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

How should death not tremble, O my Saviour I How should hell not crouch with fear, when it meets Thee hastening of Thine own good pleasure to the Passion, and sees Thee, who art righteous, coming to suffer for the unrighteous? [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

The Jewish priests and Levites, when they saw the raising of Lazarus, conspired together out of envy, and by guile they betrayed Christ to Pilate, that He might be put to death. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Thy handmaiden, the Ewe-Lamb and Virgin, saw Thee the Good Shepherd hastening to Thy Passion and laying down Thy life for us; and her mother’s heart was filled with anguish for Thee. [KW]

Glory. For the Trinity.

As Unity in Essence I sing Thy praises; as Trinity in Persons I venerate Thee, Father, Son and All-Holy Spirit. The power of Thy Kingdom that has no beginning I glorify unto all ages. [KW]

Both now. Theotokion.

The Theotokos entreats Thee, O Christ; the company of the apostles beseeches Thee: give Thy peace to Thy world and grant us Thine abundant mercy unto all ages. [KW]

Ode ix. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Virginity is a state alien to mothers, * and childbirth is foreign to those who are virgins. * But in you, Theotokos, have both of these been accomplished. * Indeed all generations everywhere * now call you blessed evermore. (2) [GOASD]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Chastity is alien to the impious, and transgression is a thing strange to the righteous. Great Joseph turned away from sin, becoming an image of chastity and a true figure of Christ. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Justice is alien to the lawless, and the knowledge of God is a thing strange to unbelievers. The Jews in their lawlessness rejected both these things; and so, like the fig tree, they have inherited the curse. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Christ my God, who is the Bread of Life, hungered for man’s salvation. He came to the Synagogue, as to the fig tree, and found it adorned with the leaves of the Law yet lacking fruit; and so He pronounced it cursed. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Thou has cursed the unfruitfulness of the Law, for it produced as leaves an understanding of the shadow of the letter, but because of disobedience it bore no works as fruit. But do Thou bless all of us, O Saviour, and make us sons by grace. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Of old the rod of Moses was changed into a serpent; and the rod of Aaron, though dried up and withered, was changed into a green branch that put forth leaves. But the lawless Synagogue was changed into an unfruitful fig tree. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Prepare thy priests, O Judaea, make ready thy hands to kill God: for see, He has come to His Passion, meek and silent, our Lamb and Shepherd, Christ the King of Israel. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

O Judaea, receive thy King; for behold, He comes willingly to His Passion, that He may suffer and save those who cry without ceasing: Blessed is He that comes to save all things by the Cross. [KW]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

O Judaea, the Master has turned thy feasts into mourning, according to the prophecy; for thou hast murdered God, who (as David tells) once changed the stony rock into pools of water. [KW]

Glory. For the Trinity.

It is alien to evildoers to glorify Thee, the Essence that has no beginning, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the sovereign and uncreated Might, that has established the whole world by an act of divine power. [KW]

Both now. Theotokion.

We bring the Theotokos as our intercessor: at her prayers and those of Thine apostles, make us share, O Master, in Thy blessings and, O Saviour, count us worthy of the glory of Thy Resurrection. [KW]

Heirmos.

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 Horologion - - -

Apolytikia. Mode pl. 1.

O Virgin Theotokos, rejoice, Mary full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you have borne the Savior of our souls. [SD]

O Baptist of Christ, be mindful of us all, that we may be delivered from our iniquities; for unto you was given the grace to intercede for us. [SD]

Glory.

Entreat earnestly for us, O holy Apostles and all Saints, that we be delivered from peril and affliction; for you are our fervent advocates before the Savior. [SD]

This final troparion, according to older rules, is simply recited by the Reader. In current practice, however, it is usually, sung much like the preceding hymns.

Both now.

Beneath your tender compassion we take refuge, O Theotokos. Despise not our supplications in distress, but deliver us from all peril. You alone are pure; you alone are blessed. [SD]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (40)

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

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Amen.

PRIEST

O heavenly King, uphold our rulers, strengthen the Faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world. Protect this holy Church (or, Monastery); grant our departed fathers and brethren that they may dwell with the righteous, and accept us in repentance and confession; for You are good and benevolent.

We now make three prostrations: i.e. we recite the Prayer of St. Ephrem (quietly or mentally), and with each verse we make a bow or prostration.

While it has become customary for this prayer to be recited by someone aloud, nevertheless the indicated practice is that it be recited inaudibly and mentally by everyone, clergy and congregants alike, with the accompanying bows etc.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me.

Instead, grant me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then we make the sign of the cross 12 times, each time saying, “God, be gracious to me a sinner and have mercy on me.” Then we repeat the third verse of the Prayer (quietly or mentally) and make a final bow or prostration.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

READER

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

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

Father, bless!

PRIEST

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

May He who is coming to His voluntary Passion for our salvation, 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.