Presanctified Liturgy 

The Priest's or Deacon's audible prayers are in Bold. 

Audible prayers said only by the Deacon are in Bold Italics. 

The silent prayers indented in Gray. 

The silent dialogue said by the Deacon is indented, in lighter gray, with italics

Rubrics  are in italics

The parts of the People are in smaller type

http://www.sspeterpaul.org/Presanct.htm
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During the Holy Great 40-day Fast, when the priest is to celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified on Wednesday and Friday, or other prescribed week days, at the Proskomede on the preceding Sunday, he does everything as usual, but after he cuts the first bread, sacrifices it, and pierces it, he cuts a sufficient number of additional breads, saying as he cuts each one: 
In remembrance ... As a sheep He was led ... In His humility. .. And who shall declare ... For His life is taken away ... Sacrificed . . . and One of the soldiers ... 
He then places them on the diskos beside the first bread. 

Then he pours wine and water into the holy chalice, saying the customary words, and he covers the diskos and the chalice, and he censes them, saying the Prayer of Oblation. 
Then he begins the Divine Liturgy and celebrates as usual. 

When he signs the breads at the invocation of the Holy Spirit, he says: And make this bread . . ., in the singular, as Christ is one; he does not say these breads in the plural. 
When he elevates, he elevates them all together, and he breaks the first one offered, and lays the part IC in the holy chalice and pours in warm water as usual. 

Then taking the holy spoon in his right hand, he dips it into the holy Blood; with his left hand he takes one of the other Breads, touches it with the holy spoon, which has been moistened with the holy Blood, in the form of a cross on the side on which the cross is traced, under the soft part, and places it in the artophorion (or other suitable container). Then he takes the others and does the same with each, and puts them all away in the artophorion. 

Then the priest prays as usual, communicates as usual, and completes the Divine Liturgy as usual.
On the day of the celebration of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: 
    At the reading of the Hours, the priest, wearing the epitrachelion, stands before the holy doors and begins: Blessed is our God . . ., the reader: Amen. After Our Father . . ., the priest says the exclamation and goes into the sanctuary. 
And then Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours, and finally the Typical Psalms are read. 

 At Third Hour, after the psalms, Alleluia and Lord, have mercy, the priest standing before the holy doors, says: 
 O Lord, who at the third hour didst send down thine all-holy Spirit upon thine Apostles, take not the same from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray unto thee. 

The choir repeats the same. 

    Priest: A clean heart create in me, O God, and a right spirit renew in my inmost parts. 
    Choir: O Lord, who at the third hour . . 
. 
    Priest: Cast me not away from thy face, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 

    Choir: O Lord, who at the third hour . .
 . 
    Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit 

    Choir: Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 
    
At the Sixth Hour, the priest says alternately with the choir, as in Third Hour: 
    O thou who, on the sixth day and hour, didst nail to the cross the sin which Adam, through presumption, committed in Paradise, tear asunder also the handwriting of our iniquities, 0 Christ God, and save us. 
    Verse: Give heed to my prayer, O God, and disregard not my supplication. 

    Verse: I have called unto God, and the Lord hath heartened unto me. 

    Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit 
    
At the Ninth Hour, the priest says alternately with the choir, as in Third Hour: 
    O thou who, at the ninth hour, for our sake, didst taste of death in the flesh, mortify the presumption of our flesh, O Christ God, and save us. 
   Verse A: Let my prayer come nigh before thee, 0 Lord, give me understanding, according to thy word. 

    Verse B: Let my petition come before thee, 0 Lord; according to thy word, deliver me. 

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

At each hour, after More honorable than the Cherubim . . ., the priest, before the holy doors, exclaims: 
    O God, be compassionate unto us, and bless us, and make thy face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us. 

    Reader: Amen. 
    Then the priest says the Prayer of St. Ephraim of Syria:
 
 O Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of idleness, of meddling (faintheartedness or despondency in Slavonic), of love of power, and of idle words, grant me not. great reverence 

 But the spirit of continence, of humility, of patience and of love, do thou grant unto me thy servant. great reverence 

 Yea, 0 Lord and King, grant me to perceive mine own offenses, and not to judge my brother; for blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. great reverence 

Then twelve little references, saying at each:
O God, cleanse thou me a sinner.
    And again the whole prayer without division to the end and then one great reverence. 
    
At Third and Sixth Hours, and then at the Typica, the prayer, O Lord and Master of my life, is read with sixteen references, as described above, but at Ninth Hour the prayer is read through only once with the corresponding three great references. 
When there are Prophecies at the Hours, the priest says: Let us attend. Then Wisdom, and Let us attend. 
Toward the end of the Typica, the priest enters the sanctuary, and vests in his priestly vestments, signing them and kissing them only, saying nothing except, Let us pray to the Lord, over each vestment. 

The reader reads the Trisagion, Our Father. . .,  then Lord, have mercy, twelve times, All-holy Trinity. . .,  after which the holy doors are opened. The priest says: Wisdom, the choir: Meet is it in truth . . ., the priest: Most holy Theotokos, save us; the choir: More honorable than the Cherubim ... ; the priest: Glory to thee, O Christ God, our Hope, glory to thee; choir: Glory ... Now and .. . Lord, have mercy. thrice, and Bless, and the priest gives the dismissal. 
In the dismissal, the priest remembers the saint of the temple, and of the day. Then the holy doors are closed. 

The priest and the deacon make three reverences before the holy table, saying only: O God, cleanse thou me a sinner and have mercy on me. And they kiss the holy Gospels, the holy table, and the cross on the holy table. And the deacon, taking the priest's leave, goes out and stands in his customary place, and exclaims: 

Deacon: Bless, master. 

The Priest, with head uncovered, lifts the Holy Gospel Book with both hands and makes with it the sign of the cross over the antimension, saying aloud: 

Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
People: Amen.	Священник: Благословенно царство Отца и Сына, и Святаго Духа, ныне и присно, и во веки веков.	

And then the reader: Come, let us worship. . . thrice, and he reads the Introductory Psalm(103). 

The priest, standing before the holy doors, with head uncovered, says the Prayers of Light, that is, of Vespers, beginning with the fourth prayer, the first three being said after the litanies. 

Fourth Prayer

O Thou Who with never-silent hymns and unceasing doxologies art praised in song by the Holy Hosts, fill our mouth with Thy praise, that we may magnify Thy holy name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all that truly fear Thee and keep Thy commandments, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all Thy saints. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Fifth Prayer

O Lord, O Lord, Who upholds all things in the most pure hollow of Thy hand, Who art long-suffering toward us all and repentest Thee at our wickedness, remember Thy compassion and Thy mercy. Visit us with Thy goodness, and grant unto us during the remainder of the present day, by Thy grace, to flee the divers subtle snares of the Evil One, and to keep our life unassailed through the grace of Thine all-holy Spirit, through the mercy and love for mankind of Thine only-begotten son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sixth Prayer

O God, great and wondrous, Who with goodness unsearchable and abundant providence orderest all things, and grantest unto us earthly good things; Who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through the good things already bestowed upon us; and hast made us to shun all evil during that part of the day which is past: Grant us also to fulfill the remainder of this day blamelessly before Thy holy glory; to hymn Thee, the only Good One, our God, Who lovest mankind. For Thou art our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Seventh Prayer

O God, great and most high, Who alone hast immortality, and dwellest in light unapproachable; Who hast fashioned all creation in wisdom; Who hast divided the light from the darkness, and hast set the sun for dominion of the day, the moon the stars for dominion of the night; Who hast vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour to come before Thy presence with thanksgiving and to offer thee evening doxology; Do thyself direct our prayer as incense before Thee and accept it for a sweet smelling savor; grant unto us that the present evening and the coming night be peaceful. Cloth us with the armor of light. Deliver us from the terror by night and from everything that walketh in darkness. And grant that the sleep which Thou hast given for the repose of our infirmity may be free from all fantasies of the Devil. Yea, O Master, Giver of good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, remember Thy name in the night, and, enlightened by meditation on Thy commandments, rise up in joyfulness of soul to the glorification of Thy goodness, offering prayers and supplications to Thy lovingkindness for our own sins and for those of all Thy people, whom do Thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos. For a good God art Thou, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Having completed his prayers, the priest returns to the Alta through the South Door and stands before the Holy Table, where he may again cover his head. The deacon ask the priest's blessing, and having received it, goes out the North door to his usual place and bows before the Royal doors. Holding the end of his orarion with the three fingers of his right hand, he says the Great Litany. 
The Great Litany

Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord. 
People: Lord, have mercy	Диакон: Миром Господу помолимся.
Хор: Господи, помилуй	
For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord..	О свышнем мире и спасении душ наших Господу помолимся.	
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. 	О мире всего мiра, благостоянии святых Божиих церквей и соединении всех Господу помолимся.	
For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord. 
	О святем храме сем и с верою, благоговением и страхом Божиим входящих в онь Господу помолимся.	
For the Orthodox episcopate of the Russian Church; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N., whose diocese it is): for the venerable priesthood, the Diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. 
	О православном епископстве Церкве Россиския, о господине нашем высокопреосвященнейшем Митрополите N, первоиерарсе Русския Зарубежныя Церкве, о господине нашем Преосвященнейшем Епископе N, о честнем пресвитерстве, о еже во Христе диаконстве, о всем притче и людех Господу помолимся.
	
By ukaz of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia, the following two petitions are inserted: 	
For the much suffering Russian Land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. 	О страждущей стране нашей Росийстей и о православных людей ее во отечествии и рассеянии сущих, Господу помолимся.	
That He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love, and piety, let us pray to the Lord.		
For this land, its authorities, and Armed Forces, let us pray to the Lord. 	О стране сей и властех и воинстве ея Господу помолимся.	
For this city (or town, or holy monastery), every city and country and the faithful that dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord. 	О граде сем, всяком граде, стране и верою живущих в них Господу помолимся.	
For seasonable weather, abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. 	О благорастворении воздухов, о изобилии плодов земных и временех мирных Господу помолимся.	

Additional Petitions may be inserted here. 

For travelers by sea, land, and air; for the sick, the suffering; the imprisoned and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. 	О плавающих, путешествующих, недугующих, страждущих, плененных и о спасении их Господу помолимся.	
That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. 	О избавитися нам от всякия скорби, гнева и нужды Господу помолимся.	
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace. 	Заступи, спаси, помилуй и сохрани нас, Боже, Твоею благодатию.	
Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God. 
People: To Thee O Lord	Пресвятую, пречистую, преблагословенную, славную Владычицу нашу Богородицу и Приснодеву Марию, со всеми святыми помянувше, сами себе и друг друга и весь живот наш Христу Богу предадим. 
Хор: Тебе, Господи.	

The Prayer of the First Antiphon

Priest: O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and of great mercy, give heed to our prayer, and attend to the voice of our supplication. Work upon us a sign for good. Guide us in thy way, that we may walk in thy truth. Gladden our hearts that we may fear thy holy name. For thou art great and workest wonders. Thou alone art God, and among the gods there is none like unto thee, 0 Lord, powerful in mercy, and good in might, to help and to comfort and to save all those who hope in thy holy name. 
Exclamation:
Priest: For unto Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. 
People: Amen.	Священник: Яко подобает Тебе всякая слава, честь и поклонение, Отцу и Сыну, и Святому Духу, ныне и присно, и во веки веков.

Хор: Аминь.	

The deacon enters the altar through the South door. 
The reader begins the first stasis of the 18th Kathisma (or other such Kathisma as may be appointed, according to the Typicon). 
The clergy uncover their heads. 
The curtain is closed. 

If the Presanctified Lamb is kept in the artophorian on the Holy Table: 
•	The priest kisses the Holy Gospel Book and puts it in its usual place on the Holy Table. 
•	He opens the antimension, places the diskos upon it, and opens the artophorian. 
•	He places the Presanctified lamb (using the spoon and the spear) on the diskos with great reverence, saying nothing. 
•	The asterikos and small veil are censed and placed over the Holy Bread. 
•	The priest and the deacon make a prostration before the Holy Bread, and cover their heads
•	The curtain is opened. 

If the Presanctified Lamb is kept in the artophorian on the Prothesis Table:
•	The priest and deacon go to the Prothesis Table, where they make a small bow. 
•	He opens the artophorion. 
•	He places the Presanctified Lamb (using the spoon and the spear) on the diskos with great reverence, saying nothing. 
•	He pours wine and water in the chalic as usual, saying nothing. 
•	He censes the asterikos and  veils as usual and places them over the Holy Girfts, saying nothing (some say" Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us." for each). 
•	The priest and the deacon make a prostration before the Holy Bread, and cover their heads
•	The curtain is opened.

The First Little Litany
At the conclusion of the first stasis of the Kathisma, the deacon, standing in the usual place, and bowing, saith:
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord. 
People: Lord, have mercy	Диакон: Паки и паки миром Господу помолимся.
Хор: Господи, помилуй.	
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace. 	Заступи, спаси, помилуй и сохрани нас, Боже, Твоею благодатию.	
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.  
People: To Thee, O Lord. 	Пресвятую, пречистую, преблагословенную, славную Владычицу нашу Богородицу и Приснодеву Марию, со всеми святыми помянувше, сами себе, и друг друга, и весь живот наш Христу Богу предадим. 

Хор: Тебе, Господи.	
. 
The Prayer of the Second Antiphon

Priest: O Lord, in thy displeasure rebuke us not, neither chasten us in thy wrath, but deal with us according to thy tenderness, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us unto the haven of thy will. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts unto the knowledge of thy truth, and grant unto us that the remainder of the present day and the whole time of our life may be peaceful and sinless, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the Saints. 
Exclamation:
Priest: For Thine is the dominion, and 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. 
People: Amen.	Священник: Яко Твоя держава, и Твое есть Царство, и сила, и слава, Отца и Сына, и Святого Духа, ныне и присно, и во веки веков. 

Хор: Аминь.	

The Reader begins the second stasis of the Kathisma

The Curtain is left open. 

If the Presanctified Lamb is on the Holy Table: 
1.	The priest censes the Holy Table roundabout three times, with the deacon, holding his candle walking such that he is opposite him.
2.	After the censing the clergy stand at the places before the Holy Table. 

The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord. 
People: Lord, have mercy	Диакон: Паки и паки миром Господу помолимся.
Хор: Господи, помилуй.	
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace. 	Заступи, спаси, помилуй и сохрани нас, Боже, Твоею благодатию.	
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.  
People: To Thee, O Lord.	Пресвятую, пречистую, преблагословенную, славную Владычицу нашу Богородицу и Приснодеву Марию, со всеми святыми помянувше, сами себе, и друг друга, и весь живот наш Христу Богу предадим. 

Хор: Тебе, Господи.	

The Prayer of the Third Antiphon

Priest: O Lord our God, remember us thy sinful and unprofitable servants when we call upon thy holy, venerable name, and put us not to shame in our expectation of thy mercy, but grant us, O Lord, all our petitions which are unto salvation, and make us worthy to love and fear thee with all our hearts, and to do thy will in all things. 

Exclamation:
Priest: For a good God art Thou and the lover of mankind, and to Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
People: Amen.	Священник: Яко благ и Человеколюбец Бог еси, и Тебе славу возсылаем, Отцу и Сыну, и Святому Духу, ныне и присно, и во веки веков.	

The Reader begins the third stasis of the Kathisma
If the Presanctified Lamb is on the Holy Table:
The curtain is closed 
•	The clergy uncover their heads, and make a prostration before the Holy Gifts. 
•	the deacon takes a censer and lighted candle and walks backwards, censing the Holy Gitfs,  in front of the priest, who has taken the diskos and placed it on his head. They go aorund the Holy Table by way of the High Place, to the Table ofProthesis. 
•	The priest places the diskos on the prothesis table. 
•	He pours wine and water in the chalic as usual, saying nothing. 
•	He censes the asterikos and veils as usual and places them over the Holy Girfts, saying nothing (some say "Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us."  for each). 
•	The priest taskes a standing candle and places it in front of the Holy Gifts, thenm takes the censer from the deacon , and censes the Gifts. 
•	The priest and the deacon make a prostration before the Holy Bread, and the priest says "Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us."
•	The clergy cover their heads
•	The curtain is opened.

The Third Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord. 
People: Lord, have mercy	Диакон: Паки и паки миром Господу помолимся.
Хор: Господи, помилуй.	
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace. 	Заступи, спаси, помилуй и сохрани нас, Боже, Твоею благодатию.	
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.  
People: To Thee, O Lord.	Пресвятую, пречистую, преблагословенную, славную Владычицу нашу Богородицу и Приснодеву Марию, со всеми святыми помянувше, сами себе, и друг друга, и весь живот наш Христу Богу предадим. 
Хор: Тебе, Господи.	

Exclamation:
Priest: For thou art our God, the God who hath mercy and saveth, and to thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
People: Amen.	Священник: 	

The deacon enters the Altar through the south door. He brings the censer to the priest for him to bless, and then he performs the great censing, After returning the censer to its place, the deacon again takes his place to the right of the priest. As the censing begins, the choir chants "Lord, I have cried" in the tone of the idiomelon of the day, and we divide off ten stichoi, and double the idiomelon; then the martyrikon, the three prosomia of the Triodion, and the three of the Menaion, doubling the first.

Lord I have Cried

While the Theotokion is being chanted, the entrance is made with the censer. The deacon brings the censer to the priest to bless. But if the Gospel is to be read, on the feasts of the Hieromartyr Charalampus the Wonderworker (10 Feb), the First and Second Findings of the Venerable Head of St. John the Forerunner (24 Feb), the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (9 March), of the patron saint of the temple, or on the first three days of Holy Week, the entrance is made with the Gospel Book. In this case, the priest gives the Gospel Book to the deacon, who drapes the end of his orarion over the top of the Gospel Book and carries it high in front of him with reverence and piety.
Preceded by candlebearers, the deacon goes before the priest, around the Holy Table by way of the High Place, and they leave the Altar through the north door. They come before the Holy Doors. The priest is in the center and the deacon slightly in front and to the right of him. Both bow their heads. In a low voice the deacon says:

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Then the priest says in a low voice:

Prayer of the Entry
Priest: O Master, Lord our God, who hast appointed in the heavens ranks and hosts of angels and archangels unto the service of Thy glory: With our entry do Thou cause the entry of the holy angels, serving and glorifying Thy goodness with us. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

When the prayer is ended, the deacon says to the priest, pointing toward the east with his right hand, holding therein his orarion with three fingers:
Deacon only: Bless, master, the holy entrance.
And the priest, blessing, saith:
Priest: Blessed is the entry of Thy holy ones always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
After that, the deacon goes to the bishop, or to the abbot, and he kisseth the Gospel, if he be present; if not, the priest kisseth it. 
When the final verse of the antiphon hath been finished, the deacon goes to the center, and standing in front of the priest, raiseth his hands a little and showing the Holy Gospel, says in a loud voice: 

Deacon: Wisdom! Aright!	Диакон:  Премудрость, прости!	

The Parables

The priest, facing the people and blessing, says aloud:

Priest: Peace be unto all.

Deacon: Wisdom.

The appointed ecclesiarch, monk, or reader stands in the midst of the temple, and sings the prokimenon. During the singing of the prokimenon, the clergy uncover their heads.

Reader: The prokimenon in the __ tone.

First verse of the prokimenon.

Choir one:   The choir chants the first verse of the prokimenon.

Reader:      The second verse of the prokimenon,

Choir two:   The choir chants the first verse of the prokimenon.

Reader:      First half of the first verse of the prokimenon.

Both choirs:  The choirs chant the second half of the first verse.

The Holy Doors are closed The clergy may again cover their heads. The reader chants the title of the reading:

Reader: The reading is from Genesis (Exodus).

Deacon: Let us attend!

The reader reads the appointed selection.

The deacon brings the priest a lighted candle in a candlestick. The priest places this on the Holy Gospel Book, and it remains there during the reading. 

When the reading is finished, the Holy Doors are opened, and the reader sings the second prokimenon. The clergy again uncover their heads for the prokimenon.

Reader: The prokimenon in the __ tone.

And the prokimenon is chanted as above.

After the prokimenon, the deacon gives the censer to the priest. The priest holds the censer and the lighted candle with both hands. The deacon says aloud to the priest:

Deacon: Command!

The priest, facing the Holy Table, makes the sign of the Cross with the candle and censer, saying aloud:

Priest: Wisdom. Aright!

Then the priest turns to the people, who prostrate as he faces them, and he says aloud:

Priest: The light of Christ shineth upon all.

The priest returns to the Holy Table. The deacon takes the censer and candle and returns them to their places. The Holy Doors are closed, the reader chants the title of the reading. The clergy may again cover their heads. The priest goes to his seat beside the High Place.

Reader: The reading is from Proverbs (Job).

Deacon: Let us attend!

The reader reads the appointed selection.

If it be a day on which there is to be a vigil or polyeleon, the prophesies of the feast or of the saint are read from the Menaion:

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: The reading is from __.

Deacon: Let us attend!

When the reader completes the readings, the priest blesses him, saying in a low voice:

Priest: Peace be unto thee.

Reader: And to thy spirit.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Let My Prayer Arise

The priest returns to the Holy Table, and uncovers his head. The Holy Doors are opened. The deacon brings the censer to the priest, who censes standing in front of the Holy Table. All the clergy uncover their heads.

The reader sings:

Reader: Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up my hands as an evening sacrifice.

While the reader sings, the first and second choirs, and all the people present in the temple, pray on their knees. Then, after the reader sings the verse, the first choir arises and repeats it:

Choir one:     Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

And the reader, and the second choir and the people present on that side, pray on their knees. Then the reader arises and sings the first verse:

Reader: Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hearken unto me; attend to the voice of my supplication when I cry unto Thee.               

Then, after the reader sings the verse, the second choir arises and sings:

Choir two:    Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

Then the reader, and the first choir, and the people present on that side, pray on their knees. 

Then the reader arises and sings the second verse:
 
Reader: Set, 0 Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a door of enclosure round about my lips.

The first choir arises and sings:

Choir one:     Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

And the reader, and the second choir, and the people present on that side, pray on their knees. Then rising, the reader sings the third verse. 

The priest and deacon go to the prothesis, and the priest censes the Presanctified Gifts three times.

Reader: Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuse with excuses in sins.

The second choir arises and sings:
 
Choir two:    Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. 

The priest gives the censer to the deacon, and returns before the Holy Table, and he himself kneels and prays. The deacon stands before the prothesis and censes until the choir has finished singing the verse. And the reader, and the first choir, and the people present on that side, bend their knees. Then, again the reader arises and sings:

Reader: Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee.

The deacon returns from the prothesis to his place beside the priest, having returned the censer to its place. Then both choirs and all the people present in the temple fall upon their knees and kneel while the reader sings. 

And standing on the kliros, both choirs sing:

Both choirs:    The lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

The priest arises and stands before the Holy Table, and says the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian:

The Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and idle talking give me not. 
Prostration
Priest: But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. 
Prostration 
Priest: Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Prostration 

The clergy cover their heads. The Holy Doors are closed. If there is no reading of the epistle and Gospel, then the deacon says the Litany of Fervent Supplication, below

*** But if there be a reading from the epistle and/or Gospel, the Holy Doors remain open, and the priest goes to his place at the High Place.

On the feasts of the Hieromartyr Charalampus the Wonderworker (10 Feb), the First and Second Findings of the Venerable Head of St. John the Forerunner (24 Feb), the Holy Forty Martyrs ofSebaste (March 9), or the patron saint of the temple, there is an appointed epistle and Gospel; but on the first three days of Great and Holy Week, there is only a Gospel reading. 

The deacon comes to the Holy Doors, faces the people, and says aloud:

Deacon: Let us attend!

The priest, from his place, gives the blessing, saying aloud:

Priest: Peace be unto all.

Reader: And to thy spirit.

Deacon: Wisdom.

The reader sings the prokimenon. During the singing of the prokimenon, the clergy uncover their heads. After the singing of the prokimenon as above, the clergy may again cover their heads. And the reading of the epistle as announced and completed as previously given for the prophecies.

Then after the reading from the epistle. Alleluia is chanted as follows:

Reader: Alleluia.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Reader: Verse, as given in the Menaion or Triodion

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Reader: Verse, as given in the Menaion or Triodion

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

During the singing of the Alleluia, the deacon takes the censer for the priest to bless. Then the deacon censes the Holy Table all around, the whole Altar, and, going through rhe Holy Doors, the two icons of the Savior and of the Theotokos in the iconostasis, the priest, the clergy present, both choirs, and the people. The priest during this time has returned to his place before the Holy Table where he says in a low voice the Prayer
before the Gospel:

Priest: Make to shine in our hearts, 0 man-befriending Master, the incorruptible light of Thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of the preaching or Thy Gospel; instill in us also the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that, trampling down all carnal desires, we may pursue a spiritual way of life, both meditating and doing all that is well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, 0 Christ God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thy most-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
 
The deacon enters the Altar, completes the censing, returns the censer, then uncovers his head. He comes to the priest, bows, and, holding his orarion with the tips of his finger, points toward the Holy Gospel Book, saying to the priest:

Deacon: Bless, Master, the bringer of the good tidings of the holy Apostle and Evangelist ___.

The priest, signing him with the sign of the Cross, says:

Priest: May God, through the intercessions of the holy, glorious, all praised Apostle and Evangelist __ give speech with great power unto hee that bringest good tidings, unto the fulfilment of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Deacon: Amen.

The deacon bows to the Holy Gospel and, taking the Book, he goes through the Holy Doors and places the Gospel Book on the analogion, facing east, for the proclamation of the Gospel. The candle-hearers go out the side doors and stand beside the deacon. Standing before the Holy Table, and, looking toward the west, the priest says aloud to the Deacon:

Priest: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

And he blesses, saying:

Priest: Peace be unto all.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

All the clergy uncover their heads for the Gospel.

Deacon: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint

Choir: Glory to Thee, 0 Lord, glory to Thee.

Priest: Let us attend!

And the deacon reads the Holy Gospel. At the conclusion of the reading, the priest blesses the deacon, saying:

Priest: Peace be unto thee that bringest good tidings.
 
Choir: Glory to Thee, 0 Lord, glory to Thee.
 
The deacon gives the Holy Gospel Book to the priest who kisses it, then makes the sign of the Cross over the people with it, then turns and stands it up in front of the artophorion, or lays it on the right side of the Holy Table. All the clergy may again cover their heads. The Holy Doors are closed.

The deacon receives the priest's blessing, bows to him, and leaves the Altar through the north door. He bows at his place before the Holy Doors, then says the Litany of Fervent Supplication:

The Litany of Fervent Supplication / Сугубая Ектения

Deacon: Let us say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say. 
People: Lord, have mercy.	Диакон: Рцем вси от всея души, и от всего помышления нашего рцем.
Хор: Господи, помилуй.	
Deacon: O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy. 	Диакон: Господи Вседержителю, Боже отец наших, молим Ти ся, услыши и помилуй.	
Deacon: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy. 	Помилуй нас, Боже, по велицей милости Твоей, молим Ти ся, услыши и помилуй.	
As the next petition is being said, the priest unfoldeth the entire iliton and bottom portion of the antimins, and kisseth the Bishop's name on the antimins.	
Deacon: Again we pray for the Orthodox episcopate of the Russian Church; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend Bishop N., and all our brethren in Christ. 
People: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy	Еще молимся о православном епископстве Церкве Российския, о господине нашем высокопреосвященнейшем Митрополите N., первоиерарсе Русския Зарубежныя Церкве, о господине нашем Преосвященнейшем Епископе N., и о всей во Христе братии нашей.
Хор: Господи, помилуй, Господи, помилуй, Господи, помилуй.	
By ukaz of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia, the following two petitions are inserted:	
Deacon: Again we pray for the much suffering Russian Land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and the diaspora, and for their salvation. 	Еще молимся о страждущей стране нашей Росийстей и о православных людей ее во отечествии и рассеянии сущих, и о спасений их.	
Deacon: Again we pray that He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love, and piety. 		
Deacon: Again we pray for this land, its authorities and armed forces. 	Еще молимся о стране сей и властех и воинстве ея.	
Deacon: Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, the priestmonks, and all our brethren in Christ. 	Еще молимся о братиях наших священницех, священномонасех и о всем во Христе братстве нашем. 	
 Deacon: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable, holy Orthodox patriarchs; and pious kings and right-believing queens; and the founders of this holy temple (if it be a monastery: this holy monastery), and for all our fathers and brethren gone to their rest before us, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest. 	Еще молимся о блаженных и приснопамятных святейших патриарсех православных, и благочестивых царех и благоверных царицах, и создателех святого храма сего [if it be a monastery, святыя обители сея] , и о всех прежде почивших отцех и братиях наших, зде лежащих и повсюду православных.	
 
 (Here may be inserted various petitions as desired)
And after the special petitions, if any, the deacon sayeth the last petition: 
Deacon: Again we pray for them that bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable temple: for them that minister and them that chant; and for all the people here present, who await of Thee great and abundant mercy. 
People: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.	Диакон: Еще молимся о плодоносящих и добродеющих во святем и всечестнем храме сем, труждающихся, поющих и предстоящих людех, ожидающих от Тебя великия и богатыя милости.
Хор: Господи, помилуй, Господи, помилуй, Господи, помилуй.	
 
The Prayer of Feverent Supplication
Priest: O Lord our God, accept this fervent supplication from Thy servants, and have mercy upon us according to the multitude of thy mercies; and send down Thy compassions upon us and upon all Thy people, that await of Thee abundant mercy.

Exclamation:
Priest: For a merciful God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. 
People: Amen. 	Священник: Яко милостив и Человеколюбец Бог еси, и Тебе славу возсылаем, Отцу и Сыну, и Святому Духу … 
Хор: Аминь.	

Then the deacon says the Litany of the Catechumens:
Litany for the Catechumens / Ектения об  Оглашенных

Deacon: Pray, ye Catechumens, to the Lord. 
People: Lord, have mercy.	Диакон: Помолитеся, оглашеннии, Господеви.
Хор: Господи, помилуй.	
Deacon: Ye faithful, for the catechumens let us pray, that the Lord will have mercy on them. 	Вернии, о оглашенных помолимся, да Господь помилует их.	
Deacon: That He will catechize them with the word of truth. 	Огласит их словом истины.
	
Deacon: That He will reveal unto them the Gospel of righteousness. 	Открыет им Евангелие правды.	
And the priest unfoldeth the upper portion of the antimins.	
Deacon: That He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. 	Соединит их святей Своей соборней и Апостольской Церкви.	
Deacon: Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by Thy Grace. 	Спаси, помилуй, заступи и сохрани их, Боже, Твоею благодатию.	
Deacon: Ye Catechumens, bow your heads to the Lord. 
People: To Thee, O Lord.	Оглашеннии, главы ваши Господеви приклоните.
Хор: Тебе, Господи.	

Meanwhile, the priest reads in a low voice the Prayer for the Catechumens:

Priest: 0 God our God, the Creator and Maker of all things, who willest that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth: look upon Thy servants the catechumens, and deliver them from their former delusion and from the wiles of the adversary. And call them unto life eternal, enlightening their souls and bodies, and numbering them with Thy rational flock, which is called by Thy holy name.

The priest makes the sign of the Cross over the antimension with the sponge, then kisses the sponge and lays it on the right side on the antimension, as he says aloud:

Priest: That they also with us may glorify Thy most-honorable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
 
Choir: Amen.
Appendix 1 
The Eighteenth Kathisma

Psalm 119.

Unto the Lord in mine affliction have I cried, and He heard me.

O Lord, deliver my soul from unrighteous lips and from a crafty tongue.

What shall be given unto thee and what shall be added unto thee for thy crafty tongue? The arrows of the mighty one, sharpened with coals of the desert.

Woe is me, for my sojourning is prolonged; I have tented with the tentings of Kedar, my soul hath long been a sojourner.

With them that hate peace I was peaceable; when I spake unto them, they warred against me without a cause.

Psalm 120.

I have lifted up mine eyes to the mountains, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, Who hath made heaven and the earth.

Give not thy foot unto moving, and may He not slumber that keepeth thee.

Behold, He shall not slumber nor shall He sleep, He that keepeth Israel.

The Lord shall keep thee; the Lord is thy shelter at thy right hand.

The sun shall not burn thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall keep thee from all evil, the Lord shall guard thy soul.

The Lord shall keep thy coming in and thy going out, from henceforth and for evermore.

Psalm 121.

I was glad because of them that said unto me: Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet have stood in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is builded as a city which its dwellers share in concord.

For there the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

For there are set thrones unto judgement, thrones over the house of David.

Ask now for the things which are for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the prosperity of them that love thee.

Let peace be now in thy strength, and prosperity in thy palaces.

For the sake of my brethren and my neighbours, I spake peace concerning thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.

Psalm 122.

Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, unto Thee that dwellest in heaven.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the handmaid look unto the hands of her mistress, so do our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until He take pity on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for greatly are we filled with abasement.

Greatly hath our soul been filled therewith; let reproach come upon them that prosper, and abasement on the proud.

Psalm 123.

Had it not been that the Lord was with us, let Israel now say, had it not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us, then had they swallowed us up alive.

When their wrath raged against us, then had the water overwhelmed us.

Our soul hath passed through a torrent; then had our soul passed through the water that is irresistible.

Blessed be the Lord Who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth.

Our soul like a sparrow was delivered out of the snare of the hunters.

The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who hath made heaven and the earth.

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Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice) 
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

PSALM 24

Unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. 

O my God, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be put to shame, nor let mine enemies laugh me to scorn. 

Yea, let none that wait on Thee be put to shame; let them be ashamed which are lawless without a cause. 

Make Thy ways, O Lord, known unto me and teach me Thy paths. 

Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art God my Savior; for on Thee have I waited all the day long. 

Remember Thy compassions; O Lord, and Thy mercies, for they are from everlasting. 

The sins of my youth and mine ignorances remember not; according to Thy mercy remember Thou me, for the sake of Thy goodness, O Lord. 

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He set a law for them that sin in the way. 

He will guide the meek in judgment, He will teach the meek His ways. 

All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto them that seek after His covenant and His testimonies. 

For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, be gracious unto my sin; for it is great. 

Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He will set him a law in the way which He hath chosen. 

His soul shall dwell among good things, and his seed shall inherit the earth. 

The Lord is the strength of them that fear Him, and His covenant shall be manifested unto them. 

Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He it is that will draw my feet out of the snare. 

Look upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am one only-begotten and poor. 

The afflictions of my heart are multiplied; bring me out from my necessities. 

Behold my lowliness and my toil, and forgive all my sins. 

Look upon my enemies, for they are multiplied, and with an unjust hatred they have hated me. 

Keep my soul and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I have hoped in Thee. 

The innocent and the upright have cleaved unto me, for I waited on Thee, O Lord. 

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions. 

PSALM 30

In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the age to come; in Thy righteousness deliver me, and rescue me. 

Bow down Thine ear unto me, make haste to rescue me, be Thou unto me a God to defend me and a house of refuge to save me. 

For my strength and my refuge art Thou, and for Thy name's sake wilt Thou guide me and nourish me. 

Thou wilt bring me out of this snare which they have hid for me, for Thou art my defender, O Lord. 

Into Thy hands I will commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 

Thou hast hated them that cling to empty vanities; but I have hoped in the Lord. 

I will rejoice and be glad in Thy mercy, for Thou hast regarded my lowliness; Thou hast saved my soul out of necessities, 

And hast not shut me up in the hands of enemies; Thou hast set my feet in a spacious place. 

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; mine eye is troubled with anger, as also my soul and my belly. 

For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings; my strength hath grown weak in poverty, and my bones are troubled. 

I am become a reproach among all mine enemies, and greatly for my neighbors also, and a fear to mine acquaintances. They that saw me without fled from me. 

I am forgotten by the heart like a dead man. I am become like a broken vessel. 

For I have heard the reproach of many that dwell round about; when they assembled together against me, they devised to take away my life. 

But as for me, I have hoped in Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my God; in Thy hands are my lots. 

Deliver me from the hands of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 

Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, save me in Thy mercy. 

O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I have called upon Thee; let the ungodly be put to shame and let them be brought down into hades. 

Speechless be the deceitful lips which speak iniquity against the righteous man with arrogance and contempt. 

How great is the multitude of Thy goodness, O Lord, which Thou hast hid for them that fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for them that hope in Thee before the sons of men. 

Thou shalt hide them in the secrecy of Thy presence from the disturbance of men; Thou shalt shelter them in the tabernacle from contradiction of tongues. 

Blessed is the Lord, for He hath made His mercy wondrous in a fortified city. 

But as for me, I said in mine ecstasy: I am cast away from the presence of Thine eyes. Therefore hast Thou heard the voice of my supplication when I cried unto Thee. 

O love ye the Lord, all ye His saints, for the Lord requireth truth; and unto them that act with exceeding pride, He rendereth them their due. 

Be ye manful, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord. 
PSALM 90

He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of heaven. 
He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my helper and my refuge. He is my God, and I will hope in Him. 
For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters and from every troubling word. 
With His shoulders will He overshadow thee, and under His wings shalt thou have hope. 
With a shield will His truth encompass thee; thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, 
Nor for the thing that walketh in darkness, nor for the mishap and demon of noonday. 
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but unto thee shall it not come nigh. 
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and thou shalt see the reward of sinners. 
For Thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou madest the Most High thy refuge; 
No evils shall come nigh thee, and no scourge shall draw nigh unto thy dwelling. 
For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 
On their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
Upon the asp and basilisk shalt thou tread, and thou shalt trample upon the lion and dragon. 
For he hath set his hope on Me, and I will deliver him; I will shelter him because he hath known My name. 
He shall cry unto Me, and I will hearken unto him. I am with him in affliction, and I will rescue him and glorify him. 
With length of days will I satisfy him, and I will show him My salvation. 
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Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice) 
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) 
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.