It is begun thus:

Deacon: Bless, master.

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.

Священник: Благословенно царство Отца и Сына, и Святаго Духа, ныне и присно, и во веки веков.

People: Amen.

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 страждущей стране нашей Росийстей и о православных людей ее во отечествии и рассеянии сущих, о стране сей и властех 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.
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	Пр есвятую, 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 our God, Whose dominion is indescribable, and Whose glory is incomprehensible, Whose mercy is infinite, and Whose love for mankind is ineffable: Do thou thyself, O Master, according to Thy tender compassion, look upon us, and upon this holy temple, and deal with us, and them that pray with us, according to Thine abundant mercies and compassions.

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 First Antiphon

And the First Antiphon is sung by the chanters. And the priest says the prayer of the Antiphon, (but some say it before the exclamation). But the deacon, bowing, leaves his place and goes to stand before the icon of Christ, holding his orarion with three fingers of his right hand.

People : Bless the Lord, O my soul; blessed art Thou, O Lord./

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name./

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all that He hath done for thee./

Who is gracious unto all thine iniquities, Who healeth all thine infirmities./

Who redeemeth thy life from corruption, Who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion./

Who fulfilleth thy desire with good things; thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle's./

The Lord performeth deeds of mercy, and executeth judgment for all them that are wronged. He hath made His ways known unto Moses, unto the sons of Israel the things that He hath willed./

Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long‑suffering and plenteous in mercy./

Not unto the end will He be angered, neither unto eternity will He be wroth. Not according to our iniquities hath He dealt with us, neither according to our sins hath He rewarded us./

For according to the height of heaven from the earth, the Lord hath made His mercy to prevail over them that fear Him./

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our iniquities from us./

Like as a father hath compassion upon His sons, so hath the Lord had compassion upon them that fear Him;/

for He knoweth whereof we are made, He hath remembered that we are dust./

As for man, his days are as the grass; as a flower of the field, so shall he blossom forth./

For when the wind is passed over it, then it shall be gone, and no longer will it know the place thereof./

But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, even unto eternity, upon them that fear Him./

And His righteousness is upon sons of sons, upon them that keep His testament and remember His commandments to do them./

The Lord in heaven hath prepared His throne, and His kingdom ruleth over all./

Bless the Lord, all ye His angels, mighty in strength, that perform His word, to hear the voice of His words./

Bless the Lord, all ye His hosts, His ministers that do His will./

Bless the Lord, all ye His works, in every place of His dominion.

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

Bless the Lord, O my soul,/ and all that is within me/ bless His holy name;/ blessed art Thou, O Lord.

 

The Little Litany

At the conclusion of the antiphon, 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 our God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, preserve the fullness of thy Church, sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house; do Thou glorify Them by Thy divine power, and forsake not us that hope in Thee.

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 Second Antiphon

And the Second antiphon is sung by the chanters; and the deacon doeth in like manner as during the first prayer.

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

Psalm 145:

Praise the Lord, O my soul./

  I will praise the Lord in my life,/

  I will chant unto my God for as long as I have my being./

  Trust ye not in princes, in the sons of men,/

  in whom there is no salvation,/

  His spirit shall go forth,/

  and he shall return unto his earth./

  In that day all his thoughts shall perish./

  Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help,/

  whose hope is in the Lord his God./

  Who hath made heaven and the earth,/

  the sea and all that is therein./

  Who keepeth truth unto eternity,/

  Who executeth judgment for the wronged,/

  Who giveth food unto the hungry./

  The Lord looseth the fettered;/

  the Lord maketh wise the blind;/

  the Lord setteth aright the fallen;/

  the Lord loveth the righteous;/

  The Lord preserveth the proselytes./

  He shall adopt for His own the orphan and widow,/

  and the way of sinners shall He destroy./

  The Lord shall be king unto eternity;/

  thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

O Only‑begotten Son and Word of God, Who art immortal,/

  yet didst deign for our salvation/

  to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and Ever‑Virgin Mary,/

  and without change didst become man,/

  and wast crucified, O Christ God, trampling down death by death,/

  Thou Who art one of the Holy Trinity,/

  glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

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.	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.
After this, the Deacon entereth through the South door, and goeth to the high place and maketh three metanias, then turneth to face the priest, and boweth, then goeth to his place beside the priest.
People: To Thee, O Lord.	Хор: Тебе, Господи.

 

The Prayer of the Third Antiphon

Priest: O Thou who hast bestowed upon us these common and concordant prayers, and Who hast promised that when two or three are agreed in Thy name, Thou wouldst grant their requests: Do Thou Thyself now fulfill the requests of Thy servants to their profit, granting us in this present age the knowledge of Thy truth, and in that to come, life everlasting.

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 Small Entrance

Here the doors are opened for the Small Entry.

Then the Third Antiphon is chanted by the singers; or the beatitudes, if it be Sunday.

When they come to the Glory, the priest and the deacon, standing before the Holy Table, make three reverences.

The priest, taking the Holy Gospel, giveth it to the deacon, and they go by way of the right side, behind the Holy Table.

And thus coming out by the North side, with candles going before them, they make the Small Entry; and standing in the usual place, both of them bow their heads, and the deacon having said: 'Let us pray to the Lord', the priest saith the Prayer of Entry secretly.

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: 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!

 

Then, having bowed, as also the priest behind him, he goeth into the holy altar; and the deacon immediately layeth the Holy Gospel upon the Holy Table. Then he immediately goeth to his place at the side of the holy table. And the singers chant:

People: O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O Son of God

If it be a weekday:

Who art wondrous in the saints, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia. Once.

If it be a Sunday:

Who art risen from the dead, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia.

On feasts of the Theotokos:

Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia.

Then the Troparia and Kontakia are chanted according to the Typicon

And when they come to the last Kontakion, the deacon saith to the priest, while bowing his head and holding his orarion with three fingers of his right hand:

Deacon: Bless, master, the time of the thrice-holy.

And the priest signing him with the sign of the Cross saith:

Priest: For holy art thou, O our God, and unto Thee we send up glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever ... (and if there be no deacon serving, the priest completes the exclamation) And unto the ages of ages.

Священник: Яко свят еси, Боже наш, и Тебе славу возсылаем, Отцу и Сыну, и Святому Духу, ныне и присно …   … и во веки веков.

And the Kontakion having ended, the deacon cometh out through the holy doors, and standing on the ambo and pointing with his orarion, first to the icon of Christ, saith:

Deacon Only : O Lord, save the pious, and hearken unto us.

People: O Lord, save the pious and hearken unto us.

Then he pointeth to all the people, saying in a loud voice:

Deacon Only : And unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Trisagion

While the Trisagion is chanted, the priest saith this prayer:

The Prayer of the Trisagion Hymn

Priest: O Holy God, Who restest in the saints, Who art praised with the thrice-holy hymn by the Seraphim, and art glorified by the Cherubim, and art worshiped by all the heavenly hosts, Who from nonbeing hast brought all things into being, Who hast created man according to Thine image and likeness, and hast adorned him with Thine every gift; Who givest wisdom and understanding to him that asketh, and Who disdainest not him that sinneth, but hast appointed repentance unto salvation; Who hast vouchsafed us, Thy lowly and unworthy servants, to stand even in this hour before the glory of Thy holy altar, and to offer the worship and glory due unto Thee: Do Thou Thyself, O Master, accept even from the lips of us sinners the thrice-holy hymn, and visit us in Thy goodness.
Pardon us every sin, voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant us to serve Thee in holiness all the days of our life, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, and of all the saints, who from ages past have been pleasing unto Thee. For holy art Thou, O 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.

People: Amen. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us (thrice).

Хор: Святый Боже, Святый крепкий, Святый бессмертный, помилуй нас (трижды).

 

When this is ended, both the priest and deacon themselves say the Trisagion Hymn, making together three bows before the Holy Table. Then the deacon saith to the Priest:

Deacon only: Command, O Master.

And they proceed to the high place; and the priest, as he goeth, saith:

Priest: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon only: Bless, Master, the High Throne.

And the priest, blessing, sayeth:

Priest: Blessed art Thou on the Throne of the glory of Thy Kingdom, Thou that sittest on the Cherubim: always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
  Deacon: Amen.

It is to be noted that it is not proper for the priest to go up onto the high place, nor to sit thereon, but to sit on the South side of the high throne. And upon the conclusion of the Trisagion, the deacon, having come toward the holy doors, saith:

The Epistle

Deacon: Let us attend!

Диакон: Вонмем.

And the priest exclaimeth:

Priest: Peace be unto all. And the reader saith: Reader: And to thy spirit.

Священник: Мир всем.   Чтец: и духови твоему .

 

And the reader, the Prokeimenon, from the Psalms of David. And after the Prokeimenon, the Deacon:

Deacon: Wisdom!

Диакон: Премудрость.

And the reader, the title of the Epistle

Reader: The reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans or to the Corinthians, or to the Galations

Deacon: Let us attend!

Диакон: Вонмем.

 

And when the epistle is concluded, the priest sayeth:

Priest: Peace be unto Thee that readest. Reader: And to thy Spirit.

Священник : Мир ти.   Чтец: и духови твоему.

 

Deacon: Wisdom!

Диакон: Премудрость.

 

Reader: Alleluia in the ____Tone.

While the Alleluia is being chanted, the deacon, taking the censer and incense, approaches the priest, and taking a blessing from him, censeth the Holy Table round about, and the whole altar, and the priest ( but, some cense during the epistle reading ) And the priest saith this prayer:

The Gospel

The Prayer before the Gospel

Priest: Shine forth within our hearts the incorruptible light of Thy knowledge, O Master, Lover of mankind, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of the preaching of Thy Gospel; instill in us also the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that, trampling down all lusts of the flesh, we may pursue a spiritual way of life, being mindful of and doing all that is well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O 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 having put away the censer in the usual place, receiveth the Gospel from the priest, and goeth out through the holy doors, a candle preceeding him, and goeth forth and standeth on the ambo, or on the appointed place.

Deacon: Bless, master, the bringer of the good tidings of the Holy, Apostle and Evangelist N.

Диакон: Благослови, владыко, благовестителя, святаго апостола и евангелиста N .....

The priest signing him with the sign of the cross, saith:

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

Священник: Бог молитвами святаго славнаго и всехвального апостола и евангелиста N. да даст ти глагол благовествующему силою многою во исполнение евангелия возлюбленнаго Сына Своего, Господа нашего Иисуса Христа . Диакон : Аминь.

And the priest standing before the Holy Table (in current practice, behind the Holy Table, at the South side of the high place), and looking toward the west, and blessing the people, exclaimeth:

Priest: Wisdom, Aright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be unto all . People: And to thy spirit. Deacon: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint N .   People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee. Deacon: Let us attend.

Священник: Премудрость, прости, услышим святаго Евангелия. Мир всем. Хор: и духови твоему. Диакон : от N ... святаго Евангелия чтение .   Хор: Слава Тебе, Боже наш, слава Тебе . Диакон: Вонмем.

 

(If there be two deacons, one may say: 'Wisdom, Aright', then also 'Let us attend.')
The Priest or Deacon sings the appointed passage from the Holy Gospel.

 

And when the Gospel is concluded, if read by a deacon, the priest saith:

Priest: Peace be unto Thee that bringest good tidings. People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Священник : Мир ти благовествующему. Хор: Слава Тебе, Боже наш, слава Тебе.

 

The deacon goeth to the Holy Doors and giveth the Holy Gospel to the priest and the holy doors are closed again.

Some will give a sermon here, in the midst of the holy gates.
 

The Litany of Fervent Supplication / Сугубая Ектения

The deacon then goeth through the North door, and standing in the usual place beginneth thus:

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)

Various Optional Petitions

Petitions for Various Needs

Deacon: Again we pray Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst hearken unto the voice of our supplication and prayer, and have mercy on Thy servant (s) N. (N.) , through Thy grace and compassions, and fulfill all his (her) (their) petitions, and pardon him (her) (them) all transgressions voluntary and involuntary; let his (her) (their) prayers and alms be acceptable before the throne of Thy dominion, and protect him (her) (them) from enemies visible and invisible, from every temptation, harm and sorrow, and deliver him (her) (them) from ailments, and grant him (her) (them) health and length of days: let us all say, O Lord, hearken and have mercy. People: Lord, have mer