Presanctified Liturgy

The Beginning

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.

Choir:Amen.

O Come, Let Us Worship

O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.

The Introductory Psalm

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art become exceeding glorious. How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.

The Great Litany

Deacon:In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

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

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

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

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For our father and bishop (Name), for the honourable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For this land, its authorities, and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For this city, for every city and country, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For seasonable weather, for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For travellers by land, by sea, and by air; for the sick and the suffering; for captives; and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and 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.

Choir:To Thee, O Lord.

Priest:For unto Thee are due all glory, honour, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir:Amen.

The Kathisma

The eighteenth kathisma of the Psalter is read in three sections, with a little litany after each. During the readings the Presanctified Gifts are reverently transferred to the table of oblation.

Lord, I Have Cried

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

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

The stichera of the day are sung upon the psalm verses.

The Entrance

Deacon:Wisdom. Let us attend.

O Gladsome Light

O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ: Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

For meet it is at all times to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of life; therefore all the world doth glorify Thee.

The Readings

Deacon:Wisdom. Let us attend.

The prokeimenon is chanted, and the first reading, from Genesis, is read.

Priest:(Holding a lighted candle and the censer:) The Light of Christ enlighteneth all.

The second reading, from the Proverbs of Solomon, is read.

Let My Prayer Be Set Forth

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

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

Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a strong door about my lips. Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.

Sung kneeling, the faithful bowing to the ground.

The Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love unto Thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own transgressions, and not to judge my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Augmented Litany

Deacon:Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:Again we pray for our father and bishop (Name), and for all our brethren in Christ.

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:Again we pray for this land, its authorities, and armed forces.

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers and brethren gone to their rest before us, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest.

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God, all the brethren of this holy church, and for the pardon and remission of their sins.

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labour in its service, for the singers, and for the people here present, who await Thy great and rich mercy.

Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Priest:For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir:Amen.

Now the Powers of Heaven

Now the powers of heaven do serve invisibly with us; for lo, the King of glory entereth. Lo, the mystical sacrifice, accomplished, is escorted in. With faith and love let us draw near, that we may become partakers of life everlasting. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Litany of Supplication

Deacon:Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir:Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir:Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:Pardon and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir:Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:Things good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir:Grant this, O Lord.

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

Choir:Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.

Choir:Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and 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.

Choir:To Thee, O Lord.

The Lord's Prayer

Priest:And vouchsafe, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon Thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say —

The Lord's Prayer

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 the evil one.

Priest:For 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 the ages of ages.

Choir:Amen.

The Communion

Priest:Let us attend. The presanctified Holy Things for the holy.

Choir:One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who camest into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Deacon:With the fear of God, and with faith and love, draw near.

The Dismissal

Priest:O Lord, Who blessest them that bless Thee, and sanctifiest them that put their trust in Thee: save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; preserve the fullness of Thy Church; and forsake not us that hope in Thee. Give peace to Thy world, to Thy churches, to the priests, and to all Thy people.

Choir:Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth and for evermore. (Thrice)

Priest:May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of our father among the saints Gregory the Dialogist, pope of Rome, and of all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.

Choir:Amen.