Divine Liturgy

The Liturgy of the Catechumens

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.

Choir:Amen.

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 First Antiphon

Choir: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. Blessed art Thou, O Lord.

The Little Litany

Deacon:Again and again, in peace 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.

The Second Antiphon

Choir:Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto my God while I have my being.

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

Only-begotten Son

Only-begotten Son and immortal Word of God, Who for our salvation didst will to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and without change becamest man, and wast crucified, O Christ our God, trampling down death by death; Thou Who art one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit: save us.

The Little Litany

Deacon:Again and again, in peace 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.

The Third Antiphon

Choir:In Thy Kingdom remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

The Little Entrance

Deacon:Wisdom! Aright!

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 Thrice-Holy Hymn

Choir:Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

The Epistle

Deacon:Let us attend.

Priest:Peace be unto all.

Reader:And to thy spirit.

The Prokeimenon is chanted, and the Reader proclaimeth the appointed Epistle.

Priest:Peace be unto thee that readest.

Choir:Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Gospel

Deacon:Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel.

Priest:Peace be unto all.

Choir:And to thy spirit.

Priest:The reading from the holy Gospel according to (Name).

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

Deacon:Let us attend.

The appointed Gospel is read.

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

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.

The Litany of the Catechumens

Deacon:Ye catechumens, pray to the Lord. Let us the faithful pray for the catechumens, that the Lord will have mercy on them; that He will teach them the word of truth; that He will reveal unto them the Gospel of righteousness; that He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by Thy grace.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:Ye catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir:To Thee, O Lord.

Priest:That they also with us may glorify Thine all-honourable 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.

Deacon:As many as are catechumens, depart. Let none of the catechumens remain.

The Liturgy of the Faithful

Priest:That being kept always under Thy might, we may ascribe glory unto Thee, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir:Amen.

The Cherubic Hymn

Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly cares.

That we may receive the King of all, Who cometh invisibly upborne by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Great Entrance

At the Great Entrance the holy Gifts are borne to the altar, the celebrant commemorating: The Lord God remember us all in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir:Amen.

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 Kiss of Peace

Priest:Peace be unto all.

Choir:And to thy spirit.

Deacon:Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess —

Choir:Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Trinity one in essence and undivided.

Deacon:The doors! The doors! In wisdom let us attend.

The Symbol of Faith

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made;

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man;

And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried;

And arose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;

And shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets.

In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Anaphora

Deacon:Let us stand aright; let us stand with fear; let us attend, that we may offer the holy oblation in peace.

Choir:A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.

Priest:The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Choir:And with thy spirit.

Priest:Let us lift up our hearts.

Choir:We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest:Let us give thanks unto the Lord.

Choir:It is meet and right to worship the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity one in essence and undivided.

Priest:Singing the triumphant hymn, shouting, proclaiming, and saying —

Choir:Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Priest:Take, eat: this is My Body, which is broken for you, for the remission of sins.

Choir:Amen.

Priest:Drink ye all of this: this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.

Choir:Amen.

Priest:Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, on behalf of all, and for all.

Choir:We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, and we pray unto Thee, O our God.

Priest:Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.

It Is Truly Meet

It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee.

Priest:Among the first be mindful, O Lord, of our father and bishop (Name), and grant him unto Thy holy churches in peace, safety, honour, health, and length of days, rightly dividing the word of Thy truth.

Choir:And all mankind.

Priest:And grant unto us, with one mouth and one heart, to glorify and hymn Thine all-honourable 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.

Priest:And the mercies of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ shall be with you all.

Choir:And with thy spirit.

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 Elevation

Deacon:Let us attend.

Priest:Holy things are for the holy.

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

The Communion

The Communion hymn of the day is chanted, and the faithful approach with the prayer:

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. Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.

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

Choir:Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us.

The Thanksgiving

Priest:O God, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.

We Have Seen the True Light

We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity hath saved us.

Let Our Mouths Be Filled

Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory; for Thou hast made us worthy to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries. Keep us in Thy holiness, that all the day long we may meditate upon Thy righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Deacon:Let us attend. Having partaken of the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, life-giving, and dread Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

Priest:For Thou art our sanctification, 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.

The Dismissal

Priest:Let us depart in peace.

Choir:In the name of the Lord.

Deacon:Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir:Lord, have mercy.

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; sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house; glorify them in return by Thy divine power, and forsake not us that hope in Thee. Give peace to Thy world, to Thy churches, to the priests, and to all Thy people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from Thee, the Father of lights; and unto Thee we ascribe glory, thanksgiving, 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. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth and for evermore. (Thrice)

Priest:Glory to Thee, O Christ our God, our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir:Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Father, bless.

Priest:May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable apostles, of our father among the saints John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and of all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.

Choir:Amen.