Taken from Ages Initiatives

PRIEST

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

 (Amen.)

THE LITANY OF PEACE OR GREAT LITANY

DEACON

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

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

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

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

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For (episcopal rank) (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For our country, for the president, and for all in public service, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For this city, and for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

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

 (Lord, have mercy.)

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

 (To You, O Lord.)

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON

Lord, our God, Whose dominion is incomparable and glory incomprehensible; Whose mercy is immeasurable, and love for mankind ineffable: Look upon us and upon this holy house in Your loving-kindness, and grant to us and to those who pray with us Your abundant mercy and compassion.

PRIEST

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

 (Amen.)

CHOIR

Antiphon I. Mode 2.

Verse 1: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything within me, bless His holy name.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His rewards.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 3: The Lord prepared His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

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

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

THE SMALL LITANY

DEACON

Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

 (To You, O Lord.)

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE PRAYER OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON

Lord, our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the fullness of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who have set our hope in You.

PRIEST

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

 (Amen.)

CHOIR

Antiphon II. Mode 2.

Verse 1: Praise the Lord, O my soul! I shall praise the Lord while I live; I shall sing to my God as long as I exist.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob; his hope is in the Lord his God.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

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

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Only begotten Son and Logos of God, being immortal, You condescended for our salvation to take flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and, without change, became man. Christ, our God, You were crucified and conquered death by death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.

THE SMALL LITANY

DEACON

Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

 (To You, O Lord.)

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE PRAYER OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON

Lord, You have granted us to offer these common prayers in unison and have promised that when two or three agree in Your name, You will grant their requests. Fulfill now, O Lord, the petitions of Your servants as may be of benefit to them, granting us in the present age the knowledge of Your truth, and in the age to come eternal life.

PRIEST

For You, O God, are good and love mankind, and to You we offer glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

 (Amen.)

CHOIR

Antiphon III.

Mode pl. 4.

Verse 1: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

Verse 2: Let heaven and earth praise Him.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

THE SMALL ENTRANCE

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE ENTRANCE PRAYER

Master, Lord our God, Who has established the orders and hosts of angels and archangels in heaven to minister to Your glory, grant that holy angels may enter with us, that together we may celebrate and glorify Your goodness. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Master, bless the holy entrance.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Blessed be the entrance of Your holy ones always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise.

CHOIR

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead.

We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns After the Small Entrance.

CHOIR

From Octoechos - - -

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.

For the Fathers.

Mode pl. 4.

Supremely blessed are You, O Christ our God. You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, and through them You have guided us all to the true Faith, O greatly merciful One, glory be to You.

Apolytikion of the Parish Church

 (The text of the Apolytikion of the local church goes here.)

Kontakion. Mode 2.

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord.

 (Lord, have mercy.)

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE PRAYER OF THE TRISAGION HYMN

O Holy God, Who is resting among the holy ones, praised by the Seraphim with the thrice-holy voice, glorified by the Cherubim, and worshiped by every celestial power, You have brought all things into being out of nothing. You have created man according to Your image and likeness and adorned him with all the gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and understanding to the one who asks, and You overlook not the sinner, but have set repentance as the way of salvation. You have granted us, Your humble and unworthy servants, to stand even at this hour before the glory of Your holy Altar of sacrifice and to offer to You due worship and praise. Master, accept the Trisagion Hymn also from the lips of us sinners, and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive all our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship You in holiness all the days of our lives, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.

PRIEST

For You, our God, are holy, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever,

DEACON

And to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

THE TRISAGION HYMN

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

DEACON

Dynamis.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Command, Master.

PRIEST

Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.

DEACON

Master, bless the throne on high.

PRIEST

Blessed are You upon the throne of the glory of Your kingdom, enthroned upon the Cherubim always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

CHOIR

Dynamis.

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

The Readings

The Epistle

For the Fathers.

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. The Prayer of Azariah.

Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers.

Verse: For You are righteous in all You did for us.

DEACON

Wisdom.

READER

The reading is from Paul's Letter to ….

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

READER

[Reading of the Epistle.]

PRIEST

Peace be with you.

CHOIR

Alleluia. Mode 4. Psalm 43.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: O God, we heard with our ears; our fathers proclaimed it to us.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: You saved us from those who afflict us.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE PRAYER OF THE HOLY GOSPEL

Shine in our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind that we may comprehend the proclamations of Your Gospels. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having trampled down all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the illumination of our souls and bodies, and to You we offer up glory, together with Your Father, Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Gospel

For the Fathers.

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

 (And with your spirit.)

DEACON

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to …..

PRIEST

Let us be attentive.

 (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.)

DEACON

[Reading of the Gospels]

PRIEST

Peace be with you.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

THE SERMON

 (According to ancient tradition, the sermon was delivered following the readings.)

[The following litanies are usually omitted.]

Show Litanies

PRIEST (in a low voice)

THE SECOND PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Again and countless times we fall down before You, and we implore You, O Good One, Who loves mankind: That You, having regarded our prayer, may cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant to us to stand before Your holy Altar of sacrifice, free of guilt and condemnation. Grant also, O God, to those who pray with us, progress in life, faith, and spiritual understanding. Grant that they always worship You with awe and love, partake of Your Holy Mysteries without guilt or condemnation, and be deemed worthy of Your celestial Kingdom.

PRIEST

That, ever guarded by Your might, we may ascribe glory to You, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

 (Amen.)