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Russian Orthodox Hymnody / The Ektenia before the Lord's Prayer

The Ektenia before the Lord's Prayer

Priest: Calling to remembrance all the Saints, again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For the precious Gifts which have been offered and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That our God, who loveth mankind, receiving them upon his holy, heavenly, and ideal Altar for an odor of spiritual fragrance, will send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

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

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: All things good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: 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.

Priest: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful; and a good defense before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: Asking for the unity of the Faith, and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: To thee, O Lord.

Priest: (quietly)Unto thee we commend our whole life and our hope, O Master who lovest mankind; and we beseech thee, and pray thee, and supplicate thee: make us worthy to partake of thee heavenly and terrible Mysteries of this sacre and spiritual table, with a pure conscience: unto remission of sins, unto forgiveness of transgressions, unto communion of the Holy Spirit, unto inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, unto boldness towards thee, and not unto judgment nor unto condemnation.

Priest: (aloud) And vouchsafe, O Lord, that with boldness and without condemnation wee may dare to call upon thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:


The Lord's Prayer

People: 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 evil.

Priest: (aloud) 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 ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Peace be to all.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

Priest: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

Choir: To thee, O Lord.

Priest: (quietly) We give thanks unto thee, O King invisible, who by thy measureless power hast made all things, and in the multitude of thy mercy hast brought all things from nothing into being. Do thou thyself, O Master, look down from heaven upon those who have bowed their heads unto thee; for they have not bower down unto flesh and blood, but to thee, the terrible God. Therefore, O Master, do thou thyself distribute these Gifts here spread forth, unto all of us for good, according to the individual need of each: voyage with those who sail by sea and air; journey with those who travel by land; heal the sick, thou who art the physician of our souls and bodies:

Priest: (aloud) Through the grace and compassion and love toward man of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.


The Elevation

Priest: (quietly) Look down, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from thy holy dwellingplace, and from the throne of the glory of thy kingdom; and come to sanctify us, O thou who sittest on high with the Father, and art here invisibly present with us; and vouchsafe by thy mighty hand to impart unto us thine immaculate Body and precious Blood, and through us unto all the people.

(The Priest makes three low bows before the Altar, saying quietly:)

Priest: O God, be gracious unto me, a sinner, and have mercy upon me.

(Then the Priest takes up the holy Bread in both hands and elevates it above the Diskarion, saying aloud:)

Priest: Let us be attend! Holy Things are for the holy.

As the Priest lowers the holy Bread,he makes with it the sign of the Crosss thrice, above the Diskarion. Meanwhile the Choir sings the following Hymn; the people sit.

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

(The Choir sings the Communion Hymn of the day; on Sunday, the following Hymn:)


The Communion Hymn

Choir: Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the highest. Alleluia.


The Communion

The Priest breaks the holy Bread into four parts with great reverence and care, saying quietly:

Priest: Divided and distributed is the Lamb of God, who is divided, yet not disunited; who is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifies those who partake thereof.

The Priest arranges the pieces on the rim of the Diskarion in the form of a cross. Then he takes the portion I C and makes with it the sign of the cross over the Chalice, and drops it in, saying quietly:

Priest: The fulness of the Cup of the Faith, of the Holy Spirit.

Then the Priest takes the warm water from the Acolyte and blesses it, saying quietly:

Priest: Blessed is the fervor of thy Saints, always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest pours a sufficient quantity of the warm water into the Chalice crosswise, saying quietly:

Priest: The fervor of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then the Priest says quietly the following prayers of preparation for the Holy Communion:

Priest: I believe, O Lord, and I confess that thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is truly thine own immaculate Body, and that this is truly thine own precious Blood. Wherefore I pray thee, have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance; and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of thine immaculate Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen. Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant: for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom. Not unto judgment nor unto con lemnation be my partaking of thy Holy Mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.

Then the Priest makes a low bow before the Altar and says quietly:

Priest: Lo, I draw near unto Christ, our immortal King and our God. The Priest partakes of the particle of the holy Bread X C, saying quietly:

Priest: The precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is imparted unto me, the unworthy Priest N., unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting.

Then the Priest takes up the Chalice with its veil, and drinks from it once, saying quietly:

Priest: The precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is imparted unto me, the unworthy Priest N., unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting.

The Priest wipes his lips and the Chalice with the veil, kisses the Chalice and says quietly:

Priest: Lo, this hath touched my lips, and shall take away mine iniquities, and purge away my sins.

Then the Priest divides the particles NI and KA of the holy Bread and places them in the Chalice for the Communion of the People.

The Priest turns and elevates the Chalice before the people, saying aloud:

Priest: With fear of God, and faith and love, draw near.

Choir: Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; The Lord is God and hath revealed himself unto us.

Then the people who wish to communicate draw near; meanwhile the Priest says aloud the prayer I believe, O Lord, and I confess. Then he communicates those who have come forward, saying to each person:

Priest: The servant of God N. partakes of the precious and all-holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, unto the remission of sins and unto life everlasting.

Meanwhile the Choir sings the Hymn:

Choir: Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant: for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom.

When all have communicated, the Priest covers the Chalice with the veil and blesses the people with it, saying aloud:

Priest: O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.

Choir: We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshopping the undivided Trinity: for He hath saved.

Meanwhile the Priest wipes the remaining particles on the Discarion into the Chalice, saying quietly:

Priest: Wash away, O Lord, the sins of all those here commemorated, by thy precious Blood: through the prayer of thy Saints.

Then the Priest covers the Chalice and censes it thrice, saying quietly:

Priest: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth. Blessed is our God.

The Priest takes the Chalice in his hand and the Discarion in his left and turns toward the people; he raises both slowly, with the Chalice above the Discarion, saying aloud:

Priest: Always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of thy glory: for thou hast permitted us to partake of thy holy, divine, immortal and life-giving Mysteries. Establish us in thy Sanctification, that all the day long we may meditate upon thy righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Meanwhile the Priest places the Chalice and Discarion upon the Prothesis Table, and returns to the Altar. He folds up the Antimins and makes the sign of the Cross above it with the Gospel Book, saying aloud.


The Ektenia of Thanksgiving

Priest: Attend! Having partaken of the divine, holy, immaculate, immortal, heavenly, life-giving, and terrible Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us; save us; have mercy upon us; and keep us, God, by thy grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Asking that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us commiend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God,

Choir: To thee, O Lord.


The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Priest: (quietly) We give thanks unto thee, O Lord who lovest mankind, benefactor of our souls and bodies, for that thou hast vouchsafed this day to feed us with thy heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Make straight our path; establish us all in thy fear; guard our life; make firm our steps: through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and all thy Saints:

Priest: (Aloud) 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.

Priest: Let us go forth in peace.

Choir: In the name of the Lord.

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Priest comes out the Holy Doors and stands before the Ikon of Christ, and says aloud the following prayer:


The Prayer behind the Ambon

Priest: O Lord, who blessest those who bless thee, and sanctifiest those who put their trust in thee: save thy people and bless thine inheritance; preserve the fulness of thy Church; sanctify those who love the beauty of thy House; glorify them in recompense by thy divine power, and forsake us not who hope on thee. Give peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the priests, to all civil authorities, to our Armed Forces, and to all thy people: for every good and perfect gift is from above, cometh down from thee, the Father of Lights; and unto thee we ascribe glory, thanksgiving, and worship: to the Father and to the Son and the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.Blessed is the name of the Lord, both now and to the ages. (Thrice).

The Priest goes into the sanctuary through the Holy Doors and goes to the Prothesis Table, and there queitly says the following prayer:

Priest: O Christ our God, who art thyself the fulfilment of the law and the Prophets, who didst fulfil all the dispensation of the Father: fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Priest returns to the Altar and says aloud:

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The people rise for the Blessing, and the Dismissal which follows.

Priest: The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you through his grace and love towards man, always : now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.


The Dismissal

Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and 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 ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. Master, bless.

Priest: He who rose again from the dead, Christ our true God, - through the intercessions of his all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother, (by the might of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Fore-runner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna;) of Saint (s) N (NN), whose memory we celebrate, and all the saints, have mercy upon us and us, forasmuch as he is good and loveth mankind.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.

Choir and People: Amen.

The Priest stands of the lowest step of the stairs before the Holy Doors with the hand Cross in his left hand, and gives the people the Antidoron with his right, saying meanwhile:

Priest: The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you; always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The people reverence the Cross, receive the Antidoron and leave the church quetly and with due reverence.


Thanksgiving after the Holy Communion

This Thanksgiving is to be said at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy by those who have partaken of the holy Communion. First, read the six Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion, then the following:


Prayer of St.Simeon

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Then say the Trisagion Prayers and the following hymns:


Apolitikion of St.John Chrysostom

The grace of thy mouth, shining forth like a beacon-fire, hath enlightened the civilized world, and bestowed upon all the world treasures of liberality, and shown us the heights of humility. But while thou dost teach us by thy words, O Father John Chrysostom, intercede also with Christ our, the Word, for the salvation of our souls.


Kontakion of St.John Chrysostom

From heaven thou didst receive grace divine, and with thy lips thou dost teach all to worship the one God in Trinity, O all-blessed and holy John Chrysostom. Worthily do we praise thee, for thou art indeed a Teacher, who dost reveal the things divine.

Then:

Lord, have mercy (twelve times).

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

And the Dismissal:

Glory to thee, O our God, glory to thee.

May Christ, our true God, through the intercession of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and lovest mankind.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.