Order of following the liturgy. Divine Liturgy

(from the Greek word “bringing”: in ancient times, Christians brought bread and wine with them to the temple to perform the Sacrament) - preparation for the Sacrament.

Proskomedia is performed in the altar on a special table - an altar. Five prosphoras are taken - five loaves (according to the number in the Gospel; Mark 6:38-44), baked from leavened, risen dough. In the Holy Gospel and Epistles, bread is called in Greek “artos”, which means “risen, leavened”, and unleavened bread is “azimon”. The apostles consumed leavened bread at the Eucharist (Acts 2:42, 46; 20:11; 1 Cor. 11:23-28; 10:16, 17). Wine is taken - always grape, red - and combined with water. The prosphoras are two-part, as a sign that in Jesus Christ there are two natures, two natures - Divine and human; On top of the Lamb prosphora there is a cross with the letters “IS HS” “NI KA”, that is, “Jesus Christ conquers” (He is the conqueror of sin, death and the devil).

“Three things are contained in bread, in correspondence with the tripartite soul and in honor of the Trinity: flour with leaven, which serves as an image of the soul; water, signifying Baptism, and salt, signifying the mind and teaching of the Word..."Simeon Archbishop of Thessalonica.

Priest

vestments - by the grace of God. D and s k o s - a round consecrated dish - means Heaven, the Lamb, the Lord of Heaven, is placed on it.

Spear - a sharp knife with which the Lamb is cut out and particles are removed from the prosphora. The Savior was pierced on the Cross by the spear of a Roman soldier (John 19:34).

Liar (from Greek - pincers) - a spoon for communion for the laity.

It symbolizes the tongs with which Seraphim took a hot coal and touched the lips of the prophet Isaiah, which meant his cleansing (Is. 6:6); and also a cane with a sponge, which, after soaking in vinegar, the soldiers brought to the lips of the Savior hanging on the Cross (Matthew 27:48).

Like (as) a sheep was led to the slaughter (led to the slaughter); and because the Lamb is without blemish directly (against) his shearer, he is silent, so he does not open His mouth; In His humility His judgment will be taken (judgment upon Him); Whoever confesses (explains) His generation; As if His belly (life) would leap from the earth

, - the priest pronounces the prophetic words of Isaiah (53, 7-9). The birth of Christ is mysteriously connected at the proskomedia with His crucifixion on Golgotha, and the priest, cutting the Lamb crosswise, says: Eats (sacrificed) Lamb of God, take hold (took) sin of the world, for the worldly belly (for the life of the world) and salvation

. Then I remember an episode from the gospel story, how the body of the Savior, hanging on the Cross, was pierced by a warrior’s spear. At this time, wine combined with water is poured into the Chalice (John 19:34). From the second prosphora

a particle is taken out in honor and memory of the Mother of God and placed on the paten, on the right side of the Sacred Bread: the Queen appears “at the right hand” of Her Son and King Christ. From the third prosphora

particles are taken out in honor of the nine faces of saints: in honor and memory of the Forerunner and all the holy prophets and righteous people who heralded the incarnation of the Lord;

then in honor of the apostles - the servants of Christ, and with them all those who were zealous for piety - the holy hierarchs, martyrs, saints and all saints, in memory of the saints celebrated on this day and the creator of the rite of the liturgy - St. John Chrysostom or St. Basil the Great.

From the fourth prosphora particles are taken out for living members of the Church: for His Holiness the Patriarch, the bishop, then for the entire priestly and monastic rank, for those who work in churches (2 Tim. 2:6), for our country and for all Christ-loving people.“Orthodox! You,” says the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, “giving particles to be taken out for health and salvation and for repose, - communicate at the proskomedia and during the liturgy with the Lord, the Mother of God, the Forerunner, the prophets, apostles, martyrs, saints and all the saints.”

Concluding the proskomedia, the priest asks for God's blessing on the sacred rite being performed. Blessing the censer with a cross, he prays: We offer the censer to You, Christ our God, into the stench (like an incense) of spiritual fragrance, which we received (which we accepted) into Your Most Heavenly Altar, and bestow upon us the grace of Your Most Holy Spirit. And at the conclusion of the proskomedia, the priest confesses Christ as the Heavenly Bread given as Food to the whole world, and intercedes before God for all who are to attend the Divine Liturgy and for whom they pray in this offering: ...You yourself bless this Offer (it), and accept it (it) into Your Most Heavenly Altar. Remember, as the Good and the Lover of Humanity, who brought and for the sake of bringing them, and preserve us without condemnation in the sacred rite of Your Divine Mysteries

The curtain of the royal gates opens, and with the words of confession of the mystery of the Resurrection of the Son of God - Carnally in the grave , - the deacon censes the western side of the Holy Altar, with the words: In hell with a soul like God - southern, with the words: In Paradise with the robber - eastern, and with the words: And on the Throne you were, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit - censes the northern side of the throne; All Performed Undescribed - altar.

The censing begins from the throne and returns to it, after censing the altar and the entire temple, as a sign that the beginning and end of all good things is God, who is on the Throne.

Each day is accompanied by a quiet reading of Psalm 50 and the troparion of the temple. The deacon “censes everything in order, not just burning incense,- explains Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica, - but sealing and sanctifying it and through prayer bringing and lifting it up to Christ with the prayer that the incense may be accepted and that the grace of the All-Holy Spirit may be bestowed upon us.” In this liturgical action, the prayers of those present are offered up, appearing before God as a aroma of Christ (2 Cor. 2:15).

The priest made three bows with prayer: God, cleanse me, a sinner , - raising his hands, he prays, calling on the Holy Spirit: Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere (Ubiquitous)and all (All)perform (filling)Treasure of good things and life, Giver, come and dwell in us (in us)and cleanse us from all filthiness (sewage), and save, O Lord, our souls . Says the angelic praise: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men(Luke 2:14), expressing his good will to accept the peace of God, bestowed through the Incarnation and suffering of the Savior on the Cross. Praying for the sending of grace-filled prayer: Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise(Ps. 50:17).

The priest then makes the initial exclamation: Blessed is the Kingdom...

Already the first words of the Divine Liturgy tell us that the place where we enter to offer the verbal service is the blessed Kingdom of the Holy Trinity. This is also evidenced by the trinity of many parts of the liturgy: exclamations, litanies, initial antiphons, the Trisagion hymn, Alleluia, singing of the Prokeemne, etc. - testify to our presence in the Kingdom of the Holy Trinity

Let us pray to the Lord in peace- these words begin the great, or peaceful, litany. Those praying are encouraged to pray in peace, silence and tranquility of spirit, with a clear conscience, in unanimity and mutual love. We ask for such peace from the Lord, which the Apostle Paul calls “that surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7), we ask for help in our daily needs, we ask for spiritual perfection in order to follow the Lord Christ, who said: “Be perfect, as you are perfect.” your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:48).

The priest in secret prayer asks the Lord to grant mercies to those praying in the temple: ... Yourself, Master, according to Your mercy, look mercifully on us and on this temple, and grant to us, and to those praying with us, Your rich mercies and Your bounties, - and ends the prayer with a glorification of the Most Holy Trinity, proclaiming: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...

The secret prayers read by the priest have a deep dogmatic content; in ancient Christian Church they were read aloud, and all the people praying in the temple heard them.

After the exclamation, the singing of liturgical antiphons begins, divided into three parts by small litanies - in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.

During the small litany, after the singing of the first antiphon, the priest reads a secret prayer for the preservation of the Holy Church and her children, for the sanctification of those who love the splendor of the house of God - the temple. During the second small litany he reads: Those who are in common with each other and who have granted us prayers .. , remembering the Savior’s promise to dwell where even only two or three Christians gather together to pray (Matthew 18, 19, 20). Only in the Name of Christ, gathering in love and unanimity in church, can Christians worthily glorify God by sacrificing the Holy Gifts to Him

On holidays, figurative antiphons are sung - verses from the 102nd and 145th psalms and the Gospel Blessed (Matthew 5: 3-12), with the troparions of the canons. The Church fulfills the covenant of the Apostle Paul (Col. 3:16): she glorifies and thanks the Lord for his providential care for the world and man. With these psalms, those praying prepare to hear the sublime church teaching about the Incarnation of God the Word, which is set out in the troparion " Only Begotten Son and Word of God"This church hymn expresses the fullness of God's care for the salvation of the human race through the coming into the world of the Son of God, foreshadowed by the Old Testament prophets, about His Incarnation from the Most Holy Theotokos, and the mystery of God's Economy of human salvation is revealed: the preaching of Divine teaching, free suffering and the Savior's death on the Cross, by which He conquered sin and death ."Do you hear ?- asks, citing this hymn, the holy righteous John of Kronstadt

.- God incarnated for you, became a man... Do you appreciate it, do you feel it? “Does this elevate you?.. Does it lift you off the ground?” The hymn “The Only Begotten Son and Word of God” is considered the troparion of the Constantinople Church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of God, built by the Byzantine emperor Saint Justinian (†565). He is also the author of this troparion. The third antiphon - Blessed - begins with the words of the prudent thief:

In Your Kingdom, remember us, O Lord, whenever (when) You come in Your Kingdom

. Let us remember that the Lord answered him: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23, 42, 43). And we, singing this prudent confession, hope to be with the Lord. The nine main gospel commandments taught by the Savior in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:2-12) lead to this bliss, the fulfillment of which leads a person to the perfection of spiritual life in Christ. A true disciple of the Lord, asking Him for mercy for himself, must be humble in spirit, meek, righteous, merciful, patient in trials, faithful to the Lord to the point of self-sacrifice. The creator of the liturgy, Saint John Chrysostom, writes: " Now the angels rejoice, now the archangels rejoice, now the cherubim and seraphim celebrate with us a real holiday... Although we received this grace from the Master, they have a common pleasure with us"The Holy Eucharist is the work of the entire Church, militant on earth and triumphant in Heaven. We, sinful people, need heavenly representatives - angels and saints - to offer the “Sacrifice of Praise.”

Blessed is the entrance of Thy saints... .- says the priest, making the sign of the cross at the entrance to the royal doors. The carrying out of the Gospel is Christ's coming out to preach; the candle is John the Baptist preceding Him (John 1:27). The deacon proclaims: Wisdom, forgive me (from Greek - wisdom, stand up straight!). This is a call to believers in simplicity of heart, standing reverently, to heed the wisdom of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the Savior. Come, let us worship and fall before Christ

, - the people sing.

After the entrance, the singing of troparions and kontakions follows, reflecting the sacred events of the holiday. “This group of songs tries to embrace all the memories connected with the day of the liturgy, showing that the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered for everyone and for everything.” The priest at the throne in secret prayer asks the Heavenly Father, sung by the Cherubim and Seraphim, to mercifully accept the Trisagion hymn, to forgive our voluntary and involuntary sins, to sanctify us and give us strength to serve Him until the end of our lives, and proclaims: For Holy is our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever... And the deacon points the orar, like an angelic wing, from the icon of the Savior to the upcoming believers, saying:

And forever and ever . The Holy Church prays for all those who live piously, for the granting of salvation to them - everyone, not only those currently standing in the church, but also for future generations of people.

The choir sings the Trisagion Hymn : Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. At the beginning of the 5th century in Constantinople, during a terrible earthquake, a divine service and religious procession were held. In a vision, angels appeared to one youth singing this song. The Christians, hearing about this, joined the angelic singing with the words: “Have mercy on us!”, and the earthquake stopped.(Isa. 6:1-5). Then an Angel touched his lips with a burning coal and removed his iniquity and cleansed his sins (Isa. 6, 6, 7). By singing the Trisagion hymn together with the Ethereal Powers, we bring repentance to the Lord for our sins and ask for God’s help and mercy.

The priest ascends to a high place - the dais behind the throne. The high place marks the Heavenly Throne of God and “means the exalted presence of Jesus,” says Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica. Ascending to a high place, like Christ to Heaven, into the bosom of the Father, the priest reads the prayer: Blessed art thou on the Throne of the glory of Thy Kingdom, thou sittest upon the Cherubim...

The reader at the high place takes the blessing from the priest to read the Apostle and goes among the people, as if to the peoples of the whole world, to sow the Word of Christ into the hearts of people.

Peace to all !

- exclaims the priest. This is how the Lord, after His glorious Resurrection, greeted His disciples (Luke 24:36). With this Divine greeting He sent them to preach the Gospel throughout the world. In the word “peace” the Lord taught His disciples, and through them all the shepherds of Christ’s Church, the power of the spiritual world (John 14:27). Before the coming of the Lord, the peace between man and God was broken by sin. Sin, having taken possession of man, disrupted relationships between people. After His Resurrection, the Savior bestows Divine peace on humanity through the Holy Church, reuniting people with God, with each other and with all creation (John 16:33). To the priest's greeting Peace to all ! - the reader on behalf of all those praying says: And to your spirit

- a response wish to the clergyman who teaches the blessed world, the same peace from the Lord. During the reading of the Apostle, incense is performed. It was established as a sign of reverence for the upcoming reading of the Gospel and indicates that through the preaching of the Gospel grace Holy Spirit

, spilling out to all ends of the world, sweetened the hearts of people and turned them to Eternal Life (2 Cor. 2:14). During the reading of the Apostle, the priest sits on the south side of the high place, as equal to the apostles by the grace of teaching. At the end of the reading of the Apostle, the singers sing"Alleluia" , and the reader recites verses from the psalms - alleluia

While singing the alleluia, the priest reads a secret prayer in which he asks God to grant him and those praying the understanding of the Gospel reading and the fear of the blessed commandments in order to trample upon carnal lusts and acquire spiritual life.

In front of the lectern on which the deacon places the Gospel, a lighted candle is placed on the pulpit as a sign of reverence for the word of God and in commemoration of the light of God's understanding given by the Gospel, enlightening those who listen with the knowledge of saving mysteries.

The Gospel is followed by an intense litany, sometimes a funeral litany for the catechumens. The Holy Church, having introduced those praying to Divine wisdom through reading the word of God, encourages them to make a special prayer request, which in liturgical language is called diligent prayer.

The litany begins with a petition: Cheers all... The Church calls on both clergy and worshipers to turn with all the strength and ability of their souls with reciprocal love, deepest gratitude and devotion to God and to seek help and intercession in Him alone.

At this time, the priest secretly reads a prayer of diligent supplication, in which he asks the Lord God to mercifully accept the intense heartfelt prayer of His servants for the forgiveness of sins and to send down His generous benefits to all His people.

In the funeral litany we pray for our deceased relatives, neighbors and all those who have died in the faith.

“It was not in vain that the apostles established,” says St. John Chrysostom, “that during the performance of terrible Mysteries they should remember the departed. They knew that this would bring them much benefit and much benefit, when all the people and the sacred face stand with their hands raised and when the terrible Sacrifice is presented, How can one not beg God by asking for them?

During the next litany, the priest prays for the catechumens, “who have bowed their necks,” that is, in humility and meekness, awaiting the gifts of God’s grace, rejecting the stiff-neckedness - the heartlessness and pride of the pagan world. " God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."- says the apostle (1 Pet. 5:5). And the prophet proclaims the words of the Lord : “To whom I will look: to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and to him who trembles at My word.”(Isa. 66:2).

...Look upon Thy servants, the catechumens... and grant me (them) during a prosperous bath of restoration, - the priest prays. Bathhouse of rebirth - rebirth, new life with Christ through Baptism (Tit. 3, 5~7). But the holy fathers also called repentance the “bath of rebirth” - a tearful bath that washes a bad conscience.

Catechumens, come out (come out) - proclaims the deacon. Humility, meekness and the publican's prayer can give us the courage to be with the faithful at the Lord's Last Supper - the Eucharist.

He who does not repent of his sins will not penetrate into the essence of this Mystery; his heart will be excommunicated from the meeting of faithful Christians.

The third part of the Liturgy is called the Liturgy of the Faithful, because during its celebration in ancient times only the faithful could be present, that is, persons who turned to Christ and were baptized.

At the Liturgy of the Faithful, the most important sacred actions are performed, the preparation for which is not only the first two parts of the Liturgy, but also all other church services. Firstly, the mysteriously grace-filled, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Transfiguration or Transubstantiation of bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of the Savior, and secondly, the communion of believers with the Body and Blood of the Lord, introducing into unity with the Savior, according to His words: “Eat of My flesh and drink My Blood abides in Me and I in him.” (John VI, 56).

Gradually and consistently, in a series of significant actions and deeply meaningful prayers, the meaning and significance of these two liturgical moments is revealed. The deacon pronounces abbreviated great litany

.,

The priest secretly reads a prayer, asking the Lord to cleanse those praying from spiritual impurity, so that, having received the success of a good life and spiritual understanding, he can stand before the Throne worthily, without guilt or condemnation, and so that he can partake of the Holy Mysteries without condemnation to receive the Kingdom of Heaven.

Finishing his prayer, the priest says loudly.

As we always keep under Your power, we send glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages., - the priest prays. And we, like the Angelic Powers, revealing the triumphant faces of the Cherubim, sing a song to the Life-Giving Trinity, putting aside vain worries, strengthening our hearts and thoughts in contemplation of the Divine mystery now revealed to us. The Son of God, the King of ages, the Lord and Ruler of the entire universe, “carried” in Heaven by the Angelic ranks, came to earth to fulfill the mystery of the salvation of mankind.

The Son of God - the Holy Lamb, "who took away the sins of the whole world" (John 1:29) through sacrificing Himself to God the Father and thereby restoring the connection between God and man, lost by the ancestors - offers His Most Pure Body and Blood as Divine Food to Christians, sanctifying them and giving them Eternal Life and the sonship lost by humanity to the Holy God the Father. Jesus Christ is at the same time both the sacrificial Being, like the Holy Lamb, and the sacrificing Performer of sacrifice, like the Heavenly High Priest. Having then read the prayer “Like the Cherubim” three times with arms outstretched in a cross shape (as a sign of intense prayer), the priest, together with the deacon, moves to the altar. Here, having presented the Holy Gifts, the priest places on left shoulder

the deacon “air”, covering the paten and chalice, and the paten on the head; he himself takes the Holy Chalice, and both go out together through the northern doors, presented with a candlestick.

Making the great entrance, the clergy carry the Holy Gifts - a cup of wine and a paten with the Lamb and particles taken out in memory of the saints and all the living and deceased members of the Church who were commemorated.

In contrast to the small entrance with the Gospel, the entrance with the Holy Gifts is called great due to the greatness of the event remembered here and the importance of the purpose for which it is performed: the Holy Gifts are transferred to the throne for the holy sacrament of Communion and their offering as a Sacrifice to God and depict the Lord Jesus Christ Himself , marching to free suffering and death for the sins of people; therefore, during the conciliar service, a cross, a spear and a spoon are also brought out, reminiscent of the instruments of the Savior’s suffering and death.

The cup and paten are brought into the altar and placed on the unfolded antimension, prefiguring the removal of the Savior’s body from the Cross and His position in the Tomb (John 19: 38-42). The troparion of Good Friday is read: O blessed Joseph, I took down Your most pure body from the tree, wrapped it in a clean shroud and with fragrant fragrances, covered it in a new tomb, and laid it.

The Royal Doors are closing. The curtain is closed, just as the entrance to the Holy Sepulcher was closed.

A large shroud, like a clean shroud, covers the cup and paten. Small veils mean sudar (plate), which covered the head of the Savior during burial (John 20:7), and burial shrouds.

The Great Entrance is also a prophecy about the Second Coming: Bless Zion, O Lord, with Thy favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built - the priest prays for the Jerusalem above (Rev. 21:2) and for the cleansing of us by the “Sacrifice of righteousness”, which will now be accomplished.

During the Great Entrance, Christians stand with bowed heads, expressing respect for the Gifts being transferred and asking that the Lord remember them too in His Kingdom. In the litany of petition, the Church prays for the Holy Gifts transferred to the throne: Let's do it (replenish, multiply) our prayer to the Lord To the priest's greeting... about the granting of saving blessings, for the Lord Jesus Christ said that the Heavenly Father will also give blessings to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11).

, - the priest proclaims. Christ left us His peace and the commandment to love one another, as He loved us (John 14:27; 15:12), Let us love one another and confess that we are of one mind ... - the deacon calls, and we sing; Father and Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity Consubstantial and Indivisible . The clergy in the altar kiss each other on the shoulders with Christ's love, greeting:

Christ is in the midst (among) us - both is and will be

The symbol of faith, sung in the Orthodox Church during the Divine Liturgy by all those praying, has been included in the rite of the liturgy since ancient times. It was compiled by the will of the Holy Spirit by the holy fathers of the First (325) and Second (381) Ecumenical Councils, when various heretical teachings tried to overthrow the true faith in the Trinity, Consubstantial and Indivisible. The Holy Church resolutely came out in defense of the purity of Orthodox doctrine, setting out its basic saving truths in Creed

, which serves as a constant guide for all Orthodox Christians in their spiritual life.

By singing the Creed, those praying in the temple testify before God and the Holy Church that they are faithful, who are allowed to be present at the celebration of the great Sacrament. While singing the Symbol, the priest at the altar raises and lowers a large cover (called air) over the Holy Gifts - as a sign of the blowing of the Holy Spirit (1 Kings 19, 11-13). The deacon then exclaims: Let us become kind, let us become fearful, and let us bring holy offerings to the world.

The words “let us become good” are a call to inner, spiritual composure, to attention and reverence in view of the upcoming celebration of the Sacrament, in order to offer a Sacrifice (Holy Gifts) to God in the spiritual world, remembering that this Sacrifice is offered to God not only for us, but also from us . We are present at this as participants in the Divine service. Nicholas Kavasila (14th century), in his explanation of the Divine Liturgy, refers these words to the Creed, for they call to stand firmly in the confession of faith. To the deacon’s exclamation, the choir responds: Grace of the world, Victim of praise

.

These words mean that “The Eucharistic Sacrifice on the part of God is the greatest mercy towards us and the fruit of reconciliation with God through Christ the Savior, while on our part it is the glorification of the greatness of God revealed in the Economy of our salvation (Heb. 13:15; Ps. 49, 14)" The priest, according to ancient custom, addresses the people with the words of the Apostle Paul: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love (love) of God and the Father and the communion (here - fellowship) of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor. 13:13). With this blessing, the priest wishes the prayers to receive the highest spiritual gifts from the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity.. This mutual prayer of the pastor and flock before the offering of the Holy Sacrifice further strengthens the fraternal unity of the members of the Church. From the depths of our hearts we must offer prayer to the Throne of God, and the priest exclaims: Grief (higher, up) we have hearts

, that is, according to the word of the Apostle, let us set our minds on things above, and not on earthly things (Col. 3:2). The human heart is the spiritual organ with which we perceive the spiritual, Heavenly world and enter into communion with God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God,” says the Lord (Matthew 5:8). Imams (we have a mind and a heart) to the Lord

, - we answer. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem teaches: “Truly, in that terrible hour, the mountain must have a heart, to God, and not to the valley, to the earth, to earthly things. Therefore... it is necessary that in that hour everyone should leave worldly cares and household worries, and have let your heart be in Heaven, to God the Lover of Mankind"

The priest, following the example of Christ the Savior, who thanked God the Father at the Last Supper (Luke 22:17-19), proclaims: We thank the Lord.

And the choir sings: It is worthy and righteous to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, Consubstantial and Indivisible. In our Church there is a custom to ring a bell at this time. This is the so-called ringing to “Worthy.”

The proclamation that follows this prayer, singing the song of victory... is a continuation of the Eucharistic prayer, and the choir singing of the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts... is the revelation of this proclamation. Therefore, the exclamation and words of singing cannot be considered separately from the previous prayer. This relationship can be traced throughout the entire Eucharistic canon.

Four mysterious creatures - an eagle, a calf, a lion and a man, praising God - were seen in visions by the prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 6:3), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:10) and the Apostle John the Theologian (Rev. 4:6-8) . By the one who sings in prayer we mean the eagle, by the one who cries - the calf, by the one who calls - by the lion, and by the one who speaks - by the man. The Lord is called Hosts, that is, the Lord of the Forces, or the Heavenly Armies. Remembering the doxology of the Seraphim and Cherubim, the Church adds to their singing the words: Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. With these words the people greeted the Lord at His entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9).

At the service of thanksgiving, with the remembrance of the Lord’s procession to his free death, our compassion for His Feat on the Cross is united with reverent contemplation of His Divine Glory, which we sing together with the Cherubim and Seraphim - these blessed Powers, says the second secret prayer.

The priest reads it while being among the Angelic Forces present in the church during the celebration of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and praising the Lord for the Economy of our salvation.

"At this highest moment of the Liturgy, the past, present and future are united and co-present: the Father's Council on the bringing of the Son... (Rom. 14:24); the work of the Son, already completed (Cross, Sepulchre, Resurrection, Ascension), carried out (at the right hand graying) and having to take place (the Second and Glorious Coming); the descent of the Holy Spirit of the Life-Giving, Who sanctifies us and these gifts that are presented." Take, eat, this is My Body, broken for you for the remission of sins. Remembering these words of the Lord at the Last Supper, we confess with the word Amen His terrible death on the Cross and free self-sacrifice to atone for the sins of the human race., - sings the Church, for we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, as then, at the Last Supper, to His disciples, so now gives us the Divine Body and the Most Holy Blood, by partaking of which we unite with God and become heirs of blessed Eternal Life, according to His the word: “My Flesh is truly food, and My Blood is truly drink... He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has Eternal Life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:55, 54).

“Who will comprehend the greatness of the good deed given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, or communion? Completely - no one, not even the mind of an angel, for this good deed is limitless and immense, like God Himself!.. What closeness of God is to us! Here He is - here , on the throne... essentially, by all Divinity and humanity, is offered and tasted by the faithful... What a wonderful communication..." Yours from Yours offering to You for everyone and for everything,

- exclaims the priest, raising his hands to the mountain. And the deacon, preceding this exclamation, makes the sign of the cross, kisses the holy altar, bows to the priest, then takes the paten with his right hand, and the chalice with his left hand and raises them above the altar, with the right hand lying crosswise on the left. This is an ancient rite of ascension; it commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ to the Cross. In this sacred rite and the prayers pronounced here, we sing to You... The Church puts the following meaning: “These are Your Gifts, Heavenly Father, and from Your creations, according to the will of Your Only Begotten Son, we have received them. We offer them as a Sacrifice to You, like firstfruits our life

, about everyone and for all Your good deeds, shown to us through Him, we sing to You, we bless You, we thank You, Lord, and we pray to You, our God!” While singing I'll eat for you

the priest asks God the Father to send the Holy Spirit on all those praying and on the Gifts. On those who pray, to cleanse them from all sinful filth. On the gifts that are presented - in order to sanctify them, to transform them into the Body and Blood of the Lord.

At this time, not a single soul should remain cold, but every soul should be inflamed with love for God... Especially at this time may our souls be like burning lamps, like a censer lit and fragrant, like the smoke of incense rising from the mountain, for at this moment a terrible, life-giving sacrament takes place - the transformation by the Spirit of God of bread and wine into the most pure Body and Blood of Christ, and God appears on the throne in the flesh.", - the priest reads the troparion of the third hour three times with raised hands, in which the Holy Spirit descended on all those gathered in the Upper Room of Zion (Acts 2: 1-4), and then blesses the Gifts with the greatest reverence. This blessing of the Holy Gifts is a visible sign of their sanctification and transmutation by the Holy Spirit into the Body and Blood of the Lord, although the Holy Spirit acts in the church during the entire Divine service.

After the deacon pronounces Amen three times, in honor of the Holy Trinity, the clergy bow to the ground to the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

The prayer of invoking the Holy Spirit confesses the Church's faith in His power to sanctify and perform the Sacraments. Saint John Chrysostom says: “The priest stands, sending down not fire, but the Holy Spirit; he makes a long prayer... so that Grace, descending on the Sacrifice, will ignite the souls of all through it...”

After the consecration of the Gifts, the priest reads secret prayers, in which the numerous and varied beneficial actions of the Holy Gifts are revealed. The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ is an inexhaustible source of grace for everyone who wants to join it. In these same prayers, the priest makes a grateful remembrance of the saints who have pleased God from time immemorial: the Old Testament and New Testament ascetics, saints of God. They are remembered because they acquired righteousness before God by living and active faith in Christ the Redeemer: the first in the one who is coming, the second in the one who has come. The priest thanks the Lord for giving us so many intercessors and especially (fairly) for the Blessed Virgin Mary, exclaiming: Much about the Most Holy... The choir sings: It is worthy to eat, as one truly blesses Thee, the Mother of God...

With this chant we glorify the Mother of God. The Holy Church venerates the Most Pure Mother of God above the saints and ranks of angels, as the Most Honest of the Cherubim and the Most Glorious of the Seraphim. Her Motherly intercession before God for the human race is so powerful that She is revered not just as a Helper in our salvation, like the Angels and saints, to whom we turn with the request “Pray to God for us,” but we call upon Her as our Intercessor before the Son, with prayer "Save us." Veneration of the Mother of God and reverence for Her Holy Name is dear to every Orthodox Christian. He who does not honor the Mother of God does not honor Her Divine Son.

Further, in secret prayer, the priest remembers our Heavenly intercessors before God: Saint John, the Prophet, the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, the holy glorious and all-praised apostles, the saint whose memory we commemorate, and all the holy saints of God, and asks the Lord to visit us with their prayers.

The following prayers express the unity of the Heavenly and earthly Churches. Before the holy throne, on which is the Body and Blood of the Lord, the priest remembers the names of the living and deceased members of His Church.

The priest asks for the remission of sins of all those who have fallen asleep in the faith and hope of the resurrection. He prays to the Heavenly Father to rest them in the Abodes of eternal bliss, where His uncreated Glory constantly resides and grace, the joy of heavenly blessings, pours out from the light of His Face to all righteous souls.

And remember all the departed about the hope of the resurrection of eternal life, - (the priest remembers the names of people). - And give them rest, where (where) the light of Your Face is present (shines) (Ps. 4:7). “Let every faithful remember that if he loves his neighbor who has departed from here, he will bring him great benefits by making sacrifices for him and will be the source of great joy for him by giving alms to the poor... and by doing other deeds that appease God, especially diligently performing Bloodless Sacrifice for him. The particle taken out during the terrible Sacrifice, and the remembrance of the departed over it, unites him with God and makes it possible to invisibly be a partaker of Him and have communion with Him.”

At the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, the priest at this time prays for those present in the church who remain at home, asks the Lord to have mercy on them according to the multitude of His mercy, asks to keep families in peace and unanimity, to raise infants, to instruct young men, to strengthen the old, to console the faint-hearted, to gather the scattered, to convert those who have gone astray, to free those troubled by unclean spirits, to sail those who sail, to travel, to protect widows and orphans, to deliver captives, to heal the sick; and in general, he asks the Lord to give help and mercy to everyone in any sorrow, need and distress. Then the priest proclaims: And give us one mouth and one heart... - this is a prayer for the unity of lips and hearts, that is, for the unanimity of the faithful children of the Church. Only with true unanimity and mutual love does Divine grace visit us - the mercies of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, which the priest calls upon those praying

Then the litany begins Remembering all the saints... In the first centuries of Christianity, all Christians were called “Saints”, by the holiness of the Church of which they are members, by the holiness of the Christian faith, by the desire of Christ’s followers to please God, by their difference (their election) from the world, which “lies in evil” "(1 John 5:19). The Apostle Paul calls Christians “beloved of God, called saints” (Rom. 1:7).

Having remembered all the holy Christians - deceased and living - we offer in the litany a prayer to God for the Holy Gifts offered and consecrated... The gifts have already been consecrated, and now the Church prays for the sanctification of us for the sake of the Holy Gifts offered (Bloodless Sacrifice): ... yes, Lover of Mankind Our God, I receive (them) into My holy, heavenly and mental Altar into the stench of spiritual fragrance, and He will bestow on us Divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit...

The altar is heavenly and mental. The Apostle Paul says about him: “Christ entered not into the sanctuary made with hands, in the image of the true (built), but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24). There our prayers ascend (Rev. 8, 3, 4), and from there God sends grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we pray for in the following petition.

“Grace sanctifies us through the Gifts if it finds us capable of sanctification.”

In response to the priest’s appeal, all the people standing in the church sing with faith, hope and filial love: Our Father...

The “Our Father” prayer is called the Lord’s Prayer because it was given to us by the Savior of the world Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). In the words Our Father, Who is in Heaven... testifies to the truth that God is the Father of all that exists.

He not only created the universe, the entire world - material and spiritual, visible and invisible, but, like a Father, He loves His creation, provides for it, takes care of it and leads it to the goal He intended, to goodness and perfection.

There are only seven petitions in the Lord's Prayer - what we should always ask our Heavenly Father for.

At the end of the singing of the Lord's Prayer, the priest in an exclamation glorifies God, who is worshiped in the Trinity. The meaning of this doxology is that we, asking the Heavenly Father for His rich and ineffable mercies, should render worthy worship to God the Father, His Only Begotten Son and the Consubstantial Spirit and be affirmed in the hope that He will grant us what we ask, because all this is in His power and refers to His glory.

At the Eucharist - before the appearance of the Savior to the people in the Holy Mysteries, before the communion of His Body and Blood - prayer to the Heavenly Father has a special meaning. In the Gospel parable, the prodigal son returned to his father with the words: “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the father, rejoicing at his repentance and return, arranged a feast (Luke 15:21-24). So now our Heavenly Father, God, calls us to the Supper-Eucharist, at which we are freed from sin and gain the love of the Father. Singing a prayer to our Heavenly Father at this moment of the liturgy with special triumph, we ask Him to honor us with the sacrament of our daily bread.

Then, in secret prayer, the priest thanks God for creating the world and bringing us from non-existence into existence, asking the Lord to give according to the needs of each of us, confessing that God is the Physician of our souls and bodies and that we have gained the boldness to pray to God the Father for the sake of the Savior of the world - the Only Begotten Son of God.

The deacon girds himself crosswise with an orar, like the Seraphim who stand before the Throne of the Glory of the Lord, covering their faces with their wings, reverent before the radiance of the Divine, and proclaims: Let us take in!

The priest lifts up the Holy Lamb, exclaiming: Holy to holies!

“The priest proclaims the Holy to the saints. He seems to say: here is the Bread of Life... The Holy is allowed only to the saints. Here he calls saints not only those who are perfect in virtue, but also all those who strive for that perfection, although they have not yet achieved it. And nothing prevents us from being sanctified through communion of the Holy Mysteries and in this regard from being saints."

The Church answers with humility: There is One Holy One, One Lord Jesus Christ... “No one, on his own, has sanctification, and it is not a matter of human virtue, but everything is from Him (Christ) and through Him... The One Holy One. .. although he appears in many souls and shows many to be saints, nevertheless, only One is holy..."

The priest breaks the Holy Bread, uttering the words: The Lamb of God is broken and divided... Because of this sacred action, the liturgy in ancient times was called “the breaking of the Bread” (Acts 2:46).

In the prayer of the priest during the fragmentation of the Lamb, the incomprehensible mystery is confessed that the Body of Christ remains whole (fragmented and indivisible) and in each particle it contains the entire fullness of the Sacrament.

In the altar with the royal doors closed and the curtain drawn, as a sign of the mysterious presence of the Divine, the clergy take communion, like the apostles of Christ at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20-29).

At this time, the choir sings a sacramental verse, connected in meaning with the Apostle and the Gospel read during the service. The verse briefly describes the event being celebrated.

On Sunday, the Church sings praises to the Risen Savior of the world: Praise the Lord from Heaven, praise Him in the highest (Ps. 149:1).

The Church is the Body of Christ (Col. 1:24), and one cannot consider oneself a Christian, that is, belonging to Christ, His Church, and not partake of Christ’s Mysteries. Believers are united in the Eucharist with their Head Christ into one Body - the Holy Church. And just as He, the Head of the Church, is Holy, so is His Body - the Church - holy, and it sanctifies all members of the Body. In the ancient Christian Church, it was believed that anyone who did not attend the Eucharist without a good reason and did not receive communion on three Sundays in a row excommunicated himself from the Body of the Church. Currently, the timing of communion is set for each Christian individually, on the advice of the confessor. Participation in the Eucharistic life of the Church is a vital confession of one’s connection and unity with the Church,

The Holy Church requires from each of its members not only faith, but also actual spiritual life in Christ, the main sign of which is participation in the Divine Eucharist, for the Blood of Jesus Christ “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), which “ reigned in our mortal body" (Rom. 6:12).

St. Simeon the New Theologian says that Communion, being Light, cannot go unnoticed. If the feeling of meeting God has not yet arrived, then you need to take care of repentance, cleansing the sinful heart, hardened by the vices of the heart, according to the word of Christ: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). A Christian receives sanctification, enlightenment and deification when he approaches Holy Communion with the proper spiritual disposition - with a consciousness of the holiness and greatness of the Sacrament, with a desire to participate in it, with an awareness of his own unworthiness, with reverence, gratitude to God for the salvation He accomplished in Christ Jesus , and for joining the taught Shrine.

If someone approaches Communion as only an external action, a rite, doing it only according to custom or for some other considerations not related to the essence of the Sacrament, then the words of the Apostle Paul fully apply to this: “Whoever will eat or drink this Bread The Cup of the Lord is unworthy, he will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let man examine himself, and thus let him eat from this Bread and drink from this Cup, for whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body. the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27-29).

A person who cleanses himself by repentance and abstinence and partakes of the Holy Mysteries of Christ becomes truly a Christian

After the clergy receive communion, the royal doors open. The deacon proclaims: Come with the fear of God and faith.

God is the Lord, and He has appeared to us... - the choir sings, announcing the appearance of the Lord in the Holy Mysteries: the clergy carry the Holy Chalice from the altar.

With fear, that is, with the greatest reverence and deep faith, with heartfelt contrition and tenderness, we approach Communion.

We fold our hands on our chests - as a sign of confession of the Crucified One. A feeling of repentance speaks of the beginning of spiritual life.

Before the Holy Chalice, we confess our faith in the Sacrament, in the Divine power of the Holy Gifts, repeating after the priest the words of the prayer: I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the Living God... and we believe that His Mystery is now being accomplished for us Supper (Thy Mystical Supper is this day...), and we ask the Son of God to accept us as one of its participants (receive me as a partaker).

Receive the Body of Christ, taste the Immortal Source,” all the people sing in the church during communion. Christians who have cleared their conscience in confession approach the Holy Chalice to unite with Christ. They no longer cross themselves at the Chalice itself, they clearly say their name and, opening their lips, receive the Holy Mysteries. After accepting the Shrine, you need to kiss the lower edge of the Cup, like the pierced rib of Christ (John 19:34).

At this time, the priest immerses from the paten into the Chalice all the particles taken out of the prosphora at the proskomedia, saying the prayer: Wash away, O Lord, the sins of those remembered here (here), by Thy Honest Blood, by the prayers of Thy saints. These words are the completion of the liturgical commemoration of the living and the dead that began at the proskomedia. During the immersion of particles taken from the prosphora into the Blood of Christ, the Church confesses that the Eucharistic life is the guarantee of Eternal Life. Even Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer wrote to the Church of Ephesus at the beginning of the 2nd century: the Eucharist is “the medicine of immortality, not only protecting from death, but also giving eternal life in Jesus Christ.”

By partaking here, in earthly life, of the Divine Body and Blood of the Lord, a Christian thereby accomplishes his deification. We believe that communion with God will not cease in the life of the next century, in the non-evening day of the Kingdom of Christ. Communion, moreover, is a mysterious union with Christ and with each other, not only of those who approached the Holy Chalice precisely at this liturgy, but also of all the living and deceased in general. This is the connection with the Honest Blood of the Divine Lamb of particles, over which the names of those who brought and about them were read at the proskomedia and after the consecration of the Holy Gifts (for whom they brought their sacrifice in the form of a prosphora, with the names of their relatives and known ones, living and deceased, asking to perform their commemoration) is a true cleansing of the sins of all those mentioned.

The priest makes the sign of the cross over the antimension with the Chalice and quietly says: Blessed is our God - and, turning his face to the people, overshadows the worshipers (who at this time bow their heads) with the Holy Chalice, loudly proclaiming: Always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

The blessing of the Cup symbolizes the moment when the Savior blessed the disciples and began to move away from them and ascend to Heaven (Luke 25:51). This sacred rite recalls the Savior’s promise to remain in the Church until the end of the age, and also encourages believers to always glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

Chant May our lips be filled with Your praise, O Lord... expresses our gratitude to God for the gift of Holy Communion and contains a prayer to preserve us as long as possible in the Holy Place: in spiritual purity, grace-filled union with Christ, for teaching the works of righteousness, that is, the righteousness and holiness of God.

Litany Sorry, please accept is an integral part of the prayers of thanks offered by the communicants in order to give worthy “thanks to God for His ineffable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). A series of thanksgiving prayers, begun by the priest with a prayer of thanksgiving, pronounced by him secretly immediately after communion of the Holy Mysteries (We give thanks to Thee, Master Lover of Mankind), develops into solemn songs: We see the True Light... and May our lips be filled... and concludes with the litany of Forgiveness, more accepting.

“Forgive me,” explains Nicholas Kavasila, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, “that is... directing both soul and body to God.”

The meaning of the first petition is as follows: “Let us rise (spiritually), having accepted the Divine, Holy, Most Pure, Immortal, Heavenly and Life-Giving, Terrible Mysteries of Christ, and worthily (as it befits, as we should) thank (for this) the Lord.”

The Lord Himself tells us in the Gospel: “I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever” (John 6:51). Therefore, the Holy Gifts in the litany are called Immortal and Life-Giving, but at the same time also Terrible, shaking the minds of angels and men.

The third petition is somewhat special: The whole day is perfect...

The meaning of this petition for the holy and immaculate order of the daily journey, as well as for the good order of our entire subsequent life, is present in the prayers of the entire daily circle of worship, always being part of the requests of the litany of petition, be it at Vespers, at Matins or at the Liturgy. But this petition receives its final resolution only after the communion of the Holy Mysteries. Having received them as a guarantee of this perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless day, having united with God in the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, we gain the opportunity to fully and correctly do the will of God. The Church asks that we unfailingly walk in the ways of the Lord with the persistent assistance of grace received in the Sacrament of Unity - the Holy Eucharist: Keep us in Thy Sacredness, and learn Thy Truth all day long.

Thus, in communion of the Mysteries of Christ, the believer receives grace-filled support not only for the good implementation of his life’s work, but above all for the successful work of the spiritual. “When we, unworthy,” said the Monk Hesychius, “are worthy to partake with fear and trembling of the Divine and Most Pure Mysteries of Christ, our God and King, then we will most of all show sobriety, guarded mind and strict attention, and this Divine fire, that is, the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, will take away our sins... If after this, standing at the door of the heart, we carefully preserve our mind, then when we are again honored with the Holy Mysteries, the Divine Body will enlighten our mind more and more and make it brilliant, like a star." .

Not only prayerful, reverent preparation for the reception of the Holy Mysteries, but also a worthy life (in unceasing prayer and guarding the mind) after communion of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood are necessary conditions for worthy communion. It is about such a worthy passing of the day on which we became participants in the Mysteries of Christ that the Holy Church offers her prayers in the final litany of the Divine Liturgy. The Lord “gives us every holy thing freely... however, He urgently demands from us that we be able to both accept the holy thing and preserve it; He would not give consecration to people who were not prepared for this...”

After the litanies, the priest proclaims:

For You are our Sanctification, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

The exclamation We will depart in peace served in ancient times as a sign of the end of the liturgy. The people, answering: About the Name of the Lord (that is, with the Name of God in the soul, with the peace of Christ in the mind and heart), left the temple. Subsequently, in the Churches of the Orthodox East, the prayer behind the pulpit, as if summing up the content of the prayers of the liturgy, and prayers of dismissal were added to the rite of the liturgy.

The priest, going out to the pulpit through the royal doors, reads the prayer behind the pulpit, asking the Lord for the blessing of the people and their sanctification, the preservation of the Church, the giving of peace to the world, confessing that every good gift is given only from God.

After the prayer behind the pulpit, the choir sings: Blessed be the Name of the Lord from now on and forever, and the Church admonishes her children with the words of the 33rd Psalm.

The missal instructs the priest to distribute the antidoron to the worshipers while singing the 33rd Psalm. In some churches and monasteries this custom continues to this day. Antidoron refers to parts of the liturgical prosphora from which the liturgical Lamb was removed. Antidor is not simple bread, but consecrated at proskomedia with sacred rites associated with the memories of the Nativity and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sign of the cross and sayings Holy Scripture

about Christ - the Lamb of God. Therefore, the church rule prescribes to treat the antidor with reverence, take it on an empty stomach and prohibits teaching it to the unbaptized.

The distribution of antidor to the people serves as a reminder of the ancient meals of brotherly love, or suppers of love - agape, known since the times of the apostles (1 Cor. 11, 20; Jude 1, 12).

The Greek word "antidor" in Russian means "instead of gift", therefore antidor, like the holy Epiphany water, cannot replace Communion.

At the dismissal of the liturgy, the priest remembers the names of the saints whose memory the Church celebrated on this day, and the creator of the liturgy.The choir sings many years to His Holiness the Patriarch, the diocesan bishop, the brethren of the church and all Christians. All those praying during the liturgy approach the priest and kiss the cross - a sign of Christ's victory over death.

Those who have partaken of the Holy Mysteries of Christ should listen with attention to the prayers of thanksgiving for Holy Communion. Saint John

Zlatoust

Following the Divine Liturgy like the saints of our father John, Archbishop of Constantinople, Chrysostom

O Protesis

Having entered the altar, the priest and the deacon bow twice before the throne, remove the veil from it, kiss it, and bow a third time. The priest puts on the epitrachelion and leaves the altar on the sole by the northern door, the deacon - by the southern one.

Deacon: Bless, lord.

Having entered the altar, the priest and the deacon bow twice before the throne, remove the veil from it, kiss it, and bow a third time. The priest puts on the epitrachelion and leaves the altar on the sole by the northern door, the deacon - by the southern one.

Deacon: Priest:

Deacon: Amen. To the Heavenly King... Trisagion according to Our Father.

Amen. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, bewildered by any answer, we offer this prayer to You, as to the Lord, sinners: have mercy on us. Glory:

Then, approaching the icon of Christ the Savior, they take off their headdress and pray, reading the troparion:

We worship Your most pure image, O Good One, asking for forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God, by the will of Your flesh you have deigned to ascend to the Cross, so that You may deliver what You have created from the work of the enemy. Thus we cry out to You in gratitude: You have filled all with joy, our Savior, who came to save the world.

Having bowed to the icon of the Savior, they kiss it. Then, approaching the icon Holy Mother of God, bow to the icon and also kiss it, reading the troparion:

You are the source of mercy, grant us mercy, O Mother of God, look upon people who have sinned, reveal, as ever, Thy power, trusting in Thee, “rejoice” with a cry to Thee, as Gabriel once did, the Ethereal Archangel.

They stand before the royal doors and bow their heads, the priest prays:

Lord, lower Your hand from the heights of Your holy dwelling and strengthen me for Your upcoming service, so that I may uncondemnally appear before Your terrible Throne and perform a bloodless sacred rite. For Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Weaken, forgive, forgive, O God, our sins, voluntary and involuntary, even in word and in deed, even in knowledge and in ignorance, even in days and in nights, even in mind and in thought - forgive us all, for it is Good and Lover of Humanity.

Then they bow to each other and, turning their faces to the worshipers, bow to them, make one bow to the choirs, saying:

Forgive and bless, fathers, brothers and sisters.

And they enter the altar, reading vv. 8-13. Psalm 5:

I will go into Your house, I will bow to Your holy temple in Your fear. Lord, guide me with Your righteousness, for the sake of my enemy, straighten my path before You, for there is no truth in their mouths, their heart is vain, their throat is an open grave, with their tongues the flatterers. Judge for them, O God, that they may fall away from their thoughts; because of the multitude of their wickedness, rid them of them, for they have grieved Thee greatly, O Lord. And let all who trust in You rejoice, may they rejoice forever, and may they dwell in them, and may those who love Your name boast in You. For you have blessed the righteous, O Lord, for you have crowned us with weapons of favor.

On the days of the Week of Holy Pascha and on the giving of Pascha, after the initial exclamation and the threefold “Christ is Risen...” it is read: “The morning that preceded...”, “In the carnal tomb...”, “Glory... Like the Life-Bearer...”, “And now... sanctified by the Most High...", "To Your Most Pure Image..."; then in the usual manner.

Entering the altar through the southern door, the clergy bow three times before the throne, kiss the Gospel, the Cross, and the throne. After this, the deacon with the surplice and orarion, and the priest with the sacrament make three bows to the high place with the words:

God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.

The deacon approaches the priest and says to him, bowing his head:

Bless, Vladyka, the surplice and orarion.

The priest, blessing every detail of the vestment, says:

Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Deacon: Amen.

The priest and the deacon kiss the cross on the vestment and put on the vestments, praying:

For the sacristan (surplice)
My soul will rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the robe of salvation and the robe of gladness; Like a groom, lay a crown on me and like a bride adorn me with beauty.

Greek prayer for the double orarion:
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, fill heaven and earth with Your glory.

Greek prayer for a simple orarion:
If anyone wants to be greater among you, let him be your servant.

On the right handrail:
Thy right hand, O Lord, has become glorified in strength; Thy right hand, O Lord, has crushed the enemies, and by the multitude of Thy glory Thou hast wiped out the adversaries.

To the left handrail:
Thy hands create me and create me; give me understanding and I will learn your commandments.

On the epitrachelion:
Blessed is God, who pours out His grace on His priests, like ointment on the head, coming down on the door of Aaron, going down on the hem of his garment.

On the legguard and club:
Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty One, in Thy perfection and Thy beauty, and be strong, and prosper, and reign for the sake of truth, and meekness, and righteousness, and Thy right hand will admirably guide Thee, always now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

On the belt:
Blessed be God, who girded me with strength, and made my way blameless: He strengthened my feet like a deer’s, and made me stand on high.

On the phelonion:
Thy priests, O Lord, will be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints will always rejoice with joy, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Then the priest washes his hands with the words:
I will wash my hands in (water) of innocence and will go around Your altar, O Lord, so that I may hear the voice of Your praise and tell me all Your wonders. Lord, I have loved the splendor of Your house and the dwelling place of Your glory. May you not destroy my soul with the wicked and my life with murderers: iniquity is in their hands, their right hand is filled with reward. But I walk by my kindness: deliver me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot has stood on the straight path, in the churches I will bless You, Lord.

Next, the deacon lights a lamp on the altar, places the paten (on the left) and the cup (on the right), as well as a copy, a spoon, coverings, air, prosphora, wine, etc. The priest approaches the altar and with the deacon bows before it three times, reading:

God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me, and the troparion of Great Heel:

He redeemed us from the legal oath (kisses the paten),
Your honest Blood, (kisses the cup)
nailed to the Cross (kisses the star)
and pierced with a copy, (kisses the copy)
You have exuded immortality from man, O our Savior, glory to You (kisses the liar).
Then the deacon says quietly: Bless, lord.
The priest proclaims:
Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
O Amen.

The priest takes a large prosphora with his left hand and blesses it three times in the shape of a cross with a copy, saying three times:
In remembrance of the Lord, and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.

(For convenience, it is possible to turn the prosphora over so that its left side is on the right side of the priest). The priest cuts the prosphora on its right side (from himself - on the left) with the words:
Like a sheep being led to the slaughter.
makes an incision on the left side (from himself - on the right), saying:
And just as the Lamb is without blemish, before His shearers he is silent, so he does not open His mouth.
The upper side of the prosphora is cut with the words:
By His humility, judgment will be taken from Him.
The bottom side is cut with the words:
Who can confess His generation?
At every cutting of the Lamb the deacon says "Let us pray to the Lord" , holding the orarion in his hand, as when reading litanies. After cutting the prosphora, the deacon says:
Take it, sir.
The priest cuts the prosphora from its lower part and takes out the cube of the Lamb from the cut prosphora, saying:
For His life will fly up from the earth.
And puts it face down.
Deacon: Sacrifice, lord.
At these words of the deacon, the priest makes a deep cross-shaped cut on the underside of the Lamb (slightly short of the seal), saying:
The Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world, is sacrificed for the life of the world and salvation.
Then the Lamb turns it over with its seal facing up and places it in the center of the paten.

O Break through, lord.

The priest pierces the Lamb with a spear on His right side, saying:
One of the warriors pierced His side with a copy, and immediately there came forth blood and water, and he who saw it testified, and his testimony is true.

O Bless, lord, the holy union.

The priest blesses the connection:

Blessed is the union of Thy saints always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Having received the blessing, the deacon pours wine mixed with a small amount of water into the chalice. The priest, taking the second prosphora, says:
In honor and memory of our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, through Her prayers accept, Lord, this sacrifice on Your most heavenly Altar.
Having taken a particle from the prosphora, the priest places it on the paten on the right side of the Lamb (from himself - on the left), near its middle, saying:
The Queen appeared at Your right hand, dressed in gilded and adorned garments.
The priest, taking the third prosphora, says:
In honor and memory of the great officials Michael and Gabriel and all the ethereal heavenly powers.
and separates the first pyramid-shaped particle from the prosphora, placing it on the paten on the left side of the Lamb (away from himself - on the right), closer to its upper part, starting the first row with this particle. Then the priest says:
The honorable glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, the holy glorious prophets Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, David and Jesse, the three holy youths, and Daniel the prophet, and all the holy prophets.
and having separated the second particle from the prosphora, he places it below the first.
The priest goes on to say:
Holy glorious and all-praised apostles Peter and Paul and all other holy apostles.
and, having separated the third particle from the prosphora, he places it below the second, ending the first vertical row of particles with it. Then the priest says:
Like our holy fathers, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, Athanasius and Cyril, Nicholas of Myra, Peter, Alexy, Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes of Moscow, Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod, Leontius, Bishop of Rostov, and all the holy hierarchs.
And, having separated the fourth particle, he places it on the same level as the first particle, starting the second row with it. Then the priest says:
The holy apostle, first martyr and archdeacon Stephen, the holy great martyrs Demetrius the Myrrh-streaming, George the Victorious, Theodore Tiron, Theodore Stratilates and all the holy martyrs, and the martyrs Thekla, Barbara, Kyriakia, Euphemia and Paraskeva, Catherine and all the holy martyrs.
And, having separated the fifth particle, he places it below the first particle of the second row. Then the priest says:
Our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony, Euthymius, Savva, Onuphry, Athanasius of Afonsky, Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk, Sergius of Radonezh, Varlaam of Khutyn and all the venerable fathers; and the venerable mothers Pelagia, Theodosia, Anastasia, Eupraxia, Fevronia, Theodulia, Euphrosyne, Mary the Egyptian and all the holy venerable mothers.
And, having separated the sixth particle, he places it below the second, ending the second row. Continuing, the priest says:
Saints and wonderworkers of the unmercenary Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Ermolai and all the holy unmercenaries.
And, having separated the seventh particle, he places it at the top, starting the third row with it. The priest goes on to say:
Saints and righteous Godfather Joachim and Anna and St. (called the saint of the temple and day), Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers, Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir and Grand Duchess Olga and all the saints, with whose prayers visit us, O God,
And, having separated the eighth particle, he places it below the first of the third row. Usually other saints are also commemorated here. Then the priest says:
Like our holy father John, Archbishop of Constantinople Chrysostom,
And, having separated the ninth particle, he places it at the end of the third row, ending this row with it.
Taking the fourth prosphora and removing the first large particle, the priest says:
Remember, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, the most holy Orthodox patriarchs and our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL, and our Most Reverend Lord..., and every Orthodox bishopric, honorable presbytery, deaconry in Christ and the entire priestly rank, our all-honorable father... with the brethren and the parishioners of this holy temple (the rulers, teachers and students here) and all our brethren, whom You have called into Your fellowship by Your compassion, O All-Good Master.
Taking out the second large particle from the fourth prosphora, the priest says: Remember, Lord, our God-protected country and its Orthodox people.
and then, taking particles out of it and from small prosphoras, he commemorates the living members of the Church with the words: Remember, Lord, the health and salvation of the servant of God, or servants of God, (name).
Before removing a particle from the prosphora served for the proskomedia, the priest, according to custom, marks the prosphora in the shape of a cross with a copy. All particles taken out about health rely with bottom side The Lamb, and two of them - for His Holiness the Patriarch and the authorities - are considered higher than the rest of the particles taken out about health.
Taking the fifth prosphora and removing a large particle from it, the priest says:

About the memory and forgiveness of sins of the most holy Orthodox patriarchs, and the blessed creators of this holy temple (in the monastery: this holy monastery).
Here the priest also commemorates the bishop who ordained him, if he has died. From this prosphora and from small prosphoras the priest takes out particles about the repose of the deceased Orthodox Christians, saying:
Remember, Lord, the repose and forgiveness of sins of the servant of God, or servants of God, (name).
Concluding the commemoration, the priest says:
Remember, Lord, all our departed Orthodox fathers and brothers in the hope of resurrection, eternal life and Your communion, O Lord who loves mankind.
He places particles from the repose prosphora on the paten, below the particles taken out for the living. Having finished commemorating the dead, the priest again takes the fourth prosphora and takes out a particle from it for himself with the words:
Remember, Lord, my unworthiness and forgive me every sin, voluntary and involuntary.
The deacon takes the censer and, putting incense into it, brings it to the priest, saying:
Bless, lord, the censer. Let's pray to the Lord.
The priest, blessing the censer, reads a prayer:
We offer the censer to You, Christ our God, as a spiritual aroma, as a welcome to Your heavenly Altar, bestow upon us the grace of Your Most Holy Spirit.
Deacon, holding a censer at the altar: Let's pray to the Lord.
The priest, taking the unfolded star, holds it over the censer so that it is fumigated with incense smoke, places it on the paten, above the Lamb, saying:
And when he came, a star stood over the place where the Child was.
[According to Greek custom, the deacon says instead:
Confirm, Lord.
The priest puts a star on the paten, saying:
By the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and by the spirit of his mouth all their power.]
O Let's pray to the Lord.
The priest places the first cover over the censer and, covering the paten with it, says:
The Lord reigned, He was clothed with beauty, The Lord was clothed with strength and girded, for He has established the world, and it will not be shaken.
From the beginning Your throne has been prepared; from eternity You have been. The rivers have roared, O Lord, the rivers have lifted up their voices, the rivers have lifted up their waves, the voice of many waters has been heard. Marvelous are the high waves of the sea, marvelous is the Lord in the heights of heaven. Your revelations are always true. Thy house befits holiness, O Lord, for the length of days.
Deacon:
The priest places a second cover over the censer and covers the chalice (chalice) with it with the words:
Thy virtue covered the heavens, O Christ, and the earth was filled with Thy praise.
O
Let's pray to the Lord. Cover it, sir.
The priest blows air over the censer and, covering the paten and chalice with it, says:
Cover us with the shelter of Your wings, drive away every enemy and adversary from us, pacify our lives, Lord, have mercy on us and Your world and save our souls, for You are Good and Lover of Mankind.
Then the priest burns incense on the altar three times, saying:
Blessed is our God, who has deigned to accomplish our salvation; glory to Thee.
Each time the deacon ends the priest’s prayer with the words:
Always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
And they bow three times. Then the deacon says:
Let us pray to the Lord for the proposed Honest Gifts.
The priest reads the prayer of offering:
God, our God! Who sent Heavenly Bread for food to the whole world - our Lord and God Jesus Christ, Savior and Deliverer, and Benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us. Bless this offering yourself and accept it into Your heavenly Altar. Remember, as the Good and the Lover of Mankind, who brought and for the sake of the offering, and preserve us not condemned in the sacred rite of Your Divine Mysteries. For sanctified and glorified is Thy most honorable and magnificent Name, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

O Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, Christ God, Our Hope, glory to Thee.
O Glory; and now. Lord, have mercy (three times). Bless.
The priest says a short dismissal:
(Risen from the dead) Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, like our holy father John, Archbishop of Constantinople, Chrysostom, and all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is Good and Lover of Mankind.
Deacon: Amen.

He takes the censer, opens the curtain of the royal doors and censes the throne, walking around it on all sides and reading quietly:
Carnally in the grave (cense in front of the throne)
in hell with a soul like God (censes the throne on the right side),
in heaven with the robber (censes the throne from behind),
and on the Throne you were, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit (censes the throne on the left side),
fulfill everything, Unspeakable One (cense in front of the altar).
Then, reading the 50th Psalm, the altar and the entire temple are censed.

Liturgy of the Word

After censing, the priest and deacon stand before the throne and bow three times before it with the words God, cleanse me, a sinner. Then the priest, raising his hands, reads prayers, and the deacon stands nearby, raising the orarion, as during litanies:
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men (twice).
Then the priest kisses the Gospel and the throne, and the deacon kisses the throne.
[From the day of Holy Pascha until it is given, “Glory to God in the highest...” is preceded by the reading of the Troparion of Pascha (three times), and “To the Heavenly King” is read only from the Day of the Holy Trinity.]
Next, the deacon, bowing before the priest and holding the orarion in front of him with three fingers right hand, speaks:
It's time to do something for the Lord. Master, bless.
The priest, blessing the deacon, says:
Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
The deacon, having received the blessing from the priest, says:
Pray for me, sir.
Priest: May the Lord guide your steps.
Deacon: Remember me, holy lord.
Having entered the altar, the priest and the deacon bow twice before the throne, remove the veil from it, kiss it, and bow a third time. The priest puts on the epitrachelion and leaves the altar on the sole by the northern door, the deacon - by the southern one. May the Lord God always remember you in His Kingdom: now and ever, and forever and ever.
The deacon says: Amen. Having kissed the priest's hand and bowed to him, he goes out onto the sole by the northern doors. Standing opposite the royal doors on the pulpit, he bows three times, praying secretly: Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
The deacon, raising his hand with the orar, says loudly:
Bless, lord.
The priest, depicting the sign of the cross over the antimension with the Gospel, pronounces the initial exclamation of the liturgy:
Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.

O Let us pray to the Lord in peace.

Chorus: Lord have mercy. (For each request).

Let us pray to the Lord for peace from above and for the salvation of our souls.

About the peace of the whole world, about the welfare of the saints Churches of God and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

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

For our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL, and for our Lord, His Eminence..., the honorable presbytery, the deaconry in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our God-protected Russian country, its authorities, its army and its suffering people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our all-honorable father... with the brethren and parishioners of this holy temple, for the rulers, teachers and students here, let us pray to the Lord.

For this city of Saransk, every city, country and those who live in them by faith, let us pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to the Lord for the goodness of the air, for the abundance of earthly fruits and times of peace.

Let us pray to the Lord for those who are sailing, traveling, the sick, the suffering, the lonely, the captives, and for their salvation.

Let us commemorate our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, for ourselves and each other, and our whole life, to Christ our God.

Chorus: To you, Lord.

The priest reads the prayer of the first antiphon:

Lord our God! Your power is unspeakable and your glory is incomprehensible, Your mercy is immeasurable and your love for mankind is indescribable! Yourself, Master, according to Your compassion, look at us and at this holy temple and create with us and with those who pray with us Your rich mercies and Thy bounty.

Exclamation: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen, and the first antiphon is sung.
Deacon after singing:
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Let us commemorate our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, for ourselves and each other, and our whole life, to Christ our God.
Chorus: To you, Lord.

The priest reads the prayer of the second antiphon:
Lord our God! Save Thy people and bless Thy heritage, preserve the fullness of Thy Church, sanctify those who love the splendor of Thy house; You glorify those with Your Divine power and do not abandon us who trust in You.

Exclamation: For Yours is the power and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen, second antiphon and Only Begotten Son...

The deacon pronounces the small litany.

The priest reads the prayer of the third antiphon:
Lord, you who have granted us these common and concordant prayers, and promised to ask for a tax to two or three who agree on Your name! You yourself and now fulfill the requests of Your servants for useful purposes, giving us in the present century the knowledge of Your truth and in the future granting eternal life.

Exclamation: For You are a good and Lover of mankind, and we send glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen , and the third antiphon.

Login with the Gospel

Deacon, quietly: Let's pray to the Lord.

The priest reads the entrance prayer:

Sovereign Lord, our God, who has placed ranks and armies of angels and archangels in heaven in the service of Thy Glory! Create at our entrance holy angels to be, serving us and glorifying Your goodness.

For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon, quietly, on the pulpit: Bless, lord, the holy entrance.

Priest, quietly blessing: Blessed is the entrance of Thy saints, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

The deacon, making the sign of the cross the Gospel, proclaims: Wisdom, forgive me , and enters the altar.
Chorus: Come, let's worship... and sings the prescribed troparia and kontakion.

The priest kisses the icons on the Royal Doors, blesses the priests and enters the altar, where he reads the prayer of the Trisagion chant:
Holy God, Who rests in the saints, Who is sung with the thrice-holy song from the Seraphim, and glorified from the Cherubim, and worshiped from all heavenly Powers; Who brought all things into existence from non-existence, who created man in Your image and likeness and adorned Him with all Your gifts; giving wisdom and understanding to the one who asks, and not despising the sinner, but relying on repentance for salvation.

Grant us, Thy humble and unworthy servants, to stand before the glory of Thy Holy Altar at this hour and offer the worship and praise due to You! Yourself, Master, accept from the lips of us sinners the (Trisagion) hymn and visit us with Your goodness, forgive us every sin, voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and bodies and grant us to serve You in reverence all the days of our lives, with prayers Holy Mother of God and all the saints who have pleased You from the ages.

The deacon is baptized in the High Place, approaches the priest and quietly asks for a blessing: Bless, lord, the time of the Trisagion (singing) .

[According to ancient custom, the priest, blessing, says:
Blessed be God, glorified with the thrice-holy voice and always glorified by all heavenly powers: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
The deacon [answers Amen] and goes out to the pulpit, where in front of the icon of the Savior he says:
Let's pray to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Priest: For You are Holy, our God, and to You we send glory (and the Trisagion), to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever,
(Deacon: Lord, save the pious.
Chorus: Lord, save the pious.
O And hear us.
Chorus: And hear us.)
The deacon, leading the people with his oracle: and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen, and sings the Trisagion. At this time, the clergy also read the Trisagion before the throne and retreat to the High Place, saying:
Deacon: Let's go, sir.
Priest: Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.
O Bless, lord, the High Throne.
Priest: Blessed are You on the Throne of the Glory of Your Kingdom, Who sits on the Cherubim, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
After singing, the deacon says: Let's remember.
The priest blesses: Peace to all.
Reader of the Apostle: And to your spirit. And the prokeimenon according to custom.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader:(Book title) reading.
O Let's remember.
The reader reads the Apostle, the deacon makes small incense.
After reading, the priest says to the reader: Peace be with you.
Reader: And to your spirit.
O Wisdom.
The reader and choir sing: "Alleluia" three times.
The priest reads a prayer before reading the Gospel:
Shine in our hearts, O Master who loves mankind, Your imperishable Light of God-understanding, and open our mental eyes to the understanding of Your gospel sermons. Place in us the fear (of You, so that we may not break) Your blessed commandments, but, having overcome all carnal lusts, we will live spiritually, and wisely, and act in every way to please You.

For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ God, and we send up glory to You, with Your Originless Father and Your All-Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Bless, O Lord, the evangelist, the holy (glorious) apostle and evangelist (name).
The priest, blessing him, says:
God, through the prayers of the holy, glorious, all-validated apostle and evangelist (name), give you, the preacher of the gospel, the verb and much power to fulfill the Gospel of His Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
O Amen (, amen, amen. Be me according to your word).

Priest or deacon: Wisdom, forgive me ( or: let us become reverent), let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace to all.
Chorus: And to your spirit.
O Reading from (name) of the Holy Gospel.
Chorus:
Priest: Let's remember.
And the Gospel is read.
At the end of the reading the choir sings: Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee.
The priest delivers a sermon.

O We say everything with all our hearts, and we say everything with all our thoughts.

Chorus: Lord have mercy.

Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You, hear and have mercy.

Chorus: Lord have mercy.

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear and have mercy.
Chorus: Lord have mercy (three times for each request) .

We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL, and for our Lord, His Eminence (Name), and about all our brethren in Christ.

Here the priest unfolds the iliton and three sides of the antimension.

We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities, its army and its suffering people, so that we may live a quiet and serene life in all piety and purity.

We also pray for our brothers, priests, priests and all our brotherhood in Christ.

We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable Orthodox patriarchs, and the creators of this holy temple, and for all the Orthodox fathers and brethren who lie before us, who lie here and everywhere.

We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and forgiveness of sins of the servants of God, our all-honorable father (name) with the brethren of this holy temple, (for the rulers, teachers and students here) and the servants of God (names) and May the years of their life be multiplied.

Additional petitions of Archbishop Jonathan (Eletsky):

We also pray for an end to church strife and divisions through the power and action of the Holy Spirit.

We also pray for the bishops, priests and deacons of Christ, that they may keep the vows of fidelity and obedience to the Mother of the Church, which they offered to God in their ordination.

We also pray for new abundant and worthy vocations to priestly and monastic service in the Church of Christ.

We also pray for the unanimity and mutual love in Christ of the parishioners of this holy temple.

We also pray for the enlightenment of the Light of true knowledge of God for those who are carried away by sinful schisms and for those darkened by sectarian delusions and superstitious fears.

We also pray to the Lord God for softening evil hearts, unrighteously rebelling against us and the Orthodox Church.

We also pray for the establishment of peace, tranquility, harmony and righteous living throughout Rus'.

We also pray for the strengthening of pious Christians in our country, so that they may become indestructible in the firm confession of the Orthodox saving faith.

We also pray for the well-being and spiritual prosperity of our city of Saransk and the Orthodox Christians living in it.

We also pray for the suffering, sick, widowed, lonely, poor, homeless and orphans, may the all-generous Lord heal them and help them with His grace.

We also pray for those living in Christian marriages and for their well-being.

We also pray for parents raising their children in love for God, our Savior, and for the Holy Church of Christ.

We also pray for the Orthodox youths and young women, that they may be established in good behavior and may preserve their spiritual and physical purity.

Last petition of the litany: We also pray for those who bear fruit and do good in this holy and all-honorable temple, those who work, sing and stand before us, expecting great and rich mercy from You.

Priest:
Lord our God! Accept this diligent prayer from Your servants, and have mercy on us, according to the multitude of Your mercy, and send Your mercies upon us and on all Your people who expect rich mercies from You.
For You are a merciful and Lover of mankind, and we send glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.

Deacon: Pray, the catechumen, to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy. (For every request.)

Verily, let us pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.
He will announce them with the word of truth.
The Gospel of truth will be revealed to them.

Here the priest unfolds the upper part of the antimension.

He will unite them with His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Save, have mercy, intercede and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.
(Catechism) bow your heads to the Lord.
Chorus: To you, Lord.
Priest, quietly:
Lord our God, who lives in heaven and looks upon the humble. You have sent down salvation to the human race - Thy Only Begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ! Look at Your servants, the catechumens, (who have bowed their heads to You) and grant them during the successful regenerative washing, the remission of sins and the clothing of incorruptibility, unite them with Your Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and associate them with Your chosen flock.

Loudly, making the sign of the cross with an antimension sponge over the antimension:
Yes, and they with us glorify Your most honorable and magnificent Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen.

Deacon: Elitsy catechumen, come out, catechumen, come out; After the announcement, come out.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Deacon: Yes, no one from the catechumens, more and more in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom.
The priest reads the first prayer of the faithful quietly:
We thank You, Lord God of Hosts, who have made us worthy to present ourselves now to Your holy Altar and to receive Your compassion for our sins and for human ignorance. Accept, O God, our prayer, make us worthy to be able to offer You supplications and supplications and Bloodless Sacrifice for all Your people. And grant us, whom You have placed in this service, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, without condemnation and without stumbling, in the pure testimony of our conscience, to call upon You at every time and place. Yes, having listened to us, You will be merciful to us in the abundance of Your goodness.

Loud: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen.
Deacon: Let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord, have mercy (for every petition).
Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Wisdom.

The priest reads the second prayer of the faithful quietly:
Again and again we bow down to You and pray to You, O Good One and Lover of Mankind, for, having heeded our prayer, cleanse our souls and bodies from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant us an innocent and uncondemned presence before Your holy Altar. Grant, O God, to those who pray with us the success of life and faith and spiritual understanding. Grant to them, who always serve You with fear and love, to innocently and uncondemnably partake of Your Holy Mysteries, and to be honored with Your Heavenly Kingdom.

Loud: For, always guarded under Your power, we send up glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen , and sings the Cherubic Song.

Priest, quietly:
None of those bound by carnal lusts and pleasures is worthy to come, or draw near, or serve You, the King of glory; for to serve You is great and terrible for the Heavenly Powers themselves. But according to Your ineffable and immeasurable love for mankind, You were immutable and unchangeable, and You were our Bishop, commanding us to perform the sacred act of this Bloodless Sacrifice, as the Lord of all.

For Thou art alone, O Lord our God, Thou art the ruler of heavenly and earthly things, borne on the Throne of Cherubim, Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, the One Holy One and resting among the saints.

I therefore pray to You, the only Good One who listens with mercy: look at me, Your sinful and indecent servant, and cleanse my soul and heart from evil thoughts, and grant me, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to present Your holy table and perform the sacred rites of Your Holy and Most Pure Body and Honest Blood.

For I come to You, bowing my head, and I pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me, and do not remove me from among Your servants. But grant me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, to bring You these Gifts.

For You are the One who brings and is offered, and who receives and who is given, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The priest and deacon, with the reading of the 50th Psalm, incense the altar and the people, then in front of the throne three times, with hands raised, they quietly pronounce the Cherubic Hymn and go to the altar.

The priest censes the Gifts, praying: God, cleanse me, a sinner.
Deacon: Take it, sir.

The priest, laying air on his shoulder: Take the shrine in your hands and bless the Lord.
And, taking the Holy Gifts, they leave the altar on the salt.

Deacon:
Our Great Lord and Father KIRILL, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord the Most Reverend (name, title) May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.

Priest: (Holiness of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchs,) Eminence Metropolitans, Archbishops and Bishops, all priestly, deaconal and monastic ranks and all church clergy,

Our all-honorable father... with the brethren and parishioners of this holy temple, (here are the rulers, teachers and students),

Builders, beautifiers, donors of this holy temple, who labor and sing in it,

May the Lord God remember you and all Orthodox Christians in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen. Like the Tsar...

Priest enters the altar. The deacon tells him:
May the Lord God always remember your priesthood in His Kingdom: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The priest, placing the Gifts on the throne and removing the coverings, reads the troparia:

In the tomb in the flesh, in hell with the soul, like God, in Paradise with the thief, and on the Throne you were, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, fulfilling everything, unspeakable.

As life-giving and the most beautiful of Paradise, truly the most luminous Christ, Thy tomb, the source of our Resurrection, appeared in the palace of every king.

The priest takes air from the deacon, holds it over the censer and covers the Gifts with it, saying:
The noble Joseph, having taken down Your most pure Body from the tree, wrapped it in a clean shroud and fragrant perfumes, covered it in a new tomb, and laid it.

Then the priest censes the gifts, saying:
Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built; Then you are pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay the bullock on Your altar.

Then the priest says to the deacon:
Pray for me, brother and colleague.

Deacon:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Priest: The same Spirit helps us all the days of our life.
Deacon: Remember me too, holy lord.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.

The deacon answers: Amen , and, going out to the pulpit, proclaims:
Let us fulfill our prayer to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy (for each request).
Let us pray to the Lord for the honest gifts offered.
Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God.
Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger, misfortune and need.
Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Every day is perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, we ask the Lord.
Chorus: Give it, Lord (for each request)
We ask the Lord for a peaceful, faithful mentor, guardian of our souls and bodies.
We ask the Lord for forgiveness and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions.
We ask the Lord for kindness and benefit to our souls and peace to the world.
We ask the Lord to end the rest of our life in peace and repentance.
The Christian end of our life is painless, shameless, peaceful, and we ask for a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.
Let us commemorate our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, for ourselves, and for each other, and for our whole life, to Christ our God.
Chorus: To you, Lord.

The priest quietly reads the prayer of offering:
Lord God Almighty, One Holy One, accepting the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with all their hearts!

Accept us, sinners, prayer, and bring us to Your Holy Altar, and deign us to offer You gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for human ignorance; and make us worthy to find grace before You, so that our sacrifice may be acceptable to You, and may the good Spirit of Your grace descend on us, and on these Gifts that are presented, and on all Your people.

Loud : Through the bounty of Your only begotten Son, with Him you are blessed, with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.

Priest: Peace to all.
Chorus: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Let us love one another, confessing with one mind:
Chorus: Father and Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity Consubstantial and Indivisible.

The priest bows three times before the throne and quietly prays:
I will love You, O Lord, my strength, the Lord is my strength and my refuge. (three times).

The priest kisses the holy vessels while reading the Trisagion and greets everyone with the words:
Christ is in our midst.

Everyone answers: And there is and there will be.
Deacon: Doors, doors, we will smell wisdom.

Everyone sings the Creed.

Deacon: Let us stand reverently, let us stand with fear, let us take in the holy offerings in the world.
Chorus: Mercy of the world, sacrifice of praise.

Priest: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Chorus: And with your spirit.

Priest: We have sorrow in our hearts. (or Let's lift up our hearts.)
Chorus: Imams to the Lord.

Priest: We thank the Lord.
Chorus: Dignified and righteous.

Priest:
It is worthy and righteous to praise You, to bless You, to praise You, to thank You, to worship You in every place of Your dominion.

For Thou art the Ineffable, Unknowable, Invisible, Incomprehensible, Ever-Existing, Eternally Unchangeable God, and Thy Only Begotten Son, and Thy Holy Spirit.

You brought us from non-existence into being, and raised up those who had fallen away and did not retreat, creating everything, until you raised us to Heaven and gave Your Kingdom the future.

For all of these we thank You, and Your Only Begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit for all the known and unknown blessings that have been upon us, manifested and unmanifested.

We thank You also for this service, which You deigned to receive from our hands, even if thousands of Archangels and tens of thousands of Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, six-crylated, many-eyed, towering, winged, stand before You,

Louder, making the star sign of the Cross over the paten:
singing a victorious song, crying out, calling out and saying:
Chorus: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts...

Priest:
With these blessed Powers, we, Lord, Lover of Mankind, cry out and say: Holy art Thou, and Most Holy, and magnificent is Thy glory. For Thou hast so loved Thy world, as Thou hast given Thy Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have Eternal Life.

Who came and fulfilled all his providence for us, on the night on which he was betrayed, and even more so, giving Himself up as a Sacrifice for the life of the world, taking the bread into His holy and most pure and immaculate hands, thanking and blessing, sanctifying, breaking, and giving to the saints To his disciples and apostles, exclaiming:

Louder:
take, eat ( or taste), this is My Body, which is broken for you ( or refracted) for the remission of sins.
Chorus: Amen.

Priest:
Likewise, he took the Cup after supper, saying:

Exclamation:
Drink of it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.
Chorus: Amen.

Priest:
Remembering this saving commandment and everything that was for us: the Cross, the Sepulcher, the three-day Resurrection, the ascension to Heaven, sitting on the right hand, the Second and Glorious Coming again,

Exclamation:
Yours from Yours offering to You for everyone and for everything,

The choir answers: I'll eat for you...

(Priest: Lord, Who sent down Your Most Holy Spirit at the third hour by Your Apostle, do not take Him away from us, O Good One, but renew us who pray to You. (Thrice)
Deacon (after the first troparion): Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb.
Deacon (after the second troparion): Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.)

Priest:
We also offer You this verbal and bloodless service, and we ask, and we pray, and we implore, send down Your Holy Spirit on us and on these Gifts that are presented.

and create this Bread, the Honorable Body of Thy Christ,

blesses the Holy Bread,
(All : Amen.)

Priest: and in this Chalice, the Honest Blood of Thy Christ,

blesses the Holy Chalice,
(All : Amen.)

Priest: changed by Your Holy Spirit,
blesses the Chalice and Paten together.

All: Amen, amen, amen , and bow to the ground.

Deacon to priest:
Remember me, holy master, a sinner.

The priest blesses the deacon:
May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.

The priest continues the prayer:
May Your Gifts be to those who receive communion for the sobriety of the soul, for the remission of sins; into communion with Your Holy Spirit, into the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven, into boldness towards You, not into judgment or condemnation.

We also offer You this verbal service about those who rested in faith: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, fasters, and about every righteous spirit who died in faith.

The priest burns incense before the Throne and proclaims:
Much more about the Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady of our Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Chorus: Worthy to eat... or Worthy of the Day.

Priest:
About Saint John the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, about the saints and all-praised apostles, about the saint (name), of whom we commemorate, and about all Your saints, whose prayers visit us, O God.

And remember all the departed in the hope of resurrection in Eternal Life (names), and rest them where the light of Your face shines on everyone.

We also pray to Thee, Lord, remember every bishopric of the Orthodox who faithfully preach the word of Thy truth, every presbytery, deaconry in Christ and every priestly order.

We also offer You this verbal service about the universe, about the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, about everyone who dwells in purity and piety; about our God-protected Russian country, its authorities and its army. Grant them, Lord, a peaceful reign, and in their silence we too may live a quiet and serene life in all piety and purity.

Louder: First remember, Lord, the Great Lord and Father of our KIRILL, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and our Lord, the Most Reverend (name, title), grant them also to Thy holy Churches in the world, whole, worthy, healthy, long-living, faithfully preaching the word of Thy truth.

[Deacon, according to Greek custom: And those for whom each of us prays in thought, and for everyone and for everything.]
Chorus: And everyone and everything.

Priest:
Remember, Lord, this city (Name), in it we live, and every city and country, and those who live in them by faith.

Remember, Lord, those who are sailing, traveling, the sick, the suffering, the lonely, the captives, heal and save them. Remember, Lord, our benefactors and sacrificers and those who do good in Your holy churches and remember the poor (commemoration of the living by diptychs) and Thy mercies have descended upon us all.

And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and glorify Your Most Honorable and Magnificent Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.

Priest:
And may the mercies of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Chorus: And with your spirit.

O Having remembered all the saints, let us pray again and again to the Lord in peace.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
O For the offered and consecrated Honest Gifts, let us pray to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
O For if our God, the Lover of Mankind, having received them into His holy, heavenly, and mental Altar, into a spiritual fragrance, will bestow upon us Divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
(Other petitions are not read in modern Greek practice).

O Having asked for the union of faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Chorus: To you, Lord.

Priest:
We offer You our whole life and hope, Lord, Lover of Mankind, and we ask You, and we pray, and we implore: grant us to partake of Your Heavenly and Terrible Mysteries, eating sacred and spiritual Meals, with a clear conscience, for the remission of sins, for the forgiveness of sins, for communion the Holy Spirit, for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, for boldness towards You, not for judgment or condemnation.

And grant us, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to call upon You, the Heavenly God, like the Father, and say:

Choir and all worshipers: Our Father:

Priest:
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen.

Priest: Peace to all.

Chorus: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.

Chorus: To you, Lord.

Priest:
We thank You, the Invisible King, who by Your innumerable power created everything and brought everything from non-existence into existence by the multitude of Your mercy. Yourself, Master, look from heaven at those who bow their heads to You; We have not bowed down to flesh and blood, but to You, the awe-inspiring God.

Therefore, O Master, you level out what is set before us all for the good, to each according to his needs: sail to those who swim, travel to those who travel, heal the sick, Physician of our souls and bodies.

By the grace, and bounty, and love for mankind of Thy Only Begotten Son, with Him art thou blessed, with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen (drawn out).

Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who sits in heaven with the Father and dwells here invisibly to us. Look out from Your holy habitation and from the Throne of glory of Your Kingdom and come to sanctify us. And deign, by Thy sovereign hand, to teach us Thy Most Pure Body and Honest Blood, and through us to all people.

(The royal gates and curtain are closed.)

The priest bows three times before the throne, quietly praying:
God, cleanse me, a sinner.

Deacon: Let's remember.

Priest: Holy to holies.

Chorus: One is Holy... and sing in communion.
Deacon (in the altar): Break, lord, the Holy Bread.

The priest breaks the Holy Bread along the cut into four parts and quietly says:
The Lamb of God is fragmented and divided, fragmented and undivided, always eaten and never exhausted, but sanctifying those who partake.

Laying out the pieces of the Holy Bread in a cross shape on the edges of the paten:Jesus Christ - Nika (or Winner).

Deacon, pointing his oracle at the Chalice:
Fulfill, lord, the Holy Chalice.

The priest takes the “IS” Particle and, having made the sign of the cross over the Chalice with it, lowers it into the Chalice, with the words:

Filling of the Holy Spirit.

O Amen. Brings a ladle with warm water to the priest, saying: Bless, lord, the warmth.

Priest, blessing:

Blessed is the warmth of Thy saints, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The deacon pours warmth into the Chalice, saying:

Warmth of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After this, the priest takes a portion of the Holy Bread with the “XC” seal and divides it into particles according to the number of clergy receiving communion.

Then they all pray:

Weaken, forgive, forgive, O God, our sins, voluntary and involuntary, even in word and in deed, even in knowledge and in ignorance, even in days and in nights, even in mind and in thought; Even in this service, forgive us everything, for you are Good and Lover of Humanity.

After the prayer, the clergy make their first prostration in front of the throne, bow to each other who are in the altar and in the direction of the believers who are in the temple, with the words:

Forgive me, fathers and brothers (and sisters).

and again bow to the ground, saying:

Behold, I come to the Immortal King and my God.

Priest: Deacon, come on.

Deacon, preparing to receive St. Bread:

Teach to me, Master, the Honest and Holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Priest: (Name), The priestly deacon is taught the Honest, Holy and Most Pure Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of his sins and into Eternal Life.

The priest, taking a piece of Holy Bread, says:

The Honest and Most Holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is taught to me, the priest (Name) for the remission of my sins and into Eternal Life.

Before communion, the clergy pray:

I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that This is Your Most Pure Body, and This is Your Most Honest Blood. I pray to You: have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance; and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your Most Pure Mysteries, for the remission of sins and into Eternal Life.

Thy Mystical Supper this day, O Son of God, accept me as a partaker; I will not tell your enemies a secret this And I will not give You a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess You: remember me, O Lord, in Your Kingdom.

May the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be not for judgment or condemnation for me, Lord, but for the healing of soul and body. Amen.

The priest and deacon receive Holy Communion. Then the priest says:
Behold, I come again to the Immortal King and my God.

Communing from the Chalice, the priest prays:

Honest and holy Blood of the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, I, servant of God, priest (name), partake of the forgiveness of my sins and Eternal Life. Amen.

(Kisses the edge of the Chalice). This has touched my lips, and will take away my iniquities, and will cleanse my sins.

The deacon also receives communion. The clergy then read a prayer of thanksgiving (see below).

After this, the priest divides the parts of the Holy Bread with the seal “Ni” and “Ka” for the communion of the laity and lowers these particles into the Chalice, quietly reading:

Having seen the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Your Cross, O Christ, and we sing and glorify Your Holy Resurrection; For You are our God, we know no other god besides You, We call upon Your Name. Come, all you faithful, let us worship the Holy Resurrection of Christ, for through the Cross joy has come to the whole world. Always blessing the Lord, we sing His Resurrection, having endured the crucifixion, He destroyed death by death.

Shine, shine, New Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord is upon You. Rejoice now and be glad, O Zion! You are Pure, glorify, O Mother of God, by the resurrection of the One born of You.

O Great and Most Holy Easter, Christ! About Wisdom, and the Word of God, and Power! Grant us to truly commune with You in the unevening day of Your Kingdom.

Having opened the royal doors, the deacon brings out the Holy Chalice and exclaims:

Come with the fear of God, faith and love!
Chorus: Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord...

Priest reads a prayer "I believe, Lord, and I confess..." and, giving communion to the laity, says:
The servant of God (name) partakes of the Honest and Holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the remission of his sins and into Eternal Life.
The choir sings during communion: "Body of Christ..."

After communion, the priest says Alleluia, and on the throne pours particles taken from the prosphora from the paten into the Chalice, saying:
Wash, Lord, the sins of those remembered here with Your Honest Blood, with the prayers of Your saints.

Then the priest blesses the people, saying:
Save, O God, Your people and bless Your heritage.

Chorus: Videhom the True Light…

The priest censes the Gifts, gives the Paten to the deacon and, quietly, making the sign of the cross with the Cup over the antimension, says:
Blessed be our God...

Overshadowing the people in the Royal Doors with the Cup, they exclaimed:
always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Then the priest takes the Cup (and paten) to the altar, quietly saying:
Ascend into Heaven, O God, and Thy glory be throughout all the earth.

Chorus: Amen. May our lips be filled...

Deacon: Let's be reverent! Having accepted the Divine, Holy, Most Pure, Immortal, Heavenly and Life-Giving, Terrible Mysteries of Christ, we worthily thank the Lord.

Chorus: Lord have mercy.

Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Deacon: Having asked for the entire perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless day, we will hand over ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus: To you, Lord.

The priest addressed the participants:
We thank You, Lord, Lover of Mankind, Benefactor of our souls, for even on this day You have vouchsafed us Your Heavenly and Immortal Mysteries. Correct our path, establish us all in Your fear, protect our lives, strengthen our feet, with the prayers and supplications of the glorious Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (holy day) and all Your saints.

Returning to the altar and blessing the folded antimension with the Gospel: For You are our Sanctification, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.

Priest: We will leave in peace.

Chorus: About the name of the Lord.

Deacon: Let's pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord have mercy.

Priest (standing behind the pulpit, facing the altar):
Blessing those who bless You, O Lord, and sanctifying those who trust in You, save Your people and bless Your heritage, preserve the fullness of Your Church, sanctify those who love the splendor of Your House; You glorify those with Your Divine power, and do not abandon us who trust in You.Grant peace to Thy world, to Thy Churches, to the priests, to the army and to all Thy people.

For every gift is good, and every perfect gift is from above, coming from You, the Father of Lights; and to You we send glory, and thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen. Be the Name of the Lord (three times). Psalm 33.

Prayer of the priest before consuming the Holy Gifts:
The fulfillment of the law and the prophets, He Himself, Christ our God, who has fulfilled all the Father’s providence, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

The priest, having consumed the gifts, blesses the people:
The blessing of the Lord is upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

(Or Greek version:
May the blessing of the Lord and mercy come upon you, through divine grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.)
Chorus: Amen.

Priest: Glory to Thee, Christ our God, our Hope, glory to Thee.

Chorus: Glory, even now. Lord have mercy (three times). Bless.

The priest takes the cross from the throne and pronounces the dismissal on the pulpit:
(Risen from the dead,) Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy glorious and all-praised Apostles, like our holy father John, Archbishop of Constantinople, Chrysostom, and St. (temple and holy day) , the holy and righteous Godfathers Joachim and Anna and all the saints, will have mercy and save us, as He is Good and Lover of Mankind.
[And, according to the Greek rite, turning to the icon of Christ, he says:
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. ]
The choir sings ( Amen. Lord, preserve Him who blesses and sanctifies us for many years! ) and Many Years.
After the dismissal, the priest, having overshadowed the people with the altar cross and kissed the cross, gives it to those praying for kissing, and the reader reads prayers of thanksgiving.
Then the priest again signs the cross over the people and returns to the altar. The royal doors and the curtain are closed.

© 2009, Abbot Siluan (Tumanov)

Liturgy (Greek: “common cause”) is the sacrament during which Communion occurs. The observance of the Liturgy has remained unchanged for several hundred years.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this service for Orthodox Christians, because the first person to perform it was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Later the Savior blessed his apostles for this godly work with the words: Take, eat: this is My Body. Then He took the cup of wine, blessed it and gave it to the apostles, saying: Drink of it, all of you: for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.(Matt. 26, 28).

How does the Liturgy take place in the Orthodox Church?

Usually the Liturgy is celebrated on Sundays or holidays, but in large churches it can take place daily.

Most often, the morning time is chosen for the Eucharist (on some holidays there are also afternoon services). Duration of service is approximately 1.5-2 hours.

The rite of the Liturgy is performed according to the Jerusalem Rule, and its complete scheme is available only to ministers of the Church. But knowledge of the general order of actions and explanations for the stages of worship is desirable for every Christian in order to correctly understand the spiritual wealth accumulated over the centuries.

Now in churches in different time 4 liturgical rites are performed:

• St. John Chrysostom - is performed every day, and during the Lenten Triodion - on Saturdays and Palm Sunday;
• St. Basil the Great - served on Christmas Eve, Lent and Holy Week;
• St. Gregory the Dvoeslov - during Lent, except on weekends;
• Apostle James - is performed on the day of remembrance of the martyr.

The bishop's Liturgy is also distinguished by greater solemnity and duration.

What is prokeimenon

The prokeimenon is a short verse, usually consisting of individual psalms.

In the Liturgy, he shows what the further reading or holiday to which the service is dedicated will be.

The prokeimenon is read during the Liturgy of the Catechumens, after the Small Entrance.

What is alleluia and alleluary

“Alleluia” is a song glorifying the Lord, telling about His coming to people.

This song is usually performed during the Liturgy of the Catechumens after the reading of the Prokeimenon and one of the Apostolic Epistles.

"Alleluary" - verses of psalms sung along with the singing of "Alleluia". They are pronounced after reading the Apostle and precede the reading of the Gospel.

You can hear the performance of the Alleluarius exclusively at the Liturgy.

What is Liturgy and what parts does it consist of?

The content of the Liturgy dates back to early Christianity. It’s not for nothing that its second name is Bloodless Sacrifice. During the service, all the events of the Savior’s life before the Ascension are listed, and the moment of Communion symbolizes the Divine sacrifice for the atonement of all sins. Therefore, everyone who sincerely accepts the Holy Gifts is freed from sins, cleansing their soul and body.

The sequence of the Liturgy is unchanged and consists of several parts:

Watch

Immediately before the start of the Liturgy, the altar server reads the 3rd and 6th hours - short prayers remembering the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are called to turn the thoughts of parishioners to the Lord God.

Proskomedia

Tells about the earthly life of Christ. At this moment, the prosphora are prepared and cut. The altar remains closed during the entire first part of the Liturgy, and the Proskomedia is read on the Altar.

Liturgy of the Catechumens

This part of the service is dedicated to those preparing to receive Communion. The deacon says short prayers for the sick, the suffering, those in grief, for peace and healing of the sick, for the Orthodox Church and the Patriarch.

After this comes the Great Litany, during which a series of petitions are made to the Lord for peace and prosperity, for which all parishioners pray.

Next, the first, second and third antiphon are read, between which the small litanies are proclaimed. The royal gates of the Altar open. The priest brings out the Gospel and baptizes those gathered with it, after which he returns back and reads the text from the Gospel, which the parishioners listen to while standing.

After this, the altar server comes out with a book and reads the prokeimenon and excerpts from the epistle of the apostles. The order of reading the apostle depends on the day of the year.

The second part of the Liturgy ends with the reading of the Litany of the Catechumens.

Liturgy of the Faithful

Before the third part, the royal doors of the Altar open and the choir sings the Cherubic Song. At this time, the priest reads secret prayers in which he asks God to cleanse his soul from sinful motives.

After this, the Great Entrance takes place - the Holy Gifts are brought in - bread and wine, the litany of petition is read, and the most important prayer of the entire Liturgy, “The Creed,” which is said by all those praying in the church.

The priest thanks the Lord for the redemption, and the choir responds: “Amen.” And finally, the culminating part of the entire service takes place - the transfer of bread and wine to the Body of Christ, the glorification of the Mother of God and the general reading of the Lord's Prayer, after which Communion begins. During Communion, the choir sings “Receive the Body of Christ..”; at the end they sing “Alleluia.”

The sacrament ends with the proclamation of Dismissal, when the priest gives the parishioners a cross to kiss and blesses them with prayer to leave the temple.

Conclusion

For a more complete understanding of the sacrament of the Eucharist, it is necessary to turn to well-known spiritual books. For example, to the “Divine Liturgy” of Archpriest Alexy Ufa with exhaustive explanations or “The Main Secret of Christians,” where priest Daniil Sysoev uses all the means of figurative language to describe the beauty of Orthodox worship.

A short manual by A.I. accurately describes the sequence of the sacrament. Georgievsky "Service of the Divine Liturgy".

In detail: following the liturgy text - from all open sources and different parts of the world on the site for our dear readers.

O Bless, lord.

Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen.

O Let us pray to the Lord in peace.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Choir : Lord have mercy. (For every request.)

Let us pray to the Lord for the peace from above and the salvation of our souls.

For the peace of the whole world, the prosperity of the Holy Churches of God and the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

About our great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch (name), and about our Lord, His Eminence Metropolitan (or: archbishop, or: bishop) (name), honorable presbytery, deaconship in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our God-protected country, its authorities and army, let us pray to the Lord.

About this city Let us pray to the Lord in every city, country and those who live in them by faith.

Let us pray to the Lord for the goodness of the air, for the abundance of earthly fruits and times of peace.

About those floating, traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives and about their salvation. Let's pray to the Lord.

Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Priest: For due to You is all glory, honor and worship, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Chorus:Amen.

Fine antiphons

First antiphon

Everyday antiphons (they are printed after the figurative ones) are supposed to be sung on weekdays, except for special instructions.

Bless the Lord, my soul./ Blessed art thou, O Lord. / Bless the Lord, my soul, / and all that is within me, His holy Name.

Bless the Lord, my soul, / and do not forget all His rewards. He who cleanses all your iniquities, / who heals all your ailments, / who delivers your belly from corruption, / who crowns you with mercy and bounties. Who fulfills your desires for good: / your youth will be renewed like an eagle... The Lord create alms, / and the fate of all those who are offended. Moses told His ways, / His desires to the sons of Israel. The Lord is generous and merciful, / long-suffering and abounding in mercy. He is not completely angry, / he is at enmity for centuries. It was not because of our iniquities that he made us eat, / but because of our sins he repaid us to eat. As the height of heaven from the earth, / the Lord established His mercy on those who fear Him. The east is far removed from the west, / our iniquities have been removed from us. As a father gives generously to his sons, / the Lord rewards those who fear Him. For He is known by our creation, / I will remember him as the dust of Him. A man, like the grass of his days, / like the flower of the countryside, will bloom. For the spirit has passed through him, / and will not be, / and will not know his place.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting / on those who fear Him. And His righteousness is upon the sons of sons, / who keep His covenant, / and remember His commandments / to do. The Lord has prepared His Throne in heaven, / and His Kingdom possesses all. Bless the Lord, O His angels, / who are mighty in strength, who do His word, / to hear the voice of His words. Bless the Lord, all His might, / His servants who do His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, / in every place of His dominion. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Bless, my soul, the Lord, / and all that is within me, His holy name. / Blessed are you, Lord.

Litany small

O

Choir : Lord have mercy.

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Priest:

X op:Amen

Exclamation: For Yours is the power and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Second Antiphon

Praise the Lord, my soul. / I will praise the Lord in my belly, / I will sing to my God as long as I am. Do not trust in princes, in the sons of men, / in them there is no salvation. His spirit will depart, / and return to his land: / in that day they will perish. all his thoughts. Blessed is the God of Jacob who is his helper, / his trust is in the Lord his God. Who created heaven and earth, / the sea and everything that is in them.

Keeping the truth forever, / bringing justice to the offended, / giving food to the hungry The Lord decides the chained, / The Lord makes wise the blind. The Lord raises up the downtrodden, / The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects strangers, / he will accept the orphan and the widow, / and he will destroy the way of sinners. The Lord will reign forever, / Your God, in Zion, forever and ever. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Song of the Lord Jesus Christ

Litany small

O Let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.

Choir : Lord have mercy.

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Let us commemorate our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, for ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Priest: For Thine is the power, and Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages,

X op:Amen

For You are a good and Lover of mankind, and we send glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Third antiphon. Blessed

In Your Kingdom, remember us, O Lord, / when You come to Your Kingdom.

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

Blessed are those who cry, / for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, / for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, / for they will be satisfied.

Blessedness of mercy, / for there will be mercy.

Blessed are those who are pure in heart, / for they will see God.

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

Blessed is the expulsion of truth for the sake of them, / for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are you when they revile you, / and destroy you, and say all sorts of evil things against you, who lie to Me for my sake.

Rejoice and be glad, / for your reward is many in heaven. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Everyday antiphons (everyday)

Antiphon 1st

It is good to confess to the Lord. .

It is good to confess to the Lord,/ and sing to Your name, O Most High. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us

1Declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,/And Your truth every night. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us

For the Lord our God is right, / and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us

And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amine. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us

Antiphon 2nd

The Lord reigned, clothed with beauty. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us.

The Lord reigned and was clothed with beauty; the Lord was clothed with strength and girded. Through the prayers of Thy saints, O Savior, save us

For establish the universe, / even it does not move. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us

Thy testimonies have been greatly assured:/ holiness befits Thy house, O Lord, for the length of days. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us

Glory, and now:

Song of the Lord Jesus Christ

The only begotten Son and Word of God, He is immortal, / and deigning for our salvation / to be incarnate from the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, / immutably made human; / crucified, O Christ God, trampling death by death, / one who is the Holy Trinity, / glorified to the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

Antiphon 3rd

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, / let us shout to God our Savior. Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

Let us precede His face in confession, / and in psalms we exclaim to Him: Save us, O Son of God, / in the wondrous saints, who sing to You: Alleluia.

For God is the Great Lord,/ and the Great King throughout all the earth. Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

For in His hand are all the ends of the earth,/ and the heights of the mountains of Him. Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

For He is the sea, and He created Him, and His hand creates dry land. Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

Login with the Gospel

O Let's pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

Deacon (proclaims): Wisdom, forgive me.

Chorus:Come, let us worship and fall before Christ. Save the Son of God, risen from the dead, singing Ti: alleluia.

Troparion and kontakion

reading. Or: Reading the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans.)

O Let's remember.

Reading of the Apostle. When the reading is over, the priest says to the reader: Peace be with you.

Reader: And to your spirit.

O Wisdom.

Reader: Alleluia, voice...

The choir sings “Alleluia” - three times in the indicated voice, the reader pronounces the alleluia (special verses printed in the same place as the prokeimenon (at the end of the Apostle, for example).) choir: “Alleluia”, the reader - the second verse of the alleluia, the choir fasts on the third times "Alleluia".

O Bless, O Master, the evangelist, the holy Apostle and Evangelist (name of evangelist).

The priest, blessing him, says: God, through the prayers of the holy, glorious, all-validated apostle and evangelist (name), may He give you the word to preach the gospel with much power, to fulfill the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

O Amen.

Priest: Wisdom, forgive me, let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace to all.

Chorus: And to your spirit.

O From (Name) reading of the Holy Gospel.

Chorus:

Priest: Let's remember.

And the Gospel is read. After reading

chorus:Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee.

Litany

O We say everything with all our hearts, and we say everything with all our thoughts.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You, hear and have mercy.

Chorus:Lord have mercy. (Three times, for each request)

We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness the Patriarch (name), and about our Lord, His Eminence Metropolitan (or: archbishop, or: bishop) (name), and all our brethren in Christ.

We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities and army, so that we may live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity.

We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable creators of this holy temple (if in a monastery: this holy monastery), and about all the departed fathers and brothers. lying here and everywhere, Orthodox.

We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and forgiveness of sins of God's servants. brethren of this holy temple (if in a monastery: this holy monastery).

We also pray for those who are fruitful and virtuous in this holy and all-honorable temple, for those who work, sing and stand before us, expecting great and rich mercy from You.

Priest: For You are a Merciful and Lover of Mankind, and we send glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

At some times church year(except for the twelve and temple holidays) after the special litany, the following litany for the departed is read, with the royal arats open and with a censer:

O Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear and have mercy.

Chorus:Lord have mercy. (for every request).

We also pray for the repose of the souls of the departed servants of God (names) and to forgive them for every sin, voluntary and involuntary. For may the Lord God grant their souls, where the righteous may rest. We ask for the mercy of God, the Kingdom of Heaven and forgiveness of their sins from Christ, the Immortal King and our God.

Chorus:Give it, Lord.

O Let's pray to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Priest: For Thou art the resurrection, and the life, and the rest of Thy servants who have fallen asleep (name), Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with Your Originless Father and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

The Royal Doors are closing

Litany of the Catechumens

O Pray, the catechumen, to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy, (For every request,).

Believe me, let us pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.

He will announce them with the word of truth.

The Gospel of truth will be revealed to them.

He will unite them with His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Save, have mercy, intercede and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.

The Catechumen, bow your heads to the Lord.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Yes, and with us they glorify Your most honorable and magnificent Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

O Elitsa catechumen, come out, catechumen, come out; When you have announced the announcement, come out. Yes, no one from the catechumens, as many as the faithful, let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

O Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Choir : Lord have mercy.

O Wisdom.

Priest: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Small Litany

O Let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy. (For each request).

About heavenly peace and the salvation of our souls. Let's pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to the Lord for the peace of the whole world, the prosperity of God’s holy Churches and the unity of all.

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

Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger and need.

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

O Wisdom.

Priest: As we always keep under Your power, we send glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

The royal gates open

Chorus:Amen, And sings the Cherubic song ( Instead of the Cherubim, at the liturgy on Maundy Thursday “Thy Mystical Supper...” is sung, and on Great Saturday - “Let all flesh be silent...”. )

Even as the Cherubim secretly form and sing the Trisagion hymn to the Life-Giving Trinity, let us now put aside all worldly cares...

Great Entrance

O (name), (name of the diocesan bishop), May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.

Priest: May the Lord God remember you and all Orthodox Christians in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.

Chorus:Amen.

As if we will raise the King of all with angelic invisibly dorinoshima chinmi. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Litany of Petition

O Let us fulfill our prayer to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy. (For every request).

Let us pray to the Lord for the honest gifts offered.

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

Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger and need.

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Every day is perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, we ask the Lord.

Choir : Give it, Lord. (For each request).

We ask the Lord for forgiveness and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions.

We ask the Lord to end the rest of our life in peace and repentance.

We ask for the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful, and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.

Let us commemorate our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, for ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Priest: Through the bounty of Your Only Begotten Son, with Him you are blessed, with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and throughout the rivers of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Priest: Peace to all.

Chorus:And to your spirit.

O Let us love one another and be of one mind.

Chorus:Father and Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity Consubstantial and Indivisible.

O Doors, doors, let us smell wisdom.

The curtain of the royal gates opens

Symbol of faith

1I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible to all. 2And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. 3 For our sake, man, and for our salvation, he came down from Heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. 4 He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. resurrected on the third day according to Scripture. 6And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. 7 And the one who is to come will judge the living and the dead with glory; His Kingdom will have no end. 8 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. 9Into one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. 10I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. 11 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, 12 and the life of the world to come. Amen.

O Let's become kind, let's become fearful, let's take in the Holy Ascension in the world.

Chorus:Grace of the world, Victim of praise.

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

Chorus:And with your spirit.

Priest: We have sorrow in our hearts.

Chorus:Imams to the Lord.

Priest: We thank the Lord.

Chorus:It is worthy and righteous to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, Consubstantial and Inseparable.

Priest: The song of victory is aching, crying, calling and saying:

Chorus: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, fill Heaven and earth with Your glory; Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.

Priest: Take, eat, this is My Body, which was broken for you for the remission of sins. (At the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, these exclamations begin with the words: “Give to His saints, disciple and apostle, rivers...”.)

Chorus:Amen.

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

Chorus:Amen.

Priest: Yours from Yours brings to You for everyone and for everything.

Chorus:I'll eat for you. We bless You, we thank You, Lord, and we pray to You. Our God.

Priest: Much about our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

Chorus: It is worthy to eat, as you are truly blessed, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify Thee, the most honorable Cherub and the most Glorious without comparison, the Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.

(On the twelfth holidays and their after-feasts, instead of “It is worthy...” the chorus and irmos of the 9th song of the canon (the so-called “stagnation”) are sung - they are indicated in the services of the holidays. On Maundy Thursday the irmos of the 9th song “The Wanderings of the Lady” is sung. ”, on Holy Saturday - “Don’t cry for Me, Mother...”, on Vaiy Week - “God the Lord...”.

If the liturgy of St. Basil the Great, instead of “Worthy... we sing: “He rejoices in You.” Grace-filled, every creature, the angelic council and the human race, consecrated in the temple and verbal paradise, virgin praise, from the Unknown God was incarnate and the Child was born, our God before the age; for Thy throne is false, and Thy womb is wider than the heavens. Every creature rejoices in You, O Gracious One, glory to You.”)

Priest: First remember, Lord, our Great Master and Father (name), His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and Our Lord the Most Reverend (name of diocesan bishop), and also grant to Your holy Churches in the world, whole, honest, healthy, long-living, the right ruling word Your truth.

Chorus:And everyone and everything.

Priest: And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and sing the Most Holy and Thy Glorious Name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Priest: And may the mercies of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.

Chorus:And with your spirit.

Litany of petition

O Having remembered all the saints, let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy. (For each request).

For the offered and consecrated Honest Gifts, let us pray to the Lord.

As if our God, the Lover of Mankind, received me into His holy, and heavenly, and mental Altar, into the stench of the spiritual fragrance, He will bestow upon us Divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.

Let us pray to the Lord to free us from all sorrow, anger and need.

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, By your grace.

Everyday she is perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, we ask the Lord.

Chorus:Give it, Lord. (For each request).

O Angela is a peaceful, faithful mentor, guardian of our souls and bodies, we ask the Lord.

We ask the Lord for forgiveness and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions.

We ask the Lord for kindness and benefit to our souls and peace in the world.

We ask the Lord to end the rest of our life in peace and repentance.

We ask for the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful, and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.

Having asked for the union of faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

And grant us, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to call upon You, Heavenly God the Father, and say:

Choir (or all worshipers): Our Father, Who art in Heaven! Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Priest: Peace to all.

Chorus:And to your spirit.

O Bow your heads to the Lord,

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Priest: By the grace, and bounty, and love for mankind of Thy Only Begotten Son, with Him art thou blessed, with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Chorus: Amen.

The royal gates and curtain are closed.

O Let's remember.

Priest: Holy to holies.

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

Involved

(Any sacrament ends with a three-fold “alleluia.” The regulations on singing sacramental verses are found in the liturgical books along with the regulations on prokeimnas and alleluarias, and for a rare exception similar to the latter, i.e. when two Apostles are read, two sacraments are sung, but “Alleluia” is sung only after the second. Holiday communions are indicated in the holiday services.)

On Sunday: Praise the Lord from heaven, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

On Monday: Create your angels, your spirits, and your servants, your fiery flame.

In Tuesday:

On Wednesday:

On Thursday:

On Friday: Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O God.

On Saturday: Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord; praise is due to the upright.

Funeral: Blessed are those whom you have chosen and accepted, O Lord, and their memory for generations and generations.

On the feasts of the Virgin Mary: I will accept the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord.

On the feasts of the apostles: Their messages went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

On the days of remembrance of saints: The righteous will be a righteous man for everlasting remembrance; he will not fear the hearing of evil.

The royal gates open.

The deacon, bringing out the Holy Chalice, exclaims: Come with the fear of God and faith!

Hands the Chalice to the priest.

Choir : Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, God the Lord, and He has appeared to us.( On Easter week, “Christ is Risen...” is sung. )

Priest (and with him everyone who wants to receive communion): I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, from whom I am the first. I also believe that this is Your most pure Body, and this is Your most pure Blood. I pray to You: have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your most pure sacraments, for the remission of sins and eternal life. Amen.

When giving communion to the laity, the priest says: The servant of God takes communion (Name) The Honest and Holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and for Eternal Life.

Choir (during communion):Receive the Body of Christ, taste the immortal Source.(On Maundy Thursday, “Thy Secret Supper...” is sung; and on Easter week, “Christ is Risen...”)

Priest: Save, O God, Your people and bless Your heritage,

Choir; We have seen the true Light,/ we have received the Heavenly Spirit,/ we have found the true faith,/ we worship the Indivisible Trinity:/ For she has saved us. (Instead of “We have seen the true light...” from Easter to the day of the day, “Christ is risen from the dead...” is sung; from the Ascension to giving - the troparion of the Ascension; and the Trinity; parent's Saturday- “The depth of wisdom...”)

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

Chorus: Amen. May our lips/ be filled with Thy praise, O Lord,/ for we sing Thy glory,/ for Thou hast made us worthy to partake/ of Thy Holy, Divine, Immortal and Life-giving Mysteries;/ keep us in Thy holiness,/ learn of Thy righteousness all day long./ Alleluia , alleluia, alleluia. (On Maundy Thursday, instead of “Let them be fulfilled...”, “Thy Secret Supper...” is sung; on Easter week, “Christ is Risen...”.)

O Forgive us for accepting the Divine, Holy, Most Pure, Immortal, Heavenly and Life-Giving, Terrible Mysteries of Christ, we worthily thank the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

The whole day is perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, having asked, we will give ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Chorus:To you, Lord.

Priest: For You are our Sanctification, and We send glory to you, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages,

Chorus:Amen.

Priest: S let's go out in peace,

Chorus:About the name of the Lord.

O Let's pray to the Lord.

Chorus:Lord have mercy.

Prayer behind the pulpit

Priest (standing in front of the pulpit): Bless those who bless Thee, O Lord, and sanctify those who trust in Thee, save Thy people and bless Thy inheritance, preserve the fulfillment of Thy Church, sanctify those who love the splendor of Thy house; Glorify them with Your Divine power, and do not abandon us who trust in You. Grant Thy peace, to Thy Churches, to the priests, to the army, and to all Thy people. For every gift is good, and every perfect gift is from above, coming from You, the Father of Lights; and to You we send glory, and thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen. Blessed be the Name of the Lord from now on and forever (three times)(On Easter week, “Christ is Risen...” is sung.)

Psalm 33

( During Easter week, “Christ is Risen...” is sung many times. )

Chorus: I will bless the Lord at all times,/I will make His praise come into my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord./Let the meek ones hear and rejoice. Magnify the Lord with me, / and let us exalt His Name together. Seek the Lord, and hear me,/ and deliver me from all my sorrows. Come to Him and be enlightened,/ and your faces will not be ashamed. This beggar cried out, and the Lord heard and,/ and saved him from all his sorrows. The angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him,/ and will deliver them. Taste and see that the Lord is good;/ blessed is the man who trusts in Nan. Fear the Lord, all His holy ones, for there is no hardship for those who fear Him. With riches you become poor and hungry: but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good. Come, children, listen to me, / I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is a man, even if he loves his life, / loves the days and sees good things? Keep your tongue from evil, / and keep your lips from speaking flattery. Turn away from evil, and do good, / seek peace, and marry, and. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous/ and His ears are upon their prayer. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, / to consume their memory from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their sorrows. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and will save the humble in spirit. Many are the sorrows of the righteous, and the Lord will deliver me from all of them. The Lord protects all their bones; not one of them will be broken. The death of sinners is cruel, and those who hate the righteous will sin. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servant, and all who trust in Him will not sin.

Priest: The blessing of the Lord is upon you. By grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Chorus:Amen.

Priest: Glory to Thee, Christ God, our Hope, glory to Thee. (On Easter, on Easter week and on the celebration of Easter, instead of “Glory to Thee, Christ God...” the clergy sing “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death,” and the choir ends: “ And giving life to those in the tombs.” From the Sunday of Thomas until the celebration of Easter, the priest says: “Glory to Thee, Christ God, our Hope, Glory to Thee,” and the choir sings “Christ is Risen...” (Thrice)

Chorus: Glory, even now. Lord have mercy (Three times).Bless.

The priest pronounces dismissal (on Sunday)

Risen from the dead, Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the glorious and all-praised Apostle, like our holy father John, Archbishop of Constantine, Chrysostom (or: St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia), and St. (temple and saint, whose memory is on this day), the saints and righteous Godfather Joachim and Anna and all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is Good and Lover of Mankind

Many years

Chorus:Our Great Lord and Father ( namename ) , His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and Our Most Holy Lord ( Name ) metropolitan(or : archbishop,or : bishop)(his diocesan title ), the brethren of this holy temple and all Orthodox Christians, Lord, preserve them for many years.

The second part of the liturgy is called Liturgy of the Catechumens. This part of the service received this name from the content of prayers, chants, sacred rites and teachings that have a teaching, catechetical character. In the ancient Church, during its celebration, catechumens could be present, along with the faithful, that is, persons preparing for Holy Baptism, as well as penitents excommunicated from Holy Communion.

Deacon: Bless, master.

Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Great Litany

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord in peace.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

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

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the prosperity of the Holy Churches of God and the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

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

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and for our Lord, His Eminence, Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop) (name), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our God-protected country, its authorities and its army, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this city (or: o this village, if in a monastery, then: about this holy monastery), every city, country and by faith living in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord for the goodness of the air, for the abundance of earthly fruits and times of peace.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For those who are sailing, traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord that we may be delivered from all sorrow, anger and need.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Choir: To you, Lord.

Priest: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Antiphons

Antiphons in the liturgy are of three types: festive, figurative and daily (everyday). Which of them are sung is determined for each day by the Church Charter. Festive antiphons are sung on the feasts of the Lord, with the exception of the Presentation (festival antiphons on Vai Week, Easter, Ascension and the Day of the Holy Trinity are given in the chapter “Chants from the services of the Colored Triodion”).

Daily antiphons are supposed to be sung on weekdays. Most often on Sundays and holidays, figurative antiphons are sung (psalms 102, 145 and Blessed - Matthew 5: 3-12)

First antiphon

Chorus 1: Bless the Lord, my soul. Blessed are you, Lord. Bless, my soul, the Lord, and my entire inner being, His Holy Name.

Chorus 2: Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His rewards.

Chorus 1: He who cleanses all your iniquities, who heals all your illnesses.

Choir 2: He who delivers your belly from corruption, who crowns you with mercy and bounties.

Choir 1: He who fulfills your desires for good: your youth will be renewed like an eagle.

Chorus 2: The Lord grant alms and fate to all who are offended.

Chorus 1: Moses told the sons of Israel His ways.

Choir 2: The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy.

Chorus 1: He is not completely angry, he is at enmity for centuries.

Choir 2: He did not make us eat because of our iniquities, but repaid us because of our sins.

Chorus 1: Because the Lord established His mercy on those who fear Him, according to the height of heaven from the earth.

Choir 2: The east is far removed from the west, and our iniquities have been removed from us.

Chorus 1: As a father gives generously to his sons, the Lord will provide for those who fear Him.

Chorus 2: As He is known to our creation, I will remember him as the dust of Esma.

Chorus 1: A man, like the grass of his days, like the flower of the field, will bloom.

Choir 2: For a spirit has passed through him, and is not, and no one knows his place.

Chorus 1: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.

Chorus 2: And His righteousness is upon the sons of sons, who keep His covenant and remember His commandments to do.

Chorus 1: The Lord has prepared His Throne in heaven, and His Kingdom possesses all.

Chorus 2: Bless the Lord, O His angels, who are mighty in strength, who do His word, to hear the voice of His words.

Chorus 1: Bless the Lord, all His might, His servants who do His will.

Choir 2: Bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion.

Chorus 1: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Choir 2: And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Chorus 1: Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name. Blessed are you, Lord.

Litany small

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To you, Lord.

Choir: Amen.

Second Antiphon

During the second antiphon, the sexton's candle is lit. The altar boy takes the candle during “The Only Begotten Son...” and stands with it in the high place.

Chorus: Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Choir 1: Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord in my belly, I will sing to my God as long as I am.

Chorus 2: Do not trust in princes, in the sons of men, for in them there is no salvation.

Choir 1: His spirit will depart and return to his land; in that day all his thoughts will perish.

Chorus 2: Blessed is the God of Jacob, whose trust is in the Lord his God.

Chorus 1: Who created the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them.

Chorus 2: Keeping the truth forever, bringing justice to the offended, giving food to the hungry.

Choir 1: The Lord decides the chained, the Lord makes the blind wise.

Choir 2: The Lord raises up the downtrodden, the Lord loves the righteous.

Chorus 1: The Lord protects strangers, He will receive the orphan and the widow, and He will destroy the way of sinners.

Choir 2: The Lord your God will reign forever in Zion, forever and ever. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Song of the Lord Jesus Christ

Litany small

Deacon: Let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To you, Lord.

Priest: For Thine is the power, and Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Third Antiphon; Blessed

“The Blessed” is supposed to be sung with the troparions assigned on this day by the Church Charter: special troparions for the “Blessed”, or troparions from the songs of the morning canon for a holiday or a saint.

Chorus 1: In Your Kingdom, remember us, O Lord, when You come to Your Kingdom.

Chorus 2, verse 12: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for among them is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Chorus 1: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Chorus 2, verse 10: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Chorus 1: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Chorus 2, verse 8: Blessed be the mercy, for there will be mercy.

Chorus 1: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Chorus 2, verse 6: Blessed are the peacemakers, for these shall be called the sons of God.

Chorus 1: Blessed is the expulsion of truth for the sake of them, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Chorus 2, verse 4: Blessed are you, when they revile you, and destroy you, and say all kinds of evil things against you, who lie to Me for my sake.

Chorus 1: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is abundant in heaven.

Chorus: And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Everyday antiphons (everyday)

Antiphon 1st Chorus 1: It is good to confess to the Lord. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.

Choir 2: It is good to confess to the Lord, and sing to Your name, O Most High. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.

Choir 1: Proclaim Your mercy in the morning, and Your truth every night. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.

Choir 2: For the Lord our God is upright, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.

Chorus 1: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.

Choir 2: And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.

Antiphon 2nd Chorus 1: The Lord reigns and is clothed with beauty. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us.

Chorus 2: The Lord reigned, He clothed Himself with beauty, The Lord clothed Himself with strength, and He girded Himself. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us.

Chorus 1: For establish the universe, which cannot move. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us.

Choir 2: Thy testimonies have been greatly assured: holiness befits Thy house, O Lord, for the length of days. Through the prayers of Your saints, O Savior, save us.

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

Chorus: And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Song of the Lord Jesus Christ Choir: The only begotten Son and Word of God, He is immortal, and deigned for our salvation to be incarnate from the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, immutably made man; crucified, O Christ God, trampling down death by death, the only One of the Holy Trinity, glorified to the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

Antiphon 3rd Choir 1: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, let us shout to God our Savior. Save us, O Son of God, wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

Chorus 2: Let us precede His face in confession, and in psalms let us exclaim to Him: Save us, O Son of God, wondrous among the saints, who sing: Alleluia.

Chorus 1: For God is the Great Lord, and the Great King throughout all the earth. Save us, O Son of God, wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

Chorus 2: For in His hand are all the ends of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are His. Save us, O Son of God, wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

Chorus 1: For He is the sea, and He created Him, and His hands make dry land. Save us, O Son of God, wondrous among the saints, singing to Ti: Alleluia.

Login with the Gospel

Entrance with the Gospel. The deacon enters the altar, opens the Royal Doors, is baptized together with the priest, kisses the throne and takes the gospel, the altar boy at this moment crosses himself synchronously with them, bows to the high place, the priest, and at the moment the priest passes from the throne to the high place, he goes to the northern gate. When the priest and the deacon also head to the gate, he opens the door and walks along the ambo to the royal gates, then turns to the lectern and stands in front of it with his back to the people. When the priest enters the altar, the altar boy enters through the southern gate. At the altar, the sexton walks to the high place, crosses himself, bows to the high place, the priest, and goes to put the candle in its place.

Deacon: Wisdom, forgive me.

Choir: Come, let us worship and fall before Christ. Save the Son of God, risen from the dead, singing Ti: alleluia.

Troparion and kontakion “at the entrance”

The choir sings troparia and kontakia “at the entrance”, prescribed for this day by the Church Charter (Sunday troparia and kontakia are given in the chapter “Chants from Sunday Services”, daytime ones - in the chapter “Chants from Weekday Services”, common to the saints - in the chapter “Chants from the services common to the faces of the saints”, holiday ones - in the chapter “Chants from the holiday services”).

Priest: For You are Holy, our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

Deacon: And forever and ever.

Choir: Amen.

Trisagion

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

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

Choir: Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

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

Prokeimenon

The deacon is given a censer

Deacon: Let's take a look.

Priest: Peace to all.

Reader of the Apostle: And your spirit. Prokeimenon. Psalm of David, voice...

One or two prokeimnas are pronounced, prescribed that day for the liturgy by the Church Charter (Sunday prokeimnas with their verses are given in the chapter “Chants from Sunday services of eight voices”, daytime (weekday) ones - in the chapter “Chants from weekday services”, from the services of the Lenten Triodion and color - in the chapters “Chants from the services of the Lenten Triodion” and “Chants from the services of the Triodion in color.”

The reader pronounces the Prokeimenon, naming its voice, the choir sings the Prokeimenon, the reader pronounces the verse, the choir repeats the Prokeimenon, the reader pronounces the first half of the Prokeimenon, the choir sings the second half of it. When the Rule prescribes two prokeimenons, the first is sung twice, i.e. reader: prokeimenon, choir: prokeimenon, reader: verse, choir: prokeimenon, then the reader pronounces the second prokeimenon, and the choir sings it once.

Sunday Prokeemnes and Alleluia at Liturgy

Voice 1: May Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we trust in Thee.

Verse: Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord; praise is due to the upright.

Alleluia: God grant vengeance to me and subdue the people under me.

Verse: Magnify the salvation of the king and show mercy to your Christ David and his seed forever.

Voice 2: The Lord is my strength and my song. and be my salvation.

Verse: While the Lord punished me, He did not give me over to death.

Alleluia: The Lord will hear you in the day of sorrow; the name of the God of Jacob will protect you.

Verse: Lord, save the king and hear us, one day we will call on you.

Voice 3: Sing to our God, sing, sing to our King, sing.

Verse: All nations, clasp your hands and shout to God with a voice of joy.

Alleluia: In Thee, O Lord, have I trusted, that I may never be ashamed.

Verse: Become my Protector God and a house of refuge to save me.

Voice 4: Because Your works are magnified, O Lord, You have done all things with wisdom.

Verse: Bless the Lord, my soul, O Lord my God, who art greatly exalted.

Alleluia: Come and prosper and reign, for the sake of truth and meekness and righteousness.

Verse: You loved righteousness and you hated iniquity.

Voice 5: You, Lord, have preserved us and kept us from this generation and forever.

Verse: Save me, Lord, for I am in poverty, the venerable one.

Alleluia: I will sing of Your mercy, O Lord, forever; I will proclaim Your truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

Verse: Thou hast declared: mercy will be created forever, Thy truth will be prepared in heaven.

Voice 6-p: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thy inheritance.

Verse: To You, O Lord, I will cry, O my God, do not keep silent from me.

Alleluia: He who lives in the help of the Most High will dwell in the shelter of the Heavenly God.

Verse: Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge, my God, and I trust in Him.

Voice 7: The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Verse: Bring to the Lord, sons of God, bring to the Lord, sons of rams,

Alleluia: It is good to confess to the Lord and sing to Your Name, O Most High.

Verse: Declare Your mercy in the morning, and Your truth every night.

Voice 8: Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.

Verse: God is known in Judah, His name is great in Israel.

Alleluia: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, let us shout to God our Savior.

Verse: Let us precede His face in confession, and let us shout to Him in psalms.

Prokeemnas and alleluias for the day (everyday)

On Monday, Ch. 4th: The angels create their spirits, and their servants create a fiery flame.

Verse: Bless, my soul. Lord, Lord my God, you are greatly exalted.

Alleluia, ch. 5th: Praise the Lord, all His angels; praise Him, all His might.

Verse: As He spoke, and it happened; He commanded it, and it was created.

On Tuesday, Ch. 7th: The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and trust in Him.

Verse: Hear, O God, my voice; let me always pray to You.

Alleluia, ch. 4th: The righteous shall flourish like the phoenix, and like the cedar in Lebanon shall multiply

Verse: Plant in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they will flourish.

On Wednesday, Ch. 3rd: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

Verse: Because you have looked upon the humility of Your servant, behold, from now on all your kindred will please Me.

Alleluia, ch. 8th: Hear, O Daughters, and see, and incline Your ear.

Verse: Rich people will pray to Your face.

On Thursday, Ch. 8th: Their messages went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, but the firmament declares the work of His hand.

Alleluia, ch. 1st; The heavens will confess miracles, O Lord, for Thy truth is in the Church of the saints

Verse: We glorify God in the council of saints.

On Friday, Ch. 7th: Lift up the Lord our God, and worship His footstool, for He is holy.

Verse: The Lord reigns, let people be angry.

Alleluia, ch. 1st: Remember Your host, which You acquired from the beginning.

Verse: God our King from before the ages, brought salvation into the midst of the earth.

On Saturday, ch. 8th: Rejoice in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous.

Verse: Blessed are those who have abandoned iniquity and those who have covered themselves with sin.

Funeral, ch. 6th: Their souls will dwell in good things.

Alleluia, ch. 4th: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their sorrows.

Verse: Many are the sorrows of the righteous, and the Lord will deliver me from them all.

Verse: Blessed are those whom you have chosen and accepted, O Lord, and their memory for generations and generations.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: Reading of the Acts of the Saints. Or: Reading of Peter’s Council Epistle. Or: Reading the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans.

Deacon: Let's take a look.

Reading of the Apostle

During the reading of the Apostle, a lectern is placed on the pulpit for the Gospel. When the reading is over, the priest says to the reader: Peace be upon you.

Reader: And to your spirit.

Alleluia

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: Alleluia, voice... If there is one altar boy serving, then the sexton’s candle is taken out and placed in front of the lectern (with the Gospel), if there are two altar boys, then while singing Alleluia, the two of them approach the high place with candles, synchronously cross themselves, bow to the high place, the priest, a friend friend, and go out to the pulpit by the northern and southern gates, before reading the gospel they stand facing the iconostasis, without bowing or crossing themselves, at the beginning of the reading they turn to face the gospel, at the end they bow to the icons and enter the altar through the same gates, they also cross themselves and bow to high place and go to put the candles in place. Don't forget to remove the lectern.

The choir sings “Alleluia” - three times in the indicated voice, the reader pronounces the first verse of the alleluia, the choir: “Alleluia”, the reader pronounces the second verse of the alleluia, the choir sings “Alleluia” for the third time. In liturgical books, before the first verse of the alleluaria, “Alleluia, voice...” is written, and before the second - “Verse” (Sunday alleluaries are given in the chapter “Chants from Sunday services of eight voices”, daytime (weekday) ones - in the chapter “Chants from weekday services” , alleluia from the Lenten and Colored Triodeum services - in the chapters “Chants from the Lenten Triodeum Services” and “Chants from the Colored Triodeum Services.”)

Deacon: Bless, Vladyka, the evangelist, the holy apostle and evangelist (name of the evangelist).

The priest, blessing him, says: God, through the prayers of the holy, glorious, all-validated apostle and evangelist (name), give you the word, who preaches the gospel with much power, in fulfillment of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Deacon: Amen.

Priest: Wisdom, forgive me, let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace to all.

Chorus: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Reading from (name) of the Holy Gospel.

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

Priest: Let's take a look.

Reading the Gospel

The Gospel is being read. The Church Charter assigns certain Gospel readings for each day (the Gospel readings to the Most Holy Theotokos about the common faces of the saints are given in the chapter “Chants from the services common to the saints”).

At the end of the reading, the choir: Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee.

Notes about health and repose are issued.

Litany

Deacon: We say everything with all our hearts, and we say everything with all our thoughts.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray to You, hear and have mercy.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: We also pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch (name), and for our Lord, His Eminence, Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop) (name), and all our brethren in Christ.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon: We also pray for our God-protected country, its authorities and army, so that we may live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon: We also pray for our brothers, priests, priests and all our brotherhood in Christ.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon: We also pray for the blessed and ever-memorable creators of this holy temple (if in the monastery: this holy monastery), and for all the departed Orthodox fathers and brothers who lie here and everywhere.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon: We also pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and forgiveness of sins of the servants of God, the brethren of this holy temple (if in a monastery: this holy monastery).

Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon: We also pray for those who are fruitful and virtuous in this holy and all-honorable temple, those who work, sing and stand before us, expecting great and rich mercy from You.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Priest: For You are a Merciful and Lover of Mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Litany for the dead

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear and have mercy.

Deacon: We also pray for the repose of the souls of the departed servants of God (names) and for them to be forgiven for every sin, voluntary and involuntary.

Chorus: Lord have mercy. (three times).

Deacon: For may the Lord God grant their souls, where the righteous may rest.

Chorus: Lord have mercy. (three times).

Deacon: We ask for the mercy of God, the Kingdom of Heaven and forgiveness of their sins from Christ, the Immortal King and our God.

Chorus: Grant it, Lord.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For Thou art the resurrection, and the life, and the rest of Thy servants who have fallen asleep (names of the rivers), Christ our God, and to Thee we send up glory, with Thy Beginning Father and Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen. The Royal Doors are closing.

Litany of the Catechumens

Deacon: Pray, the catechumen, to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Believe me, let us pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: He will announce them with the word of truth.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: He will reveal to them the Gospel of truth.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: He will unite them with His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Save, have mercy, intercede and preserve them, O God, by Your grace.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Catechumens, bow your heads to the Lord.

Choir: To you, Lord.

Priest: Yes, and with us they glorify Your most honorable and magnificent Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Elitsy catechumenate, come out, catechumenate, come out; When you have announced the announcement, come out. Yes, no one from the catechumens, as many as the faithful, let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.

Chorus: Lord, have mercy.

The second part of the liturgy ends with the deacon’s exclamation: “Catechumenate, come forth...”.

Divine services in Russian Orthodox Church are committed according to the Jerusalem Charter, accepted one and a half thousand years ago. The Rule specifies the order or sequence of the liturgy, vespers, matins and small services of the daily circle. In general, this is a complex system, the deep knowledge of which is available only to professionals. But the Church recommends that every Christian study the main stages of worship in order to discover the spiritual wealth accumulated over the centuries.

Origin of the Divine Liturgy

Word "liturgy" means common service, a gathering of believers for the sake of meeting God. This is the most important Christian service, when the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ takes place. "We are participating in the supernatural“- this is how St. John of Damascus speaks about this.

For the first time, the Liturgy was celebrated by Christ Himself on the eve of suffering. Having gathered in the upper room for a festive meal, His disciples prepared everything for performing the Passover rituals then accepted among the Jews. These rituals were symbolic, reminding the participants of the meal of liberation from Egyptian slavery. But when the rank Easter meal was fulfilled by Christ, symbols and prophecies became into fulfilled Divine promises: man became free from sin and again found heavenly bliss.

Thus, originating from the ancient Jewish rite, the Christian liturgy in general outline resembles its follow-up, and the entire daily cycle of services, starting with Vespers, is a preparation for its celebration.

In modern church practice, the liturgy is a morning (according to the time of day) service. In the ancient church it was performed at night, which still happens today on the days of the great holidays of Christmas and Easter.

Development of the liturgical order

The order of the first Christian liturgies was simple and resembled a friendly meal, accompanied by prayer and remembrance of Christ. But soon it became necessary to distinguish the liturgy from ordinary dinner parties in order to instill in the faithful reverence for the Sacrament being performed. Gradually, in addition to the psalms of David, it included hymns composed by Christian authors.

With the spread of Christianity to the east and west, worship began to acquire the national characteristics of the people who accepted the new faith. The liturgies began to differ from each other so much that decisions of councils of bishops were required to establish a single sequence.

Currently, there are 4 main liturgical rites, compiled by the Holy Fathers and celebrated in the Orthodox Church:

• Liturgy of John Chrysostom- is performed daily, excluding the statutory days of the Liturgy of Basil the Great, and during the Lenten Triodion - on Saturdays and Palm Sunday.
• Basil the Great- 10 times a year: on the author’s memorial day, both Christmas Eves, 5 times during Lent and 2 times during Holy Week.
• Gregory Dvoeslov or the Presanctified Gifts- served during Lent on weekdays.
• Apostle James the Greek- performed in some Russian parishes on the day of remembrance of the Apostle.

In addition to the listed liturgies, there are special rites in the Ethiopian, Coptic (Egyptian), Armenian and Syrian churches. The Catholic West, as well as Catholics of the Eastern Rite, have their own liturgies. In general terms, all liturgies are similar to each other.

Liturgy of John Chrysostom

The order compiled by St. John Chrysostom, used in the practice of the Church since the 5th century. In time it is younger than the creation of Basil the Great. For the parishioner, the liturgies of both authors are similar and differ only in time. The Liturgy of St. Basil is longer due to the length of the secret priestly prayers. Contemporaries of John Chrysostom argued that he compiled the shorter rite out of love for the common people, burdened by long services.

The abbreviated following of John Chrysostom quickly spread throughout Byzantium and over time developed into the rite of the most famous Divine Liturgy. The text with explanations given below will help the laity understand the meaning of the main points of the service, and choir singers and readers will help avoid common mistakes.

Liturgy usually begins at 8–9 a.m. hours three and six are read in front of it, recalling the trial of Pilate and the crucifixion of Christ. When the hours are read on the choir, a proskomedia is celebrated in the altar. The serving priest prepared in the evening, reading a long rule, in order to begin the throne the next day.

The service begins with the exclamation of the priest “Blessed is the Kingdom...”, and after the response of the choir the Great Litany immediately follows. Then the antiphons begin, figurative, festive or daily.

Antiphons Fine

Bless the Lord, my soul.

Small Litany:

Praise the Lord, my soul.

The first two hymns symbolize the prayer and hope of Old Testament man, the third - the preaching of the revealed Christ. Before the Blessed Ones the song “The Only Begotten Son” is heard, the authorship of which is attributed to Emperor Justinian (6th century). This moment of the service reminds us of the Nativity of the Savior.

Third Antiphon, 12 Beatitudes:

In Your Kingdom, remember us, Lord...

The Rule suggests interspersing the verses of the beatitudes with the troparia of the canons read at Matins. Each category of service has its own number of troparions:

• sixfold - from “Blessed are the peacemakers” to 6;
• polyeleos or vigil of the saint - at 8, with “Blessed are the merciful”;
• Sunday - at 10, with “Blessed are the Meeks.”

In churches with daily liturgy on weekdays, you can hear the Daily Antiphons. The texts of these chants represent verses from the psalms, interspersed with a chorus dedicated to the Lord and the Mother of God. There are also three daily antiphons; they have a more ancient origin. Over time, they are increasingly being replaced by Fine.

On the days of the Lord's holidays, Festive antiphons are sounded, similar in structure to everyday antiphons. These texts can be found in the Menaion and Triodion, at the end of the feast service.

Small entrance

From this moment the Liturgy itself begins. Priests singing the entrance verse “Come, let us worship...” enter the altar with the Gospel, that is, with Christ Himself. The saints invisibly follow them, so immediately after the entrance verse the choir sings troparia and kontakia to the saints, prescribed according to the Rule.

Trisagion

The singing of the Trisagion was introduced in the 6th century. According to legend, this song was first heard by a young resident of Constantinople performed by an angelic choir. At this time, the city suffered from a strong earthquake. The gathered people began to repeat the words the youth had heard, and the elements subsided. If the previous entrance verse, “Come, let us worship,” referred only to Christ, then the Trisagion is sung to the Holy Trinity.

Prokeimenon and reading of the Apostle

The order of reading the Apostle at the Liturgy is regulated by the Charter and depends on the rank, connection of services and holiday periods. When preparing readings it is more convenient to use church calendar or “Divine service instructions” for the current year. And also prokeemnas with alleluaries are given in Appendix to the Apostle in several sections:

If you carefully study the composition of the book of the Apostle, preparing the readings will take a little time. There can be no more than two prokims, and no more than three readings.

The sequence of exclamations at the reading of the Apostle:

• Deacon: Let's take a look.
• Priest: Peace to all.
• Reader of the Apostle: And your spirit. Prokeimenon voice... (voice and text of the prokeimenon)
• Choir: prokeimenon.
• Reader: verse.
• Choir: prokeimenon.
• Reader: the first half of the prokeimna.
• Choir: finishes singing the prokeimenon.
• Deacon: Wisdom.

The reader proclaims the title of the apostolic reading. It is important to pronounce the inscriptions correctly:

• Reading of the Acts of the Saints.
• Reading of the Council Epistle of Petrov (Jacob).
• To the Corinthians (Hebrews, Timothy, Titus) reading of the epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul.

Deacon: Let's listen (listen!)

It is recommended to read the text in a chant, gradually increasing the intonation to end the reading on a high note. If the charter prescribes two readings, then at the end of the first the reader returns the last syllable to a low note. The text from the Acts begins with the words “In those days”, the Council Epistles - “Brotherhood”, the messages to one person - “Child Titus” or “Child Timothy”.

Priest: Peace to you who honor!

Reader: and to your spirit.

Hallelujah and Gospel reading

Despite the fact that after the Apostle the reader immediately pronounces Hallelujah, this exclamation does not complete the reading of the Apostle, but is a prokemene to the Gospel. Therefore, in ancient liturgies, Alleluia was said by the priest. Order:

• Deacon: Wisdom.
• Reader: Hallelujah (3 times).
• Choir: repeats hallelujah.
• Reader: alleluary verse.
• Choir: hallelujah (3 rubles)

After the second verse of the alleluaria, he goes to the altar, holding the closed book of the Apostle above his head. At this time, the deacon, having installed a lectern opposite the Royal Doors, places the liturgical Gospel on it vertically.

Regulatory shouts follow priest and deacon before reading the Gospel.

Deacon: Bless, O Master, the evangelist, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (John, Luke, Mark).

The name of the Evangelist is pronounced in genitive case, since the blessing is asked not for the author of the Gospel, but for the deacon.

The Gospel is read like the Apostle, beginning with the words “At the time it is” or “The Lord spoke to His disciple,” depending on the plot. At the end of the reading, the priest blesses the deacon with the words “Peace to him who preaches the good news!” in contrast to the words addressed to the reader of the Apostle - “the one who honors.” After the final chant of “Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee,” a sermon from the priest may follow, explaining what was heard.

The Great Litany

The word “sugubaya” means “double.” This name comes from the double appeal to God’s mercy at the beginning of the litany, as well as the intense prayer of the believers. Usually two special litanies are pronounced - the health litany and the funeral litany. At this moment, in modern practice, the notes with names submitted “for mass” are read. Special petitions may be inserted for those traveling, sick people, etc.

With the exception of the first two petitions of the health litany, the choir responds to each petition with three times “Lord have mercy.”

Litany of the Catechumens and the Faithful

A series of short petitions - a prayer for those preparing for baptism. By ancient tradition, they could not attend the main part of the liturgy - the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts. After hearing the introductory part - the Liturgy of the Catechumens - all those who were not baptized left the church.

Nowadays The announcement period does not last long or completely absent. Therefore, the litany should be understood as a reminder of ancient piety and serious attitude to the Church Sacraments.

After the litany about the catechumens and their departure, two more litanies follow, the first of which in text resembles the Great Litany. She begins the Liturgy of the Faithful. Following Ap. Jacob in this place pronounces the solemn prokeimenon “The Lord reigned in beauty, clothed with beauty”; in Chrysostom it is transferred to the proskomedia.

Cherubic Hymn, Great Entrance

The text of the Cherubic Song, which begins the Liturgy of the Faithful, is usually written according to the notes. It is sung in a chant because the priest and deacon must have enough time for incense, special prayer and transfer of the prepared Holy Gifts (not yet combined Bread and Wine) from the altar to the altar. The path of the clergy passes through the pulpit, where they stop to pronounce commemorations.

Deacon: Let us love one another, that we may be of one mind.

Choir: Father and Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity Consubstantial and Indivisible.

In ancient times, with the exclamation “Let us love...” there was mutual kissing of parishioners as a symbol of the unity of Christians in the image of the Holy Trinity. Men and women greeted each other separately, since to maintain decency they were in different parts of the temple. In modern tradition, kissing occurs only between clergy at the altar.

Symbol of faith

The twelve verses of the Creed are performed by the entire congregation of Christians under the leadership of the deacon. In this way, the faithful confirm their confession and agreement with the dogmas of the Church. At this time, the priest fans the Holy Gifts with a covering, which reminds of the imminent descent of the Holy Spirit and the coming miracle of their transformation into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Eucharistic canon

Deacon: Let's become kind, let's become fearful...

Chorus: Mercy of the world, Sacrifice of praise.

The texts of the Eucharistic Canon for the choir are written according to the notes for drawn-out and touching singing. At this time, the main action of the liturgy takes place - the Transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts. Parishioners pray standing motionless or on their knees. No walking or talking is allowed.

Worthy of eating and commemoration

The Eucharistic canon is followed by a hymn dedicated to the Mother of God. In the rites of John Chrysostom this is “It is worthy to eat,” which on the days of the twelve feasts is replaced by meritorious ones. The texts of the saints are given in the menaia for the day of the holiday and represent the irmos of the ninth song of the canon with a chorus.

During the performance of “It’s Worthy to Eat” the priest commemorates the saints of the day and deceased Christians.

Priest: First, remember, Lord...

Chorus: And everyone and everything.

Preparation for Communion

After the Eucharistic canon, the litany of petition is heard again, joined by the popular singing of the “Our Father.” Christians pray with the words commanded by the Lord Himself so that they can soon begin Communion. The first to receive the Holy Gifts will be the clergy at the altar.

The exclamation “Holy to Holies” follows, meaning that the Shrine is ready and is presented for the “saints”, in this case, for the parishioners preparing for communion. The choir responds on behalf of the people, “The Lord Jesus Christ alone is Holy...”, recognizing the unworthiness of even the most righteous person before God. Following this, a sacramental verse is chanted, intended for the priests receiving the Gifts.

The texts of the sacramental verses are given in the menaion for each service, as well as in the Apostle's Appendix, after the prokemmon. There are only seven verses for each day of the week and special ones for the twelve holidays.

In modern tradition the pause during the communion of the priests is filled with a “concert” - an author’s piece of music on the theme of the day, performed by the choir. It is also appropriate to read prayers for Communion in order to prepare the laity to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. The reading continues until the opening of the royal doors.

Communion of the laity and prayers of thanksgiving

The deacon is the first to leave the holy gates, holding the Chalice with the Gifts in front of him. Lay people preparing for communion are allowed to pass closer to the salt. They stand with their arms crossed over their chests, palms facing their shoulders. After the deacon’s exclamation, “Come with the fear of God and faith!” the priest, who followed the deacon, reads one of the prayers for communion, “I believe, Lord, and I confess...”, approaching the Chalice, the laity mentally read the troparion of Great Thursday, “Thy Secret Supper...”.

Babies are brought in first, children are brought in first. Then the men pass, the women last. Immediately after receiving the Holy Mysteries, parishioners go to a table on which a kettle of water is prepared. Drinking - sweetish water, tinted with wine or juice, is used to swallow all the smallest particles of the Body and Blood of Christ.

At this moment, you need to especially watch out for small children so that they do not spit out the Holy Mysteries. Dropping a Particle is a terrible sin of carelessness. If this happens, you must inform the priest, who will take the measures prescribed in such cases by church rules.

During communion, the Easter sacramental verse “Receive the Body of Christ, taste the immortal fountain” is sung. As the Chalice is carried into the altar, the choir repeats Hallelujah.

Prayer behind the pulpit

Here the priest leaves the altar and stands in front of the pulpit, from where he reads the “prayer behind the pulpit,” praying on behalf of the people. This prayer was introduced into the liturgy after the time of St. John Chrysostom, when the custom of secret priestly prayers appeared.

It can be seen that all prayers related to the Eucharistic canon are said in secret in the altar; parishioners hear only the singing of the choir. This is often a temptation for the curious who want to hear and see everything that happens behind the iconostasis. The prayer behind the pulpit is composed of fragments of secret prayers so that the laity have an idea of ​​what words are spoken by the priests.

The concealment of the most important part of the Liturgy - the Transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts - is symbolic in nature. Neither the content of the prayers nor the actions of the clergy are “a secret for the uninitiated” in the Church, but are performed behind the fence to emphasize the importance and incomprehensibility of the Eucharist.

Any Christian who strives to study the faith has the opportunity to attend special liturgies, where pauses are made in the service to explain what is happening.

• Ep. Vissarion Nechaev “Explanation of the Divine Liturgy.”
• John Chrysostom "Comments on the Divine Liturgy".
• A. I. Georgievsky. Order of the Divine Liturgy.

Psalm 33 and Dismissal

To the song righteous Job“Blessed be the Name of the Lord from now on and forever,” the priest again goes to the altar. In many churches, after this they begin to sing Psalm 33, which teaches believers instructions for the coming day. At this time, parishioners disassemble the antidoron taken from the altar - part of the service prosphora used to make the Lamb. All these actions remind believers of the ancient custom of the “meal of love”, which was arranged by Christians after the Eucharist.

At the end of Psalm 33, the priest pronounces a dismissal - a short prayer where, through the prayers of the Mother of God and the saints of the day, divine mercy is asked for all the faithful. The choir responds with the many years of “Our Great Lord and Father Cyril...”.

After the liturgy, it is customary to serve a prayer service in many churches.

Texts for the choir

Literature devoted to the following and interpretation of the Liturgy, as well as sheet music for chants, can be purchased in specialized stores. It is convenient for the choir director and readers to use the printed text, which contains the unchangeable chants of the evening and morning services, liturgy and all-night vigil. Texts for the choir can be downloaded from the Azbuka.Ru portal.

April 8, 2018. Bright Resurrection of Christ EASTER. (doc rtf pdf) The service includes: Midnight Office, Matins, Hours, Liturgy and Easter Vespers.

April 7, 2018. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Holy Saturday. (doc rtf pdf) Includes Vespers of Good Friday with the removal of the Shroud.