The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

The Prothesis (Preparation)

(The Priest and Deacon stand before the Table of Preparation. They make three bows.)

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Deacon: Amen.

(The Priest takes the Prosphora bread in his left hand and the Holy Spear in his right. Making the sign of the Cross over the seal with the Spear, he says:)

Priest: In remembrance of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (3x)

(He cuts the seal of the Lamb on the four sides, saying:)

Priest: As a sheep He was led to the slaughter. And as a blameless lamb before his shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away. And who shall declare His generation?

(He lifts the Lamb from the loaf:)

Priest: For His life is taken from the earth.

(He places it on the Diskos (Paten) face down and cuts it crosswise:)

Priest: Sacrificed is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, for the life and salvation of the world.

(He turns the Lamb face up and pierces the right side with the Spear:)

Priest: One of the soldiers pierced His side with a Spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

(The Deacon pours wine and water into the Holy Chalice:)

Deacon: Bless the Holy Union, Master.

Priest: Blessed is the union of Your Holy Things, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(The Priest then prepares the portions for the Nine Ranks of Saints, placing them on the Diskos to the right of the Lamb:)

Priest (1st Rank): In honor and memory of our most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, through whose intercessions accept, O Lord, this sacrifice upon Your heavenly altar.
(2nd Rank): In honor and memory of the holy Prophets: Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, David and Jesse; of the holy Three Holy Children, and Daniel the Prophet, and of all the holy Prophets.
(3rd Rank): In honor and memory of the holy and all-laudable Apostles: Peter and Paul, and the Twelve and the Seventy, and of all the holy Apostles.
(4th Rank): In honor and memory of our holy fathers among the saints, the great Hierarchs and ecumenical teachers: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios and Cyril, Nicholas of Myra, and all holy Hierarchs.
(5th Rank): In honor and memory of the holy Martyrs: Stephen the Archdeacon and First Martyr; George the Victory-bearer, Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer, Theodore the Recruit, and Theodore the General, and all holy Martyrs.
(6th Rank): In honor and memory of our righteous and God-bearing Ascetics: Anthony the Great, Euthymios, Sava the Sanctified, Onuphrios, Athanasios of Athos, and all holy Ascetics.
(7th Rank): In honor and memory of the holy and wonder-working Unmercenaries: Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaos, and all holy Unmercenaries.
(8th Rank): In honor and memory of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of Saint (Name of the patron saint of the church), and of all the saints, through whose prayers look down upon us, O God.
(9th Rank): In honor and memory of our father among the saints, Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea, whose Liturgy we now celebrate.

(He then commemorates the Living and the Dead, placing small portions below the Lamb.)

(He blesses the Incense:)

Priest: We offer incense to You, O Christ our God, as a sweet spiritual fragrance.

(He places the Asterisk (Star) over the Diskos:)

Priest: And the Star came and stood over the place where the young Child was.

(He covers the Diskos and Chalice with the Veils, saying:)

Priest: The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty... Cover us with the shelter of Your wings.

(He censes the Offering and says the Prayer of the Prothesis:)

Priest: O God, our God, who sent the Heavenly Bread, the food of the whole world, our Lord and God Jesus Christ... Bless this Offering, and accept it at Your heavenly Altar.

(The Dismissal of the Prothesis.)

The Enarxis

Deacon: Master, bless!

(The Priest, raising the Gospel Book and tracing the sign of the Cross over the Altar, exclaims:)

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

People: Amen.

(The Great Litany:)

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our country, for those in civil authority, and for our armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: To You, O Lord.

(The Prayer of the First Antiphon:)

Priest: O Lord our God, whose power is incomparable and glory incomprehensible; whose mercy is immeasurable and love for mankind ineffable: Look down upon us and upon this holy house in Your loving-kindness, and grant to us and to those who pray with us Your abundant mercies and compassions.

Priest (Exclamation): For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
...
Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady... let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life unto Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

(The Prayer of the Second Antiphon:)

Priest: O Lord our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; preserve the fullness of Your Church; sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house; glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who hope in You.

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

People: Amen.
Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
The Lord shall reign forever; Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Save us, O Son of God, who rose from the dead, who sing to You: Alleluia!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(The Hymn of the Incarnation:)

People: Only-Begotten Son and Immortal Word of God, Who for our salvation willed to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and became man without change; Who was crucified, O Christ our God, and by death has trampled upon death; Who are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit: save us!

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

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

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady... let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life unto Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

(The Prayer of the Third Antiphon:)

Priest: O You who have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common and unified prayers unto You; and promised that when two or three are gathered together in Your name You will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, the petitions of Your servants as may be most for our benefit; granting us in this world the knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting.

Priest (Exclamation): For You are a good God and love mankind, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

(The Third Antiphon is sung, usually the Beatitudes:)

People: In Your Kingdom, remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

The Liturgy of the Word

(The Small Entrance: The Priest and Deacon make the entrance with the Holy Gospel.)

(The Prayer of the Little Entrance:)

Priest (Silent): Master and Lord our God, who have established in heaven the ranks and hosts of angels and archangels for the ministry of Your glory: make with our entrance an entrance of holy angels, serving with us and glorifying Your goodness. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(The Deacon raises the Gospel and exclaims:)

Wisdom! Stand upright!

People (Hymn of the Entrance): Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who rose from the dead, who sing to You: Alleluia!

(The Priest prays the Prayer of the Trisagion:)

Priest (Silent): Holy God, who dwell among the saints; who are praised by the Seraphim with the thrice-holy cry and glorified by the Cherubim, and worshipped by all the heavenly powers; You who brought all things out of nothing into being; You who made man according to Your image and likeness and adorned him with every gift of Yours; You who give wisdom and understanding to him who asks, and do not overlook the sinner, but have appointed repentance unto salvation; You who have made us, Your humble and unworthy servants, worthy even in this hour to stand before the glory of Your holy Altar and to offer You due worship and praise: Accept, Master, even from the mouth of us sinners, the thrice-holy hymn, and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive us every transgression, voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may worship You in holiness all the days of our life, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who have been well-pleasing to You from the beginning of time.

Priest (Exclamation): For You, our God, are holy, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

(The Trisagion Hymn is then sung:)

People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

Reader: (The Prokeimenon is read)

Deacon: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading from the Epistle of (Name).

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

(The Epistle is read)

Priest: Peace be to you, the reader.

People: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

(The Priest prays the Prayer of the Holy Gospel:)

Priest (Silent): Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that, having trampled down all carnal desires, we may pursue a spiritual way of life, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing to You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory, together with Your Father, who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace be to all.
People: And with your spirit.
Deacon: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to (Name).
People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
Priest: Let us be attentive!

(The Gospel is read. Afterward, the Priest or Bishop delivers the Homily.)

The Liturgy of the Faithful

Deacon: Pray to the Lord, you catechumens.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Let us, the faithful, pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them; that He may teach them the gospel of righteousness; that He may unite them to His one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by Your grace.

Deacon: As many as are catechumens, depart! Catechumens, depart! As many as are of the faithful, again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

(The Cherubic Hymn begins:)

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

(The Great Entrance: The Clergy carry the Holy Gifts to the Altar.)

People: That we may receive the King of all, who comes invisibly upborne by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

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

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

Deacon: The doors! The doors! In wisdom, let us be attentive!

People: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Anaphora of St. Basil

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

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord.

People: It is proper and right.

(The Priest begins the Great Prayer of the Anaphora:)

Priest: O Existing One, Master, Lord, God, Father Almighty and Adorable! It is truly proper and right and befitting the majesty of Your holiness to praise You, to hymn You, to bless You, to worship You, to give thanks to You, to glorify You, the only truly existing God; and to offer You this our spiritual worship with a contrite heart and a spirit of humility, for You have granted us the knowledge of Your truth. Who is able to speak of Your mighty works, or to make all Your praises heard, or to tell of all Your miracles at all times?

Master of all things, Lord of heaven and earth and of all creation both visible and invisible, who sit upon the throne of glory and behold the depths, without beginning, invisible, incomprehensible, boundless, and changeless, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the great God and Savior of our hope, who is the Image of Your goodness, the Seal of equal type, showing forth in Himself You, the Father, the Living Word, the true God, the eternal Wisdom, the Life, the Sanctification, the Power, the true Light, through whom the Holy Spirit was manifested: the Spirit of truth, the Gift of adoption, the Pledge of the inheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal blessings, the life-creating Power, the Fountain of sanctification, through whom every creature, rational and intelligent, is empowered to worship You and to send up to You a perpetual doxology, for all things are Your servants.

For You are praised by Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, and the many-eyed Cherubim. Round about You stand the Seraphim, one with six wings and the other with six wings; with two they cover their faces, with two their feet, and with two they fly, crying one to another with unceasing voices and never-ending doxologies:

Priest (Exclamation): Singing, crying, shouting, and saying the triumphal hymn:

People: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of Your glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

Priest (Silent): With these blessed powers, O Master who love mankind, we also sinners cry out and say: Holy are You, truly most holy, and there is no measure to the majesty of Your holiness, and You are holy in all Your works, for in righteousness and true judgment You have ordered all things for us.

When You had created man by taking dust from the earth, and had honored him with Your own image, O God, You set him in a paradise of delight, promising him immortality of life and the enjoyment of eternal blessings in the observance of Your commandments. But when he disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and was led astray by the deceit of the serpent, and was subjected to death through his own transgressions, You, O God, in Your righteous judgment, did expel him from paradise into this world, and did turn him back to the earth from which he was taken, providing for him the salvation of regeneration, which is in Your Christ Himself.

For You did not turn away finally from Your creature which You had made, O Good One, nor did You forget the work of Your hands. You visited us in various ways through Your tender compassion. You sent forth prophets; You performed mighty works through Your saints who in every generation were well-pleasing to You. You spoke to us by the mouth of Your servants the prophets, foretelling to us the salvation which was to come. You gave us the Law as a help; You appointed angels as guardians.

And when the fullness of time had come, You spoke to us through Your Son Himself, through whom also You made the ages; who, being the Brightness of Your glory and the express Image of Your Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, did not think equality with You, God and Father, a thing to be grasped. But although He is God before the ages, He appeared on earth and dwelt among men. He was incarnate of a holy Virgin and emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being conformed to the body of our lowliness, that He might conform us to the image of His glory.

For since through man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, it pleased Your only-begotten Son, who is in Your bosom, God and Father, to be born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, to be born under the Law, that He might condemn sin in His flesh; so that those who died in Adam might be made alive in Your Christ Himself. And having lived in this world and given us commandments for salvation, and having turned us away from the deceit of idols, He brought us to the knowledge of You, the true God and Father, having won us for Himself as a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

And having cleansed us with water and sanctified us with the Holy Spirit, He gave Himself as a ransom to death in which we were held captive, sold under sin. And descending through the Cross into Hades, that He might fill all things with Himself, He loosed the pangs of death. And rising on the third day, and making a way for all flesh to the resurrection from the dead—for it was not possible that the Author of Life should be held by corruption—He became the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first-born from the dead, that He might be Himself the first in all things among all.

And ascending into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of Your majesty on high, and He shall come again to reward every man according to his works. And He left us as memorials of His saving Passion these things which we have set forth according to His commandments. For when He was about to go forth to His voluntary, ever-memorable and life-creating death, in the night in which He gave Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy and pure hands, and having shown it to You, God and Father, and having given thanks, blessed, hallowed, and broken it, He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying:

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

People: Amen.

Priest (Silent): In like manner, having taken the cup of the fruit of the vine, and having mingled it, and having given thanks, blessed, and hallowed it, He gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying:

Priest (Exclamation): Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

People: Amen.

Priest (Silent): Do this in remembrance of Me; for as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim My Death and confess My Resurrection. Therefore, Master, we also, remembering His saving Passion, His life-creating Cross, His three-day Burial, His Resurrection from the dead, His Ascension into heaven, His Sitting at Your right hand, God and Father, and His glorious and dread Second Coming: Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, on behalf of all and for all.

People: We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, O Lord, and we pray to You, O our God.

(The Epiklesis:)

Priest (Silent): Therefore, most holy Master, we also, Your sinful and unworthy servants, who have been counted worthy to serve at Your holy altar—not because of our own righteousness, for we have done nothing good upon the earth, but because of Your mercy and compassions which You have poured out so richly upon us—we dare to approach Your holy altar. And setting forth the symbols of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, we pray You and entreat You, O Holy of Holies, that by the favor of Your goodness, Your Holy Spirit may come upon us and upon these gifts here set forth, and bless them and hallow them, and show them to be: (Amen). This Bread to be the precious Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Amen). And this Cup to be the precious Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Amen). Shed for the life of the world. (Amen. Amen. Amen.)

And unite us all who partake of the one Bread and the Cup to one another in the communion of the one Holy Spirit; and grant that none of us may partake of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ to judgment or condemnation, but that we may find mercy and grace with all the saints who in every generation have been well-pleasing to You: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, teachers, and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith.

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

People: All creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace: the hierarchy of angels and the race of men. O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, the glory of virgins, from whom God was incarnate and became a child, our God before the ages. He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace: glory to you!

Priest (Silent - Intercessions): For the holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; for the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles; for Saint (Name) whose memory we celebrate today, and for all Your saints, through whose intercessions visit us, O God. And remember all those who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection to eternal life, and grant them rest where the light of Your countenance shines.

Remember, O Lord, the holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which is from one end of the universe to the other; and give peace to her whom You have purchased with the precious Blood of Your Christ; and establish this holy house until the end of the age. Remember, O Lord, those who have offered these gifts, and those for whom and through whom and for whose benefit they were offered. Remember, O Lord, those who bring offerings and do good works in Your holy churches, and those who remember the poor; reward them with Your rich and heavenly gifts; grant them heavenly things for earthly, eternal for temporal, incorruptible for corruptible.

Remember, O Lord, those who are in the deserts, in the mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. Remember, O Lord, those who live in chastity and godliness, in asceticism and holiness. Remember, O Lord, this country and those in civil authority; grant them deep and undisturbed peace; speak good things to their hearts for Your Church and all Your people; that in their tranquility we may lead a calm and peaceful life in all godliness and sanctity. Remember, O Lord, every principality and authority, and our brethren in the armed forces; preserve the good in Your goodness, and make the evil good by Your benevolence.

Remember, O Lord, the people here present, and those who are absent for reasonable cause, and have mercy on them and on us according to the multitude of Your mercies. Fill their garners with every good thing; preserve their marriages in peace and harmony; nurture the infants; instruct the youth; strengthen the aged; comfort the faint-hearted; gather the dispersed; lead back those who have strayed and unite them to Your holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Free those who are troubled by unclean spirits; sail with those who sail; travel with those who travel; defend the widows; protect the orphans; deliver the captives; heal the sick. Remember, O Lord, those who are under trial, in mines, in exile, in bitter slavery, and in every affliction, necessity, and peril. Remember, O Lord our God, all those who entreat Your great loving-kindness; and those who love us and those who hate us; and those who have asked us, unworthy though we be, to pray for them.

And remember all Your people, O Lord our God, and pour out Your rich mercy upon all, granting them all their petitions which are for salvation. And those whom we have not remembered through ignorance, forgetfulness, or the multitude of names, do You Yourself remember, O God, who know the age and name of each, who know every man from his mother’s womb. For You, O Lord, are the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the Savior of the bestormed, the haven of the voyager, the physician of the sick. Be Yourself all things to all men, You who know every man and his request, every household and its need. Deliver this city, O Lord, and every city and land, from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, and civil war.

Among the first remember, O Lord, our Archbishop (Name), whom grant unto Your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, health, and length of days, rightly teaching the word of Your truth.

People: And all mankind.

Priest: Remember, O Lord, every bishop of the Orthodox, who rightly teaches the word of Your truth. Remember, O Lord, my unworthiness, according to the multitude of Your compassions; forgive me every transgression both voluntary and involuntary, and do not withhold the grace of Your Holy Spirit from these gifts here set forth because of my sins. Remember, O Lord, the priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and every clerical order; let none of us who stand about Your holy altar be put to shame. Visit us in Your goodness, O Lord; manifest Yourself to us in Your rich compassions; grant us seasonable and healthful weather; send gentle showers upon the earth that it may be fruitful; bless the crown of the year with Your goodness. Stop the schisms of the churches; quench the ragings of the nations; speedily destroy the uprisings of heresies by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Receive us all into Your kingdom, showing us to be sons of the light and sons of the day; and grant us Your peace and Your love, O Lord our God, for You have given all things to us.

Priest (Exclamation): And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Holy Communion

(The Litany of Supplication follows, leading to the Lord's Prayer:)

(The Prayer Before the Lord's Prayer:)

Priest (Silent): O our God, the God who saves, teach us to give thanks to You worthily for the benefits which You have bestowed and continue to bestow upon us. You who have accepted these Gifts, purify us from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and teach us to perfect holiness in the fear of You; so that, receiving a portion of Your holy Things in the pure testimony of our conscience, we may be united with the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ; and that having received them worthily, we may have Christ dwelling in our hearts, and may become a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Yes, O our God, let none of us be guilty before these Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries, nor let us be weak in soul or body by partaking of them unworthily; but grant us, even to our last breath, worthily to receive a portion of Your holy Things as a provision for eternal life, and for an acceptable defense at the dread judgment seat of Your Christ; so that we also, with all the saints who in every generation have been well-pleasing to You, may become partakers of Your eternal blessings, which You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord.

Priest (Exclamation): And make us worthy, Master, with boldness and without condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say:

People: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

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

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be to all.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

People: To You, O Lord.

(The Prayer of Inclination:)

Priest (Silent): Master, Lord, Father of mercies and God of every consolation: Bless, sanctify, guard, strengthen, and empower those who have bowed their heads to You; withdraw them from every evil work, and unite them to every good work; and count them worthy to partake without condemnation of these Your pure and life-creating Mysteries, for the remission of sins and for the communion of the Holy Spirit.

Priest (Exclamation): Through the grace and compassion and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

(The Elevation:)

(The Prayer of Elevation:)

Priest (Silent): Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your Kingdom; and come to sanctify us, You who sit on high with the Father and are invisibly present here with us. And by Your mighty hand, deign to impart to us Your pure Body and precious Blood, and through us to all the people.

Priest: The holy things are for the holy.

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

(The Fraction: The Priest divides the Holy Lamb:)

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

(The Communion Prayer:)

People: I believe, O Lord, and I 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 first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body, and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore I pray to You: have mercy on me and forgive my transgressions... and count me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your pure Mysteries, for the remission of sins and for life everlasting. Amen.

People: Of Your mystical supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the mystery to Your enemies, nor like Judas will I give You a kiss; but like the thief will I confess You: Remember me, O Lord, in Your Kingdom.

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

People: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. The Lord is God and has revealed Himself to us. Receive the Body of Christ; taste of the fountain of immortality. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Dismissal

Priest: Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.

People: We have seen the true Light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.

(The Post-Communion Thanksgiving:)

People: Let our mouths be filled with Your praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Your glory. For You have made us worthy to partake of Your holy, divine, immortal, and life-creating Mysteries. Keep us in Your holiness that all the day we may meditate upon Your righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Deacon: Let us depart in peace.

People: In the name of the Lord.

(The Prayer Behind the Ambo:)

Priest: O Lord, who bless those who bless You and sanctify those who trust in You: Save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Preserve the fullness of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house; glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the priesthood, to our country and to all Your people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights; and to You we send up glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore. (3x)

Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and holy Mother; of our father among the saints, Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

People: Amen.

(The Priest distributes the Antidoro.)