THE OFFICE OF VESPERS

THE ORDER OF GREAT VESPERS

    When there is no All-night Vigil, the priest, having put on the epitrachelion and standing before the holy doors, begins:

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

    Choir: Amen. Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee. O heavenly King.... the Trisagion, All-holy Trinity . . . , and Our Father . . . 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.

    Choir: Amen. Lord, have mercy. twelve times, Glory... Now and . . . , Come, let us worship . . . thrice. Then the Vespers Psalm, Bless the Lord, O my soul ...


    If Ninth Hour is to be read, the priest, having come into the holy temple, puts on the epitrachelion. Then he comes out to stand before the holy doors and says:

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

    And the appointed reader says: Amen. Glory to thee, our God, glory to Thee. O heavenly King . . . , the Trisagion, All-holy Trinity. . .. Our Father . . . Exclamation:

    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.

    Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12), Glory . . . Now and Come, let us worship thrice. Then Ninth Hour. At its conclusion there is no dismissal, but the priest says: Blessed is our God and the reader: Come, let us worship and Psalm 103, Bless the Lord, O my soul . . .


    If he is to celebrate the All-night Vigil, the priest puts on the epitrachelion and the phelonion, and censes the holy table, the prothesis, and the whole sanctuary. Then, preceded by the deacon, who carries a candle, he comes out of the sanctuary and. together with him, censes the holy doors, the iconostasis, the icon of the feast, and the whole temple. Then, standing before the holy doors, the deacon exclaims: Arise. Master, bless.

    The priest, before the holy table, traces the sign of the cross with the censer, and says:

    Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating, and undivided Trinity always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.

    Priest: Come, let us worship God our King. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. Then in a very loud voice:

    Come, let us worship and fall down before Him.

    And they sing: Bless the Lord, O my soul . . . , selected verses

    The priest, having censed the, whole church accompanied by the deacon as usual, and, after censing the holy table, takes off the phelonion and comes out before the holy doors to read the Prayers of Light: First Prayer

    O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and of great mercy, give heed to our prayer, and attend to the voice of our supplication. Work upon us a sign for good. Guide us in thy way, that we may walk in thy truth. Gladden our hearts that we may fear thy holy name. For thou art great and workest wonders. Thou alone art God, and among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, powerful in mercy, and good in might, to help and to comfort and to save all those that hope in thy holy name.
    For to thee 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. Second Prayer

    O Lord,-in thy displeasure, rebuke us not, neither chasten us in thy wrath, but deal with us according to thy tenderness O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us unto the haven of thy will. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts unto the knowledge of thy truth, and grant unto us that the remainder of the present day and the whole time of our life may be peaceful and sinless, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the Saints.
    For thine is the strength, and thine are 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. Amen. Third Prayer

    O Lord our God, remember us thy sinful and unprofitable servants when we call upon thy holy, venerable name, and put us not to shame in our expectation of thy mercy, but grant us, O Lord, all our petitions which are unto salvation, and make us worthy to love and fear thee with all our hearts, and to do thy will in all things.
    For thou art a good God who lovest man, and to thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Fourth Prayer

    O thou to whom the holy Powers sing with unending hymns and unceasing doxologies, fill our mouths with thy praise, that we may magnify thy holy name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all those that fear thee in truth and keep thy commandments, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all thy Saints.
    For to thee 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. Fifth Prayer

    O Lord, Lord, who upholdest all things in the most pure hollow of thy hand, who art long-suffering toward us all, and repentest thee at our wickedness, remember thy compassion and thy mercy. Look upon us with thy goodness; grant unto us also by thy grace, through the remainder of the present day, to avoid the divers subtle snares of the Evil One, and keep our lives unassailed, through the grace of thine all-holy Spirit.
    Through the mercy and love of man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Sixth Prayer

    O God, great and wonderful, who, with goodness indescribable and rich providence orderest all things and grantest unto us earthly goods, who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through the good things already granted unto us, and hast made us to shun all harm during that part of the present day which is past, grant that we may also fulfill the remainder of this day blamelessly before thy holy glory, and hymn thee, our God, who alone art good and lovest man.
    For thou art our God, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Seventh Prayer

    O great and most high God, who alone hast immortality, and dwellest in light unapproachable, who hast fashioned all creation in wisdom, who hast divided the light from the darkness, and hast set the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to rule the night, who hast also vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour to come before thy presence with confession and to present unto thee our evening doxology, do thou thyself, O Lord, Lover of man, direct our prayer as incense before thee, and accept it for an odor of sweet fragrance, and grant that our present evening and coming night be peaceful. Clothe us with the armor of light. Deliver us from the fear of night, and from everything that walketh in darkness, and grant that the sleep that thou hast given for the repose of our infirmity may be free from every fantasy of the Devil. Yea, O Master of all, Leader of the good, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, remember thy name in the night. And, enlightened by the exercise of thy commandments, may we rise up in joyfulness of soul to the glorification of thy goodness, and offer supplications and prayers unto thy tenderness of heart, for our own sins and those of all thy people, whom do thou look upon in mercy, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos.
    For thou art a good God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

    When the Introductory Psalm is finished, the deacon, or the priest if there is no deacon, having come out by the north door, and standing in his usual place on the ambo, says this litany:

    In peace let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

    For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

    For our [lord, the Most Blessed] Metropolitan N., for our [lord, the Most Reverend] Archbishop N., (and/or [the Right Reverend] Bishop N.,) for the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    For the President (or title of the highest civil authority), for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    (That He may aid them and subdue under their feet every enemy and adversary, let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.)

    For this city (or this village), for every city and country, and for those who in faith dwell therein, let uspray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    For favorable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    For travelers by sea, by land, and by air, for the sick and the suffering, for captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

    Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
    Choir: To Thee O Lord. Exclamation:

    For to thee 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.
    Choir: Amen. Then the proper kathisma

    After the kathisma the deacon, having come out by the north door, says the little litany:

    Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

    Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
    Choir: To thee, O Lord. The priest exclaims:

    For thine is the strength, and Thine are the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.


    If it is Sunday, after the second antiphon and the litany, the exclamation:

    For thou art a good God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.

    After the third antiphon and the litany, the exclamation:

    For thou art our God, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.


    Then Lord, I have called is sung in the appointed tone of the stichera.

    When the choir begins to sing, Lord, I have called, the deacon, after the priest has blessed the incense, censes the altar on its four sides, the icons, the choirs, and the people, and returns to the sanctuary to the priest. At the Glory, the deacon opens the holy doors. Then the priest, preceded by the deacon with the censer, (or, if the Gospel is to be read, with the Gospel Book), goes around the right side of the altar, and comes out by the north door and stands before the holy doors.
    The deacon, bowing slightly and holding the orarion with the first three fingers of his right hand, says to the priest secretly: Let us pray to the Lord.

    The priest, bowing also, says secretly the Prayer of the Entrance:

    In the evening, and in the morning, and at noonday, we praise thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, and we pray thee, O Master of all, O Lord who lovest man, direct thou our prayer before thee as incense, and incline not our hearts to words or thoughts of evil, but deliver us from all that seek after our souls. For upon thee, Lord, O Lord, are our eyes, and in thee have we put our hope. Put us not to shame, O our God.
    For to thee 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.

    Then the deacon, holding the orarion with three fingers of his right hand, facing east, says to the priest: Bless, Master, the holy entrance.

    The priest then blesses toward the east, saying:

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

    And standing in the holy doors, tracing the sign of the cross with the censer, or, if he holds the Gospel Book, elevating it, he exclaims: Wisdom. Attend. Then the choir:

    O Joyful Light of the holy glory of the Immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed, O Jesus Christ. Having come to sunset and beholding the evening light, we hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: God. Meet is it at all times that thou be hymned with fitting voices, O Son of God, thou Giver of life; wherefore the world doth glorify thee.

    The deacon censes about the altar, and then the priest and the deacon go to the high place. The deaconsays: Let us attend. Priest: Peace be to all. Again the deacon: Wisdom. Let us attend. And then the prokeimenon of the day is said: On Saturday evening, Tone 6: Psalm 92

    The Lord hath become King; with beauty hath He clothed Himself.
    Verse: The Lord hath clothed Himself with power and hath girded Himself.
    Verse: For he hath established the world, which shall not be moved.
    Verse: Holiness belongeth to thy house, O Lord, unto length of days. On Sunday evening, Tone 8: Psalm 133

    Behold now, bless the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.
    Verse: That stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. On Monday evening, Tone 4: Psalm 4

    The Lord will hearken unto me, when I shall call unto Him.
    Verse: When I called, the God of my righteousness heartened unto me. On Tuesday evening, Tone 1: Psalm 22

    Thy mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life.
    Verse: The Lord tendeth me as a shepherd, and He shall make me to want nothing; in a green place there hath He set me down. On Wednesday evening, Tone 5: Psalm 53

    O God, save me in thy name, and in thy power thou shalt judge me.
    Verse: O God, hearken unto my prayer; give heed to the sayings of my mouth. On Thursday evening, Tone 6: Psalm 120

    My help is from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth.
    Verse: I lifted up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence cometh my help. On Friday evening, Tone 7: Psalm 58

    O God, thou art my Helper, and thy mercy goeth before me.
    Verse: Redeem me from mine enemies, O God, and from them that rise up against me, deliver me.

    If lessons from the Old Testament are appointed, they are read here. Before each, the deacon exclaims, Wisdom, and the reader announces the title of the reading, and again the deacon exclaims, Let us attend.
    During the reading, the priest sits in the high place, not in its center, but on the south side of the altar.


    If the Divine Liturgy is to follow, for example, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, when there are eightreadings, and on the eve of Theophany, when there are thirteen, with accompanying troparia and verses, after the last reading, the little litany is said with the following exclamation:

    For holy art thou, our God, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.

    Then the Trisagion is sung, after which the deacon says: Let us attend. Priest: Peace be to all. Deacon: Wisdom. Let us attend. The choir then sings the prokeimenon of the feast, and then the Epistle is read with the Alleluia and the customary censing, and then the Gospel, beginning with, Wisdom. Attend. Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be to all. The reading from the holy Gospel according to Name, and the rest of the Liturgy.


    At daily Vespers the litany Let us all say, is not said, but immediately after the prokeimenon, Vouchsafe, O Lord . . . and then Let us complete our evening prayer . . .


    After the prokeimenon, the deacon, having come out by the north door, says: (The priest stands within the sanctuary before the holy table.)

    Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say:
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for pious Orthodox Christians.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for our [lord, the Most Blessed] Metropolitan N., for our [lord, the Most Reverend] Archbishop N., (and/or for our [lord, the Right Reverend] Bishop N.), and for all our brethren in Christ.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for the President of (or title of the highest civil authority,) for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, the hieromonks, the hierodeacons, and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable most holy Orthodox Patriarchs, the founders of this holy church (or monastery) and all our fathers and brethren the Orthodox gone to rest before us, who lie here and everywhere.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon and forgiveness of the sins of the servant(s) of God, NN., and of the brethren of this holy temple.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and revered temple, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people present who await of thee great and rich mercy.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice The priest exclaims:

    For Thou art a merciful God who lovest man, and unto Thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen. Then: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this evening . . . Deacon:     Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
    Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

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

    Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and offenses, let us ask of the Lord.
    Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

    All things good and useful for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
    Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

    That we may end the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
    Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

    A Christian ending to our life, painless, unashamed, peaceful, and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
    Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

    Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
    Choir: To Thee O Lord. And the priest exclaims:

    For thou art a good God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.

    Priest: Peace be to all.

    Choir: And to thy spirit.

    Deacon: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

    Choir: To thee, O Lord. Prayer at the Bowing of Heads

    O Lord our God, who didst bow down the heavens and didst come down for the salvation of the race of man, look upon thy servants and upon thine inheritance. Unto thee, the fearful Judge who lovest man, have thy servants bowed their heads and subjected their necks, awaiting not help from man, but expecting thy mercy and looking for thy salvation. Keep them at all times, both during this present evening and during the approaching night, from every enemy, from every adverse operation of the Devil, and from vain thoughts and from evil imaginations.

 
    Blessed and glorified be the might of thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.


    If Great Vespers is celebrated without the Vigil or with the Vigil in which there is no Lity, the choir begins to sing the Aposticha, then Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart. . ., the Trisagion, and after Our Father . . ., the exclamation, For Thine is the kingdom . . . , and after this, the troparia according to the rule and the great dismissal. (page 25)


    At daily Vespers, the Augmented Litany beginning with Have mercy on us, O God . . . . is said after the troparia, and then the dismissal.


    If there is to be Lity, we come out to the narthex singing the stichera of the temple or of the festival.
    The priest and the deacon with the censer come out together through the north door to the narthex, the choir and candle bearers preceding them. The holy doors remain closed.
    After the priest blesses the censer, the deacon censes the holy icons, the celebrant, and the choirs in order.
    When we have finished the stichera of the Lity, the Glory of the Saint, and Both now and the theotokion, the deacon says this prayer in the hearing of all:

    O God, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance. Look upon thy world in mercy and compassion. Exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians, and send down upon us thy rich mercies, through the intercessions of our all immaculate Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-creating Cross; through the protection of the honorable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles (or of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Name, and of the other holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles); of our Fathers among the Saints, Ecumenical Great Teachers and Hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our Father among the Saints, Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker; the Holy Equals of the Apostles, Methodius and Cyril, Teachers of the Slavs, [the holy Orthodox Equal of the Apostles, the Great Prince Vladimir; of the Blessed Great Princess of Russia, Olga; of our fathers among the Saints, the Wonderworkers of all Russia, Michael, Peter, Alexis, Jonah, Philip, Macarius, Demetrius, Metrophanes, Tikhon, Theodosius, Josaphat, Hermogenes, Pitirim, Innocent, and John;] of the holy, glorious, and right-victorious Martyrs; of the holy, glorious great Martyr, the victorious and wonderworking George; of the holy, great Martyr and healer Panteleimon; of the holy great Martyr Barbara; [of the holy Orthodox Russian Princes and Passion-bearers Boris, Gleb, and Igor; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers,Anthony and Theodosius and the other Wonderworkers of the Caves; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, Sergius, Hegumen, Wonderworker of Radonezh, and Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov;] of our Father among the Saints, the Venerable Herman of Alaska, the Wonderworker; and of Saint (name of the Saint of the Temple and of the Day); of the holy and righteous Forebears of God, Joachim and Anne; and of all the Saints, we pray thee, O Lord, great in mercy, hearken unto us sinners who pray unto thee, and have mercy on us.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. forty times

    Again we pray for (the most holy Orthodox Patriarchs,) our [lord, the Most Blessed] Metropolitan N., our [lord, the Right Reverend] Bishop N., and for all our brotherhood in Christ; and for every Christian soul, afflicted and weary, in need of God's mercies and help; for the protection of this city, and for those who dwell therein (or for this village and for those who dwell therein, or for this holy abode and for those who dwell therein); for the peace and quietness of the whole world; for the good estate of the holy churches of God; for the salvation and help of our fathers and brethren who with diligence and fear of God labor and serve; for those who are gone away and those who are abroad; for the healing of those who lie in infirmity; for the repose, refreshment and blessed memory and forgiveness of sins of all our fathers and brethren the Orthodox gone to rest before who lie here and everywhere; for the deliverance of captives; for our brethren who are serving, and for all who serve and have served in this holy temple (if it is a monastery, in this holy abode), let us say:
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. fifty times

    Again we pray for the President (or the title of the highest authority), for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces, let us all say:
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thirty times

    Again we pray that He will keep this city (or this village), and this holy church (if it is a monastery, and this holy abode), and every city and country from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion, and from civil war, and from sudden death; that our good God, who loveth man, will be gracious, favorable, and conciliatory, and turn away and dispel all the wrath stirred up against us and all sickness, and may deliver us from His righteous chastisement which impendeth against us, and have mercy on us.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

    Again we pray that the Lord God will hearken unto the voice of supplication of us sinners and have mercy on us.
    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice The priest exclaims:

    Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be gracious, O Master, unto us sinners and have mercy on us. For thou art a merciful God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen. Then the priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Deacon: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord. Choir: To thee, O Lord.

    Then, as all bow their heads, the priest prays in a loud voice:

    O Master, great in mercy, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, through the power of the precious and life-creating Cross, etc. (see pages 20 and 21), and of all Saints, make our prayer acceptable, grant us forgiveness of our trespasses, shelter us under the shelter of thy wings, drive away from us every enemy and adversary, give peace to our life, O, Lord. Have mercy on us and on thy world and save our souls, for thou art good and lovest man.
    Choir: Amen.

    And having returned to the temple, we begin to sing the aposticha. After the aposticha, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart . . . , the Trisagion, and after Our Father . . . . . the priest says, For thine is the kingdom...
    Then the apolytikion (dismissal troparion)

    A table is prepared for the purpose of the blessing of the five breads thus: five breads are placed on the upper side of a dish, on the lower side, wheat, on the left, a small vessel with wine, on the right, a small vessel with oil. The deacon censes round about the table and the celebrant and the priests only. The priest then takes one bread, and makes the sign of the cross with it over the other breads, and says this prayer in a loud voice. When he says thyself bless . . . , he points with his right hand to the remaining 'breads, wheat, wine, and oil. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy.

    Priest: O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who didst bless the five breads in the wilderness, and didst satisfy the five thousand therewith, thyself bless these breads, this wheat, wine and oil, and multiply them in this city (or in this village, or in this holy abode), and in all thy world; and sanctify the faithful who partake of them. For it is thou who dost bless and sanctify all things, O Christ our God, and unto thee do we send up glory, together with thy Father, who is without beginning, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.

    And they sing: Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forever. thrice
    And we say Psalm 33: 1 will bless the Lord at all times . . . up to, shall not be deprived of all good things.

    The priest then goes to stand before the holy doors.
    After the conclusion -of the Psalm, the priest says to the people:

    The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love of man, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.


Then the deacon says: Wisdom. And the choir: Bless

    Priest: He Who is, is blessed, even Christ our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

    Choir: Amen. Establish, O God, the holy Orthodox Faith, and Orthodox Christians unto ages of ages.

    Priest: Most holy Theotokos, save us.

    Choir: More honorable than the Cherubim...

    Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ God, our Hope, glory to thee.

    Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. thrice Bless, Master.

    The priest, then, turning from the holy doors to the west, toward the people, says the dismissal and mentions the Saint of the temple and the Saint whose service is being sung. And the choir sings the Many Years.

    After having closed the holy doors, the priest, wearing the epitrachelion, comes out of the sanctuary and begins Compline before the holy doors.


    If Matins is joined to the All-night Vigil, the priest, finishing Vespers with the words, The blessing of the Lord be upon you . . ., and having closed the holy doors, takes off the phelonion.

    The reader then: Glory to God in the highest . .  . thrice, and O Lord, open thou my lips... twice, and then the Six Psalms.

    The priest, after the third Psalm, comes out by the north door before the holy doors and reads, the Matins prayers secretly, head uncovered.


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