Funeral Service for Infants

Funeral Service for Infants

The Trisagion for the Dead

Priest

Blessed is our God always, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader

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

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

All‑Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake, and have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.

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

Our Father, Who is in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name; Your Kingdom come.

Your 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 Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparia

Tone 4

With the spirits of the righteous made perfect give rest to the soul of Your servant, O Savior; and keep it safe in that life of blessedness that is lived with You, O Friend of Man.

In the place of Your rest, O Lord, where all Your Saints repose, give rest also to the soul ‑of Your servant, for You alone are Immortal.

Glory to the Father ...

You are our God Who went down to Hades to loose the pains of the dead that were there; give rest also to the I soul of Your servant.

Both now. .

O Virgin, alone pure and immaculate, that in maiden-motherhood brought forth God, intercede for his (her) soul that he (she) may have mercy and salvation.

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord Who watches over children . . .

For older children

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

Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God (Name), departed this life, and for the forgiveness of his (her) every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.

Let the Lord establish his (her) soul where the Just repose; the mercies of God, the Kingdom of the Heavens, and the remission of his (her) sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and our God.

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

Priest

O Lord Who watches over children in the present life and in the world to come because of their simplicity and innocence of mind, abundantly satisfying them with a place in Abraham's bosom, bringing them to live in radiantly shining places where the spirits of the righteous dwell; receive in peace the soul of Your little servant (Name), for You Yourself have said: "Let the little children come to Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

For only Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Eternal Father and Your All‑Holy, Good, and Life‑creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Glory to You, O God, our hope; glory to You.

May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, have mercy on us; He Who as Immortal King has authority over both the dead and the living. Through the intercessions of His spotless, pure and holy Mother; of the holy, glorious, I and all‑praiseworthy Apostles; of our venerable and theophoric Fathers; of the holy and glorious forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of His holy and righteous friend Lazaros, who lay in the grave four days; and of all the Saints; establish the soul of His servant (Name), departed from us, in the tentings of the Just; give him (her) rest in the bosom of Abraham; and number him (her) among the holy, through His goodness and compassion, as our merciful God.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers ...

On the way to the church the Holy God (3) is sung slowly.

In Church

Priest

Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Ah, the blameless in the way ... (see page 102); the Eulogetaria, Blessed are You, O Lord (page 105); followed by With the saints give rest (page 106).

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

Blessed is the way wherein you walk today, for there is prepared for you a place of rest. (3)

Unto You, O Lord, will I cry.

The reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans. (Rom. 6:9‑11)

Brethren, we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Priest

Wisdom! Attend! Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace

be to all.

Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest

The reading from the Holy Gospel of St. Luke. (Luke

18: 15‑17, 26‑27) Let us attend.

At that time, they were bringing even infants to him‑ that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord Who watches over children ... For only Yours . . .

For older children

Have mercy on us, O God .(see page 99) Again we pray for the repose ... Let the Lord God establish ...

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord Who watches over children in the present life and in the world to come because of their simplicity and innocence of mind, abundantly satisfying them with a place in Abraham's bosom, bringing them to live in radiantly shining places where the spirits of the righteous dwell: receive in peace the soul of Your little servant (Name), for You Yourself have said, "Let the little children come to Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Apolysis.

Glory to You, O God, our hope; glory to You.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers ...

At the farewell the following are sung:

Tone 8

Who would not lament for you, my child, as your end journey begins from this world to another home? For while still a little child, all too soon from your mother's arms, as might a birdling on speeding wing upborne, are you departed to Him that made all things. O child, who from lament could refrain when he beholds your lovely face, which was like a gladsome rose, now fading fast away?

Who would not with groaning sighs, my child, and floods of clamorous tears mourn the wealth of your comeliness and the beauty shining forth from the innocence of your heart? For like a caravel which leaves no wake behind, so are you vanished, and from my eyes are sped. Come, my beloved friends, kinsfolk, neighbors, now draw nigh to join with me in the kiss of last farewell, and bear him (her) to his (her) grave. Priest

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

At the grave

The Trisagion is sung. (See “Trisagion for the Dead”)

Back to “The Priest’s Service Book”