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. Amen.

If it be Saturday:

Unto thee, O Lord, the Author of Creation, the universe doth offer the God-bearing Martyrs as the first-fruits of nature: By whose prayers, through the Birth-giver of God, do thou preserve in peace profound thy Church, which is thine estate, O most merciful One.

COLLECT-HYMN (Konddh) OF THE TRANSFIGURATION.

Thou wast transfigured on the Mount, and in so far as they were able to receive it, thy disciples, with wonder, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God. And when they beheld thee crucified, they understood thy voluntary Passion, and proclaimed unto the world that thou art, of a truth, the Radiance of the Father.

COLLECT-HYMNS FOR:

Monday: Hymn vf the Bodiless Powers, Tone II.:

0 ye Chieftains of God, servitors of the divine glory, Guides of men and Captains of the Bodiless Powers: Entreat that which is profitable for us, and great mercy; in that ye are the Chieftains of the Bodiless Powers.

Tuesday: Hymn of the Forerunner, Tone II.:

0 Prophet of God, and Forerunner of Grace, in that we have found thy holy head as a most sacred rose budding forth from the earth, we receive always thy healing. For still, as aforetime in the world, thou dost preach repentance.

Wednesday and Friday: Tone 111. .

Do thou who, of thine own good will, upon the cross wast lifted up, bestow thy bounties upon the new State which is called by thy Name, 0 Christ our God; make glad with thy might our most God-fearing (Emperor, King, or President), N., granting victory over his adversaries unto him who hath thine aid, which is a panoply of peace, a trophy invincible.

Thursday: the Holy Apostles, Tone I].:

Thou hast received thy steadfast Preachers, God-inspired in speech, the Crown of thy Disciples, O Lord, into the delights and the repose of thy blessed ones; for thou hast accepted their labours and their death as greater than any whole burnt-offerings, O thou who alone knowest the secrets of the heart.

The same day: the Collect-Hymn (Konddh) of St. Nicholas, Tone [I].: In Myra, 0 Saint, wast thou shown forth a sacrificing priest; for fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, 0 Holy One, thou didst lay down thy life

for thy people, and didst save the innocent from death. For which cause thou wert proclaimed a Saint, as one deeply initiated into the mysteries of the goodness of God.

Then, on every day:

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

To the souls of thy servants, O Lord, give rest with thy Saints, where there is neither sickness nor sighing, but life everlasting.

Then immediately, on every day except Saturday, is said:

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

0 Protection of Christians that maketh not ashamed, O Mediatrix never-failing with the Creator: Despise not the sinners’ voice of supplication; but in that thou art good, come speedily to the aid of us who faithfully call upon thee; make haste to our petition and further our prayer, 0 Birth-giver of God, who ever protectest them that do thee honour.

And if it he the Great Fast:

Lord, have mercy. (Eight times.)

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

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

In the Name of the Lord, bless, Father.

Priest. God be merciful to us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us.

Then the PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN.

O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (A great reverence to the earth.)

But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love. (Reverence.)

Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve lesser reverences, saying at each reverence: O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. Then the whole Prayer is repeated, with one great reverence in conclusion.) Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.)

And the Prayer:

O all-holy Trinity, Might one in Essence, Kingdom undivided, Origin of all good things, be graciously inclined also unto me, a sinner. Establish thou me; give understanding unto my heart, and purge away all my vileness. Enlighten my mind, that I may glorify, sing praises, and

adore thee, and say: Thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, 0 Jesus Christ, in the glory of the Father. Amen.

Meet is it in very truth to bless thee, O Birth-giver of God, everblessed and all-undefiled One, and the Mother of our God.

Priest. Wisdom!

0 most holy Birth-giver of God, save us.

Choir. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without corruption barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

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.

Then the BENEDICTION.

Priest. May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his most holy Mother, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us; for he is gracious and loveth mankind.

THE DIVINE LITURGY

PREFATORY NOTE AND DIRECTIONS

66

The word LITURGY, which in the Greek means A public work" or "Ministry,” is particularly applied (heightened by the adjective "Divine ”) to the chief service of the day, in which the Holy Eucharist, or Service of Thanksgiving, is celebrated.

Three Liturgies are used in the Holy Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Church of the East:

That of St. John Chrysostom; that of St. Basil the Great; and that Of the Presanctified Gifts.

The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and that of St. Basil the Great are divided into three parts. In the first part, the clergy prepare the bread and wine, and it is called The Offiee qf Oblation. The second part consists of prayers, reading and singing, with which the faithful prepare themselves for the Holy Sacrament, and at which alone Catechumens (or learners) were allowed, in former times, to be present: it is called The Liturgy q/ the Catechumens. The third part, called The Liturgy of the Faithful, is the celebration of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist; and in the early Church only the Faithful that is to say, members of the Christian Church - were permitted to be present at it.

The Liturgy of St. Basil the Great differs from that of St. John Chrysostom only in certain of the Secret Prayers, one Hymn, and three phrases in the Consecration of the Holy Gifts (as duly indicated at the proper places), the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom being a later and abbreviated form of St. Basil’s Liturgy, as the latter, in turn, was a later and abbreviated form of a still earlier Liturgy.

It is appointed to be used on the Sundays of the Great Fast (Lent), except on Palm Sunday; on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday; and on Christmas. Day and the Epiphany, when those feasts fall upon Sunday or Monday; otherwise, on the days preceding those feasts. Also, on St. Basil’s Day, January r; in all, ten times in the course of the year.

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, so called because the Holy Gifts which have previously been consecrated are used for the Holy Communion, has existed from ancient times, although, in its present form, it is ascribed to St. Gregory Homiliastes of Rome (sixth century). The Orthodox Church decrees that this Liturgy shall be celebrated during the Great Fast (but at no other time), since the triumphantly joyous feelings associated with the complete Liturgy and the consecration of the Holy Gifts are incompatible with the strictness of the Fast. Hence it is ordained that the complete Liturgy shall be celebrated only on Saturdays and Sundays during the weeks of the Great Fast (Lent). The customary days for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts are Wednesday and Friday of every week, and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Passion Week.

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts consists of Vespers (and therefore is

appointed for a late hour in the day), and of a portion of the ordinary Liturgy, omitting the most essential part of the latter, namely, the consecration of the Gifts. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is usually preceded by the reading of the Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours, and of the Typical Psalms. Under certain circumstances an earlier celebration is admissible.

The usual hour for celebrating the ordinary Liturgy is, not earlier than dawn, and not later than noon.

For the celebration of the Mystery of the Eucharist the following are indispensable: A Priest or a Bishop regularly ordained, and having a steadfast. will and intention to fulfil the Mystery of the Lord's Body and Blood. Of material things: five Altar-breads, made of pure Wheaten flour, and leavened; wine of the grape. The accomplishment of the Mystery through prayer and words, with the blessing of the Priest's hand: “And make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ, and also that which is in this cup the precious Blood of thy Christ, transmuting them by thy Holy Spirit.”

In addition to the above, the following things are indispensable for the Liturgy: A Corporal (Antimins),* consecrated by a Bishop; vestments for the Priest, consisting of a cassock (slikhár), a stole (epilrakhil), gauntlets (pórutchi), girdle (póyas), and chasuble (felén); vessels, — a chalice, a paten, a star-cover, a spear, a spoon; veils, a censer, a service book; lights burning on the altar; and an acolyte.

Only one Liturgy may be celebrated on any Altar in the course of one day; and no Bishop or Priest may celebrate more than one Liturgy in the course of one and the same day.

The Priest who enters upon the celebration of the Liturgy must be free from inhibition, and from mortal sin, and must prepare himself, spiritually, by reconciling himself with all men, by penitence, and the appointed devotions; bodily, by abstinence from food and drink (from midnight at the least), and from fleshly desires, and‘ by cleanliness of body and garments.

The appointed devotions consist of the celebration or the hearing of the Evening and Morning Services and Prayers; and there must also be read: On Monday: The Canon to the Lord Jesus, the Invocation to the Birth-giver of God, the Canon to the Archangels; and, if he so desire, to his Guardian Angel. On Tuesday: The Canon to the Lord Jesus, the Invocation to the Birth-giver of God, to John the Forerunner, and to his Guardian Angel. On Wednesday: The Canon to the Lord Jesus, the Canon to the Birth-giver of God, and to his Guardian Angel. On Thursday: The Canon to the Lord Jesus, the Invocation to the Birth-giver of God, to his Guardian Angel, to the Holy Apostles; and, if he so desire, to St. Nicholas. On Friday, the Canon to the Life-giving Cross, the Invocation to the Birth-giver of God, and to his Guardian Angel. On Saturday: The Canon to the Lord Jesus, the Chant of Prayer and Praise (Akéfist) to the Birth-giver of God, to his Guardian Angel, and to all the Saints. On Sunday: The Canon to the Lord Jesus, the Invocation to the Birth-giver of God, and to his Guardian Angel. In addition to these, on every occasion, the Canon of the Communion, and the Prayers before the Communion. (See Index.)

' For explanation, see introductory chapter on The Symbolism of the Church, page xxiv.