The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

 THE DIVINE LITURGY
of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesaria in Cappadocia

OUR POSTURE DURING LITURGY

It is a centuries-old tradition for Orthodox Christians to stand in Church during Liturgy. Our Lord Himself taught us: “whenever you stand praying…” (Mark 11:24). The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325 A.D.) in its Canon XX called “for prayers to be offered to God while standing.”

Usually, the only ones to participate in the Liturgy while seated are those for whom standing would be a hardship: young children, the aged and the infirm.

In North America, some Orthodox Churches permit sitting for all during certain parts of the Liturgy.

Those wishing to do so may sit:

• During the Great Litany (Petition: “In peace let us pray to the Lord…”) until the end of the Second Antiphon, then rise and remain standing from Glory. “Only-begotten Son…” – until the conclusion of the Gospel Reading.

• After the Gospel Reading / Homily, it is permitted to sit during the Litany of Fervent Supplication (Exclamation: “Let us all say, with all our soul…”) until the Cherubic Hymn.

However, if there are offerings for the reposed, all stand during the Litany for the Departed. (Petition: “Have mercy on us, O God, in Your great loving-kindness: We pray You, hear us, and have mercy.”)

• It is permitted to sit during the Litany of the Offering which follows the Cherubic Hymn (Petition: “Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.”) — but we rise at the Priest’s exclamation: “Through the compassions of Your Only-begotten Son…”.

In accordance with Canon XX of the First Ecumenical Council, and Canon XC of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, we do not kneel:

• From Pascha (Easter) to Vespers on Pentecost Day

• From the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas Day – January 7, civil calendar) until Theophany (January 19, civil calendar)

• From Vespers on Saturday evenings to Vespers on Sunday evenings, in honour of our Lord’s Resurrection

When the Divine Liturgy is celebrated outside of the days listed above:

• We kneel during the singing of “We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You…”. This is the most sacred moment in the Liturgy, for at this time, the Priest prays that the Holy Spirit be sent down to transform the Bread and Wine presented on the Altar into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we remain standing until the Litany before the Lord’s Prayer (Petition: “Having remembered all the Saints…”), when we may again be seated.

• All who can, kneel for the singing of the Lord’s Prayer itself, after which we rise and stand until the conclusion of the Liturgy.

We also stand:

• during the Reading of the Gospel

• when the Church is censed by the Priest or Deacon

• when the Clergy or the Faithful are receiving Communion

DEACON: Bless Master.
PRIEST: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The Great Litany

DEACON: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For His Eminence our Metropolitan [name]; for our Bishop, (title and name of the Eparchial Bishop), for the honourable presbyterate, the deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, 
let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For our God-loving and God-protected country of Canada, its government, armed forces, and for all our pious people; let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For this city (village, or holy monastery), and for every city, village and country and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For favourable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For those who travel by sea, land, and air; for the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads the Prayer of the First Antiphon:

PRIEST: O Lord our God, Your power is indescribable, and Your glory incomprehensible; Your mercy is boundless, and Your love for mankind is ineffable: According to Your tender compassion, O Master, look down on us and on this holy temple, and grant us, and those who pray with us, Your abundant mercy and compassion.

PRIEST: For to You are due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The First Antiphon: (Ps. 102)

Consult the festal propers on the major Feasts of our Lord.

FAITHFUL: 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 the blessings that He renders to you.
For He is gracious about all your iniquities, He is the healer of all your infirmities, the redeemer of your life from corruption, who in His mercy and tender love awards you a crown.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, longsuffering and very merciful.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless His holy name.
Вlessed are You, O Lord.

The Small Litany

DEACON: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and all our life, unto Christ our God.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads 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 put our hope in You.

PRIEST: For Yours is the majesty 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 the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The Second Antiphon: (Ps. 145)

Consult the festal propers on the major Feasts of our Lord.

FAITHFUL: Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord throughout my life, I will sing praises to my God for as long as I live.
Put not your trust in rulers, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit will depart from him, and to his earth will he return. On that day all his plans perish.
The Lord will reign forever; your God, O Zion, unto generation and generation.

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

Only–Begotten Son

FAITHFUL: Only-begotten Son and Word of God, You are immortal, and did will for our salvation to become incarnate of the holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change became man, and were crucified, O Christ God, trampling down death by death; being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit: save us.

The Small Litany

DEACON: Again and again, in peace, 
let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and all our life, unto Christ our God.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads the Prayer of the Third Antiphon:

PRIEST: You, who have given us these common and single-hearted prayers, and have promised to grant the requests of two or three who agree in Your name; Fulfill now the petitions of Your servants for their benefit, granting us in this world knowledge of Your Truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting.

PRIEST: For You are a Good God and the Lover of 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 the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The Third Antiphon (Mt. 5:3–12)

Consult the festal propers on the major Feasts of our Lord.

In Your kingdom, remember us, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after 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 they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they shall revile and persecute you, and speak all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

The clergy make the Little Entrance. Standing on the ambon, the priest says the Prayer of the Entrance:

PRIEST: O Master, Lord our God, You have established in heaven the orders and hosts of Angels and Archangels to minister to Your Glory. Grant that with this our Entrance there may also be an Entrance of holy Angels serving with us and glorifying Your Goodness; for to You belong all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON: Bless, Master, the holy Entrance.

PRIEST: Blessed is the Entrance of Your Saints always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON: Wisdom. Stand aright!

Entrance Hymn

For major feasts consult the Triodion, Pentecostarion or Menaion.

Sunday:

FAITHFUL: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. O Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Weekdays:

FAITHFUL: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. O Son of God, wondrous in Your saints, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Feasts of the Theotokos:

FAITHFUL: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. O Son of God, through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Tropars, Kondaks and Theotokion

We sing appointed tropar(s), kondak(s) and the theotokion as prescribed in the typikon. The priest reads the Prayer of the Thrice-Holy:

PRIEST: Holy God, who rests in the Saints, who are praised by the Seraphim with the thrice-holy hymn, glorified by the Cherubim, and worshipped by all the heavenly powers: You have brought all things into being out of nothingness. You created man in Your image and likeness, and adorned him with all Your gifts. You grant wisdom and understanding to those who seek. You do not despise the sinner, but have appointed repentance unto salvation. You have deemed us, Your humble and unworthy servants, to stand at this very hour before the Glory of Your holy altar, and to offer You due worship and praise.
O Master, accept even from the lips of us sinners the thrice-holy hymn, and graciously visit us in Your goodness. Forgive us our every sin whether voluntary or involuntary. Sanctify our souls and bodies, and grant that we may serve You in holiness all the days of our life: Through the intercessions of the most holy Theotokos and of all the saints who throughout the ages have been well-pleasing to You.
PRIEST: For You are holy, O our God, and unto You we send up glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever,

* When a deacon serves:

DEACON: O Lord save the pious and hear us.
FAITHFUL: O Lord save the pious and hear us.

DEACON: And unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The Trisagion Hymn

For major feasts consult the triodion, pentecostarion or menaion.

FAITHFUL: + Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (thrice)

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

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

The Prokeimen

DEACON: Let us be attentive.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all.
READER: And to your spirit.
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimen in the Tone ___.

The reader proclaims the prokeimen of the day.

FAITHFUL: (repeat the Prokeimen)
READER: (chants the verse)
FAITHFUL: (repeat the Prokeimen)
READER: (chants the first half of the Prokeimen)
FAITHFUL: (chant second half of the Prokeimen)

The Epistle Reading

DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The reading is from [name of the epistle].
DEACON: Let us be attentive.

The Reader reads the designated Epistle lection.

EPISTLE

PRIEST: Peace be unto you.
READER: And to your spirit.

The Alleluia Verses

DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: Alleluia in tone.

The reader proclaims the Alleluia verses of the day.

FAITHFUL: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
READER: (chants the first verse to the Alleluia)
FAITHFUL: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
READER: (chants the second verse to the Alleluia)
FAITHFUL: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Holy Gospel Reading

The Prayer before the Reading of the Holy Gospel:
PRIEST: Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, O Master, Lover-of-Man-kind, and open the eyes of our mind that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all carnal desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all things that are pleasing to You.
For You, O Christ God, are the Light of our souls and bodies, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

* When a deacon serves:

DEACON: Bless Master, him who proclaims the good tidings of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist [name].
PRIEST: May God, through the prayers of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostle and Evangelist [name], enable you to proclaim the glad tidings with great power, to the fulfillment of the Gospel of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
DEACON: Amen.

DEACON: Wisdom. Stand aright! Let us listen to the holy Gospel.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all.
FAITHFUL: And to your spirit.

DEACON: The reading is from the holy Gospel according to [name of the Evangelist].
FAITHFUL: + Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST: Let us be attentive.

The deacon reads from the Holy Gospel.

HOLY GOSPEL

And after the reading:

PRIEST: Peace be to you, who proclaim the Good News.
FAITHFUL: + Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Litany Of Fervent Supplication

DEACON: Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say:
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers: we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great loving-kindness: we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Again we pray for His Eminence, our Metropolitan [name]; for our Bishop, (title and name of the Eparchial Bishop), for our brethren the presbyters, priestmonks and for all our brethren in Christ.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Again we pray for our God-loving and God-Protected country Canada, its people, government and armed forces; that the Lord God will help them in all things and protect them from every enemy and adversary.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable Holy Orthodox Patriarchs, for the founders of this holy temple (or this holy monastery) and for all Orthodox Christians departed this life before us, who here and everywhere lie asleep in the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, God’s visitation and the forgiveness and remission of sins for the servants of God, the parishioners of this holy temple.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

Here we may add additional petitions for health:

DEACON: Again we pray unto You, O Lord our God, hear the prayer of us sinners, and have mercy upon Your servants [names], protect them from all affliction, evil, wrath, danger and necessity, from spiritual and physical illnesses, and grant unto them health and long life: we beseech You, hear us and have mercy.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

Here we may add additional petitions for the sick:

DEACON: Again we pray unto You, O Lord our God, that You will grant unto Your servants [names] healing from their illnesses and from every malady and, raising them from their beds, give them health of soul and body: 
we beseech You, hear us and have mercy.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable temple; for those who labour and those who sing; and for all the people here present, who await Your great and abundant mercy.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

The priest reads the Prayer of Fervent Supplication:

PRIEST: O Lord our God, accept this fervent supplication from Your servants, have mercy on us according to Your great mercy and send down Your bounties upon us and upon all Your people who await the rich mercy that comes from You.
PRIEST: For You are a merciful God and the Lover of 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 the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

If there are offerings for the reposed, then:

The Litany for the Departed

DEACON: Have mercy on us, O God, in Your great loving-kindness: We pray You, hear us, and have mercy.
FAITHFUL: Lord have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Again we pray for the repose of the soul(s) of the departed servant(s) of God, [name(s)] and that he (she ·  they) 
be pardoned all of his (her ·  their) sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

FAITHFUL: Lord have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: That the Lord God establish his (her ·  their) soul(s) where the righteous repose.
FAITHFUL: Lord have mercy. (thrice)
DEACON: Тhe mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven and the forgiveness of his (her ·  their) sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.

The priest quietly reads the Prayer for the Departed:

PRIEST: О God of spirits and of all flesh, who has trampled down death, overthrown the devil, and given life to Your world: As the same Lord give rest to the soul(s) of Your departed servant(s), [name(s)], in a place of light, a flowery place, a place of repose where sickness, sighing, and sorrow have fled away. Pardon every sin which he has (she has · they have) committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought, forasmuch as You are a good God and love mankind. For there is no man who lives, yet does not sin, You alone are without sin, Your righteousness is eternal, and Your Word is truth.
PRIEST: For You are the resurrection, the life and the repose of Your departed servant(s), [name(s)], O Christ our God and unto You together with Your Father who is from everlasting and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, we send up glory, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

Litany for the Catechumens

DEACON: Catechumens, pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Let us the faithful, pray for the catechumens, that the Lord will have mercy on them.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: That He will enlighten them with the word of truth.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: That He will reveal to them the Gospel of righteousness.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: That He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help them, save them, have mercy on them and protect them, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Catechumens, bow your heads to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads the Prayer for the Catechumens:

PRIEST: O Lord, our God, Who dwells in the heavens and regards all Your works: Behold Your servants — the catechumens, who have bent their necks before You, and grant them a light yoke. Make them honourable members of Your Holy Church, deeming them worthy of the bath of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins, and the robe of incorruption, so that they may come to know You, our True God.

PRIEST: That with us they may also glorify Your most honourable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

First Litany of the Faithful

DEACON: All catechumens depart. Catechumens, depart. Let none of the catechumens remain. Let us, the faithful, again and again, in peace, pray unto the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.

The priest reads the First Prayer of the Faithful:

PRIEST: You, O Lord have shown us this great mystery of salvation. You have counted us, Your humble and unworthy servants, worthy to be ministers of Your holy altar. Through the Power of Your Holy Spirit, make us worthy for this service, so that standing without condemnation before Your Holy Glory, we may offer You a sacrifice of praise, for You are the One Who accomplishes all things in everyone. Grant, O Lord, that our sacrifice for our own sins and for the failings of Your people may be acceptable and well-pleasing to You.

DEACON: Wisdom!
PRIEST: For to You are due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

Second Litany of the Faithful

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

*When a deacon serves:

DEACON: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.

The priest reads the Second Prayer of the Faithful:

PRIEST: O God, who in mercy and compassion has visited our lowliness; who has set us, Your humble and sinful and unworthy servants, to serve at Your holy altar before Your holy glory. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, strengthen us for this service; and grant speech to our lips so that we may call down the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon the gifts that are about to be offered.

DEACON: Wisdom!
PRIEST: That ever guarded by Your might, we may send up glory unto You: to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The Cherubic Hymn

FAITHFUL: Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, let us now set aside all cares of life.

The priest recites the Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn:

PRIEST: No one who is bound with the desires and pleasures of the flesh is worthy to approach or draw near to serve You, O King of glory; for to minister to You is great and awesome even to the heavenly powers. Nevertheless through Your unspeakable and boundless love for mankind, You did become man, yet without change or alteration, and as Ruler of all did become our High Priest, and did commit to us the ministry of this liturgical and bloodless sacrifice. For You alone, O Lord our God, rule over those in heaven and on earth; who are borne on the throne of the Cherubim; who are Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel; who alone are holy and rest in the Saints.
Therefore, I entreat You who alone are good and ready to listen; Look down on me, Your sin-ful and unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience; and by the power of Your Holy Spirit enable me, who am endowed with the grace of the Priesthood, to stand before this, Your holy table, and perform the sacred mystery of Your holy and pure Body and precious Blood. For I draw near to You, and, bowing my neck, I implore You: Do not turn Your face away from me, nor cast me out from among Your children; but make me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, worthy to offer these gifts to You.
For You are the offerer and the offered, the receiver and the received, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

After reciting the prayer and censing, the priest and deacon stand before the Holy Table and recite the Cherubic hymn thrice.

PRIEST: Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, let us now set aside all cares of life.
DEACON: That we may receive the King of all, who comes invisibly upborne by the angelic hosts. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Great Entrance

*When the deacon serves, he intones:

DEACON: Our Bishop, His Eminence [name], Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy and the Metropolitan of Canada; and our Bishop (rank and name of the eparchial bishop), may the Lord God remember in His kingdom now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

The priest continues (below):

PRIEST: † All Orthodox hierarchs…

PRIEST: Our Bishop, His Eminence [name], Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy and the Metropolitan of Canada; and our Bishop (rank and name of the eparchial bishop), and
† all Orthodox hierarchs, the honourable priesthood, the deaconate in Christ, all the monastic ranks; those who minister and those who sing in this holy temple, may the Lord God remember in His kingdom.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, all the Royal House and all her military forces; our God-loving and God-protected country of Canada, its government, armed forces and all its people; our ancestral homeland Ukraine, and all her people in the homeland and throughout the world; may the Lord God remember in His kingdom.
The Honourable and ever-remembered Ukrainian Sovereigns and Hetmans; the founders and benefactors of this holy temple; you, and all Orthodox Christians may the Lord God remember in His kingdom now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.
That we may receive the King of all who comes invisibly upborne by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The priest places the Diskos (to the left), and the holy Chalice (to the right) on the antimins and removes the veils. While doing so, the priest quietly says the following Tropars:

PRIEST: The noble Joseph took your most pure Body down from the tree. Having wrapped it in a clean shroud with aromatic spices he laid it in a new tomb.

In the tomb bodily and in hades with the soul as God, in paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit, were you O Christ, filling all things and uncircumscribed.

Bearing life and more beautiful than paradise, and brighter than any royal chamber, Your tomb, O Christ, is the source of our resurrection.

Then the priest takes the large veil and after holding it over the censer covers the Gifts, saying again this tropar:

PRIEST: The noble Joseph took your most pure Body down from the tree. Having wrapped it in a clean shroud with aromatic spices he laid it in a new tomb.

Then taking the censer, censes the Gifts three times, saying:

PRIEST: Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then will You be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then they will offer bullocks upon Your altar.

The Litany of the Offering

DEACON: Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the precious Gifts here set forth, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: An Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: All that is good and beneficial for our souls and peace for the world, 
let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: A Christian end to our life: painless, blameless and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us ask.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads the Prayer of the Offering:

PRIEST: O Lord, our God, Who has created us and brought us into this life; Who has shown us the ways to salvation, and bestowed on us the revelation of heavenly mysteries: You are the One who has appointed us to this service in the power of Your Holy Spirit. Therefore, O Lord, enable us to be ministers of Your new testament and servants of Your Holy Mysteries. Through the greatness of Your mercy, accept us as we draw near to Your holy altar, so that we may be worthy to offer to You this reasonable and bloodless sacrifice for our sins and for the errors of Your people. Having received it upon Your holy, heavenly and ideal altar as a sweet spiritual fragrance, send down upon us in return the grace of Your Holy Spirit.
Look down on us, O God, and behold this our service. Receive it as You received the gifts of Abel, the sacrifice of Noah, the whole burnt offerings of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, and the peace-offering of Samuel. Even as You did receive from Your holy apostles this true worship, so now, in Your goodness, accept these gifts from the hands of us sinners, O Lord; That having been accounted worthy to serve without offence at Your holy altar, we may receive the reward of wise and faithful stewards on the awesome day of Your just retribution.
PRIEST: Through the compassions of Your Only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be unto all.
FAITHFUL: And to your spirit.

DEACON: Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess:
FAITHFUL: The Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in essence and undivided.

The priest bows three times before the holy Table, saying each time as he does so:

PRIEST: I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my firm foundation, my refuge, and my deliverer.

DEACON: The doors! Тhe doors! In wisdom, let us be attentive.

The Symbol of Faith

FAITHFUL: + I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible;
+ And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, being of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from the heavens and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man; who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried; and He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end;
+ And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the Prophets;
+ In One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; I aсknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Anaphora (Eucharistic Prayer)

DEACON: Let us stand aright! Let us stand in fear. Let us be attentive, that we may offer the holy oblation in peace.
FAITHFUL: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.

PRIEST: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
FAITHFUL: And with your spirit.

PRIEST: Let us lift up our hearts.
FAITHFUL: We lift them up to the Lord.

PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: It is proper and right to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and undivided.

The priest prays:

PRIEST: O Existing One, Master, Lord God, Father Almighty and worthy of adoration. It is truly proper, right, and befitting the magnificence of Your holiness, that we should praise You, chant hymns to You, bless You, worship You, give thanks to You, and glorify You, the only truly existing God, the One-Who-Is, the Master, Lord, God, and worshiped Father Almighty, and offer You with contrite hearts and humble spirits this our spiritual worship. For You have graced us with the knowledge of Your Truth. And who can speak of Your mighty acts, to chant all the praises You deserve, or to proclaim all Your wonders at all times?
Master of All, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all visible and invisible creation: You sit on the Throne of Glory gazing upon the abyss. You are without beginning, invisible, incomprehensible, uncircumscribed, immutable; Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is our Great God and Saviour, our hope; the Image of Your Goodness, the Seal bearing the perfect likeness, Who reveals You, the Father, in Himself, the Living Word, the True God, Wisdom before the ages, Life, Sanctification, Power, and the True Light through Whom the Spirit has been revealed: The Spirit of truth, the gift of sonship, the pledge of an inheritance to come, the first-fruits of eternal good things, the Life- Creating Power, the Fountain of Sanctification through Whom every rational and intelligent creature is enabled to worship You, sending You everlasting glorification, for all things serve You: the Archangels, Angels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, and the many-eyed Cherubim praise You. The Seraphim surround You, each has six wings: with two they cover their faces, with two their feet, and with two they fly, calling to one another endlessly with never-ceasing praises:
PRIEST: Singing the triumphant hymn, proclaiming, crying out and saying:
FAITHFUL: 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!

The priest prays:

PRIEST: With these Blessed Powers, O Master Who loves mankind, we sinners also cry aloud and say: Holy are You — truly most holy — and there are no bounds to the magnificence of Your holiness. You are gracious in all Your deeds, for with righteousness and true judgment You have ordered all things for us. You created man by taking dust from the earth, and did honour him with Your own image, O God, You did set him in a paradise of delight, promising him eternal life and enjoyment of everlasting blessings in the observance of Your commandments. But, when man disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and was deceived by the guile of the serpent, becoming subject to death through his own transgressions, You, O God, in Your righteous judgement,did send him forth from paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken, yet providing for him the salvation of regeneration in Your Christ Himself. For You did not turn Yourself away forever from Your creature, whom You had made, O Good One, nor did You forget the work of Your hands. Through the tender compassion of Your mercy, You did visit him in various ways: You sent prophets; You performed mighty works by 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, by whom You also made the ages; Who, being the Radiance of Your glory and the Image of Your person, upholding all things by the word of His power, thought it not robbery to be equal to You, the God and Father. He was God before the ages, yet He appeared on earth and lived among men, becoming incarnate of a Holy Virgin; He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being likened to the body of our lowliness, that He might liken us to the image of His glory. For because through man sin entered the world, and through sin death, so it pleased Your Only-begotten Son, present in Your bosom, the God and Father, Who was born of a woman, the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, Who was born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, so that those who were dead in Adam might be made alive in Your Christ Himself.
He lived in this world and gave us commandments for salvation; releasing us from the delusions of idolatry, He brought us to knowledge of You, the true God and Father. He obtained us for His own chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Having cleansed us in 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. Descending through the Cross into hades that He might fill all things with Himself, He loosed the pangs of death, He arose on the third day, having made for all flesh a path to the resurrection from the dead, since it was not possible for the Author of life to be a victim of corruption. So He became the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first-born of the dead, that He might be Himself truly the first in all things. Ascending into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of Your majesty on high; and He will come to render to every man according to his works.
And as a memorial of His saving Passion, He has left us these things which we have set forth according to His command. For when He was about to go forth to His voluntary and ever-memorable and life-creating death; in the night in which He gave Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread into His holy and all-pure hands; and having shown it to You, the God and Father, having given thanks, blessed and hallowed it, and broken it —

He gave it to His Holy disciples and apostles, saying: “Take, eat, this is my Body which is broken for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

FAITHFUL: Amen.

PRIEST: Likewise, He took the cup of the fruit of the vine, and having mingled it and given thanks, blessed and hallowed it,

He gave it to His Holy disciples and apostles saying: Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

FAITHFUL: Amen.

The priest continues to pray:

PRIEST: Do this in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim My Death, you confess My Resurrection. Therefore, we also, O Master, remembering His saving Passion and Life-сreating Cross, His three-day Burial and Resurrection from the dead, His Ascension into Heaven and Sitting at the Right Hand of You, the God and Father, and His Glorious and awesome second coming.

PRIEST: Yours of Your own, we offer to You, on behalf of all and for all.
FAITHFUL: We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks unto You, O Lord, and we pray unto You, O our God.

The priest prays:

PRIEST: Because of this, O All-Holy Master, we also, Your sinful and unworthy servants, whom You have made worthy to minister at Your holy altar, not through our own righteousness, for we have done nothing good upon the earth, but because of Your mercies and compassion, which You have richly poured out upon us, dare to draw near to Your holy altar, and, presenting to You the antitypes of the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, we pray to You and call upon You, O Holy of Holies, that by the favour 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…

The priest (and deacon), standing before the holy Altar say the following prayer, thrice:

PRIEST: O God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy upon me.

And he says the Tropars of the Third Hour:

PRIEST: O Lord, who at the third hour sent down Your most holy Spirit upon Your Apostles: do not take Him from us, O Good One, but renew us who pray unto You.
DEACON: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

PRIEST: O Lord, who at the third hour sent down Your most holy Spirit upon Your Apostles: do not take Him from us, O Good One, but renew us who pray unto You.
DEACON: Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

PRIEST: O Lord, who at the third hour sent down Your most holy Spirit upon Your Apostles: do not take Him from us, O Good One, but renew us who pray unto You.
DEACON: Bless, Master, the holy Bread.

The priest blesses the holy Bread, saying:

PRIEST: This Bread to be the precious Body of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
DEACON: Amen. Bless, Master, the holy Cup.

The priest blesses the holy Chalice, saying:

PRIEST: And this Cup to be the precious Blood of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
DEACON: Amen.
PRIEST: Shed for the life of the world and salvation.
DEACON: Amen. Bless, Master, both.

The priest blesses the holy Gifts, saying:

PRIEST: Making the change by Your Holy Spirit.
DEACON: Amen. Amen. Amen.

The priest prays:

PRIEST: And unite all of us who partake of the one Bread and Cup to one another in the communion of the One Holy Spirit. Grant that none of us may partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ for judgement or condemnation. Instead, may we find mercy and grace with all the saints who, through the ages, have been well-pleasing to You: Ancestors, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Teachers, and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith.

The priest, taking the censer, says:

PRIEST: Especially with our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

The priest censes thrice before the holy Altar.

Hymn to the Mother of God

On Great Feasts instead of “It is truly worthy…” we sing the hymn to the mother of god for the feast.

FAITHFUL: All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace, the assembly 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 of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace. Glory to you!

The priest prays:

PRIEST: With The holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist, John, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles; Saint [name], whom we commemorate today, and all Your Saints, by their prayers look down upon us, O God. And remember all those who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection and eternal life, [the priest commemorates the names of the departed] and grant them rest, where the light of Your countenance shines.

Again we pray to You, remember Lord, Your Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which extends from one end of the universe to the other, and give peace to Her Whom You have obtained 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 You these Gifts, those for whom and through whom they are offered and their intentions.

Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit 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, and incorruptible things for corruptible.

Remember, O Lord, those in the deserts, in mountains, in the caverns and pits of the earth. Remember, O Lord, all those who live in virginity, piety, in asceticism, and an honourable way of life.

Remember, O Lord, our God-beloved country, its civil authorities and all the armed forces. Grant them a secure and lasting peace, speak good things into their hearts concerning Your Church and all Your people — that we, in their tranquility, may lead a calm and quiet life in all piety and virtue.

Remember, O Lord, every principality and authority, our brothers who serve in the government and the armed forces. In Your goodness, guard those who are good. Make those who are evil good by Your goodness.

Remember, O Lord, the people here present, and those who are absent for a good cause, and have mercy on them and on us according to the abundance of Your Mercies. Fill their treasuries with every good thing. Preserve their marriages in peace and oneness of mind. Raise the infants, train the youth, support the aged, encourage the faint-hearted, gather together the scattered, lead back those who wander astray, and unite them to Your Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Free those who are held captive by unclean spirits, sail with those who sail, travel with those who travel by land and air. Defend widows, protect orphans, deliver captives, and heal the sick. Remember, O God, those being judged, those in mines, in exile, in harsh labour, and in every kind of tribulation, need, and distress.

Remember, O Lord our God, all those who are in need of Your great loving kindness, those who love us, those who hate us, and those who have asked us, the unworthy, to pray for them, and remember all Your people, O Lord our God. Pour out Your rich mercy on all of them, granting them all petitions which are unto salvation. And all those whom we have not remembered through ignorance, forgetfulness, or the multitude of names, You Yourself remember, O God, since You know the age and name of everyone, even from their mother’s womb. For You, O Lord, are the helper of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the Saviour of the storm-tossed, the Haven of voyagers, and the Physician of the sick. Be everything to everyone, for You know each person and their request, their house and their need.

Lord, deliver this city, [village or monastery] and every city and country from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion, and civil war.

PRIEST: Among the first remember, O Lord, His Eminence, [name], Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy, Metropolitan of Canada; our Bishop, (title and name of the Eparchial Bishop). Grant them for Your holy churches in peace, safety, honour, health, and length of days rightly to define the word of Your truth.
FAITHFUL: And all mankind.

The priest prays:

PRIEST: Remember, O Lord, all the Orthodox Episcopate, who rightly define the word of Your truth.

Remember, O Lord, according to the multitude of Your compassions, my unworthiness also; forgive my every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary, and because of my sins do not withhold the grace of Your Holy Spirit from these Gifts here set forth.

Remember, O Lord, the priesthood, the deaconate in Christ, and every order of the clergy. Let none of us who stand about Your holy altar be put to confusion.

Visit us with Your loving-kindness, O Lord; manifest Yourself to us through Your rich compassions. Grant us seasonable and healthful weather; send gentle showers upon the earth so that it may bear fruit; bless the crown of the year with Your goodness. Prevent schisms among the churches; pacify the ragings of the pagans; quickly 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. Grant us Your peace and Your love, O Lord our God, for You have given all things to us.

Then he exclaims:

PRIEST: And grant that with one mouth and one heart we may praise Your most-honourable and majestic name: of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

PRIEST: And may the mercies of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with all of you.
FAITHFUL: And with your spirit.

Litany of supplication

DEACON: Having remembered all the saints, again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the precious Gifts offered and consecrated, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: That our God, who loves mankind, having received them on His holy, heavenly, and ideal altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: An Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: All that is good and beneficial for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: A Christian end to our life: painless, blameless and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us ask.
FAITHFUL: Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON: Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest prays:

PRIEST: O our God, the God of Salvation, teach us how we may worthily give thanks to You for the benefits You have given, and continue to give to us. Having accepted these gifts, O our God, cleanse us from every impurity of flesh and spirit and teach us to perfect our sanctification in fear of You, that we, in the witness of a pure conscience, may be united with the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, having received them worthily, we may have Christ dwelling in our hearts and may become the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Yea, O our God, let none of us be guilty before these, Your awesome and heavenly mysteries, neither be sick in soul or body because we have unworthily communed; but grant, O Lord, that we may worthily receive a portion of Your Holy Things even to our final breath as a provision on the path to eternal life, as an acceptable defense at the fearsome Judgement-Seat of Your Christ; that we also, together with all the Saints who in all ages have been well-pleasing to You, may be made partakers of Your eternal good things which You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord.

PRIEST: And make us worthy, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to dare to call on You, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:

The Lord’s Prayer

FAITHFUL: 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 the evil one.
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 the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be unto all.
FAITHFUL: And to your spirit.

DEACON: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads the Headbowing Prayer:

PRIEST: Master, Lord, Father of compassions, and God of every consolation: bless, sanctify, guard, fortify, and preserve those who have bowed their heads to You. Withdraw them from every evil deed, join them to every good work, and deem them worthy without condemnation to partake of these, Your Most pure and life-creating Mysteries, for the forgiveness of their sins and for the communion of the Holy Spirit.

PRIEST: Through the grace, mercy, and love for mankind of Your Only-Begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

Holy Communion

The priest bows reverently before the holy Gifts, and stands off to the right of the holy Table to wash his hands, and prays:

PRIEST: Attend, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, out of Your holy dwelling place, from the throne of the glory of Your kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You, who sit on high with the Father and are also invisibly present among us; and grant that by Your own mighty hand, Your pure Body and precious Blood might be given to us, and through us, to all the people.

The priest makes three low bows, saying each time:

PRIEST: O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

The Royal Doors are closed and the curtain is drawn. The priest, holding aloft the holy Bread, says:

PRIEST: The Holy things for the holy.
FAITHFUL: One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

We chant the communion verse of the day, feast or saint. This Communion Verse is chanted every Sunday for all the tones:

Communion Verse (Sunday)

FAITHFUL: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

DEACON: Divide, Master, the holy Bread.

The priest divides the holy Lamb into four parts, saying:

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

The priest arranges the pieces of the holy Lamb on the Diskos in the form of a Cross.

DEACON: Fill, Master, the holy Cup.

The priest takes up the portion IC, makes the sign of the Cross with it over the holy Chalice, saying:

PRIEST: The fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Then he places it into the holy Chalice.

DEACON: Amen.

And taking the warm water, the deacon says:

DEACON: Bless, Master, the warm water.

The priest blesses the warm water, saying:

PRIEST: Blessed is the warmth of Your saints always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

DEACON: Amen.

The deacon pours a sufficient quantity of the water into the holy Сhalice crosswise, saying:

DEACON: The warmth of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The clergy at this time commune of the holy Gifts.

COMMUNION OF THE CLERGY

After the clergy have communed, the Royal Doors are opened and the deacon takes the holy Chalice out to the faithful, proclaiming:

DEACON: With fear of God, faith, and love, draw near.
FAITHFUL: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us.

Prayer Before Holy Communion

All communicants pray:

COMMUNICANTS: + 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 own most pure Body and that this is truly Your own precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You: have mercy on me and forgive my transgressions – both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, committed in knowledge or in ignorance, and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your most pure Mysteries for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Amen.
+ 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, neither like Judas will I give You a kiss; but like the thief will I confess You: + Remember me, O Lord, in Your kingdom.
May the communion of Your holy Mysteries, O Lord, be neither to my judgement nor condemnation, but unto the healing of soul and body. Amen.

All communicants cross their hands on their chest (right hand over left) and individually they approach the holy Chalice for Holy Communion.

COMMUNION OF THE FAITHFUL

FAITHFUL: Receive the Body of Christ; taste the fountain of immortality. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

After distributing the Holy Eucharist, the deacon gathers the remaining particles from the Diskos into the Chalice with the Antimension Sponge. The priest says:

PRIEST: Wash away, O Lord, the sins of all those remembered here, by Your precious Blood; through the prayers of all Your Saints.

The priest blesses the people and says:

PRIEST: Save Your people, O God, and bless Your inheritance.
FAITHFUL: We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, who has saved us.

The priest, taking the holy Chalice in his right hand, says:

PRIEST: Blessed is our God.

Making the sign of the Cross with the Chalice over the antimension, the priest turns toward the Royal Doors, blesses the people with the Chalice, saying:

PRIEST: Always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.
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-giving Mysteries. Keep us in Your holiness, that all day long we may meditate upon Your righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, 
alleluia.

The Litany of Thanksgiving

DEACON: Let us stand aright!
Having partaken of the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, life-giving and awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Having asked that the whole day be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.
FAITHFUL: To You, O Lord.

The priest reads the Prayer of Thanksgiving:

PRIEST: We thank You, O Lord our God, for the participation in Your holy, most pure, immortal and heavenly Mysteries, which You have granted us for the good and sanctification and healing of our souls and bodies. Grant, O Master of all, that the communion of the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ may be to us for a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned, an increase of wisdom, the healing of soul and body, the repelling of every adversary, the observing of Your commandments, and an acceptable defense at the awesome judgement seat of Your Christ.

Having folded up the antimension, the priest makes the sign of the Cross over it with the holy Gospel as he exclaims:

PRIEST: For You are our sanctification and to You we send up glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

PRIEST: Let us depart in peace.
FAITHFUL: In the name of the Lord.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
FAITHFUL: Lord, have mercy.

The Prayer Behind the Ambon

PRIEST: O Lord, who blesses those who bless You and sanctifies 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 do not forsake us who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to Your priests, 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 the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.
+ Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. (thrice)

The priest reads the Prayer for the Consuming of the Holy Gifts:

PRIEST: The mystery of Your dispensation, O Christ our God, has been fulfilled and perfected as much as it was in our power. For we have the memorial of Your Death, we have seen the image of Your Resurrection, we have been filled with Your unending Life, we have enjoyed Your inexhaustible food, which, in the age to come, be well pleased to grant us all through the grace of Your Father Who is from Everlasting, and Your Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

During this prayer, the reader chants Psalm 33.

PRIEST: May the blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His Grace and Love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

The Dismissal

PRIEST: Glory to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory to You.
FAITHFUL: + Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (thrice)

Give the blessing. (“Master, bless.” — in a cathedral church or when a bishop is present.)

The priest (with Cross in hand) says the Dismissal of the Day.

PRIEST: May Christ our true God (on 
Sunday: who rose from the dead) have mercy on us and save us, through the intercessions of His most pure Mother; of our holy Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia; and of (name of the saint of the temple); and (the saint of the day); and of all the Saints, forasmuch as He is Good and the Lover of mankind.
FAITHFUL: Amen.

Polychronion

FAITHFUL: Our Metropolitan, His Eminence [name], Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy, Metropolitan of Canada; our Bishop, (title and name of the Eparchial Bishop), the parishioners of this holy temple and all Orthodox Christians, protect O Lord, for many years.

Following the Dismissal the priest, standing on the lower step of the Ambon, distributes the antidoron to the faithful and offers the holy Cross for veneration.