The Preparation for the Divine Liturgy and Opening Dialogue
( said quietly by the priest and the deacon)
Priest: O heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O good One.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. (thrice)
O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. (twice)
O Lord, Lord, open unto us the door of thy mercy.
Deacon: It is time for the Lord to act. Bless, holy master.
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen. Pray for me, holy master.
Priest: The Lord direct thy steps unto every good work.
Deacon: Remember me, holy master.
Priest: The Lord God remember thee in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen.
Liturgy of the Catechumens [1]
The Enarxis
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 ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Litany of Peace
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. ( after every petition ) Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this holy house and those who with faith, reverence and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our father and metropolitan, N., (our bishop, N.), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our country, its president (or appropriate head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this city and every city and countryside and the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For healthful seasons, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For travelers by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, the captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the 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.
Priest (Quietly) : O Lord our God, whose might is beyond compare, whose glory is incomprehensible, whose mercy is boundless, and whose love toward mankind is ineffable: do thou thyself, O Master, in thy tender compassion look down upon us and upon this holy house, and grant us and those who pray with us thy rich mercies and compassions.
Priest: For unto thee are due 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.
(The deacon moves and stands before the icon of the Theotokos.)
The Antiphons
The First Antiphon
Choir: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Saviour, save us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us.
(The deacon moves and stands before the holy doors and says the little litany.)
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the 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.
Priest (Quietly) : O Lord our God, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; preserve the fullness of thy Church, sanctify those who love the beauty of thy house, glorify them in recompense by thy divine power, and forsake us not who hope on thee. Priest: For thine is the might, and 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.
(The deacon moves and stands before the icon of the Lord.)
The Second Antiphon
Choir: Save us, O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, who sing to thee: Alleluia. (twice) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Save us, O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, who sing to thee: Alleluia. Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Only-begotten Son and Word of God, who art immortal, who for our salvation deigned to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and without change became man; and wast crucified, O Christ our God, and trampled down death by death; who art one of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit: save us.
(The deacon moves and stands before the holy doors and says the little litany.)
The Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the 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.
Priest (Quietly) : O thou who hast granted us to make these common supplications in one accord, and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests: do thou also now fulfill the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this age the knowledge of thy truth and, in the age to come, life everlasting.
Priest: For thou art a good God and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The Little Entrance
The priest and deacon quietly say the following dialogue: Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Priest: O Master, Lord our God, who hast appointed in heaven orders and hosts of angels and archangels for the service of thy glory: Cause that with our entrance there may be an entrance of holy angels serving with us and glorifying thy goodness. For unto thee are due 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. Deacon: Amen. Bless, master, the holy entrance. Priest: Blessed is the entrance of thy holy ones, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Apolytikion Of Lazarus Saturday In Tone One
In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Deacon: Amen. Wisdom! Stand upright!
The Entrance Hymn
Choir: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, who sing to thee: Alleluia.
Now sing these hymns in the following order.
The Hymns After the Little Entrance
Apolytikion Of Lazarus Saturday In Tone One
In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Do NOT sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.
Kontakion Of Lazarus Saturday In Tone Two
( **Thou soughtest the heights** )
To those on the earth, * the Joy of all, Christ God, the Truth, * the Light and the Life, * the Resurrection of the world, * in His goodness hath now appeared and is become the true archetype * of the Resurrection of all, * bestowing divine forgiveness on all men. While the choir sings the above hymns, the priest quietly prays the following prayer:
Priest: O holy God, who restest among the holy ones, who art hymned by the seraphim with the thrice-holy cry and glorified by the cherubim and worshipped by every heavenly power, who out of nothing hast brought all things into being, who hast created man according to thine own image and likeness and hast adorned him with thine every gift, who givest to him that asketh wisdom and understanding, who despisest not the sinner but hast appointed repentance unto salvation, who hast vouchsafed unto us, thy humble and unworthy servants, even in this hour, to stand before the glory of thy holy altar and to offer the worship and praise which are due unto thee: Thyself, Ο Master, receive even from the mouth of us sinners the thrice-holy hymn and visit us in thy goodness. Pardon us every transgression both voluntary and involuntary; sanctify our souls and bodies; and grant us to serve thee in holiness all the days of our life, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints, who from the beginning of the world have been well-pleasing unto thee.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For holy art thou, O our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever... Deacon: ...and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Anti-Trisagion Hymn
Choir: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. (thrice) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Deacon: Dynamis!
Choir: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Deacon: Command, master. Priest: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Deacon: Bless, master, the throne on high. Priest: Blessed art thou on the throne of the glory of thy kingdom, who art enthroned upon the cherubim, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen.
The Scriptural Readings
The Reading of the Epistle
Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: The Lord is my light and my Savior. The Lord is the defender of my life.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Reader: The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (12:28-13:8)
Deacon: Let us attend.
Reader: Brethren, having received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace, whereby we may worship God in a well-pleasing manner, with reverence and godly fear; for “our God is a consuming fire.” Let brotherly love continue. Do not be forgetful in showing hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in bonds, as though being bound together with them; those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; as for fornicators and adulterers, God will judge. Let your manner of life be free from the love of money; and be content with the things that you have. For He has said, “I will never fail thee, neither will I ever forsake thee”; so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?” Remember those who preside over you, who have spoken to you the word of God; and considering the outcome of their life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Priest: Peace be to thee that readest. Choir: Alleluia. (thrice)
Prayer Before the Gospel
During the preceding, the priest and deacon quietly say these prayers:
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Priest: Illumine our hearts, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of thy gospel teachings; implant in us also the fear of thy blessed commandments, that, trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto thee. For thou art the Illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thine unoriginate Father and thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Deacon: Bless, master, him who proclaimeth the good tidings of the holy, glorious apostle and evangelist, John. Priest: May God, through the prayers of the holy, glorious apostle and evangelist, John., enable thee to proclaim the good tidings with great power, to the fulfillment of the gospel of his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Deacon: Amen.
The Reading of the Gospel
Deacon: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us hear the holy gospel. Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Deacon: The reading from the holy gospel according to John. Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee. Deacon: Let us attend. (The deacon reads the Gospel.) At that time, a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, in the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to Jesus, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this Jesus said to the Disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” The Disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone Thee, and Thou art going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” Thus He spoke, and then He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep.” The Disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of His death, but they thought that He meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow Disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” Now when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever Thou wilt ask from God, God will give it Thee.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, He Who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw Him, fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not He Who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. I know that Thou hearest Me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me.” When He had said this, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what He did, believed in Him. Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee.
One of the clergy now give the homily on the Gospel.
Prayers Before the Great Entrance
The Prayer of the Litany for the Catechumens [2]
Priest: O Lord our God, who dwellest on high and regardest things below, who hast sent forth as the salvation of the race of men thine only-begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ: Look down upon thy servants the catechumens, who have bowed their necks before thee; make them worthy in due season of the laver of regeneration, the remission of sins and the robe of incorruption. Unite them to thy holy, catholic and apostolic Church, and number them with thine elect flock, that with us they may glorify thine all-honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Prayer of the First Litany of the Faithful
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O Lord God of hosts, who hast made us worthy to stand even now before thy holy altar and to fall down before thy compassions for our sins and the ignorance of the people. Receive our supplications, O God; make us worthy to offer unto thee prayers and supplications and bloodless sacrifices for all thy people. And enable us, whom thou hast placed in this thy ministry, by the power of thy Holy Spirit, blamelessly and without offense, in the pure witness of our conscience, to call upon thee at all times and in every place, that hearing us thou mayest show mercy upon us according to the fullness of thy goodness, for unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Prayer of the Second Litany of the Faithful
Priest: Again and oftentimes we fall down before thee and beseech thee, O good One who lovest mankind, that looking down upon our petition thou wilt cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh or spirit, and grant us to stand blamelessly and without condemnation before thy holy altar. Grant also, O God, to those who pray with us growth in life and faith and spiritual understanding. Grant them always blamelessly to serve thee with fear and love and to partake without condemnation of thy holy mysteries and to be accounted worthy of thy heavenly kingdom. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Wisdom. Priest: That guarded always by thy might we may ascribe glory unto thee, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Cherubic Hymn
Choir: Let us, who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care.
Priest (quietly) : No one who is bound with the desires and pleasures of the flesh is worthy to approach or to draw nigh or to serve thee, O King of glory, for to serve thee is a great and fearful thing even to the heavenly powers. Nevertheless through thine unspeakable and boundless love toward mankind thou didst become man, yet without change or alteration, and as Master of all didst take the name of our High Priest and deliver unto us the ministry of this liturgical and bloodless sacrifice. For thou alone, O Lord our God, rulest over those in heaven and on earth, who art borne on the throne of the cherubim, who art Lord of the seraphim and King of Israel, who alone art holy and restest in the holy ones. Wherefore I implore thee who alone art good and art ready to listen: Look down upon me, the sinner and thine unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience, and by the power of thy Holy Spirit enable me, who am endued with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this thy holy table, and perform the sacred mystery of thy holy and immaculate Body and precious Blood. For I draw near unto thee, and bowing my neck I pray thee. Turn not thy face from me, neither cast me out from among thy children, but vouchsafe that these gifts may be offered unto thee by me, thy sinful and unworthy servant; for thou thyself art he that offereth and is offered, that accepteth and is distributed, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thine unoriginate Father, and thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen .
Priest: Let us, who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care. Deacon: That we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Priest: In that we have beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. Thy cross do we adore, O Christ, and thy holy resurrection we praise and glorify: for thou art our God, and we know none other beside thee; we call upon thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us adore Christ's holy resurrection. For lo, through the cross is joy come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us sing his resurrection: for in that he endured the cross for us he hath destroyed death by death.
Priest (Psalm 50): Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy, according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out mine transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and with thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.
Priest: O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and have mercy on me. Priest: Forgive me, brother and concelebrant. Priest: Forgive, O God, those who hate us and those who love us. Deacon: Lift up, master. Priest: Lift up your hands unto the holies, and bless the Lord.
The Great Entrance
Deacon: All of you, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Our father and metropolitan, N., the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Our president (or appropriate head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: The servants of God, NN., that they may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, pardon and remission of sins, the Lord God remember them in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: The servants of God departed this life in the hope of the resurrection and life eternal, NN., the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. That we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: Thy priesthood, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Priest: Thy diaconate, the Lord God remember in his kingdom, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Do good, master. Priest: Do good, O Lord, in thy goodwill unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
The priest returns the censer and bows his head toward the east saying to the deacon: Priest: Remember me, brother and concelebrant. Deacon: Thy priesthood may the Lord God remember is his kingdom, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Liturgy of the Faithful [3]
The deacon now bows his head and holds his orarion in his right hand, saying: Deacon: Pray for me, O holy master. Priest: May the Holy Spirit descend upon thee and the power of the Most High overshadow thee. Deacon: May the same Spirit serve with us all the days of our life. Remember me, O holy master. Priest: Thy diaconate may the Lord God remember in his kingdom, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen.
The Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. ( repeat for the following petitions ) Deacon: For the precious gifts now set forth, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this holy house, and those who with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord. Choir: Grant this, O Lord. ( repeat for the following petitions ) Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: All things good and profitable for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord. Deacon: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of Christ, let us ask. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady the 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.
Priest: O Lord God Almighty, who alone art holy, who dost accept a sacrifice of praise from those who call upon thee with their whole heart: Receive also the prayer of us sinners, and lead us to thy holy altar, and enable us to offer unto thee gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the ignorance of the people, and make us worthy to find grace in thy sight, that our sacrifice may be acceptable unto thee and that the good Spirit of thy grace may rest upon us and upon these gifts here spread forth and upon all thy people. Priest: Through the compassions of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Deacon: Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess: Choir: Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence and undivided. Priest: I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my firm Foundation, my Refuge, and my Deliverer. Deacon: The doors. The doors. In wisdom let us attend.
The Creed
People: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds. Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And he was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And on the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Holy Anaphora (The Offering of the Holy Gifts)
Deacon: Let us stand aright. Let us stand with fear. Let us attend, that we may offer the holy oblation in peace. Choir: 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 you all. Choir: And with thy spirit. Priest: Let us lift up our hearts. Choir: We lift them up unto the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks unto the Lord. Choir: It is meet and right.
Priest (quietly) : It is meet and right to hymn thee, to bless thee, to praise thee, to give thanks unto thee and to worship thee in every place of thy dominion: for thou art God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever-existing and eternally the same, thou and thine only-begotten Son and thy Holy Spirit. Thou it was who didst bring us from non-existence into being and when we had fallen away didst raise us up again, and didst not cease to do all things until thou hadst brought us up to heaven and hadst endowed us with thy kingdom which is to come. For all these things we give thanks unto thee, and to thine only-begotten Son, and thy Holy Spirit; for all things of which we know and of which we know not and for all the benefits bestowed upon us, both manifest and unseen. And we give thanks unto thee also for this liturgy which thou dost vouchsafe to receive at our hands, even though there stand beside thee thousands of archangels and ten thousands of angels, the cherubim and the seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring aloft, borne on their wings:
While the priest says the following exclamation, the deacon lifts up the star and makes the sign of the cross with it over the diskos then he kisses it and puts it aside on the covers. [4]
Priest: Singing the triumphal hymn, shouting, proclaiming, and saying: Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Priest: With these blessed powers we also, O Master who lovest mankind, cry aloud and say: Holy art thou and all-holy, thou and thine only-begotten Son and thy Holy Spirit; holy art thou and all-holy and magnificent is thy glory, who hast so loved thy world as to give thine only-begotten Son, that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life, who, when he had come and had fulfilled all the dispensation for us, in the night in which he was betrayed or, rather, gave himself up for the life of the world, took bread in his holy and immaculate and blameless hands; and when he had given thanks and blessed it and hallowed it and broken it, he gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying: Priest: Take, eat. This is my Body which is broken for you, for the remission of sins. Choir: Amen. Priest: And likewise after supper, he took the cup, saying:
Priest: Drink of this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins. Choir: Amen. Priest: Having in remembrance, therefore this saving commandment and all those things which have come to pass for us: the cross, the grave, the third-day resurrection, the ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming, Thine own of thine own, we offer unto thee, in behalf of all and for all. Choir: We hymn thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, O Lord, and we pray unto thee, O our God. Priest: Again we offer unto thee this rational and bloodless worship and beseech thee and pray thee and supplicate thee: Send down thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here spread forth. Deacon: Bless, master, the holy bread. Priest: And make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ; People: Amen. Deacon: Bless, master, the holy cup. Priest: And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ; People: Amen. Deacon: Bless both, master. Priest: Changing them by thy Holy Spirit; People: Amen. Amen. Amen.
Priest: That to those who shall partake thereof they may be unto vigilance of soul, unto remission of sins, unto the communion of thy Holy Spirit, unto the fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven and unto boldness toward thee, not unto judgment nor unto condemnation. And again we offer unto thee this rational worship for all those who in faith have gone before us to their rest: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics and every righteous spirit made perfect in faith.
The priest censes the gifts, saying: Priest: Especially our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary;
He gives the censer back to the deacon, who censes around the Holy Table and stands behind it and commemorates those who are to be prayed for that day among the living and departed, while the choir chants the Megalynarion
Megalynarion for Lazarus Saturday in Tone 8
Let us, O ye peoples, gloriously honor the pure Theotokos, who conceived the Divine Fire in her womb without being consumed; with unceasing hymns do we magnify her.
During the Megalynarion, the priest quietly prays:
Priest: The holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; the holy glorious, and all-laudable apostles; NN., whose memory we celebrate; and all thy saints, at whose supplications look down upon us, O God. And be mindful of all those who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, NN., and grant them rest, O our God, where the light of thy countenance shines upon them. And again we beseech thee: Be mindful, O Lord, of every bishop of the Orthodox, who rightly divideth the word of thy truth; of all the presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, and of every priestly and monastic order. And again we offer unto thee this rational service for the whole world, for the holy, catholic and apostolic Church, for those who live in chastity and lead a godly way of life and for all civil authorities, and our armed forces; grant them, O Lord, peaceful times, that we, in their tranquility may lead a calm and peaceful life in all reverence and godliness.
Clergy: Among the first be mindful, O Lord, of our father and metropolitan, N., whom do thou grant unto thy holy churches in peace, safety, honor, health and length of days, and rightly dividing the word of thy truth. Deacon: And of the people here present, and those whom they are remembering, and of all mankind. Choir: And of all mankind.
Priest: Be mindful, O Lord, of this city in which we dwell, and of every city and countryside, and of those who in faith dwell therein. Be mindful, O Lord, of those who travel by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, the captive, and their salvation. Be mindful, O Lord, of those who bear fruit and do good works in thy holy churches and who remember the poor; and upon us all send forth thy mercies. Priest: And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and praise thine all-honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: And may the mercies of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all. Choir: And with thy spirit.
The Litany Before the Lord's Prayer
Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: For the precious gifts which have been spread forth and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: That our God, who loveth mankind, having received them upon his holy, most heavenly, and ideal altar as an aroma of spiritual sweetness, will send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Asking for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: Unto thee we commend our whole life and our hope, O Master who lovest mankind, and we beseech thee and pray thee and supplicate thee: Vouchsafe us to partake of thy heavenly and dread mysteries of this sacred and spiritual table, with a pure conscience, unto remission of sins, unto pardon of transgressions, unto communion of the Holy Spirit, unto inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, unto boldness toward thee, and not unto judgment nor unto condemnation. Priest: And vouchsafe, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
The Lord's Prayer
All: 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 ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O King invisible, who by thy boundless power hast made all things and in the multitude of thy mercy hast brought all things from nothingness into being. Do thou thyself, O Master, look down from heaven upon those who have bowed their heads unto thee; for they have not bowed down unto flesh and blood, but to thee, the fearful God. Therefore, O Master, do thou thyself distribute these gifts here spread forth, unto all of us for good, according to the individual need of each: voyage with those who sail by sea; journey with those who travel by land and air; heal the sick, thou who art the Physician of our souls and bodies, Through the grace and compassions and love toward mankind of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The Elevation
Priest: Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from thy holy dwelling-place and from the throne of glory of thy kingdom; and come to sanctify us, O thou who sittest on high with the Father and art here invisibly present with us; and vouchsafe by thy mighty hand to impart unto us thine immaculate Body and precious Blood, and through us unto all the people. Priest: O God, be gracious unto me, the sinner, and have mercy on me. (twice) Priest: I exalt thee, O my King and my God. (once) Deacon: Let us attend. Priest: The Holy Things are for the holy. Choir: One is holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Communion
Deacon: Divide, master, the holy bread. Priest: Divided and distributed is the Lamb of God, who is divided, yet not disunited; who is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifieth those who partake thereof. Deacon: Fill, master, the holy cup. Priest: The fullness of the Holy Spirit. Deacon: Amen. Deacon: Bless, master, the warm water. Priest: Blessed is the warmth of thy holy things, O Lord, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen. Deacon: The warmth of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The faithful now say the Pre-Communion Prayers, found here .
The choir sings the koinonikon (communion hymn) of the day or feast while the clergy receive holy communion.
Koinonikon (Communion Hymn) For Lazarus Saturday In Tone 8
Out of the mouths of infants and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise. Alleluia.
Deacon: With fear of God and faith and love, draw near. Choir: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; the Lord is God and hath appeared unto us.
The priest then communes those who are prepared to receive the holy mysteries. Meanwhile the choir and people may sing the hymn “Rejoice, O Bethany.”:
Rejoice O Bethany In Tone 6
Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany! On this day God came to thee, God came to thee; and in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life! He is the Life! He is the Life! And in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life!
When Martha went to receive Him, grieving loudly with bitter tears, bitter tears, she poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him, with great sadness, wailing her lament. Wailing her lament, wailing her lament. She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him, with great sadness, wailing her lament.
She at once cried out unto Him, “My most compassionate Lord! My Lord! At the great loss of my brother Lazarus my heart is broken, help me! Help me! Help me! At the great loss of my brother Lazarus my heart is broken, help me!
Jesus said to her, “Cease thy weeping, cease thy grieving and sad lament, sad lament; for thy brother, My most beloved friend Lazarus, very soon will live again! He will live again! He will live again! For thy brother, My most beloved friend Lazarus, very soon will live again!”
Then He, the faithful Redeemer, made His way unto the tomb, unto the tomb, where He cried unto him who was buried four days, calling him forth, saying, “Lazarus, arise! Lazarus, arise! Lazarus, arise!” Where He cried unto him who was buried four days, calling him forth, saying, “Lazarus, arise!
Come with haste, ye two sisters, and behold a wondrous thing, wondrous thing, for thy brother from the tomb has returned to life. To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks! Now give thanks! Now give thanks! For thy brother from the tomb has returned to life. To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks!
To Thee, O Lord of creation, we kneel down in reverence profound, reverence profound; for all we who are dead in sin; in Thee, O Jesus, are made alive! We are made alive! We are made alive! For all we who are dead in sin; in Thee, O Jesus, are made alive!
Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany! On this day God came to thee, God came to thee; and in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life! He is the Life! He is the Life! And in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life!
After the clergy have finished communing the faithful, the priest says: Priest: O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.
Post-Communion Hymn
Instead of “We have seen the true light,” sing the Apolytikion of Lazarus Saturday.
Apolytikion Of Lazarus Saturday In Tone One
In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
The priest and deacon enter the sanctuary through the holy doors, and the priest places the chalice on the antiminsion. The deacon lifts the diskos over the chalice and with the sponge carefully wipes the remaining particles into the chalice, saying: Deacon: By thy precious Blood, O Lord, wash away the sins of thy servants here commemorated, through the intercessions of the Theotokos and all thy saints.
The deacon covers the chalice with the communion cloth and places the covers and the star on the diskos. Then the priest censes the Holies three times, and the deacon says to the priest: Deacon: Exalt, master. Priest: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
The priest gives the diskos to the deacon who lifts it above his head and carries it to and places it upon the prothesis. The priest lifts the chalice and, turning to face the people, says (without blessing): Priest: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of thy glory; for thou hast permitted us to partake of thy holy, divine, immortal and life-giving mysteries. Establish us in thy Sanctification that all the day we may meditate upon thy righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The Litany of Thanksgiving
Deacon: Stand upright. Having partaken of the divine, holy, immaculate, immortal, heavenly, life-giving, and awesome mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Asking that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: We give thanks unto thee, O Master who lovest mankind, Benefactor of our souls, for that thou hast vouchsafed this day to feed us with thy heavenly and immortal mysteries. Make straight our path; establish us all in thy fear; guard our life; make firm our steps; through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and of all thy saints. For thou art our Sanctification, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Let us go forth in peace. Choir: In the name of the Lord. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The Prayer Behind the Amvon
Priest: O Lord, who blessest those who bless thee and sanctifiest those who put their trust in thee: Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, preserve the fullness of thy Church, sanctify those who love the beauty of thy house, glorify them in recompense by thy divine power, and forsake us not who hope on thee. Give peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the priests, to the civil authorities, to the armed forces and to all thy people; for all good giving and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from thee, the Father of lights, and unto thee we ascribe glory, thanksgiving and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. (thrice)
While the choir chants the above, the priest (through the holy doors) and the deacon (through the north door) enter the sanctuary and go directly to the prothesis. Standing before the prothesis, the priest says: Priest: O Christ our God, who art thyself the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, who didst fulfill all the dispensation of the Father: Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen . After the prayer, the priest blesses the deacon to consume the remaining holy gifts and returns to the holy table. Afterward, the deacon says: Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Priest: The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you through his divine grace and love toward mankind always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to thee. Choir: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Father bless.
The Dismissal
Priest: May He Who by raising Lazarus from the dead confirmed the universal resurrection, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Precious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of the holy and righteous Lazarus of four-days, the friend of Christ, whose memory we celebrate today, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind. Choir: Amen.