Divlit
Divlit
Divlit
Of the four eucharistic liturgies in use in the Orthodox Churches today, by far
the most important is that of St John Chrysostom. The following is the public
part of that liturgy, following the preparation, which is carried out secretly, as
it represents that part of the Life of Christ which was concealed from public
knowledge. The Divine Liturgy symbolises the Life of Christ, from His first
public preaching through to the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Ascension
and the Sending of the Holy Spirit from the Father.
It should be noted that when a bishop or a deacon serve the liturgy, there
are a number of additions to the text below. Also, certain parts of the liturgy
are variable, for example the antiphons and the hymns for the day. These
are not given below. Neither is given the text of those prayers which concern
the priest, nor is given the full text of the eucharistic canon which is read
secretly on account of its mystical content. Otherwise, that which follows is a
guide to the manner in which the Divine Liturgy is served throughout most of
the Orthodox world, although some Greek parishes do make certain small
abbreviations.
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.
Choir Amen.
Priest For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to
the Lord.
Priest 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.
Priest For this holy house, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the
fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
Priest For our great lord and father His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill, the Most
Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Church Outside Russia,
the Very Reverend Archbishop…./ the Right Reverend Bishop…. , for the
honourable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the
people, let us pray to the Lord.
For the Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and
scattered abroad and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and invisible, and
confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety, let us pray to the
Lord.
For our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth and all the Royal House, this land,
all those in seats of authority, the armed forces and for every Christian land,
let us pray to the Lord.
Priest For this town, every town and land, and the faithful that dwell therein,
let us pray to the Lord.
Priest For seasonable weather, abundance of the fruits of the earth, and
peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Priest For them that travel by water, land and air, for the sick, the suffering;
those in captivity, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Priest That we may be delivered from all sorrow, wrath and need, let us pray
to the Lord.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Priest Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and
glorious Lady, the Birthgiver of God 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 For unto Thee 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.
Choir Amen.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Priest Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and
glorious Lady, the Birthgiver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints,
let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our
God.
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 the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
The Choir now sings the Second Antiphon and the following Hymn:
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Priest For Thou art a good God and Thou lovest mankind, and unto Thee do
we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Choir In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy
Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
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 pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is
the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
The priest makes the Little Entrance with the Gospel Book
Priest For Thou art holy, O our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the
ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and
unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Priest Wisdom.
Priest Wisdom
Reader The Reading is (from the Acts of the Holy Apostles/(from the Epistle
of the Holy Apostle Paul to the - etc)
Priest Wisdom.
The Reader reads the verses of the alleluia and the choir sings the
Alleluia.
Priest Wisdom. Stand aright. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be unto all.
Choir And to thy spirit.
Priest The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint - .
Priest Let us say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say.
Priest O Lord Almighty, the God of our Fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and
have mercy.
Priest Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray
Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Again we pray for our great lord and father His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill; for
our lord the Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the
Church Outside Russia; for our lord the Very Reverend…, the Right Reverend
Bishop…; and all our brethren in Christ.
Again we pray for the Russian land and its Orthodox people, both in the
homeland and scattered abroad, and for their salvation.
Again we pray that He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and
invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety.
For our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth and all the Royal House, this land,
all those in seats of authority, the armed forces and for every Christian land,
let us pray to the Lord.
Priest Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, the priest-monks, and all
our brethren in Christ.
Choir Lord, have mercy x3.
Priest Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable holy Orthodox
Patriarchs, pious kings and right-believing queens, and the founders of
this holy house, and for all our fathers and brethren gone to their rest
before us, and the Orthodox laid to rest here and everywhere.
Priest Again we pray for them that bring fruit and do good works in this holy
and all-honourable house, for them that serve and them that sing, and for all
the people here present, who await of Thee great and abundant mercy.
Priest For Thou art a merciful God, and Thou lovest mankind, and unto Thee
do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Priest Ye faithful, let us pray for the catechumens, that the Lord will have
mercy upon them.
Priest That He will unite them to His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Priest Save them, have mercy upon them, help them, and keep them, O God,
by Thy grace.
Choir Amen.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Priest Wisdom
For unto Thee 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.
Choir Amen.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Priest Wisdom.
Priest That guarded beneath Thy might we may send up glory unto Thee: to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto
the ages of ages.
Choir Amen. Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and who sing the
thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, let us now lay aside all earthly
cares.
While the choir sing the above Cherubic Hymn, the Priest prays and
makes ready for the Great Entrance, making the following
commemorations:
Priest May the Lord God remember in His kingdom our great lord and father
His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias; our lord the Most
Reverend Hilarion, Metropolitan of New York and Eastern America, First
Hierarch of the Church Outside Russia; our lord the Very Reverend
Archbishop Mark, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
May the Lord God remember in His Kingdom Our Sovereign Lady Queen
Elizabeth and all the Royal House, this land, all those in seats of authority,
the armed forces, and all the lands of the Earth where Orthodox Christians
dwell, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The priests, the monks, the nuns, all those that are persecuted and suffer for
the Orthodox Faith, all those that toil here, those that sing, the benefactors
and founders, all those that love the beauty of God's House, you and all
faithful Orthodox Christians, may the Lord God remember in His Kingdom
always, now and ever unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
That we may receive the King of all, Who is invisibly borne in triumph by the
ranks of angels. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Priest For the precious Gifts set forth, let us pray to the Lord.
Priest For this holy house, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the
fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
Priest That we may be delivered from all sorrow, wrath and need, let us pray
to the Lord.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us O God by Thy
grace.
Priest That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us
ask of the Lord.
Priest An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies,
let us ask of the Lord.
Priest That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and
repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Priest Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and
glorious Lady the Birthgiver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints,
let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our
God.
Priest Through the compassion of Thine only begotten Son, with Whom Thou
are blessed, together with Thine all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Priest Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess.
Choir The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity One in
Essence, and Undivided.
Priest Let us stand aright, let us stand with fear, let us attend, that we may
make the Holy Offering in peace.
Priest May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and
the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Choir It is meet and right to worship the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Spirit: the Trinity, one in essence, and undivided.
The Priest reads the words of the Eucharistic Canon secretly with
fear of God and awe:
Take, eat, This is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.
Choir Amen.
Priest Drink of it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is
shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.
Choir Amen.
The Priest Reads the words of the eucharistic canon secretly:
Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, on behalf of all and for all.
Choir We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, and
we pray unto Thee, O our God.
Priest (And now the Priest with piety and awe reads the words of the
eucharistic canon and the Holy Gifts are hallowed):
Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady the
Birthgiver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Choir It is truly meet to bless you, O Birthgiver of God, ever blessed and
most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim,
and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, Who without
defilement gavest birth to God the Word, true Birthgiver of God, we magnify
thee.
Among the first, remember, O Lord, our great lord and father His Holiness
Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias; our lord the Most Reverend
Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Church Outside Russia; the Very
Reverend Archbishop…. the Right Reverend Bishop..., whom do Thou grant
unto Thy holy Churches, in peace, integrity, honour, health, and length of
day, rightly dividing the word of Thy truth.
And grant unto us that with one mouth and one heart we may glorify and
hymn Thy 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.
Choir Amen.
Priest And may the mercy of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with
you all.
Priest Having called to remembrance all the saints, again and again in peace
let us pray to the Lord.
Priest That we may be delivered from all sorrow, wrath, and need, let us pray to
the Lord.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Priest That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us
ask of the Lord.
Priest An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies,
let us ask of the Lord.
Priest Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of
the Lord.
Priest Things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the
world, let us ask of the Lord.
Priest That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and
repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Priest And vouchsafe us, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation
to dare to call upon Thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
Choir Our Father, Which 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 them that 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.
Choir Amen.
Priest Through the grace and compassion and love for mankind of Thine
only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most
holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of
ages.
Choir Amen.
Choir One is Holy. One is the Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the
Father. Amen.
The Choir sings the communion hymn of the day, while the priest
partakes of the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Our Lord and God
and Saviour Jesus Christ and makes ready to give holy communion
to the people who have prepared in fasting, prayer and confession
to partake of it.
Choir Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord and
has appeared unto us.
Priest I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son
of the living God, Who camest into the world to save sinners, of Whom I am
chief. I believe also that this is truly Thine most pure Body, and that this is
truly Thine Own precious Blood. Therefore, I pray Thee: have mercy upon me
and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, whether in
word or deed, in knowledge or in ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake
without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries, unto the remission of
sins, and life everlasting. Amen.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a partaker; for I will
not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss like Judas
like Judas; but like the thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy
Kingdom.
Let not the communion of Thy holy Mysteries be unto me for judgement or
condemnation, O Lord, but for the healing of soul and body.
Choir Receive the Body of Christ, taste the fountain of immortality, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Choir We have seen the true Light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we
have found the true Faith, we worship the undivided Trinity, Who has saved
us.
Priest Always now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Let our mouth be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy
glory. for Thou hast vouchsafed us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal,
and life-creating Mysteries. Keep us in Thy holiness, that we may meditate
on Thy righteousness all the day long. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Priest Stand aright. Having partaken of the divine, holy, most pure,
immortal, heavenly and life-creating, dread Mysteries of Christ, let us duly
give thanks unto the Lord.
Priest Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by Thy
grace.
Choir Amen.
Priest O Lord, Who blessest those who bless Thee, and hallowest those who
trust in Thee: Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Preserve the
fullness of Thy Church. Hallow those who love the beauty of Thy house; do
Thou glorify them in return by Thy divine power, and forsake us not who put
our hope in Thee. Give peace to Thy world, to Thy churches, to the priests,
to all Thy people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from Thee, the Father of Lights, and unto Thee do we send up
glory, and thanksgiving, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth and forevermore x3.
Priest May the blessing of the Lord be upon you through His grace and love
for mankind always, now and ever unto the ages of ages.
Choir Amen.
Choir Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.