Procession

To be performed on the Patronal Festival of the , namely, the Feast of the Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, being the 5 th day of the month of July in the Church Calendar.

The Cross-procession is traditionally performed at the founding of a new monastery, the consecration of a new church, and each year on the patronal festival of a church. It is a form of prayer in which the prayers of the Patron Saint and the of God are invoked on the parish. The form outlined below takes the form of a processional moleben, and is the form most commonly used in the Russian Church Abroad. During the procession, the faithful make four stations, forming the points of a Cross around the church. After the prayer below the Ambo (O Lord, Who dost bless them that bless Thee...&c.) the lantern-bearer, Cross-bearer, servers with fans, and banner-bearers form up in the midst of the church, ready for the procession. Standing in the midst of the church, the says: Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. People: Amen. Then the people sing, in stikhera tone 6: O heavenly King, / Comforter, Spirit of Truth, / Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, / Treasury of blessings and Giver of life; / Come, and abide in us, / cleanse us of all impurity, // and save our souls, O Good One! : In the second tone: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord. Deacon: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. People: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord. Deacon: I shall not die, but live; and shall tell of the works of the Lord. People: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord.

Deacon: The stone which the builders rejected is become the headstone of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. People: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord. The procession begins, in the following order: 1. Server or layman carrying a lantern. 2. Server or layman carrying the Cross. 3. Some of the faithful carrying banners, in pairs. 4. A layperson, carrying the of St Elisabeth, flanked by two subdeacons carrying fans over the icon. 5. The choir. 6. The and servers. The senior priest carries a Cross. The second priest (or layman, if there is only one priest), carries the Gospel Book. carry censers. Remaining servers carry the trebnik, , and anything else that may be required. 7. The faithful, who may carry . Meanwhile, the people sing: , tone 2 - In that meekness, humility, and love, / which made their abode in thy soul, / thou didst diligently minister to the suffering, / O holy Passion-bearer, Princess Elisabeth; / and with faith didst endure suffering and death for Christ / with the Martyr Barbara. // With her do thou pray for all that honour thee with love! The procession moves out of the church by the south door, (properly, this is by the west door but our church does not have one). Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Pray to God for us, / O holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, / for fervently do we flee unto thee, // the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. The first station is made at the south side of the church, thus: 1. The lantern, Cross, and banner-bearers leave the church first, but move aside to allow everybody else to leave church. They then return to the church doors and arrange themselves against the wall of the church, facing outwards. Banner and fan-bearers stand on the back row with the Cross and lantern in front. 2. The choir turns left out of the door and gathers there. 3. The gather before the doors facing towards the church, while the deacons stand facing them. The servers with the trebnik and holy water stand to the left and right of the senior priest, respectively. 4. The faithful turn right out of the doors and gather there. The priest blesses with the Cross towards the church (north), then sprinkles with holy water. The deacons stand facing him, censing the Cross x3 while the priest blesses with it. If there is more than one priest, a second priest sprinkles simultaneously with the priest who blesses with the Cross. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord; let us all say: People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The priest turns by the left to face away from the church (south). Again he blesses with the Cross, then sprinkles with holy water. The deacons, having circled to face him, cense as before. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord; let us all say: People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The priest turns by the left to face east, towards the choir. Again he blesses and sprinkles. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord; let us all say: People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The priest turns by the left to face west, towards the people. He blesses and sprinkles as before. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord; let us all say: People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The procession continues anti-clockwise in the same order as before: lantern, Cross, banners, icon with fans, choir, clergy, people.

Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Pray to God for us, / O holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, / for fervently do we flee unto thee, // the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. The second station is made at the east end. Those carrying the lantern, Cross, &c. stand with their backs to the wall of the church as before, with the choir going ahead a little, the clergy in the middle, and the people following. Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. People: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace. People: Lord, have mercy. People: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, exceedingly blessed, and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God. People: To Thee, O Lord. Priest: For Thou art the King of peace, and the Saviour of our souls, 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. People: Amen.

Deacon: Let us attend. Wisdom! Let us attend. The prokimenon in the fourth tone: For thy sake, O Lord, are we slain all the day long. People: For thy sake, O Lord, are we slain all the day long. Deacon: We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. People: For thy sake, O Lord, are we slain all the day long. Deacon: For Thy sake, O Lord... People: ..are we slain all the day long. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, Who restest in the Saints, 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. People: Amen. Deacon: Let every breath praise the Lord. People: Let every breath praise the Lord. Deacon: Praise ye God in His Saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power. People: Let every breath praise the Lord. Deacon: Let every breath... People: ...praise the Lord. Deacon: And that He may count us worthy to hear the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God. People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Wisdom! Upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Priest: Peace be unto all. People: And to thy spirit. Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St John. People: Glory be to Thee, O Lord: glory to Thee! The priest reads the Gospel (Pericope 52 – John 15:17–16:2). At the end: People: Glory be to Thee, O Lord: glory to Thee! The priest blesses and then sprinkles in the four directions as before – towards the church, then away from it, then towards the choir, then towards the people, turning by the left, and with the deacon censing – but this time he blesses with the icon of St Elisabeth rather than the Cross. If there is a second priest, he sprinkles simultaneously with the blessing with the icon. Each time, the deacon says: Deacon: Praying to the holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, let us all say: People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! The procession continues in the same order as before. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Pray to God for us, / O holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, / for fervently do we flee unto thee, // the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. The third station is made at the north side. Those carrying banners and other items, as well as the choir, clergy, and people, arrange themselves as before. The priests bless with the Cross and sprinkle with the holy water in four directions: towards the church, away from the church, towards the choir, then towards the people, the deacon censing each time. During each blessing is sung: Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord; let us all say: People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The procession continues in the same order as before. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Clergy: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Pray to God for us, / O holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, / for fervently do we flee unto thee, // the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls. The fourth station is made at the west end. Those carrying banners and other items, as well as the choir, clergy, and people, arrange themselves as before. The priests bless with the icon and sprinkle with the holy water in four directions: towards the church, away from the church, towards the choir, then towards the people, the deacon censing each time. During each blessing is sung: Deacon: Praying to the holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, let us all say: People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! The procession continues, entering the church, while the people sing, either to the usual melody or in tone 8: It is very meet to bless thee, who didst bring forth God; / ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God: / more honourable than the Cherubim, / and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, / who without defilement didst bear God the Word: // and art indeed the Mother of God, thee do we magnify! The icon of St Elisabeth is returned to the centre of the church and the fans are held over it, while the lantern, Cross, and banners are put away. Standing in the midst of the church: Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Again we pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, Patriarch N. of Moscow and All Russia; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N. , First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most/Right Reverend (Arch) N. of Great Britain, and all our brotherhood in Christ. Deacon: Again we pray for the God-preserved Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation. Deacon: Again we pray for our Sovereign Lord/Lady King/Queen N. and all his/her royal house; for his/her government and armed forces; for this land and all who in faith and piety dwell herein, and in every land. Deacon: Again we pray Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst hearken unto the voice of our supplication and prayer, and have mercy on thy servants, the parishioners of this holy house, through thy grace and compassions, and fulfil all their petitions, and pardon them all transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary; let their prayers and alms be acceptable before the throne of thy dominion, and protect them from all enemies, both visible and invisible, from every temptation, harm and sorrow, and deliver them from diseases, and grant them health and length of days: let us all say, O Lord, hearken and have mercy. Deacon: Look down, O Master, Friend of man, with thy merciful eye, upon thy servants, and hearken unto our supplication which is offered with faith, for Thou Thyself hast said: All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believe that ye shall receive, and it shall be done unto you; and again: Ask, and it shall be given you. Therefore we, though we are unworthy, yet hoping in thy mercy, ask of Thee: bestow thy kindness upon thy servants, and fulfil their good desires, preserve them all their days peacefully and calmly in health and length of days: let us all say, speedily hearken and graciously have mercy. Deacon: Again we pray to the Lord our God, that He may hearken unto the voice of the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on his servants, and protect them from all tribulation, harm, wrath and necessity, and from every sickness of soul and body, granting them health with length of days: let us all say, speedily hearken and have mercy. Deacon: Again we pray that this town, and this holy house, and every city and country may be preserved from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of enemies, and civil war; that our good and man-befriending God may be gracious and favourable, that He may turn away all the wrath stirred up against us, and deliver us from his righteous threatening which hangeth over us, and have mercy upon us. Deacon: Again we pray also that the Lord God may hearken unto the voice of the supplication of us sinners and have mercy on us.

Priest: Hearken unto us, O God our Saviour, Thou hope of all the ends of the earth and of those who are far off at sea; and be merciful, be merciful, O Master, regarding our sins, and have mercy on us; for a merciful God art Thou, and the Friend of man, 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. Deacon: Amen.

Deacon: To the holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, let us pray. People: Holy New-Martyr Elisabeth, pray to God for us! Priest: All of England rejoiceth in thee, O glorious and radiant New- Martyr Elisabeth, (as thou dost return here to the land of thine ancestors through the coming of thy holy relics). Thou didst unite, O holy one, England with holy Russia, the West with holy , Martha with Mary, and love with truth. As in thine earthly life thou didst tend the wounds of the ailing, and didst comfort the sorrowful, so now bring healing and wholeness to our broken souls and bodies, (especially N. & N. ), that, by thy prayers and example, we may be enabled to take up our cross and follow Christ and, in so doing, find salvation. People: Amen. The fans are put away and the clergy return to the . The continues with “Blessed be the Name of the Lord from this time forth, and for evermore!” sung three times, psalm 33, then the appointed .