Paschal Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
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The Paschal Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom THE PREPARATION AND OPENING DIALOGUE The priest and deacon stand together before the holy table, the priest in the center and the deacon at his place at the southwest corner. The priest with hands uplifted says the following prayer while the deacon lifts his orarion. Priest: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. The priest and deacon make three metanias while the priest says: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. (twice) O Lord, thou shaft open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise, (once) The priest then kisses the gospel book and the holy table, while the deacon kisses only the southwest corner of the holy table. The deacon then bows his head to the priest and holding his orarion with three fingers on his right hand says: Deacon: It is time for the Lord to act. Bless, master. The priest makes the sign of the cross over the deacons head, saying: Priest: Blessed is our God, always now and ever and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen. Pray for me, master. Priest: The Lord direct thy steps unto every good work. 696 Great and Holy Pascha Deacon: Remember me, holy master. Blessing the deacon, the priest says: Priest: The Lord God remember thee in his kingdom, always now and ever and unto ages of ages. Deacon: Amen. Having kissed the priests hand, the deacon exits the sanctuary, passing the high place, through the north door. Standing at his place in the center of the solea, the deacon makes three metanias before the holy doors, saying each time: Deacon: O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. THE ENARXIS Lifting his orarion with the three fingers of his right hand, the deacon says aloud: Deacon: Bless, master. The priest kisses the gospel book, lifts it up with both hands, and lowers it, making with it the sign of the cross over the antiminsion and saying with the fear of God: 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 priest takes the Paschal candle1 in his left hand and in his right hand the censer. Then he censes the front of the holy table as he chants the Paschal troparion. Priest: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life, (twice) * All censing from Pascha through its Leavetaking is done carrying the Paschal candle. The Paschal Divine Liturgy 697 THE PASCHAL VERSES Then standing and censing at each side of the holy table, the priest chants the Paschal verses. He begins by censing the west (front) of the holy table: Priest: Y Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee from before his face. Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Censing the south side: Priest: Y As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire. Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Censing the east side: Priest: Y So let sinners perish at the presence of God; and let the righteous be glad. Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Censing the north side: Priest: Y This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein. Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Censing the prothesis: Priest: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Censing again before the front of the holy table: Priest: Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 698 Great and Holy Pascha Choir: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. Then in a louder voice, the priest chants as he stands in the holy doors and censes the icons on the iconostasis and the faithful: Priest: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs... The choir concludes the troparion: Choir: ...bestowing life. THE GREAT EKTENIA The priest gives up the Paschal candle and censer. The deacon exits the sanctuary, through the north door, stands at his place in the center of the solea, lifts his orarion and, facing east, intones the petitions of the Great Ektenia. Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord. The choir responds Lord, have mercy to each petition. For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. For the peace of the whole world; for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord. For this holy House, and for those who with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord. For our father and Metropolitan, N., (our Bishop, N.,) the ven erable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. For the President of the United States1 and all civil authorities, and for our Armed Forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord. 1 In other countries the appropriate head of state is mentioned here. The Paschal Divine Liturgy 699 For this city, and for every city and land, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord. For healthful seasons, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. For travelers by sea, by land, and by air; for the sick and the suf fering; for captives and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and neces sity, let us pray to the Lord. Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady 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. The deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ while the priest says the prayer of the first antiphon. Priest: 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 com passion look down upon us and upon this holy house, and grant us and those who pray with us thy rich mercies and compassions. For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. The chanter and choir now chant the first antiphon. 700 Great and Holy Pascha THE FIRST ANTIPHON Chanter: Y Shout with joy to God, all the earth. Choir: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us. Chanter: Y Sing to his Name; give glory to his praises. Choir: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us. Chanter: Y Say to God: ‘How awesome are thy works.’ Choir: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us. Chanter: Y Let all the earth worship thee, and sing to thee. Let it sing a song to thy Name, O most High. Choir: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us. THE LITTLE LITANY At the conclusion of the antiphon, the deacon again stands before the holy doors, lifts his oration, and intones the petitions of the little litany: Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord. The choir responds Lord, have mercy to each petition. Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady 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. The Paschal Divine Liturgy 701 The deacon moves to stand before the icon of the Theotokos while the priest says the prayer of the second antiphon. Priest: 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. 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.