People: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very , thee do we magnify! (with a full prostration.) Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our Hope; glory to Thee! People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Father, bless! Priest: May Christ our True God ... for He is a good God and a Friend of Man. People: Amen.

Moleben + A Service of Supplication to the Mother of God before her wonderworking Kursk of the Sign.

Page 12 offence, resolve it as thou wilt, for we have none other help than The Moleben thee, none other intercessor, nor gracious comforter save thee, O : Master, bless. Mother of God, to preserve and protect us unto the ages of ages. Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the People: Amen. ages of ages. A Prayer for the Ailing People: Amen. If the petitions for the sick were inserted into the Fervent Litany, this prayer may O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, / be added, the people still kneeling. Otherwise, we stand and the Moleben Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, / continues. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life; / O Master Almighty, O Holy King, Who chastenest and destroyest Come and abide in us, / not, Who strengthenest the falling, and settest aright the fallen, cleanse us of all impurity, // Who correctest the bodily afflictions of mankind: We pray Thee, O and save our souls, O Good One! our God, visit Thine infirm servants and handmaidens N. & N. with The Trisagion Prayers thy mercy, pardon them every sin, both voluntary and involuntary. Yea, O Lord, send down thy healing power from heaven, touch The Trisagion Prayers usually follow here. If the moleben is served within the their bodies, quench the fever, subdue passion and every subtle Liturgy, it is inserted after the Prayer Below the Ambo and the Trisagion Prayers infirmity. Be the healer of thy servants and handmaidens N. & N., are omitted. raise them from the couch of sickness, and from their bed of The Call to Worship suffering healed and whole; grant them to be well-pleasing unto thy and doing thy will. For thine it is to show mercy and to Reader: O Come, let us worship God our King. save us, O our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and our King and our God. unto the ages of ages. O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, People: Amen. our King and our God. The and people stand. Psalm 142 If the Moleben is inserted into the Liturgy, the Liturgy continues here with the threefold “Blessed be the name of the Lord”, psalm 33, during which the antidoron Reader: O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in is distributed, and the appointed dismissal. Otherwise, the Moleben concludes as follows. thy truth; hearken unto me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man The Dismissal living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath Deacon: Wisdom! humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me in darkness as Priest: O Most holy Theotokos, save us! those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days Page 11 Deacon: Again we pray to the Lord our God, that He may hearken of old, I meditated on all thy works, I pondered on the creations of unto the voice of the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth his servants, and protect them from all tribulation, harm, wrath after Thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit and necessity, and from every sickness of soul and body, granting hath fainted away. Turn not thy face away from me, lest I be like them health with length of days: let us all say, speedily hearken and have mercy. unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have I put my hope. Cause me to know, If desired, the petitions for the sick from the Sluzhebnik may be inserted here. O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted Deacon: Again we pray that this town, and this holy house, and up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee every city and country may be preserved from famine, pestilence, have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do thy will, for Thou art my God. earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of enemies, and civil war; that our good and man-befriending God may be gracious Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for thy and favourable, that He may turn away all the wrath stirred up name's sake, O Lord, shalt Thou quicken me. In thy righteousness against us, and deliver us from his righteous threatening which shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in thy mercy shalt hangeth over us, and have mercy upon us. Thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And Thou shalt cut off all Deacon: Again we pray also that the Lord God may hearken unto them that afflict my soul, for I am thy servant. the voice of the supplication of us sinners and have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Priest: Hearken unto us, O God our Saviour, Thou hope of all the both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. ends of the earth and of those who are far off at sea; and be Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to Thee, O God. (x3) 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 God is the Lord 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: In the fourth tone: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto Amen. us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for his mercy endureth Prayer to the Mother of God for ever. Deacon: To the most holy Lady, Virgin Theotokos, let us pray. People: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us: blessed is People: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! He That cometh in the name of the Lord! The clergy and people kneel. Deacon: Surrounding me they compassed me, and in the name of Priest: O Theotokos, our most gracious Queen, our hope, haven for the Lord I warded them off. orphans and intercessor for strangers, joy of all who sorrow, People: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us: blessed is protection of the oppressed: thou seest our misfortune, thou seest He That cometh in the name of the Lord! our sorrow. Help us, for we are weak; guide us, for we are wandering; feed us, for we are strangers; thou knowest our Deacon: I shall not die, but live, and shall tell of the works of the Lord. Page 10 Page 3 People: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us: blessed is Deacon: Again we pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness, He That cometh in the name of the Lord! Patriarch N. of Moscow and All Russia; for our lord the Very Most Deacon: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is Abroad; for our lord the Most/Right Reverend (Arch)bishop N. of marvellous in our eyes. Great Britain, and all our brotherhood in Christ. People: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us: blessed is Deacon: Again we pray for the God-preserved Russian land and its He That cometh in the name of the Lord! Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation. Tropar of the Kursk Icon—tone 4 Deacon: Again we pray for our Sovereign Lord/Lady King/Queen People: Having acquired thee as an unassailable rampart/ N. and all his/her royal house; for his/her government and armed and a fount of miracles, / forces; for this land and all who in faith and piety dwell herein, and we, thy servants, set at naught armies of adversaries, / for every land. O most pure Theotokos. / Deacon: Again we pray Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst Wherefore, we entreat thee: / hearken unto the voice of our supplication and prayer, and have grant peace to our native land, // mercy on thy servants, the parishioners of this holy house, through and great mercy to our souls! thy grace and compassions, and fulfil all their petitions, and Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, / pardon them all transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary; Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. let their prayers and alms be acceptable before the throne of thy dominion, and protect them from all enemies, both visible and Kondak of the Kursk Icon—tone 4 invisible, from every temptation, harm and sorrow, and deliver them from diseases, and grant them health and length of days: let People: Come, ye faithful, let us radiantly celebrate / us all say, O Lord, hearken and have mercy. the wondrous appearance of the most precious image of the Mother of God, / Deacon: Look down, O Master, Friend of man, with thy merciful and, drawing grace therefrom, / eye, upon thy servants, and hearken unto our supplication which is let us cry out with compunction: // offered with faith, for Thou Thyself hast said: All things ‘Rejoice, O Theotokos, blessed Mary, Mother of God!’ 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. Psalm 50 Therefore we, though we are unworthy, yet hoping in thy mercy, ask of Thee: bestow thy kindness upon thy servants, and fulfil their Reader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; good desires, preserve them all their days peacefully and calmly in and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my health and length of days: let us all say, speedily hearken and transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and graciously have mercy. 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

Page 4 Page 9 The Supplicatory Refrains before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in Clergy: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou People: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of thy wisdom hast Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made Clergy: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; People: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn thy face away Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 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 Clergy: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! unto me the joy of thy salvation, and with thy governing Spirit People: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! establish me. I shall teach transgressors thy ways, and the ungodly Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in thy Save thy servants from harm, O Theotokos, for all we after righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth God flee unto thee as to an unassailable wall and intercessor. shall declare thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had Look with loving-kindness, O all-hymned Theotokos, upon my given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A cruel bodily suffering, and heal the sickness of my soul. sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in thy good Axion Estin pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with It is very meet to bless thee, who didst bring forth God, / oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God; / upon thine altar. more honourable than the Cherubim, / and beyond compare more glorious then the Seraphim; / The Supplicatory Refrains thee who without defilement barest God the Word: // true Mother of God, we magnify thee! (with a full prostration.) Clergy: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! The Trisagion Prayers follow here. People: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! Clergy: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; The Litany of Fervent Supplication People: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we Clergy: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! pray Thee, hearken and have mercy. People: O Most Holy Theotokos, save us! People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 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. (And after each petition.)

Page 8 Page 5 The Prokimen Save thy servants from harm, O Theotokos, for all we after God flee unto thee as to an unassailable wall and intercessor. Deacon: Let us attend. Wisdom! Look with loving-kindness, O all-hymned Theotokos, upon my Let us attend. In the fourth tone: cruel bodily suffering, and heal the sickness of my soul. I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation. Clergy: Presviataja Bogoroditse, spasi nas! People: I shall commemorate thy name in every generation People: Presviataja Bogoroditse, spasi nas! and generation. Clergy: Slava Otsu y Sinu, y Svjatomo Dukhu. Deacon: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear. People: Y ninje y prisno, y vo veki vekov. Amin. People: I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation. Clergy: Presviataja Bogoroditse, spasi nas! Deacon: I shall commemorate thy name... People: Presviataja Bogoroditse, spasi nas! People: ...in every generation and generation. Clergy: Slava Otsu y Sinu, y Svjatomo Dukhu. People: Y ninje y prisno, y vo veki vekov. Amin. The Gospel Clergy: Presviataja Bogoroditse, spasi nas! Deacon: Let every breath praise the Lord. People: Presviataja Bogoroditse, spasi nas! People: Let every breath praise the Lord! Clergy: Slava Otsu y Sinu, y Svjatomo Dukhu. Deacon: Praise ye God in his Saints; praise Him in the firmament of People: Y ninje y prisno, y vo veki vekov. Amin. his power. Save thy servants... (as above.) People: Let every breath praise the Lord! Deacon: Let every breath... The Short Litany People: ...praise the Lord! Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: And that He may count us worthy to hear the Holy Gospel, People: Lord, have mercy or Gospodi, pomilui. let us pray to the Lord God. People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel. People: Lord, have mercy or Gospodi, pomilui. Priest: Peace be unto all. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, People: And to thy spirit. exceedingly blessed, and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Priest: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke. Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, People: Glory be to Thee, O Lord; glory to Thee! and our whole life unto Christ our God. The priest reads Luke 1:39-49, 56. At the end: People: To Thee, O Lord or Tebe, Gospodi. People: Slava Tebe, Gospode; slava Tebe! 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 or Amin. Page 7 Page 6