sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anointing, Prokeimenon

The Service of Holy Unction

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY UNCTION Amen. The Eucholgion indicates that the service should begin with "Blessed is our God." See below where "Blessed is the Lord, have mercy. (12) Kingdom..." may be inserted before the Great Litany. Glory. Both now. Come, let us worship and bow down before Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. God our . Come, let us worship and bow down before READER God our King. Amen. Come, let us worship and bow down before Prayers. Him, Christ our King and God. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have Psalm 142 (143). mercy on us. (3) O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Amen. Your servant, for no one living shall become All-holy , have mercy on us. Lord, righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your caused me to dwell in dark places as one long name's sake. dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I have mercy. meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my Amen. spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, Our Father, who art in , hallowed be lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the PRIEST land of uprightness. For Your name's sake, O Lord, For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the , now and forever and to the ages of my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall ages.

1 The Service of Holy Unction

destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant. [SAAS] Spirit.

PRIEST Lord have mercy on us, for in You we trust. Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Be not enraged with us greatly, nor remember Lord. our iniquities. But look upon us now, being (Lord, have mercy.) compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we Your people, all of us Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace. the work of Your hands, and now we have invoked Your name. [SD] (Lord, have mercy.) Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Amen. Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed and one another and our whole life to Christ our Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail God. in our aim. Through you may we be delivered (To You, O Lord.) from adversities. For you are the salvation of the For You are a merciful God Who loves Christian race. [SD] mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the READER Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now Psalm 50 (51). and forever and to the ages of ages. (Amen.) Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your CHOIR great mercy; and according to the abundance of Mode pl. 2. Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash . Alleluia. Alleluia. me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and Verse 1: O Lord, do not reprove me in Your my sin is always before me. Against You only anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath. have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived Verse 2: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore weak. me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. Troparia. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be Have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. For cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made with nothing to say in our own defense, we sinners whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and offer this supplication to you our Master. Have gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly mercy on us. [SD] rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not

2 The Service of Holy Unction

cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Spirit. Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding O Lord, You commanded Your Apostles Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and to anoint with holy Your ailing servants the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me sympathetically, as the Friend of humanity. So now from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my have mercy on us all, at their entreaties, by Your salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in seal on us. [SD] Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if Amen. You desired , I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice O Pure one, you are the only one enriched to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled with the deep ocean of peace. Now we entreat that heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in you will ever free from all troubles and illnesses Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of your servants, by your prayers to God, that we may magnify you ceaselessly. [SD] Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole Ode iii. Your rejoices in You. burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. on Your . [SAAS] You only are wonderful and You have pity on CHOIR believers all. Therefore, O Christ, give Your grace The Canon from on high to those who are grievously sick. [SD] Mode 4. Ode i. The people of Israel. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. You once used an branch to indicate The Unction of Your compassion ever cheers that You were ending the Flood, by Your divine the souls and bodies alike of us Your servants, command, O Lord. Mercifully save those who Master, and with Oil You protect the believers suffer now. [SD] all. So now to us who come to You through holy Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Unction be all-merciful. [SD] Spirit. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. With faith in Your mercy, Lord, for holy O merciful Master, the entire earth is filled Unction we have earnestly come. With Your divine with mercy from You. Now therefore, we who lamp of light in Your mercy brighten us, Christ our mystically today are anointed with Oil divine God. [SD] with faith entreat that You will grant Your Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. incomprehensible mercy to us. [SD] Amen. Look favorably from on high, all-holy Mother of the Maker of all, and by your prayers to your Son, end the bitter suffering of the sick. [SD]

3 The Service of Holy Unction

Kathisma. and thereby be cured and saved. In Your mercy, Mode pl. 4. The army of the Angels. save those who suffer now. [SD] As You are a divine river of mercy, O Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Merciful Lord, and an ocean of great compassion, Amen. show us the divine streams of Your mercy, and Theotokos, O all-holy and ever-Virgin, my cure us all. Pour out the springs of miracles shelter and my guardian, my harbor and fortress, abundantly, and cleanse us all. We always run to my ladder and battlement, take pity, be merciful. You with fervent faith and pray to receive Your We all flee for refuge to you alone. [SD] grace. [SD] Ode v. My Lord, You are the light. Glory. Both now. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Mode 4. You who were lifted. As the Physician and Redeemer and Helper You truly are a deep sea of mercy. O Merciful, of those in pain and illness, and as their Savior, O do now through Your holy Unction show Your Master of the universe and Lord of all, we pray: mercy, O Good One, and cure the sick, O gracious Cure Your servants who are sick with all kinds of Lord. [SD] diseases; pity them, be merciful, though they have Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. stumbled often. Deliver them, O Christ, from their You sanctified our souls and our bodies falls, that they may glorify Your divine power. [SD] ineffably from heaven with the divine sign of Your Ode iv. When the Church beheld You. seal, O Christ; and therefore with Your hand, O Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Savior, heal us all. [SD] You, O Lord, are incorruptible ointment Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy poured forth by grace, which oil purifies the world, Spirit. O our Savior. Take pity, be merciful on those O Lord, exceeding good, with ineffable who with faith in You now anoint the bruises and tenderness You let yourself be anointed by a harlot wounds of the flesh. [SD] with . Have mercy on Your servants now. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. [SD] Now by sealing all the senses of us Your Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. servants, O Master, with the gladness of the seal of Amen. Your mercy, make entry and access by the forces All-lauded and most pure, holy Lady, of the enemy impossible and unapproachable. [SD] exceedingly good, have mercy on us your servants, Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy who are being anointed with holy Unction, saving Spirit. us. [SD] Lover of man, You commanded that sick Ode vi. The Church cries out to You. believers should call Your godly ministers to pray Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. and anoint them with Your holy Unction, O Lord, Lord, You said that should be anointed with holy oil; and You performed this through high

4 The Service of Holy Unction

, Friend of man, and thus instituted Unction. infirmities. We pray You cure now those who By Your seal now, save the suffering, since You suffer from diseases, O loving Lord. [SD] are merciful. [SD] Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. We are anointed today with holy Unction upon Savior and Lord, let not the bitter our heads, seeking Your redemptive mercy, and affect at all those who receive holy Unction and the we entreat: Grant us joy and gladness by this oil, O 's sign over all their senses. Let the shelter of tender-loving Lord, in Your great and rich mercy, Your glory protect them on every side. [SD] O Christ our God. [SD]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Spirit. Friend of man, we pray that from on high You Against the demons, Your holy seal, O Savior, stretch forth Your hand and sanctify this Your oil; is like a , and it is like fire burning away the give it to Your servants through holy Unction, for soul's sinful passions, by the prayers of priests. their good health, O our Savior, and freedom from We who have thus received healing from You now all disease. [SD] extol You with faith, O Lord. [SD]

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Amen. You became a fruitful olive tree in the house O Theotokos, You carried in a manner of God, O Mother of your Creator, and through you befitting God in your womb the One who holds all the whole world is filled with mercy. Save the sick things in His hand, and ineffably you gave Him now with the touch of your prayers to your Son and flesh. Now intercede with Him on behalf of the God. [SD] ailing, we beg of you. [SD] . Ode viii. Daniel shut. Mode 2. In seeking the heights. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Since You are the source of mercy and Savior, in accordance with Your great exceeding good, Your servants now seek Your and divine mercy, be merciful to all. In holy mercy which is ineffable, praying You with ardent Unction we symbolize Your great mercy's figure faith. Free them from all suffering and take away mystically; which we now offer to the sick all their diseases, tender-loving Lord, and grant to them with it, and entreating that by Your [SD] them from on high Your grace divine. power, O Lord, You will cure them all. [SD]

Ode vii. Inside the furnace. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Illness and distress have worn us out. Being You, in Your mercy and Your compassion, compassionate, O Savior, wash away the pain and Savior and only God, are the One who heals trauma and suffering, in the river of Your tender the sick passions of our souls and our bodily love, O Christ, and also through Your priests, as

5 The Service of Holy Unction

they anoint us with holy Unction. Through this Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy cleansing, O Lord, may we gain our health. [SD] Spirit. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Pity us, have mercy, O Savior; deliver us Spirit. from pain and peril. Rescue us Your servants, Master, holy Unction is for us a sign and soul and body, for we are targets of the devil's arrows. But since You are the merciful Lord, heal symbol of Your grace and help from on high, and us thoroughly by grace divine. [SD] oil of gladness, O Christ our God. We entreat You now: Do not remove Your mercy and do Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. not despise those who with faith cry out and are Amen. ever singing, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the As you now accept the supplications and Lord." [SD] hymns of praise from all your servants, rescue Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. them, who through us take refuge in your divine Amen. shelter, O all-holy Virgin; and by your prayers deliver them from their distressing pain and Lady, human nature has received your divine suffering. [SD] Offspring as if a glorious . He crushed the ranks of the enemy and He mightily defeated them. It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, All we whom you have crowned with bright rays of ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. your gracious gifts now extol you, the all-pure and More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond all-laudable Mother of God. [SD] compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without Ode ix. A cornerstone was cut out. corruption you gave birth to God the Logos. We Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. magnify you, the true Theotokos. [GOA] Lover of mankind, look from heaven; display Exaposteilarion. Your mercy on Your servants. Give Your mighty Mode 3. Our Savior from on high. help and assistance to all who come to You through Good One, turn Your gaze on us; be merciful this sacrament to be anointed by Your priests with as You regard our fervent supplication. For we holy Unction, O Compassionate. [SD] have gathered here today in Your sanctuary to anoint with oil of holy Unction Your servants who Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. are sick, O Lord. [SD] We have now beheld, all-good Savior, the holy Lauds. Mode 4. Oil full of gladness, to which, more than others, Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. You added by Your divine act, O tender-loving Praise the Lord from the , praise Him in the Master, and which You shared symbolically with highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. all who share in holy . [SD] [SAAS]

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

6 The Service of Holy Unction

Stichera Prosomia. my intellect, soiled by my shameful thoughts and Mode 4. You have given. sinful actions. Make it a dwelling that is bright and Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. a delight for the Holy Trinity, that I your worthless Most forgiving Friend of man, through Your supplicant may magnify you for saving me, and Apostles You gave Your grace in the rite of Your extol your immeasurable might and mercy, all- holy Oil, to heal wounds and injuries, and to cure lauded one. [SD]

diseases that afflict Your servants. As they now READER faithfully approach Your holy Unction, O tender- Trisagion Prayers. loving Lord, be merciful and sanctify them, cleanse Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have and rid them of all disease. Make them worthy of mercy on us. (3) Your delights, which remain incorruptible. [SD] Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Master Christ, have mercy on Your servants. Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. O Incomprehensible, look down from heaven, Amen. O Friend of man; seal our senses with Your divine All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, invisible hand, O Lord, in Your great compassion, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. with Your holy Unction. And grant forgiveness Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your of their sins to those who seek it and come to name's sake. You with faith. And grant to them the healing and the health of body and soul alike, that with love Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, they may glorify You, and Your power may be have mercy. magnified. [SD] Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Spirit. Amen. From on high now sanctify and rid Your Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be servants of all disease, through the sacred anointing Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, with Your mercy and by the touch of Your priests, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our O Savior. Wash away and purge them of all daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we impurities of soul; and from all scandals, O Lord, forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us deliver them. Relieve their toil and trouble and not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

make their afflictions all disappear; keep disasters PRIEST away from them, O compassionate Friend of man. For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and [SD] the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. ages. Amen. CHOIR Lady, I implore you now, the cleanest Palace Amen. of God the King, holy Virgin extolled by all. Purify

7 The Service of Holy Unction

Troparion. For our country, for the president, and for all Mode 4. Come quickly. in public service, let us pray to the Lord. O Christ, You alone are He who quickly (Lord, have mercy.) comes to our aid. * We pray that You show Your For the people in attendance who anticipate the quick response from heaven * to Your servants grace of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. who are suffering. * Free them of their diseases; (Lord, have mercy.) relieve the pain that afflicts them. * Raise them, That this oil will be blessed by the descent, that they may ceaselessly give glory and extol You, power, and operation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray * by the prayers of the Theotokos, only Lover of to the Lord. humanity. [SD] (Lord, have mercy.) If the service began with "Blessed is our God," then For the servants of God who have come for the sacramental Enarxis may be inserted here. If the service this holy sacrament, and that God will visit them, began with "Blessed is the Kingdom," then go directly to the and that the grace of the Holy Spirit will come litany. upon them, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST (Lord, have mercy.) Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, and to the ages of ages. danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. (Amen.) (Lord, have mercy.)

DEACON Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace. In peace, let us pray to the Lord. (Lord, have mercy.) (Lord, have mercy.) Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, For the peace from above and for the salvation and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves (Lord, have mercy.) and one another and our whole life to Christ our For the peace of the whole world, for the God. stability of the holy churches of God, and for the (To You, O Lord.) unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST (Lord, have mercy.) For to You belong all glory, honor, and For this holy house and for those who enter worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of pray to the Lord. ages. (Lord, have mercy.) (Amen.)

For (episcopal rank) (name), for the honorable DEACON presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all Let us pray to the Lord. the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. (Lord, have mercy.) (Lord, have mercy.)

8 The Service of Holy Unction

PRIEST saved I may cry, Glory to Your dominion, O my O Lord, Who in Your mercy and bounties heal compassionate Christ. [SD] the disorders of our souls and bodies, sanctify this Apolytikion for St. James. oil, so that those who shall be anointed with it may Mode 4. be healed and freed from every passion, illness of As a disciple of the Lord, you accepted the body, uncleanness of flesh and spirit, and from all , O James the Just. As a Martyr you have evils; that in this, too, Your all-holy name may be unchangeability; as the Brother of the Lord you glorified, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and have confidence; and you can intercede as a ever, and to the ages of ages. hierarch. Intercede with Christ our God, entreating (Amen.) Him to save our souls. [SD]

CHOIR Kontakion for Saint James. Troparion of Unction. Mode 4. You who were lifted. Mode 4. Come quickly. When God the Logos, as the only-begotten * O Christ, You alone are He who quickly of , came and sojourned among us * comes to our aid. * We pray that You show Your in latter days, O God-inspired Brother of the Lord, quick response from heaven * to Your servants * He appointed you, O James, the first Shepherd who are suffering. * Free them of their diseases; and Teacher * of holy Jerusalem, and a trustworthy relieve the pain that afflicts them. * Raise them, steward * of the all-holy sacraments. And hence, * that they may ceaselessly give glory and extol You, O just Apostle, we honor your memory. [SD] * by the prayers of the Theotokos, only Lover of Kontakion for St. Nicholas. humanity. [SD] Mode 3. On this day. Kontakion for the Blindman. You became the minister of Mode 4. You appeared today. in Myra, * holy father Nicholas. Fulfilling Christ's In the eyes of soul have I * become unseeing. holy Gospel, * you laid down your very soul for * Unto You I come, O Christ, * as did of old the your people, * and you saved those who were man born blind, * and in repentance I cry to You. * innocent from dying. * For this reason you were For those in darkness You are the most resplendent hallowed as a great mystic * of the of light. [SD] God. [SD] Kontakion for the Paralytic. Apolytikion for St. Demetrios. Mode 3. On this day. Mode 3. Your confession. I have sinned in every way, * I have All the world has you, its mighty champion, improperly acted; * therefore with paralysis * * fortifying us in times of danger, * and defeating my soul is woefully stricken. * Raise it up, O our foes, O Victorious One. * So, as you humbled Lord, through Your own divine attention, * even Lyaios's arrogance * by giving courage to Nestor as of old You raised up the paralytic, * so that in the stadium, * thus, O holy Great Martyr

9 The Service of Holy Unction

Demetrios, * to Christ our God pray fervently, * Verse: Rejoice greatly in the Lord, O beseeching Him to grant us His great mercy. [SD] righteous ones. Apolytikion for St. Panteleimon. DEACON Mode 3. Wisdom.

Holy medaled Martyr and healer St. READER Panteleimon, make intercession to our merciful The reading is from James' Universal Letter. God, that He grant our souls remission of offenses. DEACON [SD] Let us be attentive. Apolytikion for the holy Unmercenaries READER Mode pl. 4. 5:10-16 Holy Unmercenaries and Wonder-workers, Brethren, take as an example of suffering and visit our infirmities. Freely you received; freely patience the who spoke in the name of give to us. [SD] the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were Kontakion for St. John Theologian. steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Mode 2. Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, Who can recount all your mighty deeds, O how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But Virgin? You pour out miracles and you overflow above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by with cures, and you intercede on behalf of our heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let souls, as a Theologian and Friend of Christ. [SD] your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may Theotokion. not fall under condemnation. Is any one among Mode 2. In seeking the heights. you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him O Mother of God, intently we cry out to you call for the elders of the church, and let them pray * the wellspring of mercy and the refuge of the over him, anointing him with oil in the name of world. * O vehement advocate, * unassailable the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick fortress, anticipate * and deliver us from perilous man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has ordeals, * O Lady who alone are swift to fend for committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore us. [SD] confess your sins to one another, and pray for one FIRST APOSTOLOS another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a DEACON righteous man has great power in its effects. [RSV] Let us be attentive. PRIEST READER Peace be with you. Prokeimenon. Mode 1. Psalm 32. CHOIR Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

10 The Service of Holy Unction

First Gospel Reading the next day he took out two denarii and gave them DEACON to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. whatever more you spend, I will repay you when

PRIEST I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, Peace be with all. proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on (And with your spirit.) him." And said to him, "Go and do likewise."

DEACON [RSV] The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Luke. PRIEST Peace be with you. PRIEST Let us be attentive. CHOIR Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) DEACON DEACON 10:25-37 Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is have mercy.) written in the law? How do you read?" And he Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all of the servants of God, those present for this holy sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, your strength, and with all your mind; and your both voluntary and involuntary. neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have answered right; do this, and you will live." have mercy.) But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man PRIEST was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now and forever and to the ages of ages. by chance a priest was going down that road; and (Amen.) when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place DEACON and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Let us pray to the Lord. Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; (Lord, have mercy.)

and when he saw him, he had compassion, and PRIEST went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on 1st Prayer oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and O Lord, Who are without beginning, eternal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And Holy of holies, Who sent down Your only-begotten

11 The Service of Holy Unction

Son to heal every infirmity and every wound of being clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ, through our souls and bodies, send down Your Holy Spirit, the anointing with this sanctifying oil, which we and sanctify this oil; and cause it to be for Your are about to summon to our aid. O Lord, Grant servants, who are about to be anointed with it, that this oil becomes the oil of gladness, the oil unto complete remission of their sins, and unto of sanctification, a royal robe, an armor of might, inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. the deflecting of every satanic assault, the seal For You are a great and marvelous God, who of immunity from snares, the gladness of heart, keeps Your covenant and Your mercy to them everlasting joy; that also in this, they who shall who love You; Who grants remission of sins be anointed with this oil of rebirth may be strong through Your divine Son, Jesus Christ. You gave against their adversaries, and may shine in the us a rebirth from sin; You give light to the blind radiance of Your Saints, having neither spot nor and raise up the fallen; You love the righteous, wrinkle, and that they may be admitted into Your and show mercy to sinners; You renew us from eternal rest, and receive the award of the calling darkness and the shadow of death, saying to from above. those in captivity, "Come forth!" and to those For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, in darkness, "Uncover your eyes!" For the light O our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father of knowledge of Your only-begotten Son has and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever shined in our hearts; since, for our sakes, He and to ages of ages. revealed Himself upon earth, and dwelt among (Amen.) men; and unto as many as accepted Him He gave SECOND APOSTOLOS the power to become children of God, granting DEACON us the adoption of sonship through the laver Let us be attentive. of regeneration, and setting us free from the oppression of the devil. And inasmuch as it has READER not pleased You that we should be cleansed by Prokeimenon. Mode 2. Psalm 117. blood, but by holy oil, You gave us the sign of His The Lord is my strength and my song, and He Cross, that we might become the flock of Christ, a became my salvation. Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, purifying us by Verse: The Lord chastened and corrected me, water, and sanctifying us by Your Holy Spirit. O but He did not give me up to death. Master and Lord, grant grace to this Your ministry, DEACON as You did to Moses Your servant, and to Wisdom.

Your beloved, and to John Your chosen one; and to READER all those who from generation to generation have The reading is from Paul's Letter to the pleased You. In like manner, empower us also to Romans. be ministers of the New Covenant of Your Son DEACON over this oil, which You have secured through His Let us be attentive. precious Blood; that putting away earthly desires, we may die unto sin and live in righteousness,

12 The Service of Holy Unction

READER DEACON 15:1-7 19:1-10 Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was with the failings of the weak, and not to please passing through. And there was a man named ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches on account of the crowd, because he was small of of those who reproached thee fell on me." For stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into whatever was written in former days was written a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he the encouragement of the scriptures we might looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste have hope. May the God of steadfastness and and come down; for I must stay at your house encouragement grant you to live in such harmony today." So he made haste and came down, and with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that received him joyfully. And when they saw it they together you may with one voice glorify the God all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my the glory of God. [RSV] goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And PRIEST Peace be with you. Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For CHOIR the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. [RSV] Second Gospel Reading PRIEST DEACON Peace be with you. Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. CHOIR PRIEST Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. Peace be with all. DEACON (And with your spirit.) Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your DEACON great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. The reading is from the Holy Gospel according (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, to Luke. have mercy.) PRIEST Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, Let us be attentive. salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) of the servants of God, those present for this holy sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

13 The Service of Holy Unction

(Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, precious feet with her tears; You said: "As often have mercy.) as you fall, get up, and you shall be saved." It is PRIEST You, who said: "There is joy in heaven over one For You are a merciful God Who loves sinner who repents." O merciful Master, look down mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the from on High, giving us, Your sinful and unworthy Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now servants, shelter under the grace of the Holy Spirit and forever and to the ages of ages. in this hour; and take up Your abode in these Your (Amen.) servants, who acknowledge their iniquities and DEACON draw near to You in faith. Accept them because Let us pray to the Lord. of Your love towards mankind, forgiving them whatever they have done amiss, whether by word, (Lord, have mercy.) deed, or thought, and cleanse them from every sin; PRIEST and abiding ever present with them, preserve them 2nd Prayer for the remaining years of their life, that, walking O God, great and supreme, worshiped by ever in Your statutes, they may in no way again all creation, fountainhead of wisdom, abyss of become an object of joy to the devil; so that also in unfathomable goodness, and boundless gulf of these, Your all-holy name may be glorified. loving-kindness; Master Who loves mankind, the By the grace, mercy, and love for us of Your God of things eternal and of wonders, Whom no only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, man by reason can comprehend: look down and together with Your all-holy, good, and life-giving hear us, Your unworthy servants; and wherever Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. we bring this oil in Your great name, send down (Amen.) the gift of Your healing, and remission of sins; and heal them in the multitude of Your mercies. THIRD APOSTOLOS Yes, O Lord, Who are easy to be entreated; You DEACON alone are merciful and You love mankind; You Let us be attentive. are sorrowful for our evil deeds; You know how READER the mind of man leans towards wickedness, even Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Psalm 26. from his youth; You do not desire the death of a The Lord is my light and my savior; whom sinner, but rather that he should repent and live. shall I fear? For the salvation of sinners, though being God, Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life; You became a created being for the sake of Your whom shall I dread? creatures. You have said: "I came not to call the DEACON righteous, but sinners to repentance." You sought Wisdom. the wandering sheep; You searched diligently READER for the lost coin, and having found it, You said: The reading is from Paul's First Letter to the "He that comes to me I will not cast out." You did Corinthians. not abhor the sinful woman who washed Your

14 The Service of Holy Unction

DEACON PRIEST Let us be attentive. Peace be with all.

READER (And with your spirit.) 12:27-13:8 DEACON Brethren, you are the body of Christ and The reading is from the Holy Gospel according individually members of it. And God has appointed to Matthew. in the church first apostles, second prophets, third PRIEST teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, Let us be attentive. helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess DEACON gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do 10:1, 5-8 all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. At that time, Jesus called to him his twelve And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I disciples and gave them authority over unclean speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. and every infirmity. These twelve Jesus sent out, And if I have prophetic powers, and understand charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not cast out demons. You received without paying, jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love give without pay." [RSV] does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or PRIEST resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices Peace be with you. in the right. Love bears all things, believes all CHOIR things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. never ends. [RSV] DEACON PRIEST Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your Peace be with you. great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. CHOIR (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. have mercy.) Third Gospel Reading Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, DEACON salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins of the servants of God, those present for this holy Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

15 The Service of Holy Unction

(Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, FOURTH APOSTOLOS have mercy.) DEACON PRIEST Let us be attentive. For You are a merciful God Who loves READER mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now In the day when I call upon You, hear me and forever and to the ages of ages. quickly. (Amen.) Verse: O Lord, hear my prayer. DEACON DEACON Let us pray to the Lord. Wisdom. (Lord, have mercy.) READER PRIEST The reading is from Paul's Second Letter to the 3rd Prayer Corinthians.

O Master almighty, holy King, Who chastens DEACON yet does not put to death; Who supports those who Let us be attentive. fall and raises those who are downtrodden; Who READER heals our physical afflictions: we entreat You, our 6:16-7:1 God, that You bring Your mercy on this oil, and Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; to those, who are anointed with it in Your name; as God said, "I will live in them and move among that it may be effectual unto the healing of soul and them, and I will be their God, and they shall be body, unto cleansing and deliverance from every my people. Therefore come out from them, and infirmity, illness, malady, and every defilement of be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch body and soul. Yes, Lord, send down from heaven nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I Your healing power; touch the body, quench the will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons fever, sooth the pain and banish every hidden and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Since ailment. Become the Physician of these, Your we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse servants; raise them up and heal their suffering; ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, grant that they may be given to the Church whole and make holiness perfect in the fear of God. [RSV] and in restored health, pleasing You and abiding by PRIEST Your will. Peace be with you. For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father CHOIR and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. and to ages of ages. Fourth Gospel Reading (Amen.) DEACON Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

16 The Service of Holy Unction

PRIEST DEACON Peace be with all. Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. (And with your spirit.) (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, DEACON have mercy.) The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins PRIEST of the servants of God, those present for this holy Let us be attentive. sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) both voluntary and involuntary.

DEACON (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, 8:14-23 have mercy.) At that time, when Jesus entered Peter's house, PRIEST he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever; For You are a merciful God Who loves he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the rose and served him. That evening they brought to Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now him many who were possessed with demons; and and forever and to the ages of ages. he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all (Amen.) who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken DEACON by the , "He took our infirmities and Let us pray to the Lord. bore our diseases." Now when Jesus saw great (Lord, have mercy.) crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to PRIEST 4th Prayer him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and O gracious, loving compassionate and ever- birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has merciful Lord, plentiful in mercy, and rich in nowhere to lay his head." Another of the disciples beneficence, the Father of mercies and God of said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my all comfort, Who through Your holy Apostles father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and have empowered us to heal the infirmities of Your leave the dead to bury their own dead." And when people by oil and prayer, confirm this oil unto the healing of those who shall be anointed with it, for he entered the boat, his disciples followed him. [RSV] relief from every ailment and every malady; for PRIEST deliverance from evils of those who in firm hope Peace be with you. await salvation from You. Yes, O Master, Lord our CHOIR God, we pray to You the Almighty, that You will Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. save us all. O only Physician of souls and bodies, sanctify us all; as Healer of every malady, heal also these Your servants. Raise them up from their bed

17 The Service of Holy Unction

of pain, through the mercies of Your goodness. raises the dead; he delivered us from so deadly a Visit them in Your mercy and compassion. Cast peril, and he will deliver us; on him we have set out from them every sickness and malady; so that our hope that he will deliver us again. You also being healed by Your mighty hand they may serve must help us by prayer, so that many will give You with all thanksgiving; that even now, sharing thanks on our behalf for the granted us in in Your ineffable love, we may sing praises and answer to many prayers. [RSV] glorify You, Who do great and wondrous things, PRIEST both glorious and transcendent. Peace be with you. For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, CHOIR O our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. and to ages of ages. Fifth Gospel Reading (Amen.) DEACON Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. FIFTH APOSTOLOS DEACON PRIEST Let us be attentive. Peace be with all. (And with your spirit.) READER Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 1. Psalm 11. DEACON You shall guard us, O Lord; You shall The reading is from the Holy Gospel according preserve us. to Matthew. Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the holy man has PRIEST ceased. Let us be attentive. DEACON (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) Wisdom. DEACON READER 25:1-13 The reading is from Paul's Second Letter to the The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom Corinthians. of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. DEACON Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For Let us be attentive. when the foolish took their lamps, they took no READER oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with 1:8-11 their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they Brethren, we do not want you to be ignorant, all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Why, we felt that we him.' Then all those maidens rose and trimmed had received the sentence of death; but that was their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

18 The Service of Holy Unction

But the wise replied, 'Perhaps there will not be PRIEST enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers 5th Prayer and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to O Lord our God, You chasten and again heal; buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were You lift the indigent from the ground and dunghill; ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and Father of orphans, and Haven of tempest-tossed; the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens Physician of the ailing, Who without toil bears came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he our weaknesses, and accepts our infirmities; it is replied, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' You, Who cheerfully show mercy, and pass over Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor our iniquities, taking away our unrighteousness; the hour in which the Son of man will come." [RSV] quick to help and slow to wrath; You breathed

PRIEST on Your Disciples, and said: "Receive the Holy Peace be with you. Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven." It is You Who accept the repentance of CHOIR sinners and have the power to pardon countless Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. and grievous sins, bestowing healing upon all DEACON who continue in weakness and long-enduring Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your illness. It is You, Lord, Who have also called great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. me, Your humble, sinful and unworthy servant, (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, caught up in many sins, and wallowing in the have mercy.) pleasures of life, to the holy and exceedingly lofty Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, degree of the priesthood, and to enter within the salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins innermost veil, into the holy of holies, where of the servants of God, those present for this holy the holy Angels desire to penetrate and hear the sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, voice of the Lord God announcing glad tidings, both voluntary and involuntary. and to behold with their own eyes the presence of (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, the sacred Oblation, and to enjoy the divine and have mercy.) sacred Liturgy. You, Lord, deemed me worthy PRIEST to minister Your heavenly Mysteries, and offer For You are a merciful God Who loves You gifts and for our sins, and the mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the ignorances of people; and to mediate for Your Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now reason-endowed sheep, so that, through Your great and forever and to the ages of ages. and ineffable love for mankind, You may blot (Amen.) out their transgressions. All-merciful King, hear DEACON the voice of my prayer at this hour and holy day, Let us pray to the Lord. and at all times and places; and to these, Your (Lord, have mercy.) servants, who are ailing in soul and body, grant Your healing, remitting their sins, and pardoning their transgressions both voluntary and involuntary,

19 The Service of Holy Unction

treating their incurable wounds, and every ailment READER and malady. Give health to their souls, You, Who The reading is from Paul's Letter to the touched Peter's mother-in-law, who, having been Galatians. cured of her fever, arose and ministered to You. O DEACON Master, grant healing and deliverance from every Let us be attentive. devastating pain to these Your servants. Remember READER Your mercies and compassion; and that the mind 5:22-26, 6:1-2 of man inclines toward evil from his youth; that no Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, one is without sin upon earth, for You alone are peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, without sin. You came and saved the human race, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no and set us free from the bondage of the enemy. For law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have if You enter into judgment with Your servants, crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If none will be found clean from stain; but every we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. mouth shall be sealed, not having any defense; for Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one as discarded rags is all our righteousness before another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man You. Therefore, O Lord, remember not the sins of is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual our youth. should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look For You are the hope of the hopeless, and the to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one rest of those who labor and are heavy laden with another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

iniquity; and to You we ascribe glory, together [RSV] with Your Father, who is from everlasting, and PRIEST Your all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, Peace be with you. and to the ages of ages. CHOIR (Amen.) Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. SIXTH APOSTOLOS Sixth Gospel Reading DEACON DEACON Let us be attentive. Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. READER PRIEST Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 50. Peace be with all. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy. (And with your spirit.) Verse: Create in me a clean heart, O God, DEACON and renew a right spirit within me. The reading is from the Holy Gospel according DEACON to Matthew. Wisdom. PRIEST Let us be attentive.

20 The Service of Holy Unction

(Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) PRIEST DEACON For You are a merciful God Who loves 15:21-28 mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on (Amen.) me, O Lord, Son of ; my daughter is severely DEACON possessed by a ." But he did not answer her Let us pray to the Lord. a word. And his disciples came and begged him, (Lord, have mercy.) saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." PRIEST He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of 6th Prayer the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before We thank You, Lord, our good and loving him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, God, Physician of our souls and bodies, Who "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw painlessly have borne our infirmities, and by it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the Whose bruises we all have been healed. You dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's are the Good Shepherd, Who came in search of table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great the wandering sheep. You give consolation to is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." the fainthearted, and life to the brokenhearted. And her daughter was healed instantly. [RSV] You healed the hemorrhage of the woman who PRIEST had a flow of blood for twelve years, and freed Peace be with you. the daughter of the Canaanite woman from the CHOIR cruel demon. You remitted the debt of the two Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. debtors and forgave the sinful woman. You healed

DEACON the Paralytic and forgave his sins. You justified Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your the Publican with Your word, and received the great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. Robber at his last confession. You took upon (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, Yourself the sins of the world, by being nailed have mercy.) to the Cross. We pray to You and entreat You, O God; in Your goodness, loose, remit, and forgive Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins the sins and transgressions of Your servants, both of the servants of God, those present for this holy voluntary and involuntary, in knowledge and in sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, ignorance, trespass and disobedience, at night both voluntary and involuntary. and during the day; whether they be under the (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, curse of a priest or a parent; whether they feasted have mercy.) their eyes, indulged their sense of smell, touched and gratified themselves, or tasted fornication; or through whatever impulse of the flesh and of the

21 The Service of Holy Unction

spirit they have alienated themselves from Your SEVENTH APOSTOLOS will, and from Your holiness. Forgive whatever DEACON sins they or we have committed; for You are a Let us be attentive.

good God, Who remembers not evil, and loves READER mankind, permitting us not to fall into the unclean Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 6. life, neither to follow in wayward paths. Yes, Lord O Lord, do not reprove me in Your anger. and Master, hear me, a sinner, in this hour, on Verse: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am behalf of these Your servants. Overlook all their weak. trespasses, as a forgiving God. Deliver them from DEACON eternal punishment; fill their mouths with praise Wisdom. of You; open their lips that they may glorify Your holy name; stretch forth their hands to perform READER Your commandments. Direct their feet aright, in The reading is from Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians. the way of Your Gospel, strengthening all their members and their thoughts by Your grace. For DEACON You are our God, Who through Your holy Apostles Let us be attentive. gave us a commandment saying: "Whatever READER you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and 5:14-23 whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Brethren, we exhort you, admonish the idlers, Heaven." And again: "If you forgive the sins of encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins patient with them all. See that none of you repays of any, they are retained." And as You hearkened evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one to in the sorrow of his soul, at the hour another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, of his death, and did not overlook his prayer, in give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the like manner hear me, Your humble, sinful and will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench unworthy servant, praying to You at this hour. For the Spirit, do not despise prophesying, but test You are the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who in Your mercy everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from and love for mankind commanded us to forgive every form of evil. May the God of peace himself those who fall into sin, even seventy times seven; sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and Who laments over our wickedness, and rejoices soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the over the return of those who have strayed. For as is coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [RSV] Your Majesty, so also is Your mercy, and to You PRIEST we ascribe glory; together with Your Father Who Peace be with you. is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and CHOIR life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. ages. (Amen.)

22 The Service of Holy Unction

Seventh Gospel Reading Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, DEACON salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. of the servants of God, those present for this holy sacrament, and for the remission of all their sins, PRIEST both voluntary and involuntary. Peace be with all. (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, (And with your spirit.) have mercy.)

DEACON PRIEST The reading is from the Holy Gospel according For You are a merciful God Who loves to Matthew. mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now PRIEST and forever and to the ages of ages. Let us be attentive. (Amen.) (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) DEACON DEACON Let us pray to the Lord. 9:9-13 At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, he (Lord, have mercy.)

saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; PRIEST and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and 7th Prayer followed him. And as he sat at table in the house, O Master, Lord our God, Physician of souls behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and and bodies, it is You Who soothe the chronic pains sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when and heal every infirmity and malady of the people. the saw this, they said to his disciples, You desire that all should be saved and come to "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and the knowledge of the truth, and You will not the sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those death of the sinner, but rather that he should repent who are well have no need of a physician, but those and live. For You, O Lord, in the , who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I ordained repentance for sinners: for David and desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to the Ninevites, and for those before and after them. call the righteous, but sinners [to repentance]." [RSV] But also in the new dispensation of Your coming PRIEST in the flesh, You called not the righteous but the Peace be with you. sinners to repentance; like the publican, the harlot, the robber, and the blasphemer and great persecutor CHOIR Paul, receiving them all through repentance. Peter, Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. Your great Apostle who denied You three times, DEACON You received in repentance, and promised him, Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your saying: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not (Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, prevail against it; and I will give You the keys of have mercy.) the Kingdom of Heaven." Therefore, O merciful

23 The Service of Holy Unction

and loving God, encouraged by Your faithful the protection of the honored bodiless Powers promise, we pray and entreat You at this hour. in Heaven; by the supplications of the honored, Hear our prayer and accept it as incense offered to glorious Prophet and Forerunner ; You. Visit these Your servants, and if they have the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; the transgressed in either word or deed or thought, by holy, glorious and victorious Martyrs; our saintly night or by day, if they have come under the curse and God-bearing Fathers; the holy Unmercenaries of a priest or their own anathema, or have sworn an and Healers, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, oath, we pray to You; loose, pardon, and forgive Samson and Diomedes, Mokias and Aniketos, them, O God, overlooking their transgressions Panteleimon and Hermolaos, Thalelaios and and their sins, committed by them knowingly or Tryphon; of the holy and righteous ancestors of in ignorance. And if they have transgressed Your God Joachim and Anna, and of all the Saints. commandments, or have erred, as bearing flesh For You, our God, are the source of healing, and living in the world, or by the prompting of the and to You we ascribe glory; to the Father, and to devil, forgive them, as a merciful and loving God; the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and for there is no man who lives and does not sin. to the ages of ages. Only You are sinless; Your righteousness is to all (Amen.) eternity, and Your word is truth. You did not create DEACON man for destruction, but for the keeping Your Let us pray to the Lord. commandments, and to inherit life incorruptible. To You we ascribe glory, together with Your (Lord, have mercy.) Father, Who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, PRIEST good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to Prayer of Forgiveness the ages of ages. Holy King, compassionate and very merciful (Amen.) Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Logos of the living God, You wish not the death of the sinner, but DEACON that he should return and live. Therefore, not my Let us pray to the Lord. sinful hand do I lay on the heads of these people (Lord, have mercy.) who have come to You in sins and who seek the PRIEST forgiveness of their sins from You; but rather Prayer of Anointing You extend Your mighty and powerful hand that O holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, is in this holy , which my brother Who sent Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus celebrants are holding over the heads of Your Christ, to heal every infirmity and deliver from servants. Together we pray and entreat Your love death, heal these Your servants from their ailments for humanity, which is most sympathetic and not of body and soul, and endow them with life by the resentful. O God, our Savior, as through Your grace of Your Christ, through the intercessions of Prophet Nathan You granted David the forgiveness our all-holy Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; of his sins when he repented, and as You accepted by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; the penitential prayer of Manasseh, so also in your

24 The Service of Holy Unction

customary love for humanity accept these Your Apostles, "Behold, I have given you authority over servants who are repentant of their offences, and unclean spirits, so that you might drive them out overlook all their transgressions. For You are and cure every disease and illness." Having truly our God, who commanded that those who fall lived according to His commandments, freely you into sins should be forgiven seventy times seven. received and therefore freely you give, healing the Your mercy is as great as Your majesty. And all ailments of our souls and our bodies. [SD] glory, honor and worship belong to You and Your Glory. Both now. Theotokion. unoriginate Father and Your all-holy Spirit, now Mode 4. and forever, and to the ages of ages. Look down, most pure Virgin, upon the (Amen.) supplications of your servants, and crush the

PRIEST assaults of our enemies, delivering us from all Glory to You, O Christ God, our hope. Glory affliction. You are the only sure and secure anchor to You. that we have, and you are our protection. Never permit us who call upon you, our Lady, to be put READER to shame. Hasten to fulfill the entreaties of those Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. who in faith cry to you: Rejoice, O Lady, helper of Amen. all, the joy and protection, and the salvation of our souls. [HC] Lord, have mercy. (3) Holy Father, bless.

PRIEST Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, Saint James the Lord's Brother; and of all the saints, Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us [and save us]. (Amen.)

CHOIR Mode 4. Since you have a fountain of healings, O holy Unmercenaries, you dispense cures to all in need, for you have been granted very great gifts from the ever-flowing wellspring of Christ our Savior. The Lord says to you who emulate the zeal of the

25