Vespers Prayers-042

The Offering of Evening and Morning Incense @ Š×bië@éî’Ç@‰ì¢@ÉÏ‰ 8Ptalo 8Mpi8scoinoufi 8nte Han8arouxi nem Han8atou8i The Offering of Evening and Morning Incense 8Ptalo 8Mpi8scoinoufi 8nte Han8arouxi nem Han8atou8i @ Š×bië@éî’Ç@‰ì¢@ÉÏ‰ 25th Babah 1720 AM, 4th Nov. 2006 AD Book Name: The Offering of Evening and Morning Incense Publisher: St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Ottawa - Canada Distributed By: The Publisher P. O. Box 6970, station J, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 3Z6 Tel: (613) 596-0052 / 823-6625, Fax: (613) 823-6635 Date of Issue: Feast of The Nativity 25th Babah 1720 AM, 4th Nov. 2006 AD Desktop Publishing: HRMots Creative Design Tel & Fax: 819-595-4372 E-mail: [email protected] Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 9 THE OFFERING OF INCENSE .................................................................. 17 THE VERSES OF THE CYMBALS ............................................................. 34 THE DOXOLOGIES ................................................................................. 54 VERSES OF DIFFERENT OCCASIONS .................................................... 143 THE BLESSING DURING THE FASTS AND FEASTS .................................. 158 SEASONAL VERSES OF THE CYMBALS ................................................. 168 VERSES OF THE CYMBALS FOR MARTYRS AND SAINTS ......................... 181 SEASONAL DOXOLOGIES ..................................................................... 183 SOME DOXOLOGIES FOR THE MARTYRS AND SAINTS ............................ 241 INDEX ................................................................................................ 255 8 INTRODUCTION THE RITE OF INCENSE-OFFERING practice of incense-offering in the Church is not based on pagan rituals; rather, it The was derived from the scriptures and from Biblical accounts; namely, incense represents the prayers and lauds of the saints and angels. See, for example, Revelation 8:3: "Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And he was given much incense, that he should offer it, with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne.” Incense is offered during Vespers, as well as Matins preceding every liturgy, except for those liturgies celebrated during the Great Lent week days. Incense-offering constitutes an introduction to, and preparation for, the liturgy. This rite com- prises a collection of prayers, lauds and thanksgiving, which request the Lord's blessings of the sacramental service. Although incense-offering is mandatory as an introduction to the liturgy (except during Lent as stated above), it may also be offered as a sacrifice of prayer and praise to God, through its sweet aroma. The Old Testament mentions incense-offering; for example, the Temple of Jerusalem contained a separate altar for incense called the Incense Altar which was different from the Altar of Offer- tory. Incense-Offering: details The priest enters the Church and pulls back the veil saying, "Have mercy upon us, O Father the Almighty, O Holy Trinity have mercy upon us, O Lord of Hosts be with us for we have no other supporter in our tribulations but You." He then recites The Lord's Prayer and prostrates before the altar saying, "We worship You, O Christ, with Your Gracious Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come/risen and saved us." He then prostrates before the other priests and the congregation saying, "Accept my prostration. Bless me and forgive me." He exchanges a holy kiss with the other priests as a sign of love, peace and reconciliation. He also turns to the congregation and says, "Forgive me, I have sinned." The absolution from the other priests, and the forgiveness 10 Introduction from the congregation is very important before starting the prayers, for our beloved Saviour said, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses" (Mark 11:25). Also the Apostle Paul says, "Therefore I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1Tim.2:8). The priest then starts the Prayer of Thanksgiving, standing in rever- ence before the altar with his hands raised, the cross in his right hand, and the deacon standing behind him. The Prayer of Thanksgiving Our Church begins every service with the Prayer of Thanksgiving, whether it be a liturgy, wed- ding, funeral, baptism, or any other service. We thank the Lord on every occasion, in every con- dition and for all things, in happiness and in sadness, as well as in sickness and in health. We thank Him, and believe that every circumstance is the Lord's will and occurs with His per- mission, as it is said in Romans (8:28),"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." The priest prays audibly up until the phrase, "...and all the powers of the devil...;" he then continues inaudibly, since this part contains the Name of Christ, through Whom every prayer is accepted, as He prom- ised when He said, "Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you" (John 16:23). The Perpetual Prostrations After the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the priest prostrates and kisses the entrance of the sanctuary. He then enters the sanctuary with his right foot, as he is entering the Holy of Holies. He again prostrates before the altar and kisses it. He prostrates as a humble request that God accept his prayers, pleadings and sacrifices. Leaving the sanctuary from the left side, he steps out with his right foot, his left foot still facing the altar. Prayer for the “Mystery of Incense” The priest stands before the altar and the deacon brings the censer to him from the right side of the altar. The priest places five spoonfuls of incense in the censer while making the sign of the cross three times, thus consecrating the incense to the Only One Holy God (not to idols or strange gods), as it is written, "From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My Name shall be great among the gentiles, in every place incense shall be offered to My Name, and a pure offering" (Malachi 1:11). These five spoonfuls of incense represent the five righteous men of the Old Testament who offered acceptable sacrifices to the Lord, and the Lord smelled their pleasing aroma. These men are: Introduction 11 ABEL, who offered the firstborn of his flock. "Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,....." (Gen.4:4) NOAH, who, after coming out of the Ark, offered from every pure animal and bird. "Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His Heart, `I will never again curse the ground for man's sake'....." (Gen.8:20-21) MELCHIZEDEK, who offered bread and wine, a non-blood sacrifice, and blessed Abraham. (Gen.14:18) AARON, who offered sacrifices for himself and his people, "...and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar." That was a sign that the Lord accepted the sacrifice. (Lev.9:24) ZACHARIAS, who entered the Sanctuary to offer incense, and "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense,.....” and announced to him the birth of John. (Luke 1:8-22) After placing the five spoonfuls of incense in the censer, the priest receives the censer from the deacon with his right hand. He places the hook of the censer on his little finger, then holds the censer from the middle of its chain, also holding the cross in his right hand. The priest offers incense before the altar while silently reciting either the Mystery of Vespers prayer (evening), or the prayer of the Morning Incense (Matins). The priest holds the cross and the censer during the prayers and Bible readings, unless a bishop is present, in which case, he would be the one to hold the cross and bless the people with it. The prayer for the “Mystery of Vespers” is a deep, spiritual and special prayer which the priest directs to our Lord Jesus Christ, the True Sacrifice and the Lamb, Who bears the sins of the whole world. It consists of the following Old and New Testament verses: "O Christ our God, You are Great and Feared and True", as mentioned in the book of Daniel (9:4), "And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, Great and Awesome God, Who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him,...."” "...You are the Only Begotten Son...” as mentioned in the Gospel of John (1:18), "No one has seen God at any time. The Only Begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has de- clared Him." "...The Logos (Word) of God the Father...” as it is written, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). The disciple John saw Him "clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God" (Rev.19:13). 12 Introduction "...Your Holy Name is fragrance poured forth...", as Solomon mentioned in the Book of “The Song of Solomon” (1:3), "Your Name is ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins love You." "...And in every place, incense is offered before You...", as a pure offering, as written in Malachi (1:11), "For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles;

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