Class Notes Services and Rubrics
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Class Notes Services And Rubrics Bishop Demetri M. Khoury Working Copy - NOT For Publication August 2005 THE SACRAMENTS OF HOLY BAPTISM AND CHRISMATION PREPARATIONS: The Analogian is placed near the Baptismal Font. Upon it are placed the Gospel Book, the Icon of the Theophany on a stand, a vessel of Chrism, a small towel (for the Priest's use), several cotton swabs, a small vessel of pure olive oil, a sponge, a bowl of warm water, scissors, the hand cross, a napkin, two candles for the sponsors, a Baptismal cross for the child (brought by the family), and two lighted candles. The censer should be near at hand, and the Font filled with water at a comfortable temperature. Vestments needed are the rasson, stole, and phelon, of white or some other bright color. Before the service the child's clothing should be removed, and the child wrapped in a large towel with the Baptismal garments near at hand. THE SERVICE: (The Priest is vested in rasson and stole. The Deacon, if present, is vested in sticharion and orarion. If no Deacon is present, his parts are said by the Priest, except "Bless, Master!" It is customary that the RECEPTION OF THE CATECHUMEN be performed at the Narthex (vestibule) of the Church. The Priest, godparents, parents, and others who so desire go to the Narthex. The Sponsor holds the child on his/her right arm facing the Priest (East). It should be noted, that since it is accepted practice in the Antiochian Archdiocese that there may be one Orthodox Sponsor and one witness who is not Orthodox, the Orthodox Sponsor must make all responses and hold the child. PRAYERS AT THE RECEPTION OF CATECHUMENS The Priest breathes three times on the face of the child making the sign of the cross on the forehead and breast saying each time: PRIEST: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. CHOIR: Lord have mercy. PRIEST: (Laying his hand upon the head of the child) In Thy Name, O Lord, God of truth, and in the Name of Thine Only-Begotten Son, and of Thy Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon Thy servant, N., who hast been found worthy to flee to Thy Holy Name and to take refuge under the shelter of Thy wings. Remove far from (him/her) (his/her) former errors, and fill him with the faith, hope and love which are in Thee; that (he/she) may know that Thou only art the true God, with Thine Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Thy Holy Spirit. Enable him/her to observe all Thy commandments and to do the things which please Thee; for if a man do these things he shall find life in them. Inscribe (him/her) in Thy Book of Life, and unite him to the flock of Thine inheritance. And may Thy Holy Name be glorified in (him/her) together with that of Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of Thy life-giving Spirit. Let Thine eyes ever regard (him/her) with mercy, and let Thine ears ever attend unto the voice of (his/her) supplication. Let him ever rejoice in the works of (his/her) hands, and in all (his/her) generation, that (he/she) may give thanks unto Thee, worshipping and glorifying Thy great and Most High Name always, all the days of (his/her) life. For all the Powers of Heaven praise Thee, and Thine is the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to ages of ages. CHOIR: Amen. THE EXORCISM DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. PRIEST: O Lord of Sabaoth, the God of Israel, healer of every malady and every infirmity: look upon Thy servant; prove (him/her) and search (him/her), and root out of (him/her) every operation of the Devil. Rebuke the unclean spirits and expel them, and purify the works of Thy hands; and by Thy penetrating power, crush Satan under (his/her) feet; give (him/her) victory over Satan and the unclean spirits; so that having obtained Thy mercy (he/she) may be worthy to receive Thy heavenly Mysteries, and may ascribe glory unto Thee, the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. CHOIR: Amen. DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. PRIEST: O Lord, the Existing Sovereign, Master, Thou has created man in Thine own likeness and gave him the possibility of eternal life. Thou dost not despise those who have fallen away through sin, but hast provided a means for salvation of the world through the Incarnation of Thy Christ. Receive this creature from the yoke of the enemy and receive (him/her) into Thy heavenly kingdom. Open the eyes of (his/her) understanding, so that the illumination of Thy Gospel may dawn upon (him/her). Send (him/her) a radiant Angel who shall deliver (him/her) from every snare of the adversary all (his/her) life, from encounter with evil, from the noon-day demon, and from evil dreams. The Priest then breathes three times on the child, and says each time: PRIEST: Drive from (him /her) every evil and unclean spirit, hiding and lurking in (his/her) heart. After the third time, the Priest continues. CHOIR: Amen. (on each time) PRIEST: The spirit of error, the spirit of lies, the spirit of idolatry and evil desires; the spirit of deceit and of every imperfection that works according to the teaching of the devil. Make (him/her) a reason-endowed sheep in the holy flock of Thy Christ, an honorable member of Thy Church, a child of the light, and an heir of Thy Kingdom; that having lived according to Thy commandments and preserved the Seal unbroken, and having kept (his/her) garment undefiled, (he/she) may share in the blessedness of the Saints in Thy Kingdom. Through the grace and bounties and love of mankind of Thine Only-Begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine All-holy and Good and Life- creating Spirit, now and ever, unto ages of ages. CHOIR: Amen. At this time the Priest and the Sponsors with the child turn to the West and face to the rear of the Church. The following questions and answers are each repeated three times. PRIEST: Dost thou renounce Satan, and all his Angels, and all his works, and all his service, and all his pride? SPONSOR: (Replies for the child) I do. PRIEST: Hast thou renounced Satan? SPONSOR: I have. PRIEST: (One time only) Breathe and spit upon him. The Sponsors and child now turn to face the East, and the Priest faces them. The following two questions and answers are repeated three times, and the third question and answer only said once. PRIEST: Dost thou unite thyself in Christ? SPONSOR: I do. PRIEST: Hast thou united thyself to Christ? SPONSOR: I have. PRIEST: Dost thou believe in Him? SPONSOR: I believe in Him as King and God. The Sponsors now recite the Creed together, on behalf of the child. SPONSOR: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten, Begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made, of One Essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made: Who for us and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried; And the third day He rose according to the Scriptures; And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the prophets; And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen. Following the recitation of the Creed, the following question and answer are repeated three times: PRIEST: Hast thou united thyself in Christ? SPONSOR: I have. The Priest then continues: PRIEST: Bow down before Him. The Sponsor bows and says: SPONSOR: I bow down before the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Trinity, One in Essence and undivided. PRIEST: Blessed is God Who willest that all men should be saved, and should come to the knowledge of the truth: now and ever, and to ages of ages. CHOIR: Amen. DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. PRIEST: O Master, Lord our God, call Thy servant, N., to Thy holy illumination, and grant (him /her) that marvelous grace of Thy holy Baptism. Put off from (him/her) the old man, and renew (him/her) unto life everlasting, and fill (him /her) with the power of Thy Holy Spirit in the unity of Thy Christ, that (he/she) may be no more a child of the body, but a child of Thy kingdom, through the good will and grace of Thine Only-Begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages.