THE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCHES Among the English, Greek, & Roman Traditions A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung. During this time, the altar party processes to the sanctuary, entering through the right (the Celebrant draws open the curtain and opens Holy Doors). The Celebrant then censes the Altar(s), the ministers and then leaving from the left (or Theotokos side), censes (the Ikons of Christ and the Theotokos, the Analogion, the Holy Water Font,) the people, (the Ikon of Christ, the Ikon of the Theotokos,) and the entrance bowing to the High Place, and then returns to the sanctuary through the right (or Christ side). The Greeting The Celebrant turns towards the people making the sign of the cross while saying: Blessed be God + Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The people standing, sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and reply: And blessed be God’s Kingdom, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. In place of the above, from Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ is risen. People: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia. In Lent and on other penitential occasions Celebrant: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. People: God’s mercy endures for ever. The Collect for Purity The Celebrant faces the altar and with arms extended in orans position, continues: Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. The people reply: Amen The Kyrie All Sing: Form 1 Celebrant: Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison. Celebrant: Christe eleison All: Christe eleison Celebrant: Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison. Form 2 Celebrant: Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy. Celebrant: Christ, have mercy. All: Christ, have mercy. Celebrant: Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy. Gloria in Excelsis All sing: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your great glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory + of God the Father. Amen. The Collect Celebrant: The Lord be with you! All: And with your spirit. Celebrant: Let us Pray. The Celebrant will recite the Collect of the day, and then both will be seated. If the collect ends with “now and forever” those words should be followed by “and unto the ages of ages” for this liturgy. The Lessons The people sit for the first reading. After the reader has reached the lectern, the Celebrant gives the reader a blessing from the chair saying: Celebrant: Peace be to you that readest! The Reader bows their head to the celebrant in reception of the blessing and begins: A Reading from… After the reading the Reader says: The Word of the Lord. The people reply: Thanks be to God. The Trisagion The people stand. While the Tisagion is sung, the Celebrant or Deacon who may be accompanied by a thirufer, 2 acolytes bearing torches or candles and a crucifer, go from the altar to the ambon or amongst the people in the Nave with the gospel book. (Leaving from the left or Theotokos side and returning through the right or Christ side.) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal; have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal; have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal; have mercy on us. Bow Glory be to the Father + and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages: Amen. Rise Holy Immortal; have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal; have mercy on us. The Gospel The Lord be with you! The people reply: And with your spirit. The Reader continues while making a sign of the cross on the gospel reading: The Holy Gospel of our Lord + Jesus Christ according to… (The reader censes the gospel book) The people reply: Glory to you O’ Lord. After the reading the Reader says: The Gospel of the Lord The people reply: Praise to you Lord Christ. The procession then returns to the sanctuary. The Celebrant kisses the altar and turns to the people to begin the homily. The Sermon A moment of silent contemplation then all standing to say or sing the Creed in unison. Symbol of Faith We 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 only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, very God from very God, begotten not made, of one essence with the Father, through Him all things were made: who for us, and for our salvation He came down from heaven, Genuflect or Bow by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. Rise For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death, and was buried: on the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures, He ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father: He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom shall have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, Giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father: Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified: Who spake by the prophets. We believe one holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, we look for the resurrection of the dead + and life of the age to come. Amen. The Litany of Fervent Supplication A Celebrant, Deacon, or Acolyte may lead in prayer. The minister begins: With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying “Lord, have mercy.” For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. The people reply to each petition singing “Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy.” (Kyrie Eleison) For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord. For our Bishop N., for our Presiding Bishop N., and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. For our President N., for the leaders of the nations, and for all in civil authority, let us pray to the Lord. For this city, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord. For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to be good stewards of it, let us pray to the Lord. For those who travel by land, sea, and air, let us pray to the Lord. For the aged and infirmed, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord. For ____________, let us pray to the Lord. For the poor and the oppressed, for prisoners and captives, and for all who care for them, let us pray to the Lord. For all who have died + in the hope of the resurrection, especially N., and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord. For deliverance from all danger, violence, and wrath, let us pray to the Lord. For the absolution and remission of our sins + and offenses, let us pray to the Lord. That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering or condemnation, let us pray to the Lord. The Celebrant leads from this point (The Celebrant turns and bows to the Christ Ikon.) Help us, + save us, have mercy on us, and keep us O God by your grace. (The Celebrant turns and bows to the Theotokos Ikon.) Calling to remembrance our most + holy, most pure, most blessed, and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary… The people begin chanting the following. Most Holy Theotokos save us. At the same time, the Celebrant Continues: …with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God. The people reply: To you, O Lord. The Celebrant concludes: Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The people reply: Amen The Confession and Absolution The Deacon or Celebrant addresses the people: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. All kneel or bow and say: I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, (the celebrant turns from the waist up towards the people) my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed: by what I have done and by what I have left undone, through my fault (Strikes breast), through my fault (Strikes breast), through my most grievous fault (Strikes breast).