THE ALL—NIGHT VIGIL SERVICE (i) * The Holy Doors are open. The Priest stands before the Altar with the censer, and the Deacon with the taper. GREAT VESPERS Deacon. Arise, Master, give the blessing. Priest. Glory to the Holy, Consubstantial, Life-giving and Undivided Trinity always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. (2) Chair. Amen. Priest. O come, let us worship God our King. 0 come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. 0 come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. 0 come, let us worship and fall down before him. (Three reverences.) From Easter until Ascension Day, in plate of, 0 come, let us worship, shall be sung: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, Easterand upon those in the tomb bestowing life. tide. Then shall be said or sung PSALM Civ.; and the Priest, preceded by the Deacon bearing a taper, shall tense the whole temple, after whieh the Holy Door is closed. (3) PSALM CIV. Praise the Lord, O my soul. Blessed art thou, O Lord. O Lord my God, thou art become exceeding glorious. Blessed art thou, O Lord. In wisdom hast thou made them all. Glory to thee, O Lord, who hast made them all. Thus much is generally used. But sometimes the whole is read or sung, as followeth: Praise the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, The Priest now taketh his stand before the Holy Door, with head uncovered, and reciteth the PRAYERS OF LIGHT, secretly. (4) A. O Lord, bountiful and compassionate, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, give ear unto our prayer, and attend to the voice of our supplication. Work upon us a sign for good. Lead us in thy way, that we may walk in thy truth. Make glad our hearts, that we may fear thy holy Name. For thou art great and doest wonders. Thou alone art God, and among all the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord, mighty in mercy, gracious in strength, to aid and Secretly. * For an explanation of the Symbolism indicated by reference-numerals in the text, see Appendix B, I. Secretly. thou art become exceed ing glorious; thou art clothed with majesty and honour. Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment, and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind. He maketh his angels spir its, and his ministers a flaming fire. He laid the foundations Of the earth, that it never should move at any time. Thou coveredst it with the deep like as a garment; the waters stand in the hills. At thy rebuke they flee; at the voice of thy thunder they are afraid. They go up as high as the hills, and down tO the valleys beneath; even unto the place which thou hast appointed for them. Thou hast set them their bounds, which they shall not pass, neither turn again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the rivers, which run among the hills. All the beasts of the field drink thereof, and the wild asses quench their thirst. Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, and sing among the branches. He water~ eth the hills from above; the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works. He to comfort and save all those who put their trust in thy holy Name. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. B. O Lord, rebuke us not in thy displeasure, neither chasten us in thy wrath: but deal with us according to thy mercy, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us unto the haven of thy will. Enlighten the eyes Of our hearts to the knowledge of thy truth, and vouchsafe that the residue of this day and our whole life may be peaceful and without sin; through the intercessions of the holy Birth-giver of God, and of all the Saints. For thine is the majesty, and thine are the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. C. O Lord our God, remember us sinners and thine unprofitable servants when we call upon thy holy Name, and put us not to shame in our expectation of thy mercy: but grant us, O Lord, all our petitions which are unto salvation, and vouchsafe that we may love and fear thee with all our hearts, and do thy will in all things. For thou art a gracious God, and lovest mankind: and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. D. O thou who, with never-silent hymns and never-ceasing songs Of praise to thy glory, art hymned by the holy Powers: Fill our months with thy praise, that we bringeth forth grass for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men; That he may bring food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man: and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man’s heart. The trees of the Lord also are full of sap, even the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted; wherein the birds make their nests; and the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and so are the stony rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for certain seasons, and the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness that it may be night; wherein all the beasts of the forests do move. The lions, roaring after their prey, do seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth and they get them away together, and lay them. down in their dens. Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour, until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches. So is the great and wide sea also; wherein are creeping things innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan, may magnify thy holy Name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all those who fear thee in truth and keep thy commandment; through the intercessions of the holy Birth-giver of God, and of all thy Saints. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. E. O Lord, Lord, who upholdest all things in the all-pure hollow of thy hand; who showest long-suffering upon us all, and repentest thee at our calamities: Remember thy bounties and thy mercy. Visit us with thy loving-kindness: and grant that, through the residue of thy day, by thy grace, we may avoid the divers subtle snares of the Evil One, and preserve our lives unassailed; through the grace of thine all-holy Spirit. Through the mercy and love toward mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and lifecreating Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. F. O God, great and wonderful, who with wisdom inscrutable and great riches of providence orderest all things, and bestowest upon us earthly good things; who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through the good things already bestowed upon us, and hast made us to shun all evil during that part of the day which is past: Grant that we may also fulfil the residue of this day without reproach before thy holy glory, and hymn thee, the only good one, our God, who lovest mankind. For thou art our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to Secretly. Secretly. whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein. These all wait upon thee, that thou mayest give them meat in due season. When thou givest it them, they gather it; and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good. When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; when thou takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust. When thou lettest thy breath go forth, they shall be made: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. The earth shall tremble at the look of him; if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while. I have my being. And so shall my words please him: my joy shall be in the Lord. As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, and the ungodly shall come to an end. Praise thou the Lord, 0 my soul. Praise the Lord. the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and G. 0 great and most high God, who alone hast immortality, and dwellest in light unapproachable; who hast made all creation in wisdom; who hast divided the light from the darkness, and hast appointed the sun to rule the day, the moon and stars also to rule the night; who hast vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour also to come before thy presence with confession, and to offer unto thee our evening sacrifice of praise: D0 thou thyself, who lovest mankind, direct our prayer as a censer before thee, and accept it for a savour of sweet incense; and grant that we may pass this present evening and the coming night in peace. Endue us with the armour of light. Deliver us from the terror of the night, and from everything that walketh in darkness; and grant that the sleep, which thou hast appointed for the repose of our weakness, may be free from every imagination of the Devil. Yea, O Master, Bestower of all good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, call to remembrance thy holy Name in the night season: that, enlightened by meditation on thy statutes, we may rise up in joyfulness of soul to glorify thy goodness, offering up prayers and supplications unto thy tender love for our own sins and for those of all thy people whom do thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the holy Birth-giver of God. For thou art a gracious God, and lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Then the Priest (or the Deacon, if there be one) shall come out through the North Door, and taking his stand in the usual place, shall recite In THE GREAT LlTANY (Velikaya Ektém'ya). peace let us pray to the Lord. Choir. Lord, have mercy. For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls: R For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God’s holy Churches, and for the union of them all: B For this holy Temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered therein: H For our Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.; for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the clergy and the laity: R Here follow petitions for the Ruler of the Land and for all the Authorities (Emperor, or King, and Reigning House, or President, according to the elements and nationalities of which the Parish is constituted). That he will aid them and subdue under their feet every foe and adversary: R For this city, for this holy Temple, and for every city and land, and for those who with faith dwell therein: R For healthful seasons; for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times: R For those who travel by sea or by land; for the sick and the suffering; for those who are in captivity, and for their salvation: H That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity: R Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, 0 God, by thy grace: R let us pray to the Lord. Choir. Lord, have mercy. Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth~giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir. To thee, O Lord. Exclamation. Priest. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. (5) Chair. Amen. Then shall be said or sung several verses from the First Selection of the Psalms (Stikhoslávie Kafismi). (6) PSALMS 1., II. Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. |