Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed fishers most wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and thereby catching the universe as in a net. 0 Christ our God, who lovest mankind, glory to thee.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

0 Protection of Christians that maketh not ashamed, O Mediatrix never-failing with the Creator: Despise not the sinners' voice of supplication; but in that thou art good, come speedily to the aid of us who faithfully call upon thee; make haste to our petition and further our prayer, 0 Birth-giver of God, who ever protectest them that do

thee honour.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Reader. And with thy spirit.

Deaeon. Wisdom! Let us attend.

Reader. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained praise. Verse: My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

Then the Reader readeth the Epistle.

(Ephesians i. 16—19; iii. 16-21.) Brethren: I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. And that ye may know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Then the Benton saith:

Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Priest. The Lesson from the holy Gospel of Luke.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.

(Mark x. 13-16.) At that time they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you,

Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.

Then the Deacon recite”: the Augmented Litany as far as: Furthermore we pray for all their Christ-loving Army and Navy. (S'e page 90.)

Then: Furthermore we pray unto the Lord our God, that he will look graciously upon these children, and will send down into their hearts, their minds, and their lips the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, and of piety, and of his fear; and that he will illumine them. with the light of his knowledge, and will bestow upon them strength and stedfastness, that they may quickly apprehend and speedily become wanted to the instruction in his Divine Law, and to all good and profitable learning: furthermore, that he will prosper them in wisdom and understanding, and in all good works to the glory of his holy Name, and will give them health, and make them long-lived, unto the building up and the glory of his Church, let us all say: O Lord, hearken and mercifully have mercy.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.)

Then the Priest ere/aimeth: Hear us, 0 God our Saviour, . . . (See page 517.) Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

And the Priest, with all heed and emotion, readeth, aloud, the following Prayer: 0 Lord our God and Creator, who hast honoured us men with thine own image; who hast taught thine elect, so that wonderful are they who give heed to thy teaching; who revealest wisdom unto babes; who hast imparted thy teaching unto Solomon and unto all who have sought thy wisdom: Open thou the hearts, the minds, and the lips of these thy servants, that they may receive the power of thy law, and successfully apprehend the useful precepts which shall be taught them, to the glory of thine all-holy Name, to the profit and building up of thy holy Church, and that they may understand thy good and perfect will. Deliver them from every hostile oppression; preserve them in Orthodoxy and the faith, and in all uprightness and purity all the days of their life, that they may advance in wisdom, and in the fulfilling of thy commandments: that, being thus prepared, they may glorify thine all-holy Name, and become heirs of thy kingdom. For thou art God mighty in mercy, and gracious in strength; 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.

Deacon. Wisdom!

Choir. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare

more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

Priest. Glory to thee, O Christ-God, our hope; glory to thee. Choir. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Amen. now, and ever, and unto ages of Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Bless.

ages.

And the customary BENEDICTION.

May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his all-holy Mother; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us, and save us, forasmuch as he is good, and loveth mankind.

Then the Priest, blessing the Children with the cross, saith:

The blessing of the Lord, with his grace, and bounties, and love toward mankind, be upon you always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Children kiss the holy cross, and the Priest sprinkleth them with holy

water.

THE RITE OF BLESSING FOR A JOURNEY

The Prierl, vested in his priestly stale and chasuble, if the rile be said apart from the Liturgy, beginneth as usual .

Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Reader. 0 heavenly King, O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . Our Father,... Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory... now, O come, let us worship (Thriee.) (See page 512.)

and ever,

PSALM CXLIII.

Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, and consider my desire; hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake. And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. Yet do I remember the time past: I muse upon all thy works; yea I exercise myself in the works of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon; for my spirit waxeth faint: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 0 let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning; for in thee is my trust: show thou me the way that I should walk in; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; for I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee; for thou art my God: let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name’s sake; and for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy goodness slay mine enemies, and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.)

And Ike Deacon, if there be one, or the Priest himself, readeth the Litany:

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (See page 80.)

And the rest, as far as .

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: R That he will show mercy upon his servant(s), and pardon him (her, them) every sin, both voluntary and involuntary, and bless his (her, their) journey: B

That he will send him (her, them) an Angel of Peace, as fellowtraveller and guide, to guard, defend and succour him (her, them), and preserve him (her, them) unharmed of every evil assault: R That he will shield him (her, them) from all attacks and assaults of enemies, and bring him (her, them) to his (her, their) journey's end and home again unharmed: R That he will give him (her, them) a sinless and peaceful journey, and a prosperous return in health, and in all piety and honour: R That he will preserve him (her, them) unharmed and invincible against all foes, both visible and invisible, and from the wrath of wicked men B

That he will bless his (her, their) good intention, and prosper it, through his grace, unto spiritual and bodily profit: R

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, 0 God, by thy grace.

Chair. 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.

Chair. To thee, O Lord.

Exclamation.

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. Choir. Amen.

Then God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. (Tone [1. And the Verses. See page 515.)

And this Hymn (Tropdr).

O Christ, who art the Way and the Truth, send now thine Angel as a fellow-traveller to thy servant(s), preserving him (her, them) like Tobias of old, and guarding him (her, them) unharmed of every evil thing, and in all prosperity, unto thy glory: through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, 0 thou who alone lovest mankind.

In the same Tone.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

0 Saviour, who didst accompany Luke and Cleopas unto Emmaus, accompany thou now also thy servant who is (servants who are) minded