Rite of Blessing Those About to Travel by Water

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. (Tone V.)

Seeing that he (she) hath set his (her) (they have set their) hope on thee, O Saviour, be thou his (her 9 their) helper and deliverer : and bless the good purpose of his (her, their) deed, as also his (her, their) journey ; that we all may glorify thee, the sole Giver of all good things.

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

We flee unto thy protection, O Virgin Birth-giver of God. Despise not thou our prayers in affliction, but from distress deliver us, O only Pure and Blessed One.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom ! Let us attend.

Reader. The Gradual (Prokimen) in the Fourth Tone. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Verse : And thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

The Epistle, from the Acts of the Apostles.

(Acts xxi. 1-7.) And in those days it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and on the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence to Patras. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre : for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days : who said unto Paul by the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way, and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city : and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

Alleluia. (According to the Tone!)

Verse 1 : Deliver me from them that hate me, and from the deep waters.

Verse 2 : Let not the watery tempest drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up.

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

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. The Lesson from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

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

Priest. Let us attend.

(Mark iv. 35-41.) The Lord said unto his disciples, Let us pass over

unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship : and there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish ? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful ? how is it that ye have no faith ? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him ?

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

Then the Priest or the Deacon saiih the Augmented Litany.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee : hearken, and have mercy.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

A nd the rest {see page 90). To this he addeth ;

Do thou, who once didst rebuke the winds and the sea, and unto the ship tossed by the waves didst give calm by thy word ; and didst render thy disciples untroubled: Regard now, also, O Merciful One, the prayers of thy servant who diligently worshippeth {servants who diligently worship) thee, and bless his (her, t/ieir) voyage, granting unto him {Iter, them) a calm, peaceful and untroubled journey, we beseech thee : hearken, and have mercy, ft

O Saviour, who didst walk upon the water as upon dry land, and didst deliver Peter from drowning by thy right hand almighty: Deliver thou, O Lord, him {her) who in faith hath {those who in faith have) recourse unto thee, and is directing his {her) {are directing their) steps to a journey, from all calamities and stormy winds ; mercifully granting unto him {her, them) a favourable journey and restoration to his {her, their) home(^), we beseech thee, O allbountiful Lord : hearken, and have mercy. ft

Send thine Angel, O all-merciful Lord, to accompany him {her, them) on the way, and to be the guardian of his {her) soul and body {their souls and bodies), preserving him {her, them), and sheltering him {her, them) from all enemies, both visible and invisible ; and by thy might divine delivering him {her, them) from all tribulation, calamity and necessity, from sickness and from mortal wounds; and in due season restore thou him {her, them) again to his {her) home {their homes) in safety : to the glory of thine all-holy Name, we beseech thee, O omnipotent Master: mercifully hearken, and have mercy, ft

And the Priest maketh the Exclamation:

Hear us, O God, our Saviour, … {See page 517.)

And the Deacon saith :

Bowing our knees and our heads devoutly unto the Lord, let us pray to the Lord

Choir. Lord, have mercy. {Thrice,)

Then, as all kneel, the Priest, turning to the west and standing at the door of the Church, saith, in a loud voice, this Prayer :

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who didst walk upon the waters as upon dry land, and didst deign to have thy holy Disciples and Apostles as thy fellow-voyagers in the ship; and didst rebuke the stormy wind, and command the waves of the sea to be still : Be pleased now also (we humbly entreat thee, O Saviour), to sail with this thy servant (these thy servants) in this ship {or boat), allaying every contrary wind and tempest : And raise up special and timely winds for a prosperous voyage, being thyself ever unto him {her, them) a pilot, and a saving, untempestuous and tranquil haven unto the same, and unto his {her, their) ship {or boat). And as thou didst save Peter from drowning, so also, in sovereign wise, deliver thou this person {these persons) from all assaults of enemies, both visible and invisible, and from calamity, and distress, and fear, by thy right hand omnipotent: And graciously vouchsafe that he {she, they) may return in peace to his {her) home {their homes) in health and happiness, having accomplished his {her, their) purpose and good undertaking, richly bestowing upon all his {her, their) deeds thy rich and inexhaustible grace, and preserving the vessel whole and unharmed. For thou art the Saviour, the Deliverer, and the rich Giver of all good things, both heavenly and earthly, 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.

Choir. Amen,

Then taking the honourable cross, the Priest giveth it to the person(s) to kiss ; and he sprinkleih the persons) with holy water, saying;

May the Lord bless thee (you) out of Zion ; and so shalt thou (shall ye) behold the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy (your) life : and may he direct thy (your) journey in peace, unto the glory of his holy Name. Amen.

And immediately he pronounceih the usual Benediction for the day.