Chapter 72

The Lesser Blessing of Water

A small table y covered with a cloth, is placed in the centre of the church, at the customary spot, and water thereon in a vessel. And the Priest, putting on his priestly stole and his chasuble, and holding in his hand the precious cross and a sprinkler for the holy water, is preceded by the Deacon with the censer, and by two taperJtearers with tapers. And when he cometh to the table, he layeth the cross thereon, and taking the censer, he censeth the water in cross-form, and maketk the usual beginning. (See page 479 : Blessed is our God . . . to end of the Lord’s Prayer.) And after the Priest hath pronounced the blessing, the Deacon beginneth :

Psalm cxliii.

Reader. Hear my prayer, O 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 them that go down into the pit. O 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.

Deacon, God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. (Thrice.) In Tone IV.

And these Hymns (Tropari), in Tone IV.

Unto the Birth-giver of God let us sinners and humble ones now diligently have recourse, and let us bow down, in penitence exclaiming, from the bottom of our soul : O Sovereign Lady, help us, having compassion upon us ! Show zeal, for we perish with the multitude of our sins ; turn not thy servants empty away : for we have thee as our only hope. (Twice.)

Never, O Birth-giver of God, will we cease to proclaim thy powers : for if thou didst not come to our aid, making intercession, who would

deliver us from our manifold adversities ? Who would have preserved us free unto this day ? We will not forsake thee, O Lady : for thou ever savest thy servants from all ruthless foes.

Then Psalm li. : Have mercy upon me, O God, . . . {Seepage 380.) TJun the following Hymns {Tropari) are sung, in Tone VI.

O Virgin who didst receive from the Angel “ Hail ! “ and didst thereafter give birth to thy Creator, thou savest those who magnify thee.

( This First Hymn is sung twice.)

We sing thy Son, O Birth-giver of God, and cry aloud : From all adversities save thou thy servants, O Lady all-pure.

The Eulogy of kings, prophets, apostles and martyrs art thou, and Intercessor for the world, O all-undefiled One.

Every tongue of right believers laudeth, and blesseth, and glorifieth thine all- pure birth-giving, O Mary, Bride of God.

Give unto me also, though unworthy, O my Christ, remission of my trespasses, I beseech thee, through the prayers of her who hath borne thee, in that thou art compassionate.

Upon thee have I set my trust, O Birth-giver of God : save me by thy prayers, granting unto me remission of my sins.

Quicken me, O thou who hast borne the Life-giver and Saviour: save, through thy prayers, O Blessed Hope of our souls.

O Virgin undefiled, who didst conceive in thy womb the Creator of all men, through thy prayers, save thou our souls.

O Birth-giver of God all-lauded, who through the word of the Angel, in manner which no word can utter, didst give birth to the Word, pray thou the Same that he will save our souls.

Through thy prayers, O Lady, make thou thy Son to be a merciful judge of me who am a sinner above all other men.

In duty bound we cry aloud unto thee : Hail, O pure Birth-giver of God ever-virgin ! Through thy prayers are saved those who pray.

Deliver me from fire eternal, and the torments which await me, O Birth-giver of God, I entreat thee.

Despise not the petitions of thy servants, we beseech thee, O Allpraised Lady, that we may be delivered from every assault.

From infirmities and every malady deliver thou us, who have recourse to thy holy protection.

Marvellous was the wonder shown in thee, O Birth-giver of God : For for our sakes the Creator of all and our God was born of thee, and like unto us.

Thy temple, O Birth-giver of God, was shown forth a remedy without price for ills, and a consolation for wounded souls.

O Birth-giver of God all-holy, who hast borne the Saviour, save thou thy servants from all adversities and from all other necessities.

Deliver thy servants from every ban under which they lie, and from every ailment, both spiritual and bodily, O Lady all-holy.

Through thy prayers, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, save thou all who have recourse unto thee; and deliver them from ail necessity and sorrow.

Who that hath recourse unto thy temple, O Birth-giver of God, doth not receive speedy healing, both ot soul and of body, O All-pure One?

Entreated by all the high and holy Heavenly Powers, O Bountiful One, through her who hath borne thee, cleanse thou me.

Spare, O Saviour, the souls of our brethren who have died in the hope of life ; and loose, remit their sins.

Hail, O Virgin, Mercy-seat of the world ! Hail, thou Haft and Candelabrum all-golden, thou Manna and Light Divine, O Bride of God !

We sing thee, One God in Three Persons, crying aloud the ThriceHoly song, entreating that we may receive salvation.

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

O Virgin, who hast borne the Saviour, and Sovereign and Lord of the world, pray thou him that he will save our souls.

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

Hail, O Mount ! Hail, O Bush that burned and yet was not consumed! Hail, O Gate! Hail, O Ladder! Hail, O Altar divine ! Hail, O Sovereign Lady, the helper of all men.

Through the prayers of thine all-holy Mother, and of all thy Saints, O Merciful One, grant thv mercies unto thy people.

Through the prayers of the glorious Archangels, and Angels, and of the Heavenly Hosts, preserve thou mightily thy servants, O Saviour.

Through the prayers of thine honourable and glorious Baptist, Prophet and Forerunner, and of all thy Saints, grant thou thy mercies unto thy people.

Through the prayers of the glorious Apostles and Martyrs, and of all thy Saints, grant thou thy mercies unto thy people.

Through the prayers of the glorious Unmercenaries, O Birth-giver of God, preserve thou thy servants, in that thou art the Intercessor and the Confirmation of the world.

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

The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit do we glorify, saying: O Holy Trinity, save thou our souls.

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

O Virgin, who in wise ineffable didst, in the latter days, conceive and bring forth thy Creator, save thou those who magnify thee.

Then: Open unto us the door of thy loving-kindness, O Blessed Birth-giver of God. In that we set our hope on thee may we not fail, but through thee may we be delivered from ail adversities; for thou art the salvation of all Christian people.

Then : Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest For holy art thou, O our God, and 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 these Hymns (Tropari), in Tone VI,

Now is drawn nigh the time which sanctifieth all men, and a just Judge awaiteth us ; but turn thou, O my soul, unto repentance, like the adulteress crying with tears : Have mercy upon me, O Lord.

O Christ, the Fountain, who dost bedew with the waters of healing, in the all-honourable temple of the Virgin thou to-day, through the sprinkling of thy blessing, dost expel the maladies of the ailing, O thou Physician of our souls and bodies.

As a Virgin who had not known man thou didst give birth, and as Mother unwedded a Virgin didst remain, O Mary, Birth-giver of God: Entreat thou Christ our God that he will save us.

O all-holy Virgin Birth-giver of God, guide thou aright the works of our hands, and entreat thou pardon for our transgressions, when we chant the angelic song : —

O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

And when the Thrice-Holy hath been sung, in the usual manner f the Deacon saith .*

Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Reader. The Gradual {Prokimen), in the Third Tone. The Lord is my light and my Saviour; whom shall I fear?

Verse : The Lord is the defender of my life ; of whom shall I be afraid ?

Reader. The Lesson from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.

(Heb. it. II-18.) Brethren : Both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren; saying, I will declare thy name unto all my brethren ; in the midst of the church will I sing praises unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same ; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil : and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels ; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconcilation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted^

Priest. Peace be with thee.

Reader. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom !

Alleluia, in the Sixth Tone.

Verse i ; My heart is inditing of a good matter.

Verse 2: I will tell my deeds unto the king.

Priest. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy GospeL Peace be with you all.

People. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. The Lesson from the holy Gospel of John.

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

(Jvhn v. 1-4.) At that time Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

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

Then the Deacon saitk the Litany (Ektdniyd).

. In 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: I£

For the peace of the whole world ; for the welfare of God’s holy Churches, and for the union of them all : IJs

For this holy Temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered therein :

For our Holy Synod (or Patriarch) ; for our Bishop(^r Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.; for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ ; for all the clergy and the laity :

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:

For this city (if in a monastery, for this holy habitation), and for those who with faith dwell therein :

For healthful seasons ; for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times : Ifc

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 :

That these waters may be sanctified by the power, and effectual operation, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit : %

That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing opera- j^ tion of the super-substantial Trinity : 5 I

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That this water may be unto the healing of souls and bodies, and unto the banishing of every hostile power: ft

That the Lord God will send down the blessing of Jordan, and sanctify these waters : ft

For all those who entreat of God aid and protection : ft

That he will illumine us with the light of understanding, with the consubstantial Trinity : ft

That the Lord our God will show us forth sons and heirs of his kingdom, through partaking of and sprinkling with these waters: ft

That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity: ft

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

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.

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 this Prayer ;

O Lord our God, who art mighty in counsel, and wonderful in thy deeds, the Creator of all things, who keepest thy covenant and thy mercy unto those who love thee and keep thy commandments, and receivest the devout tears of all who are in distress : (For for this cause thou didst come in the similitude of a servant, scorning not our image, but giving true health to the body, and saying : Lo, thou art healed, sin no more ; and with clay thou didst make the man’s eyes whole, and having commanded him to wash, didst make him, by thy word, to rejoice in the light, putting to confusion the floods of passion of enemies, and drying up the bitter sea of the life of the same, and subduing the waves of sensual desires heavy to be endured) : Do thou, the same King who lovest mankind, who hast granted unto us to clothe ourselves in the garment of snowy whiteness, by water and the Spirit, send down upon us thy blessing, and through partaking of this water, through sprinkling therewith wash away the defilement of passions. Yea, we beseech thee, visit thou our weakness, O Good One, and heal our infirmities, both spiritual and bodily, by thy mercy ; Through the prayers of our all-pure, most blessed Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary ; through the might of the honourable and life-giving Cross ; through the intercession of the honourable Bodiless Powers of heaven ;

of the honourable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John ; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles ; of our holy and God-bearing Fathers ; of our Fathers among the Saints, the great Hierarchs and CEcumenical teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom ; of our Fathers among the Saints Athanasius and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria; of our Father among the Saints Spiridon, the Wonderworker of Trimethuetus ; of our Father among the Saints, Nicholas, the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia; of our Holy Fathers of All Russia, Wonderworkers, Peter, Alexis, Jonah and Philip; of the holy and glorious great martyr, George the Victorious ; of the holy and glorious great martyr, Demetrius the exhaler of chrism ; of the holy right-victorious Martyrs ; of our holy arid righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of the holy, glorious and wonderworking Unmercenaries, Cosmasand Damian, Kir and John,Panteleimon and Ermolaus, Samson and Diomid, Mokius and Anikita, Thalaleus and Tryphon ; and of Saint N., whom we commemorate ; and of all thy Saints.

And preserve, O Lord, thy servant, our most God-fearing Sovereign, N., the Emperor of All the Russias. {Thrice.) And all the Reigning House.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the Most Holy Synod, granting unto it health, spiritual and bodily; and be merciful unto this Christian habitation which laboureth for thee. Have in remembrarice, O Lord, every Bishopric over the Orthodox, which rightly administeretb the word of thy truth, and every priestly and monastic Order, and their salvation. Have in remembrance, O Lord, both those who hate us, and those who love us, the brethren who serve with us, the people who are here present, and those who for a cause worthy of blessing have gone forth and have empowered us, unworthy though we be, to pray for them. Have in remembrance, O Lord, our brethren who are in captivity and affliction, and show mercy upon them, according to thy great mercy, delivering them from all distress. For thou art the Fountain of healing, O Christ our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thy Father who hath no beginning, and with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest Peace be with you alL

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

And the Priest saith, secretly, this Prayer :

Bow thine ear, and hearken unto us, O Lord, who didst deign to be baptized in Jordan, and didst sanctify the water : and bless all of us who by the bowing of our necks do show forth our apprehension that we are thy servants; and grant that we may be filled with thy sanctification, through partaking of this water; and let it be to us, O Lord, for the health of soul and body.

Exclamation,

For thou art our sanctification, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, and thanksgiving, and worship, together with thy Father who hath no beginning, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Then, taking the honourable cross $ he blesseth the water thrice, in crossform, dipping it and moving it in due fashion, and chanting the following Hymn (Tropdr) in Tone I. {Thrice.)

O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting to the most God-fearing (Emperor, King, or President), N., victory over all adversaries, and by thy Cross preserving thine Estate.

Then the following Hymn, in Tone II ‘., is sung:

Make us worthy of thy gifts, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, disregarding our transgressions, and bestowing healing, through faith, upon those who accept thy blessing, O all-pure One.

. Then the Priest kisseth the honourable cross, and so do likewise all the people ; and he sprinkleth them all with the holy water, and all the Sanctuary and the Church. And the people sing the following Hymns {Troparf), in Tone IV. :

O holy Unmercenaries, who had a fountain of healing, give ye healing unto all who ask it, in that ye have been vouchsafed gifts most excellent from the everflowing fountain our Saviour. For the Lord saith unto you, as unto your fellow-zealots the Apostles : Lo, I have given unto you power over unclean spirits, that ye may drive them out, and heal every infirmity, and every wound. Wherefore, abiding fully in that command, freely ye have received, freely do ye give, healing the passions of our souls and bodies.

Have regard to the prayers of thy servants, O All-undefiled One, allaying the fierce risings against us, assuaging our every woe ; for in that we have thee as a confirmation certain and renowned, and have acquired thy intercession, we shall not be put to shame, O Lady, when we call upon thee. Strive thou earnestly for the petition of those who faithfully cry unto thee : Hail, O Lady, O Help of all men, O Joy and Protection and Salvation of our souls.

Receive, O Lady, the prayers of thy servants, and deliver us from every distress and sorrow.

And after the Sprinkling, the Litany {Ektiniya\

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

Choir. Lord, have mercy. {Thrice.)

Furthermore we pray that he will preserve this city and this holy Temple, and every city and land from pestilence, famine, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of enemies, and from civil war; and

that our good God, who loveth mankind, will be graciously favourable and easy to be entreated, and will turn away from us all the wrath stirred up against us, and deliver us from all his righteous chastisement which impendeth against us, and have mercy upon us. Choir. Lord, have mercy. {Forty times.)

Then the Priest exclaimeth ;

Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea ; and show mercy, show mercy, O Master, upon us sinners, and be merciful unto us.

For thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto thee 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.

Priest Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Then the Priest readeth, in a loud voice, the following Prayer ;

O greatly merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, favourably fulfil our prayer ; through the prayers of our all-pure Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary; through the might of the honourable and lifegiving Cross ; through the intercession of the honourable Bodiless Powers of heaven ; of the honourable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John ; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles ; of the holy, glorious and righteous Martyrs ; of our holy and God-bearing Fathers and (Ecumenical great teachers and saints, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom ; of our Father among the Saints, Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker; of our Holy Fathers of All Russia, Wonderworkers, Peter, Alexis, Jonah and Philip ; of the righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna {and of the Patron Saint of the Temple) ; and of all thy Saints : Grant us remission of our sins. Cover us with the shelter of thy wing ; root out from us every foe and adversary; render tranquil our life and thy world; have mercy upon us, O Lord, and save our souls, in that thou art gracious and lovest mankind.

Choir. Amen.

Then the Benediction.

May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his all-holy Mother, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for he is good and loveth mankind.