Divine Liturgy St. Tikhon

Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Then shall be said or sung:

The Kyrie

Lord, have mercy upon us. (Kyrie, eleison)
Lord, have mercy upon us. (Kyrie, eleison)
Lord, have mercy upon us. (Kyrie, eleison)

Christ, have mercy upon us. (Christe, eleison)
Christ, have mercy upon us. (Christe, eleison)
Christ, have mercy upon us. (Christe, eleison)

Lord, have mercy upon us. (Kyrie, eleison)
Lord, have mercy upon us. (Kyrie, eleison)
Lord, have mercy upon us. (Kyrie, eleison)

The Gloria en Excelsis

P. Glory be to God on high,
R. And on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord; Thou only, O (Jesus) Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the (+) glory of God the Father. Amen.

P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
P. Let us pray.

The Collects
Then the priest shall read the appropriate Collects for the day, at the end of which is said . . . world without end. R. Amen.

The Epistle
Then the Epistle appointed for the day is read or sung.

P: The word of the Lord

R: Thanks be to God

The Gradual Hymn or Psalm

The Gospel

P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

P. The continuation (beginning) of the Holy Gospel according to St N...

R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

The Gospel is then read or sung, concluding with
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

I 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 begotten Son of God; begotten of His Father before all worlds; God of God; Light of Light; Very God of Very God; begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven (kneel), and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; (rise) And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father; who, with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets; And I believe One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, (+) and the Life of the world to come. Amen.

The Offertory

P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
P. Let us pray.

REMEMBER the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts xx. 35.

LAY not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for your-selves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor 'rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through' nor steal. St. Matt. vi. 19,

WHILE we have time, let us do good unto all men; and especially unto them that are of the household of faith. Gal. vi. 10.

THINE, 0 Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, 0 Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. I Chron. xxix.

The Prayers
Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church.
Almighty and ever living God, who by Thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men, we humbly beseech Thee most mercifully to accept (these) our oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto Thy Divine Majesty, beseeching Thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord. And grant that all those who do confess Thy holy Name may agree in the truth of Thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.

We beseech Thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of Thy true religion and virtue.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and other Ministers, especially (Name), our Metropolitan, and (Name) our Bishop, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth Thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer Thy holy Sacraments.

And to all Thy People give Thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive Thy holy Word, truly serving Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

And we most humbly beseech Thee, of Thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succor all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. The priest may here commemorate specific names.

And we also bless Thy Holy Name for all Thy servants, departed this life in Thy faith and fear; beseeching Thee to grant them continual growth in Thy love and service. And give us grace so to follow the good examples of blessed Mary, the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, (Saint N.), and all Thy Saints, that, through their intercessions, we with them may be partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

The Communion Devotions

Ye who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in His holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling.

The General Confession

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, against Thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Then shall the priest turn to the people and say

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of His great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him; have mercy upon you; pardon (+) and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

P. Hear what comfortable words our Savior Christ saith unto all who truly turn unto Him:
COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. . . St. Matthew xi. 28.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. .St. John iii. 16.

Hear also what St. Paul saith: This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. . Timothy i. 15.

Hear also what St. John saith: If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins…......... I John ii. 1, 2.

The Sursum Corda or Great Thanksgiving

P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
P. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up onto the Lord.
P. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
R. It is meet and right so to do.

P. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God.

Therefore, with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name; evermore praising Thee, and saying,

The Sanctus

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High. Blessed (+) is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Canon

ALL glory be to Thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that Thou, of Thy tender mercy, didst give Thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by His own oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in His holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that His precious death and sacrifice, until His coming again: For in the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread; and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is My Body, which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of Me.

Likewise, after supper, He took the cup; and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saving, Drink ye all of this; For this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; Do this as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of Me.

The Oblation
Wherefore O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of Thy dearly beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, we, Thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here before Thy Divine Majesty, with these Thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto Thee, the memorial Thy Son hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance His blessed Passion and precious Death, His mighty Resurrection and glorious Ascension; rendering unto Thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same.

The Epiclesis (The calling forth of the Holy Spirit)

AND we most humbly beseech Thee, O merciful Father, to hear us; and of Thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon these Thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine that they may be changed into the Body and Blood of Thy most dearly beloved Son. Grant that we, receiving them according to Thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of His death and passion, may be partakers of His most blessed Body and Blood.

R. Amen. Amen. Amen.

AND we earnestly desire Thy fatherly goodness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching Thee to grant that, by the merits and death of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in His blood, we, and all Thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of His Passion. And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto Thee; humbly beseeching Thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with Him, that He may dwell in us, and we in Him.

Be mindful also, O Lord, of thy servants who are gone before us with the sign of faith, and who rest in the sleep of peace.

Here the Faithful Departed are Remembered

To them, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ grant we pray thee a place of refreshment, light, and peace. To us sinners also, thy servants, confiding in the multitude of they mercies, grant some lot and partnership with thy holy Apostles and Martyrs: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite, Paul (N.N), and with all thy Saints into whose company we pray Thee of Thy mercy to admit us.

And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto Thee any sacrifice; yet we beseech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; By whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory be unto Thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.

And now as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,
The Lord's Prayer
OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.) Amen.

Priest
DELIVER us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present, and yet to come: At the intercession of the blessed, glorious, Mary, the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, with that of Thy blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, Andrew, (Saint N.), and all Thy Saints favorably grant peace in our time, that we may ever be kept free from sin, and safe from all disquietude; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God, The Priest breaks the Host and then says: World without end.
Amen.

The Priest places a small piece of the host into the chalice and then says: May this mixture and consecration of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be effectual for us who receive it unto eternal life. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ who didst say to Thine Apostles, “Peace I leave with you, my own peace I give unto you”, regard not our sins but the Faith of thy Church and grant her that peace and unity which are agreeable to thy will. Who livest and reigneth through ages of ages. Amen.

P. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

The Agnus Dei

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:
grant us Thy peace.

The Prayer of Humble Access

WE do not presume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy Table. But Thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the Flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His Body, and our souls washed through His most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. Amen.

Turning to the faithful, the priest says:

P. Behold the Lamb of God; behold Him that takest away the sins of the world.
Repeated three times:
P. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof,
But speak the word only and my soul shall be healed.

Then shall the priest and people say together the following prayer in preparation to receive Holy Communion.

I BELIEVE, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is truly Thine own immaculate Body, and that this is truly Thine own precious Blood. Wherefore I pray Thee, have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance; and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Thine immaculate Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.

Of Thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant: for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom. Not unto judgment nor unto condemnation by my partaking of Thy Holy Mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.

Holy Communion

In accordance with Orthodox canon law and practice, only Orthodox Christians may receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion in Orthodox Churches. The priest and assisting clergy communicate the people with the following words:

(For the Host)

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

(For the Chalice)

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life

After Communion, the priest performs the Ablutions, cleansing the sacred vessels. During the Ablutions, the Priest says the following:

What we have partaken with our mouths, O Lord, may we receive with pure hearts, and of a temporal gift, may it become for us an eternal remedy.

May thy Body and Blood which I have received cleave unto my heart, O Lord; and grant that no stain of sin may remain in me, having been fed with this pure and holy sacrament. Who livest and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God throughout the ages of ages.

The Communion Verse for the day is then sung or said. After Communion the priest says:
P. Let us pray. The priest and people shall say together:

ALMIGHTY and ever-living God, We most heartily thank Thee, for that Thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of Thy favor and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of Thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of Thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of His most precious death and passion. And we humbly beseech Thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with Thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as Thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Then are said or sung, the Post-Communion Collects that are appointed for the day, ending with . . . world without end. Amen.

The Blessing

THE Peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: and the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, (+) the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

The Dismissal

P. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
P. Depart in peace
R. Thanks be to God.