The Kneeling
This Office, on the Vigil of the Feast of the Holy Spirit, that is, Monday after Pentecost, is usually sung immediately after the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of Pentecost.
Priest: Blessed is our God, now and always and forever and ever.
Reader: Amen.
Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.
Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God, and bow down before Him.
Psalm 103 (104)
Reader: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, you are great indeed! Clothed in pomp and brilliance, arrayed with light as with a cloak, stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth, establishing your lofty halls on water. You make the clouds your conveyance, you surge on the wings of the wind. You make the winds your messengers, and flaming fires your attendants.
You settled the earth on its foundation: it shall stand unmoved from age to age. The abyss covered it like a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke, they take to flight, at the peal of your thunder, they flee. They hurdle the hills and run down the dales to the place you have chosen for them. You have set up a boundary not to be passed: they shall never return to cover the earth.
Down in the gullies, you make springs to rise; waters shall flow between the mountains. They shall give drink to the beasts of the field; wild asses will seek them to quench their thirst. The birds of the sky shall abide by them; from among the rocks, they will raise their song. From your lofty halls you refresh the hills; the earth shall be fed with the fruit of your works.
You make green pastures for the cattle and food-plants for the service of man, so that bread may be drawn from the earth, and wine that gladdens the heart of man; so that oil may put a gleam on his face, and that bread may strengthen the heart of man. The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. Sparrows shall build their nests in them, herons shall call them their home. To the deer belong the high mountains; to rodents, the shelter of the rock.
You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows the time of its setting. You establish darkness, and it is night, wherein the forest creatures prowl. Young lions roar for their prey, and call out to God for their meat. As the sun rises, they will come together, and lay themselves down in their dens. Man will go out to his labor, and work until eventide.
How great are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all. The earth is filled with your creatures, even the wide and open sea. Within it are countless creeping things, living beings small and large. Upon it there are ships a-sailing, and the great beast you made to have fun. All of them look to you to give them their food in due season. You provide and they gather up; you open your hands, and they are full. You hide your face, and they cringe; you suspend their breath, and they die and return to their dust. You send forth your breath, and they live; you renew the face of the earth.
May the Lord's glory endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in his works. He looks upon the earth, and makes it quake; he touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I will praise my God as long as I last. Would that my thoughts be pleasing to him, and I will rejoice in the Lord. May the sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The sun knows the time of its setting. You establish darkness and it is night. How great are your works, O Lord! In wisdom, you have wrought them all.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (2)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. O Lord our hope, glory to You.
The Great Litany of Peace
Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For heavenly peace and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For peace in the whole world, the stability of God's Holy Churches and for the oneness of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our Archbishop (Name), our Bishop (Name), the honorable Priesthood, the Deacons in Christ, for all the Clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our country, the President, and all in public service, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this city and Parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the people here present, awaiting the grace of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For those who incline their hearts as well as the knee before the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be strengthened to complete works wellpleasing to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That His mercies may be lavished upon us, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He will accept our act of kneeling as incense before Him, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For all who stand in need of His help, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be spared all affliction, wrath, violence and want, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God in Your grace. Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Cantor: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For to You belong all glory, honor and worship: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever.
Cantor: Amen.
Psalm 140 (141)
Fourth tone
Cantor: O Lord, I have cried out to You; hear me; Hear me O Lord. Lord, I have cried out to you, hearken to the voice of my prayer as I cry out to You.
The Deacon, or in the absence of a Deacon, the Priest comes from the Sanctuary to cense the Church and congregants as is prescribed.
Let my prayer rise as incense before You; the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Hear me O Lord.
The Idiomela
Fourth tone
Verse: If You retain sins, O Lord, who can stand? With You there is forgiveness.
The many nations saw strange things in the city of David when the Holy Spirit descended in fiery tongues as the inspired Luke recounted. For he says: "They were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And all began to speak in other tongues, other doctrines, other teachings, of the Holy Spirit."
Verse: For Your name's sake, Lord, I have waited for You. My soul has waited for Your promise, my soul has hoped in the Lord.
The many nations saw strange things in the city of David when the Holy Spirit descended in fiery tongues as the inspired Luke recounted. For he says: "They were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And all began to speak in other tongues, other doctrines, other teachings, of the Holy Spirit. "
Verse: From the morning watch till night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
The Holy Spirit has always been, is now and ever shall be, having neither beginning nor end, but one with the Father and the Son: life and life giving; goodness itself and source of goodness, through Whom the Father is made known and the Son is glorified, and is known by all: one power, one unity, one worship, of the Holy Trinity.
Verse: For with the Lord is steadfast love and in him is full redemption; and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The Holy Spirit has always been, is now and ever shall be, having neither beginning nor end, but one with the Father and the Son: life and life giving; goodness itself and source of goodness, through Whom the Father is made known and the Son is glorified, and is known by all: one power, one unity, one worship, of the Holy Trinity.
Verse: Praise the Lord, all you nations; exalt him, all you peoples.
The Holy Spirit, light and life, and living fountain of reason. Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of understanding, of goodness and honesty, intelligence and sovereignty, expiating sins. God who deifies; fire deriving from fire, speaking, acting, meting out gifts; through Whom the prophets all and God's apostles together with the martyrs were crowned. Different sounds, a different sight: fire divided into gifts of grace.
Verse: For mighty is his love for us, and the truthfulness of the Lord endures forever.
The Holy Spirit, light and life, and living fountain of reason. Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of understanding, of goodness and honesty, intelligence and sovereignty, expiating sins. God who deifies; fire deriving from fire, speaking, acting, meting out gifts; through Whom the prophets all and God's apostles together with the martyrs were crowned. Different sounds, a different sight: fire divided into gifts of grace.
The Doxastikon
Sixth tone
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now, and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us; cleanse us of every stain and save our souls, gracious One.
The Entrance
(With Censer)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Priest: At nightfall, dawn and noon, we sing to You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we beseech You, Master of all, Lord and lover of mankind: guide our prayers aright as an offering of incense before You. Let not our hearts be led to wicked thoughts or words, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For it is on You, Lord, Lord, that our eyes are fixed, and in You that we have our hope; do not put us to shame, O our God. For all glory, honor and adoration are Your due, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
Deacon: Master, bless the Entrance.
Priest: Blessed is the entrance of the holy people of God, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
The Deacon censes the icons and the Priest and then says:
Deacon: Wisdom! Let us arise.
Clergy: O joyful radiance of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ! Having come to the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody, O Son of God, giver of life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory.
Deacon: The Evening Prokeimenon.
The Great Prokeimenon
Seventh tone
Priest: What god is great as our God? You are God, Who alone works wonders.
Cantor: Verse: You have revealed Your power among the people.
What god is great as our God? You are God, Who alone works wonders.
Cantor: Verse: And I said, "Now I have begun to see. This is a change in the Most High's right hand."
What god is great as our God? You are God, Who alone works wonders.
Cantor: Verse: I remembered the deeds of the Lord, for I will recall Your wonders of old.
What god is great as our God? You are God, Who alone works wonders.
Entering the Sanctuary the Deacon says:
Deacon: Again, on bended knees, let us pray to the Lord.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
As the faithful kneel, the Priest, also kneeling at the Royal Doors and facing the people, reads the first Prayers aloud.
Priest: Lord, pure and undefiled, existing before all eternity, invisible, incomprehensible, unsearchable, unchanging, surpassed by none, not to be calculated, long-suffering, the only immortal One, You abide in the unapproachable light. You created heaven and earth, and all the creatures that inhabit them, supplying all their needs even before they ask. To You we pray and You we entreat, loving Master, the Father of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven to be incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, the glorious Theotokos. At first You taught in words, but then showed us by deeds, when in enduring the saving Passion You gave to us Your humble, sinful and unworthy servants an example of how to offer our prayers in the bending of our heads and knees for our own transgressions and for the failings of the people.
All-merciful and loving Lord, hear us whenever we call upon You, but especially on this day of Pentecost, on which, after our Lord Jesus Christ had ascended into the heavens, to be seated at Your right hand, God and Father, He sent the Holy Spirit on His holy disciples and Apostles. As He came to rest upon each of them, and all were filled with His overflowing grace, they spoke in strange tongues of Your mighty works and prophesied.
As we now pray to You, hear us, and be mindful that we are lowly and deserving of judgment; recall our souls from the bondage of sin. Your own compassion interceding for us. Accept us as we kneel before You crying the familiar, "I have sinned!" We have been dependent on You from our mother's womb; You are our God. But because our days have been vainly squandered, we are stripped of Your help, without any defense. Even so, encouraged by Your mercies, we cry: Remember not our sins committed in youth and ignorance, and purge our secret thoughts. Do not spurn us in old age; when our strength fails us, do not forsake us; before we are returned to the earth, make us worthy to return to You, and treat us with Your favor and grace. Measure out Your mercies against our transgressions; contrast the depths of Your pity to the multitude of our offenses.
From Your holy dwelling place look down upon the people present here in expectation of Your rich mercy; visit us in Your goodness; free us from the oppression of the Evil One; make our lives secure within Your holy and sacred laws. Entrust Your people to a faithful guardian angel; gather us all into Your kingdom; grant forgiveness to those who hope in You; remit them and us our sins; cleanse us through the work of Your Holy Spirit; put an end to the wiles of the enemy.
This second Prayer is appended.
Priest: Blessed are You, Master, Almighty Lord, for You light the day with the light of the sun and brighten the night with the rays of fire. You enabled us to pass the span of the day and so come to the beginnings of the night. Hear our prayer and that of all Your people, and forgive us all our deliberate and unwitting sins; receive our evening petitions and send upon Your inheritance the abundance of Your mercy and compassion.
Encompass us with Your holy Angels; arm us with the weapons of Your righteousness; fortify us within Your truth; make Your strength our garrison, spare us all adverse circumstances and all assaults of the adversary. Finally, vouchsafe to us this evening, and the impending night, perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, free of disturbing visions, and all the days of our lives, through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos and of all the Saints who have pleased You through the ages.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, raise us up and keep us, 0 God, in Your grace.
Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Cantor: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For Yours it is to show mercy and to save, O Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever and ever.
Cantor: Amen.
Deacon: Let us say with our whole heart and our whole mind, let us say.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, in Your great goodness; we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Again we pray for our Archbishop (Name), and our Bishop (Name).
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Further we pray for our brothers: the Priests, Hieromonks, Deacons, Monks and Sisters, and our whole brotherhood in Christ.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Further we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, safekeeping, protection, pardon and remission of sins of the servants of God, all the devout and Orthodox Christians who dwell or sojourn in this city, the parishioners, parish council, contributors and benefactors of this holy church.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Further we pray for the blessed and ever-to-beremembered founders of this holy church, and for our Orthodox forebears and brethren who have gone before us, and who are here or elsewhere have been laid to pious rest.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: Further we pray for those who bear offerings, those who do good works in this holy and venerable church, those who toil, those who sing, and all here present who await Your great and abundant mercy.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. (3)
