service files euchelai.md

**OFFICE OF THE HOLY OIL**

Lord, hear my prayer; in your truth give ear to my supplication, and in your righteousness hear me. Do not enter into judgement with your servant, for in your sight no one living can be justified. For the enemy pursued my soul; humbled my life to the ground; made me dwell in darkness, like those for ever dead. My spirit in me grew weary, and my heart was troubled within me. I remembered days of old; I meditated on all your works. I made the works of your hands my meditation. I stretched out my hands towards you; my soul thirsted for you like a waterless land. Hear me swiftly, O Lord; my spirit has failed. Do not turn your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. Make me hear of your mercy in the morning, for I have hoped in you. Make known to me the way in which I should walk, for to you I have lifted up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, Lord; I have run to you for shelter. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your good Spirit will guide me in an upright land. For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will give me life. In your righteousness you will bring my soul out of trouble; in your mercy slay my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant. ****

Sung by Seven Priests

**Theotokion.**

And the following Troparia. Tone 6.

assembled in Church or in a house

Then the Small Litany

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we sinners, lacking all defence, offer you as our Master this supplication: have mercy on us.

The senior Priest having given the blessing:

Alleluia **is chanted in Tone 6.**

Lord, have mercy on us, for we have put our trust in you. Do not be very angry with us, nor remember our iniquities. But look on us now, as you are compassionate, and rescue us from our enemies. For you are our God, and we are your people; we are all the work of your hand, and we have called on your name.

Blessed is our God, always now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Open the gate of compassion to us, blessed Mother of God; hoping in you may we not fail. Through you may we delivered from adversities, for you are the salvation of the Christian race.

**we begin:**

Psalm 50

Amen. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (**three times**).

Have mercy on me, O God, in accordance with your great mercy. According to the multitude of your compassion blot out my offence. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my wickedness, and my sin is ever before me. Against you only I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight, that you may be justified in your words and win when you are judged. For see, in wickedness I was conceived and in sin my mother bore me. For see, you have loved truth; you have shown me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed. You will wash me and I shall be made whiter than snow. You will make me hear of joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled will rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Do not cast me out from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation, and establish me with your sovereign Spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you again. O God, the God of my salvation, deliver me from bloodshed and my tongue will rejoice at your justice. Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if you had wanted a sacrifice, I would have given it. You will not take pleasure in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit. A broken and a humbled heart God will not despise. Do good to Sion, Lord, in your good pleasure, and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Then you will be well pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer calves upon your altar. ****

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

And after the 50th Psalm the Canon, of which the Acrostic is:

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Psalm of blessing of oil from Arsenios. ****

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Before each Troparion we sing:

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

O Master Christ, have mercy on your servant . ****

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. ****

Ode 1. Tone 4. Through the Red Sea’s deep

Lord, have mercy (

With the oil of your compassion, Master, you always make glad the souls and bodies of mortals, and guard the faithful by oil; take pity now on your servants who approach you through Oil.

**x12**). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The whole earth is full of your mercy, Master; and so we ask in faith that we who are today mystically anointed with divine oil, may be granted your mercy which passes understanding.

Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.

Lover of mankind, in your compassion you ordered your Apostles to perform the sacred anointing on your sick servants; at their intercessions have mercy on us all by your seal.

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God.

O Pure one, alone enriched with the ocean of peace, by your prayers to God, ever deliver your servants from diseases and afflictions, that they may unceasingly magnify you.

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King, our God.

Psalm 142

Have mercy on us, O God, in accordance with your great mercy; we pray you hear and have mercy.

Again we pray for the servants of God here present, and that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon them.

For you, O God, are merciful and you love mankind, and to you we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. ****

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath. ****

Have mercy on me, O God, for I am weak. ****