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INTRODUCTION

Priest: 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.

Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion.

With the spirits of the righteous made perfect in death give rest, O Saviour, to the soul of your servant; keeping it for the life of blessedness with you, O Lover of mankind.

This provisional translation of the Burial Service for Lay People is based on the text of the Large Euchologion, which is to all intents and purposes identical to that in the Slavonic Trebnik. The service is seldom performed in full, and the modern Greek books give it in the abbreviated form as it is commonly performed in Greek parishes. In current Greek use the service starts with the usual blessing by the Priest and Psalm 90 is omitted. I have included in square brackets the usual selection of verses from Psalm 118 used in Greek churches. The Canon, which is the one for Saturday Matins in Tone 6 in the Paraklitiki, is usually omitted, though the Russian use is normally to sing just the Irmi, which are therefore included within brackets, with the refrains. These Irmi are not sung in Athonite use, except where they are used as Katavasias. The refrains given here are those used on the Holy Mountain. In Russian use the refrain for the first two Troparia is, ‘Give rest to the soul of your servant fallen asleep’. The translation of the Canon attempts, I hope without too much infidelity to the original, to preserve Saint Theophanes’ acrostic.

Reader: Amen.

Both now. Theotokion.

In your repose where all your saints find rest, give rest, O Lord, to the soul of your servant , for you alone are immortal.

I have not included any of the prayers of absolution which are sometimes used at the very end of the service in church. They are not found in the Large Euchologion, though they do occur in the modern Greek books to be said by a Bishop, if one is present. The Trebnik gives a much less elaborate absolution, to be given by a Bishop, or in his absence by the Priest.

Then the following troparia are sung in the 4th Tone:

Both now. Theotokion.

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

It will seldom be necessary to sing all the Prosomia provided for the moment of the final farewell. The model melody to which they are written is that of the Aposticha of Vespers of Good Friday, which are sung at the moment when the Epitaphios is brought out into the centre of the Church. This is almost certainly intentional.

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy.

You are our God who descended into Hell and did away with the pains of those who had been bound; give rest, O Saviour, also to the soul of your servant.

The current Greek books begin the rite in the church with the usual blessing by the Priest, since nowadays the funeral may take place some time, even days, after the body has been placed in the church. The provision for the small litany between Psalm 118 and the Evlogitaria is quite anomalous, since it should follow the latter, and I have therefore omitted it. The modern Greek books also invert the rites at the graveside and provide a verse from Psalm 50, ‘You will sprinkle me with hyssop’, as the oil from the lamp is poured into the grave. This is not found in either the Large Euchologion or the Trebnik. Customs at the graveside vary a good deal and so do the texts of the service books. These local customs are not detailed here.

Reader: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

O only pure and spotless Virgin, who bore God without seed, intercede for the salvation of the soul of your servant.

This translation also provides all the texts necessary for a full Memorial Service, or Pannychida, except that the Russian books have a full Litany of Peace after Psalm 90 and the Canon is that in Tone 8.

Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, N., who has fallen asleep, and that he/she may be pardoned every offence, both voluntary and involuntary.

O God of spirits and all flesh, who trampled down death and crushed the devil, giving life to your world; do you, Lord, give rest to the soul of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of refreshment, whence pain, grief and sighing have fled away. Pardon, O God, as you are good and love mankind, every sin committed by him/her in word or deed or thought, because there is none who will live and not sin, for you alone are without sin; your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your word is truth.

THE FUNERAL SERVICE

Deacon: That the Lord our God may establish his/her soul where the righteous rest.

For you are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, Christ our God, and to you we give glory, together with your Father who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

IN THE HOUSE

Reader: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

The Priest gives the Dismissal as follows:

When an Orthodox Christian dies the relatives at once send for the Priest. When he comes to the house where the body is lying he puts on his Epitrachelion and puts incense in the censer, then he gives the usual blessing and those present begin the Trisagion etc.

Deacon: The mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven and the forgiveness of his/her sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.

May he who has authority over the living and the dead, as immortal King, and who rose from the dead, Christ, our true God, through the intercessions of his most pure and blameless Mother, of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers, of the holy and glorious forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of the holy and righteous Lazarus, for four days dead, the friend of Christ, and of all the Saints, establish in the tents of the righteous the soul of his servant who has gone from us, give him/her rest in the bosom of Abraham, and number him/her with the righteous; and have mercy on us and save us, for he is good and loves mankind.

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

Reader: Grant this, O Lord.

Eternal your memory, our brother/sister, worthy of blessedness and ever-remembered.

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.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Eternal Memory (x3)

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.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

If everything is ready for the Departure, the Priest again gives the blessing and we begin to sing the Trisagion with fear and great compunction. And having taken up the body we leave for the Church, the Priests going ahead with lights and the Deacon with the censer.

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

Reader: Amen.

IN THE CHURCH

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.

Priest: Glory to you, Christ God, our hope, glory to you.

When they reach the Church the body is placed in the Narthex, and they begin Psalm 90.

Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy (three times). Holy father, give the blessing.

Psalm 90

Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

One who dwells in the help of the Most High will live under the protection of the of the God of heaven; will say to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge, my God, and I shall hope in him. For he will deliver you from the hunters’ snare, and from the word which troubles. He will overshadow you with his wings, and under his feathers you will have hope; his truth will encircle you with a shield. You will not be afraid of terror by night, of the arrow that flies by day; of the thing that prowls in the darkness, of mishap or of the noonday devil. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right, but it will not come near you. But with your eyes you will observe, and see the reward of sinners. For you, Lord, are my hope: you have made the Most High your refuge. Evils will not approach you, nor a scourge draw near your dwelling, because he has given orders to his Angels about you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will walk on asp and basilisk, and trample down lion and dragon. Because he/she hoped in me, I shall deliver him/her; I shall shelter him/her, because he/she knew my name. He/she will cry to me, and I shall hear him/her, I am with him/her in trouble; I shall rescue him/her and glorify him/her. I shall fill him/her with length of days, and show him/her my salvation.

Reader: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

And after this in a louder voice:

Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, N., who has fallen asleep, and that he/she may be pardoned every offence, both voluntary and involuntary.

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. Blameless in the way. Alleluia.

Deacon: That the Lord our God may establish his/her soul where the righteous rest.

And we sing the 1st Section of Psalm 118 in Tone 6, saying at the end of each verse, Alleluia.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

O God of spirits and all flesh, who trampled down death and crushed the devil, giving life to your world; do you, Lord, give rest to the soul of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of refreshment, whence pain, grief and sighing have fled away. Pardon, O God, as you are good and love mankind, every sin committed by him/her in word or deed or thought, because there is none who will live and not sin, for you alone are without sin; your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your word is truth.

Deacon: The mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven and the forgiveness of his/her sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.

For you are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, Christ our God, and to you we give glory, together with your Father who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Grant this, O Lord.

And after this we begin the 2nd Section of Psalm 118 in Tone 5, saying after each verse, Have mercy on your servant.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

O God of spirits and all flesh, who trampled down death and crushed the devil, giving life to your world; do you, Lord, give rest to the soul of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of refreshment, whence pain, grief and sighing have fled away. Pardon, O God, as you are good and love mankind, every sin committed by him/her in word or deed or thought, because there is none who will live and not sin, for you alone are without sin; your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your word is truth.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

For you are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, Christ our God, and to you we give glory, together with your Father who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

And so we begin he 3rd Section of Psalm 118 in Tone 3, saying after each verse, Alleluia.

Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

After it at once the Evlogitaria for the dead in Tone 5.

Reader: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, N., who has fallen asleep, and that he/she may be pardoned every offence, both voluntary and involuntary.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Deacon: That the Lord our God may establish his/her soul where the righteous rest.

You Holy Martyrs, who proclaimed the Lamb of God, and like lambs were slain, and have been taken over to the unending life which knows no ageing, plead with him to grant us abolition of our debts.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Deacon: The mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven and the forgiveness of his/her sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.

All you who trod in life the hard and narrow way; all you who took the Cross as a yoke, and followed me in faith, come, enjoy that heavenly rewards and crowns which I have prepared for you.

Reader: Grant this, O Lord.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

I am an image of your ineffable glory, though I bear the marks of offences; take pity on your creature, Master, and with compassion cleanse me; and give me the longed-for fatherland, making me once again a citizen of Paradise.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Reader: Amen.

Of old you formed me from nothing and honoured me with your divine image, but because I transgressed your commandment, you returned me to the earth from which I was taken; bring me back to your likeness, my ancient beauty.

The choir of Saints has found the source of life and the door of Paradise; may I too find the way through repentance; I am the lost sheep, call me back, O Saviour, and save me.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Glory. Triadikon.

Give rest, O God, to your servant , and settle them in Paradise, where the choirs of the Saints and all the Just shine out like beacons; give rest to your servant who has/have fallen asleep, overlooking all their offences.

Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Let us devoutly hymn the threefold light of the one Godhead as we cry: Holy are you, the Father without beginning, the Son likewise without beginning and the divine Spirit; enlighten us who worship you in faith, and snatch us from the everlasting fire.

Reader: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Hail, honoured one, who bore God in the flesh for the salvation of all; through you the human race has found salvation; through you may we find Paradise, O pure and blessed Mother of God.

Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, N., who has fallen asleep, and that he/she may be pardoned every offence, both voluntary and involuntary.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to you, O God (Three times).

Deacon: That the Lord our God may establish his/her soul where the righteous rest.

O God of spirits and all flesh, who trampled down death and crushed the devil, giving life to your world; do you, Lord, give rest to the soul of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of refreshment, whence pain, grief and sighing have fled away. Pardon, O God, as you are good and love mankind, every sin committed by him/her in word or deed or thought, because there is none who will live and not sin, for you alone are without sin; your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your word is truth.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

For you are the resurrection, the life and the repose of your servant N., who has fallen asleep, Christ our God, and to you we give glory, together with your Father who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Deacon: The mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven and the forgiveness of his/her sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.

After the ekphonesis the following Kathismata in Tone 5.

Reader: Grant this, O Lord.

Give rest, O our Saviour, with the just to your servant; and make him/her dwell in your courts, as it is written; overlooking, as you are good, their offences, willing and unwilling, and all of them committed through ignorance or through knowledge, O lover of mankind.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

And all of them committed through ignorance or through knowledge, O lover of mankind.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Christ our God, who dawned on the world from a Virgin, making us, through her, children of light: have mercy on us.

Reader: Amen.

And after it we immediately sing the following Canon for the Dead, whose acrostic is:

All the Odes are sung in the same way.

I address my sixth song to the departed.

A composition by Theophanes.

Ode 1. Tone 6. As Israel marched on foot.

At the prayers of your Martyrs, Lord, give rest to the soul of your servant.

n heavenly bridal chambers the noble Martyrs implore you, O Christ: Grant to your faithful servant who has/have passed over from earth the enjoyment of eternal good things.

His/her soul will dwell among good things.

fter setting all things in order you fashioned me, a living creature compounded mid-way between lowliness and greatness; therefore give rest, O Saviour, to the soul of your servant.

eputing me at the beginning as citizen and husbandman of Paradise, when I transgressed you commandment you banished me; therefore give rest, O Saviour, to the soul of your servant.

resses himself in flesh from your immaculate womb, O Pure One, through which he has abolished death’s might, the One who of old fashioned Eve our foremother from a rib.