office brightweek_procession.docx

Cross-processions during Bright Week

On each day of Bright Week, at the Divine Liturgy, after the Prayer before the

Deacon: And that He will vouchsafe unto us the hearing of the Holy Gospel, let us pray unto the Lord God.

, a Cross-procession is prescribed. The people may carry the various holy objects in the procession. We go in this order: the lantern, the processional cross, banners, the choir, candle-bearers, icons, the

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

, the deacon with the censer before priests with the icon of the resurrection and the Holy Gospel [or, if necessary, laymen carrying these with cloths in their hands], the principal priest with the cross and paschal

Deacon: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

, persons carrying holy water and blessing brush, and then the people. They go to the left out of the church doors and directly to the eastern side behind the holy altar and line up, the processional cross in the center, and on either side: the lantern, the banners, candle-bearers, icons, the

Priest: Peace be unto all.

, then the icon of the resurrection on the left and the Holy Gospel on the right and the deacon on the priest’s right with the holy water and brush on the right of the priest and slightly behind him, the choir on the priest’s left and the people on his right, all facing east at each station.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

As we process, the choir sings Ode 1 of the Paschal Canon. When everyone is in place, facing east, the priest takes the censer and censes the cross, all the holy items and the people, saying, Christ is risen! And the people respond, Truly He is risen! Then:

Priest: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

The priest reads the Gospel: Matthew § 115 (28:1-20):

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He

Deacon: Let us attend.

before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the

Priest: AT THE END OF THE SABBATH, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the

with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them,

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priest all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying,

Then the litany:

ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying,

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

we pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch N .; for our lord the very most reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most reverend [Archbishop or Bishop] N. , and all our brethren in Christ.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

we pray for our God-preserved land, its authorities and armed forces, and for every Christian land.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

we pray for all the brethren and for all Christians.

Priest: For a merciful God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

in his left hand and the brush in his right, [if a priest holds the icon of the resurrection, he also blesses with it in the four directions at the same time] and blessing with the holy water, he says:

Choir: Amen.

people, and bless Thine inheritance.

Then the priest dips the brush into the holy water, and he turns to the east, holding the cross and paschal

And turning to the west and blessing he says:

Priest: Save, O God,

people, and bless thine inheritance.

Choir: Amen.

And turning to the south and blessing he says:

Priest: Save, O God, this holy temple, and visit it with Thy mercy.

Then, processing in the same order as before, we go to the west wall, as the choir sings Ode 3 of the paschal canon, and stop facing east. The priest takes the censer and censes the cross, all the holy items and the people, saying, Christ is risen! And the people respond, Truly He is risen!

Choir: Amen.

The priest reads the Gospel: Mark § 70 (16:1-8):

Then turning to the north and blessing he says:

at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves,

Priest: Save, O God,

shall roll us away the stone from the door of the

Choir: Amen.

? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the

Priest: Save, O God, this city and all Thy people living in it, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them,

Choir: Amen.

not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that he

Deacon: And that He will vouchsafe unto us the hearing of the Holy Gospel, let us pray unto the Lord God.

before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the

Choir: Lord, have mercy. T hrice .

; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they

Deacon: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

to any man; for they were afraid.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

we pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch N .; for our lord the very most reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most reverend [Archbishop or Bishop] N. , and all our brethren in Christ.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

we pray for our God-preserved land, its authorities and armed forces, and for every Christian land.

Priest: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

over us, and have mercy on us.

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that be far off at sea, and be merciful, be merciful, O Master, regarding our sins, and have mercy on us. For a merciful God

Deacon: Let us attend.

Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Priest: AT THAT TIME when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the

in his left hand and the brush in his right, [if a priest holds the icon of the resurrection, he also blesses with it in the four directions at the same time] and blessing with the holy water, he says:

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

people, and bless Thine inheritance.

Then the litany:

And turning to the west and blessing he says:

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

people, and bless thine inheritance.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

And turning to the south and blessing he says:

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Then, processing in the same order as before, we go to the north wall, as the choir sings Odes 4 and 5 of the paschal

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Deacon: Again we pray that this city and every city and country be preserved from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of aliens, and civil war; that our good and man-loving God may be gracious and favorable, that He may turn away all the wrath stirred up against us, and deliver us from His righteous chastisement which

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Priest: Hearken unto us, O God our Savior,

Choir: Amen.

Then the priest dips the brush into the holy water, and he turns to the east, holding the cross and paschal

Priest: Save, O God,

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Save, O God, this holy temple, and visit it with Thy mercy.

Choir: Amen.

Then turning to the north and blessing he says:

Priest: Save, O God,

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Save, O God, this city and all Thy people living in it, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.