Ode VI

The censing is done as at the previous litany.

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

Wondrous is God in His saints the God of Israel.

While the priest secretly says the prayer:

Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the departed servant of God N., and that he (she) may be forgiven every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary.

When Thou was nailed to the Cross, Thou didst gather unto Thyself the choirs of the martyrs who followed the example of Thy Passion, O Good One. Wherefore, we pray Thee: Give rest unto him (her) who hath now departed unto Thee. When Thou comest awesomely on the clouds in Thine ineffable glory to judge the whole world, deign, O Redeemer, that Thy faithful servant who Thou hast taken from the earth may meet Thee joyfully. Thou who art the Fountain of life, O Master, Who mightily leadest forth the captive through Thy divinity, do Thou settle in the sweetness of paradise Thy servant who in faith hath departed unto Thee. We have returned back to the earth, having apostacized from the divine commandments of God, but through thee, O Virgin, we have ascended from earth to heaven, having shaken off the corruption of death.

Deacon: That the Lord God commit his (her) soul to where the righteous repose.

O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death, and overthrown the devil, and given life to Thy world: Do Thou Thyself, O Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing are fled away. Pardon every sin committed by them in word, deed, or thought, in that Thou art a good God, the Lover of mankind; for there is no man that liveth and sinneth not, for Thou alone art without sin, Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy word is truth.

Deacon: The mercy of God, the kingdom of Heaven, and the remission of his (her) sins, let us ask of Christ the Immortal King and our God.

The deacon does a small censing.

Priest: For Thou art the Resurrection, and the life, and the repose of Thy departed servant, N., O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Wondrous is God in His saints the God of Israel.

Redeemed from the first transgression by Thy Blood, the martyrs, having been sprinkled with their own blood, plainly typify Thy sacrifice. Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers. Thou didst slay Death the insolent, O Word, Master of Life; accept now him (her) who hath fallen asleep in faith, hymning Thee and saying: O Christ, blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers. Having ensouled me, a mortal, with Thy breath divine, O Master having divine power, do Thou vouchsafe Thy kingdom unto the departed, that he (she) may hymn Thee, O Savior; Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers. Higher than all creation didst thou become, O most-blameless one, when thou didst conceive God Who destroyed the gates and burst the bars of death; wherefore, we faithful magnify thee, O pure one, as the Mother of God.