office funeral_monk.doc

Antiphon 2, in Tone 2

When a monastic dieth, it is not proper for his (or her) body to be washed or even to be seen naked; therefore, a monk or nun is designated to wipe the body with warm water, making the sign of the Cross with the sponge first upon the forehead of the departed, then upon the breast, the hands and feet, and the knees, and nothing more. Then, having removed first the old vesture, new vesture is brought in and put on him [or her], those accomplishing this task taking care not to look upon his [or her] nakedness. And after the body is clothed, a kukulion is placed upon it, if he [or she] is vested in the Great Schema, and the helmet is draped from the top of the head down to the beard [or chin], so that the face is not visible. Then, in the proper order, the paramand and the mantia are placed on the body, and it is girded about with a leather cincture and is shod in new sandals. But if the monk [or nun] hath only been tonsured to the Little Schema, he [or she] is only vested in a hair-shirt and ryassa, and on his [or her] head a kamilavkion and veil are placed. The mantia is spread over and tucked in tightly around the body, and as the remains are lifted up, a rush-mat is spread out beneath it, from the feet to the head. The designated monk then, taking up a knife, trimmeth the edge of the mantia all around the body on both sides; and lifting up the remains by means of the mantia, we use the trimmed edges of the mantia to wrap and bind the remains, beginning from the head, making three signs of the Cross

While the priest secretly says the prayer, though according to the practice of many, this prayer is not done at all, until the final litany, when it is done out loud:

Note: The translation used is primarily that of Fr. Lawrence of Jordanville, Isabel Hapgood, and reader Isaac E. Lambertsen. All the psalms are from The Psalter According to the Seventy, Copyright Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. Some other material, such as prayers and hymns, are also Copyright HTM, used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, beyond printing out a single copy for personal non-commercial use, without the prior written authorization of Holy Transfiguration Monastery.

Antiphon 1, in Tone 1 [Sticheron Melody]

Tone 8: O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom dost provide all things out of love for mankind, / and grantest unto all that which is profitable, O only Creator: / Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul(s) of Thy servant(s); for in Thee hath he (she) (have they) placed their hope, // O our Creator and Fashioner and God.

Antiphon 3, in Tone 3

on the head, the breast, and the knees; and with the remaining material he bindeth the feet.

The censing is done as at the previous litany.

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

When I am sorrowful, / hearken unto my pain, O Lord. // To Thee do I cry.

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

Antiphon 4, in Tone 4

The Priest in phelonion, opens the Royal Doors, and he exits first, with the deacon following. The priest stands before an analogion, which is placed in front of the head of the coffin, with sufficient space between it and the coffin for censing. The deacon stands behind, and to the right of the priest, until the first litany.

While the priest secretly says the prayer: 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 soul of Thy departed servant N., 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 him (her) 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.

Choir: Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.

Unceasing divine desire / befitteth those in the wilderness, // beyond this vainglorious world.

In thee we have a wall and a haven / and an intercessor acceptable to God, Whom thou didst bear, // O Theotokos unwedded, salvation of the faithful.

Antiphon 5, in Tone 5

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

The censing is done as at the previous litany.

Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Glory Worship and glory are due to the Holy Spirit, / as to the Father and the Son. // Wherefore, let us hymn the single dominion of the Trinity.

Afterwards, the Canonarch exclaimeth in a loud voice:

Antiphon 6, in Tone 6

Lord have mercy. Thrice.

While the priest secretly says the prayer: 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 soul of Thy departed servant N., 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 him (her) 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.

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory: of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Tone 1 [Spec. Mel.: ]: We entreat Thee, O Savior: / Vouchsafe Thy sweet fellowship unto him [her] who hath departed, / and cause him [her] to dwell in the tabernacles of the righteous, / in Thy compassion overlooking his [her] transgressions, // and granting him [her] peace.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. Blessed are the blameless in the way.

Antiphon 7, in Tone 7

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

This prayer is said out loud at this Litany:

Reader: Amen.

No one, no one among men is sinless save Thee, O only Immortal One; / wherefore, cause Thou Thy servant [handmaid] to dwell in light / with the choirs of Thine angels, O compassionate God, / overlooking in Thy compassion his [her] transgressions, // and granting him [her] peace.

And the first stasis of the 17th Kathisma is chanted in the 6th Tone. At the end of each verse we sing: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

Antiphon 8, in Tone 8

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

After the dismissal, the Confessor or Superior readeth the prayer of forgiveness: The Lord Jesus Christ our God gave to His holy disciples and apostles the divine commandments to bind and to loose the sins of the fallen. And as we have received from them the ability to do likewise, may He forgive thee, our spiritual child, if thou hast done ought in this present age, voluntarily or involuntarily: now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon: Alleluia in the 8th Tone: Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and hast taken to Thyself, O Lord.

Thy promises which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, / and which have not entered into the heart of man

Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search out His testimonies; with their whole heart shall they seek after Him. For they that work iniquity have not walked in His ways. Thou hast enjoined Thy commandments, that we should keep them most diligently. Would that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I look on all Thy commandments. I will confess Thee with uprightness of heart, when I have learned the judgments of Thy righteousness. I will keep thy statutes; do not utterly forsake me. Wherewithal shall a young man correct his way? By keeping Thy words. With my whole heart have I sought after Thee, cast me not away from Thy commandments.

Lord have mercy. Twelve Times.

While the priest secretly says the prayer: 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 soul of Thy departed servant N., 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 him (her) 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.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

transcend visible things, O Savior and Master. / Be Thou well-pleased that he [she] who hath departed unto Thee / may receive a most sweet share therein, // and grant unto him [her] life everlasting.

In my heart have I hid Thy sayings that I might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. In the way of Thy testimonies have I found delight, as much as in all riches. On Thy commandments will I ponder, and I will understand Thy ways. On Thy statutes will I meditate; I will not forget Thy words. Give reward unto Thy servant, quicken me and I will keep Thy words. O unveil mine eyes, and I shall perceive wondrous things out of Thy law. I am a sojourner on the earth, hide not from me Thy commandments. My soul hath longed to desire Thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are they that decline from Thy commandments.

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

Deacon: Their remembrance is unto generation and generation.

Glory Beseech Christ thine Offspring, O Virgin Mother, / that He grant forgiveness of transgressions unto thy servant [handmaid] / who piously proclaimed thee to be the Theotokos / and announced it by the word of truth, / and that He vouchsafe unto him [her] the radiance of the saints // and joy in His kingdom.

Remove from me reproach and contempt, for after Thy testimonies have I sought. For princes sat and they spake against me, but Thy servant pondered on Thy statutes. For Thy testimonies are my meditation, and Thy statutes are my counselors. My soul hath cleaved unto the earth; quicken me according to Thy word. My ways have I declared, and Thou hast heard me; teach me Thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of Thy statutes, and I will ponder on Thy wondrous works. My soul hath slumbered from despondency, strengthen me with Thy words. Remove from me the way of unrighteousness, and with Thy law have mercy on me. I have chosen the way of truth, and Thy judgments have I not forgotten. I have cleaved to Thy testimonies, O Lord; put me not to shame.

O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

I cast the eyes of my heart toward Thee in heaven, O Savior. // Save me by Thine overshadowing.

The way of Thy commandments have I run, when Thou didst enlarge my heart.

Psalm 90 He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of heaven. He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my helper and my refuge. He is my God, and I will hope in Him. For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters and from every troubling word. With His shoulders will He overshadow thee, and under His wings shalt thou have hope. With a shield will His truth encompass thee; thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, Nor for the thing that walketh in darkness, nor for the mishap and demon of noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but unto thee shall it not come nigh. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and thou shalt see the reward of sinners. For Thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou madest the Most High thy refuge; No evils shall come nigh thee, and no scourge shall draw nigh unto thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. On their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Upon the asp and basilisk shalt thou tread, and thou shalt trample upon the lion and dragon. For he hath set his hope on Me, and I will deliver him; I will shelter him because he hath known My name. He shall cry unto Me, and I will hearken unto him. I am with him in affliction, and I will rescue him and glorify him. With length of days will I satisfy him, and I will show him My salvation.

Deacon: Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Have mercy on us who offend Thee greatly every hour, O my Christ, / and grant that we may offer Thee // repentance before the end.

Set before me for a law, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I will seek after it continually. Give me understanding, and I will search out Thy law, and I will keep it with my whole heart. Guide me in the path of Thy commandments, for I have desired it. Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies and not unto covetousness. Turn away mine eyes that I may not see vanity, quicken Thou me in Thy way. Establish for Thy servant Thine oracle unto fear of Thee. Remove my reproach which I have feared, for Thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after Thy commandments; in Thy righteousness quicken me. Let Thy mercy come also upon me, O Lord, even Thy salvation according to Thy word. So shall I give an answer to them that reproach me, for I have hoped in Thy words.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Glory It is fitting that the Holy Spirit reign, / sanctify and move creation, / for He is God, // consubstantial with the Father and the Son.

And take not utterly out of my mouth the word of truth, for in Thy judgments have I hoped. So shall I keep Thy law continually, for ever, and unto the ages of ages. And I walked in spaciousness, for after Thy commandments have I sought. And I spake of Thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed. And I meditated on Thy commandments which I have greatly loved. And I lifted up my hands to Thy commandments which I have loved, and I pondered on Thy statutes. Remember Thy words to Thy servant, wherein Thou hast made me to hope. This hath comforted me in my humiliation, for Thine oracle hath quickened me.

Then these Troparia:

Tone 2 [Spec. Mel.: ]: By Thy life-bearing death / Thou didst set at nought the onslaught of death and corruption, O Master, / hast poured forth upon all everlasting life, / and given to mortals resurrection from the dead; / wherefore, we entreat Thee, O Savior: / Grant rest unto him [her] who with faith hath departed unto Thee, / and vouchsafe unto him [her] Thy most sweet beauty, // O Thou Who lovest mankind. That men might share in the divine kingdom / Thou didst endure the Cross, willingly accepting death; / wherefore, we entreat Thy lovingkindness: / show him [her] who hath departed unto Thee in faith / to have a share in Thy kingdom, / and vouchsafe unto him [her] Thy most sweet beauty, //

The proud have transgressed exceedingly, but from Thy law have I not declined.

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

O Thou Who lovest mankind.

I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord, and was comforted. Despondency took hold upon me because of the sinners who forsake Thy law. Thy statutes were my songs in the place of my sojourning. I remembered Thy name in the night, O Lord, and I kept Thy law. This hath happened unto me because I sought after Thy statutes. Thou art my portion, O Lord; I said that I would keep Thy law. I entreated Thy countenance with my whole heart: Have mercy on me according to Thy word. I have thought on Thy ways, and I have turned my feet back to Thy testimonies. I made ready, and I was not troubled, that I might keep Thy commandments.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Standing with the trembling of dread and awe before Thy judgment-seat, /

The cords of sinners have entangled me, but Thy law have I not forgotten.

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.

the dead of all ages will await Thy righteous sentence /

At midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness. I am a partaker with all them that fear Thee, and with them that keep Thy commandments.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

and expect divine justice, O Savior; / then do Thou take pity upon Thy servant [handmaid] / who hath departed unto Thee, O Master, // and vouchsafe unto him [her] Thine everlasting delight and blessedness.

The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy; teach me Thy statutes.

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

Glory Thou didst cancel the debt of our first mother Eve, O pure one, / having given birth unto God Who granteth incorruption / and resurrection unto the faithful, / and Who crowneth with the glory of immortality those who magnify thee. / Him do thou now unceasingly entreat, / that He cause him [her] to dwell in the light of effulgence, O Bride of God.

Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word. Goodness and discipline and knowledge teach Thou me, for in Thy commandments have I believed. Before I was humbled, I transgressed; therefore Thy saying have I kept. Thou art good, O Lord, and in Thy goodness teach me Thy statutes. Multiplied against me hath been the unrighteousness of the proud; but as for me, with my whole heart will I search out Thy commandments. Curdled like milk is their heart; but as for me, in Thy law have I meditated. It is good for me that Thou hast humbled me, that I might learn Thy statutes.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Thou didst move the captivity of Zion away from Babylon, O Word: // draw me also forth from the passions unto life.

The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.

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.

They that sow in the south with tears divine // shall joyfully reap the grain of life everlasting.

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments. They that fear Thee shall see me and be glad, for on Thy words have I set my hope. I have known, O Lord, that Thy judgements are righteousness, and with truth hast Thou humbled me. Let now Thy mercy be my comfort, according to Thy saying unto Thy servant. Let Thy compassions come upon me and I shall live, for Thy law is my meditation. Let the proud be put to shame, for unjustly have they transgressed against me; but as for me, I will ponder on Thy commandments. Let those that fear Thee return unto me, and those that know Thy testimonies. Let my heart be blameless in Thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Glory Unto the Holy Spirit, / as to the Father and the Son, / shineth all thanksgiving, // wherein all live and are moved.

My soul fainteth for Thy salvation; on Thy words have I set my hope. Mine eyes are grown dim with waiting for Thine oracle; they say: When wilt Thou comfort me? For I am become like a wine-skin in the frost; yet Thy statutes have I not forgotten. How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou execute judgement for me on them that persecute me? Transgressors have told me fables, but they are not like Thy law, O Lord. All Thy commandments are truth. Without a cause have men persecuted me; do Thou help me. They well nigh made an end of me on the earth; but as for me, I forsook not Thy commandments. According to Thy mercy quicken me, and I will keep the testimonies of Thy mouth. For ever, O Lord, Thy word abideth in heaven.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord

O only Merciful and Compassionate Christ God, / as Thou art possessed of an unfathomable abyss of goodness / and knowest the nature of man, which thou didst create, / we beseech Thee: Unto him [her] who hath departed from us // grant rest where the habitation is of all who are glad to glorify Thy divinity.

Unto generation and generation is Thy truth; Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth. By Thine ordinance doth the day abide, for all things are Thy servants. If Thy law had not been my meditation, then should I have perished in my humiliation. I will never forget Thy statutes, for in them hast Thou quickened me.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

O Thou Who as a man didst sleep in the grave, / as God Thou hast raised up with Thine invincible power / those who sleep in the graves / and unceasingly offer hymnody unto Thee. / Wherefore we cry out to Thee, O Christ God: / Unto him [her] who hath departed from us // grant rest where the habitation is of all who are glad to glorify Thy divinity.

Final Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. Thrice.

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.

Glory O Theotokos, we all acknowledge thee to be the noetic lamp bearing the Light of the Godhead Who united Himself to the coarseness of human nature; wherefore, entreat thy Son and God: Unto him [her] who hath departed from us grant rest where the habitation is of all who are glad to glorify thee, the most immaculate one.

The deacon goes forward, makes a bow to the altar, then to the priest and holds the censer for a blessing, then censing during the litany, standing in front of, but to the right of the priest, but censing towards the coffin.

Choir: Amen.

From my youth have the many passions warred against me. // But do Thou help and save me, O my Savior.

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 soul of Thy departed servant N., 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 him (her) 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.

Then immediately, the choir sings the Evlogitaria of the Departed:

O ye who hate Zion, / ye shall be put to shame by the Lord; / for ye shall be withered up // like grass by the fire.

Before the exclamation, the deacon hands the censer to the priest, and he censes as he says the exclamation.

The Choir of the Saints have found the Fountain of Life /

Glory By the Holy Spirit is every soul given life, / exalted by purity, / and made radiant by the unity of the Trinity // in a sacred and mystical manner.

The Canonarch then intoneth thus: Thy statutes have I sought: I am Thine, save me.

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

Tone 4 [Spec. Mel.: ]: Truly awesome is the mystery of death: / how the soul is forcibly parted from the body, / how by the will of God the most natural bond of union and composition is severed./ Wherefore, we beseech Thee: / In the habitations of Thy righteous grant rest to him [her] who hath departed, // O Bestower of life Who lovest mankind.

And after this we begin the Second Stasis of the kathisma; at the end of each verse we sing: I am Thine, save me.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Death is as sleep to those who believe in Thee / Who hast dominion over all things, / Who wast laid in the tomb, destroyed the might of death / and abolished its immemorial violence. / Wherefore, we beseech Thee: / In the habitations of Thy saints, among the splendors of the righteous, // cause him [her] to dwell who hath departed.

I am Thine, save me; for after Thy statutes have I sought. Sinners have waited for me to destroy me; but Thy testimonies have I understood. Of all perfection have I seen the outcome; exceeding spacious is Thy commandment. O how I have loved Thy law, O Lord! the whole day long it is my meditation. Above mine enemies hast Thou made me wise in Thy commandment, for it is mine for ever. Above all that teach me have I gained understanding, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. Above mine elders have I received understanding, for after Thy commandments have I sought. From every way that is evil have I restrained my feet that I might keep Thy words. From Thy judgments have I not declined, for Thou hast set a law for me.

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.

Thou hast been righteousness and sanctification for us, / and deliverance to the souls of men; / for thou hast brought them before the Father justified and delivered, / taking upon Thee our deserved proscription; / and now we beseech Thee: / In the joy and splendor of the saints grant rest to him [her] who hath departed, // O our Savior and Benefactor. Following the words of the divinely eloquent, O most immaculate one, / we acknowledge thee to be the Theotokos; / for thou gavest birth to God Who in manner past comprehension / became incarnate and delivered us who were held captive by transgressions; / wherefore, we now beseech thee: / With thy radiance illumine thy servant [handmaid] who hath departed, //

How sweet to my palate are Thy sayings! more sweet than honey to my mouth. From Thy commandments have I gained understanding; therefore have I hated every way of unrighteousness. Thy law is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths. I have sworn and resolved that I will keep the judgments of Thy righteousness. I was humbled exceedingly; O Lord, quicken me according to Thy word. The free-will offerings of my mouth be Thou now pleased to receive, O Lord, and teach me Thy judgments. My soul is in Thy hands continually, and Thy law have I not forgotten. Sinners have set a snare for me, yet from Thy commandment have I not strayed. I have inherited Thy testimonies for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

O all-pure one.

I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes for ever for a recompense. Transgressors have I hated, but Thy law have I loved. My helper and my protector art Thou; on Thy words have I set my hope. Depart from me, ye evil-doers, and I will search out the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to Thy saying and quicken me, and turn me not away in shame from mine expectation. Help me, and I shall be saved; and I will meditate on Thy statutes continually. Thou hast set at nought all that depart from Thy statutes, for unrighteous is their inward thought. I have reckoned as transgressors all the sinners of the earth, therefore have I loved Thy testimonies. Nail down my flesh with the fear of Thee, for of Thy judgments am I afraid.

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

When I am filled with sorrow, / I sing unto Thee like David, O my Savior: // Deliver my soul from a lying tongue.

I have wrought judgment and righteousness; O give me not up to them that wrong me. Receive Thy servant unto good, let not the proud falsely accuse me. Mine eyes have failed with waiting for Thy salvation, and for the word of Thy righteousness. Deal with Thy servant according to Thy mercy, and teach me Thy statutes. I am Thy servant; give me understanding, and I shall know Thy testimonies. It is time for the Lord to act; for they have dispersed Thy law. Therefore have I loved Thy commandments more than gold and topaz. Therefore I directed myself according to all Thy commandments; every way that is unrighteous have I hated. Wonderful are Thy testimonies; therefore hath my soul searched them out.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Blessed is the life of those in the wilderness, // who soar aloft on wings of love divine.

The unfolding of Thy words will give light and understanding unto babes.

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.

Glory By the Holy Spirit / are sustained all things, visible and invisible; / for, Himself possessed of dominion, // He is truly One of the Trinity.

I opened my mouth and drew in my breath, for I longed for Thy commandments.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Tone 5 [Spec. Mel.: ]: In that Thou art compassionate, O Christ, / with the light of Thy countenance illumine him [her] who hath departed, / causing him [her] to dwell in a place of green pasture, / by the waters of Thy pure and divine rest, / in the longed-for bosom of our forefather Abraham, / where Thy pure light is revealed and well-springs of goodness gush forth, / where the choirs of the righteous manifestly rejoice in Thy goodness. // Enroll thy servant [handmaid] among them, granting him [her] great mercy. O Compassionate One, / bless him [her] who glorifieth Thy might and hath departed from transitory things / to chant with a melodious voice unto Thee, /

Here the Refrain changes to: In Thy kingdom, O Lord, remember Thou Thy servant.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord

the Master of all Who lovest mankind, /

Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love Thy name. My steps do Thou direct according to Thy saying, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the false accusation of men, and I will keep Thy commandments. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and teach me Thy statutes. Mine eyes have poured forth streams of waters, because I kept not Thy law. Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments. Thou hast ordained as Thy testimonies exceeding righteousness and truth. My zeal for Thee hath made me to pine away, because mine enemies have forgotten Thy words. Thine oracle is tried with fire to the uttermost, and Thy servant hath loved it.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

granting him [her] sanctification through the beauty of Thy comeliness, / that, purified, he [she] may receive and enjoy Thy sweet and beauteous communion, / where the angels join chorus / and the councils of the saints stand in joy round about Thy throne. // And grant Thy servant [handmaid] repose with them, and great mercy.

I am young and accounted as nothing, yet Thy statutes have I not forgotten. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is truth. Tribulations and necessities have found me, Thy commandments are my meditation. Thy testimonies are righteousness for ever; give me understanding and I shall live. I have cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, and I will seek after Thy statutes. I have cried unto Thee; save me, and I will keep Thy testimonies. I arose in the dead of night and I cried; on Thy words have I set my hope. Mine eyes woke before the morning that I might meditate on Thy sayings. Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy; according to Thy judgment, quicken me. They have drawn nigh that lawlessly persecute me, but from Thy law are they far removed.

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.

Where the choir of the prophets and the ranks of the apostles and martyrs are, / and those who from all ages have been justified by Thy saving Passion and Blood,/ whereby Thou hast redeemed captive man, / there do Thou give rest to Thy servant [handmaid] who hath fallen asleep, / forgiving his [her] transgressions, in that Thou art compassionate; / for Thou alone didst live upon the earth without sin. / Truly holy art Thou, Who alone art free among the dead! // Wherefore, grant rest and great mercy unto Thy servant [handmaid].

Near art Thou, O Lord, and all Thy ways are truth. From the beginning I have known from Thy testimonies that Thou hast founded them for ever. Behold my humiliation and rescue me, for Thy law have I not forgotten. Judge my cause and redeem me; for Thy word's sake quicken me. Far from sinners is salvation, for they have not sought after Thy statutes. Thy compassions are many, O Lord; according to Thy judgment quicken me. Many are they that persecute me and afflict me; from Thy testimonies have I not declined. I beheld men acting foolishly and I pined away, because they kept not Thy sayings. Behold, how I have loved Thy commandments; O Lord, in Thy mercy, quicken me. The beginning of Thy words is truth, and all the judgments of Thy righteousness endure for ever.

Choir: Amen.

Glory O Mistress, thou only Virgin Mother, / who conceived Christ the King, the Bestower of the law, in thy womb, / thou hast freed us who were enslaved by the law of sin, / and thereby we are justified by the gift and by grace. / Him do thou now entreat, O Mother of God, / that He enter in the book of life the souls of those who hymn thee, / that, saved by thy mediation, O most immaculate one, / we may receive the longed-for deliverance, // worshiping Him Who granteth the world great mercy.

Princes have persecuted me without a cause, and because of Thy words my heart hath been afraid. I will rejoice in Thy sayings as one that findeth great spoil. Unrighteousness have I hated and abhorred, but Thy law have I loved. Seven times a day have I praised Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness. Much peace have they that love Thy law, and for them there is no stumbling-block. I awaited Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy commandments have I loved. My soul hath kept Thy testimonies and hath loved them exceedingly. I have kept Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, for all my ways are before Thee, O Lord. Let my supplication draw nigh before Thee, O Lord; according to Thine oracle give me understanding.

And these stichera, composed by Saint Theophanes:

I lift up mine eyes to heaven, / to Thee, O Word. // Have pity, that I may live in Thee.

Let my petition come before Thee, O Lord; according to Thine oracle deliver me. My lips shall pour forth a hymn when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of Thy sayings, for all Thy commandments are righteousness. Let Thy hand be for saving me, for I have chosen Thy commandments. I have longed for Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy law is my meditation. My soul shall live and shall praise Thee, and Thy judgments will help me. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; O seek Thy servant, for I have not forgotten Thy commandments.

And these stichera:

Have mercy upon us who are downcast, O Word, // making us vessels useful to Thee.

Final Refrain: In Thy kingdom, O Lord, remember Thou Thy servant. Thrice.

And these stichera: ]: I glorify Thy precious Cross, / whereby life and the acquisition of sustenance / hath been given to those who hymn Thee with faith and love, / O only greatly Merciful One. / Wherefore, we cry to Thee, O Christ God: / Unto him [her] who hath departed from us // grant rest where the habitation is of all who are glad to glorify Thy Godhead.

The Holy Spirit is the Cause of all salvation. /

A full censing is done, the priest censing, and the deacon preceding him with a candle, as at Matins.

And these stichera:

And if He blow upon anyone as is meet, / He quickly taketh him away from among the things of earth: / He giveth him wings, maketh him grow // and setteth him on high.

Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord; / teach me Thy statutes.

And these stichera:

Tone 6 [Spec. Mel.: ]: Possessed of lovingkindness / which is beyond our comprehension / and an inexhaustible well-spring of divine goodness, / O greatly merciful Master, / cause him [her] who hath departed unto Thee / to dwell in the land of the living, / granting him [her] the ever abiding possession / of the beloved and longed-for habitations; / for thou didst shed Thy Blood for all, O Christ, // and didst free the world with Thy life-giving ransom. Of Thine own will Thou didst endure Thy life-creating death, / didst pour forth life and grant unto the faithful everlasting delight, / wherein do Thou enroll him [her] who hath fallen asleep / in the hope of resurrection, / in Thy goodness forgiving all his [her] transgressions. /

and the Door of Paradise. / May I also find the way through repentance. / I am the lost sheep, call me back, O Savior, // and save me.

And these stichera:

For Thou alone art sinless, / Thou alone art good and lovest mankind, / that Thy name might be hymned by all, O Christ, // and that, saved, we may glorify Thy love for mankind.

Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord; / teach me Thy statutes.

And these stichera:

Knowing Thee, O Christ, / to be the One Who by divine power is Lord of the living and Master of the dead, / we pray: In a place of coolness, amid the splendors of the saints, / grant rest with the elect unto Thy servant [handmaid] / who hath departed unto Thee, our only Benefactor Who lovest mankind; / for Thou willest mercy / and, as God, dost save those whom Thou hast created according to Thine image, // O only greatly Merciful One. Thou wast shown to be a place of sojourn fit for God, O all-holy one; / for thou didst contain God and gavest birth unto Him / in two natures but a single hypostasis, / O thou who knewest not wedlock. / Entreat Him, thine only-begotten and first-born Son / Who preserved thee an immaculate Virgin even after birthgiving, /

Ye that have preached the Lamb of God, / and like lambs were slain, O holy ones, / translated unto life unaging and everlasting, / fervently entreat Him, O ye martyrs, // to grant us forgiveness of our sins.

And these stichera:

that He grant peace, in the light, in incorrupt radiance and blessedness, // unto him [her] who in faith hath departed.

Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord; / teach me Thy statutes.

Choir: Tone 2: In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, * when Thou comest in Thy kingdom.

O Savior Who turned the captivity of Zion away from falsehood, / grant life unto me, // rescuing from me enslaving passions.

Ye that have trod the narrow way of sorrow; / all ye that in life have taken up the Cross as a yoke, / and have followed Me in faith, / come, enjoy the honors and heavenly crowns // which I have prepared for you.

Priest: In Thy kingdom remember us also, O Compassionate One, as Thou didst remember the thief.

He who with tears soweth the afflictions of fasting in the south // shall reap sheaves of joy and everlasting life.

Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord; / teach me Thy statutes.

Choir: Blessed are the pure in heart, * for they shall see God.

Glory Through the Holy Spirit / cometh the well-spring of divine treasures: / from Him is wisdom, understanding and fear, // and to Him is due praise and glory, honor and dominion.

I am an image of Thine ineffable glory, / though I bear the wounds of sin; / take compassion on Thy creature, O Master, / and cleanse me by Thy loving-kindness; / and grant me the desired fatherland, // making me again a dweller of paradise. Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord; / teach me Thy statutes.

Priest: All who fear God shall rejoice in Him in the kingdom of heaven.

Tone 7 [Spec. Mel.: ]: After Thou wast beheld slain upon the Cross, O only Immortal One, / as one dead Thou wast laid in the tomb, / delivering men from corruption and death; / and as Thou art an inexhaustible abyss of lovingkindness / and a well-spring of goodness, / grant rest unto the soul of Thy servant [handmaid] // who hath departed from us. In Thine incorrupt beauty and sweetness, O Good One, / vouchsafe that he [she] who hath departed unto Thee / may be illumined by the rays of Thy beauty / in the immaterial effulgence of thy brightness, / and may join chorus with the angels, dancing for Thee, //

O Thou Who of old didst create me out of nothing, / and didst honor me with Thine image divine, / but because of my transgression of Thy commandment / didst return me again unto the earth, from which I was taken: / Raise me up according to Thy likeness, // that I may be fashioned in the former beauty.

Choir: Blessed are the peacemakers, * for they shall be called the sons of God.

the Master, Lord and King of glory.

Refrain: Blessed art Thou, O Lord; / teach me Thy statutes.

Priest: He [she] who served Thee on earth in ascetic struggle and Orthodoxy do Thou glorify in the heavens, O Christ our Savior.

As Thou dost possess an inexhaustible magnitude of gifts, / as the treasury of rich goodness which is never empty, / in that Thou art God cause him [her] who hath departed unto Thee / to dwell in the land of Thine elect, in a place of ease, / in the house of Thy glory, in the delight of paradise, / in Thy virginal bridal-chamber, // in that Thou art compassionate.

Give rest, O God, to Thy servant; / and commit him (her) to paradise, / where the choirs of the saints, O Lord, / and the righteous shine as the stars; / give rest unto Thy departed servant, // disregarding all his (her) sins.

Choir: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Glory Thou givest birth unto the Fulfillment of the law, /

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

Priest: He [she] who lived in godliness on earth with faith, hope and love do Thou glorify in the heavens, O Savior.

the Deliverer Who became flesh. /

Triadicon: The triple radiance of the one Godhead let us piously hymn, / crying aloud: Holy art Thou, O unoriginate Father, / co-unoriginate Son, and Divine Spirit; / enlighten us who with faith worship thee // and snatch us from the fire eternal. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Choir: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, * and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

There was no justification for those who before were under the law, / but Christ, crucified, hath now justified us. / Wherefore, as thou hast boldness, O most hymned one, / as the Mother of thy compassionate Son, / entreat Him to grant rest to the soul of him [her] // who in piety hath passed away.

Rejoice, O thou pure one, / who gavest birth to God in the flesh for the salvation of all, / and through whom mankind hath found salvation; / through thee may we find paradise, // O Theotokos, pure and blessed.

Priest: Give rest unto Thy servant [handmaid] with the saints in the kingdom of heaven, O God, in that Thou art good.

From my youth hath the enemy tempted me, / causing me to burn with pleasures; / but, trusting in Thee, O Lord, // I vanquish him.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice.

Choir: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, * for great is your reward in the heavens.

Let those who hate Zion / be as grass before it is uprooted; / for Christ will cut through their necks // with the severing of torments. By the Holy Spirit are all things given life. / Him do we hymn with the Father and the Word, // as Light from light, the great God.

Sessional Hymns

Priest: He [she] who forsook the world and lived piously in this honorable habitation do thou glorify in the heavens, O Savior.

Tone 8 [Spec. Mel.: ]: As King thou didst sign my manumission, / having stained Thy fingers on Thy dyed garments / and empurpled them with Thy Blood, O Master; / and now we pray to Thee with faith: / Number us among the firstborn, / and vouchsafe that he [she] / who hath departed unto Thee, /

Tone 5 [Troparion Melody]: Give rest, O our Savior, with the righteous unto Thy servant / and settle him (her) in Thy courts, according as it is written, / disregarding, as Thou art good, his (her) transgressions, voluntary and involuntary,/ and all he (she) committed either knowingly or unknowingly, // O lover of mankind.

Choir: Glory to the Father, * and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

the Compassionate One, //

Glory O Christ our God who from a Virgin hast shone forth upon the world, / and through her hast made us sons of light, // have mercy on us.

Priest: Possessed of faith, let us who are pious reverently glorify the one Godhead in three Persons.

may receive the joy of Thy righteous ones.

Psalm 50 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

Choir: Both now and ever, * and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

As a man acting as priest / and slaughtering Thyself, / Thou didst offer sacrifice unto the Father, / rescuing man from corruption. / Wherefore, in that Thou lovest mankind, / cause him [her] who hath departed / to dwell in the land of the living, / where torrents of delight gush forth, // and where the everlasting wells-springs flow.

We then begin the chanting of the antiphons:

Priest: We all bless thee, O pure one, for without seed thou gavest birth in the flesh to God, the King of heaven.

In the abyss of Thine ineffable wisdom / Thou settest the time of life, / bringest in death, / and dost translate man to the next life; / wherefore, cause Thou him [her] / whom Thou hast now received / to dwell by the waters of repose, / amid the splendors of the light of Thy saints, // where the voice of rejoicing and praise is heard. In that thou didst conceive /

And when all have bade farewell to the departed, we chant these Troparia:

Deacon: Let us attend.

the unoriginate Word of God and God, /

Tone 4: With the souls of the righteous that have passed away, / give rest, O Savior, to the soul of Thy servant, // preserving him (her) in the blessed life which is with Thee, O Lover of mankind.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

by thy maternal boldness earnest entreat Him, / that He cause thy servant [handmaid] to dwell / where the chorus of those / who rejoice and praise thee is never-ending, / where the splendors are eternal, / and the voice of those // who keep festival is sweet, O Theotokos.

In the place of Thy rest, O Lord, / where all Thy saints repose, // give rest also to the soul of Thy servant, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

Reader: And to thy spirit.

The deacon does a small censing.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Thou art the God Who descended into hades and loosed the chains of the captives;// do Thou Thyself give rest also to the soul of Thy servant.

Deacon: Wisdom!

Tone 8: With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Thy servant, // where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 6th Tone: Blessed is the way in which thou shalt go today, O soul; for a resting place is prepared for thee.

Ikos: Thou alone art immortal, / Who didst create and fashion man; / but we mortals were formed of earth, and unto earth shall we return, / as Thou who madest me didst command and say unto me: / For earth thou art and unto earth shalt thou return, / whither all we mortals are going, / making as a funeral dirge the song: // Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

O only pure and blameless Virgin, who without seed gavest birth to God, // pray that his (her) soul be saved.

Choir: Blessed is the way in which thou shalt go today, O soul; for a resting place is prepared for thee.

And again: Tone 8: With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Thy servant, // where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

The censing is done as at the previous litanies.

Reader: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O My God, be not silent unto me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

The Beatitudes

Lord have mercy. Thrice.

Choir: Blessed is the way in which thou shalt go today, O soul; for a resting place is prepared for thee.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, * for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, * for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, * for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, * for they shall obtain mercy.

Father, bless.

Reader: Blessed is the way in which thou shalt go today, O soul.

Brethren: I would not have you to be ignorant, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And he likewise poureth oil upon the remains, reciting the following Troparion:

Choir: For a resting place is prepared for thee.

At this point, a sermon is given, and it is a good practice to let the people know about the parts of the service that will follow, and especially that they should not leave after the last kiss, but stay until the casket is taken out of the Church.

And as the grave is covered as usual, the following troparia are chanted:

Deacon: Wisdom.

Then, the last kiss is given while the following stichera are chanted. If everyone has given the last kiss before these stichera are completed, they may be abbreviated:

As Thou didst say unto Martha, O Lord: / , / Thou didst fulfill Thy words in deed, / summoning forth Lazarus from hades. / Thus do Thou also raise up Thy servant [handmaid] from hades, // O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Reader: The Reading is from the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians [1 Thess. 4:13-17].

Tone 2 [Spec. Melody: When from the Tree]: Come, brethren, let us give the last kiss to the dead, / rendering thanks unto God, / for this one hath disappeared from among his (her) kindred, / and hasteneth to the grave, no longer having concern with vanities / and the many passions of the flesh. / Where now are kindred and friends? / Behold, we are parted from him (her) // for whom let us pray the Lord to grant repose.

O my spiritual brethren [sisters] and fellow fasters, / forget me not when ye pray; / but, gazing upon my grave, / remember my love, and entreat Christ, // that He cause my soul do dwell with the righteous.

Deacon: Let us attend.

What is the parting, O brethren? / What this weeping, what this wailing at the present hour? / Come then, kiss him (her) who was but lately with us, / for he (she) is given over to the grave, / is covered with a stone, in darkness dwelleth, / is buried with the dead, and now is parted from all kindred and friends; // for him (her) let us pray the Lord to grant repose.

The censing is done as at the previous litanies.

Priest: Peace be unto thee.

Now is life s evil triumph of vanity destroyed; / for the spirit hath gone from its dwelling, /

The deacon censes, around the coffin, if possible, while the choir sings:

Reader: And to thy spirit.

the clay is ashes, the vessel is broken, /

Tone 8: With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Thy servant, // where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

Deacon: Wisdom!

voiceless, unfeeling, dead, motionless. / Committing him (her) to the grave, // let us pray the Lord to give him (her) eternal rest.

Lord have mercy. Thrice.

Reader: Alleluia in the 6th Tone. Blessed is he whom Thou hast chosen and hast taken to Thyself, O Lord.

What is our life? A flower, and smoke, and truly a morning dew. / Come then, let us look clearly upon the tombs; / where is the beauty of the body? Where is youth? / Where are the eyes and the bodily form? / All like grass have withered, all have perished. // Come let us fall down before Christ with tears.

Father, bless.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

All the bodily organs now are seen to be idle, / which a little while ago were active, / all is useless, dead, senseless; / for the eyes have sunken inward, /

The priest takes the censer, and censes the coffin

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

the feet are bound, the hands are stilled, /

And as many of us who attend the burial then make twelve prostrations for our brother [sister] who hath fallen asleep, saying: Grant rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy servant [handmaid]. And thus we depart to our own cells and homes, glorifying God.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

and the hearing with them; /

The Order for the Blessing of a Grave

Choir: And to thy spirit.

the tongue is locked in silence, given up to the grave. //

(In an Unconsecrated Cemetery)

Priest: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John [5:24-30].

Truly all mortal things are vanity.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

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

Glory Save those who set their hope on thee, O Theotokos, / Thou Mother of the never-setting Sun. / By thy supplications entreat the all-good God, / we pray, that He grant unto him [her] who hath now departed / peace in the place where the souls of the righteous repose. / Show him [her] forth as an heir to divine good things, O most immaculate one, / and his [her] memory to be eternal in the courts of the just.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.

Deacon: Let us attend.

Tone 8: Having traversed the ever turbulent sea of life, / he [she] who hath departed hath by faith arrived at Thy haven. / Directing him [her] by the saints, O Christ, / grant the soul of Thy servant [handmaid] rest in Thy stillness // and in the sweetness of everlasting life. Tone 4 [Idiomelon]: Today are the ever-chanted words of the godly David fulfilled! / For he said: As for man, his days are as the grass; / as a flower of the field, so shall he blossom forth.

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

Priest: The Lord said to the Jews which came unto Him: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

For but a little while ago we saw him [her] living and speaking; / but, lo! he [she] lieth dead, unmoving, bereft of breath. / He [she] hath departed from those here / and left for a place where he [she] shall receive recompense for his [her] works, / where the joy of all the saints is found. / Grant rest with them unto him [her] who hath fallen asleep, O God, // in that Thou art merciful and lovest mankind.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

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

Tone 8: O Lord Almighty, give rest to the soul of Thy servant [handmaid] / in the habitations of the just, / where Thy light shineth upon all who are worthy, // O Thou Who alone art greatly merciful.

Lord have mercy. Thrice.

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

I have vanished from among my kin / and have now departed from my life. / Unto Thee have I fled, // O Lord: Save me!

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

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

At the supplications of the Theotokos / grant peace to the life of us who cry aloud to Thee: // O Bestower of life, glory be to Thee!

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

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.

Then, taking up the bier with the remains, we go forth to the burial place, chanting these stichera of John the Monk, in the Eight Tones:

The Priest, sprinkling the Grave(s) three times with Holy Water, says:

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Tone 1: What earthly sweetness remaineth unmixed with sorrow? / What glory on earth continueth unchanged? / All things are more feeble than shadows, / all things are more deceptive than dreams; / yet one moment, and Death shall take away them all. / But in the light of Thy countenance, O Christ, / and in the enjoyment of Thy beauty, / give rest unto him (her) whom Thou hast chosen, // for Thou art the lover of mankind.

This Grave is (these Graves are) sanctified by the grace of the Most-Holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this Holy Water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thrice.

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

Tone 2: Woe is me! What manner of ordeal doth the soul endure / when it is torn from the body! / Alas! How it weepeth then, / and there is none to have mercy on it! / To the angels it lifteth up its eyes, / it prayeth without avail; / stretching out its hands to mortals, it findeth none to help. / Wherefore, my beloved brethren, / having pondered upon our short life, / let us ask of Christ repose for the departed, // and for our souls great mercy.

And immediately the Dismissal.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Tone 3: All mortal things are vanity, / nothing whatsoever remaineth after death; / riches abide not, nor doth glory attend, / for when death cometh, all these things vanish. / Wherefore, let us cry unto Christ the Immortal: / Give rest unto the departed, // where is the dwelling-place of all that are glad. Tone 4: Where is worldly inclination? / Where the imaginings of the ephemeral creatures of a day? / Where are the gold and the silver? / Where is the multitude of servants and noise? / All is dust, all ashes, all a shadow. / But come let us cry unto the Immortal King: / O Lord, vouchsafe Thine eternal good things unto him (her) who hath departed from us, // granting him (her) rest in Thine unaging blessedness.

Revised 6/15/2026

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.

Tone 5: I remembered what the prophet cried: / I am dust and ashes. / And again I looked into the graves, and saw the bones laid bare, / and said: Who then is king, or warrior, or rich, or poor, or righteous, or sinner? / But give rest, O Lord, // with the righteous unto Thy servant.

The translation used is primarily that of Fr. Lawrence of Jordanville

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Tone 6: Origin and substance to me was Thy fashioning command; / for, having desired to form me, from nature visible and invisible, / of earth Thou didst make my body, / and didst give me a soul by Thy divine and life-giving breathing. / Wherefore, O Christ, give rest to Thy servant / in the land of the living, // and in the tabernacles of the righteous.

. All the psalms are from The Psalter According to the Seventy, Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. Some other material, such as prayers and hymns, are also Copyright HTM, used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, beyond printing out a single copy for personal non commercial use, without the prior written authorization of Holy When a monastic dieth, it is not proper for his (or her) body to be washed or even to be seen naked; therefore, a monk or nun is designated to wipe the body with warm water, making the sign of the Cross with the sponge first upon the forehead of the departed, then upon the breast, the hands and feet, and the knees, and nothing more.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord

Tone 7: In the beginning having created man / according to Thine image and likeness, / in paradise Thou didst place him to rule over Thy creation; / but beguiled through the envy of the devil, / he partook of the fruit, becoming a transgressor of Thy commandments. / Wherefore, Thou didst condemn him to return again to earth from whence he was taken, O Lord, // and to beg for repose. Tone 8: I weep and I lament, when I think about death, / and see our beauty, fashioned according to God s image, / lying in the graves, disfigured, without glory, bereft of form. / O marvel! What is this mystery concerning us? / How have we been given up to corruption? How have we been linked with death? / Truly, as it is written, by the command of God, //

having removed first the old vesture, new vesture is brought in and put on him [or her], those accomplishing this task taking care not to look upon his [or her] nakedness. And after the body is clothed, a kukulion is placed upon it, if he [or she] is vested in the Great Schema, and the helmet is draped from the top of the head down to the beard [or Then, in the proper order, the paramand and the mantia are placed on the body, and it is girded about with a leather cincture and is shod in new sandals. tonsured to the Little Schema, he [or she] is only vested in a hair shirt and ryassa, and on his [or her] head a

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Who giveth repose unto the departed.

The mantia is spread over and tucked in tightly around the body, and as the

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.

The remains are set down thrice before we arrive at the cemetery, and each time the litany and prayer are intoned. When we reach the grave, the remains are placed therein. The Priest, taking up dirt on a shovel, poureth it upon the remains in the form of the Cross, saying:

mat is spread out beneath it, from the feet to the head. taking up a knife, trimmeth the edge of the mantia all around the body on both sides; and lifting up the remains by means of the mantia, we use the trimmed edges of the mantia to wrap and bind the remains, beginning from the on the head, the breast, and the knees; and with the remaining material he Priest in phelonion, opens the Royal Doors, before an analogion, which is placed in front

Choir: Amen.

The earth is the Lord

the head of the coffin, with sufficient space between it and the coffin

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

s, and the fullness thereof; the world and all that live therein.

for censing. The deacon stands behind, and to the right of the priest, until the first litany. Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

By the image of Thy Cross was death slain and hades made captive, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and those who of old had died, rising up, offered hymnody to Thee. Wherefore, we cry aloud to Thee, O Christ our God: Unto him [her] who hath departed from us do Thou grant rest where the abode is of all who in Thee rejoice to glorify Thy divinity.

temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

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.

Tone 8 [Sticheron Melody]: O gaping earth, accept him [her] who was fashioned of thee by the hand of God, / and who hath now returned to thee who begat him [her]: / for as the Creator hath taken back that which is according to His image, / so do thou accept thy body.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: 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 soul of Thy departed servant N., 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 him (her) 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.

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.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Wisdom!

Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Choir: More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Priest: May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, through the intercessions of His most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, commit the soul of His servant N., that hath departed from us, to the tabernacles of the righteous, 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 the Lover of mankind.

Choir: Amen.

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

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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.

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Wisdom!

Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Choir: More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Priest: May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, through the intercessions of His most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, commit the soul of His servant N., that hath departed from us, to the tabernacles of the righteous, 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 the Lover of mankind.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: In a blessed falling asleep, grant, O Lord, eternal rest unto Thy departed servant N., and make his (her) memory to be eternal.

Choir: Memory Eternal. Thrice.

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory: of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Master, Lord our God, through Whose mercy the souls of the faithful find rest: Do Thou bless the Grave(s) of this Thy servant, N. (these Thy servants, NN.), and send down Thy holy Angel to guard it, that the body (bodies) which shall be (is/are) buried here may find it a habitation of repose even until Thy Second Coming and his (her/their) own resurrection, and that his (her/their) soul(s), loosed from every bond of sin, may be counted worthy of eternal joy with Thy Saints in the heavenly courts. For Thou art the King of peace and the Savior of our souls, 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.

Choir: Amen.