office general_unction.doc

The Rite of Holy Unction,

Psalm 142 O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days of old, I meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning, for in Thee have I put my hope. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name's sake, O Lord, shalt thou quicken me. In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And Thou shalt cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.

Which Is Chanted by Seven Priests

Theotokion: The door of compassion open unto us, * O blessed Theotokos, * for hoping in thee, let us not perish; * through thee may we be delivered from adversities, * for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; * for at a loss for any defense, * this prayer do we sinners offer unto thee as Master: have mercy on us.

A small table is set forth, whereon is a vessel containing wheat. On the surface of the wheat is an empty lamp; and around in the wheat are thrust seven wands wrapped with paper, for the anointing. The Holy Gospel is also placed on the table. All the priests then vest in phelonia, and stand round about the table, and they are given candles to hold. The first of the priests (the Bishop, if he is serving) taketh up a censer and incense, and censeth around the table on which the oil is set; and he censeth the whole church, and the people. And when he taketh his place before the table again, facing the east, he beginneth, saying:

The Prayer of oil, the hymn of Arsenius.

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

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

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.

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

Lord, have mercy on us; * for we have hoped in Thee, be not angry with us greatly, * neither remember our iniquities; * but look upon us now as Thou art compassionate, * and deliver us from our enemies, * for Thou art our God, and we, Thy people; * all are the works of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy name.

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

Bishop: 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.

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

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

Reader: Amen. Lord, Have mercy. Twelve times.

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.

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

Lord have mercy. Thrice.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

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.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

Choir: To Thee O Lord.

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.

Priest: For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice.

Choir: Amen.

Calling to remembrance our all-holy, all-pure, all-blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves, and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Deacon (Priest): Alleluia, in the 6th Tone.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Stichos 1: O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Stichos 3: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak.

Then follow the penitential troparia, in Tone 6:

Psalm 50 Reader: 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.

Then followeth the Canon, the acrostic whereof is,