office theophany_blessingl.doc

The Theophany Of Our Lord God

After the prayer behind the ambo, a table is prepared for the great blessing of the waters. As the priest censes the table, we sing these troparia:

Glory..., Both now..., in the same tone: O Lord Who knowest not sin, / having assumed the appearance of a servant / Thou didst come unto the voice of one crying in the wilderness, / , / asking baptism of him. /

Tone 8 (sticheron melody):

The voice of the Lord, which is upon the waters, crieth out, saying: /

and Savior Jesus Christ

While these petitions are being intoned, the Priest readeth this prayer quietly:

Reader: The reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah:

The voice of the Lord, which is upon the waters, crieth out, saying: /

Come ye all, and receive the Spirit of wisdom, / Jordan is parted, and turneth back its streams, // Thou didst come to the river as a man, / and dost hasten to receive the baptism of a servant / Glory..., Both now..., in the same tone: having assumed the appearance of a servant / Thou didst come unto the voice of one crying in the wild

The Great Blessing of the Waters

When the Deacon hath completed the litany, the Priest beginneth this prayer aloud:

Deacon: Let us attend!

Come ye all, and receive the Spirit of wisdom, /

The Forerunner was seized with trembling, and cried aloud, saying: /

And the Priest, bowing his head, saith this prayer:

Reader: Thus saith the Lord: Be glad, thou thirsty desert; let the wilderness exult, and flower as the lily. And the desert places of Jordan shall blossom, and all shall be glad and rejoice; the glory of Lebanon hath been given to it, and the honor of Carmel; and My people shall see the glory of the Lord, and the majesty of God. Be strong, ye paralyzed hands, and be comforted ye palsied knees. Say ye unto the faint-hearted the thought: Be strong, fear not; behold, our God rendereth judgment, and He will come and save us. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. Then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the stammerers shall speak plainly; for water hath burst forth in the desert, and a channel of water in a thirsty land. And the waterless places shall become marshes, and a fountain of water shall be poured into the thirsty land. There shall there be a gladness of birds, the abode of ostriches, and reeds and marshes. There shall be there a pure way, and it shall be called a holy way; and there shall not pass by there any unclean person, neither shall there be there an unclean way; but the dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray. And there shall be no lion there, neither shall any cruel beast go up upon it, nor at all be found there; but those delivered and gathered together by the Lord shall walk it, and shall return, and come to Zion with gladness and joy, and everlasting gladness shall overtake them; for on their head shall be praise and exultation, and joy shall take possession of them: pain, grief and sighing are fled away.

the Spirit of understanding, /

O Savior Who takest away the sin of the world!

Revised 1-18-2016 After the prayer behind the ambo, a table is prepared for the great blessing of the waters. As the priest censes the table, we sing these troparia

Deacon: Wisdom!

the Spirit of the fear of God: //

Reader: The reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

Christ Who hath appeared! Thrice

Deacon: Let us attend!

Today the nature of the waters is sanctified. / Jordan is parted, and turneth back its streams, // beholding the Master baptized. Twice

Reader: Thus saith the Lord: Ye that thirst, go to the water, and as many as have no silver, go and buy; and eat and drink wine and fat without silver or price. Wherefore do ye value at the price of money, and give your labor for that which will not satisfy? Hearken to Me, and ye shall eat that which is good, and your souls shall partake of good things. Give heed with your ears, and follow My ways: hearken to Me, and your soul shall live amid good things. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure holy things of David. Behold, I have given him as a testimony among the gentiles, a prince and commander among the nations. Behold, nations which knew thee not, shall call upon thee, and peoples which are not acquainted with thee, shall flee to thee for refuge, for the sake of the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel; for He hath glorified thee. Seek ye the Lord, and when ye find Him, call upon Him; and when He shall draw nigh to you, let the ungodly one leave his ways, and the iniquitous man his counsels: and let him return to the Lord your God, and ye shall find mercy; for He shall abundantly pardon your sins. For My counsels are not as your counsels, nor are My ways as your ways, saith the Lord. But as the heaven is distant from the earth, so is My way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from My mind. For as rain shall come down, or snow, from heaven, and shall not return until it hath saturated the earth, and it bring forth, and bud, and give seed to the sower, and bread for food: so shall My word be, whatever shall proceed out of My mouth: it shall by no means turn back empty, until all the things which I willed shall have been accomplished; and I will make My ways and My commands to succeed. For ye shall go forth with gladness, and shall be taught with joy. For the mountains and the hills shall exult to welcome you with joy, and all the trees of the field shall clap with their branches. And instead of the bramble shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle: and the Lord shall be for a name, and for an everlasting sign, and shall not fail.

Thou didst come to the river as a man, / O Christ our King, / and dost hasten to receive the baptism of a servant / at the hand of the Forerunner / for the sake of our sins, // O Good One Who lovest mankind. Twice

Deacon: Wisdom!

The waters saw Thee, and were afraid, /

Reader: The reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

The Forerunner was seized with trembling, and cried aloud, saying: /

Deacon: Let us attend!

How can a lamp illumine the light? / How can a slave lay his hand upon his Master? / Sanctify me and the waters, // O Savior Who takest away the sin of the world! And standing by the font, the Deacon saith:

Reader: Thus saith the Lord: Draw ye therefore water with gladness out of the wellsprings of salvation. And in that day thou shalt say: Give thanks to the Lord, and call aloud upon His name; proclaim His glory among the gentiles; make mention that His name is exalted. Hymn ye the name of the Lord; for He hath done high deeds. Declare these things throughout all the earth. Rejoice and be glad, ye who dwell in Zion: for the Holy One of Israel is exalted in the midst of it.

Thou art My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.

Deacon: Wisdom!

--For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: The prokimenon in the 3rd Tone: The Lord is my light and my Savior. Whom then shall I fear.

--For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: The Lord is my light and my Savior. Whom then shall I fear.

--For this holy temple, and for them that with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord Choir: Lord, have mercy. --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.); for the venerable priesthood, the deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom then shall I be afraid?

--For this land, its authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: The Lord is my light and my Savior. Whom then shall I fear.

--For the God-preserved Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: The Lord is my light and my Savior.

--That He may deliver His people from enemies both visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love and piety, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Whom then shall I fear.

--For this city (or this town, or this holy monastery), for every city and country, and the faithful that dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: Wisdom!

--For seasonable weather, abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: The Reading if from the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.

--For travelers by sea, land and air; for the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: Let us attend!

--That these waters may be sanctified by the power, effectual operation and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

--That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: Peace be unto thee.

--That He will endue them with the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan, the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: And to thy spirit.

--That Satan may speedily be crushed under our feet, and that every evil counsel directed against us may be set at naught, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: Wisdom!

--That the Lord our God will free us from every attack and temptation of the enemy, and make us worthy of the good things He hath promised, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory hath thundered, the Lord is upon the many waters.

--That He will illumine us with the light of understanding and of piety, through the descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

--That the Lord God may send down the blessing of Jordan, and sanctify these waters, let us pray to the Lord.

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

--That this water may be unto the bestowing of sanctification, unto the remission of sins, unto the healing of soul and body, and unto every expedient service, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

--That this water may be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

--That it may manifest itself effectual unto the averting of every machination of our foes, both visible and invisible, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

--For those who shall draw of it and take it unto the sanctification of their homes, let us pray to the Lord.

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

--That it may be for the purification of the souls and bodies for all who, with faith, shall draw and partake of it, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: Let us attend.

--That He will graciously enable us to perfect sanctification by participation in these waters, through the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying:

--That the Lord God may hearken to the voice of the entreaty of us sinners, and have mercy upon us, let us pray to the Lord.

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

--That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

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

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

--Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most 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: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, Who art in the bosom of the Father, the true God, Source of life and immortality, Light of Light, Who camest into the world to enlighten it! Enlighten our mind with Thy Holy Spirit, and accept us who offer unto Thee magnification and thanksgiving for Thy marvelous and mighty works, which are from all eternity; as, also, for Thy saving providence in these latter ages, in which Thou hast clothed Thyself in our frail and lowly substance, and condescended to the stature of a servant, Who yet art the King of all, and didst receive baptism in the Jordan at the hands of a servant: that Thou, O Sinless One, having sanctified the nature of water, mightest make for us a way which should be unto a new birth, through water and the Spirit, and mightest restore unto us our primal freedom. Celebrating the memory of that divine mystery, we entreat Thee, O Master Who lovest mankind, sprinkle us, Thine unworthy servants, according to Thy divine promise, with pure water, the gift of Thy loving-kindness, that the petition of us sinners over this water may be well-pleasing to Thy goodness; and may Thy blessing be given unto us and all Thy faithful people through it, unto the glory of Thy holy and adorable Name.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For unto Thee belongeth all glory, honor and worship, together with Thy Father who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, and good and, life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

And he saith to himself: Amen.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For Thou, by Thy will, from nothingness hast brought all things into being; by Thy majesty Thou dost uphold all creation, and by Thy providence Thou dost direct the world. When Thou hadst framed the universe out of the four elements, Thou didst crown the cycle of the year with the four seasons. All the reason-endowed powers tremble. The Sun singeth Thy praises, and the Moon glorifieth Thee; the Stars, also, stand before Thy presence. The Light obeyeth Thee. The deeps shudder with awe before Thee; the water-springs do thy bidding. Thou hast spread out the heavens like a curtain. Thou hast establish the earth upon the waters. With sand hast Thou walled in the sea. Thou hadst shed abroad the air for breathing. The Angelic powers serve Thee. The Archangelic hosts adore Thee. The many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, as they stand round about and do fly, veil their faces with awe before Thine unapproachable glory. For Thou, the God which cannot be circumscribed, who art from everlasting and ineffable, and didst come down upon earth, taking on the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. For Thou couldst not endure, O Master, because of The loving-kindness of Thy mercy, to behold the children of men tormented by the devil; but thou didst come, and didst save us. We confess Thy grace, we proclaim Thy mercy, we conceal not Thy gracious deeds. Thou hast set at liberty the generations of our race, by Thy birth Thou hadst sanctified the Virgin

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

s womb. All creation singeth praises unto Thee, Who didst reveal Thyself; for Thou, our God, didst manifest thyself upon earth, and didst dwell among men. Thou didst hallow, also, the streams of Jordan, in that thou didst send down from heaven Thy Holy Spirit, and didst crush the heads of the serpents which lurked there.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Wherefore do Thou, O King Who lovest mankind, come down now also through the descent of Thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water. Thrice.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

And impart unto it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of immortality, a gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, the healing of infirmities, the destruction of the demons, unapproachable by hostile powers, filled with angelic might. And may it be unto all those who shall draw it, and shall partake of it unto the purification of their souls and bodies, unto the healing of their passions, unto the sanctification of their homes, and unto every expedient service. For Thou art our God, Who through water and the Spirit hast renewed our nature which had fallen into decay through sin. For Thou art our God, Who with water didst drown sin in the days of Noah. For Thou art our God, Who by the sea, through Moses, freed the Hebrew people from slavery to Pharaoh. For Thou art our God, Who smote the rock in the wilderness, so that waters gushed forth, and torrents welled forth, and Who satisfied Thy thirsty people. For Thou art our God, Who by water and fire, through Elijah, didst set Israel free from the errors of Baal.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Do Thou Thyself, O Master, sanctify now also this water by Thy Holy Spirit. Thrice.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Grant also unto all who shall be sprinkled therewith, and shall partake thereof, and shall anoint themselves therewith, sanctification, blessing, purification and bodily health.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, save our civil authorities; have mercy upon the Most Holy Synod, and keep them in peace beneath Thy shelter. Subdue under them every enemy and adversary; grant all their petitions which are unto salvation, and life eternal, that with the elements, and men, and Angels, and with all things visible and invisible, they may magnify Thy most holy Name, together with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and hear us, O Thou Who wast graciously pleased to be baptized in the Jordan and didst sanctify the waters. Bless us all, who by the bowing of our necks do outwardly signify our humility of mind; and vouchsafe that we may be filled with Thy sanctification, through our partaking of this water, and through sprinkling therewith. And may it be unto us, O Lord, for the health of souls and bodies.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Exclamation: For Thou art the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, thanksgiving and worship, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

And straightway, blessing the water by making the sign of the Cross in it with the holy cross, the Priest plungeth it directly into the water, holding it with both hands, while this Troparion is chanted:

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Tone 1: When Thou, wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, /

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; /

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, / calling Thee His beloved Son. / And the Spirit in the form of a dove / confirmed the certainty of the word. / O Christ our God, Who hast appeared // and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

As the Choir chanteth this, the Priest signeth the water a second time with the Cross. And when they chant this again, the Priest signeth the water a third time. Then, taking some of the water in a bowl, the Priest turneth to face the west, holding the cross in his left hand, and in his right hand a sprinkler. Then the senior priest approacheth first, and kisseth the precious cross, and useth the sprinkler to sign his face with holy water. Then the rest of the clergy approach in order, and all the faithful. The Troparion, when Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, , is chanted many times, until all have been sanctified by sprinkling with the holy water.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

When everyone has been blessed, we sing this sticheron:

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Tone 6 [Sticheron Melody]: O ye faithful, let us hymn the magnitude of God s benefactions toward us; / for having become man for the sake of our transgressions, / He Who alone is pure and incorrupt, / Who sanctifieth me and the waters, / and crusheth the heads of the serpents in the water, / is purified in the Jordan with our purification. / Wherefore, let us draw forth water with gladness, O brethren; / for the grace of the Spirit is invisibly imparted / to those who draw it forth with faith, // by Christ God, the Savior of our souls.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Then, x3, Psalm 33, and the dismissal.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Choir: To Thee O Lord.

Priest: Great art Thou, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works; and there is no word which sufficeth to hymn Thy wonders. Thrice.

Then the Priest saith the following verse thrice, each time blessing the water with his hand:

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

Choir: And to thy spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord.

Choir: To thee, O Lord.

Choir: Amen.