Book of Needs of the Holy Orthodox Church

by Russkaia pravoslavnaia tserkov

THE DESIGNATION, WITH HOLY GOD, OF THE CHAPTERS CONTAINED IN THIS TREBNIK.

Chap.		Page.
I.	Prayers on the first day after a child is born to a woman	[1]
II.	Prayer at the signing of a child when it receiveth a name on the eighth day after its birth	[4]
III.	Prayers for a parturient woman after forty days	[6]
IV.	Prayer for a woman when she hath aborted a child	[11]
V.	Prayers at the making of a catechumen	[13]
VI.	The order of holy baptism	[24]
	And a prayer for holy baptism, that is, how briefly to baptize a child because of fear of death	[41]
	Concerning how it behoveth a spiritual person to behave himself	[44]
VII.	The order concerning confession	[46]
VIII.	Prayer on the releasing from prohibition	[51]
IX.	The order that is used at betrothals	[53]
X.	The order of the coronation	[58]
XI.	Prayer at the taking off of the crowns on the eighth day	[72]
XII.	The order for a second marriage	[73]
XIII.	The order of the sanctification of the holy oil	[83]
XIV.	The office when in extreme urgency occasion ariseth to give communion to a sick person	[123]
XV.	Prayerful canon to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the most holy God-bearing Mother of the Lord at the parting of the soul from the body of every right-believer	[128]
	And the prayer at the departure of a soul	[136]
XVI.	The mortuary order over lay bodies	[138]
XVII.	The ordinance that is observed concerning the carrying forth of them that fall asleep in holy Pascha, and in all the bright week	[164]
XVIII.	The mortuary order over a departed priest	[169]
XIX.	The office of the burial of a babe	[208]
XX.	The order of the lesser sanctification of water	[225]
XXI.	The order of the sanctification of water on the holy Theophany	[240]
XXIV.	Prayer at the blessing of flesh-meat	[255]
XXV.	Prayer at the blessing of cheese and eggs	[256]
XXVI.	Prayer at the partaking of grapes on the vith day of august	[256]
XXVII.	Prayer for them that gather first-fruits	[257]
XXVIII.	Prayer at the laying of the foundation of a house	[258]
XXIX.	Prayer when one entereth into a new house	[258]
XXXIII.	Prayer for one that purposeth to go on a journey	[259]

Chapter I.
PRAYERS ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER A CHILD IS BORN TO A WOMAN.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Master, Lord Almighty, who healest every sickness, and every weakness; do thou thyself heal this thine handmaid, name, who to-day hath borne a child, and raise her from the bed upon which she lieth; for, according to the words of thy prophet David, we were conceived in transgressions, and are all defiled before thee. Protect her, and this child which she hath borne: shelter her under the covering of thy wings from this day even unto her last end, through the prayers of the most holy God-bearing one, and of all the Saints; for blessed art thou to ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Master, Lord our God, who wast born of our most holy Lady, the God-bearing and ever-virgin Mary, and as a babe wast laid in a manger, and as a child wast carried in arms; do thou thyself have mercy upon this thine handmaid, who to-day hath borne this child, and be gracious unto her voluntary and involuntary offences, and protect her from every diabolical cruelty; and preserve the child which she hath borne from every bane, from every harm, from every hostile rage, from evil spirits of the day and night; and preserve her under thy mighty hand; and grant unto her a speedy recovery, and cleansing from defilement, and healing of suffering; and vouchsafe to her health, and strength of soul and body; and surround her with bright and shining angels; and preserve her from every approach of invisible spirits; yea, O Lord, from sickness and infirmity, from jealousy and envy, and from the glance of eyes; and have mercy upon her, and upon the child, according to the greatness of thy mercy; and cleanse her from bodily defilement, and from diverse inward travail befalling her; and, by thy quick mercy, lead her to recovery in her bodily affliction. And vouchsafe unto the child which she hath borne to worship the earthly temple which thou hast prepared for the glorification of thy holy name. For to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord our God, who wast pleased to come down from heaven and to be born of the holy God-bearing and ever-virgin Mary for the salvation of us sinners, who knowest the feebleness of human nature; be gracious, according to the greatness of thy compassions, unto thine handmaid, name, who to-day hath borne a child. For thou hast said, O Lord, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it. Therefore we, thy servants, beseech thee, and, trusting in thy forbearing love to man, with fear invoke the holy name of thy kingdom, Look down from heaven and behold the feebleness of us condemned ones, and be gracious unto thine handmaid, name, and to all the house in which the child hath been born, and to all who are connected with her; and to all that here assemble be thou gracious, as the good and man-loving God. For thou alone hast power to forgive sins, through the prayers of the most holy God-bearing one, and of all thy Saints. Amen.

Chapter II.
PRAYER AT THE SIGNING OF A CHILD WHEN IT RECEIVETH A NAME ON THE EIGHTH DAY AFTER ITS BIRTH.

Be it known that on the eighth day after birth the babe is brought by the nurse to the temple, and she standeth before the doors of the temple.

And the priest maketh,

Blessed be our God... Trisagion. O most holy Trinity... And after Our Father... For thine is the kingdom...

Then the troparion of the day, or of the holy habitation. And the priest signeth its forehead, mouth, and breast, and saith the prayer.

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord our God, to thee we pray, and on thee we call, Let the light of thy countenance be signed on this thy servant (or, on this thine handmaid), name, and be he signed with the cross of thine only-begotten Son in his heart and understanding, that he may flee the vanity of the world and every evil device of the enemy, and may keep thy commandments; and grant, O Lord, that thy holy name may remain upon him unrenounced, when at the fitting time he shall be conjoined with thy holy church, and be perfected with the terrible mysteries of thy Christ, that, living according to thy commandments and preserving the seal unbroken, he may attain unto the blessedness of thine elect in thy kingdom, through the grace and love to man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Then, taking the child in his hands, he standeth before the doors of the temple, or before the image of the most holy God-bearing one, and maketh the sign of the cross, saying,

Hail, grace-accorded God-bearing Virgin! for out of thee the sun of righteousness, Christ our God, hath shined, enlightening them that are in darkness. And thou, O righteous elder, be thou glad, receiving in thine arms the deliverer of our souls, even him that granteth resurrection unto us.

And the dismissal is made.

It is necessary to know that, if the newly born babe, being exceedingly weak, do not suck, but appear likely to die, it behoveth not to wait six or eight days, and then to baptize it, as some wickedly say; but at the very hour of its birth to wash it only, and immediately to baptize it, that it die not unilluminated. Since they that are five months pregnant are, by the laws and canons, responsible for murder, if it happen that by any shock they abort the babe, so much the more is it necessary to avoid the condemnation of them that are brought forth, that they die not unilluminated.

Chapter III.
PRAYERS FOR A PARTURIENT WOMAN AFTER FORTY DAYS.

On the fortieth day the child is again brought to the temple to be churched, that is, to make a beginning of attending church. It is brought by the mother, who hath already been cleansed and washed, accompanied by the intended sponsor at the baptism.

And the priest maketh,

Blessed be our God.... Trisagion. O most holy Trinity ... and Our Father.... For thine is the kingdom....

Then the troparion of the day, or of the commemorated saint.

Glory. Both now.

Through the prayers, O Lord, of all the Saints, and of the God-bearing one, grant us thy peace, and have mercy upon us, as the alone compassionate one.

And she, holding the child, boweth her head, and the priest maketh the sign of the cross over him, and, touching his head, saith the prayer.

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy word hast made every rational and irrational creature, and hast led all things into being from non-existence; to thee we pray, and on thee we call, Cleanse this thine handmaid, name, whom thou hast saved by thy will, and who cometh into thy holy church, from every sin and from every defilement, that she may be counted worthy to partake uncondemnedly of thy holy mysteries.

Be it known that if the babe be not among the living, the prayer is read thus far.

Then, with a loud voice,

For thou art a good and man-loving God....

But if it be alive, read also this to the end.

Bless also the child which hath been born of her; increase it, sanctify it, give it understanding, and a prudent and virtuous mind; for thou hast brought it into being, and hast shewn unto it perceptible light; that at the time which thou hast appointed it may be counted worthy of spiritual light, and may be numbered together with thy holy flock, through thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Peace to all.

Bow your heads to the Lord.

Prayer for the mother of the child.

O Lord our God, who didst come for the salvation of the human race; come also unto thine handmaid, name, and, through thine honourable presbytery, count her worthy of an entrance into the temple of thy glory: wash her from bodily defilement and from spiritual stain in the completion of the forty days, and make her worthy of the communion of thy precious body and blood.

For hallowed and glorified is thy most honourable and majestic name, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer ii., for the child, which, signing it, the priest prayeth.

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord our God, who on the fortieth day wast brought as a child into the temple of the law by Mary, thine unmarried and holy Mother, and wast carried in the arms of righteous Symeon; do thou thyself, O omnipotent Master, bless this presented babe, that it may appear before thee, the Creator of all things; and do thou increase it in every work that is good and acceptable unto thee, removing far from it every opposing might by the sign of the likeness of thy cross; for thou art he that guardeth babes, O Lord; that, being counted worthy of holy baptism, it may attain unto the part of the elect of thy kingdom, being protected with us by the grace of the holy, and consubstantial, and undivided Trinity. For to thee is due all glory, thanksgiving, and worship, with thine unbeginning Father, and thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Peace to all.

Bow your heads to the Lord.

O God, Father Almighty, who by the loud-voiced prophet Esaias, hast fore-announced unto us the incarnation from a Virgin of thine only-begotten Son and our God, who, in the latter days, by thy good pleasure and by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, hath willed, through immeasurable loving-kindness, to become a child of her for the salvation of us men; and, according to the custom of thy holy law, after the fulfilment of the days of purification, submitted to be brought into the sanctuary, being himself a true lawgiver, and willed to be carried in the arms of righteous Symeon; of which mystery we have a prototype declared in the aforementioned prophet by the taking of coals with tongs from the altar, and of which we faithful also have an imitation in grace; do thou now, who art he that guardeth babes, thyself, O Lord, bless this child, together with its parents and sponsors, and count it worthy, at the fitting time, to be born again of water and of the spirit: number it with thy holy flock of rational sheep, who are called by the name of thy Christ. For thou art he who livest on high, and who regardest the lowly, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

(And if the babe be baptized, the priest performeth the act of reception into the church; but if not, he doeth this after the baptism. And, after the prayer, he here maketh the dismissal.) Then, taking the child, the priest traceth the cross with it before the gates of the temple, saying,

The servant of God, name, or the handmaid of God, name, is received into the church, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then he bringeth it into the temple, saying,

He entereth into thy house, he worshippeth towards thy holy temple.

And he bringeth it into the midst of the temple, saying,

The servant of God, name, is received into the church....

Then he saith,

In the midst of the church he singeth praise unto thee.

Then he bringeth it before the doors of the altar, saying,

The servant of God, name, is received into the church....

And he bringeth it into the holy altar, if it be of the male sex; but, if of the female, only as far as the royal gates, saying,

Now dismiss thy servant, O Master....

And after these things he layeth it before the doors of the altar, and there the sponsor, bowing thrice, taketh it up, and departeth. And the priest, as is customary, maketh the dismissal.

Chapter IV.
PRAYER FOR A WOMAN WHEN SHE HATH ABORTED A CHILD.

The priest maketh, Blessed be our God.... Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... For thine is the kingdom....

And the troparion of the day. Then,

Let us pray to the Lord.

Master, Lord our God, who wast born of the holy God-bearing and ever-virgin Mary, and as a babe wast laid in a manger; do thou thyself, according to thy great mercy, have mercy upon this thine handmaid, who to-day is in sins, having fallen even unto voluntary or involuntary murder, and hath aborted that conceived in her; and be gracious unto her willing and unwilling iniquities, and preserve her from every diabolical wile, and cleanse her defilement, heal her suffering, and grant unto her, O lover of mankind, health and strength of body and soul; and guard her by a shining angel from every assault of invisible demons, yea, O Lord, from sickness and weakness; and cleanse her from bodily defilement, and from diverse inward travail befalling her; and, by thine abundant mercy, rouse her in her humbled body, and raise her from the bed whereon she lieth. For we were conceived in sins and in transgressions, and are all defiled before thee, O Lord; and with fear we cry and say, Look down from heaven and see the helplessness of us accursed, and be gracious unto this thine handmaid, name, who is in sins, having fallen even unto voluntary or involuntary murder, and hath aborted that conceived in her; and, according to thy great mercy, as the good and man-loving God, have mercy upon her and be gracious unto her in all things that have surrounded her and have come in contact with her; for thou alone hast power to forgive sins and transgressions, through the prayers of thy most pure Mother, and all the Saints.

For to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And the dismissal is made.

Chapter V.
PRAYERS AT THE MAKING OF A CATECHUMEN.

The priest looseth the girdle of him that cometh to be illuminated, and divesteth him of his robes and his shoes, and placeth him looking towards the east, clad in one garment only, without girdle or head-dress, and barefooted, and with his hands down; and breatheth thrice in his face, and signeth him thrice upon the forehead and the breast, and layeth his hand upon his head, saying,

Let us pray to the Lord.

In thy name, O Lord, God of truth, and in the name of thine only-begotten Son, and of thy Holy Ghost, I lay mine hand upon thy servant, name, who hath been counted worthy to betake himself to thy holy name, and to be protected under the shadow of thy wings. Remove far from him that old error, and fill him with faith that is in thee, and with hope and charity, that he may understand that thou alone art the true God, and thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and thy Holy Ghost. Grant him to walk in all thy commandments, and to observe those things which are acceptable unto thee; for, if a man do these, he shall find life in them. Inscribe him in thy book of life, and unite him to the flock of thine inheritance. May thy holy name be glorified in him, and that of thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and that of thy life-creating Spirit. Let thine eyes ever regard him in mercy, and thine ears be ever attentive unto the voice of his prayer. Let him rejoice in the works of his hands, and in all his generation, that he may give thanks unto thee, worshipping and glorifying thy great and most high name, and may ever praise thee all the days of his life,

Exclamation.

For all the powers of heaven praise thee, and thine is the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

First exorcism.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

The Lord forbiddeth thee, O devil, he that came into the world and made his dwelling among men, that he might cast down thy tyranny, and deliver men; he that upon the tree triumphed over the opposing powers, when the sun was darkened, and the earth was shaken, and the tombs were opened, and the bodies of the saints arose; he that by death destroyed death, and overcame him that held the might of death, that is, even thee, O devil. I forbid thee by God, who showeth forth the tree of life, and rangeth the cherubim, and the flaming sword that turneth about to guard this. Be thou forbidden! for I forbid thee by him that walketh upon the waves of the sea as upon dry land, who forbiddeth the storm of winds, whose glance drieth up the depths, and whose threatenings melt the mountains; for it is he himself that now forbiddeth thee through us. Be thou afraid, and depart, and absent thyself from this creature, and come thou not back, neither hide thyself in him, nor encounter him, nor influence him, either in the night, or in the day, or in the morning, or at noon; but get thee away to thine own tartarus, until the appointed great day of judgment. Fear God, who sitteth upon the cherubim, and looketh upon the depths, before whom tremble angels, archangels, thrones, dominations, principalities, virtues, powers, the many-eyed cherubim, and the six-winged seraphim; whom heaven and earth fear, the sea, and all that in them is. Get thee away and depart from the sealed newly-elected soldier of Christ our God; for I forbid thee by him that rideth upon the wings of the winds, that maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire; get thee away and depart from this creature with all thy might and angels.

Exclamation.

For glorified is the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Second exorcism.

Let us pray to the Lord.

God, the holy, the terrible, and the glorious, who concerning all his works and strength is incomprehensible and unsearchable, who himself hath ordained for thee, O devil, the retribution of eternal torment, through us, his unworthy servants, biddeth thee, and all thy co-operating might to depart from him that is newly sealed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our true God. I forbid thee therefore, O most evil, and impure, and foul, and abominable, and alien spirit, by the might of Jesus Christ, who hath all power in heaven and upon earth, who spake unto the deaf and dumb demon, Get thee out of the man, and enter no more into him. Depart, know the vainness of thy might, which had not power even over swine. Remember him who bade thee, at thy request, enter into the herd of swine. Fear God, at whose command the earth was stablished upon the waters; who hath founded the heaven, and fixed the mountains with a line, and the valleys with a measure; who hath placed the sand as a bound for the sea, and made a safe path in the raging water; who toucheth the mountains and they smoke; who investeth himself with light as with a garment; who hath stretched out the heaven as a curtain; who covereth his upper-chambers with waters; who hath founded the earth on firm foundations, so that it shall not be moved for ever; who calleth up the water of the sea, and poureth it upon the face of the earth. Get thee hence and depart from him who is being prepared for holy illumination. I forbid thee by the saving passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by his precious body and blood, and by his terrible advent; for he shall come, and shall not tarry, to judge all the earth, and shall punish thee and thy co-operating might in the gehenna of fire, consigning thee to outer darkness, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. For of Christ our God is the might, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Third exorcism.

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord of Sabaoth, the God of Israel, who healest every sickness and every wound; look down upon thy servant, search out and try him, and drive away from him every operation of the devil. Forbid the unclean spirits, and expel them, and cleanse the work of thy hand, and, using thy swift efficacy, beat down satan shortly under his feet; and give him victory over him, and over his unclean spirits; that, obtaining mercy from thee, he may be counted worthy of thine immortal and heavenly mysteries, and may ascribe glory unto thee, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Fourth prayer.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Thou that art, Master, Lord, who madest man after thine image and likeness, and gavest him the power of eternal life, and when he had fallen through sin didst not disdain him, but didst provide, through the incarnation of thy Christ, for the salvation of the world; do thou thyself also, delivering this thy creature from the yoke of the enemy, receive him into thy heavenly kingdom: open his mental eyes, that the light of thy gospel may dawn upon him: join to his life a shining angel, who may deliver him from every adverse snare, from evil encounters, from the noon-day demon, and from wicked illusions.

And the priest breatheth on his mouth, on his forehead, and on his breast, saying,

Drive from him every evil and unclean spirit, hiding and lurking in his heart.

And he saith this thrice.

The spirit of error, the spirit of evil, the spirit of idolatry and of all covetousness, the spirit of lying and of all uncleanness, that worketh according to the instruction of the devil. And make him a rational sheep of the holy flock of thy Christ, an honourable member of thy church, a son and inheritor of thy kingdom; that, living according to thy commandments, and keeping the seal unbroken, and preserving the garment undefiled, he may attain unto the blessedness of the saints in thy kingdom.

With a loud voice.

Through the grace, and compassions, and love to man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And he that is to be baptized, being unvested and barefooted, the priest turneth him looking towards the west, with his hands uplifted, and saith,

Dost thou renounce satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his service, and all his pomp?

And the catechumen answereth, or his sponsor, if he that is to be baptized be a barbarian, or a child, and saith, I renounce.

Again the priest saith a second time,

Dost thou renounce satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his service, and all his pomp?

And he answereth, I renounce.

Again the priest saith a third time.

Dost thou renounce satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his service, and all his pomp?

And he answereth, I renounce.

Again the priest interrogateth him that is to be baptized.

Hast thou renounced satan?

And the catechumen answereth, or his sponsor, I have renounced.

Again the priest interrogateth,

Hast thou renounced satan?

And he answereth, I have renounced.

Again the priest interrogateth a third time,

Hast thou renounced satan?

And he answereth, I have renounced.

Then the priest saith,

Blow upon him, and spit upon him.

And this being done, the priest turneth him looking towards the east, with his hands down; and the priest saith to him,

Dost thou join Christ?

And the catechumen answereth, or his sponsor, saying, I join.

Again the priest saith a second time,

Dost thou join Christ?

He answereth a second time, I join.

Again the priest saith a third time,

Dost thou join Christ?

He answereth a third time, I join.

Then again the priest saith to him,

Hast thou joined Christ?

And he answereth, I have joined.

And again he saith, Dost thou believe in him?

And he saith, I believe in him, as King and God.

And he saith,

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, who was begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is together worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead; And the life in the ages to come. Amen.

And when he hath finished the holy symbol, he also again saith to him,

Hast thou joined Christ?

And he answereth, I have joined.

And again he saith, Dost thou believe in him?

And he saith, I believe in him as King and God. And he saith, I believe in one God ... all to the end.

And when he hath finished the holy symbol a second time, again he saith to him a third time,

Hast thou joined Christ?

And he answereth, I have joined.

And again he saith, Dost thou believe in him?

And he saith, I believe in him, as King and God. And he saith, I believe in one God ... all to the end.

And when he hath finished the holy symbol a third time, the priest again interrogateth him, saying,

Hast thou joined Christ?

And he answereth, I have joined.

Again the priest interrogateth a second time,

Hast thou joined Christ?

And he answereth a second time, I have joined.

Again the priest interrogateth a third time,

Hast thou joined Christ?

And he answereth a third time, I have joined.

And the priest saith, Bow thyself also unto him.

And he boweth himself, saying,

I bow myself to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, to the consubstantial and undivided Trinity.

Then the priest saith,

Blessed be God, who desireth that all men should be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Then he saith this prayer.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Master, Lord our God, call thy servant, name, to thy holy illumination, and count him worthy of this great grace of thy holy baptism: put off from him the old man, and renew him unto everlasting life, and fill him with the power of thy Holy Ghost, in the unity of thy Christ, that he may be no longer a child of the body, but a child of thy kingdom; through the goodwill and grace of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Chapter VI.
THE ORDER OF HOLY BAPTISM.

The priest entereth, and vesteth himself with the white sacerdotal garment, and the maniples, and all the tapers are lighted, and he taketh the censer, and goeth to the font and censeth round, and giveth up the censer, and boweth himself.

Then saith the deacon,

Bless, master.

And the priest, with a loud voice,

Blessed be the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And the deacon straightway saith the ectenia.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace that is from above....

For the peace of the whole world....

For this holy temple....

For the Most Holy Governing Synod....

For our Most Pious....

That this water may be hallowed by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be sent down into it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan, let us pray to the Lord.

That there may come down into this water the cleansing operation of the supersubstantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.

That we may be illuminated with the illumination of understanding and piety through the descent of the Holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.

That it may be manifested the averting of every counsel of visible and invisible enemies, let us pray to the Lord.

That he that is baptized therein may be worthy of the incorruptible kingdom, let us pray to the Lord.

For him that now cometh to holy illumination, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

That he may be manifested a son of light, and an inheritor of eternal good things, let us pray to the Lord.

That he may be planted with, and become a partaker of the death and resurrection of Christ our God, let us pray to the Lord.

That he may preserve the garment of baptism, and the earnest of the Spirit undefiled and unblameable in the terrible day of Christ our God, let us pray to the Lord.

That this water may be to him the bath of regeneration, unto the forgiveness of sins, and the putting on of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord.

That the Lord God may hearken unto the voice of our prayer, let us pray to the Lord.

That he may deliver him and us from all affliction, passion, and want, let us pray to the Lord.

Help us, save us, have mercy....

Commemorating our most holy, most pure....

And while the deacon is saying these, the priest saith this prayer to himself secretly.

O loving-kind and merciful God, who triest the hearts and reins, and who alone knowest the secrets of men, for nothing is unmanifest before thee, but all things are naked and exposed in thine eyesight; do thou thyself, who perceivest that which concerneth me, loathe me not, neither turn away thy face from me; but overlook mine offences in this hour, O thou that overlookest the sins of men that they may repent. And wash me from the defilement of my body and from the stain of my soul, and sanctify me wholly by thine all-effectual invisible might, and by thy spiritual right hand, lest, preaching liberty to others, and offering this in the perfect faith of thine unspeakable love to man, I myself may be condemned as a servant of sin. Nay, O Master, who alone art good and man-loving, let me not be turned back humbled; but send unto me power from on high, and strengthen me for the ministration of this thy present great and most heavenly mystery; and form the image of thy Christ in him who is about to be born again through my humility; and build him upon the foundation of thine apostles and prophets; and cast him not down, but plant him as a plant of truth in thy holy, catholic, and apostolic church; and pluck him not up, that, by his advancing in piety, by the same may be glorified thy most holy name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

It behoveth to know that he maketh no exclamation, but saith even the Amen to himself.

Then he saith this prayer with a loud voice,

Great art thou, O Lord, and wonderful are thy works, and no word shall be sufficient for the praise of thy wonders.

Thrice.

For thou by thy will hast from nothingness brought all things into being, and by thy power thou sustainest creation, and by thy foreknowledge, directest the world. Thou from four elements hast formed creation, and hast crowned the circle of the year with four seasons. All the spiritual powers tremble before thee, the sun praiseth thee, the moon glorifieth thee, the stars make intercession with thee, the light hearkeneth unto thee, the depths shudder at thy presence, the springs of water serve thee. Thou hast stretched out the heaven as a curtain, thou hast founded the earth upon the waters, thou hast bounded the sea with sand, thou hast diffused the air for breathing. The angelic powers minister unto thee, the choirs of archangels worship thee, the many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim, standing and flying around, cover themselves with fear of thine unapproachable glory. For thou, being the uninscribable, unbeginning, and unspeakable God, didst come down upon earth, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; for thou, O Master, through the tenderness of thy mercy, didst not endure to behold the race of men tormented by the devil, but thou didst come and save us. We confess thy grace, we proclaim thy mercy, we conceal not thy beneficence. Thou hast set at liberty the generations of our nature, thou didst hallow the virginal womb by thy birth. All creation praiseth thee who didst manifest thyself; for thou, O our God, wast seen upon earth, and didst dwell together with men. Thou didst hallow the streams of Jordan, sending down from heaven thy Holy Ghost, and didst crush the heads of the dragons that lurked therein.

Do thou thyself therefore, O man-loving King, be present now also through the descent of thy Holy Ghost, and sanctify this water.

Thrice.

And give it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, a loosing of sins, a healing of sicknesses, a destruction of demons, unapproachable by hostile powers, fulfilled with angelic strength, and let them that take counsel together against thy creature flee therefrom; for I have called upon thy name, O Lord, which is wonderful, and glorious, and terrible to adversaries.

And he signeth the water thrice, dipping his fingers therein, and, breathing upon it, saith,

Let all the hostile powers be crushed beneath the sign of the image of thy cross.

Thrice.

We pray thee, O Lord, let every airy and invisible spectre withdraw itself from us, and let not a demon of darkness conceal himself in this water, neither let an evil spirit, bringing obscurity of purpose and rebellious thoughts, descend thereinto with him that is to be baptized. But thou, O Master of all, declare this water water of redemption, water of sanctification, a cleansing of flesh and spirit, a loosing of bonds, a forgiveness of iniquities, an illumination of soul, a bath of regeneration, a renewal of the spirit, a gift of sonship, a garment of incorruption, a fountain of life. For thou hast said, O Lord, Wash you, and be ye clean, put away evil from your souls. Thou hast bestowed upon us regeneration from on high by water and the spirit. Manifest thyself, O Lord, in this water, and grant that he that is to be baptized may be transformed therein to the putting away of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and to the putting on of the new, which is renewed according to the image of him that created him, that, being planted in the likeness of thy death through baptism, he may become a sharer of resurrection; and, preserving the gift of thy Holy Ghost, and increasing the deposit of grace, he may attain unto the prize of his high calling, and be counted among the number of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, to thee our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might, together with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Peace to all.

Bow your heads to the Lord.

And he breatheth thrice upon the cruet of oil, and signeth this thrice, while it is held by the deacon, who saith,

Let us pray to the Lord.

And the priest saith the prayer.

Master, Lord, O God of our fathers, who didst send to them that were in the ark of Noe a dove bearing a twig of olive in its mouth as a sign of reconciliation and salvation from the flood, and by the same didst fore-image the mystery of grace, and who hast provided the fruit of the olive for the completion of thy holy mysteries, and thereby hast filled them that were under the law with the Holy Ghost, and perfected them that are under grace; do thou thyself bless this oil by the might, and operation, and descent of thy Holy Ghost, that it may become an anointing of incorruption, a shield of righteousness, a renewal of soul and body, an averting of every diabolical operation, to the removal of all evils from them that are anointed with it in faith, or that are partakers of it to thy glory, and to that of thine only-begotten Son, and of thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us attend.

And the priest, singing Alleluia thrice with the people, maketh three crosses with the oil upon the water.

Then he exclaimeth,

Blessed be God, who enlighteneth and sanctifieth every man that cometh into the world, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And he that is to be baptized is brought forward; and the priest taketh of the oil with two fingers, and maketh the sign of the cross on his forehead, and breast, and between his shoulders, saying,

The servant of God, name, is anointed with the oil of gladness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And he signeth his breast and between the shoulders. On the breast saying,

For the healing of soul and body.

And on the ears, For the hearing of faith.

On the hands, Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me.

On the feet, That he may walk in the path of thy commandments.

And when he hath anointed the whole body, the priest baptizeth him, holding him erect and looking towards the east, saying,

The servant of God, name, is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

At each invocation he immerseth him, and raiseth him again. And after the baptism the priest washeth his hands, singing with the people psalm xxxi.

Blessed are they whose transgressions....

And this whole psalm is said thrice; and, vesting him with the robe, he saith,

The servant of God, name, is invested with the robe of righteousness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

And the troparion is sung in tone viii.

Give unto me a shining robe, thou that art invested with light as with a garment, O most merciful Christ our God.

And after investing him, the priest prayeth, saying this prayer.

Blessed art thou, O Lord God Almighty, fountain of good things, sun of righteousness, who shinest to them that are in darkness the light of salvation, through the manifestation of thine only-begotten Son, and our God, and grantest unto us, unworthy ones, blessed cleansing in holy water, and divine sanctification in life-effecting anointing; and who art now well-pleased for thy servant, the newly-illuminated, to be born again through water and the spirit, and who grantest unto him remission of voluntary and involuntary sins; do thou thyself, O Master, thou loving-kind supreme King, bestow upon him also the seal of thine omnipotent and adorable Holy Ghost, and the communion of the holy body and the precious blood of thy Christ; keep him in thy sanctification, confirm him in the orthodox faith; deliver him from the evil one and all his devices; and preserve his soul, through thy saving fear, in purity and righteousness, that, in every work and word, being acceptable unto thee, he may become a son and heir of thine heavenly kingdom.

With a loud voice. For thou art our God, the God of mercy and salvation, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And, after the prayer, he anointeth the baptized with the holy myrrh, making the sign of the cross, On the forehead, and eyes, and nostrils, and lips, And both ears, and breast, And hands, and feet, and saying,

The seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the priest maketh, together with the sponsor and the child, a circumambulation. And we sing,

As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia, thrice.

Then the prokimenon, tone iii.

The Lord is mine illumination, and my saviour, whom shall I fear?

Verse. The Lord is the defence of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

The epistle to the Romans, section xci.

Brethren, as many of us as were baptized.... ending, through Jesus Christ our Lord.[9]

Priest. Peace to thee.

Deacon. Wisdom, let us attend.

Reader. Alleluia.

After this the deacon. Wisdom, standing, let us hear the holy gospel.

Priest. The reading of the holy gospel from Matthew.

Deacon. Let us attend.

The priest readeth, section cxvi. At that time, the eleven disciples.... ending, the end of the world. Amen.[10]

Then the ectenia.

Have mercy upon us, O God....

Furthermore let us pray for our Most Pious Autocratic Great Lord, THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVITCH of all Russia.

Furthermore let us pray for His Consort, the Most Pious Lady, THE EMPRESS MARIA THEODOROVNA.

Furthermore let us pray for His Heir, the Right-believing Lord, the Cesarevitch and Grand Duke, NICOLAUS ALEXANDROVITCH.

Furthermore let us pray for the Most Holy Governing Synod.

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and forgiveness of sins for the servant of God, name, the sponsor.

Furthermore let us pray for the newly-illuminated servant of God, name.

That he may be preserved in the faith of a pure confession, in all piety, and in the fulfilment of the commandments of Christ throughout all the days of his life.

For a merciful and man-loving God thou art....

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Glory to thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to thee.

Glory. Both now.

Lord, have mercy, thrice. Bless.

And the priest maketh the dismissal.

Note. And on the eighth day they bring him again to the church for the ablution. And the priest looseth his garment and girdle, saying these prayers.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Thou that by holy baptism hast granted forgiveness of sins unto thy servant, and bestowed upon him a life of regeneration; do thou thyself, O Master Lord, be pleased that the light of thy countenance may evermore shine in his heart, Keep the escutcheon of his faith undefamed by enemies: preserve for him the garment of incorruption, which he hath put on, undefiled and unstained: preserve unbroken in him the spiritual seal by thy grace; and be gracious unto him and unto us, according to the plenitude of thy compassions.

For blessed and glorified is thy most honourable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer ii.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Master, Lord our God, who, through the font, bestowest heavenly illumination upon them that are baptized, who hast regenerated thy servant, the newly-illuminated, by water and the spirit, and bestowed upon him forgiveness of his voluntary and involuntary sins; do thou lay upon him thy mighty hand, and keep him in the power of thy goodness; preserve his pledge inviolate, and count him worthy of eternal life, and of thine approval.

For thou art our sanctification, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Peace to all.

Choir. And to thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads to the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

He that hath put on thee, O Christ our God, with us boweth his head to thee; and do thou keep him that he may abide a combatant unovercome against them that bear vain enmity against him and us, and by thy crown of incorruption at the last declare us all to be victorious ones. For it is thine to have mercy and to save, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And he looseneth the child’s girdle and garment, and, joining the ends of these, soaketh them with clean water, and sprinkleth the child, saying,

Thou art justified. Thou art illuminated. Thou art sanctified. Thou art washed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.

And he taketh a new sponge dipped in water, and wipeth his face, as also his head, and breast, and the rest, saying,

Thou art baptized. Thou art illuminated. Thou art anointed with myrrh. Thou art sanctified. Thou art washed. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer at the tonsure of the hair.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord have mercy.

Master, Lord our God, who didst honour man with thine image, providing him with a rational soul and comely body, that the body might serve the rational soul; for thou didst place the head in superiority, and therein emplant the greater number of the senses, which impede not one another, and didst cover the head with hair that it might not be injured by the changes of weather, and didst fit all the members serviceably thereunto, that by all it might render thanks unto thee, the excellent artist; do thou thyself, O Master, who, by thy chosen vessel, Paul, the apostle, hast bidden us to do all things to thy glory, bless thy servant, name, who is come to make the first offering by the cutting of the hair of his head; and with him also his sponsors; and grant unto them all that they may exercise themselves in thy law, and do those things that are acceptable unto thee.

For a merciful and man-loving God thou art, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Peace to all.

Choir. And to thy spirit.

Deacon. Bow your heads to the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

And the priest saith this prayer.

O Lord our God, who, through the completion of the bath, hast, by thy goodness, sanctified them that believe in thee; do thou bless the present child, and may thy blessing come down upon his head. And as by Samuel the prophet thou didst bless David the King, so also bless the head of thy servant, name, by the hand of me, a sinner, visiting him with thy Holy Ghost, that he may increase unto maturity, and in the grey hairs of old age may ascribe glory unto thee, and may see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of his life.

For to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And he sheareth him in the form of a cross, saying,

The servant of God, name, is shorn, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Choir. Amen.

Then the ectenia, in which after THE EMPEROR, the sponsor is commemorated together with the newly-illuminated.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy....

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life, peace, health, and for the salvation of the servant of God, name, the sponsor, and, name, the newly-illuminated.

Priest. For a merciful....

And the customary dismissal is made.