Forty Days

Εὐχαὶ εἰς τὸ ἐκκλησιάσαι παιδίον, μεθʼ ἡμέρας τεσσαράκοντα.

Prayers for the Churching of a Mother and Child After Forty Days

Ἱσταμένης δὲ τῆς μητρὸς μετὰ τοῦ βρέφους πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ Ναοῦ, ὁ Ἱερεὺς λέγει·

Standing together with the mother, child and sponsor before the doors of the nave of the church, the Priest says:

ΙΕΡΕΥΣ

PRIEST

Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν πάντοτε, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΗΣ

READER

Τρισάγιον.

Trisagion Prayers.

Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. (3)

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν. Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Κύριε, ἐλέησον. Κύριε, ἐλέησον. Κύριε, ἐλέησον.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου. Ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου. Γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον. Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν. Καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. [GOA]

Our Father, who art in heaven, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [GOA]

ΙΕΡΕΥΣ

PRIEST

Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

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

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Καὶ κλινούσης τῆς μητρὸς τὴν κεφαλήν, ἅμα τῷ βρέφει, ποιεῖ ὁ Ἱερεὺς τὴν τοῦ Σταυροῦ σφραγῖδα ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ καὶ ἁπτόμενος τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῆς, λέγει τὴν ἑπομένην Εὐχήν.

Over the bowed heads of mother and child, the Priest makes the sign of the Cross. He then lays his hand upon the mother’s head and says:

ΙΕΡΕΥΣ

PRIEST

Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

Let us pray to the Lord.

( Κύριε, ἐλέησον. )

( Lord, have mercy. )

Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ Πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ πᾶσαν φύσιν λογικήν τε καὶ ἄλογον διὰ τοῦ λόγου σου δημιουργήσας· ὁ πάντα ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων εἰς τὸ εἶναι παραγαγών, σοῦ δεόμεθα καὶ σὲ παρακαλοῦμεν· ἣν τῷ σῷ θελήματι διέσωσας δούλην σου (τήνδε), καθάρισον ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας καὶ ἀπὸ παντὸς ῥύπου, προσερχομένην τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου Ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἵνα ἀκατακρίτως ἀξιωθῇ μετασχεῖν τῶν ἁγίων σου Μυστηρίων.

O Lord God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who by Your word has made every rational and irrational creature, that brought all things out of nothingness into being: we pray to You and implore You, cleanse this Your servant (Name), whom by Your Will You have preserved, and who now comes into Your Holy Church, from every transgression, so that she may be accounted worthy to partake of Your holy Mysteries without condemnation. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Τότε ἁπτόμενος τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ λέγει·

Then he touches the child’s head and says:

Καὶ τὸ ἐξ αὐτῆς τεχθὲν παιδίον, εὐλόγησον, αὔξησον, ἁγίασον, συνέτισον, σωφρόνισον, καλοφρόνησον· ὅτι σὺ παρήγαγες αὐτό, καὶ ἔδειξας αὐτῷ τὸ φῶς τὸ αἰσθητόν, (ταῦτα παραλείπονται ἐὰν τὸ τέκνον ᾖ βεβαπτισμένον) ἵνα καὶ τοῦ νοητοῦ καταξιωθῇ φωτὸς ἐν καιρῷ, ᾧ προώρισας, καὶ συγκαταριθμηθῇ τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου ποίμνῃ διὰ τοῦ μονογενοῦς σου Υἱοῦ, μεθ᾿ οὗ εὐλογητὸς εἶ, σὺν τῷ παναγίῳ καὶ ἀγαθῷ, καὶ ζωοποιῷ σου Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

Bless also this child which has been born of her; increase it sanctify it, give it understanding and a prudent and virtuous mind; for You alone have brought it into being, and have shown him (her) the light which bodily sense perceives, so that he (she) might be accounted worthy also of the ideal light and be numbered with Your holy Flock; through Your Only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Εἰρήνη πᾶσι.

Peace be with all.

( Καὶ τῷ πνεύματί σου. )

( And with your spirit. )

Τὰς κεφαλὰς ἡμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ κλίνωμεν.

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

( Σοί, Κύριε. )

( To You, O Lord. )

Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

Let us pray to the Lord.

( Κύριε, ἐλέησον. )

( Lord, have mercy. )

Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ διὰ τῆς ἐνανθρωπήσεως τοῦ μονογενοῦς σου Υἱοῦ παραγενόμενος ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ τοῦ γένους τῶν ἀνθρώπων, παραγενοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν δούλην σου (τήνδε) καὶ καταξίωσον αὐτήν, διὰ τῶν εὐχῶν τοῦ τιμίου Πρεσβυτερίου, καταφυγεῖν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου καθολικῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ τυχεῖν τῆς εἰσόδου τοῦ ναοῦ τῆς δόξης σου, καὶ ἀξίωσον αὐτὴν μεταλαβεῖν τοῦ τιμίου Σώματος καὶ Αἵματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου. Ἀπόπλυνον αὐτῆς τὸν ῥύπον τοῦ σώματος, καὶ τὸν σπίλον τῆς ψυχῆς, ἐν τῇ συμπληρώσει τῶν τεσσαράκοντα ἡμερῶν· ὅπως, ἀξιωθεῖσα εἰσελθεῖν ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ναῷ σου, δοξάσῃ σὺν ἡμῖν τὸ πανάγιον ὄνομά σου τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

O Lord God, Who ever draws near for the salvation of the human race, come also to this Your servant (Name), and through the prayers of Your venerable Priesthood account her worthy to find refuge in Your holy Catholic Church, to obtain entrance into the Temple of Your Glory, and worthy also to partake of the Precious Body and Blood of Your Christ. In the fulfillment of the forty days, wash away from her every transgression, voluntary and involuntary, so that accounted worthy to enter Your holy Temple, she may glorify with us Your All-holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

Let us pray to the Lord.

( Κύριε, ἐλέησον. )

( Lord, have mercy. )

Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ ἐν τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέραις, βρέφος τῷ νομικῷ Ναῷ προσαχθεὶς ὑπὸ Μαρίας τῆς ἀπειρογάμου καὶ ἁγίας σου Μητρός, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀγκάλαις τοῦ δικαίου Συμεὼν βασταχθείς, Αὐτός, Δέσποτα παντοδύναμε, καὶ τὸ προσαχθὲν τοῦτο βρέφος, ἐμφανισθῆναί σοι τῷ πάντων Ποιητῇ, εὐλόγησον, καὶ εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν καὶ σοὶ εὐάρεστον αὔξησον, ἀποσοβῶν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ πᾶσαν ἐναντίαν δύναμιν, διὰ τῆς σημειώσεως τοῦ τύπου τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου· σὺ γὰρ εἶ ὁ φυλάσσων τὰ νήπια, Κύριε· «ἵνα, καταξιωθὲν τοῦ ἁγίου Βαπτίσματος»* τύχῃ τῆς μερίδος τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν τῆς βασιλείας σου, φυλαττόμενον σὺν ἡμῖν τῇ χάριτι τῆς ἁγίας, καὶ ὁμοουσίου, καὶ ἀδιαιρέτου Τριάδος. Σοὶ γὰρ πρέπει πᾶσα δόξα καὶ εὐχαριστία καὶ προσκύνησις, σὺν τῷ ἀνάρχῳ σου Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ παναγίῳ καὶ ἀγαθῷ καὶ ζωοποιῷ σου Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

O Lord our God, Who on the fortieth day was brought as a child into the Temple of the Law by Mary, the Virgin Bride and Your holy Mother, and was carried in the arms of the righteous Symeon, do You also, Sovereign Master All-Powerful, bless this presented babe that it may appear before You, the Creator of all things. And do You increase in him (her) every good work acceptable to You, removing from him (her) every opposing might by the sign of the likeness of Your Cross; for You are He Who guards infants, O Lord. So that, accounted worthy of holy Baptism, he (she) may obtain the portion of Your Elect of the Kingdom, being protected with us by the Grace of the Holy Consubstantial and Undivided Trinity. For unto You do we send up Glory, Honor and Worship, with Your Eternal Father and Your All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

Let us pray to the Lord.

( Κύριε, ἐλέησον. )

( Lord, have mercy. )

Ὁ Θεός, ὁ Πατήρ, ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ διὰ τοῦ μεγαλοφωνοτάτου τῶν προφητῶν Ἡσαΐου, προκαταγγείλας ἡμῖν τὴν ἐκ Παρθένου σάρκωσιν τοῦ μονογενοῦς σου Υἱοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ὃς ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, εὐδοκίᾳ σῇ καὶ συνεργείᾳ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, διὰ τὴν τῶν βροτῶν σωτηρίαν, ἀμέτρῳ εὐσπλαγχνίᾳ ἐξ αὐτῆς νηπιάσαι καταδεξάμενος, καὶ κατὰ τὸ εἰθισμένον ἐν Νόμῳ ἁγίῳ σου, μετὰ τὴν ἐκπλήρωσιν τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ, τῷ Ἱερῷ προσαχθῆναι ἠνέσχετο, ἀληθὴς νομοθέτης ὑπάρχων, καὶ ἐν ἀγκάλαις τοῦ δικαίου Συμεὼν βασταχθῆναι κατεδέξατο, οὗπερ μυστηρίου τὴν προτύπωσιν ἐν τῷ προλεχθέντι Προφήτῃ, διὰ τῆς λαβίδος τοῦ ἄνθρακος, δηλωθεῖσαν ἐπέγνωμεν, οὗ καὶ ἡμεῖς οἱ πιστοὶ τὴν μίμησιν ἐν χάριτι κατέχομεν· Αὐτὸς καὶ νῦν, ὁ φυλάσσων τὰ νήπια, Κύριε, εὐλόγησον τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, ἅμα τοῖς γονεῦσι καὶ ἀναδόχοις αὐτοῦ· «καὶ καταξίωσον αὐτὸ ἐν καιρῷ εὐθέτῳ καὶ τῆς δι᾿ ὕδατος καὶ πνεύματος ἀναγεννήσεως· συγκαταρίθμησον αὐτὸ τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου ποίμνῃ τῶν λογικῶν προβάτων, τῶν ἐπικεκλημένων τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου».* Ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐν ὑψηλοῖς κατοικῶν καὶ τὰ ταπεινὰ ἐφορῶν, καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

O God, the Father Almighty, Who by the loud; voice Prophet Isaiah has foretold to us the incarnation from a Virgin of Your Only; Begotten Son and our God; Who in the latter days, by Your good pleasure and by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit have willed, through measureless love, to become a child of her for the salvation of men; and, according to the custom of Your Holy Law, after the fulfillment 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 the 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 You, Who are He that watches over babes, Yourself, O Lord, bless (+) this child, together with its parents and sponsors, and account it worthy, at the fitting time, to be born again of water and the Spirit. Number it with Your holy Flock of rational sheep, who are called by the Name of Your Christ. For You are He that dwells on high, and gives regard to the things which are lowly, and to You do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Εἶτα, λαβὼν ὁ Ἱερεὺς τὸ παιδίον, σχηματίζει δι᾿ αὐτοῦ Σταυρὸν πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ Ναοῦ, λέγων·

Then, taking up the child, the Priest lifts it up in the sign of the Cross before the Gates of the Temple, saying:

Ἐκκλησιάζεται ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ (ὁ δεῖνα), εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος.

The servant of God (Name) is churched, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Εἶτα εἰσάγει αὐτὸ ἐν τῷ Ναῷ λέγων·

And he carries the child into the Holy Temple, saying:

Εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου, Κύριε, προσκυνήσω πρὸς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου.

I will come into Your house, O Lord; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. [SAAS]

Καὶ εἰσέρχεται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τοῦ Ναοῦ, λέγων·

Coming to the center of the church, he says:

The servant of God (Name) is churched, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Ἐν μέσῳ ἐκκλησίας ὑμνήσω σε.

In the midst of the church I will sing to You. [SAAS]

Εἶτα προσάγει αὐτὸ πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ Θυσιαστηρίου λέγων·

Then he brings the child before the Doors of the Altar, saying:

The servant of God (Name) is churched, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. [HC]

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Καί εἰσάγει αὐτὸ εἰς τὸ ἅγιον Θυσιαστήριον, εἰ μὲν εἴη ἄῤῥεν· εἰ δὲ θῆλυ, ἕως τῶν ὡραίων πυλῶν, λέγων τὸ·

If the child is male the Priest carries him into the Altar; if a female, the child is carried only as far as the Holy Doors. He then says:

Νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, Δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου, ἐν εἰρήνῃ· ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου, ὃ ἡτοίμασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν· φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν, καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ἰσραήλ.

Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. [NKJV]

Δόξα σοι, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, δόξα σοι.

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

Ὁ ἐν ἀγκάλαις τοῦ δικαίου Συμεὼν βασταχθῆναι καταδεξάμενος, διὰ τὴν ἡμῶν σωτηρίαν, Χριστὸς ὁ ἀληθινὸς Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ταῖς πρεσβείαις τῆς παναχράντου καὶ παναμώμου ἁγίας αὐτοῦ Μητρός, δυνάμει τοῦ τιμίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ, προστασίαις τῶν τιμίων ἐπουρανίων δυνάμεων ἀσωμάτων, ἱκεσίαις τοῦ τιμίου, ἐνδόξου, προφήτου, προδρόμου καὶ βαπτιστοῦ Ἰωάννου, τῶν ἁγίων ἐνδόξων καὶ πανευφήμων ἀποστόλων, τῶν ἁγίων ἐνδόξων καὶ καλλινίκων μαρτύρων· τῶν ὁσίων καὶ θεοφόρων πατέρων ἡμῶν· (τοῦ ἁγίου τοῦ ναοῦ)· τῶν ἁγίων καὶ δικαίων θεοπατόρων Ἰωακεὶμ καὶ Ἄννης, καὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων, ἐλεήσαι καὶ σώσαι ἡμᾶς, ὡς ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος καὶ ἐλεήμων Θεός.

May He who condescended to be held in the arms of righteous Symeon, for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Διʼ εὐχῶν τῶν ἁγίων πατέρων ἡμῶν, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Καὶ μετὰ τὸ Ἀμὴν σφραγίζει τὸ μέτωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ στόμα καὶ τὸ στῆθος ἐπιλέγων καὶ τὸ τῆς ἁγίας Τριάδος ὄνομα.

After the Amen, the priest makes the sign of the Cross over the forehead, mouth, and chest of the child, invoking the name of the Holy Trinity.

Καὶ οὕτως ἀποδίδωσι τὸ βρέφος τῇ μητρί.

He then returns the child to the mother.