ΕΥΧΑΙ ΕΙΣ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΑ ΛΩΧΩ
[PRAYERS FOR A WOMAN IN CHILDBED]
Τῇ πρώτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς γεννήσεως τοῦ παιδίου αὐτῆς.
Prayers on the Birth of a Child
Εἰσέρχεται ὁ Ἱερεὺς ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ἔνθα τὸ βρέφος ἐγεννήθη καὶ ἵσταται πρὸ τοῦ πυλῶνος φέρων τὸ ἐπιτραχήλιον. Κἀκεῖσε λέγει·
Τὸ Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸ Κοντάκιον, εἰ ἐστὶν ἑορτὴ Δεσποτικὴ ἢ Θεομητορική, εἰ δὲ μή·
Εἰ δὲ βούλει, λέγε·
Εἶθ᾿ οὕτω τὰς ἑπομένας Εὐχάς.
Δέσποτα, Κύριε, Παντοκράτορ, ὁ ἰώμενος πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν, αὐτὸς καὶ τὴν παροῦσαν, τὴν σήμερον τέξασαν δούλην σου (τὴν δε) ἴασαι, καὶ ἀνάστησον αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς κλίνης, ἧς ἐπίκειται· ὅτι, κατὰ τὸν τοῦ προφήτου Δαυῒδ λόγον, ἐν ἀνομίαις συνελήφθημεν καὶ διὰ ῥύπου πάντες ἐσμὲν ἐνώπιόν σου. Φύλαξον ταύτην καὶ τὸ παρὸν νήπιον, ὃ ἔτεκε· σκέπασον αὐτὴν ὑπὸ τὴν σκέπην τῶν πτερύγων σου ἀπὸ τῆς σήμερον μέχρι τῆς ἐσχάτης αὐτῆς τελειώσεως· πρεσβείαις τῆς παναχράντου Θεοτόκου, καὶ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων· Ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
O Sovereign Master and Lord Almighty, Who heals every sickness and every weakness: do You Yourself heal this Your servant (Name) who this day has borne a child, and raise her up from the bed on which she lies. For according to the words of Your Prophet David, in sin were we conceived and all are defiled before You; protect her, and this child which she has borne; shelter her under the covering of Your wings from this day to her last; through the intercessions of the all; pure Theotokos and of all the Saints, for blessed are You to ages of ages.
Δέσποτα Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ τεχθεὶς ἐκ τῆς παναχράντου Δεσποίνης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου, καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας, καὶ ὡς νήπιον ἐν φάτνῃ ἀνακλιθείς, καὶ ὡς βρέφος ἀναδειχθείς· αὐτὸς καὶ τὴν παροῦσαν δούλην σου (τήνδε) τὴν σήμερον τέξασαν τὸ παρὸν παιδίον, ἐλέησον, καὶ συγχώρησον τὰ ἑκούσια καὶ τὰ ἀκούσια αὐτῆς πταίσματα καὶ διαφύλαξον αὐτὴν ἀπὸ πάσης τοῦ Διαβόλου τυραννίδος. Καὶ τὸ ἐξ αὐτῆς κυηθὲν νήπιον διατήρησον ἀπὸ πάσης φαρμακείας, ἀπὸ πάσης χαλεπότητος, ἀπὸ πάσης ζάλης τοῦ ἀντικειμένου, ἀπὸ πνευμάτων πονηρῶν, ἡμερινῶν τε καὶ νυκτερινῶν. Ταύτην δὲ διατήρησον ὑπὸ τὴν κραταιὰν χεῖρά σου, καὶ δὸς αὐτῇ ταχινὴν ἐξανάστασιν, καὶ τοῦ ῥύπου κάθαρον καὶ τοὺς πόνους θεράπευσον, καὶ ῥῶσιν καὶ εὐρωστίαν ψυχῇ τε καὶ σώματι δώρησαι, καὶ δι᾿ Ἀγγέλων φαιδρῶν καὶ φωτεινῶν ταύτην περίθαλψον, καὶ περιφρούρησον ἀπὸ πάσης ἐπελεύσεως τῶν ἀοράτων πνευμάτων. Ναί, Κύριε, ἀπὸ νόσου καὶ μαλακίας, ἀπὸ ζήλου καὶ φθόνου, καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν βασκανίας, καὶ ἐλέησον αὐτὴν καὶ τὸ βρέφος, κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος· καὶ καθάρισον αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ σωματικοῦ ῥύπου καὶ τῶν ποικίλων αὐτῇ ἐπερχομένων σπλαγχνικῶν ἐνοχλήσεων, καὶ ἔξαξον αὐτήν, διὰ τῆς ταχινῆς σου ἐλεημοσύνης, ἐν τῷ ταπεινῷ αὐτῆς σώματι εἰς ἐπανόρθωσιν· καὶ τὸ ἐξ αὐτῆς κυηθὲν νήπιον ἀξίωσον προσκυνῆσαι τὸν ἐπίγειον ναόν, ὃν ἡτοίμασας εἰς τὸ δοξολογεῖσθαι τὸ ὄνομά σου τὸ ἅγιον· Ὅτι πρέπει σοι πᾶσα δόξα, τιμή, καὶ προσκύνησις, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
Sovereign Master and Lord our God, Who was born of our all; pure Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary, Who as a Babe was laid in a manger, and as a Child was held up to be seen, do You Yourself have mercy on this Your servant (Name) who this day has borne this child, and be gracious unto her voluntary and involuntary offenses, protecting her from every diabolical cruelty; preserve the child she has borne from every bane, from every harm, from every hostile rage, from evil spirits of the day and night; keep this woman safe under Your mighty hand. Grant to her a speedy recovery. Cleanse her of every sin; bring healing from suffering, and vouchsafe unto her health, and strength of both soul and body; and with bright, shining Angels enfold and cherish her, guarding her round about against every attack of invisible spirits; yea, Lord, from sickness and infirmity, from jealousy and envy, and from the evil eye. Have mercy on her and the newborn child according to the greatness of Your mercy. Forgive her all voluntary and involuntary sin; remove from her any travail befalling her, and through Your speedy mercy lead her to recovery in her bodily affliction; and of the infant which has been born of her do You account worthy to worship in the earthly Temple which You have prepared for the glorification of Your Holy Name. For to You are due all glory, honor, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ εὐδοκήσας κατελθεῖν ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ γεννηθῆναι ἐκ τῆς ἁγίας Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας, διὰ τὴν σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν, ὁ γινώσκων τὸ ἀσθενὲς τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως, συγχώρησον τῇ δούλῃ σου (τῇ δε), τῇ τεξάσῃ σήμερον, κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν σου. Σὺ γὰρ εἶπας, Κύριε· Αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε, καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν, καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς οἱ δοῦλοί σου δεόμεθα, καὶ θαῤῥοῦντες διὰ τῆς ἀνεξικάκου σου φιλανθρωπίας, φόβῳ βοῶμεν πρὸς τὸ τῆς βασιλείας σου ἅγιον ὄνομα. Ἐπίβλεψον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἴδε τὴν ἀσθένειαν ἡμῶν τῶν καταδίκων, καὶ συγχώρησον τῇ δούλῃ σου (τῇ δε), καὶ παντὶ τῷ οἴκῳ, ᾧ ἐγεννήθη τὸ παιδίον, καὶ τοῖς ἁψαμένοις αὐτῆς, καὶ τοῖς ἐνθάδε εὑρισκομένοις πᾶσιν, ὡς ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος Θεὸς συγχώρησον· ὅτι μόνος ἔχεις ἐξουσίαν ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας. Πρεσβείαις τῆς ἁγίας Θεοτόκου καὶ πάντων σου τῶν Ἁγίων.
O Lord our God, Who was well pleased to come down from the Heavens, and to be born of the holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary for the salvation of us sinners, Who knows the frailty of human nature: according to the multitude of Your compassions forgive the sins of Your servant (Name), who this day has borne a child, for You have said, O Lord, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and have dominion over it.” Therefore, we, Your servants, beseech You, and trusting in Your ever patient and manbefriending love, with fear invoke the holy Name of Your Kingdom; look down from Heaven and behold the feebleness of us who are condemned, and be gracious to Your Servant (Name) and to all the house in which the child has been born, and to them that have touched her and to all here present, granting forgiveness as our Good and Loving God; for You alone have the power to forgive sins, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, and of all Your Saints.
Εὐχὴ εἰς τὸ κατασφραγίσαι παιδίον, λαμβάνον ὄνομα τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀπὸ τῆς γεννήσεως αὐτοῦ.
[Prayer on the Eighth Day - Naming of Child]
Ἰστέον δὲ ὅτι τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ, μετὰ τὴν γέννησιν προσάγεται ἐν τῷ Ναῷ τὸ βρέφος παρὰ τῆς μαίας καὶ ἵσταται πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ Ναοῦ. Ὁ δὲ Ἱερεὺς φέρων, ὡς εἴθισται, τὸ Ἐπιτραχήλιον, λέγει·
Τὸ Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς ἡμέρας ἢ τοῦ Ἁγίου τοῦ Ναοῦ· εἶτα.
Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, σοῦ δεόμεθα καὶ σὲ παρακαλοῦμεν· Σημειωθήτω τὸ φῶς τοῦ προσώπου σου ἐπὶ τὸν δοῦλόν σου (τόνδε), καὶ σημειωθήτω ὁ Σταυρὸς τοῦ μονογενοῦς σου Υἱοῦ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸ φυγεῖν τὴν ματαιότητα τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν πονηράν ἐπιβουλήν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, ἀκολουθεῖν δὲ τοῖς προστάγμασί σου. Καὶ δός, Κύριε, ἀνεξάρνητον μεῖναι τὸ ὄνομά σου τὸ ἅγιον ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, συναπτόμενον ἐν καιρῷ εὐθέτῳ τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου Ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ τελειούμενον διὰ τῶν φρικτῶν Μυστηρίων τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου· ἵνα, κατὰ τὰς ἐντολάς σου πολιτευσάμενος καὶ φυλάξας τὴν σφραγῖδα ἄθραυστον, τύχῃ τῆς μακαριότητος τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου. Χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ 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. Ἀμήν.
Εἶτα σφραγίζει τὸ μέτωπον, τὸ στόμα, καὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ βρέφους, λέγων τὴν ἑπομένην Εὐχήν·
Εἶτα ἀνὰ χεῖρας λαβὼν τὸ παιδίον, ἵσταται ἔμπροσθεν τῶν πυλῶν τοῦ Ναοῦ ἢ τῆς εἰκόνος τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου, καὶ ποιῶν Σταυροῦ τύπον, λέγει·
Εὐχαὶ εἰς τὸ ἐκκλησιάσαι παιδίον, μεθʼ ἡμέρας τεσσαράκοντα.
Prayers for the Churching of a Mother and Child After Forty Days
Τῇ δὲ τεσσαρακοστῇ ἡμέρᾳ, τὸ βρέφος προσάγεται πάλιν τῷ Ναῷ ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκκλησιασθῆναι, εἴτουν ἀρχὴν λαβεῖν τοῦ εἰσάγεσθαι εἰς τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν· προσάγεται δὲ παρὰ τῆς μητρός, ἤδη κεκαθαρμένης καὶ λελουμένης οὔσης, παρόντος καὶ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἀναδέχεσθαι τοῦτο κατὰ τὸ Βάπτισμα.
On the fortieth day the child is brought to the Temple to be churched, that is, to begin attending church. It is brought by the mother, who has already been cleansed and washed, accompanied by the intended sponsor at the Baptism.
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:
Εἶτα τὸ Ἀπολυτίκον τῆς ἡμέρας, τὸ τυχὸν ἢ τοῦ λαχόντος Ἁγίου.
Then the Apolytikion of the Day or of the Saint who is commemorated is said.
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:
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]
Ἰστέον ὅτι, εἰ οὐχ εὑρίσκεται ἐν τοῖς ζῶσι τὸ βρέφος, ἀναγινώσκεται ἕως ὧδε ἡ Εὐχή· εἶτα λέγει ὁ Ἱερεὺς ἐκφώνως.
Be it known that if the mother has come alone because the child is no longer living, the Priest ends the Prayer here with the Ekphonesis.
Εἰ δὲ τὸ βρέφος ζῇ, τότε ἁπτόμενος τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ λέγει·
But if the child is alive, he touches its 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]
Καὶ αὖθις ἐπεύχεται οὕτως·
Εὐχὴ εἰς τὴν Μητέρα τοῦ παιδίου.
PRAYER FOR THE MOTHER OF THE CHILD
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]
Ὦδε, εἰ μὲν τὸ βρέφος ἐβαπτίσθη ἤδη ἢ καὶ ἀπέθανε, ποιεῖ ὁ Ἱερεὺς Ἀπόλυσιν, εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀναγινώσκει καὶ τὴν ἑξῆς ἕως τέλους.
Εὐχὴ ἑτέρα εἰς τὸ Παιδίον,
ANOTHER PRAYER FOR THE CHILD
ἣν ὁ Ἱερεύς, σφραγίζων τοῦτο, ἐπεύχεται.
The Priest makes again the sign of the Cross upon him (her).
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]
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]
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]
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:
Ἐκκλησιάζεται ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ…
The servant of God (Name) is churched, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Εἶτα λέγει·
Then he says:
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:
Ἐκκλησιάζεται ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ…
The servant of God (Name) is churched, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
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]
Καὶ ὁ Ἱερεὺς ποιεῖ, ὡς ἔθος, Ἀπόλυσιν.
Apolysis
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.
Εὐχὴ εἰς γυναῖκα, ὅταν ἀποβάληται.
[Prayer for a Woman who Miscarries]
Ὁ Ἱερεύς, φέρων ἐπιτραχήλιον, λέγει·
Τὸ Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸ Κοντάκιον, εἴ ἐστι Δεσποτικὴ ἢ Θεομητορικὴ ἑορτή. Εἶτα·
Δέσποτα Κύριε, ὁ Θεός ἡμῶν, ὁ τεχθείς ἐκ τῆς ἁγίας Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας, καὶ ἐν φάτνη ὡς βρέφος ἀνακλιθείς· Αὐτὸς τὴν παροῦσαν δούλην σου (τήνδε) τὴν σήμερον ἐν ἁμαρτίαις εἰς φόνον περιπεσοῦσαν, ἑκουσίως ἤ ἀκουσίως καὶ τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ συλληφθὲν ἀποβαλομένην, ἐλέησον κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος· καὶ συγχώρησον αὐτῇ τὰ ἑκούσια καὶ τὰ ἀκούσια πταίσματα· καὶ διαφύλαξον ἀπὸ πάσης τοῦ Διαβόλου μηχανουργίας· καὶ τὸν ῥύπον κάθαρον· τοὺς πόνους θεράπευσον· καὶ ῥῶσιν καὶ εὐρωστίαν τῷ σώματι σὺν τῇ χυχῇ αυτῆς, φιλάνθρωπε δώρησαι· καὶ δι’ Ἀγγέλου φωτεινοῦ ταύτην περιφρούρησον ἀπὸ πάσης ἐπελεύσεως τῶν ἀοράτων δαιμόνων. Ναί, Κύριε, ἀπὸ νόσου καὶ μαλακίας, καὶ καθάρισον αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ σωματικοῦ ῥύπου καὶ τῶν ποικίλων αὐτῇ ἐπερχομένων σπλαγχνικῶν ἐνοχλήσεων· καὶ ἔξαξον αὐτήν, διὰ τῆς πολλῆς σου ἐλεημοσύνης ἐν τῷ ταπεινῷ αὐτῆς σώματι, καὶ ἀνάστησον αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς κλίνης, ἧς περίκειται· ὅτι ἐν ἁμαρτίαις συνελήφθημεν καὶ ἐν ἀνομίαις ἐκυήθημεν καὶ διὰ ῥύπου πάντες ἐσμὲν ἐνώπιον σου, Κύριε, καὶ μετὰ φόβου βοῶμεν καὶ λέγομεν· Επίβλεψον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἴδε τὴν ἀσθένειαν ἡμῶν τῶν καταδίκων, καὶ συγχώρησον τῇ δούλῃ σου ταύτῃ, τῇ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις φόνῳ περιπεσούσῃ, ἑκουσίως ἤ ἀκουσίως, καὶ τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ συλληφθὲν ἀποβαλομένη καὶ πάντας τοὺς εὑρισκομένους καὶ ἁψαμένους αὐτῆς, κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος, ὡς ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος Θεός, ἐλέησον καὶ συγχώρησον, ὅτι σὺ μόνος ἔχεις ἐξουσίαν ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας καὶ ἀνομίας· πρεσβείαις τῆς πανάγνου σου Μητρός, καὶ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων. Ὅτι πρέπει σοι πᾶσα δόξα, τιμή, καὶ προσκύνησις, σὺν τῷ Πατρί, καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
Καὶ γίνεται Ἀπόλυσις.