ΘΥΡΑΝΟΙΞΙΑ ΝΑΟΥ
DOOR OPENING OF A CHURCH
Ὁ Ἀρχιερεύς, λαβὼν τὸν τίμιον σταυρόν, βαπτίζει αὐτὸν εἰς τὰ ὕδατα ἐκ τρίτου, ψάλλων τὸ τροπάριον.
The Hierarch takes the holy cross and immerses it in the water three times, as he sings the following hymn:
ΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΣ· Εὐλόγησον, Δέσποτα.
DEACON: Master, give the blessing.
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
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.
ΧΟΡΟΣ· Ἀμήν.
CHOIR: Amen.
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Ἦχος αʹ.
Mode 1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸν λαόν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος, καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευμα.
Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. [GOA]
Ὁ Χορὸς ἐπαναλαμβάνει δίς.
The Choir repeats twice.
Ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ῥαντίζων τὸν λαὸν ψάλλει τὸ τροπάριον·
The Hierarch blesses the people with holy water while chanting:
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Ἦχος βʹ.
Mode 2.
Τῶν σῶν δωρεῶν, ἀξίους ἡμᾶς ποίησον, Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, παρορῶσα τὰ πλημμελήματα ἡμῶν, καὶ παρέχουσα ἰάματα, τοῖς ἐν πίστει λαμβάνουσι τὴν εὐλογίαν σου, Ἄχραντε.
Make us worthy of your gifts, O Virgin Theotokos, disregarding our transgressions and bestowing healing, through faith, upon those who receive your blessing, O immaculate one. [SD]
ΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΣ· Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
ΧΟΡΟΣ· Κύριε, ἐλέησον.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ ὢν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· ὁ διὰ τοῦ καταπετάσματος τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ ἐγκαινίσας ἡμῖν τῆς τῶν προπατόρων Ἐκκλησίας, τῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἀπογεγραμμένων, τὴν εἴσοδον, ἔνθα ἦχος καθαρὸς ἑορταζόντων καὶ φωνὴ ἀγαλλιάσεως· αὐτός, φιλάνθρωπε Δέσποτα, ἐπίβλεψον ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς καὶ ἀναξίους δούλους σου, τοὺς τὸν ἐγκαινισμὸν ἐπιτελοῦντας τοῦ σεβασμίου ναοῦ , εἰς σύμβολον τῆς ἁγιωτάτης σου Ἐκκλησίας, τοὐτέστιν αὐτοῦ τοῦ σκήνους ἡμῶν, ὅπερ καὶ ναόν σου καὶ μέλη Χριστοῦ σου διὰ τοῦ πανευφήμου ἀποστόλου Παύλου, ὀνομάσαι κατηξίωσας· καὶ τοῦτον στερέωσον μέχρι τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος ἀσάλευτον καὶ δεδοξασμένον ἐν σοί· καὶ ἀξίωσον ἡμᾶς ἐν αὐτῷ αἰνέσεις καὶ δοξολογίας ἀκαταγνώστους προσάγειν τῇ δόξῃ σου καὶ τῷ μονογενεῖ σου Υἱῷ, τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ σου Πνεύματι, ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει· καὶ προσκυνοῦντάς σε ἐν φόβῳ σου, τῶν θείων δειχθῆναι ἀξίους οἰκτιρμῶν, εὐπροσδέκτους τε τῇ σῇ ἀγαθότητι γενέσθαι τὰς δεήσεις ταύτας, ἃς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν καὶ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ σου τῇ ἀφάτῳ σου εὐσπλαγχνίᾳ προσάγομεν, πρεσβείαις τῆς ἀχράντου δεσποίνης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας.
O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You are the One is blessed forever. Through the veil of Your Son’s flesh, You inaugurated an entrance for us into the Church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, where they celebrate with a clear voice of great joy. We entreat You, Master who love humanity, look upon us Your sinful and unworthy servants, as we conduct the consecration of this holy church of name of the church, May it symbolize Your most holy Church, namely this body of ours, which You have qualified to be called temple and members of Your Christ, as said by St. Paul the all-lauded Apostle. Keep this structure standing strong till the end of time, unshaken, and glorified in You. Allow us uncondemned, understanding and sensing everything, to offer herein praises and doxologies to Your glory, and to Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and to Your Holy Spirit. May we worship You in fear of You, and thus be found worthy of Your divine tender mercies. And may these prayers that we offer to Your ineffable compassion, for ourselves and for all Your people, be acceptable by virtue of Your goodness, at the intercessions of our immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.
Ὅτι ἅγιος εἶ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐν ἁγίοις ἐπαναπαύῃ, καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
For You, our God, are holy, and You rest among the holy ones, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
ΧΟΡΟΣ· Ἀμήν.
CHOIR: Amen.
ΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΣ· Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
ΧΟΡΟΣ· Κύριε, ἐλέησον.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Δέσποτα Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ καταστήσας ἐν οὐρανοῖς τάγματα καὶ στρατιὰς ἀγγέλων καὶ ἀρχαγγέλων εἰς λειτουργίαν τῆς σῆς δόξης, ποίησον σὺν τῇ εἰσόδῳ ἡμῶν εἴσοδον ἁγίων ἀγγέλων γενέσθαι, συλλειτουργούντων ἡμῖν καὶ συνδοξολογούντων τὴν σὴν ἀγαθότητα.
Master, Lord our God, who has established the orders and hosts of angels and archangels in heaven to minister to Your glory, grant that holy angels may enter with us, that together we may celebrate and glorify Your goodness.
Ὅτι πρέπει σοι πᾶσα δόξα, τιμὴ καὶ προσκύνησις, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
ΧΟΡΟΣ· Ἀμήν.
CHOIR: Amen.
Ἐν συνεχείᾳ, ὁ Ἀρχιερεύς, πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν τοῦ ἱεροῦ ναοῦ ἱστάμενος, ἀναφωνεῖ·
Then the Hierarch stands before the church doors and exclaims:
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Ἄρατε πύλας, οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε, πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
Lift up the gates, O you rulers, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall enter. [SAAS]
Ἔσωθεν δὲ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ναοῦ τίθεται ἡ ἐρώτησις·
From inside the church the question is asked:
Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης;
Who is this King of glory? [SAAS]
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Κύριος κραταιὸς καὶ δυνατός, Κύριος δυνατὸς ἐν πολέμῳ.
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord powerful in battle. [SAAS]
Ἄρατε πύλας, οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε, πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
Lift up the gates, O you rulers, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall enter. [SAAS]
Ἔσωθεν τοῦ ἱεροῦ ναοῦ ἡ ἐρώτησις·
From inside the church the question is asked:
Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης;
Who is this King of glory? [SAAS]
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Κύριος κραταιὸς καὶ δυνατός, Κύριος δυνατὸς ἐν πολέμῳ.
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord powerful in battle. [SAAS]
Ἄρατε πύλας, οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε, πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
Lift up the gates, O you rulers, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall enter. [SAAS]
Ἔσωθεν τοῦ ἱεροῦ ναοῦ ἡ ἐρώτησις·
From inside the church the question is asked:
Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης;
Who is this King of Glory? [SAAS]
ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
HIERARCH
Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης.
The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. [SAAS]
Καὶ ἀνοίγονται αἱ πύλαι καὶ εἰσοδεύουσι ψάλλοντες τὰ κάτωθι. Τούτων ψαλλομένων ῥαντίζει ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς διὰ τοῦ ἁγιάσματος τὸν νέον ἱερὸν ναόν.
The doors are opened, and everyone enters singing the hymns below. During the singing, the Hierarch blesses the new church building with holy water.
Ἀπολυτίκιον. Τῶν Ἐγκαινίων.
Apolytikion. For the Consecration.
Ἦχος δʹ.
Mode 4.
Ὡς τοῦ ἄνω στερεώματος τὴν εὐπρέπειαν, καὶ τὴν κάτω συναπέδειξας ὡραιότητα, τοῦ ἁγίου σκηνώματος τῆς δόξης σου Κύριε. Κραταίωσον αὐτὸ εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος, καὶ πρόσδεξαι ἡμῶν, τὰς ἐν αὐτῷ ἀπαύστως προσαγομένας σοι δεήσεις, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, ἡ πάντων ζωὴ καὶ ἀνάστασις.
You have made the earthly beauty of the holy tabernacle of Your glory to be like the majesty of the firmament on high, O Lord. Make it strong forever and ever, and accept our supplications that we unceasingly bring to You there, at the intercession of the Theotokos. For You are the life and resurrection of all. [SD]
Κοντάκιον. Τῶν Ἐγκαινίων.
Kontakion. For the Consecration.
Ἦχος δʹ. Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον.
Mode 4. You revealed yourself today.
Οὐρανὸς πολύφωτος ἡ Ἐκκλησία, ἀνεδείχθη ἅπαντας, φωταγωγοῦσα τοὺς πιστούς· ἐν ᾧ ἑστῶτες κραυγάζομεν· Τοῦτον τὸν οἶκον, στερέωσον Κύριε.
Lord, Your Church appears to us * to be like heaven * full of light, and guides with light * all who believe in You, O Christ. * And we who stand in it cry to You: * Savior, establish forever this holy house. [SD]
Ἀπολυτίκιον τοῦ Ναοῦ.
Apolytikion of the Parish Church