The Service of the Small Blessing of Water
Prayers by Holy Cross.
Hymns by Fr. Seraphim Dedes.
Items needed for the celebration of the Lesser Sanctification of Water are a small table, upon which the Priest places the Gospel; a wooden, silver-bound Cross; a censer; a bowl of water; two candlesticks with their candles; a few branches of basil and a clean white towel. The Priest wears his cassock and stole.
PRIEST
Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
READER
Amen.
Psalm 142 (143).
O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant. [SAAS]
CHOIR
Mode 4.
God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. [SAAS]
Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.
Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.
Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
Mode 4. You who were lifted.
O humble sinners, let us now run in earnest * unto the Theotokos, and in repentance * fall down to her and cry out from the depths of our souls: * Show compassion unto us * and provide your assistance. * Hasten; we are perishing * in our many transgressions. * Turn not your servants empty-handed away; * for we have found you, O Lady, our only hope. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Same Melody.
We the unworthy shall not ever be silent, * O Theotokos, from proclaiming your powers. * For were you not concerned to intercede for us, * who would have delivered us * from such manifold dangers, * and who else would up to now * have preserved us in freedom? * O Lady, we shall not depart from you, * for you ever save your servants * from evils of every kind. [SD]
READER
Psalm 50 (51).
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. [SAAS]
Then we sing the following hymns to the Theotokos, with the verse: “Most-holy Theotokos, save us.”
CHOIR
Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.
You received the joyful message through an Angel, * and to your own Creator did you give birth. * All-holy Virgin, save us all who magnify you. (2)
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
We extol your Son, O Virgin Theotokos, * and we cry out to you the immaculate: * O Lady, save us your servants from jeopardy. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Of the emperors and Prophets and Apostles * and the martyr saints you are the pride and joy, * and the protection of the world, All-blameless one. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Every Orthodox believer’s tongue acclaims you * and beatifies you, Mary Bride of God, * and glorifies your immaculate childbirth. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
O my Christ, as One compassionate, forgive me * the unworthy one all of my debts, I pray, * through the entreaties of her who gave birth to You. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
I have set my hopes on you, O Theotokos. * Through your strong intercessions save me, I pray, * and grant forgiveness of offenses unto me. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
As the Mother of the Life-giver and Savior * vivify me, and save me, O blessed one, * by interceding. For you are the hope of our souls. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Save our souls, O Virgin, through your intercessions, * as the one who conceived in your holy womb * the Creator of all things, all-blameless one. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos, you gave birth unto the Logos * by a word in a manner passed reasoning. * Importune Him to save our souls, all-lauded one. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Cause your Son who is the Judge to be propitious * unto me who have erred more than everyone. * O Lady, do this by your intercessions, I pray. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Duty-bound we cry to you the Theotokos, * ever-virgin and pure, rejoice. And we * implore that by your intercessions we be saved. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
O redeem me from the everlasting fire * and the torments that have been laid up for me, * O Theotokos, so that I may call you blest. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Overlook not the petitions of your servants, * we implore you, O Lady extolled by all, * to be delivered from every predicament. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
From diseases and from pain and all afflictions * and from dangers, we pray you deliver us * who for protection to your sacred shelter flee. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Strange indeed, O Theotokos, is the wonder * that was wrought in you; for the Maker of all, * who is our God, for us from you was born like us. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos, now your temple is a clinic * treating bodily illnesses free of charge, * and providing comfort for afflicted souls. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
O all holy Theotokos, as the Mother * of the Savior, deliver your servants from * perils and every other grave necessity. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
From impending threats of danger save your servants * and deliver them from every injury * of soul and body, O Lady all immaculate. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Virgin Theotokos, by your intercessions * save us all who for refuge flee unto you. * From all distress and necessity deliver us. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Who has ever taken refuge at your temple, * O immaculate Maiden, and not obtained * the speedy cure of soul and body, O Mother of God. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Importuned by all the Saints, O loving Master, * and the heavenly orders, and by the prayers * of her who bore You, be gracious to me, O Lord. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
O our Savior, spare the souls all our brethren * who have died in the hope of eternal life. * Grant them forgiveness, loosing their transgressions all. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Mercy seat for all the world, rejoice, O Virgin; * jar containing the manna divine, rejoice, * and gilded lamp-stand of the Light, O Bride of God. [SD]
For the Trinity.
Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Unto You the God in Trinity we cry out, * and the words of the thrice-holy hymn we chant, * as we entreat that we obtain salvation of soul. [SD]
Theotokion.
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
Pray, O Virgin who gave birth unto the Savior * and the Master and Lord of the universe, * and importune Him earnestly to save our souls. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
O rejoice, mountain; rejoice, O bush; rejoice, gate. * O rejoice, ladder; table divine, rejoice. * Rejoice, O Lady, the help of all humanity. [SD]
Most-holy Theotokos, save us.
As the Merciful One, through the intercessions * of Your immaculate Mother and all the Saints * bestow Your mercies upon Your people copiously. [SD]
All-holy Cross of Christ, guard us by your power.
By the power of Your holy Cross illumine * me Your servant, O Giver of Life, I pray, * that I may praise You in song, being saved by it. [SD]
Archangels of God, intercede for us.
Through the prayers of the glorious Archangels * of the Angels and the hierarchies on high, * preserve, O Savior, Your servants and guard them well. [SD]
Baptist of Christ, intercede for us.
Through the intercessions of Your highly honored * glorious Baptist and Prophet and Forerunner, * O Christ my Savior, guard Your servants from all harm. [SD]
Apostles and Martyrs of Christ, intercede for us.
Through the prayers of Your glorious Apostles * and Your Martyrs, O Lord, and of all Your Saints, * bestow Your mercies upon your people copiously. [SD]
Holy Hierarchs and Teachers of the whole world, intercede for us.
By the prayers of the great and holy teachers, * Basil, Gregory and Saint John Chrysostom, * O Christ my Savior, guard Your servants from all harm. [SD]
Saint Nicholas, Hierarch of Christ, intercede for us.
O all-blessed father Nicholas, we pray you, * send your speedy assistance abundantly * and your protection, to all those who honor you. [SD]
Holy Great Martyrs of Christ, intercede for us.
By the prayers of Your glorious Great-martyrs, * Saints Demetrius, George, and the Theodores, * and Saint Artemius, Lord, keep us free of harm. [SD]
Holy Unmercenaries and miracle-workers, intercede for us.
Guard your servants, at the fervent intercession * of the glorious Unmercenary Saints, * O Theotokos, protection and support of the world. [SD]
Holy and glorious Great Martyr of Christ and healer Panteleimon, intercede for us.
Panteleimon, holy Martyr of the Savior, * by your strong intercessions deliver us * from all diseases, for we come to you for help. [SD]
Holy Forefathers of Christ, intercede for us.
By the fervent intercessions of the holy * righteous forefathers, all the monastic saints, * and all the righteous, O Christ, keep us free of harm. [SD]
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, * be the glory and honor for evermore. * We pray: “All-holy Trinity, save our souls.” [SD]
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion.
You ineffably conceived and then gave birth to * the Creator himself in these latter days. * O Virgin, save us who magnify and call you blest. [SD]
Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of the Christian race. [SD]
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
For You, our God, are holy, 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.
CHOIR: Amen.
Then the following hymns:
CHOIR
Mode pl. 4.
Now the time is come that sanctifies all men, and awaiting us is the just Judge. O my soul, turn to repentance, crying tearfully like the harlot: Lord, have mercy on me. [SD]
You have rained down a fountain of cures upon the waters in the all-holy shrine of the Virgin today, O Christ; and by the sprinkling of Your blessing, You drive away the illnesses of the infirm, O Physician of our souls and bodies. [SD]
O Mary Theotokos, as a virgin never knowing wedlock did you give birth; and you remained a virgin, O Mother unwedded. Entreat Christ our God that we be saved. [SD]
All-holy Virgin Theotokos, guide aright the works of our hands, we pray; and ask for the remission of our offenses, as we chant now the hymn of the Angels. [SD]
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
DEACON
Dynamis.
CHOIR
Dynamis. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
The Readings
The Epistle
PRIEST
Let us be attentive.
READER
Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 26.
The Lord is my light and my savior; whom shall I fear?
Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life; whom shall I dread?
PRIEST
Wisdom.
READER
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
PRIEST
Let us be attentive.
READER
Heb. 2:11 – 18
Brethren, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. [RSV]
PRIEST
Peace be with you the reader.
Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 44.
CHOIR
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: My heart overflowed with a good word; I tell my works to the King. [SAAS]
Verse 2: My tongue is the pen of a swift-writing scribe.
The Gospel
PRIEST
Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.
Peace be with all.
CHOIR: And with your spirit.
PRIEST
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.
Let us be attentive.
CHOIR: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
PRIEST
5:1 – 4
At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. [RSV]
CHOIR: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
PRIEST
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
In a house.
For this house and those who dwell in it, let us pray to the Lord.
On a ship.
For this ship and all those aboard it, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
For our country, for the president, and for all in public service, let us pray to the Lord.
For the Holy and Great Church of Christ, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Sacred Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water become holy by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity descend upon these waters, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water be a medicine for souls and bodies and prevention against every hostile force, let us pray to the Lord.
That the grace of redemption and the blessing of the Jordan be sent upon it, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who are in need of God''s help and assistance, let us pray to the Lord.
That we be illumined with the light of knowledge through the consubstantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord our God make us sons and heirs of His kingdom through our drinking and being sprinkling with this water, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST
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.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
The celebrant says the following prayer:
O Lord our God, Who are mighty in counsel and wondrous in all Your deeds: the Creator of all things: Who keep Your Covenant and Your mercy upon all those who love You and keep Your commandments: Who receive the devout tears of all that are in distress: for this cause did You come in the similitude of a servant, scorning not our image but giving true health to the body and saying, “Lo! You are healed, sin no more.” And with clay did make man’s eyes whole, and having commanded him to wash, made him by Your word rejoice in the light, putting to confusion the floods of passions of enemies; and drying up the bitter sea of life of the same, subduing the waves of sensual desires heavy to be endured: do You, the same Lord and King Who loves mankind, Who has granted to us to clothe ourselves in the garment of snowy whiteness, by water and by Spirit: send down on us Your blessing, and through the partaking of this water, through sprinkling with it, wash away the defilement of passions.
Yea, we beseech You visit our weaknesses, O Good One, and heal our infirmities both of spirit and of body through Your mercy; through the prayers of the all-pure, exceedingly blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; Through the intercessions of the precious and life-creating Cross; through the protection of the glorious bodiless Powers of the Heavens; through the intercessions of the glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist; of the holy, glorious and all-praiseworthy Apostles; of the holy and God-bearing Fathers; of our Fathers among the Saints, the great Hierarchs and ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our Fathers the Saints, Athanasios, Kyrillos, and John the Merciful, Patriarchs of Alexandria; of Nicholas Bishop of Myra in Lycia; of Spyridon the Wonderworker Of Trymitheus; of the holy, glorious Martyrs, George the Victorious, Demetrios the Exhaler of Myrrh, Theodore of Tyron and Theodore Stratilatis; and of the holy and glorious Hieromartyrs Charalambos and Eleutherios, and of all the righteous Martyrs; of the holy and righteous forefathers Joachim and Anna; of the holy wonderworking Unmercenaries, Kosmas and Damian, Kyros and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus; Samson and Diomedes, Mokios and Anekitas, Thallelaios and Tryphon; of Saint (Name of the Saint of the Day), whose memory we commemorate; and of all Your Saints.
Preserve, Lord, the president of the United States, and all the other Civil Authorities enabled by the American people.
Save, O God, all Orthodox Bishops who rightly divide the word of Your truth, granting unto them spiritual and bodily health; be merciful unto this Christian habitation which labors for You; have in remembrance, O God, every priestly and monastic order and their salvation; have in remembrance, O God, both those that hate us and those who love us, the brethren who serve with us; the people here present; and who for any cause are worthy of blessing and have gone forth having empowered us, unworthy though we are, to pray, for them; have in remembrance, O God, our brethren who are in captivity and affliction, and show mercy unto them according to Your great Mercy, delivering them from every tribulation.
For You are the Fountain of healing, O Christ our God, and to You do we send up all glory, together with Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CHOIR: And with your spirit.
PRIEST
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
The celebrant bows his head and quietly says the following prayer:
PRIEST (inaudibly)
Bow down Your ear and listen to us, O Lord, Who deigned to be baptized in the river Jordan, and there sanctified the water. Bless us all who by the bowing of our heads do show forth our apprehension that we are Your servants. Grant that we may be filled with Your sanctification through the partaking of this water, and let it be for us, O Lord, for the health of soul and body.
PRIEST (aloud)
For You are the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and to You we offer up glory, thanksgiving, and worship with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
The celebrant holds the cross and the sprig he will sprinkle with, and makes the sign of the cross over the water three times, each time quietly saying: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then he immerses them in the water crosswise as he sings the following hymn:
PRIEST
Mode 1.
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]
CHOIR
Mode 1.
Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. (2)
Then the celebrant sings the following as he sprinkles in the form of a cross.
PRIEST
Mode 2.
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]
Then the celebrant kisses the precious Cross. Then the rest of those in attendance do likewise and are also sprinkled on the forehead with holy water by the celebrant. They kiss the cross he is holding and also his hand. Then he proceeds to sprinkle the church (or the home) with holy water.
Meanwhile the following hymns are sung:
CHOIR
Mode 4.
Since you have a fountain of healings, O holy Unmercenaries, you dispense cures to all in need, for you have been granted very great gifts from the ever-flowing wellspring of Christ our Savior. The Lord says to you who emulate the zeal of the Apostles, “Behold, I have given you authority over unclean spirits, so that you might drive them out and cure every disease and illness.” Having truly lived according to His commandments, freely you received and therefore freely you give, healing the ailments of our souls and our bodies. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
Graciously answer supplications of us your servants, all-blameless Virgin. We pray you put an end to the uprisings that beset us, and deliver us from all our troubles. We only have you as our stable and immovable anchor, and we are securely under your protection. When we entreat you, Lady, let us not be disappointed. Attend to the requests of us who faithfully salute you: O Lady, rejoice! You are the help and joy and protection of all, and the salvation of our souls. [GOASD]
Lady, receive the supplications of your servants, and rescue us from all necessity and affliction. [SD]
PRIEST
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Lord, have mercy. (3)
PRIEST
Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church, and the servants of God […] who are celebrating this feast.
Again we pray for the protection of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese (and this Sacred Metropolis), this city and every city and land, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, civil strife, and accidental death. That our good and benevolent God may be merciful, gracious, and forgiving, and may divert and disperse all anger and disease coming against us, and deliver us from His impending justified threat and have mercy on us.
Again we pray that the Lord our God may hear the prayer of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of earth and of those far off at sea, and forgive us, O Master, forgive us our sins, and have mercy on us. For You are merciful and benevolent God, 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.
CHOIR: Amen.
DISMISSAL
PRIEST
Glory to You, O Christ God, our hope. Glory to You.
May 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, of (saint of the day), and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
CHOIR: Amen.