PRIESTS ASSEMBLED IN A CHURCH, OR IN A HOUSE *

(THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK)

A small table is prepared, upon which is set a vessel containing wheat: and on the wheat an empty shrine-lamp. And round about are set seven wands, wrapped with cotton for the Anointing, and thrust into the wheat: and the book of the Holy Gospels lieth there also: and tapers (2) are given to all the Priests. These stand round about the table vested in their chasubles. Then the first Priest taketh a censer with incense therein, and censeth round about the table of the Holy Oil and the whole church or house: and taking his stand before the table, with his face to the east, he beginneth:

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

Choir. Amen.

And we begin:

O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. {Thrice.)

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

O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our in- firmities, for thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy (Thrice.)

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

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 the Evil One:

Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Lord, have mercy {Twelve times.) —Glory . . . now, and ever . .

O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Three rever- ences.)

* See Appendix B, IX (1).

Psalm cxliii.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire; hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake. And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me; and my heart within me is desolate. Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all thy works; yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee ; my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon; for my spirit waxeth faint: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. O let me hear thy loving- kindness betimes in the morning ; for in thee is my trust ; show thou me the way that I should walk in; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; for I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee ; for thou art my God ; let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name's sake; and for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy goodness slay mine enemies, and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.

Glory now, and ever, .

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to thee, O Lord. (Thrice.)

And the Deacon reciteth the Little Litany:

Again, yet again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, all-undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Priest. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And immediately Alleluia, in Tone VI., is sung.

Verse (Stikh) 1 : O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy sore displeasure.

Verse 2: Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.

Then the Hymns (Tropari):

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us. For we sinners,

void of all defence, do offer unto thee as unto our Master, this petition: Have mercy upon us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for in thee have we trusted, and be not very wroth with us, neither call thou to remembrance our iniquities; but look down even now upon us, inasmuch as thou art of tender compassion, and deliver us from our enemies; for thou art our God, and we are thy people, we are all the work of thy hand, and we call upon thy Name.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Open unto us the door of thy loving-kindness, O blessed Birth-giver of God. In that we set our hope on thee, may we not fail, but through thee may we be delivered from all adversities ; for thou art the salvation of all Christian people.

Psalm li.

Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me throughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified in thy say- ing, and clear when thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. 0 give me the comfort of thy help again, and stablish me with thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health ; and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show thy praise. For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. O be favour- able and gracious unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt- offerings and oblations; then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

And the Canon, of which the cross-acrostic is: The Prayer of the Oil, a Song of Arsenius.

Canticle I., Tone IV

Theme-Song (Irmos). When Israel of old had passed through the

Red Sea's abyss with foot unwet, through the cross-wise stretching forth of Moses' hands, they overthrew the host of Amalek in the wilderness.

Hymns (Tropari). O Master, who ever makest glad the souls, and likewise also the bodies of mortal men, with the oil of loving-kindness, and preservest also thy faithful by oil : Show compassion also unto those who now draw near unto thee through the Oil.

The whole earth is full of thy mercy, O Master: Wherefore we, in faith, do beseech thee, that thou wilt bestow upon us, who to-day shall be anointed with thy divine and precious Oil, thy mercy which passeth understanding.

Glory

O thou who lovest mankind, who through thine Apostle didst merci- fully give us a command to perform Holy Unction upon thy sick servants : Do thou, through the prayers of the same, have mercy upon us all, by thy seal.

Now, and ever,

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . O only Pure One, who didst give birth to the fathomless Abyss of Peace: By thine unceasing prayers unto God deliver thou thy servant from infirmities and afflic- tions; that he (she) may unceasingly magnify thee.

Canticle III.

Theme-Song (Irmos). The Church rejoiceth in thee, O Christ, crying: Thou art my fortress, O Lord, my refuge and my strength.

Hymns (Tropari). Thou who alone art wonderful and merciful unto faithful men: Grant thy grace from on high unto thy servant who lieth in sore sickness, O Christ.

O Lord, who of old didst show forth an olive-branch unto the abating of the Flood, through thy divine command: Save the sufferer, through thy mercy

Glory . .

With the lamp of light divine, in thy mercy make bright, through this Unction, O Christ, him (her) who now, in faith, maketh haste to thy mercy

Now, and ever,

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . Graciously look down from on high, O Mother of the Creator of all men, and through thy prayers dispel the sufferer's bitter pangs.

Sitting-Hymn (Syedalen), in Tone VIII. Thou who art like a river divine of mercy, like a bottomless gulf of great loving-kindness, O Boun- tiful One; Show forth the god-like streams of thy mercy, and heal all men. Pour forth abundantly floods of wonders, and wash clean all men: For resorting ever unto thee, we fervently implore thy grace.

Another, in Tone IV. O Physician and Helper of the suffering, O Re-

deemer and Saviour of the sick: Do thou, the same Master and Lord of all, grant healing unto thy sick servant. Show compassion, have mercy upon him (her) who hath grievously sinned. And deliver him (her), O Christ, from his (her) iniquities, that he (she) may glorify thy might divine.

Canticle IV

Theme-Song (Irmos). The Church, beholding thee uplifted upon the Cross, OSun of Righteousness, standeth in its stateliness, worthily crying : Glory to thy might, O Lord.

Hymns (Tropari). O Saviour, who like unto chrism incorruptible dost empty thyself utterly in grace and purify the world: Show mercy and bounty, in god-like wise, upon the bodily wounds of him (her) who, with faith, is now about to receive Unction.

Forasmuch as, with the tranquillity of thy mercy's seal, thou hast now signed the senses of thy servant, O Master, make inaccessible, impene- trable the entrance of all adverse powers.

Glory

Thou who hast commanded the ailing to summon thine inspired minis- ters, and to procure salvation through prayers, and the anointing with thy holy Oil by the same : Save the sufferer by thy mercy, O thou who lovest mankind.

Now, and ever, . . .

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . O Birth-giver of God, ever-virgin, all-pure, steadfast Refuge and Fortress, Haven and Wall, Ladder and battlemented Bulwark: Have mercy and show compassion upon this sick person; for unto thee alone hath he (she) fled for refuge.

Canticle V

Theme-Song (Irmos). Thou art come, O my Lord, for a light to the world, a holy light, which turneth from the darkness of ignorance those who with faith sing praises unto thee.

Hymns (Tropari). O Good One, who art a great deep of mercy; through thy mercy divine, O Merciful One, show thou mercy upon this sufferer: For thou art tender of heart.

O Christ who, in wise ineffable, hast sanctified both our souls and bodies from on high, by the divine impress of thy seal: Heal us all by thy hand.

Glory

O Lord, exceeding good, who, through thine unspeakable love, didst accept anointing with precious ointment at the hands of the woman who was a sinner: Have compassion upon thy servant.

Now, and ever,

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen). O all-lauded, pure, ex- ceeding gracious Birth-giver of God, have mercy upon those who are now to be anointed with the Oil divine: and save thy servant.

Canticle VI.

Theme-Song (Irmos) . I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanks- giving, O Lord, the Church crieth aloud unto thee, in that she hath purified herself from the blood of demons by the blood which for the sake of mercy flowed from thy side.

Hymns (Tropari). O thou who lovest mankind, who didst institute anointment for kings by thy words, and by the hands of High Priests didst accomplish the same : Save also this sufferer by thy seal ; forasmuch as thou art of great loving-kindness.

Let no interposition of malignant demons, O Saviour, touch the senses of him (her) who is marked with thine anointing divine; but hedge him (her) abou^ with the bulwark of thy glory.

Glory . . • Stretch forth thy hand from on high, O thou who lovest mankind, and having sanctified thine Oil, bestow it, O Saviour, on thy servant, unto healing, and unto release from all his (her) ills.

Now, and ever, .

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . Thou hast manifested thyself a fruitful olive-tree, in the abode of thy God, O Mother of the Creator, and thereby the world is seen to be filled with mercy. And thereby, also, save thou the pangs of thy sufferer by thy prayers.

Collect-Hymn (Konddk), in Tone II. O Fountain of mercy, who art exceeding good: Deliver thou from every adversity these persons who, with fervent faith, adore thy mercy unspeakable, O Tenderly-compas- sionate One ; and taking away their maladies, vouchsafe thou unto them grace divine from on high.

Canticle VII.

Theme-Song (Irmos) . The Abrahamic Children in the Persian furnace, fired rather by love of godliness than by the flame, cried aloud: Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the tabernacle of thy glory -

Hymns (Tropari). Thou who in thy mercies and compassions, O Saviour and only God, dost heal both the passions of the soul and the bodily afflictions of all men: Do thou, the same God, restore this person who suffereth from bodily infirmities, and heal thou him (her).

When the heads of all men are anointed with the oil of Unction, vouch- safe thou the joy of gladness unto this person, who seeketh the mercy of thy redemption, O Christ, bestowing the riches of thy grace, O Lord.

Glory

Thy seal is a sword against demons, O Saviour, a fire that consumeth the passions of the soul, through the prayers of priests. Wherefore, we who have received healing, in faith, do sing praises unto thee.

Now, and ever,

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . O Mother of God, who within thy womb, in god-like wise didst hold, and ineffably didst incar-

nate him who holdeth all things in the hollow of his hand, mercifully assuage the pangs of this sufferer, we beseech thee.

Canticle VIII.

Theme-Song (Irmos). Daniel stretched forth his hand, and stopped the gaping mouths of the lions in the pit. And the Holy Children, zealous in piety, girding themselves with virtue, quenched the raging fire, as they cried: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

Hymns (Tropari). Thou showest mercy on all men, O Saviour, be- cause of thy mercy infinite and divine : For which cause all we have assem- bled ourselves together, mystically representing the worship of thy bounties, and have brought in faith the anointing with the holy Oil unto thy servant: whom also do thou visit.

By the streams of thy mercy, O Christ, and through anointing by thy priests, wash away, in that thou art full of loving-kindness, O Lord, the pains and hurts, and the sudden assaults of suffering of him (her) who is tormented by the violence of passions; that he (she) may glorify thee with thanksgiving, in that he (she) hath been saved.

Glory

Forasmuch as thy mercy divine hath been decreed to us from on high, O Master, as a token of condescension and of tranquillity : Take not away thy mercy, neither despise thou him (her) who, with faith, continually doth cry unto thee: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

Now, and ever,

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . Nature accepted thy divine birth-giving, O Pure One, as a crown exceeding glorious, which crushed the hosts of the adversary, and conquered their dominion. Where- fore, crowned with the joyful radiance of thy grace, we sing praises unto thee, O all-hymned Lady

Canticle IX.

Theme-Song (Irmos). The Corner-stone unhewn by hands from thee was hewn, O Virgin Mount unquarried, even Christ, who hath bound together Nature that had been divided. Therefore, rejoicing, we magnify thee, O Birth-giver of God.

Hymns (Tropari). Look down from heaven, O Bountiful One, and show forth thy mercy upon all men. Give now thy succour and thy strength unto him (her) who draweth near unto thee through divine Unction at the hands of thy priests, O thou who lovest mankind.

O Saviour most good, rejoicing have we beheld the Oil divine, which by thy condescension inspired thou hast received, and above the merits of the participants hast symbolically imparted unto those who have shared in the laver divine.

Glory . .

Show thy bounty, have mercy, O Saviour; deliver from terrors and

pains, rescue from the darts of the Evil One the souls and bodies of thy servants: Forasmuch as thou art a merciful Lord, who healest by thy grace divine.

Now, and ever,

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . As thou receivest the songs and supplications of thy servants, O Virgin, so also deliver thou from irksome ills and maladies, him (her) who, through us, fleeth unto thy divine protection, O All-pure One.

For meet is it, in truth, to bless thee, the Birth-giver of God, ever- blessed, and all-undefiled, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

Exapostildrion.

In mercy, O Good One, cast thine eyes upon the petitions of us who to-day are come together in thy holy temple, to anoint thy sick servant(^) with thine Oil divine.

Then the Stanzas (Stikhiri), in Tone IV Thou hast given thy grace, O thou who art easy to be entreated and lovest mankind, through thine apostles, by thy holy Oil, for the healing of the wounds, as also the in- firmities of all men. Have mercy, therefore, upon him (her) who now, with faith, hath recourse unto thine Oil, and sanctify, and show mercy, in that thou art of tender compassion. Purge him (her) from every ail- ment, and vouchsafe unto him (her) thy food incorruptible, O Lord.

Look down from heaven, O Ineffable One, in that thou art of tender loving-kindness, who with thy hand invisible hast sealed our senses, O thou who lovest mankind, upon him (her) that, through thine Oil divine, in faith appealeth unto thee, and asketh remission of his (her) transgres- sions. And grant healing for both soul and body, that with love he (she) may glorify thee, magnifying thy sovereign power.

Through anointing with thine Oil, and the touch of thy priests, O thou who lovest mankind, sanctify thou from on high thy servant. Free him (her) from his (her) infirmities. Purge away his (her) spiritual vileness. Wash him (her), O Saviour, and deliver him (her) from greatly entan- gling temptations. Assuage his (her) maladies. Banish all obstacles. Utterly destroy thou all his (her) afflictions; forasmuch as thou art boun- tiful and full of loving-kindness.

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

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogoroditchen) . O most pure Palace of the King, O greatly extolled One, purify, I implore thee, my mind which is stained with all manner of sin, and make it the fair abode of the Trinity exceedingly divine; that, being saved, I, thine unprofitable servant, may magnify thy power, and thy boundless mercy.

O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . (See page 332.) Glory . . now, and ever, . . . O all-holy Trinity . Lord, have mercy- (Thrice.) Glory, now, and ever, Our Father, . For thine is the kingdom,

Then the Hymn, in Tone IV. Thou who alone art a speedy succour, O Christ, manifest thy speedy visitation from on high upon thy sick ser- vant; deliver him (her) from his (her) infirmities, and cruel pain; and raise him (her) up again to sing praises unto thee, and without ceasing to glorify thee: through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

Then the Deacon, or the principal Priest, saith the following Litany:

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy -

For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls : Ц

For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God's holy Churches, and for the union of all : 1^

For this holy Temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness, and the fear of God have entered therein : 1$

That he will bless the Oil by the power, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit: Ц

For the servant of God, N., and for his (her) visitation in God; and that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon him (her): Ц

That he will deliver him (her) and us from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity: fy

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, all-undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God, and ever- virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir To thee, O Lord.

Then the principal Priest reciteth the Prayer of the Oil over the shrine-lamp. And in some churches, wine is poured into the shrine-lamp , with the oil, instead of water. (3)

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Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy -

While the Prayer of the Oil is being said, the Choir singeth the following Hymns:

Tone IV Thou who alone art a speedy succour, O Christ, (See above.)

The Priest, secretly.

O Lord who, in thy mercies and bounties, healest the disorders of our souls and bodies: Do thou, the same Master,

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Blind of my spiritual eyes, I come unto thee, O Christ, as did the man blind from his birth, in repentance crying unto thee: Have mercy upon me, O thou who illumin- est with exceeding brightness them that are in darkness.

Tone III.

By thine intercession divine, O Lord, raise thou up my soul, which is cruelly paralyzed by all manner of sin, and by unseemly deeds, as thou aforetime didst raise up the para- lytic; that, being saved, I may cry unto thee: Grant me healing, O compassionate Christ.

Tone II.

As a disciple* of the Lord, O Righteous One, thou didst receive the Gospel; as a Martyr, thou hast that which surpasseth utterance; as the brother of God thou hast boldness; as a hierarch, thou hast power in prayer. Implore thou Christ our God that he will save our souls.

sanctify this Oil, that it may be effectual for those who shall be anointed there- with, unto healing, and unto relief from every passion, every malady of the flesh and of the spirit, and every ill; and that therein may be glori- fied thy most holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

A nd the other Priests also recite the same Prayer, secretly, with him.

Tone IV The Only-begotten Word of God the Father, who in these latter days hath sojourned among us, ordained thee, O James divine, who was sent by God, to be the first shepherd and teacher of them that dwelt in Jerusalem, and a faithful steward of spiritual mysteries: Wherefore, O Apostle, we all revere thee.

Tone III. To them of Mary, O Saint f thou didst reveal thyself as a minister of Holy Mysteries. For fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, O Venerable One, thou didst lay down thy life for thy people, and didst save the innocent from death. For which cause thou art canonized as a great Initiate in the grace of God.

Tone III. The world hath found in thee a champion great in affliction, O En- durer of Pain, who didst put to flight the heathen. For like as thou didst humble Lyeeus' pride, and encourage Nestor in his striving for the prize, even so, O Saint Demetrius, pray thou unto Christ our God, that he will grant unto us great mercy. (4)

* Saint James.

f Saint Nicholas the Wonder-worker.

Tone III. O holy Endurer of Pain, and Healer, Panteleimon, beseech thou the merciful God that he will grant remission of sins unto our souls. (5)

Tone VIII. O sainted Unmercenaries and Wonder-workers, visit ye our infirmities. Freely ye have received, freely give ye unto us.

Tone II.

Thy grandeur, O Chaste One,* who shall declare? For thou aboundest in wonders, and pourest forth streams of healing, and intercedest for our souls, as learned in wisdom divine, and as the friend of Christ.

O fervent Intercession, and Wall Impregnable, O Fountain of Mercy, O Refuge of the world; unto thee we earnestly do cry: O Birth-giver of God, O Lady, come thou to our aid, and deliver us from adversity, O thou who alone art a speedy Intercessor.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom! Let us attend.

Reader. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the First Tone. Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have put our trust in thee.

Verse (Stikh) : Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; for praise becometh the righteous.

Deacon. Wisdom!

Reader. The Lesson from the General Epistle of James.

Priest. Let us attend.

Deacon. (James v. 10-17.) Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea, be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church ; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord : and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

First Priest. Peace be with thee.

Reader. And with thy spirit.

* St. John the Divine.

Deacon. Wisdom! Let us attend.

Reader. Alleluia, in the Eighth Tone.

Verse (Stikh) : I will sing unto thee of mercy and judgment, O Lord.

Priest. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be with you all.

People. And with thy spirit.

Priest. The Lesson from the holy Gospel of Luke.

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord ; glory to thee. Deacon. Let us attend.

The Priest then readeth the Gospel. (Luke x. 25-38).

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering, said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him: and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, he that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Choir Glory to thee, O Lord ; glory to thee.

Then the Deacon saith the Litany.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee; hearken, and have mercy.

Choir. Lord, have mercy {Thrice.)

Furthermore we pray for mercy, peace, life, health, salvation and re- mission of sins for the servant of God, N 1$

That he (she) may be pardoned his (her) every transgression, whether voluntary or involuntary, let us pray to the Lord. Ц

Exclamation. Priest. For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto

thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Prayer. Priest. O thou who art without beginning, eternal, the Holy of Holies, who didst send down thine Only- begotten Son to heal every infirmity and every wound, both of our souls and bodies: Send down thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this Oil; and cause it to be for thy servant, N., who is about to be anointed therewith, unto perfect remission of his (her) sins, and unto inheritance in the kingdom of heaven.

Some say this Prayer only thus far, adding here the Exclamation: For thy property it is to show mercy . Others recite it to the end.

For thou art a great and marvellous God, who keepest thy covenant and thy mercy towards them that love thee ; who givest remission of sins through thy Holy Child, Jesus Christ; who regeneratest us from sin by holy Baptism, and sanctifiest us with thy Holy Spirit; who givest light to the blind; who raisest up them that are cast down; who lovest the righteous, and showest mercy unto sinners ; who leadest us forth again out of darkness and the shadow of death, and sayest unto them that are in captivity : Come forth ; and unto them that sit in darkness : Be ye unveiled. For he shined in our hearts with the light of the knowledge of his presence when, for our sakes, he revealed himself upon earth, and dwelt among men; and unto as many as accepted him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, vouchsafing unto us the adoption of sonship through the laver of regeneration, and causing us to have no share in the assaults of the Devil. And inasmuch as it hath not pleased thee that we should be cleansed by blood, but by holy Oil, thou didst give unto us the image of his Cross, that we might become the flock of Christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; and didst purify us by water, and sanctify us by thy Holy Spirit. Do thou, the same Master, O Lord, vouchsafe unto us grace in this thy ministry, as thou didst vouchsafe it unto Moses, thy servant, who found favour in thy sight; and unto Samuel, beloved of thee; and unto John, thy chosen one; and unto all those who, from gen- eration to generation, have been acceptable unto thee. In like manner, make us also to be ministers of the new Covenant of thy Son upon this Oil, which thou hast acquired unto thyself through the precious blood of thy Christ; that putting away earthly lusts, we may die unto sin, and live unto righteousness, being clothed upon with him through the anointing with sanctification of this Oil which we are about to summon to our aid. Let this Oil, O Lord, become the oil of gladness, the oil of sanctification, a royal robe, an armour of might, the averting of every work of the Devil,

the seal of immunity from snares, the joy of the heart, an eternal rejoicing; that they who shall be anointed with this Oil of regeneration may be terrible unto their adversaries, and may shine in the radiance of thy Saints, having neither spot nor wrinkle ; and that they may attain unto thy rest everlasting, and receive the prize of their high calling.

For thy property it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God; and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir Amen.

After the Prayer, the Priest taketh one of the wands, and dippeth it in the holy Oil, and anointeth the sick person, in cross-form; on the brow, the nostrils, the cheeks, the lips, the breast, and on both sides of the hands, repeating the while this Prayer:

O holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, who didst send thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which healeth every infirmity and delivereth from death: Heal thou, also, thy servant, N., from the ills of body and soul which do hinder him {her), and quicken him {her), by the grace of thy Christ; through the prayers of our most holy Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever- virgin Mary; through the intercession of the honourable Bodiless Powers of Heaven ; through the might of the precious and life-giving Cross ; through the protection of the honourable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John; of the holy, glorious and all-laud- able Apostles ; of the holy, glorious and right- victorious Martyrs; of our reverend and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and healing Unmercenaries, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus, Samson and Diomedes, Photius and Anicetas ; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints.

For thou art the Fountain of healing, O our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Spirit, one in essence, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

This Prayer is said by each of the Priests, after he hath read the Gospel and the accompanying Prayer, while he anointeth the person with the Oil.

Deacon. Let us attend.

Second Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom! Let us attend.

Reader. The Gradual {Prokimen), in the Second Tone. The Lord is my fortress and my song, and shall be my salvation.

Verse {Stikh) : In chastening hast thou chastened me, O Lord ; yet