The Blessing for a Journey

The Priest, vested in his priestly stole and chasuble, if the rite be said apart from the Liturgy, beginneth as usual:

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

Reader. O heavenly King,.. O Holy God, Holy Mighty,... Our Father,... Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory... now and ever,... O come, let us worship... (Thnce.) (See page 512.)

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.) And the Deacon, if there be one, or the Priest himself, readeth the Litany:

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (See page 80.)

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And the rest, as far as:

For those who travel by sea or by land; for the sick and the suffering; for those who are in captivity, and for their salvation:

That he will show mercy upon his servant (s), and pardon him (her, them) every sin, both voluntary and involuntary, and bless his (her, their) journey:

That he will send him (her, them) an Angel of Peace, as fellow-traveller and guide, to guard, defend and succour him (her, them), and preserve him (her, them) unharmed of every evil assault:

That he will shield him (her, them) from all attacks and assaults of enemies, and bring him (her, them) to his (her, their) journey's end and home again unharmed:

That he will give him (her, them) a sinless and peaceful journey, and a prosperous return in health, and in all piety and honour:

That he will preserve him (her, them) unharmed and invincible against all foes, both visible and invisible, and from the wrath of wicked men:

That he will bless his (her, their) good intention, and prosper it, through his grace, unto spiritual and bodily profit:

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-undefUed, 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.

Exclamation.

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.

Then: God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. (Tone II. And the Verses. See page 515.)

And this Hymn (Tropdr).

O Christ, who art the Way and the Truth, send now thine Angel as a fellow-traveller to thy servant(s), preserving him (her, them) like Tobias of old, and guarding him (her, them) unharmed of every evil thing, and in all prosperity, unto thy glory: through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

In the same Tone.

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

O Saviour, who didst accompany Luke and Cleopas unto Emmaus, accompany thou now also thy servant who is (servants who are) minded

to travel, delivering him (her, them) from every evil assault: For thou canst do all things whatsoever thou wilt, in that thou lovest mankind.

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

O Protection of Christians that maketh not ashamed, O Mediatrix never-failing with the Creator:.. (See page 521.)

Deacon. Let us attend.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Deacon. Wisdom! Let us attend.

The Choir singeth the Gradual (Prokimen). Tone IV.

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and I will walk therein, for unto thee have I lifted up my soul.

Verse: Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto thee have I fled for refuge.

The Epistle: Acts viii. 26-39. And in those days the Angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south, unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is a desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was return-ing; and sitting in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, the> came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Alleluia. (According to the Tone.)

Verse 1: The footsteps of a man are guided by the Lord: he hath longed greatly for his ways.

Verse 2: Reveal thy path unto the Lord, and trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass.

Deacon. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. The Lesson from the holy Gospel according to John.

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

Priest. Let us attend.

(John xiv. 1-10.) The Lord said unto his disciples: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee. And after the Gospel the Deacon or the Priest saith this Litany (Ekteniya).

O Lord, who dost guide the footsteps of man, graciously look upon thy servant, N (servants, NN.); and pardoning him (her, them) every sin, both voluntary and involuntary, bless the good intention of his (her, their) counsel, and guide his (her, their) goings out and comings in on the journey, we earnestly pray: hearken, and have mercy.

O Lord, who didst most gloriously deliver Joseph from the wrath of his brethren, and didst lead him to Egypt, and through the blessing of thy goodness didst make him to prosper in all things: Bless also this thy servant (these thy servants) who purposeth (purpose) to travel, and cause his (her, their) journey to be tranquil and prosperous, we pray thee: hearken, and have mercy.

O thou who didst send an Angel as companion on their way unto Isaac and Tobias, and thereby didst ensure unto them a peaceful and prosperous journey, and return: Send now also, O Most Gracious One, thine Angel of Peace unto thy servant who through us entreateth (servants who entreat) thee, that he may guide him (her, them) unto every good deed; and deliver him (her, them) from enemies

both visible and invisible, and from every evil assault; and enable him (her, them) to return in safety, peace and prosperity, unto thy glory, we earnestly pray thee: hearken and have mercy.

O thou who didst accompany Luke and Cleopas on the way to Emmaus, and didst make them to return rejoicing unto Jerusalem through that most glorious knowledge of thee: Accompany thou now also, with thy grace and thy blessing divine, this thy servant who earnestly prayeth (these thy servants who earnestly pray) with us; and prosper him (her, them) in every good work, to the glory of thine all-holy Name, preserving him (her, them) in health and well-being, and bringing him (her, them) back again in due season, we pray unto thee, as unto an all-bountiful benefactor: hearken, and have mercy.

And the Priest exclaimeth: Hear us, O God our Saviour, (See page 517.)

Deacon. Bowing our heads and our knees devoutly unto the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

And all kneeling, the Priest turneth toward them; and the Holy Door being open, he readeth, in a loud voice, this Prayer:

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the true and living Way, who didst deign to journey with thine ostensible father Joseph, and thine All-pure Virgin Mother, into Egypt, and didst accompany Luke and Cleopas on their way to Emmaus: We now humbly entreat thee, O all-holy Master, accompany now with thy grace this thy servant (these thy servants). And send unto him (her, them), as unto thy servant Tobias, an angel guardian and guide, preserving and delivering him (her, them) from every evil assault of enemies both visible and invisible; and direct-ing him (her, them) unto the fulfilment of thy commandments; and prospering him (her, them) in peace, happiness and health; and bring-ing him (her, them) back again in safety and tranquillity. And grant that he (she, they) may fulfil all his (her, their) good purpose unto thy good pleasure, and favourably to thy glory. For thine it is to show mercy and to save us, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thy Father who hath no beginning, and thine all-holy, and blessed, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Then the Priest, taking the holy cross, giveth it to him (her, them) to kiss, and sprinkleth him with holy water, saying:

May the Lord bless thee (you) out of Zion; and so shalt thou (shall ye) behold the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy (your) life: and may he direct thy (your) journey in peace, unto the glory of his holy Name. Amen.

And immediately he pronounceth the customary Benediction for the day.

The Priest, vested in his stole and chasuble, beginneth as usual:

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

Choir. Amen.

Reader. O heavenly King,.. (See page 512.) O Holy God, Holy Mighty,. Glory now, and ever,.. Our Father,.. For thine is the kingdom,. Lord, have mercy (Twelve times.) Glory.. now, and ever.

O come, let us worship Christ 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.

Then Psalm cxxi

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh even from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, and he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand: so that the sun shall not burn thee by day, neither the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth, even forevermore.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.)

And the Deacon saith the Great Litany.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (See page 80.)

And the rest, as far as:

For those who travel by sea or by land; for the sick and the suffering; for those who are in captivity, and for their salvation: let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

That he will be merciful, and condescending, and easy to be entreated toward his servant, who now, through us, maketh his (her) (servants who now make their) earnest supplications unto him; and pardoning all his

(her, their) sins, both voluntary and involuntary, will bless his (her, their) voyage on the sea:

That, in that he is merciful, he will lull the tempest, restrain the winds, and will grant unto him (her, them), as unto his Apostles of old, tranquil seas for a voyage undisturbed:

That he will send him (her, them) his Guardian Angel to guide him (her, them), and to shield him (her, them) from every malice of foes both visible and invisible, and to deliver him (her, them) from drowning in the watery tempest:

That he will bring him (her, them) over in peace and safety, and conduct him (her, them) back again in health and tranquillity:

That he will bless the purpose of his (her, their) counsel and his (her, their) deeds, unto expedient fulfilment of the same, to the glory of his all-holy Name, and to his (her, their) spiritual and bodily profit:

That by the might of his grace he will deliver him (her, them) from all calamities and distress, both of soul and of body; and from sickness, and from sudden death, and from all mortal wounds: and that he will graciously grant him (her, them), in due season, restoration to his (her) home (their homes), in health and safety:

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.

Exclamation.

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.

Then: God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. (Tone II.)

(And the rest. See page 515.) And the following Hymns (Tropari): Despise not, O Saviour, those who have recourse unto thee, and who seek from thine omnipotent right hand, as from their Creator and their Master, both aid and blessing. But forasmuch as of old thou didst by thy word, give unto thine Apostles tranquillity upon the sea in 'like manner give thou now also unto this person (these persons) a calm and untroubled voyage, and good health: through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. (Tone V.)

O Saviour, be thou the helper and deliverer of him (her) who hath (them who have) set all his (her, their) hope on thee: and bless the good purpose of his (her, their) deed, as also his (her, their) journey; that we all may glorify thee, the sole Giver of all good things.

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

We flee unto thy protection, O Virgin Birth-giver of God. Despise not thou our prayers in affliction, but from distress deliver us, O only Pure and Blessed One.

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 Fourth Tone. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Verse: And thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

The Epistle, from the Acts of the Apostles.

(Acts xxi. 1-7.) And in those days it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and on the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence to Patras. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said unto Paul by the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way, and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day

Alleluia. (According to the Tone.)

Verse 1: Deliver me from them that hate me, and from the deep waters.

Verse 2: Let not the watery tempest drown rae, neither let the deep swallow me up.

Deacon. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir And with thy spirit.

Deacon. The Lesson from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

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

Priest. Let us attend.

(Mark iv. 35-41.) The Lord said unto his disciples, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship: and there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are \e so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

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

Then the Priest or the Deacon saith the Augmented Litany.

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

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

And the rest (see page 90). To this he addeth:

Do thou, who of old didst rebuke the winds and the sea, and unto the ship tossed by the waves didst give calm by thy word; and didst render thy disciples untroubled: Regard now, also, O Merciful One, the prayers of thy servant who diligently worshippeth (servants who diligently worship) thee, and bless his (her, their) voyage, granting unto him (her, them) a calm, peaceful and untroubled journey, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy,

O Saviour, who didst walk upon the water as upon dry land, and didst deliver Peter from drowning by thy right hand almighty: Deliver thou, O Lord, him (her) who in faith hath (those who in faith have) recourse unto thee, and is directing his (her) (are directing their) steps to a journey, from all calamities and stormy winds; mercifully granting unto him (her, them) a favourable journey and restoration to his (her, their) home(s), we beseech thee, O all-bountiful Lord: hearken, and have mercy, ty

Send thine Angel, O all-merciful Lord, to accompany him (her, them) on the way, and to be the guardian of his (her) soul and body (their souls and bodies), preserving him (her, them), and sheltering him (her, them) from all enemies, both visible and invisible; and by thy might divine delivering him (her, them) from all tribulation, calamity and necessity, from sickness and from mortal wounds; and in due season restore thou him (her, them) again to his (her) home (their homes) in safety: to the glory of thine all-holy Name, we beseech thee, O omnipotent Master: mercifully hearken, and have mercy.

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And the Priest maketh the Exclamation: Hear us, O God, our Saviour,.. (See page 517.)

And the Deacon saith: Bowing our knees and our heads devoutly unto the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Then, as all kneel, the Priest, turning to the west and standing at the door of the Church, saith, in a loud voice, this Prayer:

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who didst walk upon the waters as upon dry land, and didst deign to have thy holy Disciples and Apostles as thy fellowvoyagers in the ship; and didst rebuke the stormy wind, and command the waves of the sea to be still: Be pleased now also (we humbly entreat thee, O Saviour), to sail with this thy servant (these thy servants) in this ship (or boat), allaying every contrary wind and tempest: And raise up special and timely winds for a prosperous voyage, being thyself ever unto him (her, them) a pilot, and a saving, untempestuous and tranquil haven unto the same, and unto his (her, their) ship (or boat). And as thou didst save Peter from drowning, so also, in sovereign wise, deliver thou this person (these persons) from all assaults of enemies, both visible and invisible, and from calamity, and distress, and fear, by thy right hand omnipotent: And graciously vouchsafe that he (she, they) may return in peace to his (her) home (their homes) in health and happiness, having accomplished his (her, their) purpose and good undertaking, richly bestowing upon all his (her, their) deeds thy rich and inexhaustible grace, and preserving the vessel whole and unharmed. For thou art the Saviour, the Deliverer, and the rich Giver of all good things, both heavenly and earthly, 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.

Then taking the honourable cross, the Priest giveth it to the person(s) to kiss; and he sprinkleth the person(s) with holy water, saying:

And immediately he pronounceth the usual Benediction for the day.