The Epiphany
On the Eve of the Epiphany the same strict fast is observed, and the same services an celebrated as on the Eve of Christ's Nativity (Christmas). That is to say: Th Imperial Hours are read, and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated (i, the Eve doth not fall upon Saturday or Sunday), preceded by Vespers; while in th evening the service consisteth of Grand Compline joined to Matins. The differ ences between these services and those of Christmas lie in the festival hymns and th consecration of the water.
At this Feast there are two Blessings of the Waters: the first, on the Eve, in Church; th second, after the Divine Liturgy, on the day of the Feast, under the open sky, oj rivers, lakes, pools and wells. In ancient times the former was intended for th Catechumens who were prepared to receive baptism, and were then baptized. The second was instituted later, in imitation of the custom among the Christians oj Jerusalem, who were wont to go forth to the Jordan to celebrate the festival, and to pray: also in memory of the consecration of the waters of the Jordan at the time our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized therein. This Blessing of the Waters is often called "The Jordan Festival" for that reason.
The Imperial Hours, to precede the Epiphany.
First Hour. Psalms v., xxiii., xxvii.; Isaiah xxxv. 1-10. The Epistle. 'Acts xiii. 25-33. The Gospel. Matt. iii. 1-12.
Third Hour. Psalms xxix., xlii., li.; Isaiah i. 16-20. The Epistle. Acts, xix 1-8. The Gospel. Mark i. 1-8.
Sixth Hour. Psalms lxxiv., lxxvii., xci.; Isaiah xii. 3-6. The Epistle. Rom. vi. 3-1 1. The Gospel. Mark i. 9-15.
Ninth Hour. Psalms xciii., cxiv., lxxxvi.; Isaiah xlix. 8-15. The Epistle. Titus ii. 11-14, iii. 4-7. The Gospel. Matt. iii. 13-17.
Then the Typical Psalms.
Vespers: and the Liturgy, on January 6th. — 19 n.s.
The Stanzas (Stikiri) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone II. The Forerunner, beholding our Illuminator who illumineth every man, coming to be baptized, rejoiceth in his soul; and he trembleth, and with his hand doth he point Him out to the people, saying: Lo, this is he who redeemeth Israel, setting us free from corruption. O Christ our God, the Sinless One, glory to thee! (Twice.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst bow thy head unto the Forerunner, and thereby didst crush the heads of the serpents. And having entered into the stream thou didst illumine all things, that they might glorify thee, O Saviour, even the Illuminator of our souls.
The Entrance is made with the book of the Gospels.
The Gradual (Prokimen) for the Day.
The Parables (Paremii). Genesis i. 1-13; Exodus xiv. 15-18, 21-25, 27 -29, xv. 22-27, xvi. Joshua iii. 7, 8, 15-17; 2 Kings ii. 6-14, v. 9-14; Isaiah i. 16-20; Genesis xxxii. 1-10; Exodus ii. 5-10; Judges vi. 36-40; I Kings xviii. 30-39; 2 Kings ii. 19-22; Isaiah xlix. 8-15.
The Little Litany. Again, yet again,
Exclamation. For holy art thou, O our God, 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. Amen.
The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Third Tone. The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?
Verse (Stikh): The Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
The Epistle. I Cor. ix. 19-27, x. 1-4.
The Gospel. Luke iii. 1-18.
After the Prayer before the Tribune the Blessing of the Water taketh place. Grand Compline and Matins.
Compline is celebrated in its usual order, the Hymn for the Day and the Collect-Hymn being substituted for the ordinary ones.
After: Glory be to God on high: the procession from the Sanctuary for the Litiyd taketh place. (See the All-Night Vigil Office, page 11.)
The Stanza for the Litiyd, in Tone VIII. To-day is creation illumined, to-day do all things both heavenly and earthly rejoice. Angels and men are intermingled; for whithersoever the King cometh, there also cometh orderliness. Let us make haste then unto Jordan, and we shall all behold John, as he baptizeth the head not made with hands and sinless. Wherefore, singing the song of the Apostles, let us cry with one accord: The grace of God, which is saving unto all men, hath manifested itself, illumining the faithful and bestowing upon the same great mercy.
The Hymn (Tropdr) at the Blessing of the Loaves: The Hymn of the Feast. When in Jordan thou wast baptized, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bare witness unto thee, calling thee his beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a Dove, confirmed the steadfastness of that word: O Christ our God, who didst manifest thyself, and dost enlighten the world, glory to thee.
The Exaltation (V elitchdnie). We magnify thee, O life-giving Christ, for our sakes now baptized of John in the waters of the Jordan.
The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. The sea saw that and fled: Jordan was driven back.
Verse (Stikh): What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest, and Jordan that thou wast driven back?
The Gospel. Matt. i. 9-1 1.
In Tone II. (St. Cosmas of Maium.) Canticle I. Theme-Song (Irmos). The Lord mighty in battle hath laid bare the depths of the sea, and hath led forth his people on dry ground, after having overwhelmed therein their adversaries: For he hath glorified himself.
Hymns (Tropari). The Lord, the King of the ages, reneweth corrupt Adam by the waters of Jordan, and crusheth the heads of the dragons which lurked therein: For he hath glorified himself.
The Lord having become incarnate of a Virgin and clothed the immaterial fire of the Godhead in material flesh, is encompassed by the waters of Jordan: For he hath glorified himself.
The Lord, who, through his own cleansing in Jordan, washeth away the vileness of men, to whom he was graciously pleased to conform himself, remaining still as he was before, giveth light unto those who are in darkness: For he hath glorified himself.
Canticle III.
Theme-Song (Irmos). The Lord, who giveth strength unto our Kings and exalteth the horn of his Anointed, is born of a Virgin, and cometh unto Baptism. Unto him will we faithful cry aloud: There is none holy like unto our God.
Hymns (Tropari). Rejoice thou to-day, O Church of Christ, which aforetime wast sterile and barren of children; for through water and the Spirit have sons been born unto thee, who with faith do cry aloud: There is none holy like unto our God.
With a loud voice crieth the Forerunner in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way for Christ, and make straight the paths for our God, crying aloud with faith: There is none holy like unto our God.
Canticle IV.
Theme-Song (Irmos). I have heard, O Lord, thy voice which thou didst call the voice of one crying in the wilderness, which, when thou didst thunder over many waters, bearing witness to thy Son, being filled with the Spirit which had revealed itself, did cry aloud: Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and the Power of God.
Hymns (Tropari). Hath any one — crieth the Messenger — beheld the Sun, which is by nature radiant, cleansed? Shall I then wash clean with the waters thee who art the Brightness of Glory, the Express Image of the Father who is from everlasting? And shall I, who am but grass, touch the fire of thy divinity? For thou art Christ, the Wisdom and the Power of God.
Moses, when he drew near to thee, manifested the God-inspired awe wherewith he was seized. When he understood that it was thou speaking
from the bush, he straightway turned aside his face. How then shall I gaze openly upon thee, and how shall I lay my hand upon thee? For thou art Christ, the Wisdom, and the Power of God.
In that I have a rational soul, and am honoured with the gift of speech, I stand in fear of things without a soul. For if I baptize thee, the mountain which smoked with fire, the sea which was parted in twain, and that Jordan which rolleth back its waves shall be my accusers: For thou art Christ, the Wisdom and the Power of God.
Canticle V
Theme-Song (Irmos). Jesus, the Chieftain of Life, cometh to abolish the condemnation of Adam the first-created; and though, in that he is God, he hath no need of cleansing, yet for the fallen is he cleansed in Jordan, where, having slain enmity, he bestoweth the peace which passeth understanding.
Hymns. When a multitude innumerable of people had gathered together to be baptized of John, he stood in their midst and cried aloud unto those who were present: Who hath warned you, ye disobedient, to flee from the wrath to come? Bring ye worthy fruits unto Christ; for now revealing himself he bestoweth peace.
The Husbandman and Creator, standing in the midst as one of the throng, searcheth hearts; and having taken in his hand the winnowing fan, with exceeding wisdom doth he purge the threshing-floor of the universe, burning up the chaff, but granting unto the fruitful grain life eternal.
Canticle VI.
Theme-Song (Irmos). The Voice of the Word, the Candlestick of the Light, the Morning Star, the Forerunner of the Sun, crieth aloud in the wilderness unto all men: Repent ye, and be ye cleansed in preparation. For lo! Christ cometh, who redeemeth the world from corruption.
Hymns. Christ, whose latchet — when the Word had taken our form upon Him — it is impossible to unloose, as the Forerunner teacheth, in that he was born without corruption of God the Father, is without defilement made flesh of a Virgin: For he redeemeth the earth-born from their guile.
With extirpating fire doth Christ baptize the froward and those who acknowledge him not as God. But with the Spirit, by means of water, doth he graciously renew those who confess his divinity, freeing them from their sins.
Canticle VII.
Theme-Song (Irmos). A rushing mighty wind bearing dew, and the descent of the Angel of God preserved unscathed the Children who held converse together in the fiery furnace. When, therefore, they were bedewed amid the flames, with gratitude did they sing aloud: Blessed be thou, O exceeding glorious God of our fathers and our God!
Hymns. With trembling and amazement, as over heaven itself, did the
Angelic Host stand over Jordan, gazing down upon such condescension of God; beholding how he who ruleth the firmament of the waters on high, the God of our fathers, bearing bodily form, stood in the water.
The marvel of the baptism divine was foreshadowed of old by the cloud and the sea, wherein as they journeyed onward the ancient people were baptized into the Giver of the Law. The sea was the symbol of the water, and the cloud of the Spirit; being made perfect in which, let us cry: Blessed be thou, O Lord God forever!
Let all us faithful, speaking devoutly of Him from whom we have received sanctification, in company with the Angels perpetually glorify the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: for He is a Trinity in Persons, but one in Essence, one God; to whom, also, let us sing: Blessed be thou, O Lord God forever!
Canticle VIII.
Theme-Song (Irmos). The Babylonian furnace, dew-dropping, fore-shadowed the image of the wondrous mystery that Jordan was to receive into its waters the Fire Immaterial, and contain the Creator when he should be baptized in the flesh: whom also all men do bless and exalt unto all the ages.
Hymns. Put away all fear, said the Redeemer to the Forerunner; obey me, come unto me, as unto the Gracious One, for that am I in my Essence. Submit thyself to my command, and baptize me, who have come down hither; whom also all men do bless and exalt unto all the ages.
The Baptist, when he heard the words of the Lord, stretched forth his hand with trembling; but when he had touched the crown of his Creator's head, he cried unto him who was receiving baptism: Sanctify thou me, for thou art my God; whom also all men do bless and exalt unto all the ages.
In Jordan was the Trinity made manifest; for the Most Divine Person of the Father Himself proclaimed: He that is baptized, the same is my beloved Son. And the Spirit descended upon him that was like unto Himself. Him do men bless and exalt unto all the ages.
Canticle IX.
Before the Ninth Theme-Song: More honourable than the Cherubim: is not sung, but instead thereof the Refrain of the Feast:
Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honourable than the hosts on high, even the most pure Virgin Birth-giver of God.
Theme-Song (Irmos). No tongue hath power worthily to praise thee, and even the supra-mundane mind is perplexed how to hymn thee, O Birth-giver of God. But inasmuch as thou art gracious, accept thou our faith; for our God-inspired love thou knowest. For thou art the Intercessor of Christians. We magnify thee.
And the remaining six Refrains are sung once with each Hymn.
Refrain 2. Magnify, O my soul, him who asketh baptism of the Forerunner.
Refrain 3. Magnify, O my soul, him who is come unto the Jordan to be baptized.
Hymn. Come thou in spirit, O David, unto those who are being illumined by the Spirit, and sing, saying: Draw near now unto God and be ye illumined by faith. That poor man, Adam, cried in his fall, and the Lord heard him as he came, and in the waters of Jordan did he renew that corrupted one.
Refrain 4. Magnify, O my soul, him to whom the voice of the Father bare witness.
Refrain 5. Magnify, O my soul, One of the Trinity who hath bowed his neck and accepted baptism.
Hymn. Wash you, make you clean, saith Isaiah; put away the evil of your doings before the Lord. Ye who thirst, come ye unto the Living Water; for Christ sprinkleth with water which giveth new life those who make supplication unto him in faith, and baptizeth them with the Spirit unto the life which waxeth not old.
Refrain 6. O Prophet, come thou unto me; stretch forth thy hand, and baptize me quickly.
Refrain 7. O Prophet, lay aside now all other things, and baptize me who desire it; for I am come to fulfil all righteousness.
Hymn. May the grace and seal (of the Spirit) preserve us, O faithful! For as the Hebrews of old were delivered from destruction when their door-posts were smeared with blood, even so also shall this divine bath of regeneration be made a deliverance for us, and even so also shall we behold the light of the Trinity which knoweth no setting.
At the Liturgy. Antiphon I., Tone I. Verse 1: When Israel came out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among the strange people:
Refrain. Through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse 2: Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion: Verse 3: The sea saw it and fled: Jordan was driven back: ty Verse 4: Why hast thou fled, O sea: and why art thou driven back, O Jordan?
Antiphon II., Tone II.
Verse 1: I am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer.
Refrain. O Son of God, who wast baptized in Jordan, save us who sing unto thee, Alleluia.
Verse 2: Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: therefore will I call upon him as long as I live:
Verse 3: The snares of death compassed me round about, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me. I found trouble and heaviness, and I called upon the Name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul:
Verse 4: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous: yea, our God is merciful:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Only-begotten Son and Word of God!... (See page 170.)
Antiphon III., Tone I.
Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: his mercy endureth forever.
Refrain: The Hymn for the Day (Tropdr). When in Jordan thou wast baptized, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bare witness unto thee, calling thee his beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the steadfastness of that word. O Christ our God, who didst manifest thyself, and dost enlighten the world, glory to thee.
Verse 2: Let Israel now confess that he is gracious, and that his mercy endureth forever:
Verse 3: Let the house of Aaron now confess that he is gracious, and that his mercy endureth forever:
. Verse 4: Yea, let them that fear the Lord now confess that his mercy endureth forever:
The Introit. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. We have blessed you from the house of the Lord: God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us.
The Collect-Hymn (Konddk). To-day hast thou revealed thyself unto the universe, and thy Light, O Lord, hath showed a sign unto us, who with understanding sing unto thee: Thou art come, and hast revealed thyself, O Light Unapproachable.
In place of: O Holy God: As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us.
Verse (Stikh): Confess unto the Lord that he is gracious, that his mercy endureth forever.
The Epistle. Titus ii. 11-14, hi. 4~7-
Alleluia. (Tone IV.) Offer thanks unto the Lord, ye sons of God.
Verse: The voice of th£ Lord upon the waters.
The Gospel. Matt. Hi. 13-17-
The Communion Hymn (Prit chasten). The saving grace of God hath manifested itself unto all men. For the Benediction, see page 197, Epiphany (end of Great Blessing of Waters).
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, after the Prayer before the Tribune: O Lord, who blessest those who bless thee: hath been said by the Priest, we all go forth to the Baptismal Font, preceded by the taper-bearers, after whom go the Deacon and the Priest bearing the book of the Holy Gospels and the censer, and the Brethren, singing the following Hymn, in Tone VIII.:
The voice of the Lord crieth out over the waters, saying: Come, receive ye all the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of the fear of God, even Christ who is made manifest. (Thrice.)
To-day is the nature of water sanctified, and Jordan is cloven asunder, and rolleth back the current of its flood, as it beholdeth the Lord baptized. (Twice.)
As a man didst thou come unto that river, O Christ our King, and didst earnestly desire to receive the baptism of a servant, O Good One, at the hands of the Forerunner, because of our sins, O thou who lovest mankind. (Twice.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
In the same Tone: Unto the voice of him crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord: thou didst come forth, O Lord, having taken on the form of a servant, and asking baptism, though thou knewest not sin. The waters beheld thee and were affrighted. The Baptist became all trembling, and cried aloud, saying: How shall the candlestick illumine the light? How shall a slave lay hands upon his Lord? Sanctify thou me and these waters, O Saviour, who takest away the sins of the world.
And taking his stand beside the Font, the Deacon immediately saith:
Wisdom!
The Reader. The Parable from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Thus saith the Lord (ch. xxxv.): The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God
will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness, the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Deacon. Wisdom!
Reader. The Parable from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Thus saith the Lord (ch. h.): Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not these shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, butwatereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree,
and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Deacon. Wisdom!
Reader. The Parable from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Thus saith the Lord (ch. xii. 3-6): Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Priest. Peace be with you all.
Reader. And with thy spirit.
Deacon. Wisdom!
Reader. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Third Tone. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
Verse: The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Deacon. Wisdom!
Reader. The Lesson from the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Brethren (/ Cor. x. 1-4): I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ).
Priest. Peace be with thee.
Reader. And with thy spirit.
Deacon. Wisdom!
Alleluia. (Tone IV.)
Verse: The voice of the Lord upon the waters, the God of glory hath thundered: the Lord upon many waters.
Deacon. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.
Priest. Peace be with you all.
People. And with thy spirit.
Priest. The Lesson from the holy Gospel of Mark.
Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.
Deacon. Let us attend.
(Ch. i. g-11.) Priest. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him And there came a voice
from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.
Then the Deacon reciteth the 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:
For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God's holy Churches, and for the union of all:
For this holy temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered therein:
For our Most Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.; for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the laity:
For our most God-fearing Ruler, and for all the Authorities; and for all their Council and Army and Navy:
That he will aid them and subdue under their feet every foe and adversary:
For this city (if in a monastery, for this holy habitation), and for those who in the faith dwell therein:
For healthful seasons; for abundance of the fruits of the earth; and for peaceful times:
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 these waters may be sanctified by the power, and effectual operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit:
That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity:
That he will endue them with the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan, the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit:
And zvhile this is being said, the Priest saith, secretly, the following Prayer:
O Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son, who art in the bosom of the Father, the true God, Source of Life and of Immortality; Light of Light, who art come into the world to illuminate it: Enlighten our minds with thy Holy Spirit, and accept us who offer unto thee majesty and thanksgiving for thy marvellous mighty works, which are from all eternity; as, also, for thy saving providence in these latter ages, in which thou hast clothed thyself in our frail and lowly substance, and hast condescended to the stature of a servant; who yet art King of all; who also didst receive baptism in Jordan at the hands of a servant: that thou, O Sinless One, having sanctified the nature of water, mightest make for us a way which
That Satan may speedily be crushed under our feet, and that every evil council directed against us may be brought to nought:
That the Lord our God will free us from every attack and temptation of the enemy, and make us worthy of the good things which he hath promised:
That he will illumine us with the light of understanding and of piety, and with the descent of the Holy Spirit:
That the Lord our God will send down the blessing of Jordan and sanctify these waters:
That this water may be unto the bestowing of sanctification; unto the remission of sins; unto the healing of soul and body: and unto every expedient service:
That this water may be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal:
That it may manifest itself effectual unto the averting of every machination of our foes, whether visible or invisible:
For those who shall draw of it and take of it unto the sanctification of their homes:
That it may be for the purification of the souls and bodies of all those who, with faith, shall draw and partake of it:
That he will graciously enable us to perfect sanctification by participation in these waters, through the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit:
That the Lord God will hearken unto the voice of petition of us sinners, and will have mercy upon us:
That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity:
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
should be unto a new birth, through water and the Spirit, and unto the deliverance then first instituted for us. Celebrating the memory of which divine mystery, we beseech thee, O Lord who lovest mankind, sprinkle us, thine unworthy servants, according to thy divine promise, with pure water, the gift of thy tenderness of heart. And may the supplications of us sinners over this holy water be well pleasing unto thy goodness: and may thy blessing through it be vouchsafed unto us, and unto all thy faithful people, to the glory of thy holy and adorable Name.
For unto thee belongeth all glory, honour and worship, together with thy Father who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. And he saith within
himself: Amen.
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.
And when the Deacon hath finished the Litany, the Priest reciteth, aloud, the following Prayer:
Great art thou, O Lord, and marvellous are thy works, and speech sufficeth not to sing the praises of thy wonders. (Thrice.)
For thou, by thy will, from nothingness hast brought all things into being; by thy majesty thou dost uphold all creation, and by thy providence thou dost direct the world. When thou hadst framed the universe out of four elements, thou didst crown the circle of the year with four seasons. All the reason-endowed powers tremble before thee. The Sun singeth thy praises, and the Moon glorifieth thee; the Stars, also, stand before thy presence. The Light obeyeth thee. The deeps shudder with awe before thee; the water-springs do thy bidding. Thou hast spread out the heavens like a curtain. Thou hast established the earth upon the waters. With sand hast thou walled in the sea. Thou hast shed abroad the air for breathing. The Angelic Powers serve thee. The Archangelic hosts adore thee. The many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, as they stand round about and do fly, veil their faces with awe before thine unapproachable glory For thou, the God which cannot be circumscribed, who art from everlasting and ineffable, didst come down upon earth, taking on the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men. For thou couldst not endure, O Master, because of thy tender-hearted mercy, to behold the children of men tormented by the devil; but thou didst come, and didst save us. We confess thy grace; we proclaim thy mercy; we conceal not thy gracious deeds. Thou hast set at liberty the generations of our race; by thy birth thou hast sanctified a Virgin's womb. All creation singeth praises unto thee, who didst reveal thyself; for thou, our God, didst manifest thyself upon earth, and didst dwell among men. Thou didst hallow, also, the streams of Jordan, in that thou didst send down from heaven thy Holy Spirit, and didst crush the heads of the serpents which lurked there.
Then the Priest repeateth, thrice, the following, and blesseth the water with his hand at each repetition.
Wherefore do thou, O King who lovest mankind, come down now also through the descent of thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water. (Thrice.)
And impart unto it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of immortality, a gift of sanctification, a remission of sins, a healing of infirmities, a destruction of demons; unapproachable by hostile powers, filled with angelic might. And may it be unto all those who shall draw it, and shall partake of it unto the purification of their souls and bodies, unto the healing of their passions, unto the sanctifica-
tion of their houses, and unto every expedient service. For thou art our God, who through water and the Spirit dost renew our nature, which had fallen into decay through sin. For thou art our God, who with water didst drown sin in the days of Noah. For thou art our God, who by the sea, through Moses, didst set free from slavery to Pharaoh the Hebrew race. For thou art our God, who didst cleave the rock in the wilderness, so that water gushed forth, and who madest the floods to well forth abundantly; and didst satisfy thy thirsty people. For thou art our God, who by fire and water, through Elijah, didst set Israel free from the errors of Baal.
Do thou, the same Master, sanctify now also this water by thy Holy Spirit. (Thrice.)
Grant also unto all who shall be sprinkled therewith, and shall partake thereof, and shall anoint themselves therewith, sanctification, blessing, purification and bodily health.
And save, O Lord, thy servant, our most God-fearing Ruler, N., and all the Authorities.
Save, O Lord, and show mercy upon the Most Holy Synod, and keep them in peace beneath thy shelter. Subdue under them every foe and adversary; grant all their petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal; that with the elements, and men, and Angels, and with all things visible and invisible, they may magnify thy most holy Name, together with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Priest. Peace be with you.
Choir. And with thy spirit.
Deacon. Bow your heads unto the Lord.
Choir. To thee, O Lord.
And the Priest, bowing his head, prayeth: Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear us, O thou who wast graciously pleased to receive baptism in Jordan, and didst sanctify the waters. Bless all us who, by the bowing of our necks, do outwardly signify our humility of mind: and graciously grant that we may be filled with thy sanctification, through our partaking of this water, and through sprinkling therewith. And may be it unto us, O Lord, for the health of our souls and bodies.
Exclamation.
Priest. For thou art the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and unto thee we ascribe glory, and thanksgiving and worship, together with thy Father, who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And again blessing the water in cross-form with the holy cross, he dippeth it therein, upright, elevating and lowering it, holding it with both hands, and singing the following Hymn in Tone I.:
When in Jordan thou wast baptized, O Lord, the worship of the Trin-
ity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bare witness unto thee, calling thee his beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the steadfastness of that word. O Christ, who didst manifest thyself, and dost enlighten the world, glory to thee.
And the Choir singeth the same.
Then he blesseth the waters a second time, in like manner. And the Singers repeat.
And likewise, a third time.
Then the Priest taketh of the holy water in a vessel, and turneth his face toward the People, holding the cross in his left hand, and in his right the aspergillus. And the People approach, and kiss the precious cross; and the Priest blesseth them, and signeth them, on the face, with the sign of the cross, with the holy tvater on the aspergillus.
Then they enter the Church again, singing, in Tone VI.: Let us praise in song, ye faithful, the greatness of God's favour to usward. For, having become man because of our transgressions, by our purification is he purified in Jordan, he, the only pure and spotless One, who sanctifieth me and the waters, and crusheth the heads of the serpents in the water. Wherefore, O brethren, let us draw of that water with joy; for the grace of the Spirit is invisibly imparted unto him who, with faith, doth draw thereof, by Christ our God, who also is the Saviour of our souls. Choir. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth, and forever. (Thrice.)
Psalm xxxiv.
I will alway give thanks unto the Lord: his praise shall ever be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify his Name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me; yea, he delivered me out of all my fear. They had an eye unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed. Lo, the poor crieth, and the Lord heareth him; yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste, and see, how gracious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye that are his saints; for they that fear him lack nothing. The lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good. Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that lusteth to live, and would fain see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, that they speak no guile. Eschew evil, and do good; seek peace, and ensue it. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. The countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil; to root out the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that
are of a contrite heart, and will save such as be of an humble spirit. Great are the troubles of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of all. He keepeth all his bones, so that not one of them is broken. But misfortune shall slay the ungodly; and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants; and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.
And having first drunk of the holy water, the People take the Antidoron, that is, the blessed bread, from the Priest.
Then the Benediction is pronounced: May he who was graciously pleased to accept baptism from John, in Jordan, for the sake of our salvation, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us; forasmuch as he is gracious and loveth mankind.