For beginners of all ages to follow along in song
(blue) indicates a changeable part (either lyrics or tone)
Sitting down is only for the homily. Outside of this, standing during the Divine Liturgy is the norm. Those who need to sit, may sit.
At each + Make the Sign of the Cross
Prayers of Preparation for The Divine Liturgy (for the faithful)
The Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy Begins
STAND
(Incensing & singing begin)
Deacon (if present): Reverend Father, give the blessing
Celebrant: Blessed is the Kingdom of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever
Faithful: Amen
Litany of Peace
MAY SIT, STANDING IS THE NORM
After each petition, the faithful respond, singing: “Lord Have mercy”
Deacon/priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For peace in the whole world, for the well-being of the Holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For his holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For our Holy Father (name), Pope of Rome, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For our most reverend Metropolitan (name), for our God-loving Bishop (name), for the venerable presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For our government, and for all in the service of our country, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For this city, for every city, community, and for the faithful living in them, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: For those who travel by sea, air, and land, for the sick, the suffering, the captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: That we be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord
Deacon/priest: Protect us, save us, have mercy on us, and preserve us, o God, by Your grace
Deacon/priest: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God
Faithful: To you, O Lord
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …For to you, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is due all glory, honor, and worship, now and ever, and forever
Faithful: Amen
First Antiphon
(may be different depending on feast)
Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth - sing praise to His name, give to Him glorious praise - Through the prayers of the Theotokos, - o Savior, save us
Glory to the + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever, amen - Through the prayers of the Theotokos, o Savior, save us.
Second Antiphon & Hymn of the Incarnation
(may be different depending on feast)
Be gracious to us, o God, and bless us - let Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us. - O Son of God - risen from the dead - save us who sing to you - Alleluia!
STAND (if you were sitting)
Glory to the + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - now and ever and forever, amen
O only begotten Son and Word of God - who being immortal - deigned for our salvation - to become incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary - and became man without change - You were also crucified, oh Christ our God - and by death have trampled death - being One of the Holy Trinity - glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us
Third Antiphon & Entrance Hymn
(may be different depending on feast)
Come let us sing joyfully to the Lord - let us acclaim God our Savior. - O Son of God - risen from the dead - save us who sing to you - Alleluia!
Deacon/priest: Wisdom! Be attentive!
Faithful: Come, let us worship and bow before Christ. - O Son of God - risen from the dead - save us who sing to you - Alleluia!
MAY SIT, STANDING IS THE NORM
The Troparia and Kontakia of the day are sung or recited
Deacon/priest: For to you Glory…
Faithful: Amen
STAND (if you were sitting)
The Thrice-Holy Hymn
Holy God - Holy and Mighty - Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us
Holy God - Holy and Mighty - Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us
Holy God - Holy and Mighty - Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us
Glory to the + Father, - and to the + Son, - and to the + Holy Spirit - now and ever - and forever, - amen
Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God - Holy and Mighty - Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us
Liturgy of the Word
Deacon/priest: Let us be attentive!
Celebrant: Peace be to all
Deacon/priest: Wisdom! Be attentive!
The Faithful sing the prokeimenon. The Lector chants the verse
Deacon/priest: Wisdom!
The lector announces the title of the Apostolic Reading
Deacon/priest: Let us be attentive!
The faithful MAY SIT while the lector chants the Apostolic Reading
Celebrant: Peace be to you, reader
Deacon/priest: Wisdom! Be attentive!
STAND (if you were sitting)
Faithful: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The gospel book and faithful are incensed
Celebrant: Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be to all
Faithful: And to your spirit
Deacon/priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. (name)
Faithful: Glory to you o Lord - glory to you
Celebrant: Let us be attentive!
The Deacon or Priest proclaims the Holy Gospel
Faithful: Glory to you o Lord - glory to you
Homily
The homily is given at this time. The faithful may SIT during the homily and the Litany of Fervent Supplication as follows:
Litany of Fervent Supplication
Deacon/priest: Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say:
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: O Lord Almighty, God of our Fathers, we pray You, hear and have mercy
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: Have mercy on us, o God, according to your great mercy, we pray You hear and have mercy
Faithful: Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: Again we pray for our Holy Father (name), Pope of Rome, and for our most reverend Metropolitan (name), for our God-loving Bishop (name), for those who serve
Faithful: Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: Again, we pray for our government and for all in service of our country
Faithful: Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: Again we pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant mercy, for those who show us mercy, and for all Christians of the true faith
Faithful: Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: For you are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to You, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever
Faithful: Amen
Cherubic Hymn/Cherubikon
STAND (if you were sitting)
Faithful: Let us who mystically - represent the cherubim - and sing the thrice-holy hymn - to the life-creating Trinity - now set aside all earthy cares (all earthly cares)
Deacon/priest: (praying, he concludes) …May the Lord God remember in His kingdom all you Christians of the true faith, always, now and ever and forever
Faithful: Amen.
That we may receive - receive the King of all - invisibly escorted - by angelic hosts - Alleluia! - Alleluia! - Alleluia!
Deacon/priest: For the precious gifts placed before us, let us pray to the Lord
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …Grant this through the mercies of Your only-begotten Son with whom You are blessed, together with your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever
Faithful: Amen
Celebrant: Peace be to all
Faithful: + And to Your spirit
Deacon/priest: Let us love one another that with one mind we may profess:
Faithful: The + Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit - the Trinity one in essence, and undivided
Deacon/priest: [The doors! The doors!] In wisdom let us be attentive!
Creed
I believe in one God, the father Almighty - Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible - and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Only-Begotten - born of the Father before all ages. - Light from Light, true God from true God - begotten, not made, one in essence with the Father; through Whom all things were made. - For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven - and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin Mary, and became man. - He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, - and suffered - and was buried. - He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. - He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father - and He is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead - and His kingdom will have no end. - And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Creator of Life, Who proceeds from the Father. - Together with the Father, and the Son He is worshipped and glorified; He spoke through the prophets. - In one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. - I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. - I expect the resurrection of the dead - and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Anaphora
Deacon/priest: Let us stand aright; let us stand in awe; let us be attentive to offer the holy Anaphora in peace
Faithful: Mercy, peace, a sacrifice of praise
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you
Faithful: + And with your spirit
Celebrant: Let us lift up our hearts
Faithful: We lift them up to the Lord
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord
Faithful: It is proper and just
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …Singing, shouting, crying aloud and saying the triumphal hymn
Holy Holy Holy
Holy, holy, - holy is the Lord of Hosts. - Heaven and earth are filled with your glory; hosanna in the highest. - Blessed is He who comes, in the name of the Lord; - hosanna in the highest.
Words of Institution
(Priest speaks prayers)
Celebrant: Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you for the remission of sins
Faithful profoundly bow saying: Amen
Celebrant: Drink of this all you; this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins
Faithful profoundly bow saying: Amen
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …Offering you your own, from your own. Always and everywhere.
Faithful: We praise You, - we bless You - we thank You, o Lord - and we pray to You, our God (Pray to you our God).
Epikleses
The celebrant prays the Epiklesis, invoking the Holy Spirit upon the Precious Gifts and the faithful. All make a PROFOUND BOW. The celebrant offers incense on behalf of all the saints and the faithful departed. Beginning the commemorations:
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) … Especially for Our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Faithful: It is truly proper to glorify you - O Theotokos, - the ever-blessed, immaculate, and the Mother of our God. - More honorable than the cherubim, - and beyond compare, more glorious than the seraphim; - who a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, - you truly the Theotokos - we magnify.
Preparation for Communion
Celebrant: Among the first, o Lord, remember our Holy Father (name), Pope of Rome, our most reverend Metropolitan (name), our God-loving Bishop (name). Preserve them for your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, and health for many years as they faithfully impart the word of your truth.
Faithful: And remember all your people
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise your most honored and magnificent name + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever
Faithful: Amen
Celebrant: May the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Faithful: + And with your spirit
Deacon/priest: Now that we have commemorated all the saints, again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord
REMAIN STANDING (sitting is for those who need to sit)
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: For the precious gifts offered and consecrated, that our God who loves us all may receive them on his holy, heavenly, and mystical altar as an aroma of spiritual fragrance, and send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: That we be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: Protect us, save us, have mercy on us, and preserve us, O God, by your grace.
Faithful: Lord have Mercy
Deacon/priest: That this whole day be perfect, holy, peaceful, and without sin, let us beseech the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, o Lord
Deacon/priest: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us beseech the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, o Lord
Deacon/priest: For the pardon and remission of our sins and offenses, let us beseech the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, o Lord
Deacon/priest: For what is good and beneficial to our souls and for peace in the world, let us beseech the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, o Lord
Deacon/priest: That we may spend the rest of our life in peace and repentance, let us beseech the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, o Lord
Deacon/priest: For a Christian, painless, unashamed, peaceful end of our life, and for a good account before the fearsome judgment-seat of Christ, let us beseech the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, o Lord
Deacon/priest: Asking for unity in the faith and for communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
Faithful: To you, o Lord
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …And make us worthy, O Master, that we may with confidence and without condemnation dare call you “Father,” God of heaven, and say:
STAND (if you were sitting)
The Our Father
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 evil.
Celebrant: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Faithful: Amen
Celebrant: Peace be to all
Faithful: + And to Your spirit
Deacon/priest: Bow your heads to the Lord.
Faithful: (bow and remain bowing until the Amen) To you, o Lord
Celebrant: (prays, concluding) …Through the grace, the mercies, and the loving-kindness of your only-begotten Son with whom you are blessed, together with your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Faithful: Amen (may stand from the bowing)
Communion
Deacon/priest: Let us be attentive!
Celebrant: Holy gifts to holy people!
Faithful: One is holy - one is Lord - Jesus Christ - to the glory of God the Father - Amen.
The proper liturgical posture is to STAND. The celebrant breaks the holy lamb into four parts in the form of a cross, uniting one portion with the precious blood. All pray together:
All:
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first.
Accept me today as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief I profess you:
Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.
May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgment or condemnation but for the healing of soul and body.
O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly your most precious body and your life-giving blood, which, I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.
With fear and reverence the clergy partake of the holy gifts while the faithful sing the COMMUNION HYMN(S) proper to the day.
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the highest. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Deacon/priest: Approach with fear of God and with faith
Faithful: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord The Lord is God, and has revealed himself to us.
How to receive our Lord in Communion
All Catholics who are properly disposed are welcome to receive the Divine Eucharist. Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not permitted to receive the Divine Eucharist.
The body and blood of our Lord (Communion under two species) are administered on a small spoon. Communicants approach close to the priest or deacon and remain standing.
The communicants say nothing. They open the mouth widely without extending the tongue and close the mouth only after the spoon has been withdrawn.
The faithful REMAIN STANDING while others are receiving holy communion. When Holy Communion has been distributed, the celebrant blesses with the chalice
After Communion
Celebrant: Save your people, O God, and bless your inheritance.
Faithful: We have seen the true light; - we have received the heavenly Spirit; - we have found the true faith; - and we worship the undivided Trinity, - for the Trinity has saved us.
Celebrant: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and forever.
Faithful: Amen
STAND (if you were sitting)
May our mouth be filled with your praise, o Lord, so that we may sing of you glory, sing of your glory. For you have deemed us worthy to partake of your holy, divine, immortal, pure, and life-creating mysteries. Keep us in your holiness so that all the day long we may live according to your truth. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (REMAIN STANDING)
Deacon/priest: Arise! Now that we have received the divine, holy, most pure, immortal, heavenly, life-creating, and awesome mysteries of Christ, let us worthily thank the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy
Celebrant: (praying, he concludes) …For you are our sanctification, and we give glory to you, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever
Faithful: Amen
Celebrant: Let us go forth in peace
Faithful: In the name of the Lord
Celebrant: Let us pray to the Lord
Faithful: Lord, have mercy
The celebrant, going before the ambon and facing East, intones the Ambon Prayer
Faithful: + Amen
Blessings and rituals for solemn occasions may take place here.
Faithful: Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever, now and forever, now and forever
Celebrant: The Blessing of the Lord be upon you through his grace and loving kindness, always, now and ever and forever
Faithful: + Amen
Celebrant: Glory to you, O Christ God, our hope, glory to you.
Faithful: Glory to the + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Give the blessing.
Celebrant: May Christ our true God...have mercy on us and save us...for Christ is good and loves us all.
Faithful: + Amen
Contains texts for the Divine Liturgies of Sts. John Chrysostom & Basil the Great. Based on the translation of the Divine Liturgy given by the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church sui juris of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2006