Chapter 5 of 17 · 3993 words · ~20 min read

Part 5

O Lord our God, who, through the completion of the bath, hast, by thy goodness, sanctified them that believe in thee; do thou bless the present child, and may thy blessing come down upon his head. And as by Samuel the prophet thou didst bless David the King, so also bless the head of thy servant, _name_, by the hand of me, a sinner, visiting him with thy Holy Ghost, that he may increase unto maturity, and in the grey hairs of old age may ascribe glory unto thee, and may see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of his life.

For to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

_Choir._ Amen.

_And he sheareth him in the form of a cross, saying,_

The servant of God, _name_, is shorn, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

_Choir._ Amen.

_Then the ectenia, in which after THE EMPEROR, the sponsor is commemorated together with the newly-illuminated._

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy....

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life, peace, health, and for the salvation of the servant of God, _name_, the sponsor, and, _name_, the newly-illuminated.

_Priest._ For a merciful....

_And the customary dismissal is made._

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A PRAYER FOR HOLY BAPTISM, THAT IS, HOW BRIEFLY TO BAPTIZE A CHILD BECAUSE OF FEAR OF DEATH.

_The priest saith_, Blessed be the kingdom.... _Then_, Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... For thine is....

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord God Almighty, the author of all creation, visible and invisible, who didst make heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is, who didst gather the waters unto one gathering together, who didst shut up the depth and seal it by thy terrible and glorious name, who didst raise up the waters to be above the firmament: thou hast founded the earth upon the waters, thou hast stablished the sea by thy power, thou hast crushed the heads of the dragons in the waters: terrible art thou, and who shall oppose thee? Do thou, O Lord, regard this thy creature, and this water, and give it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan: make it a fount of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, a loosing of sins, a healing of sicknesses, a destruction of demons, an inaccessibility to hostile powers, a fulness of angelic strength, that they may flee from it that plot against thy creature; for I have called upon thy name, O Lord, which is wonderful and glorious, and terrible to adversaries.

_And straightway he poureth oil upon the water. Then he baptizeth, saying,_

The servant of God is baptized.... _And the rest._

_And straightway he investeth him, and anointeth him with the myrrh, saying,_

The seal of the gift.... _And the rest._

_And after these things he goeth round with him, singing according to rule,_

As many as have been baptized into Christ....

_And the dismissal is made._

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PREFACE AND INSTRUCTION CONCERNING HOW IT BEHOVETH A SPIRITUAL PERSON TO BEHAVE HIMSELF, AND TO INSTRUCT WITHOUT CONTRADICTION THEM THAT BETAKE THEMSELVES TO HIM.

It is the duty of him that is the recipient of human thoughts to be a pattern of all good things, and to be continent, humble, and virtuous, praying himself every hour unto God, that he may give him the word of wisdom to correct them that betake themselves to him. First of all it is his duty himself to fast wednesday and friday throughout the year, as the divine canons direct, since from these he hath to direct himself and others what to do. But if he himself be ignorant, incontinent, and pleasure-loving, how can he teach virtue unto others? and who would be so unwise as to hearken unto him concerning that which he hath to say, seeing him a disorderly person and a drunkard, and teaching others not to be intemperate, or to follow any virtue whatever, while he himself is unable to do this? For eyes are more believing than ears, saith the divine scripture. Therefore, take heed unto thyself, O thou that art a spiritual person; for if one sheep be lost through thy negligence, it shall be required at thy hands. For cursed, saith the scripture, is he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently. And the great Basil saith, Give heed, that thou fear not a man in his fall, that thou give not the Son of God into unworthy hands, that thou be not ashamed of him because of them that are glorious on the earth, and that thou communicate not even him that weareth a diadem. For the divine canons do not permit the unworthy to be communicated, since they are regarded as heathen. If they will not repent, woe unto them, and to them that communicate them. Give heed, he saith, thou seest I will not permit such things. These and the like precepts keeping, and before all things, preserving the ecclesiastical dogmas immoveably, thou shalt save thyself, and them that hearken unto thee. If any without proper licence from the local Bishop dare to be the recipient of thoughts and to confess, such shall rightly receive punishment as a transgressor of the divine canons; for he doth not only ruin himself, but as many as are confessed by him, they are not confessed, and as many as are bound or loosed, they are not corrected, according to the sixth canon of the synod of Carthage, and according to the forty-third of the same synod.

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_Chapter VII._

THE ORDER CONCERNING CONFESSION.

_The spiritual father leadeth one that cometh to confess, but not two or more, with uncovered head before an icon of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he maketh the initial verse._

_Then_, Trisagion. _After_ Our Father.... Lord have mercy, _xii_.

_Glory. Both now._

O come, let us worship.... _Thrice._

_Then Psalm l._ Have mercy upon me, O God....

_And these present troparia, tone vi._

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us; for, destitute of all defence, we sinners offer unto thee, as Master, this prayer, Have mercy upon us.

_Glory._

O Lord, have mercy upon us; for we have put our trust in thee. Be not exceedingly wroth against us, neither remember our transgressions; but, as being loving-kind, look now upon us, 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.

_Both now._

Open unto us the gates of loving-kindness, O blessed God-bearing one, that we perish not who put our trust in thee, but through thee may we be delivered from calamities; for thou art the salvation of the christian race.

_Then_, Lord have mercy, _xl_.

_The priest saith_, Let us pray to the Lord.

_And this prayer._

O God, our Saviour, who, by thy prophet Nathan, didst grant remission of his sins to the repentant David, and didst accept the penitent prayer of Manasse; do thou thyself, in thy wonted love to man, accept this thy servant, _name_, who lamenteth because of those iniquities which he hath wrought, overlooking all that he hath done, forgiving his unrighteousness, and passing-by his transgressions. For thou, O Lord, hast said that pleasure thou hast not in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live; and that sins shall be forgiven until seventy times seven. For as thy greatness is incomparable, so is thy mercy immeasurable. For if thou shouldest mark transgressions, who should stand? For thou art the God of the penitent, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

_And another prayer._

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, the shepherd, and the lamb that taketh away the sins of the world, who didst give remittance unto the two debtors, and grant pardon of her sins unto the harlot; do thou thyself, O Master, concede, forgive, and pardon the sins, transgressions, and the voluntary and involuntary offences, which, in knowledge and in ignorance, thy servants have wrought, and whatsoever they have done, as men bearing flesh and living in the world, being beguiled by the devil. If by word, or by deed, or in knowledge, or in ignorance they have sinned, or have despised the word of a priest, or are under the malediction of a priest, or are fallen under their own anathema, or are bound under an oath; do thou thyself, as the good Master, who requitest not evil, be pleased that these, thy servants, be loosed by the word, forgiving them their own anathema and oath, according to the greatness of thy mercy. Yea, O Master, thou man-loving Lord, hearken unto us beseeching thy grace for these thy servants; and, as the most merciful one, overlook all their offences, and deliver them from everlasting torment. For thou, O Master, hast said, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. For thou alone art without sin, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

_After this he saith to him,_

Behold, child, Christ invisibly standeth here to hear thy confession. Be not ashamed, neither be afraid, and hide nothing from me; but fear not to tell me all that thou hast done, so that thou mayest receive forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, his image is before us, and I am only the witness, that I may bear witness before him of all thou tellest me. If thou hidest anything from me thou hast double sin. Bethink thee then; for since thou art come unto the place of the physician, go not thou away unhealed.

_And then he interrogateth him minutely, question by question, and waiteth until he answer after each interrogation._[11]

_Admonition._

Concerning all these things thou art bound henceforth to take care; since, according to the christian mystery, thou art baptized with a second baptism, and, God helping thee, do thou make a good beginning. And, above all things, make thou not light of it, to return to the same things, lest thou become a derision unto men; for this becometh not christians: but live honourably, and righteously, and devoutly, and may God assist thee by his grace.

_And when thou hast said all these things unto him, and hast carefully examined him, and he hath moreover made answer without concealment of all things concerning himself, say thou also unto him_, Bow thyself. _Then he that hath confessed boweth his head._

_And the spiritual person saith this prayer._

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord God of the salvation of thy servants, who art merciful, and compassionate and long-suffering, and repentest thee concerning our miseries, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live; do thou thyself now be merciful unto thy servant, _name_, and grant unto him an image of repentance, pardon and remission of sins; and forgive him every voluntary and involuntary offence: reconcile and unite him to thy holy church, through Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom is due to thee might and majesty, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

_After this prayer the priest absolveth the penitent, who lowly kneeleth, saying on this wise, to the completion of the mystery of holy penitence,_

Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, by the grace and compassion of his love to man, forgive thee, child, _name_, all thine iniquities; and I, an unworthy priest, by the power that is given unto me, forgive thee and loosen thee from all thy sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

_And finally, the priest, while saying the absolution, signeth the penitent with his right hand with the sign of the cross._

_Then_, It is very meet.... Glory. Both now. _And the dismissal._[12]

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_Chapter VIII._

PRAYER ON THE RELEASING FROM PROHIBITION.

O benign Lord, good and man-loving, who, for thy mercy’s sake, didst send thine only-begotten Son into the world that he might tear in pieces the accusation of offences against us, and burst the bonds of them that are bound by sin, and preach deliverance unto the captives; do thou thyself, O Master, by thy grace, deliver thy servant, _name_, from the bond that lieth upon him, and grant unto him that, in every time and place, he may without sin draw nigh with boldness unto thy majesty, and, in a pure conscience, entreat the rich mercy that is from thee.

For a merciful and man-loving God thou art, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

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_Chapter IX._

THE ORDER THAT IS USED AT BETROTHALS.

_After the divine liturgy, while the priest standeth in the sanctuary, they that purpose to be joined together stand before the holy doors, the man on the right side and the woman on the left. And on the right side of the holy table are laid their two rings, a golden one and a silver one, the silver one towards the right and the golden one towards the left, close to one another. And the priest signeth the heads of the bridal pair thrice, and giveth them burning tapers, and leadeth them within the temple, and censeth crosswise, and by the deacon is said,_

Bless, master.

_And the priest._ Blessed be Our God....

_Choir._ Amen.

_Deacon._ In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of their two....

For the peace of the whole world, the good estate....

For this holy temple, and for them that with faith....

For the most holy governing Synod....

For our Most Pious....

For the servant of God, _name_, and for the handmaid of God, _name_, who are now being betrothed to one another, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be vouchsafed unto them children for the succession of generation, and all desires that tend to salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

That there may be sent down upon them perfect love, peace, and assistance, let us pray to the Lord.

That they may be preserved in unanimity, and stedfast faith, let us pray to the Lord.

That they may be blessed with a blameless course of life, let us pray to the Lord.

That the Lord our God may grant unto them an honourable marriage, and a bed undefiled, let us pray to the Lord.

For our deliverance from all affliction....

Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed....

_Priest._

For to thee is due all glory....

_Then he saith the prayer with a loud voice._

O God eternal, who bringest things that are divided unto unity, and imposest upon these an indissoluble bond of love, who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, and declare them to be the inheritors of thy promise; do thou thyself bless these thy servants, _name_, _name_, directing them in every good work. For a merciful and man-loving God thou art, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

_Choir._ Amen.

_Priest._ Peace to all.

_Choir._ And to thy spirit.

_Deacon._ Bow your heads to the Lord.

_Choir._ To thee, O Lord.

_Priest._

O Lord our God, who hast espoused the church as a pure virgin from among the gentiles; do thou bless these espousals, and unite and keep these thy servants in peace and unanimity.

For to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.

_Choir._ Amen.

_Then the priest, taking the rings, giveth first the golden one to the man, then the silver one to the woman._

_And he saith to the man,_

The servant of God, _name_, is betrothed to the handmaid of God, _name_, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

_Then to the woman he saith,_

The handmaid of God, _name_, is betrothed to the servant of God, _name_, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

_And when he hath thus spoken to each one thrice, he maketh a cross with the rings upon their heads, and placeth them on the fingers of their right hands. Then the sponsor changeth the rings of the bridal pair._

_The priest saith the prayer._

Let us pray to the Lord.

O Lord, our God, who didst accompany the servant of the patriarch Abraham to Mesopotamia, when he was sent to espouse a wife for his lord Isaac, and didst reveal to him by means of the drawing of water to betroth Rebecca; do thou thyself bless the betrothal of thy servants, this, _name_, and this, _name_, and confirm the word that hath been spoken by them, confirm them by the holy union that is from thee; for thou from the beginning hast created male and female, and by thee a woman is conjoined to a man, for assistance and for the succession of the generation of man. Therefore, O Lord our God, who hast sent forth thy truth unto thine inheritance, and thy promise unto thy servants, our fathers, even thine elect in every generation, do thou thyself regard thy servant, _name_, and thine handmaid, _name_, and confirm their betrothal in faith, and unanimity, and truth, and love. For thou, O Lord, hast declared that troth should be given and confirmed in everything. By a ring was given might unto Joseph in Egypt; by a ring Daniel was exalted in the land of Babylon; by a ring was revealed the truth of Thamar; by a ring our heavenly Father showed compassion upon his son; for, said he, Put ye a ring upon his right hand, and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and rejoice. Thine own right hand, O Lord, armed Moses in the red sea; for, by thy true word, the heavens were established and the earth firmly founded, and the right hand of thy servants shall be blessed by thy mighty word, and by thine uplifted arm. Therefore, O Master, do thou thyself now bless this putting on of rings with thy heavenly benediction; and may thine Angel go before them all the days of their life.

For thou art he that blesseth and sanctifieth all things, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

_Straightway the deacon this ectenia._

Furthermore let us pray for our Most Pious, Autocratic, Great Lord, THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVITCH of all Russia.

Furthermore let us pray for His Consort, the Most Pious Lady, THE EMPRESS MARIA THEODOROVNA.

Furthermore let us pray for His Heir, the Right-believing Lord, the Cesarevitch and Grand Duke, NICOLAUS ALEXANDROVITCH.

Furthermore let us pray for the Most Holy Governing Synod.

Furthermore let us pray for all Their christ-loving army.

Furthermore let us pray for the servants of God, _name_, and _name_, who are being betrothed to one another.

_Choir._ Lord have mercy, _thrice_.

Furthermore let us pray for the whole brotherhood....

_Exclamation._

For a merciful and man-loving God thou art, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

_Then the dismissal._

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_Chapter X._

THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION.

_Now if at the same time they desire to be crowned, they go into the temple with burning tapers, preceded by the priest with the censer, and singing psalm cxxvii thus. And the people say after each verse,_