Part 8
For thou art the fount of healing, O our God, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine only-begotten Son, and with thy consubstantial Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_This prayer is said by each priest after he hath said his gospel and prayer, while he anointeth the sick person with oil._
_Deacon._ Let us attend.
_The second priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone ii._
The Lord is my strength and song, and is become for salvation unto me.
_Verse._ When thou chastenest, thou hast chastened me, O Lord; but thou hast not given me up unto death.
_The epistle to the Romans, section cxvi._
Brethren, we that are strong ought.... _ending_, received us to the glory of God.[17]
_The second priest._ Peace to thee.
_Alleluia, tone v._
_Verse._ I will sing of thy mercy, O Lord, for ever.
_The second priest._
_The gospel from Luke, section xciv._
At that time, Jesus passed through.... _ending_, to save that which was lost.[18]
_And the deacon._
Have mercy upon us, O God.... _Page 98._
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
For a merciful and man-loving God....
_Priest, the prayer._
O God, great and most high, who art worshipped by all creation, thou true fountain of wisdom, and impenetrable depth of goodness, and boundless ocean of benignity; do thou thyself, O man-loving Master, O God of things eternal and wonderful, whom none among men by thinking can comprehend, look upon us, and hearken unto us, thine unworthy servants, and wheresoever in thy great name we bring this oil, do thou send down thy gift of healing, and the remission of sins, and heal him in the plentitude of thy mercy. Yea, O Lord, thou good physician, thou sole merciful one and lover of mankind, who repentest thee concerning our ills, who knowest that the intention of man inclineth unto evil from his youth up, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live, who for the salvation of sinners, being God, becamest man, and for thy creature wast thyself created: thou art he that hath said, I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance: thou art he that hath sought the lost sheep: thou art he that hath diligently sought the lost drachma, and found it: thou art he that hath said, He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out: thou art he that did not loathe the sinful woman, who watered thy revered feet with tears: thou art he that hath said, As often as thou fallest, arise, and be saved: thou art he that hath said, There is joy in heaven over, one sinner that repenteth: do thou thyself, O benign Master, look down from the height of thy sanctuary, visiting us, thy sinful and unworthy servants, at this hour, with the grace of thy Holy Ghost, and be present with thy servant, _name_, who acknowledgeth his iniquities, and in faith draweth nigh unto thee; and, accepting him in thine own love to man, in whatsoever he hath offended, by word, or deed, or intention, making remission, do thou cleanse him, and make him pure from every sin, and, being ever present with him, keep the remaining time of his life, that walking in thy statutes, he may never become a derision to the devil, so that in him may be glorified thy most holy name.
_Exclamation._
For it is thine to have mercy, and to save us, O Christ God, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And after the prayer the second priest straightway taketh a second twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_And the deacon._ Let us attend.
_The third priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone iii._
The Lord is my light, and my Saviour, whom shall I fear?
_Verse._ The Lord is the defence of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.
_The epistle to the Corinthians, section cliii._
Brethren, ye are the body of Christ.... _ending_, Charity never faileth.[19]
_The third priest._ Peace to thee.
_Deacon._ Wisdom. _Alleluia, tone ii._
_Verse._ In thee, O Lord, have I trusted, let me never be confounded.
_The third priest readeth._
_The gospel from Matthew, section xxxiv. from the paragraph,_
At that time, Jesus called.... _ending_, freely give.[20]
_And the deacon straightway saith this ectenia._
Have mercy upon us, O God....
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
_And, with a loud voice_, For a merciful....
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
_The priest saith the prayer._
Master Almighty, holy King, who chastenest, and killest not, who supportest them that are falling, and settest up them that are cast down, who restorest the bodily afflictions of men; we entreat thee, O our God, that thou wouldest send down thy mercy upon this oil, and upon them that are anointed therewith in thy name, that it may be to them for the healing of soul and body, and for the cleansing and removal of every passion, and of every sickness and wound, and of every defilement of flesh and spirit. Yea, O Lord, send down from heaven thy healing power; touch the body; allay the fever; soothe the suffering; and banish every lurking weakness. Be the physician of thy servant, _name_, raise him from a bed of suffering, and from a couch of ailment whole and perfectly restored, granting him in thy church to be acceptable, and one that doeth thy will.
_Exclamation._
For it is thine to have mercy and to save us, O our God, 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.
_And after the prayer the third priest taketh a third twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_Deacon._ Let us attend.
_The fourth priest._
Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone iv._
In whatsover day that I call upon thee, O hearken unto me speedily.
_Verse._ O Lord, hearken unto my prayer, and unto my crying.
_The epistle to the Corinthians, section clxxxii._
Brethren, ye are the temple.... _ending_, holiness in the fear of God.[21]
_Priest._ Peace to thee.
_Alleluia, tone ii._
_Verse._ I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me.
_The fourth priest._
_The gospel from Matthew, section xxvi._
At that time, Jesus came into Peter’s house.... _ending_, his disciples followed him.[22]
_And the deacon._ Have mercy upon us, O God....
_Page 98._
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
_And the exclamation_, For a merciful....
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
_Priest, the prayer._
O good and man-loving, benign and most merciful Lord, great in mercy and plenteous in goodness, O Father of compassions and God of every consolation, who hast empowered us, through thy holy apostles, to heal the weaknesses of the people by prayer with oil; do thou thyself appoint this oil for the healing of them that are anointed therewith, for the alleviation of every sickness and every wound, for deliverance from evils of them that expect salvation that is from thee. Yea, O Master, Lord our God, we beseech thee, thou almighty one, to save us all, and, thou that alone art the physician of souls and bodies, to sanctify us all; thou that healest every sickness, do thou heal thy servant, _name_; raise him from the bed of suffering through the mercy of thy grace; visit him through thy mercy and compassions; remove from him every ailment and weakness, that, being raised by thy mighty hand, he may serve thee with all thanksgiving, as also that we, now participating in thine unspeakable love to man, may sing and glorify thee, who doest great and wonderful, glorious and transcendent things.
For it is thine to have mercy, and to save us, O our God....
_And after the prayer the fourth priest straightway taketh a fourth twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls.... _Vide page 101._
_Deacon._ Let us attend.
_The fifth priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone v._
Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt protect us, from this generation, and for ever.
_Verse._ Save me, O Lord, for the righteous are become few.
_Deacon._ Wisdom.
_The epistle to the Corinthians, section clxviii._
Brethren, we would not have you ignorant.... _ending_, by many on our behalf.[23]
_Priest._ Peace to thee.
_Alleluia, tone v._
_Verse._ I will sing of thy mercy, O Lord, for ever.
_The gospel from Matthew, section cvi._
The Lord spake this parable, Then shall the kingdom.... _ending_, wherein the Son of man cometh.[24]
_And the deacon._
Have mercy upon us, O God.... _Page 98._
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
_And the exclamation._
For a merciful....
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
_Priest, this prayer._
O Lord our God, who chastenest and again healest, who raisest the poor from the earth, and liftest up the beggar from the dunghill, O Father of the orphans, and haven of the tempest-tost, and physician of them that are sick; who painlessly bearest our weaknesses, and takest away our sicknesses; who shewest mercy with gentleness, overlookest transgressions, and takest away unrighteousness; who art quick to help and slow to anger; who didst breathe upon thy disciples, and say, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; who acceptest the repentance of sinners, and hast power to forgive many and grievous sins, and vouchsafest healing unto all that continue in weakness and protracted sickness; who me also, thine humble, sinful, and unworthy servant, involved in many sins, and overwhelmed with lusts of pleasures, hast called to the holy and exceeding great degree of the priesthood, and to enter in within the veil into the holy of holies, where the holy Angels desire to stoop to look, and hear the evangelical voice of the Lord God, and behold as eye-witnesses the presence of the holy oblation, and be enraptured with the divine and sacred liturgy; who hast counted me worthy to minister the sacred rite of thy most heavenly mystery, and to offer unto thee gifts and sacrifices for our sins, and for the ignorances of the people, and to mediate for thy rational flock, that, through thy great and unspeakable love to man, thou mayest cleanse their iniquities; do thou thyself, O most good King, attend unto my prayer at this hour, and on this holy day, and in every time and place, and accept the voice of my prayer, and grant healing unto thy servant, _name_, who is in weakness of soul and body, vouchsafing unto him remission of sins and forgiveness of voluntary and involuntary iniquities: heal his incurable wounds, and every sickness and every sore, bestowing upon him spiritual healing. It was thou who didst touch the mother-in-law of Peter, and the fever left her, and she arose and ministered unto thee: do thou thyself, O Master, bestow a remedy upon thy servant, _name_, and an alleviation of every mortal pain, and remember thine abundant compassions, and thy mercy. Remember that the intention of man inclineth constantly toward evil from his youth up, and that none is to be found sinless upon earth; for thou alone art without sin, who didst come and save the race of men, and deliver us from the servitude of the enemy. For if thou shouldest enter into judgment with thy servants, there is none that would be found pure from defilement, but every mouth would be shut, not having wherewith to answer; for all our righteousness is as filthy rags before thee. For this cause remember not, Lord, the sins of our youth; for thou art the hope of the hopeless, and the rest of them that are weary and heavy-laden with transgressions, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And after the prayer the fifth priest straightway taketh a fifth twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_Deacon._ Let us attend.
_And the sixth priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone vi._
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to great mercy.
_Verse._ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
_The epistle to the Galatians, section ccxiii._
Brethren, the fruit of the spirit.... _ending_, so fulfil the law of Christ.[25]
_The sixth priest._ Peace to thee.
_Deacon._ Wisdom, let us attend.
_Alleluia, tone vi._
_Verse._ Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, in his commandments he rejoiceth exceedingly.
_Deacon._ Wisdom, standing, let us hear the holy gospel.
_The gospel from Matthew, section lxii._
At that time, Jesus went.... _ending_, from that very hour.[26]
_And the deacon._
Have mercy upon us, O God....
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
_Exclamation._ For a merciful...
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
_The priest, this prayer._
We give thanks unto thee, O Lord our God, thou good lover of mankind, and physician of our souls and bodies, who painlessly bearest our sicknesses, and by whose stripes we have all been healed; thou good shepherd, who camest to seek the wandering sheep; who givest consolation unto the faint-hearted, and life unto them that are broken down; who didst heal the source of the issue of blood that had lasted twelve years; who didst deliver the daughter of the Chananitish woman from the ruthless demon; who didst forgive the debt unto the two debtors, and give remission unto the sinful woman; who didst bestow healing upon the paralytic, with the remission of his sins; who didst justify the publican by a word, and didst accept the thief in his last confession; who takest away the sins of the world, and wast nailed on the cross; to thee we pray, and thee we beseech, Do thou thyself, O God, in thy goodness, loosen, forgive, and pardon the transgressions and sins of thy servant, _name_, and his voluntary and involuntary iniquities, those in knowledge and in ignorance, those by trespass and disobedience, those by night and by day; or if he be under the curse of a priest, or of a father or a mother; or if by the glance of the eye, or a movement of the eyelid; or by the contact of adultery, or the tasting of prodigality, or in any excitement of flesh and spirit he have estranged himself from thy will, and from thy holiness. And if he have sinned, and in like manner we also, as the good God that rememberest not evil and the lover of mankind, do thou pardon, not leaving him and us to fall into a dissolute life, neither to walk in ways of destruction. Yea, O Master Lord, hear me, a sinner, at this hour on behalf of thy servant, _name_, and overlook, as the God that rememberest not evil, all his iniquities; deliver him from eternal torment; fill his mouth with thy praise; open his lips to the glorification of thy name; extend his hands to the doing of thy commandments; direct his feet in the path of thy gospel, confirming all his members and his intention by thy grace. For thou art our God, who, by thy holy apostles, hast commanded us, saying, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in the heavens, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens; and again, Unto whomsoever ye remit sins, they are remitted unto them, and, If ye bind them, they are bound. And, as thou didst hearken unto Ezekias in the affliction of his soul in the hour of his death, and didst not despise his prayer, so hearken unto me, thine humble, and sinful, and unworthy servant at this hour. For thou, O Lord Jesus Christ, art he that, in thy goodness and love to man, biddeth to forgive until seventy times seven them that fall into sins; and thou repentest thee concerning our evils, and rejoicest over the return of the wanderer. For, as is thy greatness, so also is thy mercy, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And after the prayer the sixth priest straightway taketh a sixth twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_Deacon._ Let us attend.
_And the seventh priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone vii._
O Lord, rebuke me not in thy fury, neither chasten me in thine anger.
_Verse._ Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.
_The epistle to the Thessalonians, section cclxxiii._
Brethren, we exhort you.... _ending_, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.[27]
_And the seventh priest._ Peace to thee.
_Deacon._ Wisdom.
_Alleluia, tone vii._
_Verse._ The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.
_The gospel from Matthew, section xxx._
At that time, Jesus, passing by.... _ending_, sinners to repentance.[28]
_And the deacon._ Have mercy upon us, O God....
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
_And the exclamation._ For a merciful....
_The deacon saith_, Let us pray to the Lord.
_The priest, this prayer._
O Master, Lord our God, physician of souls and bodies, who restorest from long-continued sufferings, healest every sickness and every wound among the people, willest that all men should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, and desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live. For, thou, Lord, in the old testament didst appoint repentance unto sinners, to David, and to the Ninevites, and to them that were before these; but during the course of thine incarnate dispensation, didst not call the righteous but sinners to repentance, even accepting the publican, the harlot, the thief, and the blaspheming persecutor, the great Paul, through repentance. Thou, through repentance, didst accept Peter, the leader and thine apostle, who denied thee thrice, and didst make promise unto him, saying, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it, and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore we also, O good one and the lover of mankind, being bold according to thine undeceiving promises, pray unto thee, and supplicate at this hour. Hearken unto our prayer and accept it as incense offered unto thee, and visit thy servant, _name_, and if he have sinned by word, or deed, or intention, or in the night, or in the day, if he be under the curse of a priest, or be fallen under his own curse, or be embittered by a curse, and have forsworn himself, we supplicate thee, and to thee we pray, Pardon, forgive, and loosen him, O God, overlooking his transgressions, and the sins which in knowledge and in ignorance have been done by him. And in whatsoever he have transgressed thy commandments, or have sinned, because he beareth flesh and liveth in the world, or because of the operation of the devil, do thou thyself, as the good and man-loving God, loosen him; for there is no man that liveth and sinneth not: thou only art without sin, thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy word is the truth. For thou didst not form man for destruction, but for the keeping of thy commandments, and for the inheritance of life incorruptible, and to thee we ascribe glory, with the Father, and with the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And after the prayer the seventh priest taketh a seventh twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_And after this, the sick person that receiveth the sacred unction, if he be able, cometh himself into the midst of the priests, or, held by his own people, standeth, or sitteth. And if he be not able, the priests themselves stand around him lying on the bed. And the president, taking the holy gospel and opening it, layeth the text upon the head of the sick person, the book being held by all the priests. And he that is the leader doth not lay on his hand, but he saith this prayer with a loud voice._
O Holy King, O loving-kind and most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the living God, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live; I lay not my sinful hand upon the head of him that cometh to thee in sins, and beseecheth of thee through us remission of sins, but thy strong and mighty hand which is in this holy gospel which my fellow-ministers hold upon the head of thy servant, _name_, and I pray with them and entreat thy merciful love to man, which remembereth not evil, O God, our Saviour, who, through thy prophet Nathan, didst grant remission of his iniquities unto the repentant David, and didst accept the prayer of repentance of Manasse; and do thou thyself, in thy wonted love to man, accept thy servant, _name_, who bewaileth on account of his own offences, and overlook all his iniquities. For thou art our God, who hast bidden to forgive until seventy times seven them that have fallen into sins; for as is thy greatness, so also is thy mercy, and to thee is due every glory, honour, and worship, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And taking the gospel from the head of the sick person, they present it to him to kiss._
_And the deacon._ Have mercy upon us, O God....
Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
And that to him may be remitted....
_Exclamation._
For a merciful and man-loving....
_Then they sing, Glory, idiomelon, tone iv._
Having a fountain of remedies, O holy unmercenary ones, ye bestow healings unto all that are in need, as being counted worthy of mighty gifts from the ever-flowing fountain of our Saviour. For the Lord hath said unto you, as unto co-emulators of the apostles, Behold, I have given unto you power over unclean spirits, so as to cast them out, and to heal every sickness and every wound. Therefore in his commandments having virtuously liv’d, freely ye receiv’d, freely ye bestow, healing the sufferings of our souls and bodies.
_Both now, tone the same._
Attend unto the supplications of thy servants, thou altogether undefiled one, quelling the uprisings of evils against us, and releasing us from every affliction; for thee we have alone a sure and certain confirmation, and we have gain’d thy mediation that we may not be put to shame, O Queen, who call upon thee. Be instant in supplication for them that faithfully exclaim to thee, Hail, Queen, thou aid of all, the joy and safeguard, and salvation of our souls.
_Glory. Both now._ Lord, have mercy, _thrice_. Bless.
_And the dismissal._