Part 9
Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother, through the power of the honourable and life-effecting cross, of the holy, glorious, and all-praised James, apostle and first highpriest of Jerusalem, the brother of God, and of all the Saints, save us and have mercy upon us, as being good and the lover of mankind.
_And he that receiveth the prayer oil maketh reverence, saying,_
Bless me, holy fathers, and forgive me, a sinner.
_Thrice._
_And, having received from them blessing and forgiveness, he departeth, thanking God._
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[Illustration]
_Chapter XIV._
THE OFFICE WHEN IN EXTREME URGENCY OCCASION ARISETH TO GIVE COMMUNION TO A SICK PERSON.
_The priest taketh a particle of the holy mysteries, and placeth it in a chalice, and poureth thereunto a little wine, as much at may be sufficient for the sick person to receive it._
_And he beginneth_, Blessed be our God, always, now.... _Then_, Trisagion. _After_ Our Father.... Lord, have mercy, _xii_. O come, let us worship.... _thrice_. I believe in one God.... _all to the end_.
_Then he saith,_
Of thy mysterious supper, Son of God, me a communicant accept to-day; for I thy mystery to thy foes will not betray, nor give to thee a kiss as Judas did; but, as the thief, I will confess thee: Lord, in thy kingdom O remember me.
_Glory._
O heavenly king, O comforter, Spirit of truth who art everywhere and fillest all, treasury of blessings and giver of life; come and abide in us, and cleanse us from all stain, and save our souls, O blessed one.
_Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we have understood the God made flesh from thee, whom do thou pray to save our souls.
Lord, have mercy, _xl_.
_Then this prayer._
Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who alone hast power to forgive sins, as the good and man-loving God, do thou overlook all the iniquities, in knowledge and in ignorance, of thy servant, _name_, and count him worthy to partake, without condemnation, of thy most pure mysteries, not to torment, nor to the increase of sins, but to the cleansing of soul and body, and as an earnest of thy kingdom; for thou art his assistance, and firm wall, and bulwark against the adversary, and the cleansing of his iniquities. For thou art a merciful and man-loving God, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
_Second prayer._
Lord, I know that I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof, into the house of my soul; for it is all deserted and in ruins, and thou hast not in me a fitting place where to lay thy head; but since thou wishest to abide with me, trusting in thy compassions, I come unto thee. Bid the doors of mine unworthy lips to open, that I may be satisfied with thee alone; enter into me, and cleanse me from every bodily and spiritual defilement; be thou my helper and defender, and count me worthy to stand at thy right hand, through the prayers and supplications of our most pure Lady, the God-bearing and Ever-virgin Mary, and of all the Saints, who from ages have been acceptable unto thee; for blessed art thou to ages. Amen.
_Third prayer._
The Lord God most merciful have compassion upon thee. The Lord Jesus Christ bestow upon thee every good desire. The Lord Almighty deliver thee from every calamity. The Lord teach thee. The Lord give thee understanding. The Lord help thee. The Lord save thee. The Lord protect thee. The Lord keep thee. The Lord cleanse thee. The Lord fill thee with spiritual joy. The Lord be the defender of thy soul and body. The Lord, as the merciful and good lover of mankind, bestow upon thee forgiveness of sins. The Lord God Jesus Christ have mercy upon thee in the day of judgment, and bless thee all the days of thy life. For to him is due all glory, honour, and worship, with his unbeginning Father, and with his most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And if the sick person shall have been previously confessed, let him straightway communicate of the holy mysteries. But if not, the priest biddeth them that are there present to retire for a short time, and he interrogateth him concerning offences diverse and of many kinds, being careful that nothing shall be concealed, or unconfessed because of shame. And then, after the confession, the priest saith this prayer._
O Lord our God, who didst forgive sins unto Peter and unto the harlot through their tears, and didst justify the publican who acknowledged his iniquities; do thou accept the confession of thy servant, _name_, and that wherein he hath sinned against thee, his voluntary and involuntary sins, by word, or deed, or intention, as being good, do thou overlook. For thou alone hast power to forgive sins, for thou art God merciful and compassionate, 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 the communion he saith,_
Now dismiss thy servant, O Master.... _all to the end_. _Then_, Trisagion. _After_ Our Father.... _the troparion of the day_.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
Through the prayers, O Lord, of all the Saints, and of the God-bearing one, grant us thy peace, and have mercy upon us, as being alone compassionate.
Lord, have mercy, _thrice_. Bless.
_And the dismissal of the day that is._
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_Chapter XV._
PRAYERFUL CANON TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND TO THE MOST HOLY GOD-BEARING MOTHER OF THE LORD AT THE PARTING OF THE SOUL FROM THE BODY OF EVERY RIGHT-BELIEVER.
_The abbot cometh, but to a layman his spiritual father, and asketh if through forgetfulness or shame he have any word or deed, or any malice against a brother, unconfessed, or unforgiven: it is obligatory to examine and interrogate the dying concerning all things one by one._
_After this he beginneth_, Blessed be our God.... _Trisagion._ _After_ Our Father.... Lord, have mercy, _xii_. O come, let us worship.... _thrice_. _Psalm l._ Have mercy upon me O God....
_A prayerful canon to the Most Holy God-bearing one, with the irmi to vi, from the person of a man who is being parted from his soul, and who is not able to speak._
_Tone vi. Ode i. Irmos._
Passing as on dry land....
_Refrain._ God-bearing one most holy, save thou us.
Like unto drops of rain, mine evil and brief days, becoming scant with summer’s roll, already well-nigh vanish’d are: do thou save me, O Queen.
In thy benignity and many mercies, O thou Queen, in this dread hour, when nature faileth, stand by me, an aid invincible.
Now mighty fear constrains my soul, it trembleth inexpressibly and grieves: console it, thou Most Pure, as it the body quits.
_Glory._
Known refuge of the sinful and the low, make known to me thy mercy, O thou Pure, and me from demons’ hands set free; for like as many dogs they me surround.
_Both now._
Lo, ’tis the time for help: lo, for thy mediation ’tis the time: lo, O thou Queen, it is the time concerning which I have both day and night with fervour cast me down and pray’d to thee.
_Ode iii. Irmos._
There is none holy like to thee, O Lord....
From long ago this day, O Queen, have I foreseen, and, ever musing thereupon as though it had arriv’d, with fervent tears I thee have pray’d, Forget me not.
They, roaring, me surround, the mental lions, and seek to seize and rend me bitterly; but crush their teeth and jaws, O Pure, and save thou me.
Although henceforward be my vocal organs dumb, my tongue be bound, my speech be stay’d, in heart’s contrition thee I pray, O my deliverer, save thou me.
_Glory._
Thine ear to me incline, Mother of Christ my God, from thy great glory’s height, thou blessed one, and hear my latest sigh, and reach thy hand to me.
_Both now._
Thy many mercies take thou not from me, nor close thy loving tenderness for man ’gainst me, O Pure; but stand thou by me now, and in the hour of judgment think on me.
_Ode iv. Irmos._
Christ is my might, the God and Lord....
Now make a flood of tears offences’ bath, thou that art good; my heart’s contrition take; yea, blessed one, confirm my trust in thee, that thou wilt free me from the fearful fiery pain; for thou, God-bearing one, thyself art grace’s fount.
Thou that for all in need a refuge art, that put to shame is not, and all offenceless is; be thou, O Queen most undefil’d, an advocate for me in trial’s hour.
Thou stretchest forth thy most rever’d and precious hands in guise of wings of dove divine, and ’neath their shade and shelter coverest me, O Queen.
_Glory._
By him, the prince of air, and him that violent is, and him that torturer is, and him that standeth in the fearful ways, and by the false accusing words of these, grant me to pass unovercome, when I depart from earth.
_Both now._
Lo, terror meeteth me, O Queen, and I have dread thereof. Behold, a great event befalleth me, and O be thou therein a helper unto me, O trust of my salvation thou.
_Ode v. Irmos._
With thy divine light, O blessed one....
Thou that art good, forget me not, nor from thy servant turn thy face; but hear thou me, for I am griev’d, and O attend unto my soul, and rescue this.
O ye my kinsfolk in the flesh, and ye my brethren in the spirit, and ye my friends and comrades known, weep, sigh, lament; for lo, I now depart from you.
Now none delivereth, and in truth nothing affordeth aid: be thou mine aid, O Queen, lest I be as a man that hath no help, and in mine enemies’ hands enclos’d.
_Glory._
Go, ye my holy Angels, stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, and bend your spiritual knees, and tearfully exclaim to him, Have mercy, Maker of all things, and, blessed one, reject thou not the work of thine own hands.
_Both now._
Unto the Queen bow ye yourselves, and my God’s most pure Mother pray that she may bend her knees with you, and unto mercy him incline; for hearken’d unto she will be, as Mother and as nurturer.
_Ode vi. Irmos._
Life’s sea perturbed....
My lips are silent, and my tongue speaks not, but my heart cries, because, contrition’s fire consuming it within, it burns, and, with a voice unutterable, invoketh thee, O Virgin.
Regard me from on high, O Mother of God, and mercifully now attend to come and visit me, that, seeing thee, I may rejoice, departing from the body.
When broken are the bonds, dissolv’d the laws of natural setting, and those of every bodily substance, to need importable and straight they subject me.
_Glory._
Place me, O Queen, in holy Angels’ sacred and revered hands, that cover’d by their wings, I may not see the forms devoid of grace, and foul, and dark of demons.
_Both now._
Thou all-revered bridal-room of God, me worthy count to enter in the heavenly spiritual bridal-room, enkindling with thy mercy’s holy oil my quenched and unshining lamp.
_Condakion, tone vi._
My soul, my soul, arise, why sleepest thou? The end draws very near, and thou hast need to pray. Then rouse thyself, that Christ God may compassionate thee, he who is present everywhere, and filleth everything.
_Icos._
Beholding open Christ’s remedial fount, and Adam drawing healing thence, the devil, suffering, wounded was, wailed as they who ill receive, and cried to those conjoin’d with him, What shall I do to Mary’s Son? He killeth me, the Bethleemite, he who is present everywhere, and filleth everything.
_Ode vii. Irmos._
The angel made the furnace to bedew....
Me unprepar’d death’s dark and moonless night o’ertaken hath, and journeying unprepar’d, along that straight and fearful way, O may thy mercy company me, O Queen.
Lo, verily, all my days in vanity wasted are, as hath been written, and my years with care, and deadly bitter snares, in truth, prevented have my soul, and these me still constrain.
Let not the number of my sins thy great beneficence exceed, O Queen; but let thy mercy come on me, and all mine oversteppings do thou hide.
_Glory._
Leading me hence they go, on all sides binding me, and, fill’d with much rebellion, quelled is my soul, and fears; but, O thou Pure, with thine appearance, do thou it appease.
_Both now._
In mine affliction have I no one found to mourn with me and comfort me, O Queen; for mine acquaintances and friends have now together quitted me; but, thou who art my trust, do thou forsake me not.
_Ode viii. Irmos._
From flame thou didst a dew outpour on reverend ones....
As God’s man-loving Mother, be man-loving thou, with gentle eyes and merciful regarding me, as from the body goes my soul, that thee I ever may extol, thou holy Bringer-forth of God.
Me worthy count to overcome the hosts of bodiless foes, to mount th’ aërial space and enter heaven, that thee I ever may extol, thou holy Bringer-forth of God.
Thou who didst bear th’ Almighty Lord, from me far keep away the world-controlling prince of bitter guiles when I approach mine end, that thee I ever may extol, thou holy Bringer-forth of God.
_Glory._
When the great final trump shall sound, arousing all to resurrection menacing and dread, O then do thou remember me, thou holy Bringer-forth of God.
_Both now._
Palace high rais’d of Christ the Lord, send from on high thy grace, and now in trouble’s day prevent thou me, that I may ever thee extol, thou holy Bringer-forth of God.
_Ode ix. Irmos._
Mortals may not see God....
O how shall I th’ invisible behold? how that most dreadful vision bear? how venture to lift up mine eyes? how dare my Master to regard, whom, from my youth, I never ceased have to give offence?
Thou holy maiden, Bringer-forth of God, look on my lowliness with tender heart; accept thou this, my last and penitential prayer; and make thou speed to rescue me from the tormenting endless fire.
My soul, that temples holy hath defil’d, having a stain’d and bodily temple left, beseecheth thee, O maiden, Virgin Mother, that it may ’scape the gloom profound, and fierce gehenna’s flame.
_Glory._
Seeing the end of life draw near, and on my most unseemly thoughts and deeds bethinking me, O thou All-pure, the darts of conscience fiercely wound mine active soul; but O in mercy turn thyself to me, and be mine advocate.
_Both now._
The Son in mercy gave himself for us, the Son of God and angels’ King eterne, becoming man from thy pure blood; move him to mercy on my passionate soul, O Maid, which is with violence from my wretched body torn.
_Then_, It is very meet....
_Prayer said by the priest at the departure of a soul._
O Master, Lord Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desirest that all men should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth; who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live; we pray and make supplication unto thee, Loosen the soul of thy servant, _name_, from every bond, and deliver him from every curse: forgive him the iniquities, known and unknown, which from youth up, in deed and word, he hath confessed sincerely, or, through forgetfulness or shame hath hidden; for thou alone art he that looseth them that are in bonds, and setteth upright them that are crushed down, thou hope of them that have no hope, who canst remit the sins of every man that hath a trust in thee. Yea, O man-loving Lord, bid that he be set free from carnal and sinful bonds, and receive in peace the soul of this thy servant, _name_, and rest it in the eternal habitations with thy Saints, through the grace of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, with whom also thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
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_Chapter XVI._
THE MORTUARY ORDER OVER LAY BODIES.
_On the decease of one of the right-believers, his kinsfolk straightway send for the priest, who cometh to the house in which the remains of him that hath fallen asleep lie, and putting on the epitrachelion, and putting incense into the censer, censeth the body of the dead, and them that stand by, and beginneth as customarily,_
Blessed be our God....
_And the bystanders begin,_
Holy God.... O most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... For thine is the kingdom....
_And straightway they sing these troparia. Tone iv._
With the spirits of the righteous dead, O Saviour, rest thy servant’s soul, keeping it in that blessed life which is with thee, thou lover of mankind.
In thy resting-place, O Lord, where all thy Saints repose, O rest thy servant’s soul; for thou alone art lover of mankind.
_Glory._
Thou art the God that wentest down to hades, and didst burst the captives’ bonds: rest also thou thyself thy servant’s soul.
_Both now._
O only pure and spotless Virgin, who without seed didst bring forth God, pray that his soul be sav’d.
_The deacon saith,_
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hear, and have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, _thrice_.
Furthermore let us pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, _name_, who hath fallen asleep, and that to him may be remitted every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.
Lord, have mercy, _thrice_.
The mercy of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his sins, we ask of thee, O Christ, our immortal King and God.
Vouchsafe, O Lord.
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
_The priest saith this prayer,_
O God of spirits and of every flesh, who didst tread down death, and overcome the devil, and bestow life upon thy world; do thou thyself, O Lord, rest the soul of thy servant, _name_, who hath fallen asleep, in a place of light, in a place of refreshment, in a place of rest, whence pain, and grief, and sighing are driven away; and every iniquity wrought by him, in word, or deed, or in intention, as the good man-loving God, do thou remit; for there is no man that shall live and shall not sin; for thou alone art without sin, thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy word the truth.
_Exclamation._
For thou art the resurrection and the life, and the repose of thy servant, _name_, who hath fallen asleep, O Christ our 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.
_Deacon._ Wisdom.
_Choir._ The more honourable than the Cherubim.... _And the rest._
_And straightway the dismissal is made by the priest on this wise,_
He that hath dominion over quick and dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother, of our venerable and god-bearing fathers, and of all his Saints, place the soul of his servant, _name_, departed from us, in holy tabernacles, and number it with the just, and have mercy upon us, as being good and the lover of mankind.
_And then if all things be ready for the departure, the priest again maketh the beginning,_
Blessed be our God....
_And we begin to sing_, Holy God.... _with fear, and with every compunction_.
_And taking up the remains of him that hath fallen asleep, we go forth to the temple; preceded by the priests with tapers, and the deacon with the censer._
_And when they come unto the temple, then the remains are placed in the porch, (or in the temple, as is here in great Russia the custom.)_
_And they begin,_
Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High....[29]
_And after this they sing with a loud voice,_
Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.
The undefiled in the way. Alleluia.
_And the first stasis of the undefiled[30] is sung to tone vi, and at the end of every verse we sing,_ Alleluia.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, that walk in the law of the Lord. Alleluia.
Blessed are they that, searching out his testimonies, seek him with the whole heart. Alleluia.
_And the rest of the psalm. Glory._ Alleluia.
_Both now._ Alleluia.
_Deacon._ Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Furthermore let us pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, _name_, who hath fallen asleep, and that to him may be remitted every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.
That the Lord God may place his soul where the righteous rest.
The mercy of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his sins let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.
Vouchsafe, O Lord.
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
_The priest saith this prayer._
O God of spirits.... _Vide page 139._
_And after this they begin the second stasis in tone v, in which also, at the ending of a verse, we say,_
Have mercy upon thy servant.
_The choir beginneth_, Thy commandments.
Have mercy upon thy servant.
_Again the same choir,_
Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me: O give me understanding, and I shall be taught by thy commandment.
Have mercy upon thy servant.
They that fear thee beheld me and rejoiced, for I have trusted in thy words.
Have mercy upon thy servant.
_And the rest of the psalm, and at the end, Glory._
Have mercy upon thy servant. _Both now._
Have mercy upon thy servant.
_Deacon._ Again and again.... _Vide page 142._
_And again they begin the third stasis in the third tone._
Thy name. Alleluia.
_Again the same choir singeth,_
Look upon me, and have mercy upon me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name. Alleluia.
Direct my steps according to thy word, and let not every transgression have dominion over me. Alleluia.
_And the rest. And, after the ending, straightway,_
_Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes._
The choir of saints have found life’s spring, and paradise’s door; and may I also find the way through penitence. I am a wandering sheep: O Saviour, me recall, and save thou me.
_Blessed art thou, O Lord...._
Ye saints, that preach’d the Lamb of God, and sacrificed were as lambs, and unto life that grows not old and aye endures translated are; this ceaselessly, ye martyrs, pray, that unto us vouchsaf’d may be remission of our trespasses.
_Blessed art thou, O Lord...._
O ye that walk’d the narrow way, that ever-suffering is; all ye that during life accepted have as yoke the cross, and follow’d me in faith; come, and enjoy those things prepar’d for you, rewards and crowns celestial.
_Blessed art thou, O Lord...._
Of thy narrateless glory I an image am, and, though I bear offences’ scars, compassionate thy creature, Lord, and cleanse me in thy tenderness, and the desired fatherland give thou to me, a citizen of paradise me making once again.
_Blessed art thou, O Lord...._