_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._
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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_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._