_After the priest hath said the prayer behind the ambo, we all go to the
baptismal font, the taper-bearers going in front, and after them the
deacons and priests with the gospel and with incense, while the brethren
sing the present troparia._
_Tone viii._
The voice of the Lord crieth upon the waters, saying, O come ye, and all
receive the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of
the fear of God, even Christ, who is made manifest.
_Thrice._
To-day the nature of the waters is sanctified, and the Jordan is divided,
and turneth back the flowing of its waters, beholding the baptism of the
Master.
_Twice._
As a man thou didst come to the river, O Christ the King, desiring to
receive the baptism of a servant, O thou good one, at the hand of the
Forerunner, because of our sins, O lover of mankind.
_Twice._
_Glory. Both now. The same tone._
To the voice crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
thou didst come, O Lord, taking the form of a servant, asking for
baptism, thou who knowest not sin. The waters beheld thee, and were
afraid. The Forerunner became trembling, and cried, saying, How shall
the lamp of light be lighted? how shall the servant lay hands upon the
Master? Sanctify thou me and the waters, O Saviour, thou that takest away
the sins of the world.
_And straightway, standing by the baptismal font, the deacon saith_,
Wisdom.
_And the reader, the reading from the prophesy of
Esaias._
_Chap. xxxv._
Thus saith the Lord, Let the thirsty desert be glad, let the wilderness
rejoice, and blossom as a rose, and let them bud forth and be exceedingly
glad. And let the desert of Jordan rejoice, and the glory of Libanus
shall be given unto it, and the honour of Carmel, and my people shall
behold the glory of the Lord, and the exaltedness of God. Strengthen ye
the weak hands, and comfort ye the feeble knees; and say unto them that
are faint-hearted in intention, Be ye strong, and fear not, behold our
God will render judgment, he will come and save us. Then shall the eyes
of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. Then shall
the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the deaf be distinct;
for in the wilderness shall water break out, and a ravine in a thirsty
land. And waterless places shall become pools, and in a thirsty land
shall be a spring of water: there shall be joy of birds, abodes of
syrens, and reeds and pools. And there shall be a pure way, and it shall
be called a holy way; and the impure shall not pass there, neither shall
an impure way be there, and the dispersed shall walk therein, and shall
not wander. And no lion shall be there, nor of evil beasts shall one
enter there, nor be found there; but the redeemed and chosen of the Lord
shall walk therein. And they shall return and come to Sion with joy and
gladness, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: praise, and
gladness, and joy shall penetrate them, and pain, grief, and sighing
shall flee away.
_The reading from the prophecy of Esaias._
_Chap. lv._
Thus saith the Lord, O every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water,
and as many as have no money, come ye, buy, and eat and drink, wine
and fat, without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money
for that which is not bread, and labour for that which satisfieth not?
hearken ye to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight
itself in good things. Incline your ears, and follow in my ways; hearken
unto me, and your soul shall live in good things; and I will promise
unto you an everlasting testament, even faithful things befitting unto
David. Behold, I have given him to be a testimony among the nations, a
prince and a commander among the nations. Behold, nations that have not
known thee shall call upon thee, and people that have not recognised
thee shall have recourse unto thee, because of the Lord thy God and the
holy one of Israel, for I have glorified thee. Seek ye God, and, when ye
have found him, call upon him, if haply he may draw nigh unto you. Let
the impious forsake his ways, and the transgressing man his counsels;
and turn ye unto the Lord your God, and ye shall be pitied; for in much
wise he forgiveth your sins. For my counsels are not as your counsels,
neither as your ways are my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heaven
standeth far from the earth, so standeth my way from your ways, and your
contemplations from my thoughts. For as the rain or the snow cometh down
from heaven, and returneth not thither, until it soaketh the earth, and
generateth, and increaseth, and giveth seed to the sower, and bread to
the eater, so shall my word be which goeth out of my lips, and returneth
not unto me void, until it accomplisheth all that I have wished, and
furthereth my ways and my commandments. For ye shall go forth with joy,
and be taught with gladness: for the mountains and the hills shall leap,
expecting you with joy, and all the trees of the field shall clap their
hands. And instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of
the nettle shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a
name and for an everlasting sign, and it shall not be cut off.
_The reading from the prophecy of Esaias._
_Chap. xii._
Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall draw water with joy out of wells of
salvation. And thou shalt say in that day, Confess ye unto the Lord, and
call upon his name, declare his glory unto the nations, make mention that
his name is exalted. Sing ye the name of the Lord, for he hath wrought
excellent things: declare ye these throughout all lands. Rejoice and be
glad, ye that dwell in Sion, for the holy one of Israel is exalted in the
midst thereof.
_Deacon._ Wisdom.
_Reader, prokimenon, tone iii._
The Lord is mine illumination, 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 cxliii, from
the paragraph, Chap. x._
Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our fathers
were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all
baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the
same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they
drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
_Alleluia, tone iv._
_Verse._ The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the God of glory
thundereth, the Lord is upon many waters.
_The gospel from Mark, section ii. Chap. i._
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of
John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the
heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there
was a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.
_And the deacon saith the ectenia._
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace that is from above....
For the peace of the whole world....
For this holy temple....
For the Most Holy Governing Synod....
For our Most Pious, Autocratic Great Lord, THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER
ALEXANDROVITCH of all Russia; and for His Consort, the Most Pious Lady,
THE EMPRESS MARIA THEODOROVNA.
For His Heir, the Right-believing Lord, the Cesarevitch and Grand Duke
NICOLAUS ALEXANDROVITCH; and for all the Reigning House.
That he would assist Them, and subdue....
For this city, (_if it is a monastery_, For this holy habitation)....
For healthiness of weather....
For them that voyage, that journey....
That this water may be hallowed by the might, and operation, and descent
of the Holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.
That there may come down into these waters the cleansing operation of the
supersubstantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.
That there may be bestowed upon them the grace of redemption, the
blessing of Jordan, through the might, and operation, and descent of the
holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.
That he would quickly beat down satan under our feet, and destroy every
evil counsel that he conceiveth against us, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord our God may deliver us from every evil device, and from the
essay of the adversary, and may count us worthy of promised blessings,
let us pray to the Lord.
That we may be illuminated with the illumination of understanding and
piety through the descent of the Holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God would send down the blessing of Jordan, and hallow
these waters, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water may be a gift of sanctification, a loosing of sins, for
the healing of soul and body, and for every befitting need, let us pray
to the Lord.
That this water may well up unto eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.
That it may be manifested to the destruction of every counsel of visible
and invisible enemies, let us pray to the Lord.
For them that laid and draw thereof for the sanctification of houses, let
us pray to the Lord.
That it may be to the cleansing of soul and body of all that with faith
draw and partake of it, let us pray to the Lord.
That we may be counted worthy to be filled with sanctification through
the partaking of these waters, by the invisible manifestation of the Holy
Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God may hearken unto the voice of the prayer of us sinners,
and have mercy upon us, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from every affliction....
Help us, save us, have mercy....
Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed....
_While these are being said, the priest saith this
prayer secretly._
Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, that art in the bosom of the
Father, O thou true God, fountain of life and immortality, thou light
of light, that camest into the world to enlighten it; do thou dawn
upon our mind by thy Holy Ghost, and accept us offering magnifying and
thanksgiving unto thee for thy wonderful mighty works from eternity, and
for thy saving providence in these last ages, in which thou hast assumed
our impotent and poor substance, and, condescending to the estate of
a servant, who art King of all things, didst furthermore endure to be
baptized in Jordan by the hand of a servant, that thou, the sinless one,
having sanctified the nature of water, mightest lead us unto regeneration
by water and the spirit, and stablish us in the aforetime liberty.
And, celebrating the memory of this divine mystery, we beseech thee, O
man-loving Master, Sprinkle thou also upon us, thine unworthy servants,
according to thy divine promise, pure water, the gift of thy tenderness,
that the prayer of us sinners over this water may be acceptable through
thy grace, and that thereby thy blessing may be bestowed upon us and upon
all thy faithful people, to the glory of thy holy and adorable name. For
to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, with thine unbeginning
Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now
and ever, and to ages of ages.
_And he saith to himself_, Amen.
_And when the deacon hath finished the ectenia, the priest beginneth this
prayer with a loud voice._
Great art thou, O Lord, and wonderful are thy works, and no word shall
be sufficient for the praise of thy wonders.
_Thrice._
For thou by thy will hast from, nothingness brought all things into
being, and, by thy power, thou sustainest creation, and, by thy
foreknowledge, directest the world. Thou from four elements hast formed
creation, and hast crowned the circle of the year with four seasons. All
the spiritual powers tremble before thee, the sun praiseth thee, the
moon glorifieth thee, the stars make intercession with thee, the light
hearkeneth unto thee, the depths shudder at thy presence, the springs
of water serve thee. Thou hast stretched out the heavens as a curtain,
thou hast founded the earth upon the waters, thou hast bounded the sea
with sand, thou hast diffused the air for breathing. The angelic powers
minister unto thee, the choirs of archangels worship thee, the many-eyed
cherubim, and the six-winged seraphim, standing and flying around, cover
themselves with fear of thine unapproachable glory. For thou, being the
uninscribable, unbeginning and unspeakable God, didst come down upon
earth, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;
for thou, O Master, through the tenderness of thy mercy, didst not endure
to behold the race of men tormented by the devil, but thou didst come and
save us. We confess thy grace, we proclaim thy mercy, we conceal not thy
beneficence. Thou hast set at liberty the generations of our nature,
thou didst hallow the virginal womb by thy birth. All creation praiseth
thee who didst manifest thyself; for thou, O our God, wast seen upon
earth, and didst dwell together with men. Thou didst hallow the streams
of Jordan, sending down from heaven thy Holy Ghost, and didst crush the
heads of the dragons that lurked therein.
_And the priest then saith this thrice, and blesseth the water with his
hand at each verse._
Do thou thyself, O man-loving King, be present now also through the
descent of thy Holy Ghost, and sanctify this water.
And give it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a
fountain of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, a loosing of sins,
a healing of sicknesses, a destruction of demons, unapproachable by
hostile powers, fulfilled with angelic strength, that all they that draw
and partake thereof may have it for the cleansing of souls and bodies,
for the healing of sufferings, for the sanctification of houses, and for
every befitting need. For thou art our God, who through water and the
spirit hast renewed our nature fallen through sin: thou art our God,
who through water didst overwhelm sin in the time of Noe: thou art our
God, who through the sea by Moses didst deliver the Hebrew race from the
servitude of Pharao: thou art our God, who didst divide the rock in the
wilderness, and it gushed waters and poured streams, and satisfied thy
thirsty people: thou art our God, who through water and fire by Elias
didst convert Israel from the error of Baal.
And do thou thyself now, O Master, sanctify this water by thy Holy Ghost.
_Thrice._
And grant unto all them that touch it, and partake thereof, and are
sprinkled therewith, sanctification, healing, cleansing, and blessing.
Save, O Lord, thy Servant, our Most Pious, Autocratic Great Lord, THE
EMPEROR ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVITCH of all Russia, _thrice_.
And his Consort, the Most Pious Lady, THE EMPRESS MARIA THEODOROVNA.
And His Heir, the Right-believing Lord, the Cesarevitch and Grand Duke,
NICOLAUS ALEXANDROVITCH, and all the Reigning House.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the Most Holy Governing Synod.
And keep them under thy protection in peace, subdue under Them every
enemy and adversary, grant unto Them all desires for salvation and
eternal life, that by elements, and by men, and by angels, and by things
visible and invisible thy most holy name may be glorified, with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_Priest._ Peace to all.
_Deacon._ Bow your heads to the Lord.
_Priest, the bowing down prayer._
Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hearken unto us, thou that didst vouchsafe
to be baptized in Jordan, and didst hallow the waters; and bless us all,
who through the bending of our necks indicate the representation of
service; and count us worthy to be filled with thy sanctification through
partaking of this water; and may it be to us, O Lord, for the healing of
soul and body.
_Exclamation._
For thou art our sanctification, and to thee we ascribe glory, and
thanksgiving, and worship, 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 straightway, blessing the water crosswise with the honourable cross,
he dippeth it perpendicularly, sinking it in the Water and raising it,
holding it with both hands, and singing the present troparion in tone i._
In Jordan when thou wast baptized, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was
manifested; for the Parent’s voice bore witness unto thee, naming thee
the well-beloved Son; and the Spirit, in appearance of a dove, testified
to the surety of the word. Thou who wast manifested, O Christ God, and
enlightenest the world, glory to thee.
_And the same is sung by the singers._
_Again a second time in like manner he signeth the water. And a third
tune in like manner. And the priest, having taken of the sanctified water
in a salver, turneth himself with his face towards the west, holding the
cross in his left hand and the aspergillus in his right. And first the
president approacheth, and kisseth the honourable cross, and the priest
signeth him in the face with the aspergillus with the sanctified water.
Then the priests come forward in their order. And after this all the
brotherhood in order._
_And the troparion,_
In Jordan when thou wast baptized, O Lord.... _is sung many times, until
all the brotherhood are sanctified with the sprinkling of the water_.
_And straightway we go into the temple, singing the idiomelon, tone vi._
Ye faithful, let us sing the greatness of God’s providence for us; for
he that for our sins became a man, in Jordan for our cleansing cleansed
was, himself alone being pure and uncorrupt, me hallowing and the waters,
and the dragons’ heads crushing the water in. Then, brethren, let us
water draw with joy; for unto them that draw in faith the Spirit’s grace
invisibly is given by Christ, the God and Saviour of our souls.
_Then_, Blessed be the name of the Lord.... _thrice_.
_And Psalm xxxiii._ I will bless the Lord at all times....
_And, first having drunk of the sanctified water, we receive the
antidoron from the priest. And he maketh the full dismissal._
He that vouchsafed to be baptized in Jordan for our salvation, Christ our
true God, through the prayers of his Most Pure Mother, and of all the
Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, as being good and the lover of
mankind.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_Chapter XXIV._
PRAYER AT THE BLESSING OR FLESH-MEAT ON THE HOLY AND GREAT SUNDAY OF
PASCHA.
_The priest maketh,_
Blessed be our God....
Christ is risen.... _thrice_.
_Then_, Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, look thou upon flesh-meat, and sanctify
it, as thou didst sanctify the ram which the faithful Abraham brought
unto thee, and as the lamb which Abel offered unto thee as a holocaust,
likewise also as the fatted calf which thou didst bid to be killed for
thy prodigal son when he returned again to thee, that as he was counted
worthy to enjoy thy grace, so may we also enjoy those things that are
sanctified and blessed by thee for the nourishment of us all. For thou
art the true nourishment, and the giver of good things, 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.
_Chapter XXV._