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+ The Prothesis +
(Bowing before the Prothesis Table, side-by-side, the Priest and Deacon make three reverences, saying:)
TOGETHER: O God, be gracious + unto me a sinner, and have mercy upon me. (thrice)
Thou hast redeemed us from the curse of the law, by Thy Precious Blood: nailed to the Cross and pierced by the spear, Thou hast poured forth immortality upon mankind. O our Saviour, glory to Thee.
DEACON: Bless, master.
PRIEST: Blessed + is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
DEACON: Amen.
(The Priest takes the Prosfora in his left hand and the Spear in his right, and makes the Sign of the Cross over the Seal with the spear, thrice saying:)
PRIEST: In remembrance + of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. (thrice)
(Placing the Prosfora on the Plate, the Priest starts the incisions with the spear. As he makes each incision, the Deacon reverently says:)
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
(Thrusting the Spear into the Lamb, and cutting along the right side of the center Seal, the Priest says:)
PRIEST: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.
(Cutting along the left side of the Seal, he says:)
And, as a spotless lamb is dumb before his shearer, so He opened not His mouth.
(Cutting along the top of the Seal, he says:)
In His humiliation His judgment was taken away.
(Cutting along the bottom of the Seal, he says:)
And for His generation, who shall declare it?
(Then, inserting the Spear into the right side of the bread beneath the Seal, he lifts it up and removes it from the Prosfora, saying:)
DEACON: Master, take away.
PRIEST: For His life is taken away from the earth.
DEACON: Sacrifice, Master.
(The Priest lays the Seal upon the Diskarion, in the center of the paten, with the face of the Seal inverted, and makes a deep cross-wise cut on the back of the Seal, without cutting through it, and says:)
PRIEST: Sacrificed is the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world, for the life of the world and its salvation.
(Then, the Priest turns the Seal face upward, leaving it in the center place, and pierces it with the Spear, under the letters marked "IC" as the Deacons says:)
DEACON: Pierce, Master.
PRIEST: One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side; and, immediately there came forth blood and water; and he that saw it bare witness, and his witness is true.
(Then, the Deacon with the wine cruet in his right hand and water cruet in his left hand, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, and making the Sign of the Cross over it saying:)
DEACON: Bless +, Master, the holy union.
PRIEST: Blessed + is the union of Thy holy Things, always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
DEACON: Amen.
(The Priest then cuts the small triangular portion for the Theotokos; it is alongside where the Seal was removed, on the left side of the Prosfora, saying:)
PRIEST: In honour and memory of our Most Blessed and Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary the Mother of God: through whose intercessions do Thou accept, O Lord, this sacrifice upon Thy Heavenly altar.
(The Priest looks down upon the Diskarion and places the portion on the left side of the Seal, saying:)
The Queen stood at Thy right hand, clothed in a robe of gold and many colours.
TOGETHER: O God, be gracious + unto me a sinner, and have mercy upon me. (thrice)
Thou hast redeemed us from the curse of the law, by Thy Precious Blood: nailed to the Cross and pierced by the spear, Thou hast poured forth immortality upon mankind. O our Saviour, glory to Thee.
DEACON: Bless, master.
PRIEST: Blessed + is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
DEACON: Amen.
(The Priest takes the Prosfora in his left hand and the Spear in his right, and makes the Sign of the Cross over the Seal with the spear, thrice saying:)
PRIEST: In remembrance + of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. (thrice)
(Placing the Prosfora on the Plate, the Priest starts the incisions with the spear. As he makes each incision, the Deacon reverently says:)
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
(Thrusting the Spear into the Lamb, and cutting along the right side of the center Seal, the Priest says:)
PRIEST: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.
(Cutting along the left side of the Seal, he says:)
And, as a spotless lamb is dumb before his shearer, so He opened not His mouth.
(Cutting along the top of the Seal, he says:)
In His humiliation His judgment was taken away.
(Cutting along the bottom of the Seal, he says:)
And for His generation, who shall declare it?
(Then, inserting the Spear into the right side of the bread beneath the Seal, he lifts it up and removes it from the Prosfora, saying:)
DEACON: Master, take away.
PRIEST: For His life is taken away from the earth.
DEACON: Sacrifice, Master.
(The Priest lays the Seal upon the Diskarion, in the center of the paten, with the face of the Seal inverted, and makes a deep cross-wise cut on the back of the Seal, without cutting through it, and says:)
PRIEST: Sacrificed is the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world, for the life of the world and its salvation.
(Then, the Priest turns the Seal face upward, leaving it in the center place, and pierces it with the Spear, under the letters marked "IC" as the Deacons says:)
DEACON: Pierce, Master.
PRIEST: One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side; and, immediately there came forth blood and water; and he that saw it bare witness, and his witness is true.
(Then, the Deacon with the wine cruet in his right hand and water cruet in his left hand, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, and making the Sign of the Cross over it saying:)
DEACON: Bless +, Master, the holy union.
PRIEST: Blessed + is the union of Thy holy Things, always: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
DEACON: Amen.
(The Priest then cuts the small triangular portion for the Theotokos; it is alongside where the Seal was removed, on the left side of the Prosfora, saying:)
PRIEST: In honour and memory of our Most Blessed and Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary the Mother of God: through whose intercessions do Thou accept, O Lord, this sacrifice upon Thy Heavenly altar.
(The Priest looks down upon the Diskarion and places the portion on the left side of the Seal, saying:)
The Queen stood at Thy right hand, clothed in a robe of gold and many colours.
(The square to the right of where the Seal was removed from the Prosfora, contains nine small triangles. The Priest now cuts and removes them, one at a time, and places them on the Diskarion in exactly the same position they originally had in the Prosfora. He starts with the upper left triangle and goes vertically downwards for the first three. Then he does the same with the center column and lastly with the right column, as he says for each particle:)
For the first particle:
In honour and memory of the great angelic Leaders Michael and Gabriel, and of all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven.
For the second particle:
In memory of the most honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, of the holy glorious Prophets Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, David and Jesse; of the three holy Children, and Daniel the Prophet, and of all the holy Prophets.
For the third particle:
Of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles Peter and Paul, of The Twelve and the Seventy, and of all the holy Apostles.
For the fourth particle:
Of our Fathers among the Saints, great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of Athanasius and Cyril, Saint Nicholas of Myra, the Wonderworker and Patron of the Orthodox Church of America and all the holy Hierarchs.
For the fifth particle:
Of the holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen; of the holy Great Martyrs George the Trophy-Bearer, Demetrius Myrobeletes, Theodore Tiro, Theodore Statelates, and of all the holy Martyrs.
For the sixth particle:
Of our Venerable and God-bearing Fathers Antony the Great, Euthymius, Paisius, Sabbas, Onuphrius, Peter and Athanasius of Athos, and of all the holy Ascetics.
For the seventh particle:
Of the holy, glorious and wonder-working Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleemon and Hermoulaus, and of all the holy Unmercenaries.
For the eighth particle:
Of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, of Saint Thomas Eleftherion whose memory we celebrate and of all the Saints, at whose supplications, visit us, O God.
For the ninth particle: Thomas
Of our Father among the Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we now perform.
(Cutting and removing the top square from the Prosfora, the Priest holds it in his left hand whilst gently removing particles from the top half "IC~XC" for the authorities. These are placed on the Diskarion, below the Seal, in the first row, while saying:)
Remember, O Lord, Lover of mankind, every Bishopric of the Orthodox; our Metropolitan N., and all our God-Loving Hierarchs N.(NN.); the honourable Priesthood; the Diaconate in Christ, and every order of the clergy; our brethren and fellow-ministers, the Presbyteras; and all our brethren whom Thou hast called unto Thy communion, through Thy tender compassion, O All-Gracious Master.
Call to remembrance, O Lord, the President of the United States, our Congress and all Civil Authorities.
(From the lower half of the same square "NI~KA" the Priest removes particles for the living, which are placed in another horizontal row, directly below that for the authorities, while saying:)
Remember those, O Lord, who have asked for our prayers; calling to remembrance: N.(NN.).
(He replaces the top square in the Prosfora; then, cutting and removing the bottom square from the Prosfora, the Priest takes particles, which are placed in a third row below the Seal - to remember also his ordaining bishop and the dead, while saying:)
Again we pray for blessed memory and remission of sins for the blessed Founders the Orthodox Church of America, the Standing Episcopal Conference and our Apostolic Orthodox Church. And remember, O Lord, all Orthodox Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Monastics, the Presbyteras, and all our fathers and brethren of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Russia, especially N.(NN.), who have fallen asleep in Thy communion in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, O Lord, Who lovest mankind.
(He replaces the bottom square in the Prosfora; then, he takes another particle from the top square, as he remembers himself, placing it in the top row for the authorities, while saying:)
Remember, O Lord, my unworthiness, and forgive all my offences, both voluntary and involuntary, in thought, word or deed.
(The Priest gathers all loose particles together with the sponge and gives the Prosfora to the Deacon, who places it on the side for the antidoron later. Then the Deacon holds the censer at table top level, with incense on charcoal, and says:)
DEACON: Bless +, Master, the incense.
PRIEST: Incense + we offer unto Thee, O Christ our God, for an odor of spiritual sweetness: which do Thou receive upon Thine Altar above the Heavens, and send down upon us in return the grace of Thine All-Holy Spirit.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
(The Priest takes the Asterisk (Star-cover), kisses it and holds it over the censer. He makes the Sign of the Cross with it in the rising incense smoke, saying:)
And the star came and stood over the place where the young Child was.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
(The Priest then takes the first veil, kisses it and holds it over the censer. He places it over the Diskarion, saying:)
PRIEST: The Lord hath reigned, He hath clothed Himself with majesty; The Lord hath clothed Himself with might, and hath girded Himself. Ever since the world began hath Thy seat been prepared. Thy testimonies are very sure; holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, forever.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. Cover, Master.
(The Priest takes the second veil, kisses it and holds it over the censer. He places it over the Holy Chalice, saying:)
PRIEST: Thy virtue hath covered the Heavens, O Christ, and the earth is full of Thy praise.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. Cover, Master.
(Lastly, the Priest takes the Aer, kisses it and holds it draped over the censer. He places it over both the Discarion and the Holy Chalice, saying:)
PRIEST: Shelter us in the shelter of Thy wings: drive away from us every enemy and foe: make our life peaceful; O Lord, have mercy on us and on Thy world, and save our souls, for Thou art good and lovest mankind.
(Then, the Priest takes the censer and censes the Oblation thrice, saying:)
PRIEST: Blessed art Thou, O our God, Who art thus well pleased: Glory to Thee. (thrice)
(After each of the above prayers, the Deacon says the following also three times:)
DEACON: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. (thrice)
For the precious gifts now offered, let us pray to the Lord.
(The Priest lays aside the censer, raises his arms in supplication and says the Prayer of the Prothesis.)
PRIEST: O God, our God, Who didst send forth the Heavenly Bread, the food of the whole world, our Lord and God Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer and Benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us: Do Thou Thyself bless this Oblation and receive it upon Thine altar above the Heavens. Remember, as Thou art good and lovest mankind, those who brought this offering, and those for whom they brought it; and preserve us blameless in the celebration of Thy Holy Mysteries: for sanctified and glorified is Thy most honourable and majestic Name, of the Father +, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. DEACON: Amen.
(Then, the Priest, standing before the Prothesis Table, pronounces the Dismissal, as Priest and Deacon make the Sign of the Cross thrice, saying:)
TOGETHER: Glory + to Thee, O Christ, our God + and our Hope: Glory + to Thee.
DEACON: Glory to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Master, bless.
(Then, the Priest says the Dismissal Blessing:)
PRIEST: May He Who was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation, and rose again from the dead, Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His All-Immaculate and All-Blameless Holy Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
DEACON: Amen.
(Then, the Priest takes the censer and censes the Prothesis Table and all around the Altar, saying:)
PRIEST: In the grave with the body, but in Hades with the soul, as God: in Paradise with the Thief, and on the Throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou, O Christ, filling all things, Thyself uncircumscribed.
(Then, the Priest says Psalm 50, while he censes the Iconostasis and the whole Church, and the Altar again.)
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy: according the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged.
For behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me. For behold, Thou has loved truth: the unclear and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou hast made clear to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness: the bones which Thou hast broken shall rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation: and steady me with a guiding spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways: and the impious shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips: and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For hadst Thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it Thee: Thou delightest not in burnt offerings. Sacrifices to God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good will unto Zion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offerings: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
(The Priest gives the censer to the Deacon, and standing before the Holy Altar - the Deacon stands on the right, at the side of the Holy Altar - he begins the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.)
For the first particle:
In honour and memory of the great angelic Leaders Michael and Gabriel, and of all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven.
For the second particle:
In memory of the most honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, of the holy glorious Prophets Moses and Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, David and Jesse; of the three holy Children, and Daniel the Prophet, and of all the holy Prophets.
For the third particle:
Of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles Peter and Paul, of The Twelve and the Seventy, and of all the holy Apostles.
For the fourth particle:
Of our Fathers among the Saints, great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of Athanasius and Cyril, Saint Nicholas of Myra, the Wonderworker and Patron of the Orthodox Church of America and all the holy Hierarchs.
For the fifth particle:
Of the holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen; of the holy Great Martyrs George the Trophy-Bearer, Demetrius Myrobeletes, Theodore Tiro, Theodore Statelates, and of all the holy Martyrs.
For the sixth particle:
Of our Venerable and God-bearing Fathers Antony the Great, Euthymius, Paisius, Sabbas, Onuphrius, Peter and Athanasius of Athos, and of all the holy Ascetics.
For the seventh particle:
Of the holy, glorious and wonder-working Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleemon and Hermoulaus, and of all the holy Unmercenaries.
For the eighth particle:
Of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, of Saint Thomas Eleftherion whose memory we celebrate and of all the Saints, at whose supplications, visit us, O God.
For the ninth particle: Thomas
Of our Father among the Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we now perform.
(Cutting and removing the top square from the Prosfora, the Priest holds it in his left hand whilst gently removing particles from the top half "IC~XC" for the authorities. These are placed on the Diskarion, below the Seal, in the first row, while saying:)
Remember, O Lord, Lover of mankind, every Bishopric of the Orthodox; our Metropolitan N., and all our God-Loving Hierarchs N.(NN.); the honourable Priesthood; the Diaconate in Christ, and every order of the clergy; our brethren and fellow-ministers, the Presbyteras; and all our brethren whom Thou hast called unto Thy communion, through Thy tender compassion, O All-Gracious Master.
Call to remembrance, O Lord, the President of the United States, our Congress and all Civil Authorities.
(From the lower half of the same square "NI~KA" the Priest removes particles for the living, which are placed in another horizontal row, directly below that for the authorities, while saying:)
Remember those, O Lord, who have asked for our prayers; calling to remembrance: N.(NN.).
(He replaces the top square in the Prosfora; then, cutting and removing the bottom square from the Prosfora, the Priest takes particles, which are placed in a third row below the Seal - to remember also his ordaining bishop and the dead, while saying:)
Again we pray for blessed memory and remission of sins for the blessed Founders the Orthodox Church of America, the Standing Episcopal Conference and our Apostolic Orthodox Church. And remember, O Lord, all Orthodox Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Monastics, the Presbyteras, and all our fathers and brethren of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Russia, especially N.(NN.), who have fallen asleep in Thy communion in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, O Lord, Who lovest mankind.
(He replaces the bottom square in the Prosfora; then, he takes another particle from the top square, as he remembers himself, placing it in the top row for the authorities, while saying:)
Remember, O Lord, my unworthiness, and forgive all my offences, both voluntary and involuntary, in thought, word or deed.
(The Priest gathers all loose particles together with the sponge and gives the Prosfora to the Deacon, who places it on the side for the antidoron later. Then the Deacon holds the censer at table top level, with incense on charcoal, and says:)
DEACON: Bless +, Master, the incense.
PRIEST: Incense + we offer unto Thee, O Christ our God, for an odor of spiritual sweetness: which do Thou receive upon Thine Altar above the Heavens, and send down upon us in return the grace of Thine All-Holy Spirit.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
(The Priest takes the Asterisk (Star-cover), kisses it and holds it over the censer. He makes the Sign of the Cross with it in the rising incense smoke, saying:)
And the star came and stood over the place where the young Child was.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
(The Priest then takes the first veil, kisses it and holds it over the censer. He places it over the Diskarion, saying:)
PRIEST: The Lord hath reigned, He hath clothed Himself with majesty; The Lord hath clothed Himself with might, and hath girded Himself. Ever since the world began hath Thy seat been prepared. Thy testimonies are very sure; holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, forever.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. Cover, Master.
(The Priest takes the second veil, kisses it and holds it over the censer. He places it over the Holy Chalice, saying:)
PRIEST: Thy virtue hath covered the Heavens, O Christ, and the earth is full of Thy praise.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord. Cover, Master.
(Lastly, the Priest takes the Aer, kisses it and holds it draped over the censer. He places it over both the Discarion and the Holy Chalice, saying:)
PRIEST: Shelter us in the shelter of Thy wings: drive away from us every enemy and foe: make our life peaceful; O Lord, have mercy on us and on Thy world, and save our souls, for Thou art good and lovest mankind.
(Then, the Priest takes the censer and censes the Oblation thrice, saying:)
PRIEST: Blessed art Thou, O our God, Who art thus well pleased: Glory to Thee. (thrice)
(After each of the above prayers, the Deacon says the following also three times:)
DEACON: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. (thrice)
For the precious gifts now offered, let us pray to the Lord.
(The Priest lays aside the censer, raises his arms in supplication and says the Prayer of the Prothesis.)
PRIEST: O God, our God, Who didst send forth the Heavenly Bread, the food of the whole world, our Lord and God Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer and Benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us: Do Thou Thyself bless this Oblation and receive it upon Thine altar above the Heavens. Remember, as Thou art good and lovest mankind, those who brought this offering, and those for whom they brought it; and preserve us blameless in the celebration of Thy Holy Mysteries: for sanctified and glorified is Thy most honourable and majestic Name, of the Father +, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. DEACON: Amen.
(Then, the Priest, standing before the Prothesis Table, pronounces the Dismissal, as Priest and Deacon make the Sign of the Cross thrice, saying:)
TOGETHER: Glory + to Thee, O Christ, our God + and our Hope: Glory + to Thee.
DEACON: Glory to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Master, bless.
(Then, the Priest says the Dismissal Blessing:)
PRIEST: May He Who was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation, and rose again from the dead, Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His All-Immaculate and All-Blameless Holy Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
DEACON: Amen.
(Then, the Priest takes the censer and censes the Prothesis Table and all around the Altar, saying:)
PRIEST: In the grave with the body, but in Hades with the soul, as God: in Paradise with the Thief, and on the Throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou, O Christ, filling all things, Thyself uncircumscribed.
(Then, the Priest says Psalm 50, while he censes the Iconostasis and the whole Church, and the Altar again.)
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy: according the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged.
For behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me. For behold, Thou has loved truth: the unclear and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou hast made clear to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness: the bones which Thou hast broken shall rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation: and steady me with a guiding spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways: and the impious shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips: and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For hadst Thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it Thee: Thou delightest not in burnt offerings. Sacrifices to God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good will unto Zion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offerings: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
(The Priest gives the censer to the Deacon, and standing before the Holy Altar - the Deacon stands on the right, at the side of the Holy Altar - he begins the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.)
