The Pauline Epistle

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THE PAULINE EPISTLE

Introduction to Pauline Epistle:

DEACON:

For the sake of the resurrection of the dead, who slept and rested in Christ's faith, O God, rest their souls all.

Paul the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ the apostle and preacher for God.

At the end the epistle, the reader concludes by saying:

The grace and peacePi ehmjot ghar

Be with you. Amennemoten nem

Tihirini evson je

Amin eshwpi

The Pauline Epistle is read, first half in Pascha (sad) tone, while the second half in annual tone, and at the end of the reading, this is said:

(In the presence of the Pope the following is sung):

The Grace of ourPi ehmot ghar em

Lord Jesus Christ bePen Chois Isos Pi

With your saintlyKhristos: ef eshopi

Spirit, my lord, thenem pek agion

Honored father, thepnevma: pa choise en

High priest, Papayot ettayott: en archi-

Abba….Erevs: Papa Abba…

In the presence of a bishop (metropolitan), this verse is added:

And our father theNem pen yot en

Bishopepiskopos (em

(metropolitan),mitropolitis):

Abba…Abba…

In the presence of several bishops (metropolitans), this verse is added instead:

And our fathers theNem nen yoti en

Bishops (metropolitans),episkopos (em-mitro-

Who are with us.Politis): etki neman.

Then the ending is said:

May the clergy and allMari pi ekliros nem pi

the people be safe inlaos tirf: oogai khen

the Lord. Amen.Ep Choise: je Amen: es

So be it.Eshopi.

THE PAULINE EPISTLE

I Corinthians 5 : 7-13

Purge our therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must you needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a miler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not you judge them, that are within? But them that are without God, judge. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

THE TRISAGION is said either in Pascha tone or annual:

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and forever, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us

Then this is said: (in the festal tone)

O my Lord Jesus Christ, Who was placed in the tomb, trample down for us the sing of death.

The Cherubim and the Seraphim, the angels and the archangels, the soldiers and the authorities, the thrones and the lordships.

Proclaiming and saying: Glory be to God in the highest, and peace on earth and good will towards men.

PRIST:

Pray.Eshlil.

DEACON:

Stand up for prayer.Epi prosevki sahite

PRIST:

Peace be with all.Irini pasi.

CONGREGATION:

And with your spirit.Ke o pnevmai soo

THE LITANY FOR THE GOSPEL

PRIEST:

O Master,Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who said to His saintly, honored disciples and holy apostles, "Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things which you hear and have not heard them. But blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear".

May we be worthy to hear and to act according to Your holy gospels through the prayers of Your saints.

DEACON:

Pray for the holy gospel.

CONGREGATION:

Lord have mercy.

PRIEST:

Remember also, O our Master, all those who have bidden us to remember them in our supplications and prayers which we offer up unto You, O Lord our God.

Those who have already fallen asleep, repose them. Those who are sick, heal them. For You are the life of us all, the salvation of us all, the hope of us all, the healing of us all, and the resurrection of us all.

And to You we send up the glory, and the honor and the adoration, together with Your ood Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of one essence with You. Now and at all times and unto the age of all ages Amen.

DEACON:

A psalm of David.

The psalm is using half in Adriby tone and the other half in annual. And the Gospel is read in Coptic half of it in Pascha tone and the rest in annual tone.

Psalm 88: 4,5 & Psalm 44: 23,26:

I am as a man that has no strength: free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more: and they are cut off from your hand. Awake, cast us not off for ever.

Arise for our help, and redeem us for your mercies' sake. Alleluia.

Psalm 126 : 2, 3:

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Alleluia.

DEACON:

Stand with the fear of God. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

PRIEST:

Blessed be who comes in the name of the Lord.

DEACON:

We beseech our Lord and God, that we may be worthy to hear the holy and Divine Gospel. In wisdom, let us attend to the Holy Gospel.

PRIEST:

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

READER:

Matthew 271 : 62 – 66

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying; Sir, we remember that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, "After three days I will rise again".

Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, you have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.

So they went, and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Glory is due to our God to the age of all ages. Amen.

CONGREGATION:

Glory to You, O Lord.

The congregation now sings the Gospel response:

Because of Your mercy weEthfe fai ten do-ou nak

Worship You, crying andenoush evol engou

saying: You are blessed Oemoce ge ekec maraout

my Lord Jesus, for You wereo pachoice isous ge

crucified and saved us.Avashk akcote emon.

THE EXPOSITION

They crucified our Savior on the Cross with two other thieves, one on His left and the other on His right; while Christ was in the middle forgiving sins. Pilate wrote an inscription above the head of our Savior so that all who passed by may read what was written that,

"Jesus is the King of the Jews."

The protesting Jews told the king not to write so but rather what He said, " I am the King of the Jews." Pilate replied, "What I have written, I have written". The inscription was written in Hebrew, Roman, and Greek. The right thief cried to our Savior and said, "Remember me Lord when You come into Your kingdom". Christ answered him, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise".

A great darkness came over all the land because of the Creator's crucifixion. He cried out in a loud voice towards His Father and gave up His spirit. Then Joesph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and ointment of Christ's Body. Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked him saying, "Give me the Body of my Lord Jesus that I may wrap Him and that He may have mercy on me. "There, they wrapped the Body of our Savior in linen cloth. They likewise placed Him in a tomb outside the city.

He rose from the dead on the third day and saved the world. Therefore let us glorify Him and proclaim saying,

"Blessed are You, O our lord Jesus Christ,

for You have risen and saved us."

THE THREE SHORT LITANIES

PRIEST:

Pray.Eshlil.

DEACON:

Stand up for prayer.Epi prosevki stathite

PRIEST:

Peace be with all.Irini pasi.

CONGREGATION:

And with your spirit.Ke to pnevmati soo

PRAYER FOR PEACE

PRIEST:

Again, let us ask God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord,God and Savior Jesus Christ. We ask and entreat Your goodness, O Philanthropic One, remember, O Lord, the peace of Your one, only, holy,catholic and apostolic church.

DEACON:

Pray for the peace of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Orthodox church of God.

CONGREGATION:

Lord have mercy.

PRIEST:

That which exists from one end of the world to the other.

PRAYER FOR THE FATHERS

PRIEST:

Remember, O Lord, our patriarch, the honored father, the high priest,Abba…,

DEACON:

Pray for our high priest, Papa Abba … pope, patriarch and archbishop of the great city of Alexandria, and for our Orthodox bishops.

CONGREGATION:

Lord have mercy.

PRIEST:

In keeping, keep him unto us for many years and peaceful times.

PRAYER FOR THE CONGREATIONS

PRIEST:

Remember, O Lord, our assemblies, bless them.

DEACON:

Pray for this holy church (monastery) and for our assemblies.

CONREGATION:

Lord have mercy.

PRIEST:

Grant that they may be unto us without obstacle or hindrance, that we may hold them according to Your holy and blessed will. Houses of prayer, houses of purity, houses of blessing, grant them unto us, O Lord, and Your servants who shall come after us forever.

Arise,O Lord God, let all Your enemies be scattered, and let all that hate Your holy name flee before Your face.

But let Your people be in blessing thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousands doing Your will. By the grace, compassion and philanthropy of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord ,God and Savior Jesus Christ. Through "Whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto You with Him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver Who is of one essence with you, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

CONGREGATION:

Our Father Who art in heaven;

Hallowed be Your name;

Your kingdom come;

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our bread of the morrow,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

In Christ Jesus, our Lord.

For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, Amen.

THE ABSOLUTIONS

The PRIEST, holding the cross in his right hand, looks eastward and says, inaudibly:

(First absolution)

Yes, Lord, the Lord Who has given authority unto us to treat upon serpents and scorpions and upon all the power of the enemy, crush his heads beneath our feet speedily, and scatter before us his every design of wickedness that is against us. For You are King of us all, O Christ, our God, and to You we send up the glory, the honor, and the adoration, together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of one essence with You, now, and at all times, and to the age of all ages. Amern.

DEACON:

Bow your heads to the Lord.

CONGREGATION:

Before You, O Lord.

The PRIEST continues, inaudibly

You, O Lord, who bowed the heavens, You descended and became man for the salvation of the race of men. You are He Who sits upon the Cherubim and the Seraphim, and beholds them who are lowly. You also now, our Master, are He unto Whom we life up the eyes of our hearts; the Lord Who forgives our iniquities and saves our souls from corruption. We worship Your unutterable compassion, and we ask You to give us Your peace, for You have given all things unto us.

Acquire us unto yourself, God our Savior, for we know none other but You; Your holy name we do utter. Turn us, God , unto fear of You and desire of You. Be pleased that we abide in the enjoyment of Your good things; and those who have bowed their heads beneath Your hand, exalt them in their ways of life, and adorn them with virtues. And may we all be worthy of Your kingdom in the heavens, through the goodwill of God, Your good Father, with Whom You are blessed, with the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of one essence with You, now, and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

DEACON:

Let us attend with the fear of God.

PRIEST:

Peace be with all.

CONGREGATION:

And with your spirit.

The PRIEST now looks westward, and , bow in his head, he says: (The Absolution of the Son):

Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son and Logos of God the Father, Who has broken every bond of our sins through His saving, life-giving sufferings; Who breathed into the face of His holy disciples and saintly apostles, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you will remit, they are remitted to them, and those which you will retain, they shall be retained".

You also now, our Master, through Your holy apostles, have given grace to those who for a time labored in the priesthood in Your holy church, to forgive sin upon the earth, and to bind and to loose every bond of iniquity.

Now, also, we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Philanthropic One, for Your servants, (here he signs the people once) my fathers, and my breathren, (here he signs himself) and my weakness; those who bow their heads before Your holy glory. Dispense unto us Your mercy, and loose every bond of our sins, and, if we have committed any sin against You, knowingly or unknowingly, or through anguish of heart, or in deed, or in word, or from faint-heartedness, do, O Master, Who knows the weakness of men, as a good and Philanthropic One, O God, grant us the forgiveness of our sins; (he signs himself) bless us, (he signs the clergy) purify us; make us absolved, (he signs the congregation) and all Your people absolved. (here he remembers those whom he wishes to remember). Fill us with Your fear, and straighten us unto Your holy, good will, for You are our God, and the glory, honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due to You, together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Lie-Giver, Who is of One essence with You, now, and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

If he wishes, the priest may add the following:

Remember, O Lord, the children of the church: the hegomens, the priests, the deacons, the monks, the clergy, and all the people that have gathered themselves together in the holy church; the men and the women, the old and the young, the small and the great, them whom we know and them whom we know not, our enemies and our friends. O Lord, absolve them all and forgive them all their sins.

Priest raises the cross, and the Congregation say:

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

O Lord, o Lord, O Lord, You became like those who are dead, and the Jews cast You in a tomb and sealed it. They guard You, so You save us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and always, and unto the age of all ages. Amen

We Who was put in the tomb. Trample death for us. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord bless. Lo, the metanoia. Saythe blessing.

THE FINAL BLESSING

البركة الختاميـة

PRIEST:

May God have compassion upon us, bless us, manifest His face upon us and have mercy upon us. Lord save Your people, bless Your inheritance, pasture them and raise them up forever. Exalt the horn of the Christians through the power of the life-giving cross, through the supplications and prayers which our lady, the lady of us all, the holy Theotokos, saint Mary, makes for us, and those of the three great holy luminaries, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael; the four Incorporeal Creatures, the twenty four priests, all the heavenly ranks; saint John the Baptist, the hundred and forty four thousand, our lords the fathers the apostles, the three holy youths, saint Stephehn; the beholder-of-God St. Mark the evangelist, the holy apostle and martyr; saint George, saint Theodore, Philopater Mercurius, saint abba Mina, and the whole choir of the martyrs; our righteous father, the great abba Anthony, the righteous abba Paul, the three holy abba Macarii, our father abba John, our father abba Pishoi, our father abba Paul of Tammoh, our Roman fathers Maximus and Dornitius, our father abba Moses, the forty nine mrtyrs and the whole choir of the cross-bearers; the just, the righteous, all the wise virgins, the angel of this blessed day (if it is the time of the divine liturgy: " the angel of this blessed sacrifice", (then mention is made of the patron saint of the church and the saint of the day if not mentioned before), and the blessing of the holy Theotokos first and last (if it is a Sunday: " and the blessing of the Lord's day of our Savior". May their holy blessing, their grace, their might, their favor, their love and their help be with us all forever. Amen. O Christ our God, King of peace, grant us Your peace, establish for us Your peace, and forgive us our sins. For Yours is the power, the glory, the blessing and the might, forever. Amen.