Entrance and Vesting Prayers

Entrance Prayers

Deacon: Bless, Master.

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Deacon: Amen.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all Things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.

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

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Deacon: Amen.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us. For being devoid of all defense, we sinners offer this prayer to You, as Master: have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

O Lord, have mercy on us for in You do we hope. Be neither exceedingly angry with us, nor mindful of our transgressions, but look upon us in Your tenderness and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God and we are Your People, we are all the work of Your Hands and we call upon Your Name.

Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Open for us the doors of loving-kindness, O Blessed Birth-Giver of God, that we, who have hope in you may not perish, but through you we may be delivered from all adversity, for You are the salvation of Christian People.

They go before the icon of Christ, and kissing it, say:

We venerate Your Most Pure Image, O Good One, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God. Of Your Good Will You were pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh and deliver Your creatures from bondage to the Enemy. Therefore, with thankfulness we cry aloud to You: with joy have You filled all things, O our Savior, for You did come to save the world.

They also kiss the icon of the Birth-Giver of God, saying:

Make us worthy of mercy, O Birth-Giver of God, fountain of Tenderness. Look on us sinful Men and reveal your power as always, for we have put our hope in you. Rejoice! We cry aloud unto you, as did Gabriel, the chief captain of the bodiless powers

They turn and bow to each other and the people, then enter the sanctuary through the south door saying:

I will enter Your House, I will worship toward Your Holy Temple in the fear of You. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make my way straight before You. For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is destruction, their throat is an open sepulcher, they flatter with their tongue. Judge them, O God, let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against You. But let all who take refuge in You rejoice, let them always sing for joy; and dwell in them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord, You cover us with good will as with a shield.

They bow three times before the Holy Table, the priest kisses the Holy Gospel, they both kiss the Holy Table. Then each takes his stikharion and bowing three times towards the East, saying:

O God, cleanse me, the sinner, and have mercy on me.

Vesting Prayers

He vests himself with the sticharion, saying:

Priest: +Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord.

He blesses the epitrachelion, and says, as he vests:

+Let us pray to the Lord.

He blesses the zone, and says, as he vests:

+Let us pray to the Lord.

As he puts on the cuffs epimanikia, he says for each:

+Let us pray to the Lord.

If he has been awarded the epigonation, he puts it on, saying:

+Let us pray to the Lord.

He blesses the phelonion, kisses it and says as he vests:

+Let us pray to the Lord.

The deacon and the priest then wash their hands, saying:

I wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your ?ltar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of praise, and telling all Your Miracles. O Lord, I love the beauty of Your House, and the place where Your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with the ungodly, nor my life with blood-thirsty men, in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I walk in my integrity; deliver me, and have mercy on me. My foot stands on level ground; in the churches I will bless You, O Lord.