A Service of Thanksgiving
Everv Orthodox Christian should know in ivhat manner he is bound to return thanks to God our Benefactor, for every answer to prayer, and for every favour received at his hands, whether for the soul or body; either individually or for all the people; either privately in his own chamber or publicly in church.
If the following Thanksgiving is to be celebrated, not in connection with the Liturgy but after the Matins or Vesper Service, the Priest, vested in his stole and chasuble, and standing in front of the holy A Itar after having censed the same in the form of a cross, beginneth as follows:
Glory to the Holy, and Consubstantial, and Undivided Trinity, always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen.
Then is read:
O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain; and save our souls, O Good One.
O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to' the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be 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 unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before him. (Three reverences.)
Psalm cxviii.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: because his mercy endureth forever. Let Israel now confess that he is gracious, and that his mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Aaron now confess that his mercy endureth forever. Yea, let them now that fear the Lord confess that his mercy endureth forever. I called upon the Lord in trouble, and the Lord heard me at large. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man doeth unto me. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me, therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put any confidence in princes. All nations compassed me round about; but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side, but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns; for in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them. Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall: but the Lord was my help. The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation. The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. The right hand of the Lord hath the preeminence; the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened and corrected me, but he hath not given me over unto death. Open me the gates of righteousness, that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter into it. I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The same stone which the builders rejected is become the head-stone in the corner. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. Help me now, O Lord: O Lord, send us now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. We have wished you good luck, ye that are of the house of the Lord. God is the Lord who hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will thank thee. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.)
Then the Deacon reciteth the customary Litany.
In peace let us pray to the Lord. Choir. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls:
For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God's holy Churches, and for the union of all:
For this holy Temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered therein:
For our Most Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.; for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the clergy and the laity:
Here follow petitions for the Ruler of the Land and for all the Authorities, according to the elements and nationalities of which the Parish is constituted.
That he will aid them in all things, and subdue under their feet every foe and adversary:
For this city, and for every city and land; and for those who with faith dwell therein.
For healthful seasons, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times:
For those who travel by sea or by land; for the sick and suffering; for those who are in captivity, and for their salvation:
That he will graciously accept this present thanksgiving and supplication of us unworthy sinners on his most heavenly Altar, and in his compassion have mercy upon us:
That he will not despise the thanksgiving of us his unprofitable servants, which we offer with humble hearts for the benefits that we have received from him; but that it may be acceptable unto him as sweet-smelling incense, and a whole burnt-offering:
That he will hearken now unto the voice of petition of us, his unworthy servants, and will always fulfil the good intention and desire of his faithful, as may be most expedient for them; and, in that he is bountiful, may always bestow his benefits upon us, and grant unto his holy Church and unto every faithful servant of his their petitions:
That he will deliver his holy Church (and his servants, NN.; or his servant, N.) and us all from every tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity, and from all enemies, both visible and invisible; and that he will always hedge about his faithful people with health, long life, and peace, and the host of his holy Angels:
Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir. Lord, have mercy.
Calling to remembrance our most holy, all-undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir. To thee, O Lord.
Priest. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
Then: God is the Lord, and hath revealed himself unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Verse (Stikh) 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious; because his mercy endureth forever.
Verse 2: All the nations compassed me about, but in the Name of the Lord have I driven them back.
Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
And the following Hymns (Tr opart), in Tone IV.:
We, thine unworthy servants, O Lord, grateful for thy great benefits which thou hast showed upon us, glorifying thee do praise, bless, give thanks, sing, and magnify thy loving-kindness, and with love do cry aloud unto thee in humble submissiveness: O our Benefactor and our Saviour, glory to thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. (Tone
O Master, who hast freely vouchsafed thy benefits and gifts unto thine unprofitable servants, zealously resorting unto thee, we offer unto thee thanksgiving according to our strength, and glorifying thee as our Benefactor and our Creator, we cry aloud: Glory to thee, O God most bountiful.
Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. (Tone III.)
O Birth-giver of God, the Helper of Christians, having acquired thy protection, we thy servants gratefully do cry aloud unto thee: Hail, most pure Virgin Birth-giver of God! And from all calamities deliver thou us always by thy prayers, O thou who alone art a speedy Helper in trouble.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Priest. Peace be with you all. — • — Reader. And with thy spirit.
Deacon. Wisdom! Let us attend.
Reader. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. I will sing praises unto the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me, yea I will praise the Name of the Lord Most Highest.
Verse: My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Then the Epistle is read: (Ephesians v. 8-21.) Brethren, walk ye as children of the light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth);
proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are discovered are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
[On Days commemorating Victories:
(2 Cor. ii. 14-16.) Now, brethren, thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge to us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
(1 Tim. i. 17.) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory unto ages of ages. Amen.]
Priest. Peace be unto thee.
Reader. And to thy spirit.
Deacon. Wisdom!
Reader. Alleluia, in the Fourth Tone.
Deacon. And that he will graciously vouchsafe unto us to hear his Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
Deacon. Wisdom, O believers! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.
Priest. Peace be with you all.
Choir. And with thy spirit.
Deacon. Let us attend.
Priest. The Lesson from the holy Gospel of Luke.
Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.
The Priest then readeth the Gospel. (Luke xvii. 12-iQ.) And as Jesus entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud
voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.
And immediately the Deacon reciteth the following Litany:
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy.
Returning thanks with fear and trembling, as unprofitable servants, unto thy loving-kindness, O Lord, our Saviour and our Master, for thy benefits which thou hast poured out abundantly upon thy servants, we fall down in worship, and offer unto thee praise as God, and with fervour do cry aloud unto thee: Deliver thou thy servants from all calamities, and in that thou art merciful fulfil thou always the desires of us all as may be expedient for us, we diligently entreat thee: hearken, and have mercy.
In that thou now hast mercifully hearkened unto the supplications of thy servants, O Lord, and hast manifested upon us the tender compassion of thy love for mankind, so also, in time to come, despising us not, do thou fulfil, unto thy glory, all good desires of thy faithful people, and reveal unto us all thy rich mercy, disregarding all our iniquities, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy.
And may this our thanksgiving be as sweet-smelling incense, as a fat whole burnt-offering before the majesty of thy glory, O all-gracious Master; and send thou down always upon thy servants, in that thou art beneficent, thy rich mercies and bounties; and deliver from all assaults of enemies, both visible and invisible, thy holy Church, and this city; and grant unto all thy people length of days, sinless and healthful, and increase in all virtue, we beseech thee, O all-bountiful King: mercifully hearken, and speedily show mercy.
Exclamation.
Priest. Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea; and show mercy, show mercy, O Master, upon us sinners, and be merciful unto us.
For thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
And making three reverences before the holy Altar, the Deacon saith: Let us pray to the Lord Choir. Lord, have mercy.
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Then the Priest, with all heed and devoutness, readeth the following Prayer, aloud: O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercies and bounties, whose mercy is immeasurable, and whose love for mankind is an unfathomable deep: falling down in adoration before thy majesty, with fear and trembling, as unprofitable servants, and now humbly rendering thanks unto thy loving-kindness for thy benefits bestowed upon thy servants, NN (or upon thy servant, N.), we glorify thee, we praise thee, we sing thee, and we magnify thee as our Lord, and Master, and Benefactor; and again falling down before thee, we humbly thank thee, supplicating thy boundless and inexpressible mercy. And in that thou hast now graciously vouchsafed to accept the petitions of thy servants and to fulfil them, so also grant that henceforth thy holy Church and this city may be delivered from every hostile assault, and may be vouchsafed peace and tranquillity, and that increasing in true love of thee, and in all virtues, all thy faithful people may receive all thy benefits; and that we may ever offer thanksgiving unto thee, together with thy Father who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, God glorified in one Person; and that we may say exceeding good things, and sing:
And immediately he exclaimeth, in a very loud voice: Glory to thee, O God our Benefactor, unto ages of ages.
And standing in the centre of the Church, the Choir singeth: Amen.
Then immediately is sung the Great Anthem of Praise: Glory be to God on high [see pag? 34): Or instead,, the Anthem of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, is sung: We praise thee, O God, (See page 539.)
And when it is finished, the Deacon saith:
Wisdom!
Reader. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.
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.) Bless.
And the Priest pronounceth the customary Benediction May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his most holy Mother, of Saint N (the Saint for the day), and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as he is good and loveth mankind. And blessing the People with his hand, he saith: May the blessing of the Lord, through his grace, and bounties, and love of mankind, be upon you always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.