Thanksgiving at the New Year

After the Liturgy is ended, the Deacon saith:

Bless, Master.

Priest. Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Reader. 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.)

And Psalm lxv.

Thou, O God, art praised in Zion; and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. Thou that hearest the prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. My misdeeds prevail against me: O be thou merciful unto our sins. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee: he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Thou shalt show us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation; thou that art the hope of the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea. Who in his strength setteth fast the mountains, and is girded about with power Who stilleth the raging of the sea, and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy tokens, thou that makest the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee. Thou visitest the earth and blessest it; thou makest it very plenteous. The.river of God is full of water: thou preparest their corn, for so thou providest for the earth. Thou waterest her furrows; thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof; thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy clouds drop fatness. They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness, and the little hills shall rejoice on every side. The folds shall be full of sheep; the valleys also shall stand so thick with corn, that they shall laugh and sing.

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 saith the following 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: ty

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 all nations who are hateful unto Christ, and every foe and adversary:

For this city, and for every city and land, and for those who with faith dwell therein:

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 our prayers may be well-pleasing in his sight, and that he will forgive us and all his people their transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, which we have wickedly committed in the year that is past:

That he will bless the beginning and continuance of this year with the grace of his love for mankind: and will grant unto us peaceful times and favourable seasons, and that we may live without sin, in health and plenty:

That he will turn aside from us his wrath, which hath been justly kindled against us because of our sins:

That he will banish from us all soul-destroying passions and corrupting usages: and that he will implant in our hearts his divine fear, unto the fulfilment of his commandments: ty

That he will renew a right spirit within us, and confirm us in the Orthodox faith; and make us to be zealous in the performance of good deeds, and the fulfilment of all his commandments:

That he will overthrow all heresies and schisms, and everywhere plant right belief and piety, and convert all who have departed from the true faith unto a knowledge of his truth, and unite them all unto his holy Orthodox Church:

That he will deliver his holy Church, and us all, from every tribulation, wrath 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-undeflled, 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.

Exclamation.

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) I: 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, 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 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 II.)

O thou Author of all created things, who hast set the seasons and the years in thy power, bless thou the crown of the year with thy goodness, O Lord, preserving in peace our Ruler and thy city, through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God; and save us.

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 (Stikh): My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

Then he readeth the Epistle.

(1 Timothy ii. 1-6.) My son Timothy, I exhort thee, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For kings and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ; who gave himself a ransom for all. To him 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.

Then the Deacon: And that he will graciously vouchsafe unto us to hear his Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.

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.

And immediately the Priest readeth the Gospel.

(Luke iv. 16-22.) Then came Jesus to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

Choir. Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.

Then immediately the Deacon saith the following Litany:

Let us all say, with all our soul and with all our mind let us say,

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy.

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.

For our Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop or, Metropolitan), N.; for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ; and for all our brethren in Christ:

Returning thanks with fear and trembling, as unprofitable servants, unto thy loving-kindness, O Lord, our Saviour and our M-aster, 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.

That thou wilt bless the crown of the coming year with thy goodness, and quench among us all enmities, discords and civil strife; that thou wilt give us peace, love steadfast and unfeigned, as also a seemly disposition and virtuous life, we beseech thee, O all-gracious Lord: hearken, and have mercy

That thou wilt not call to mind our innumerable transgressions and evil actions, which we have committed during the year which is past, and that thou wilt not requite us according to our deeds; but that thou wilt remember us in mercy and bounty, we beseech thee, O tenderly-compassionate Lord: hearken, and have mercy.

That thou wilt give rain in due season, both the early and the latter rains, fruitful dew, temperate and healthful breezes; and that thou wilt illumine with the warmth of the sun, we beseech thee, O all-bountiful Lord: hearken, and have mercy.

That thou wilt call to mind thy holy Church, and-strengthen and establish it, enlarge it, and give it peace, and preserve it unscathed by the gates of hell, and impregnable against all assaults of enemies both visible and invisible forever, we beseech thee, O all-sovereign Lord: hearken, and have mercy.

That thou wilt root out and extinguish every blasphemous impiety of the pagan world and speedily destroy its kingdom, and give it into the hand of the right believers, we beseech thee, O all-powerful Lord: hearken, and have mercy,

That thou wilt deliver us through the coming year, and all the days

of our life, from pestilence, famine, earthquake, flood, hail, fire, the sword, the invasion of enemies, and from civil war, and from all death-dealing wounds, calamity and distress, we beseech thee, O tenderly-compassionate Lord: hearken, and have mercy -

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

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.

Deacon. Again, yet again, on bended knees let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

And the Priest readeth the following Prayer: O Master, Lord our God, the Source of life and of immortality, the Author of all created things both visible and invisible, who hast placed all seasons and years in thy power, and dost direct all things with thy most-wise and all-gracious providence: We thank thee for thy bounties, which thou hast poured out upon us during our life that is past, and we entreat thee, O all-bountiful Lord! Bless the crown of the coming year with thy goodness: preserve thy beloved servants, our Ruler, N., and all the Authorities; Multiply the days of their life in health unalterable, and grant them progress in all virtues. Bestow thy good things from above upon all thy people, as also health and salvation, and good furtherance in all things. Deliver thy holy Church, this city, and all cities and lands from every evil assault, and vouchsafe unto them peace and tranquillity; and grant that we may always offer thanksgiving unto thee, the Father who is from everlasting, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, God glorified in one Essence, and to hymn thine all-holy Name.

Exclamation. Glory to thee, O God, our Benefactor, unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen.

Then is sung: Glory be to God on high: (See page 34.) Or, in place of it, the Hymn of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan:

We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud; the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee; the Father

of an infinite Majesty; thine adorable, true, and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage. Govern them, and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify thee; and we worship thy Name, ever, world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

And when it is finished, the Deacon saith:

Wisdom!

Priest. O most holy Birth-giver of God, save us.

Choir. 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.

Priest. Glory to thee, O Christ-God, our hope; glory to thee.

Choir. 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.

Priest. May Christ, our true God, who for our salvation condescended to be circumcised in the flesh, through the prayers of his most holy Mother, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as he is gracious and loveth mankind.

The Deacon then proclaimeth: Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health and safety, and furtherance in all things, as also conquest and victory over his enemies, unto our most God-fearing Ruler, N., and to all the Authorities (and to the Ruler of the Land, mentioning him by his title, if it be in a foreign country): and preserve them for many years.

And the Choir singeth: Many years.