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The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (According to the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church) From approved ecclesiastical sources. New Revised Liturgy
"The Holy Mass [The Divine Liturgy] is a prayer itself, even the highest prayer that exists. It is the Sacrifice, dedicated by our Redeemer at the Cross, and repeated every day on the Altar. If you wish to hear Mass as it should be heard, you must follow with eye, heart, and mouth all that happens at the Altar. Further, you must pray with the Priest the holy words said by him, in the Name of Christ and which Christ says by him. You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings which are contained in these words and in this manner you ought to follow all that happens on the Altar. When acting in this way you have prayed Holy Mass." -- His Holiness, Pope Saint Pius X
In the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church, the bread and wine used for the Divine Liturgy (The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) are prepared by the priest at a small table located on the left side of the Altar (The Table of Preparation). After he has completed this rite (called Proskomedia) the priest leaves the prepared chalice and paten on the Table of Preparation and goes to the Altar to begin the Divine Liturgy.
(CONGREGATION STANDS)
The priest kisses the Holy Gospel on the Altar and then makes the sign of the cross over the Altar with the Gospel Book, and begins:
PRIEST: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, ad forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
DURING EASTERTIDE ONLY
PRIEST: Christ is risen from the dead, conquering death by death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life. (3 Times).
( CONGREGATION SITS )
LITANY OF PEACE
PRIEST: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For peace in the whole world, for the well-being of the holy Churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For our holy universal Supreme Pontiff N . . ., the Pope of Rome, for our most Reverend Archbishop and Metropolitan N . . . , for our God-loving Bishop N . . ., for the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For our civil authorities and all our armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For this city (or: for this village, or: for this holy monastery), for every city, country, and for all-living therein with faith, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For good weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For those who travel by sea, air, and land, for the sick, the suffering, the captive, and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
(Special intentions are added at this time.)
REQUIEM LITURGY ONLY
PRIEST: For the servant of God (or servants of God) N. . ., and for his (her, their) blessed memory, and that his (her, their) every transgression, voluntary and involuntary, be forgiven, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: That he (she, they) may stand uncondemned before the dread tribunal of Christ, and that his (her, their) soul (s) may be included in the realm of the living, in the place of light, where all the saints and righteous repose, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Help, save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Remembering our most holy, most pure, most-blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ, our God.
PEOPLE: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST: (silently): Lord our God. Whose might is beyond utterance. and glory is incomprehensible, Whose mercy is measureless, and love of man is ineffable: Yourself O Master, look down with Your mercy upon us, and upon this holy house, and grant to us, and to those who pray with us, the riches of Your mercy, and of Your compassion.
PRIEST: For to You is due all glory and honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
SUNDAYS
PEOPLE: Cry out with joy to God all the earth, O sing to the glory of His name, O render Him glorious praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
Say to God: How Tremendous Your deeds! Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies cringe before You.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
Before You all the earth shall bow; shall sing to You, sing to Your name, O Most High!
Through the prayers of the Mother of God O Savior, save us.
WEEK-DAYS
PEOPLE: It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to Your Name, O Most High.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
To proclaim Your love in the morning and Your truth in the watches of the night.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
To proclaim that the Lord is just. In Him there is no wrong.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
HYMN OF THE INCARNATION
( CONGREGATION STANDS )
PEOPLE: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen. ( O Only-Begotten Son )
PEOPLE: O Only-Begotten Son and Word of God, Who, being immortal, deigned for our salvation to become incarnate of the Holy Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and became man without change. You were also crucified, O Christ, our God, and by death have trampled death, being one of the Holy Trinity, and glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
PRIEST: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Help, save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Remembering our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ, our God.
PEOPLE: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST: (silently): You, Who promised to grant the petitions of two or three united together in Your name, have given us to offer these prayers with a single and united voice; also hear now the requests of Your servants for their benefit, giving us the knowledge of Your truth in the present time and granting life eternal in the age to come.
PRIEST: For You are a good God and lover of mankind, and to You we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us sing joy fully to God our Savior.
SUNDAYS
PEOPLE: O Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
Let us come before Him, giving thanks with songs let us hail the Lord.
O Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
A mighty God is the Lord, and a great king over all the earth.
O Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
WEEK-DAYS
PEOPLE: O Son of God, wondrous in Your saints, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
Let us come before Him, giving thanks with songs let us hail the Lord.
O Son of God, wondrous in Your saints save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
A mighty God is the Lord, and a great king over all the earth.
O Son of God, wondrous in Your saints, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
LITTLE ENTRANCE
The priest makes three bows, then a procession is formed and the priest carries the Gospel Book around the Altar.
PRIEST: (silently). O Lord, our Master and God, Who in heaven established orders and armies of angels and archangels for the service of Your glory, make this our entrance to be an entrance of holy angels, serving together with us, and with us glorifying Your goodness. For to You is due all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Making the sign of the cross towards the Altar, he says:
Blessed is the entrance of Your saints, always, now and ever, and forever.
The priest kisses the Gospel Book, elevates it and says aloud:
PRIEST: Wisdom! Be attentive!
PEOPLE: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ.
SUNDAYS
PEOPLE: O Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
WEEK-DAYS
PEOPLE: O Son of God, wondrous in Your saints, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
TROPARS AND KONDAKS
PEOPLE: (Say the Tropars and Kondaks proper to the day.)
PRAYER OF THE THRICE HOLY GOD (TRISAGION )
PRIEST: (silently): O holy God abiding in the saints, praised by the thrice-holy hymn of the Seraphim, glorified by the Cherubim and adored by all the heavenly powers, You brought all things out of nothingness into being, and created man to Your own image and likeness, and adorned him with Your every gift; You give wisdom and under standing to him who asks, and despising not the sinner, You ordain repentance for salvation. You have allowed us, Your humble and unworthy servants, to stand at this time before the glory of Your holy altar and to offer to You due adoration and praise. Accept, O Master, from the lips of us sinners the thrice holy hymn, and visit us in Your goodness. Forgive us every offense voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and bodies and grant that we may serve You in holiness all the days of our life; through the prayers of the holy Mother of God and all the saints, who have pleased You throughout the ages.
PRIEST: For You, our God are Holy, and to You we give glory, to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
DURING THE YEAR
PEOPLE: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
DURING EASTER WEEK
PEOPLE: For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.
For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.
For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Have put on Christ, Alleluia.
For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.
PRIEST: (silently): Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed are You on the throne of the glory of Your kingdom, enthroned upon the Cherubim, always, now and ever, and forever.
PRIEST: Be attentive! Peace be to all. Wisdom, be attentive. (Priest stands at the Holy Doors while the Epistle is being read.
PEOPLE: (Say the Prokemen proper to the day.)
PRIEST: Wisdom!
READER: The reading of the Epistle of N . . .
PRIEST: Let us be attentive!
( CONGREGATION SITS )
READER: Brethren . . .
When the Epistle is finished the priest intones:
PRIEST: Peace be with you. Wisdom! Be attentive.
( CONGREGATION STANDS )
PEOPLE: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
PRIEST: (silently): 0 Gracious Master, pour forth into our hearts the spotless light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, so that, having curbed all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, both thinking and doing everything that pleases You. For You, O Christ, our God, are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, and to You we render glory, together with Your eternal Father, and with Your all holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
PRIEST: Wisdom, let us stand upright and listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be with you.
PEOPLE: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: The reading of the Holy Gospel according to N. . .
PEOPLE: Glory be to You, O Lord, glory be to You.
PRIEST: Let us be attentive.
GOSPEL
After the reading of the Gospel, the priest kisses the closed Gospel Book and places it in the middle of the Altar. The people say:
PEOPLE: Glory be to You, O Lord, glory be to You.
( CONGREGATION SITS )
SERMON
After the Sermon, the priest begins the:
LITANY OF SUPPLICATION
PRIEST: Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say:
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy. (3 times).
PRIEST: (silently): Accept, O Lord our God, this fervent prayer from Your servants and have mercy on us according to Your great mercy, and send down Your benefits upon us and upon all Your people, who expect from You abundant mercies
PRIEST: Again we pray for His Holiness, our universal Pontiff N . . . Pope of Rome, and for our most reverend Archbishop and Metropolitan N . . . , for our God-loving Bishop N . . ., for those who serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brethren in Christ.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
PRIEST: We also pray for our civil authorities and for all the armed forces.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Special intentions may be added here.
PRIEST: We also pray for the people here present who await Your great and abundant mercy, for those who showed us charity, and for all faithful Christians.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
PRIEST: For You are a merciful and gracious God, and we render glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
REQUIEM LITURGY ONLY
PRIEST: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray You, hear and have mercy.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
PRIEST: We also pray for the repose of the souls of the departed servants of God N . . . and that their every transgression, voluntary and involuntary, be forgiven them.
PEOPLE: Lord have mercy. (3 times)
PRIEST: That the Lord God place their souls where the righteous repose.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
PRIEST: For the mercy of God, for the kingdom of heaven, and for the remission of their sins, let us beseech Christ, the Immortal King and our God.
PEOPLE: Grant it, O Lord.
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: O God, of spirits and of all flesh, Who has trampled death, and vanquished the devil, and has granted life to Your world; do You, O Lord, give rest to the souls of Your departed servants N . . ., in a place of light, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where there is no pain, sorrow or sighing. As a good and gracious God, forgive every sin committed by them, in word or deed or thought for there is no man living who does not sin. For You alone are without sin, Your righteousness is everlasting righteousness and Your word is truth.
PRIEST: For You are the resurrection and the life. and the repose of Your departed servants N . . . , O Christ our God, and to You we render glory I with your eternal Father, and Your all holy, gracious and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
People: Amen.
MASS OF THE FAITHFUL
PRIEST: All we faithful, again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
FIRST PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
PRIEST: We thank You, O Lord God of Powers, for having deemed us worthy to stand, at this time, before Your holy Altar, and to prostrate ourselves before Your mercy, for our sins and for the people's misgivings. Accept our prayer, O God, and make us worthy to offer to You prayers and supplications, and unbloody sacrifices for all Your people, and enable us, whom You have placed in this Your ministry through the power of Your Holy Spirit, to call upon You at all times and in all places, without condemnation and offense, with a pure testimony of our conscience, that hearing us, You may be merciful to us according to the magnitude of Your goodness.
SECOND PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
PRIEST: Again, as so many times before, we fall down before You and entreat You, O gracious Lover of mankind, that You may regard our supplication, cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant that we may stand blameless and without condemnation before Your Holy Altar. Grant also, O God, to those who are praying with us, betterment of life, faith, and spiritual understanding. Grant that they may serve You always with fear and love, that they may blamelessly and without condemnation partake of Your Holy Mysteries, and become worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.
PRIEST: That being ever protected by Your power, we may render glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
PRIEST: No one who is bound by carnal desires and pleasures is worthy to come to You, to approach You, or to minister to You, the King of glory, for to minister to You is great and awesome, even to the heavenly powers themselves. Yet, because of Your ineffable and boundless love for mankind, though in nature unchanged and unchangeable, You became man and were made our high priest and, as Master of all, gave Into our keeping the holy office of this liturgical and unbloody sacrifice. For You alone, O Lord our God, rule over all things in heaven and on earth, and are borne on the cherubic throne, and are the Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel, Who alone are holy and dwell in the saints. Therefore, I beseech You, Who alone are gracious and ready to hear me; look favorably upon me, Your sinful and unprofitable servant, and cleanse my heart and soul of an evil conscience, and by power of Your Holy Spirit, enable me, clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this Your holy altar, and offer the sacrifice of Your sacred and most pure body and precious blood. With bowed head, I approach You and implore You, turn not Your face away from me, nor exclude me from among Your children, but allow these gifts to be offered to You by me, Your sinful and unworthy servant; for it is You, O Christ, our God, Who offer and are offered, who receive and are received, and to You we render glory, with Your eternal Father, and Your all holy, gracious and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and for ever. Amen.
Priest raises up his hands and silently says the Cherubimic Hymn 3 times.
CHERUBIMIC HYMN
(CONGREGATION STANDS )
PEOPLE: Let us, who mystically represent the Cherubim, and sing the thrice- holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now set aside every earthly care...
THE GREAT ENTRANCE
The priest goes to the Table of Preparation and takes the diskos and chalice and makes the Great Entrance.
PRIEST: May the Lord God remember in His kingdom, Our Holy universal Supreme Pontiff N . . ., the Pope of Rome, our most reverend Archbishop and Metropolitan N . . ., and our God loving Bishop N . . ., and the entire priestly, diaconal, and monastic order, our civil authorities, and all our armed forces, the noble and ever memorable founders and benefactors of this holy Church, (our suffering brethren), and all you orthodox Christians, always, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen. That we may welcome the King of all, invisibly escorted by angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
PRIEST: The noble Joseph took down Your most pure body from the cross, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and with fragrant spices laid it in burial in a new tomb.
Covering the holy gifts, he says:
PRIEST: In Your goodness, show favor to Sion: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, (burnt offerings wholly consumed), then You will be offered young bulls on Your Altar.
LITANY OF THE OFFERTORY
(CONGREGATION SITS)
PRIEST: Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For the precious gifts placed here, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: That we be delivered from affliction, wrath and need, let us pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: o Lord God Almighty, Who alone are Holy and receive the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart, accept the prayer also of us sinners; bring us to Your holy altar, enable us to offer to You gifts and spiritual sacrifice for our sins, and for the people's transgressions; and deem us also worthy to find favor in Your sight, that our sacrifice may be pleasing to You, and that the good Spirit of Your grace may rest in us and upon these gifts here present, and upon all Your people.
PRIEST: Through the mercies of Your only-be gotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all holy, gracious and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
PEOPLE: Amen.
( CONGREGATION STANDS )
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
PEOPLE: And with your Spirit.
PRIEST: Let us love one another, so that with one mind we may confess:
PEOPLE: The Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in substance and undivided.
The priest make s three bows, kisses the holy gifts covered with the holy veil, the diskos, the chalice, then the edge of the Altar and prays each time:
PRIEST: I will love You, O Lord, my strength, the Lord is my fortress and my refuge.
PRIEST: The doors, the doors, in wisdom let us be attentive.
NICENE CREED
PEOPLE: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father. By whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And He became flesh by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. He was also crucified for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. And of His kingdom there will be no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, and who spoke through the prophets. And one holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. And I await the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRIEST: Let us stand well, let us stand with fear, let us be attentive, to offer the holy oblation in peace.
PEOPLE: The mercy of peace, the sacrifice of praise.
PRIEST: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
PEOPLE: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: Let us lift up our hearts.
PEOPLE: We have lifted them up to the Lord.
PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
PEOPLE: It is proper and just to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in substance and undivided.
Priest (silently): It is proper and just to sing hymns to You, to bless You, to praise You, to thank You, to worship You in every place of Your kingdom; for You are God ineffable inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever existing, yet ever the same, You, and Your only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit; You brought us forth from non-existence into being, and raised us up again when we had fallen, and left nothing undone, until You brought us to heaven and bestowed upon us Your future kingdom. For all this we give thanks to You, and to Your only-begotten Son, and to Your Holy Spirit, for all that we know and that we do not know, the manifest and the hidden benefits bestowed upon us. We thank You also for this ministry, which You have willed to accept from our hands, even though there stand before You thousands of archangels, myriads of angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, six winged, many-eyed, soaring aloft on their wings.