TH EE A S T E R N ORT HO DO X P R A Y E R B O O KCompiled byB I S H O P F A N S T Y L I A N N O L IPublished byTHE ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICABOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 1949P R E F A C EThe main purpose of this book is to help the younger generation of the Eastern Orthodox Church follow the Services, which are usually con- ducted in foreign languages. For this reason the Services have been abridged and the secret prayers have been omitted. A special feature of the transla- tion is the rhythmical rendering of the liturgical responses and of some anthems to make them fit the meters of the Slavonic text and the musical set- tings of the various Russian composers. The author wishes to express his gratitude and acknowledge his indebtedness to previous translators of the Prayer Book, especially to Miss Isabel Hapgood, the leading pioneer in this field.Bishop F an Stylian N oliBoston, Massachusetts June, 1949GREAT VESPERSDEA CO N : Arise, O Master, and bless.PR IE S T : Blessed is our God, always, both now and for- ever, and for ages to come.C H O IR : Amen.PR IE S T : 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.C H O IR : O bless the Lord, and worship him, O my soul. Forever blest art thou, Lord our God. O my Lord, O my God, thou art magnified exceedingly. Forever blest art thou, Lord our God. In great wisdom hast thou made all things, O Lord. Glory to thee, Lord, who hast created them alLIn some churches of the East the entire Psalm 104 is read or sung:PSALM 104Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty:W ho coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:W ho layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:W ho maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:2ORTHODOX PRAYER BOOKW ho laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.They go up by the mountains; they go down by the val- leys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habita- tion, which sing among the branches.He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth m an’s heart.The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Leb- anon, which he hath planted;Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.GREAT VESPERS3H e appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.0 Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creep- ing innumerable, both small and great beasts.There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.T hat thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.H e looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.1 will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.4ORTHODOX PRAYER BOOKMy meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.Glory to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, both now and forever, and for ages to come. (Thrice.) Glory to thee, Lord our God, glory to thee.PEACE LITA N YD E A C O N : In peace let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR : Lord our God, have mercy.DEACON: For the peace from above, and for the sal- vation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR : Lord our God, have mercy.DEA CO N : For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.CHO IR: Lord our God, have mercy.D E A C O N : For this holy temple, and for those who with faith, devotion and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR : Lord our God, have mercy.DEA CO N : For our Most Reverend Archbishop The- ophan, for the honorable Presbytery, for the Diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the laity, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR : Lord our God, have mercy.DEA CO N : For the American people, for the AlbanianGREAT VESPERS5people, and for all the peoples of the world, let us pray to the Lord.CHO IR: Lord our God, have mercy.DEA CO N : For this city, for every city and country, and for the faithful dwelling therein, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR: Lord our God, have mercy.D EA C O N : For propitious weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR : Lord our God, have mercy.D EA C O N : For travelers by sea, by land, and by air, for the sick, for the suffering, for those in captivity, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR: Lord our God, have mercy.DEACON: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.CH O IR : Lord our God, have mercy.DEA CO N : Commemorating our most holy, immaculate, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever- virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.CHO IR: To thee, Lord our God.PRIEST: For unto thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, both now and forever, and for ages to come.CH O IR : Amen.Blest is he, who never wanders in the ways of the wicked. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.For the Lord protects all righteous men, and all the un- godly shall perish. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.6ORTHODOX PRAYER BOOKO come and serve the Lord our God with compunction, rejoice and be glad in him piously. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.How blessed are the men who rely in him. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.Arise, O Lord of hosts, and save me, O my God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.Salvation is from thee alone; and thou wilt bless thy people in eternity, O Lord. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.In some churches of the East the first eight Psalms are read:PSALM 1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.But his delight is the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.PSALM 2W hy do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?GREAT VESPERS7The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying,Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.H e that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine in- heritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.PSALM 3Lord, how are they increased that trouble m e! many are they that rise up against me.Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.But thou, O Lord, art a shield for m e; my glory, and theNext >