The Shepherd, March 2005
“THE HOUSE OF GOD AND THE CHURCH SERVICES”, 3
§ 104. The Character of the Great Lenten Services. The services of Great Lent have been composed in such a way that they inspire the faithful with prayerful contrition and with repentance for their sins. All aspects of magnificence or of festivity in the services are curtailed. The clergy vest in dark and mournful vestments. The Royal Gates are not opened so much, the lights are dimmed, the peeling of the bells is also curtailed and more doleful. The chanted parts in the services are shorter compared with the psalms and prayers which are read, and these readings themselves are such as lead a person to compunction of soul and to contrite prayer. Whereas in all the other fasts, the services remain substantially the same, in Great Lent we even have services appointed which are not conducted on other days. In the evening, we have Great Compline, sometimes combined with Mattins, and on Wednesday and Fridays (and some other days) we have the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
§ 105. Great Compline. For the most part this service consists in the reading of psalms, but there are three particular sacred hymns. The service is divided into three sections, which each begin with the words, “O come, let us worship….” Then follow the psalms and prayers, and each section ends with the usual prayer used near dismissals, “More honourable than the Cherubim…,” and a blessing. At the end of each section there is appointed a hymn which is sung. At the end of the first part, we have:-
“O All-holy Lady Theotokos, intercede for us sinners.
All ye heavenly hosts of holy Angels and Archangels, intercede for us sinners.
O Saint John, Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for us sinners.
O holy, glorious Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, and all the Saints, intercede for us sinners.
O our righteous God-bearing Fathers, Shepherds, and Teachers of the world, intercede for us sinners.
O holy right-believing King and Passion-bearer Edward the Martyr [or saint of the church], intercede for us sinners.
O invincible and indissoluble and divine power of the honoured and life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners.
O God, be gracious unto us sinners and have mercy on us. Amen.”
|
