The Order of
The Moleben of St Winefride
According to the Usage of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Chanters: Amen.
Reader or Chanters in the 6th Tone: O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, / Who art
everywhere present and fillest all things ,/ the Treasury
of blessings and Giver of life, / come and abide in us, cleanse us of all
impurity, / and of Thy goodness save our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy
Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, be gracious unto our
sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Priest: 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 the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Twelve times.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come let us worship God our King.
O come let us worship and. fall down before Christ our King and God.
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and
God.
Reader: PSALM 142
O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth;
hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy
servant for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath
persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me
in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is
become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days of old, I
meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands. I
stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth
after Thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath
fainted away. Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go
down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have
I put my hope. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for
unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto
Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy
good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name's sake, O
Lord, shalt Thou quicken me. In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out
of affliction, and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And Thou
shalt cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to
Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God.
Priest: In the 1st
Tone: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His
mercy endureth for ever.
Chanters: God is the Lord, and hath
appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Priest: Surrounding
me they compassed me, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off.
Chanters: God is the Lord, and hath
appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Priest:
I shall not
die, but live, and I shall tell of the works of the Lord.
Chanters: God is the Lord, and hath
appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Priest:
The stone
which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the comer. This is
the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Chanters: God is the Lord, and hath
appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Then the Troparion
of St Werburgh (Obikhod
Tone 4) is sung twice
Priest and Chanters: Thine
illustrious life filled the angels with awe/ and put the demons to flight in
terror,/ while it adorneth
the congregations of the faithful with the splendour of grace, / O venerable mother Werburgh. /As in thy charity thou didst extend thy love to
all thy fellow creatures, /intercede with God in our behalf, /that our souls be
saved from perdition.
Glory to the Father, and to
the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Reader: PSALM 5O
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to
the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly
from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and
my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil
before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy
words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in
iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved
truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto
me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt
wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy
and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away
from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O
God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence,
and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy
ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from
blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in
Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare
Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I
had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice
unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not
despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto
Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then
shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and
whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
The Canon of the saint,
with 4 troparia, in Tone IV
Ode I:
Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form
of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved
Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Of the
holy King Ethelbert and four royal lineages wast thou
sprung, O venerable mother Werburgh; yet more wast thou revered throughout the English realms for thy
great chastity of mind and wondrous purity.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Crowns and jewels held no allure for thee, O holy Werburgh,
for thy holy mother, Queen Ermenilda, led thee in the
ways of righteousness, rendering the palace wherein thou wast
reared a house of prayer.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Having
been nurtured in piety by the holy Chad, thy brethren, Wulfhad
and Ruffin, did not oppose their murderers, but, imitating their Saviour, laid
down their lives without resisting; wherefore Stone rejoiceth
in them.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion: As the precious receptacle and holy table which
held the Bread of life, as the unploughed field and unquarried mountain do we
magnify and glorify thee, O all-pure and most immaculate Mother of God.
Ode III
Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of
heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O summit of desire,
confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Saint Etheldreda the Abbess, thy royal kinswoman, received thee,
O holy Werburgh, into the great Convent of Ely, to
serve God with zeal in monastic obedience and prayer. The splendour of the grace
which abode within thee now shineth forth from Ely
upon all who celebrate thy holy memory with faith, O pious Werburgh,
chaste bride of Christ.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Ethelred,
thy devout kinsman, seeing thee tending well the flock of Ely, O wondrous Werburgh, placed all the convents in his Kingdom of Mercia
under thine authority.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Theotokion: By thee, O Maiden full of the grace of God, hath
the human race been saved from death and sin, for thou didst bear in thy pure
womb Him Who, abasing Himself, became incarnate.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Kontakion of the venerable one, in Tone II -
Fixing the watchful eyes of thy soul upon God alone, thou gavest
no sleep to thine eyes nor slumber to thine eyelids, overcoming the carnal
passions by vigilant prayer and fasting, and repelling the assaults of the
demonic hordes by mighty ascetic feats; wherefore, as thou shinest
with the splendour of grace divine, O Werburgh our
venerable mother, burn away the devil's toils which entangle us.
Ikos: Great is the
renown of Werburgh in Ely; famous is her name in Threckingham; venerated exceedingly is she in Weedon; and Hanbury was first to
boast of her holy shrine. But more than these hath Chester been glorified, for
long did her precious relics rest in its midst, as in a safe refuge and haven,
escaping the predations of the heathen, like as a pure dove fleeing a host of
ravening crows or an unblemished lamb the jaws of savage wolves. Wherefore,
trusting in her mediation before the Lord, with fervour we call upon the
gracious intercession of our heavenly protectress: With
thine abbatial staff, as with a shepherd's crook, pull the erring lambs forth
from the chasm wherein they have fallen, and lead them back from the wilds of
heresy into the fold of Christ's one true Church, that together we may cry
aloud with one heart, one mouth and one mind: O Werburgh
our venerable mother, burn away the devil's toils which entangle us!
Sessional hymn of the venerable one,
in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: "Having been lifted up ... -
As a pure and undefiled bride of Christ, thou didst fill the lamp of thy soul
with the oil of good works, trimming the wick thereof with the pangs of ascetic
endeavour and setting it aflame with godly zeal; wherefore, with the wise
virgins thou hast entered in triumph the bridal-chamber of His majesty. O holy Werburgh, with boldness lay before Him our importunate entreaties, that we who honour thy memory with love may be
delivered from all tribulations.
Ode IV
Irmos: I have
heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works,
and have glorified Thy divinity.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Reverently
hearkening to Jesus, as thou didst desire to be first in His love, by humility
thou madest thyself as last among all.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Imitating thy Lord and Master, by thy many miracles thou didst draw many
unbelievers to the one true Faith of Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Directing those in thy charge by thine excellent
example, O blessed Werburgh, thou didst guide them
most surely to God.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion:
Ever do we fall prey to vainglory, O Theotokos; but as
thou gayest birth to the Word of God, yet deign thou to save us.
Ode V
Irmos:
Enlighten us with Thy commandments, O Lord, and with Thine upraised arm grant
us Thy peace, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Obedient
to thy sacred duties, O God-bearer, thou didst found anew the Convent at Threckingham, naming it for the chief apostles.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Fair Weedon, thy former home, welcomed thy return
with joy, O saint, for therein thou didst likewise establish a house of prayer.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Coursing past thy church in Hanbury,
O fount of grace, the currents of the River Trent lift their voices to thee in
sweet harmony.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion:
How can they who deny thy perpetual virginity and divine motherhood find favour
with thy Son, the God of all, O holy Queen?
Ode VI
Irmos: I pour
forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief; for my soul is
full of evil and m y life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray:
Lead me up from corruption, O God!
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Repelling
the assaults of temptations and putting down the uprisings of the passions,
thou wast resplendent with the virtues, O sanctified Werburgh, with the light whereof thou dost illumine us.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Intercede with the Saviour in our behalf, O venerable mother, that, taught by
thee to be humble and not to judge others, we may understand that signs and
wonders are as nought without virtue.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Showing surpassing love and compassion, O thou who art
rich in grace divine, thou dost teach us to cherish the work of God's hands,
and to treat with mercy and kindness all of His creatures.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion:
The Son Who took flesh of thine immaculate womb, O
Virgin, in His divine comeliness surpasseth all the
earthly beauty of the children of men; wherefore, with joyous hymns of praise
we do thee honour.
Kontakion
of the venerable one, in Tone II -
Fixing the watchful eyes of thy soul upon God alone, thou gavest
no sleep to thine eyes nor slumber to thine eyelids, overcoming the carnal
passions by vigilant prayer and fasting, and repelling the assaults of the
demonic hordes by mighty ascetic feats; wherefore, as thou shinest
with the splendour of grace divine, O Werburgh our
venerable mother, burn away the devil's toils which entangle us.
Ikos: Great is the
renown of Werburgh in Ely; famous is her name in Threckingham; venerated exceedingly is she in Weedon; and Hanbury was first to
boast of her holy shrine. But more than these hath Chester been glorified, for
long did her precious relics rest in its midst, as in a safe refuge and haven,
escaping the predations of the heathen, like as a pure dove fleeing a host of
ravening crows or an unblemished lamb the jaws of savage wolves. Wherefore,
trusting in her mediation before the Lord, with fervour we call upon the
gracious intercession of our heavenly protectress: With
thine abbatial staff, as with a shepherd's crook, pull the erring lambs forth
from the chasm wherein they have fallen, and lead them back from the wilds of
heresy into the fold of Christ's one true Church, that together we may cry
aloud with one heart, one mouth and one mind: O Werburgh
our venerable mother, burn away the devil's toils which entangle us!
Ode VII
Irmos: In the
furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the
fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
The clamorous gaggle of wild geese, which were voraciously devouring thy crops,
O saint of God, thou didst swiftly render submissive to thy holy authority.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
As thou didst miraculously confine the wild geese to a pen, O venerable mother,
so lead all of us, in whom the wild passions rage, into the peaceful fold of
the Saviour.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Kindly admonishing the wicked servant who retained a
wild goose for himself, thou didst unite it to its flock, crying: "Praise
ye the Lord above all, O ye wingčd birds!"
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion:
Ever afflicted by the multitude of mine evil deeds, I beseech thee to heal and
cure me, O Lady Theotokos, that I may cry: "Blessed art Thou, O Lord God,
forever!"
Ode VIII
Irmos:
Trampling down the fire and flame in the furnace, the divinely eloquent youths
did chant: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Pride
moved a wicked man to smite the holy Alnot, thy shepherd,
O saint; but with pity thou didst implore him to desist.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
In distress of soul thou didst cast thyself down before the malefactor, crying
out: "For the love of God, spare this innocent man!"
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Thine entreaties strangely turned the evil-doer's blows against his own body, O
holy one; wherefore, he cried out to thee for mercy.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion:
Ye Christians, let us magnify the Virgin with faith, for without corruption she
gave birth unto Him Who saveth from corruption.
Ode IX
Irmos: Heaven
was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath
appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens.
Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Offering praises to our glorious mother Werburgh, let
us celebrate her holy feast with great devotion, rendering honour to Christ the
Lord, Who at His dread throne accepteth her ardent
pleas in behalf of us who lovingly cherish her memory.
O Venerable Werburgh pray
to God for us!
Now chant we thy praises before God, O Werburgh our protectress; for, lacking in any virtue, we beseech thee to
intercede with the Most High in our behalf, that, hearkening to thy
supplications, He grant us forgiveness of all our sins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Unto thee, O Werburgh, hath Christ bestowed a crown
of splendour, adorned with thy virtues as with most brilliant gems; wherefore,
as thou now dwellest with Him in the mansions on
high, beseech Him to vouchsafe that we may abide with thee.
Most Holy Mother of God save us!
Theotokion: Save me, O Thou Who wast born of the Virgin, and hast preserved her incorrupt
since Thy birth; and when Thou wilt sit to judge all mankind, O Thou Who alone
art without sin, take pity and spare us, overlooking our many sins and
transgressions.
Priest: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God for us!
Chanters: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God for us!
Priest: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God for us!
Chanters: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God
for us!
Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Priest:
O Venerable Werburgh, pray to God for us!
Chanters: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God
for us!
Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Pray to God
for us, O holy Werburgh for we fervently flee unto
thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.
Priest: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious
Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the
saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ
our God.
Chanters: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art the King of Peace and the Saviour
of our souls, and unto Thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Chanters: Amen.
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom! The prokeimen in the
4th Tone:
Reader: Wondrous is
God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Chanters: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of
Israel.
Reader: In
congregations bless ye God, the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.
Chanters: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of
Israel.
Reader: Wondrous is
God in His saints:
Chanters: The God of Israel.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, and Thou restest
in the saints, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Chanters: Amen.
Priest: Let every breath praise the Lord.
Chanters: Let every breath praise the
Lord.
Priest: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Chanters: Let every breath praise the
Lord.
Priest: Let every breath:
Chanters: Praise the Lord.
Priest: And that He will vouchsafe unto us the hearing of the Holy Gospel, let
us pray to the Lord God.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy, Lord have
mercy, Lord have mercy
Priest: Wisdom, Upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Chanters: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark.
Chanters: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to
Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
The Priest reads the Holy Gospel… according to Mark, §21 [Mk. 5: 24-34]
At that
time, many people followed Jesus, and thronged Him. And a certain woman, who
had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many
physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but
rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and
touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but
His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was
dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And
Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned
Him about in the press, and said: 'Who touched My
clothes?' And His disciples said unto Him: 'Thou seest
the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who
touched Me?' And He looked round about to see her who
had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was
done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He
said unto her: 'Daughter, thy faith hath made thee
whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.'
Chanters: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to
Thee.
Priest: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God for us!
Chanters: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God for us!
Priest: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God for us!
Chanters: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God
for us!
Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Priest:
O Venerable Werburgh, pray to God for us!
Chanters: O Venerable Werburgh pray to God
for us!
Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Pray to God
for us, O holy Werburgh for we fervently flee unto
thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.
Priest:
It is truly
meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and
most blameless, and Mother of our God. More honourable
than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thee who
without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the
very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, be gracious unto our
sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Priest: 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 the ages of
ages.
Chanters: Amen.
Troparion
of St Werburgh in Tone 4
Priest and Chanters: Thine
illustrious life filled the angels with awe/ and put the demons to flight in
terror,/ while it adorneth
the congregations of the faithful with the splendour of grace, / O venerable mother Werburgh.
/As in thy charity thou didst extend thy love to all thy fellow creatures, /intercede
with God in our behalf, /that our souls be saved from perdition.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee,
hearken and have mercy.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray his all-holiness Patriarch Kyrill,
Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia; for the Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; and
for all our brotherhood in Christ.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray for the suffering Russian Land and its Orthodox people
both in the homeland and in the Diaspora, and for their salvation.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray for this land, its authorities and armed forces, and for
every Christian land.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, Life, peace, health, salvation, visitation,
pardon, and prosperity for the servant(s) of God (N.).
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou wouldst hearken unto the
voice of our supplication and prayer, and have mercy on Thy servant(s) N*(N.),
through Thy grace and compassions, and forgive all his (her) (their) petitions,
and pardon him (her) (them) all transgressions voluntary and involuntary; let
his (her) (their) prayers and alms be acceptable before the throne of Thy
dominion, and protect him (her) (them) from enemies visible and invisible, from
every temptation, harm and sorrow, and deliver him (her) (them) from ailments,
and grant him (her) (them) health and length of days: let us all say, O Lord,
hearken and have mercy.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Look down, O Master, Lover of mankind, with Thy merciful eye, upon Thy
servant(s) (N..) and hearken unto our supplication which is offered With faith,
for Thou Thyself hast said: "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believe that ye shall receive, and it shall be done unto you; and again: "Ask,
and it shall be given you." Therefore we, though we be unworthy, yet
hoping in Thy mercy, ask: Bestow Thy kindness upon Thy servant(s) N.(N.), and fulfil his (her(their) good desires, preserve him
(her)(them) all his (her)(their) days peacefully and calmly in health and
length of days: let us all say, quickly hearken and graciously have mercy.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray for the people here present that await of Thee great and
abundant mercy, for all the brethren, and for all Christians.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray to the Lord our God, that He may hearken unto the voice
of the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on His servant(s), N.(N.) and protect him (her) (them) from all tribulation,
harm, wrath and necessity, and from every sickness of soul and body, granting
him (her) (them) health with length of days: let us all say, quickly hearken
and have mercy.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray that this town (or city) and this holy monastery (or
house), and every city and land, may be preserved from famine, pestilence,
earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of aliens, and civil war; that
our good and man-befriending God may be merciful and favourable,
that He may turn away all the wrath stirred up against us, and deliver us from
His righteous judgement which hangeth over us, and
have mercy on us.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Again we pray also that the Lord God may hearken unto the voice of the
supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Chanters: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy Lord, have mercy.
Priest's exclamation: Hearken unto us, O God our Saviour, Thou hope
of all the ends of the earth and of them that be far off at sea; and be
merciful, be merciful, O Master, regarding our sins, and have mercy on us; for
a merciful God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up
glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages.
Chanters: Amen.
All Kneel.
Priest:
Prayer of St Werburgh:
O Ye
Christians, let us lift up our voices in praise to God for the mighty miracles
He hath wrought for us through the stones of her shrine here in Chester and the
entreaties of His saint! O blessed Werburgh, pure
and so especially chosen, so divinely graced and so wonderfully blessed with
holiness! Hope of all that fly unto thee with full confidence and humility! Though thou wast
the fruit of many regal lines, O Werburgh, royal
virgin, yet didst thou not boast in thy lineage, nor did earthly allurements
distract thy soul from the contemplation of the Lord of lords, Whom from childhood thou didst love with all thy heart.
Then, mindful of the words of David the King, that the daughters of kings
forget their own people and their fathers' house, with the virgins in the train
of the Queen of heaven, thou didst bring thyself into His holy temple in
gladness and rejoicing, arrayed in all the virtues, as in gold-fringed garments
of varied colours. Wherefore, praising thy humility, all Christians commemorate
thy name forever, O glorious one. We,
though, unworthy, yet thy devoted pilgrims, make our petitions unto thee. O Sanctuary
of piety, look now upon us with patient eyes; receive our prayers, accept our
offerings, and present our supplications at the throne of mercy, that through
thy powerful intercessions, our God may be pleased to bless our pilgrimage, and
to grant our requests and our desires that are unto salvation; for unto Him is
due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen +
Chanters: Amen.
Priest: O Master Almighty, O Holy King, Who chastenest
and destroyest not, Who strengthenest
the falling, and settest aright the fallen, Who correctest the bodily and spiritual afflictions of mankind:
We pray Thee, O our God, visit Thine servants and handmaidens N. with Thy mercy, pardon them every
transgression, both voluntary and involuntary. Yea, O Lord, send down Thy
healing power from heaven, touch their bodies and souls, quench the fever, subdue the passions and every subtle infirmity. Be the
healer of Thy servants N. raise them from their bed of sickness, and place of
distress, healed and whole; grant them to be well-pleasing unto Thy Church and
doing Thy will. For Thine it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and
unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Chanters: Amen.
All stand.
Priest: Wisdom! Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
Chanters: More honourable
than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thee who
without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the
very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Chanters: Glory to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Thrice.
Father (master), bless.
Priest's dismissal: May Christ our true God, through. the intercessions of His most pure Mother, of our holy and
God-bearing mother Winefride and of all the saints,
have mercy upon us and save us, for He is good God and the Friend of man.
Chanters: Amen.
The faithful pilgrims are then
blessed with Holy Water from the well as they come forth to venerate the precious
cross.
Priest: A PRAYER FOR THE LIVING:
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on all Orthodox Christians and those who
lead an Orthodox life in every place of Thy dominion. Grant unto them, O Lord,
peace of soul and bodily health, and pardon them every sin, voluntary and
involuntary, through the intercessions of all Thy saints, and have mercy on me
the wretched one.
Chanters: Amen.