- 1.119 The priest, standing in the center before the Holy Table and making the sign of the Cross over the Holy Table with the Holy Gospel, commences in a raised voice: Blessed is the Kingdom … The choir: Amen.
- 2.The deacon says the Great Synapate: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. The priest quietly recites the prayer of the first antiphon:
- 3.The chanters sing the first antiphon or the typical psalm. The deacon bows before the royal doors and stands before the icon of Christ, holding the orarion with three fingers of his right hand,.
- 4.120 When the antiphon is finished the deacon returns to his customary glace before the royal doors, bows and says: Again and again, …
- 5.The chanters sing the second antiphon or the typical psalm. The deacon does as during the first antiphon, but now he stands before the icon of the Theotokos. After the antiphon, the choir sings: Glory … now and ever, ….
*Notes At the end of the Great Litany, when commemorating the Theotokos, turn to the icon pointing with the orarion, then at “together with all the saints”, begin a sweeping motion across the Royal Doors, finishing with a bow pointing to the icon of Christ as you finish saying, “to Christ our God”.
*During the first antiphon, at the singing of “through the prayers of the Mother of God”, bow towards the icon but remain in front of the icon of Christ. In many parishes, it is also customary to make the sign of the cross while bowing.