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Audio Text
| The priest quietly says the Prayer of the Trisagion: O holy God, who abide in the saints, etc… When the chanters come to the last troparion, the deacon inclines his head towards the priest and, holding the orarion in three fingers of his hand, says: Bless, Master, the time of the thrice holy hymn. Blessing him the priest exclaims: For You are holy, our God, etc. . The deacon goes close to the royal doors; facing the people, he elevates the end of his orarion with three fingers of his right hand and, in a raised voice, says: And forever. The choir: Amen. During the singing of the Trisagion, the priest and deacon also recite it, simultaneously making three small bows before the Holy Table. After the Glory be… the deacon says to the priest: Master proceed. And they go to the throne behind the Holy Table. As he goes the priest says: Blessed is he etc. … Then the deacon says: Master, bless the throne on high. The priest: Blessed are You on the throne … And he blesses the apsidal throne. Note that the priest does not ascend the throne nor sit upon it, but he should sit to the south side of the throne. When the Trisagion is finished, the deacon comes near the royal doors, holds up the orarion with the first three fingers of his right hand says: Let us be attentive! Blessing the people, the priest announces: Peace be with all. And the deacon again: Wisdom! Be attentive! The choir sings the Prokeimenon from the Psalms of David. After the Prokeimenon, the deacon announces: Wisdom! The lector, clothed in the sticharion and standing before the soleas in the center of the church, sings the title of the Epistle: A reading from … , and again the deacon: Let us be attentive! |
Notes
When serving with a new priest, it is wise to remind him that the “And forever” is the deacon’s part.
When proceeding to the iconostasis after the throne blessing, it is proper to turn to the right. When intoning, “Let us be attentive”, turn to the priest with your orarion extended as you intone.
During the reading of the Epistle, stand inside the iconostasis behind the icon of Christ, facing the priest. Halfway through the Epistle, signal the altar server to prepare and give you the censor.