Audio Text
B203.1 Litany of Peace Facing forward, the deacon at the right of the priest turns toward him, receives the blessing and proceeds to the Ambon. Bowing towards the Holy Table, the deacon turns around to the right, extends his orarion toward the priest and intones, “Master give the blessing”. The priest intones, “Blessed is the Kingdom”, etc. The choir, “Amen”. The deacon then continues with the Great Litany of Peace. At the conclusion, the deacon bows toward the Holy Table and returns to his previous place at the right side of the priest.
B203.3 Blessing the Water While the deacon is praying the Great Litany of Peace, the priest is praying silently. At the end of the commemoration to the Mother of God, the priest continues aloud. At the conclusion of the blessing of the water, the priest blesses with” Peace be to all”. The choir, “And with your spirit”. The deacon, “ Bow your heads to the Lord”. Waiting for the priest to breathe three times over the oil, the deacon then intones, “Let us pray to the Lord”. The choir, “Lord have mercy”. The priest says the prayer. At the conclusion, “now and ever and forever”, the choir sings, “Amen”.
B204.1 Baptism The baptism begins with the anointing of the one to be baptized. Note, this is not the anointing for Chrismation. Chrismation follows the baptism. During the baptism, the deacon has no formal role, but should be ready to hold the priest’s book, oil etc. Following the baptism, the newly baptized is clothed in a white robe. When the troparion, “Grant me a robe of light etc.”, is sung, the baptized or Godfather if the baptized is a child, is presented with a lighted candle. The deacon should ensure the candle is ready. If need be, the deacon should light the candle and have it ready for the priest.
B294.2 Churching of the Newly Baptized At this point the churching occurs. The deacon remains in his place. At the end of the churching, the Godfather and or Godmother receives the newly baptized and returns to their place in front of the tetrapod or font.
204.3 Chrismation As the priest returns for the Chrismation, the deacon intones, “Let us pray to the Lord”, the choir, “Lord have mercy”. The priest then anoints the baptized on the forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, breast, hands, and feet.
Notes
Note. It is helpful to have a changing table already in place off to a side as the baby will need to be undressed, then dried and clothed with the baptismal robe prior to the churching.