And the Deacon, with all emotion, saith:

Again, yet again, on bended knees let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

And all kneel down. And the Rector, himself kneeling, readeth with emotion this Prayer:

We praise thee, O Lord God of hosts, our Saviour, that because of the great multitude of thy goodness and loving-kindness toward mankind, thou hast chosen and sanctified this place, and hast founded thereon a church to the glory of thine all-holy Name, through us, thine unworthy servants. Wherefore, bowing the knees of our souls and bodies, we humbly beseech thee: Graciously vouchsafe to found also upon this place an Altar for the offering up of the unbloody sacrifice of the all-holy Body and the precious Blood of thy Christ, unto thy glory, and unto the salvation of our souls. And bring thou this Temple, and this Altar, speedily to completion by thy divine might; that therein and thereon, even until the end of the ages, the praise of thine all-holy Name, and thine unbloody, supersensual sacrifices may be offered up and performed unto thee unceasingly without hindrance, by thine Orthodox people: For with thee all things are possible; and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir. Amen.

And all standing, the Deacon saith this Litany: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy: R

Here follow petitions for the Ruler of the Land and for all the Authorities (Emperor, or King, and Reigning House, or President, according to the ele ments and nationalities of which the Parish is constituted). Furthermore we pray for our Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop or Metropolitan), N., for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the clergy and the laity: B Furthermore we pray that the Lord our God will hearken unto the voice of our petition, and will bless the work of our hands: and let us all say: O Lord, hearken, and have mercy. R

Furthermore we pray for the God-fearing Wardens, and for the founders to the glory of God, of the Temple, N., which hath been begun and is to be built to the glory of God; and for the prosperous forwarding of their holy work, and for their health, salvation, and the remission of their sins: and let us all say: O Lord, hearken, and have mercy. R

Furthermore we pray that he will appoint to this work a holy Angel, a guardian against every evil assault of foes both visible and invisible, who shall deliver from impediments, and shall defend and strengthen the labourers: and let us all say: O Lord, hearken, and have mercy. R

Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

And the Rector exclaimeth:

Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea; and show mercy, show mercy, O Master, unto us sinners, and be merciful unto us, and unto the founders of this Temple: For thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And he pronounceth the Benediction appropriate to the Temple. And having blessed the People, the Bishop or the Archpriest, if he hath come with the Litiyá, as said above, returneth also with the Litiya to the Church whence he hath come, while the Choir sing the Stanzas of the Temple, or whatsoever else they wish, to the glory of God.

THE OFFICE AT THE CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH WHEN PERFORMED BY A BISHOP (1)

*

When the Church is finished, there cometh a person, sent from the Bishop, one day or more beforehand, and prepareth those things which are necessary for the Consecration, not only within the Sanctuary, but also in all the Church. And especially he is careful that the Altar shall stand upon four columns, with a fifth column bearing a small coffer, in the middle; and the coffer must be in the centre, under the Altar, about fourteen inches high, and the Altar thirtyeight inches in height, and its width in proportion to the Sanctuary, and the top of the Altar in proportion to the Altar. The Table of Oblation, also, shall be of the same height, width and length, in proportion to the Sanctuary. In the top of the Altar-columns cavities are hollowed out, a couple of inches in depth, where the wax-mastic is to be in these same columns, six inches from the floor, notches shall be cut for holding the cord; and round about the table of the Altar, a couple of inches from the top. other such notches shall be cut, for holding the cord; and holes are to be bored in the corners of the tables for the Altar and the Table of Oblation where the nails are to be, and hollow spaces shall be prepared where the heads of the nails are to be, so that the heads of the nails may lie on a level with the table of the Altar; and the columns are to be pierced in such a manner that the nails shall enter them straight. The following things are required: For making fast the table of the Altar, four nails, and as many more are required for the Table of Oblation; four stones, wherewith to drive the nails; one altar-cloth for draping the Altar, and another for the Table of Oblation; upper altar-cloths, for covering the Altar and the Table of Oblation; veils; cloths wherewith to wipe the Altar; a curtain for the Holy Door; two palls, for the Altar and the Table of Oblation; one glass each of rose-water and of church wine; holy Chrism, and an anointing brush; a sponge for the corporal; a sponge for the sacred chalice; a small leaden box for the holy relics under the Altar; tapers for the Bishop, and for distribution among the other Ecclesiastics and the laity; incense, both of the finest sort, and also of the ordinary sort; two large tapers, for carrying in procession; the church banners, if there be any. And round about the Church it must be clean.

Then the table-board shall be taken from the Altar, and placed against the wall, on the right-hand side, and note must be taken beforehand of the position in which it lay upon the Altar columns.

Then a table is placed in front of the Holy Door, and upon it is spread an altarcloth: And the book of the Holy Gospels, and the precious cross, and the sacred vessels are set thereon; the spoon, the spear, the altar-cloths, together with the veils, the cord, the covering of the Altar and of the Table of Oblation, the nails, and the sponges; and they are covered with an altar-cloth; and four candlesticks are set there, one at each corner; and another small table is placed within the Sanctuary, near the Bishop's throne, and an altar-cloth is spread thereon; and upon this table are placed the holy Chrism, the church-wine and the rosewater in their glasses, an anointing-brush, an aspergillus, the stones wherewith the nails are to be driven, and the wax-mastic.

And the holy relics are placed upon the paten, covered with the star-cover and the veil, and on the eve of the Consecration are set upon a lectern before the holy picture of the Saviour, by the side of the Holy Door, in the Church itself; and

See Appendix B, XIII.

outside the Sanctuary is celebrated the VIGIL OFFICE, by whomsoever the Bishop shall appoint. And before the blessing of the water, the relics shall be borne thence, with all reverence, to a neighbouring Church, after an early Liturgy, and there placed upon the holy Altar; and the book of the Gospels shall be placed from the east over the holy relics; and a candlestick shall be placed before the holy relics. But if there be no other church in the vicinity, then they shall stand in the same spot until they are used.

THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSECRATION

When the time for the Divine Liturgy is come, and the Bishop hath entered the Church which is to be consecrated, he vesteth himself in his episcopal robes, and addeth thereto a special white garment (sratchitza). (2) And thus arrayed he entereth the holy Sanctuary; and the Priests who are to serve, wearing similar garments over their priestly vestments, bear before the Bishop the table with all things needful for the Consecration, and set it on the right-hand side. And the Bishop, giving his pastoral staff to a Sub-Deacon as he cometh to the Holy Doors, entereth the Sanctuary: and after he hath prayed, he maketh the sign of the cross in blessing over those who are serving, on both sides. At this time the Deacon bringeth holy water (3) to the Bishop, and the Bishop, taking the aspergillus, sprinkleth the columns with the holy water. Then the Sacristan bringeth the hot wax-mastic to the Bishop, and the Bishop sprinkleth the wax-mastic with holy water, and taketh the vessel with the wax-mastic, and poureth it upon the columns, in the form of a cross, to the requisite amount, compassing them about; then he giveth the vessel to the Sacristan, and again sprinkleth the columns with holy water, that the wax-mastic may harden quickly; and the Priests breathe upon the columns where the wax-mastic is, until it is hard. (4)

And when this is finished, the Archdeacon saith:

Let us pray to the Lord.

The Priests. Lord, have mercy.

And the Bishop reciteth this Prayer, in the hearing of all:

O Lord God our Saviour, who createst all things and makest the race of man for salvation, accept the prayer of us, thine unworthy servants; and enable us at this present hour without condemnation to accomplish the consecration of this holy Temple, founded to thy praise in the name of Saint N.; and to consummate the erection therein of an Altar.

Exclamation. For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Priests. Amen.

Then the Priests bring the table of the Altar, and the Bishop sprinkleth it on all sides, and layeth it upon the columns of the Altar.

And while this is being done, the following Psalm is sung:

PSALM CXLV.

I will magnify thee, O God, my King; and I will praise thy Name forever and ever. Every day will I give thanks unto thee; and praise

thy Name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised; there is no end of his greatness. One generation shall praise thy works unto another, and declare thy power. As for me, I will be talking of thy worship, thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works; so that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts; and I will also tell of thy greatness. The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be showed; and men shall sing of thy righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful; long-suffering, and of great goodness. The Lord is loving unto every man; and his mercy is over all his works. All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints give thanks unto thee. They show the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; that thy power, thy glory, and mightiness of thy kingdom, might be known unto men. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages. The Lord upholdeth all such as fall, and lifteth up all those that are down. The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him; yea, all such as call upon him faithfully. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will help them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him; but scattereth abroad all the ungodly. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name forever and ever.

And when the Psalm is finished, the Bishop saith:

Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
The Priests. Amen.

And when the wax-mastic hath become hard, and the places upon which it flowed have been cleaned, they say PSALM XXIII.

The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul, and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me; thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Then the Bishop.

Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Priests. Amen.