LIGHTING OF THE VIGIL LIGHT
During the service the Bishop invites the faithful to come forward and to offer a few drops of oil in a Vigil Light. This they do as an offering to the Church. The Bishop will later light the Vigil Light and will place it on the Altar Table near the Artoforion. This light will be kept burning at all times and is symbolic of the never failing light of Christ which came into darkness of the world to be a light to enlighten all people. The Bishop then removes the Savanon. The Savanon will be cut up into small pieces and each person in Church will receive a piece of it to keep as a “Phylacton” (a blessed object worn to help ward off evil).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. The Saint of the Church being consecrated.
Now, and, ever…
Lord, benevolent and all powerful, as we celebrate this memorable occasion of the Consecration, we glorify You, the Giver of this Blessing, praying that You bless the spiritual understanding of our souls through the intercession of the glorious Champions of the Faith.
CONCLUDING PRAYERS
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 now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. 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, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
CONGREGATION:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, 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 trespasses, As we forgive those Who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil.
THE BISHOP: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Glory … Dismissal Hymn of the Church
Now, and ever… Repeat:
O Lord, establish this church forever as you have shown by the harmony of the heavens above and the beauty of the Holy Tabernacle of your Glory below. Accept our prayers which are continuously addressed to You in this church. Through the mediation of the Virgin Mary (Theotokos) who is the life and resurrection of all.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hear us and have mercy.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy (thrice).
DEACON: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of sins of the servants of God, the Builders of this Holy House (Holy Apostles) and for the forgiveness of all their transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy (thrice).
THE BISHOP: For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
DISMISSAL
THE BISHOP: Glory to Thee, O God our hope, glory to Thee.
May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, through the intercessions of His all-pure and Holy Mother, through the power of the precious and life giving Cross, through the protection of the honorable spiritual Powers of heaven, through the prayers of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, the holy, glorious and victorious Martyrs, of our saintly and God-inspired Fathers, of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for our merciful God is good and lovest mankind.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
PRIEST: Through the prayers of our Holy Bishop, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
CHOIR: Amen.
The Church has now been Baptized, Chrismated, Sanctified, Consecrated, and dedicated to God for eternal use as an Orthodox Christian House of Worship. The first Divine Liturgy is then celebrated in the newly consecrated “House of the Lord.”
~Website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA), Service of the Consecration of a Church, http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/consecrate_church. Liturgical texts provided by Holy Cross, Brookline, MA.
