THE SERVICE OF CONSECRATION
THE BISHOP: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen
READER:
Psalm 143
Hear, O Lord, my prayer give ear to my supplication; in Thy faithfulness answer me and in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth; hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me. Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God; Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name’s sake; for Thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am Thy servant.
*DEACON: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
*When the Deacon is not present, the Priest recites his petitions.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us and protect us, O God, by Thy Grace.
Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorified Lady, Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To You O Lord.
THE BISHOP: For holy art Thou our God, and unto 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.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
Bishop standing before the Holy Relics reads the prayer:
THE BISHOP: O Lord our God, faithful in Thy words and truthful in Thy promises Who hast granted Thy holy Martyrs to fight the good fight and to fulfill the course of godliness and to keep the faith of true confession: Be Thou, the same all-holy Lord, entreated of their prayers and grant unto us Thine unworthy servants, to have a part and inheritance with them, that being followers of them, we also may obtain the good things which await them. Through Thy mercy and love toward mankind of Thine Only; begotten Son with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all; holy, good and life-giving spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
THE BISHOP: Peace be with you all.
CHOIR: And with thy spirit.
DEACON: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
THE BISHOP: O Lord our God, through the intercessions of our Holy Lady and Mother of God and of all Thy saints direct the works of our hands, Thine unworthy servants, and make us worthy that we may in all things prove to be acceptable unto Thy goodness.
Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Thy Kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
~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.
