PROCESSIONS AROUND THE CHURCH
Following this prayer, the Bishop and Clergy together with all the Faithful prepare for the Three Processions around the Church. The Three Processions represent the setting aside of an area which will be separate and sacred from all other areas. The Bishop raises the covered Paten on which the Holy Relics were placed, and prepares to leave the Church. The procession is led by the Altar Boys, followed by the Choir and Cantors, the Priests, the Bishop carrying the Relics, and the Faithful, leaving the Church empty. As the procession leaves the Church the Choir or Cantor sings:
HYMNS
O Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crowns, entreat the Lord to save our souls.
Glory to Thee, O Christ God, the Apostles’ pride, the Martyrs, joy, who have preached the consubstantial Trinity.
During the processions around the Church special consecration hymns are sung, or the Hymn “Holy God, Holy and Mighty…”
Tone 1
Be renewed, be renewed, O New Jerusalem, because your light has shown, and the glory of the Lord has come upon you. This house has been founded by the Father, this house has been made firm by the Son, this house has been renewed by, the Holy Spirit, which illumines and supports, and hallows our souls.
In early times, while the temple was consecrated, Solomon offered to the Lord sacrifices of animals and holocausts. When you were pleased in us O Saviour, to forgo the formalities and let the truth be known, the whole world offers to You the bloodless sacrifices to Your glory, because You are the Lord of all things and make everything holy through Your Holy Spirit.
Tone Pl. 2
The Consecration is an old honored custom, and a good one. It is however proper to honor new churches through the consecration as an island dedicated to God. As Isaiah says: we have acquired these sites from the congregation of the gentiles, and established them as churches on the solid foundation of God’s Name. This is why we are celebrating this Consecration in a spiritual manner.
When the procession reaches the front of the Church, the Bishop places the Holy Relics on table, which has been previously placed there, and readings from the Bible follow. A section of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews 2:11-18, and St. Matthew 16:13-20 is read.
SCRIPTURAL READINGS
DEACON: Let us attend.
READER: The Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the protection of my life.
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews (2:11-18).
DEACON: Let us attend.
READER:
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will proclaim Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise Thee. And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again. Here am I, and the children God has given me. Since, therefore, the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the power of death, that is, the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that He is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered and been tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.
THE BISHOP: Peace be with you, Reader.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
DEACON: Wisdom. Attend, Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
THE BISHOP: Peace be with you all.
CHOIR: And with your spirit.
THE BISHOP: The reading is from the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew (16:13-20).
DEACON: Let us attend.
CHOIR: Glory to Thee, o Lord, glory to Thee.
THE BISHOP: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples. “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said. “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them. “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on the rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
CHOIR: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Once again, the Bishop picks up the Paten, and the second procession around the Church takes place, while the Choir sings Special Hymns, or “Holy God, Holy mighty…”
~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.
