Small Blessing of Waters

The Service of the Small Blessing of Water

Prayers by Holy Cross.

Hymns by Fr. Seraphim Dedes.

Items needed for the celebration of the Lesser Sanctification of Water are a small table, upon which the Priest places the Gospel; a wooden, silver-bound Cross; a censer; a bowl of water; two candlesticks with their candles; a few branches of basil and a clean white towel. The Priest wears his cassock and stole.

PRIEST

Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

READER

Amen.

Psalm 142 (143).

O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For Your name''s sake, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant. [SAAS]

CHANTERS

Mode 4.

God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. [SAAS]

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.

Or Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.

Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Mode 4. Lifted up on the Cross.

Now to God''s Mother let us humble sinners run in haste * and in repentance let us fall down before her feet, * crying aloud with fervour from the depths of our souls, * ''Sovereign Lady, help us now, * have compassion upon us, * hasten, for we perish * from our many offences. * Let not your servants go empty away; * we have you as our only hope''. [EL]

Glory. Both now. Same Melody.

Though most unworthy, may we never by silence * fail to proclaim your mighty acts and accomplishments, * for if you do not stand to intercede for us all, * Mother of our God, who then * will preserve us in freedom? * Who would have delivered us * from such terrible dangers? * O Sovereign Lady, from all kinds of threats * you save your servants, * may we not abandon you. [EL]

READER

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God… [EL]

Then we sing the following hymns to the Theotokos, with the verse: "Most-holy Theotokos, save us."

CHANTERS

Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

You received the joyful message through an Angel, * and to your own Creator did you give birth. * All-holy Virgin, save us all who magnify you. (twice).

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

We extol your Son, O Virgin Theotokos, * and we cry out to you the immaculate: * O Lady, save us your servants from jeopardy. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Of the emperors and Prophets and Apostles * and the martyr saints you are the pride and joy, * and the protection of the world, All-blameless one. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Every Orthodox believer''s tongue acclaims you * and beatifies you, Mary Bride of God, * and glorifies your immaculate childbirth. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O my Christ, as One compassionate, forgive me * the unworthy one all of my debts, I pray, * through the entreaties of her who gave birth to You. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

I have set my hopes on you, O Theotokos. * Through your strong intercessions save me, I pray, * and grant forgiveness of offences unto me. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

As the Mother of the Life-giver and Savior * vivify me, and save me, O blessed one, * by interceding. For you are the hope of our souls.. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Save our souls, O Virgin, through your intercessions, * as the one who conceived in your holy womb * the Creator of all things, all-blameless one. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Theotokos, you gave birth unto the Logos * by a word in a manner passed reasoning. * Importune Him to save our souls, all-lauded one. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Cause your Son who is the Judge to be propitious * unto me who have erred more than everyone. * O Lady, do this by your intercessions, I pray. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Duty-bound we cry to you the Theotokos, * ever-virgin and pure, rejoice. And we * implore that by your intercessions we be saved. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O redeem me from the everlasting fire * and the torments that have been laid up for me, * O Theotokos, so that I may call you blest. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Overlook not the petitions of your servants, * we implore you, O Lady extolled by all, * to be delivered from every predicament. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

From diseases and from pain and all afflictions * and from dangers, we pray you deliver us * who for protection to your sacred shelter flee. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Strange indeed, O Theotokos, is the wonder * that was wrought in you; for the Maker of all, * who is our God, for us from you was born like us. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Theotokos, now your temple is a clinic * treating bodily illnesses free of charge, * and providing comfort for afflicted souls. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O all holy Theotokos, as the Mother * of the Savior, deliver your servants from * perils and every other grave necessity. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

From impending threats of danger save your servants * and deliver them from every injury * of soul and body, O Lady all immaculate. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Virgin Theotokos, by your intercessions * save us all who for refuge flee unto you. * From all distress and necessity deliver us. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Who has ever taken refuge at your temple, * O immaculate Maiden, and not obtained * the speedy cure of soul and body, O Mother of God. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Importuned by all the Saints, O loving Master, * and the heavenly orders, and by the prayers * of her who bore You, be gracious to me, O Lord. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O our Savior, spare the souls all our brethren * who have died in the hope of eternal life. * Grant them forgiveness, loosing their transgressions all. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Mercy seat for all the world, rejoice, O Virgin; * jar containing the manna divine, rejoice, * and gilded lamp-stand of the Light, O Bride of God. [SD]

For the Trinity.

Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Unto You the God in Trinity we cry out, * and the words of the thrice-holy hymn we chant, * as we entreat that we obtain salvation of soul. [SD]

Theotokion.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Pray, O Virgin who gave birth unto the Savior * and the Master and Lord of the universe, * and importune Him earnestly to save our souls. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O rejoice, mountain; rejoice, O bush; rejoice, gate. * O rejoice, ladder; table divine, rejoice. * Rejoice, O Lady, the help of all humanity. [SD]

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

As the Merciful One, through the intercessions * of Your immaculate Mother and all the Saints * bestow Your mercies upon Your people copiously. [SD]

All-holy Cross of Christ, guard us by your power.

By the power of Your holy Cross illumine * me Your servant, O Giver of Life, I pray, * that I may praise You in song, being saved by it. [SD]

Archangels of God, intercede for us.

Through the prayers of the glorious Archangels * of the Angels and the hierarchies on high, * preserve, O Savior, Your servants and guard them well. [SD]

Baptist of Christ, intercede for us.

Through the intercessions of Your highly honored * glorious Baptist and Prophet and Forerunner, * O Christ my Savior, guard Your servants from all harm. [SD]

Apostles and Martyrs of Christ, intercede for us.

Through the prayers of Your glorious Apostles * and Your Martyrs, O Lord, and of all Your Saints, * bestow Your mercies upon your people copiously. [SD]

Holy Hierarchs and Teachers of the whole world, intercede for us.

By the prayers of the great and holy teachers, * Basil, Gregory and Saint John Chrysostom, * O Christ my Savior, guard Your servants from all harm. [SD]

Saint Nicholas, Hierarch of Christ, intercede for us.

O all-blessed father Nicholas, we pray you, * send your speedy assistance abundantly * and your protection, to all those who honor you. [SD]

Holy Great Martyrs of Christ, intercede for us.

By the prayers of Your glorious Great Martyrs, * Saints Demetrius, George, and the Theodores, * and Saint Artemius, Lord, keep us free of harm. [SD]

Holy Unmercenaries and miracle-workers, intercede for us.

Guard your servants, at the fervent intercession * of the glorious Unmercenary Saints, * O Theotokos, protection and support of the world. [SD]

Holy and glorious Great Martyr of Christ and healer Panteleimon, intercede for us.

Panteleimon, holy Martyr of the Savior, * by your strong intercessions deliver us * from all diseases, for we come to you for help. [SD]

Holy Forefathers of Christ, intercede for us.

By the fervent intercessions of the holy * righteous forefathers, all the monastic saints, * and all the righteous, O Christ, keep us free of harm. [SD]

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, * be the glory and honor for evermore. * We pray: "All-holy Trinity, save our souls." [SD]

Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion.

You ineffably conceived and then gave birth to * the Creator himself in these latter days. * O Virgin, save us who magnify and call you blest. [SD]

Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of the Christian race. [SD]

PRIEST

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For You, our God, are holy, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

Amen.

Then the following hymns:

Mode pl. 4.

Now the time is come that sanctifies all men, and awaiting us is the just Judge. O my soul, turn to repentance, crying tearfully like the harlot: Lord, have mercy on me. [SD]

You have rained down a fountain of cures upon the waters in the all-holy shrine of the Virgin today, O Christ; and by the sprinkling of Your blessing, You drive away the illnesses of the infirm, O Physician of our souls and bodies. [SD]

O Mary Theotokos, as a virgin never knowing wedlock did you give birth; and you remained a virgin, O Mother unwedded. Entreat Christ our God that we be saved. [SD]

All-holy Virgin Theotokos, guide aright the works of our hands, we pray; and ask for the remission of our offences, as we chant now the hymn of the Angels. [SD]

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. [EL] (three times).

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. [EL]

DEACON

Dynamis.

CHANTERS

Dynamis. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. [EL]

The Readings

The Epistle

PRIEST

Let us attend.

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 26.

The Lord is my light and my savior; whom shall I fear?

Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life; whom shall I dread?

PRIEST

Wisdom.

READER

The reading is from Paul''s Letter to the Hebrews.

PRIEST

Let us attend.

READER

2:11-18

Brethren, both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one; for this reason, he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: I will declare your Name to my brethren. In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. Again: I will put my trust in him, and: Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me. Since the children have shared in [the same] flesh and blood, he likewise shared the same [human nature], so that through death he might bring to nothing the one who had the power of death—the devil—and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to life-long slavery. Certainly, Jesus did not take on the [nature of] angels, but [that of] Abraham’s seed. For this reason, he had to be made like his brethren in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, {able} to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Moreover, since he himself suffered and was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. [EOB]

PRIEST

Peace to you.

Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 44.

CHANTERS

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. [EL]

Verse 1: My heart overflowed with a good word; I tell my works to the King. [SAAS]

Verse 2: My tongue is the pen of a swift-writing scribe. [SAAS]

The Gospel

PRIEST

Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Peace to all.

(And to your spirit.)

PRIEST

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Let us attend.

(Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.)

PRIEST

5:1-4

[EOB]

(Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.)

PRIEST

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

In a house.

For this house and those who dwell in it, let us pray to the Lord.

On a ship.

For this ship and all those aboard it, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For our Archbishop (name), for the honoured order of presbyters, for the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For our nation, [the President, our Armed Forces] and all in civil authorities, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For this city, for every city, town and village, and for the faithful who dwell in them, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For favourable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For those who travel by land, air or water, for the sick, the suffering, for those in captivity, and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

That this water might be hallowed by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super substantial Trinity; let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

That this water may be to the healing of souls and bodies, and to the banishment of every hostile power, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

That there may be sent down upon it the Grace of Redemption, the blessing of the Jordan; let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For all of them who need God to help and give protection, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

That He will illuminate us with the Light of understanding of the Consubstantial Trinity; let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

That the Lord our God will show us forth as sons and daughters and heirs of His Kingdom through the partaking and sprinkling of these waters; let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and constraint, let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by your grace.

(Lord, have mercy.)

Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

(To you, O Lord.)

For to you belong all glory, honour and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

(Amen.)

PRIEST

Let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

The celebrant says the following prayer:

O Lord our God, Who are mighty in counsel and wondrous in all Your deeds: the Creator of all things: Who keep Your Covenant and Your mercy upon all those who love You and keep Your commandments: Who receive the devout tears of all that are in distress: for this cause did You come in the similitude of a servant, scorning not our image but giving true health to the body and saying, "Lo! You are healed, sin no more." And with clay did make man''s eyes whole, and having commanded him to wash, made him by Your word rejoice in the light, putting to confusion the floods of passions of enemies; and drying up the bitter sea of life of the same, subduing the waves of sensual desires heavy to be endured: do You, the same Lord and King Who loves mankind, Who has granted to us to clothe ourselves in the garment of snowy whiteness, by water and by Spirit: send down on us Your blessing, and through the partaking of this water, through sprinkling with it, wash away the defilement of passions.

Yea, we beseech You visit our weaknesses, O Good One, and heal our infirmities both of spirit and of body through Your mercy; through the prayers of the all-pure, exceedingly blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; Through the intercessions of the precious and life-creating Cross; through the protection of the glorious bodiless Powers of the Heavens; through the intercessions of the glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist; of the holy, glorious and all-praiseworthy Apostles; of the holy and God-bearing Fathers; of our Fathers among the Saints, the great Hierarchs and ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our Fathers the Saints, Athanasios, Kyrillos, and John the Merciful, Patriarchs of Alexandria; of Nicholas Bishop of Myra in Lycia; of Spyridon the Wonderworker Of Trymitheus; of the holy, glorious Martyrs, George the Victorious, Demetrios the Exhaler of Myrrh, Theodore of Tyron and Theodore Stratilatis; and of the holy and glorious Hieromartyrs Charalambos and Eleutherios, and of all the righteous Martyrs; of the holy and righteous forefathers Joachim and Anna; of the holy wonderworking Unmercenaries, Kosmas and Damian, Kyros and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus; Samson and Diomedes, Mokios and Anekitas, Thallelaios and Tryphon; of Saint (Name of the Saint of the Day), whose memory we commemorate; and of all Your Saints.

Preserve, Lord, the president of the United States, and all the other Civil Authorities enabled by the American people.

Save, O God, all Orthodox Bishops who rightly divide the word of Your truth, granting unto them spiritual and bodily health; be merciful unto this Christian habitation which labors for You; have in remembrance, O God, every priestly and monastic order and their salvation; have in remembrance, O God, both those that hate us and those who love us, the brethren who serve with us; the people here present; and who for any cause are worthy of blessing and have gone forth having empowered us, unworthy though we are, to pray, for them; have in remembrance, O God, our brethren who are in captivity and affliction, and show mercy unto them according to Your great Mercy, delivering them from every tribulation. For You are the Fountain of healing, O Christ our God, and to You do we send up all glory, together with Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

(Amen.)

Peace to all.

(And to your spirit.)

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

(To you, O Lord.)

The celebrant bows his head and quietly says the following prayer:

PRIEST (inaudibly)

Bow down Your ear and listen to us, O Lord, Who deigned to be baptized in the river Jordan, and there sanctified the water. Bless us all who by the bowing of our heads do show forth our apprehension that we are Your servants. Grant that we may be filled with Your sanctification through the partaking of this water, and let it be for us, O Lord, for the health of soul and body.

(aloud)

For You are the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory, thanksgiving, and worship, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

(Amen.)

The celebrant holds the cross and the sprig he will sprinkle with, and makes the sign of the cross over the water three times, each time quietly saying: "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen." Then he immerses them in the water crosswise as he sings the following hymn:

Mode 1.

Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance, granting to faithful Christians victories over their enemies, and protecting your commonwealth by your Cross. [EL]

CHANTERS

Mode 1.

Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance, granting to faithful Christians victories over their enemies, and protecting your commonwealth by your Cross. (twice).

Then the celebrant sings the following as he sprinkles in the form of a cross.

PRIEST

Mode 2.

Make us worthy of your gifts, O Virgin Theotokos, disregarding our transgressions and bestowing healing, through faith, upon those who receive your blessing, O immaculate one. [SD]

Then the celebrant kisses the precious Cross. Then the rest of those in attendance do likewise and are also sprinkled on the forehead with holy water by the celebrant. They kiss the cross he is holding and also his hand. Then he proceeds to sprinkle the church (or the home) with holy water.

Meanwhile the following hymns are sung:

Mode 4.

Holy Unmercenaries, you possess a source of remedies and grant healings to all who ask, for you have been found worthy of the greatest gifts from the unfailing source of the Saviour Christ. For to you, as rivals of the Apostles in zeal, the Lord says: See, I have given you authority against unclean spirits, so as to cast them out and so as to cure every disease and every weakness. And so, having lived your lives well in accordance with his commands, freely you have received, freely you give, as you heal the sufferings of our souls and bodies. [EL]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Look upon the supplication of your servants, O All-unblemished, bringing to an end the dread assaults that beset us and calming all our distress; for we have only you as safe and sure anchor, and we have obtained your protection. Sovereign Lady, may we who entreat you not be put to shame; make haste to hear the supplication of us who cry to you with faith: Hail, Sovereign Lady, help, joy and protection of all, and salvation of our souls. [EL]

Lady accept the supplications of your servants, and rescue us from every constraint and affliction. [EL]

PRIEST

Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy.