Chapter XIII · THE ORDER OF HOLY UNCTION SUNG BY SEVEN PRIESTS ASSEMBLED IN A CHURCH OR IN A HOUSE.

A table is prepared, and on this they place the holy gospel and a dish of wheat, and on the wheat an empty oil cruet, and round it in the wheat seven twigs wrapped with cotton wool for the anointing; and they give tapers to all the priests. And, all standing round the table vested in phelonia, the first of the priests taketh the censer with incense, and censeth the table upon which the oil is round about, and all the church, or the house, and the people; and, standing before the table, looking towards the east, he beginneth,

Blessed be our God.... And Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... For thine is the kingdom.... Lord, have mercy, xii. O come, let us worship.... thrice.

And psalm cxlii. O Lord hear my prayer....

Glory. Both now. Alleluia, thrice.

And the deacon, the ectenia.

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Help us, save us, have mercy....

Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed....

Priest. For to thee is due....

Choir. Amen.

And straightway they sing Alleluia in tone vi.

Verse i. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy fury.

Verse ii. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.

Then troparia.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us; for, destitute of all defence, we sinners offer unto thee, as Master, this prayer, Have mercy upon us.

Glory.

O Lord, have mercy upon us; for we have put our trust in thee. Be not exceedingly wroth against us, neither remember our transgressions; but, as being loving-kind, look now upon us, and deliver us from our enemies: for thou art our God, and we are thy people, we are all the work of thy hand, and we call upon thy name.

Both now.

Open unto us the gates of loving-kindness, O blessed God-bearing one, that we perish not who put our trust in thee, but through thee may we be delivered from calamities; for thou art the salvation of the christian race.

After this, Have mercy upon me, O God....

And the canon, whereof the acrostic is,

A song of prayer oil by Arsenius.

Ode i. Irmos. Tone iv.

Through the red sea’s depth....

O Master, who with oil of loving-kindness dost mortals’ souls and bodies alway tranquilize, and them that faithful be preserv’st with oil; do thou thyself now have compassion upon those approaching thee by means of oil.

The earth, O Master, is of thy mercy full. Therefore to-day anointed with thy sacred precious oil, in faith we pray thee to bestow thy mercy that surpasseth thought on us.

Glory.

O lover of mankind, who mercifully thine apostles didst command to minister thy priestly unction on thine ailing servants; do thou, at their entreaties, through thy seal, have mercy upon all.

Both now.

O only pure one, who didst bear the boundless sea of peace, by thine entreaties alway unto God, thy servant free from ailings and from griefs, that he may magnify thee ceaselessly.

Ode iii. Irmos.

In thee thy church is glad....

Thou that alone art wonderful to faithful men, merciful Christ, grant from on high thy grace to him that suffereth grievously.

O Lord, who once, for thy divine token that the flood had ceas’d, didst shew an olive branch, in mercy save the afflicted one.

Glory.

With a lamp of light divine, in mercy lighten him, O Christ, who now, in faith through the anointing, to thy mercy maketh speed.

Both now.

O Mother of the Maker of all things, look from on high with favour, and release, by thine entreaties, the sufferer from his bitter pain.

Kathisma, tone viii.

Like, The pastoral reed....

Thou that art a divine river of mercy, a depth of abundant sympathy, O compassionate one; manifest the divine streams of thy mercy, and heal all: let the springs of wonders flow plenteously, and wash all; for, ever betaking ourselves to thee, we fervently entreat thy grace.

Another, tone iv.

Like, Thou that wast lifted up....

Physician and helper of them that are in sufferings, redeemer and Saviour of them that are in sicknesses; do thou thyself, O Master and Lord of all, grant healing unto thine afflicted servant: have compassion and mercy upon him who hath greatly offended, and deliver him, O Christ, from iniquities, that he may glorify thy divine power.

Ode iv. Irmos.

Seeing thee lifted up....

Thou, Saviour, that, as myrrh corruptless, dost, through thy grace, thyself outpour and cleanse the world; compassionate be, yea, merciful to him, who doth, in faith divine, the body’s sores anoint.

With the tranquility of thy mercy’s seal, O Master, sign now the senses of thy servants, and make the way thereto accessless and approachless to all opposing powers.

Glory.

Thou who dost bid that thy divine hierurgists be call’d to them whose strength hath fail’d, and these by prayer and unction with thine oil to save; do thou, O lover of mankind, save, by thy mercy, the afflicted one.

Both now.

Most holy and God-bearing ever-virgin, strong shelter and defence, thou ladder and thou wall, have mercy and compassion on the sufferer; for he hath fled to thee, and thee alone.

Ode v. Irmos.

Thou, Lord, my light....

Thou, good one, that art mercy’s depth, do thou, O merciful, have mercy, in thy mercifulness divine, on him that suffereth; for thou art loving-kind.

Sanctifying unspeakably from on high, O Christ, our souls and bodies with the divine impression of thy seal, with thine own hand heal all.

Glory.

O most good Lord, who, through thine untold love, acceptedst myrrh-anointing from the sinful woman; compassionate thy servant.

Both now.

All-praised, pure, and most good Queen, have mercy upon them that are anointed with the oil divine, and save thy servant.

Ode vi. Irmos.

I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice....

O lover of mankind, who shewest by thy words anointing is for kings, and this performest by highpriests; save thou the sufferer by thy seal, for thou art loving-kind.

Let no communicating act of bitter demons touch his senses who is sign’d with the divine anointing, Saviour; but with the safeguard of thy glory him surround.

Glory.

Stretch from on high thy hand, O lover of mankind, and sanctify thine oil, and grant this to thy servant, Saviour, for healing and deliverance from all sicknesses.

Both now.

Mother of the Creator, thou, in thy sacred temple, hast appear’d a fruitful olive tree, whereby the world appeareth fill’d with mercy. Therefore save the sufferer by the touching of thy prayers.

Condakion, tone ii.

Like, Seeking the things above....

Thou that art the fountain of mercy, O thou that art most good, do thou deliver from every calamity them that with fervent faith fall down before thine unspeakable mercy; and, O thou that art loving-kind, taking away their ailings, do thou grant unto them thy divine grace from on high.

Ode vii. Irmos.

The abrahamic children in the furnace....

Thou, Saviour, that alone art God, who in thy mercy and compassions, healest the spiritual passions and bodily wounds of all; physician be thou for this sufferer with disease, and make him whole thyself.

Since with anointing oil the heads of all anointed are, so give to this one joy of gladness, Christ, granting the mercy of thy redemption unto him that seeketh this, for thy rich mercy’s sake, O Lord.

Glory.

Thy seal, O Saviour, against demons is a sword, and prayers of priests a fire that burneth passions of the soul. Therefore in faith we praise thee, we, who have healing gain’d.

Both now.

O thou, the Mother of God, who didst conceive within thy womb, in wise befitting God, him that doth all things hold within his hand, and flesh didst give to him unspeakably; we pray thee, Be thou gracious to this suffering one.

Ode viii. Irmos.

With hands extended, Daniel....

O Saviour, have mercy upon all, according to thy mercy mighty and divine; for, for this cause, we all are gather’d here to image forth in mystic wise the condescension of thy mercies, and to bring the unction with the oil in faith unto thy servant, whom visit thou likewise.

With thy mercy’s streams, O Christ, and by thy priests’ anointing wash away, as Lord the loving-kind, the pains and wounds, and overwhelmings of affliction of him tormented with the stress of sufferings, that he, being sav’d, may praise thee with thanksgiving.

Glory.

The sign of condescension from on high and of tranquility being drawn on us, O Master, through thy godlike mercy; do thou thy mercy not withdraw, nor him reject who ever crieth faithfully, O bless the Lord, all ye his works.

Both now.

Glorious as a crown, O pure one, nature hath gain’d thy sacred giving-birth, which crusheth hosts of foes, and mightily doth vanquish them. Therefore, with festal brightness crowned through thy grace, we thee extol, O most extolled Queen.

Ode ix. Irmos.

Unquarried rock....

Look down from heaven, O compassionate one, and shew thy mercy unto all; and thine assistance and thy strength bestow on him who now approacheth thee through the divine anointing by thy priests, O lover of mankind.

O Saviour, thou most good, we have, rejoicing, seen the oil divine, which, through thy godlike condescension for them that are recipients, thou thyself accepted hast, and typically hast given to them that have participated in the font divine.

Glory.

O Saviour, be compassionate and have mercy: deliver out of dangers and afflictions—deliver from the arrows of the evil one the souls and bodies of thy servants, and heal them, as the Lord, the merciful, by thy divine anointing.

Both now.

Accept thy servants’ songs and prayers, O Virgin, and, by thy supplications, from sufferings and from ills deliver us, even us who to thy sacred shelter us betake, O thou most pure.

It is very meet....

Exapostilarion.

Like, He hath visited us....

In mercy, O thou good one, with thine eyes regard our prayer, ours, who to-day are gather’d in thy holy temple to anoint with oil divine thy suffering servant.

Then stichera, tone iv.

Like, Thou hast given a sign....

Thou hast given thy grace through thine apostles, O good physician, lover of mankind, to heal the wounds and sicknesses of all men through thy holy oil. Therefore, as being loving-kind, him that now faithfully to thy mercy hieth sanctify, have mercy upon him, and cleanse him from all sickness, and count him worthy of thy corruptless sweetness, Lord.

O lover of mankind incomprehensible, who, with thine unseen hand, as being loving-kind, sealest our senses with thine oil divine; look down from heaven, and give to him that faithfully betaketh him to thee, and asketh pardon of iniquities, healing of soul and body, that he may glorify thee lovingly, and magnify thy might.

Through the anointing with thine oil, and through the touching of thy priests, O lover of mankind, hallow thy servant from on high, free him from sicknesses, cleanse him from soul’s defilement, wash him, O Saviour, and deliver him from scandals manifold; tranquilize his grief, remove his hindrances, and banish his afflictions, as being merciful and loving-kind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

O most pure royal palace much extoll’d, I pray thee, cleanse my mind defil’d by every kind of sin; and make it a meet dwelling-place for the most holy Trinity, that I thy worthless servant, being sav’d, may magnify thy might and mercy measureless.

Then, Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... After Our Father.... For thine is the kingdom....

Then troparion, tone iv.

Thou that alone art quick to help, O Christ, make manifest from on high a speedy visitation to thine ailing servant: deliver him from sicknesses and bitter pains, and raise him up, that, without ceasing, he may praise and glorify thee, through the God-bearing one’s entreaties, O thou sole lover of mankind.

And after these the deacon, or the first of the priests, saith this ectenia.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace that is from above....

For the peace of the whole world....

For this holy temple, and for them that with faith....

That this oil may be blessed by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.

For the servant of God, name, and for his visitation by God, and for the coming upon him of the grace of the Holy Ghost, let us pray to the Lord.

For his deliverance and ours from every affliction, passion, and want.

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

Commemorating our most holy, most pure....

Then the first of the priests saith the prayer of oil over the cruet.

Note. Be it known that in the great church they pour wine instead of water into the cruet of prayer-unction.

Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, who, through thy mercy and compassions, healest the infirmities of our souls and bodies; do thou thyself, O Master, sanctify this oil, that it may be to them that are anointed therewith for healing, and for the removal of every passion, of defilement of flesh and spirit, and of every ill, and that thereby may be glorified thy holy name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And the other priests likewise read this prayer, but quietly to themselves.

And while the prayer is being said by the priests, they sing these troparia.

Tone iv.

Thou that alone art quick to help, O Christ, make manifest from on high a speedy visitation to thine ailing servant: deliver him from sicknesses and bitter pains, and raise him up, that, without ceasing, he may praise and glorify thee, through the God-bearing one’s entreaties, O thou sole lover of mankind.

With blinded spiritual eyes to thee, O Christ, I come, as he that from his birth was blind; and penitentially to thee I cry, Be merciful to us, thou that alone the good physician art.

Tone iii.

My soul, that, Lord, by every kind of sin and unbecoming deeds is paralys’d, O by thy godlike intervention do thou raise, as thou of old a paralytic didst upraise, that I, being sav’d, may cry to thee, Give healing unto me, O Christ compassionate.

Tone ii.

O just one, as the Lord’s disciple, thou the gospel didst receive; as martyr, dost possess that which unwritten is; a daring, as God’s brother, hast; as hierarch, hast to pray: do thou beseech Christ God to save our souls.

Tone iv.

The Father’s sole-begotten, who is God the Word, in latter days hath come to us, O James divine, declaring thee first pastor and instructor of them that of Jerusalem were; a faithful steward too of ghostly mysteries. Therefore, apostle, we all reverence thee.

Tone iii.

To them of Myra, saint, thou didst appear a hierurgist; for Christ’s evangel, thou, O venerated one, fulfilling, didst for thy people yield thy soul, and save the innocent from death. For this cause art thou sanctified as a great mystic of the grace of God.

The same tone.

O pain-enduring one, that overcame the heathen, in dangers hath the world thee found a champion great. Therefore, as thou didst humble Lyev’s pride, and in the strife make Nestor brave, so, saint Demetrius, pray Christ God to give great mercy unto us.

The same tone.

Thou holy pain-enduring one, physician too, O Pantelimon, mediate with God the merciful, that he may grant our souls remission of iniquities.

Tone viii.

Ye saints that were unmercenary and wonders wrought, make visitation in our weaknesses. Freely ye have receiv’d: O freely give to us.

Tone ii.

Who can narrate thy mightiness, O virgin one? for thou dost wonders gush, and pourest cures, and prayest for our souls, O thou divine and friend of Christ.

Warm advocate and assailless wall, the spring of mercy and the world’s defence, to thee unceasingly we cry, God-bearing Queen, prevent thou us, and us from dangers free, thou that alone art quick to intercede.

Deacon. Let us attend.

The first priest. Peace to all.

Choir. And to thy spirit.

Deacon. Wisdom, let us attend.

Reader, the prokimenon, tone i.

Let thy mercy, O Lord, come upon us like as we have put our trust in thee.

Verse.

Rejoice, O ye righteous, in the Lord, for praise becometh the upright.

The epistle.

The lection of the catholic message of James.

And be it known that the epistle is read by the deacon, section lvii,

Brethren, take for an example.... ending, availeth much.[15]

The first priest. Peace to thee. Alleluia.

Tone viii. Verse. I will sing unto thee of mercy and judgment, O Lord.

The gospel from Luke, section liii.

At that time, a certain lawyer.... ending, do thou likewise.[16]

Then, Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hear and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy, thrice.

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, and forgiveness of sins for the servant of God, name.

Lord, have mercy, thrice.

That to him may be remitted every iniquity, voluntary and involuntary, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy, thrice.

And the exclamation.

For a merciful and man-loving God thou art, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord have mercy.

Priest, the prayer.

O thou that art unbeginning, eternal, and in the holy of holies, who didst send down thine only-begotten Son, who healeth every infirmity and every wound of our souls and bodies; do thou send down thy Holy Ghost, and sanctify this oil, and let it be unto thine anointed servant, name, for a perfect deliverance from his sins, and for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.

Be it known that some say this prayer only thus far, with the exclamation,

For it is thine to have mercy.....

But others say even unto the end,

For thou art God great and wonderful, who keepest thy testament and thy mercy unto them that love thee, granting deliverance from sins through thy holy child, Jesus Christ, who regenerateth us from sin, enlighteneth the blind, setteth up them that are cast down, loveth the righteous, and is merciful to sinners, who hath called us out of darkness and the shadow of death, saying unto them that are in bonds, Come forth, and to them that are in darkness, Be ye unveiled. For he hath shined in our hearts the light of the knowledge of his countenance, in that for our sake he was made manifest upon earth, and dwelt among men; and to them that accepted thee gave he power to become the children of God; and hath bestowed upon us a sonship through the laver of regeneration, and made us to have no participation in the domination of the devil. For thou wast not pleased that we should be cleansed through blood, but hast given, through holy oil, an image of his cross, that we may be a flock of Christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, cleansing us by water, and sanctifying us by thy holy spirit. Do thou thyself, O Master Lord, give grace unto us in this thy service, as thou didst give unto Moses, thine accepted, and unto Samuel, thy beloved, and unto John, thine elect, and unto all who in every generation have been acceptable unto thee. And so make us to be ministers of thy new testament upon this oil, which thou hast made thine own through the precious blood of thy Christ, that, putting away worldly lusts, we may die unto sin and live unto righteousness, so that we may be led of the proposed oil to be invested in him with the anointing of sanctification. May this oil, O Lord, be an oil of gladness, an oil of sanctification, a royal investiture, a cuirass of power, an averting of every diabolical operation, an inviolable seal, a rejoicing of the heart, an eternal joy, that they that are anointed with this oil of regeneration may be terrible to adversaries, and may shine in the brightness of thy saints, having no spot or wrinkle; and may they attain unto thine eternal rest, and gain the prize of the calling from on high.

For it is thine to have mercy, and to save us, O our God, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine only-begotten Son, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages, Amen.

And after the prayer; the priest taketh a twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person in the form of a cross, on the forehead, on the nostrils, on the cheeks, on the lips, on the breast, on the hands on both sides, saying this prayer.

Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies, who didst send thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who healeth every infirmity, and delivereth from death; do thou heal thy servant, name, from the bodily and spiritual weakness that presseth upon him, and quicken him by the grace of thy Christ; through the prayers of our most holy Lady, the God-bearing and ever-virgin Mary; through the intercession of the honourable, heavenly bodiless powers; through the power of the precious and life-effecting cross; of the honourable glorious prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and all-praised apostles; of the holy glorious, and excellently victorious martyrs; of our venerable and god-bearing fathers; of the holy and unmercenary physicians, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Pantelimon and Hermolaus, Sampson and Diomed, Photius and Anicetas; of the holy and righteous god-progenitors, Joakim and Anna, and of all the Saints.

For thou art the fount of healing, O our God, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine only-begotten Son, and with thy consubstantial Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

This prayer is said by each priest after he hath said his gospel and prayer, while he anointeth the sick person with oil.

Deacon. Let us attend.

The second priest. Peace to all.

Prokimenon, tone ii.

The Lord is my strength and song, and is become for salvation unto me.

Verse. When thou chastenest, thou hast chastened me, O Lord; but thou hast not given me up unto death.

The epistle to the Romans, section cxvi.

Brethren, we that are strong ought.... ending, received us to the glory of God.[17]

The second priest. Peace to thee.

Alleluia, tone v.

Verse. I will sing of thy mercy, O Lord, for ever.

The second priest.

The gospel from Luke, section xciv.

At that time, Jesus passed through.... ending, to save that which was lost.[18]

And the deacon.

Have mercy upon us, O God.... Page 98.

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

That to him may be remitted....

For a merciful and man-loving God....

Priest, the prayer.

O God, great and most high, who art worshipped by all creation, thou true fountain of wisdom, and impenetrable depth of goodness, and boundless ocean of benignity; do thou thyself, O man-loving Master, O God of things eternal and wonderful, whom none among men by thinking can comprehend, look upon us, and hearken unto us, thine unworthy servants, and wheresoever in thy great name we bring this oil, do thou send down thy gift of healing, and the remission of sins, and heal him in the plentitude of thy mercy. Yea, O Lord, thou good physician, thou sole merciful one and lover of mankind, who repentest thee concerning our ills, who knowest that the intention of man inclineth unto evil from his youth up, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live, who for the salvation of sinners, being God, becamest man, and for thy creature wast thyself created: thou art he that hath said, I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance: thou art he that hath sought the lost sheep: thou art he that hath diligently sought the lost drachma, and found it: thou art he that hath said, He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out: thou art he that did not loathe the sinful woman, who watered thy revered feet with tears: thou art he that hath said, As often as thou fallest, arise, and be saved: thou art he that hath said, There is joy in heaven over, one sinner that repenteth: do thou thyself, O benign Master, look down from the height of thy sanctuary, visiting us, thy sinful and unworthy servants, at this hour, with the grace of thy Holy Ghost, and be present with thy servant, name, who acknowledgeth his iniquities, and in faith draweth nigh unto thee; and, accepting him in thine own love to man, in whatsoever he hath offended, by word, or deed, or intention, making remission, do thou cleanse him, and make him pure from every sin, and, being ever present with him, keep the remaining time of his life, that walking in thy statutes, he may never become a derision to the devil, so that in him may be glorified thy most holy name.

Exclamation.

For it is thine to have mercy, and to save us, O Christ God, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And after the prayer the second priest straightway taketh a second twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,

Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....

Vide page 101.

And the deacon. Let us attend.

The third priest. Peace to all.

Prokimenon, tone iii.

The Lord is my light, and my Saviour, whom shall I fear?

Verse. The Lord is the defence of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.

The epistle to the Corinthians, section cliii.

Brethren, ye are the body of Christ.... ending, Charity never faileth.[19]

The third priest. Peace to thee.

Deacon. Wisdom. Alleluia, tone ii.

Verse. In thee, O Lord, have I trusted, let me never be confounded.

The third priest readeth.

The gospel from Matthew, section xxxiv. from the paragraph,

At that time, Jesus called.... ending, freely give.[20]

And the deacon straightway saith this ectenia.

Have mercy upon us, O God....

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

That to him may be remitted....

And, with a loud voice, For a merciful....

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

The priest saith the prayer.

Master Almighty, holy King, who chastenest, and killest not, who supportest them that are falling, and settest up them that are cast down, who restorest the bodily afflictions of men; we entreat thee, O our God, that thou wouldest send down thy mercy upon this oil, and upon them that are anointed therewith in thy name, that it may be to them for the healing of soul and body, and for the cleansing and removal of every passion, and of every sickness and wound, and of every defilement of flesh and spirit. Yea, O Lord, send down from heaven thy healing power; touch the body; allay the fever; soothe the suffering; and banish every lurking weakness. Be the physician of thy servant, name, raise him from a bed of suffering, and from a couch of ailment whole and perfectly restored, granting him in thy church to be acceptable, and one that doeth thy will.

Exclamation.

For it is thine to have mercy and to save us, O our God, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And after the prayer the third priest taketh a third twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,

Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....

Vide page 101.

Deacon. Let us attend.

The fourth priest.

Peace to all.

Prokimenon, tone iv.

In whatsover day that I call upon thee, O hearken unto me speedily.

Verse. O Lord, hearken unto my prayer, and unto my crying.

The epistle to the Corinthians, section clxxxii.

Brethren, ye are the temple.... ending, holiness in the fear of God.[21]

Priest. Peace to thee.

Alleluia, tone ii.

Verse. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me.

The fourth priest.

The gospel from Matthew, section xxvi.

At that time, Jesus came into Peter’s house.... ending, his disciples followed him.[22]

And the deacon. Have mercy upon us, O God....

Page 98.

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

That to him may be remitted....

And the exclamation, For a merciful....

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest, the prayer.

O good and man-loving, benign and most merciful Lord, great in mercy and plenteous in goodness, O Father of compassions and God of every consolation, who hast empowered us, through thy holy apostles, to heal the weaknesses of the people by prayer with oil; do thou thyself appoint this oil for the healing of them that are anointed therewith, for the alleviation of every sickness and every wound, for deliverance from evils of them that expect salvation that is from thee. Yea, O Master, Lord our God, we beseech thee, thou almighty one, to save us all, and, thou that alone art the physician of souls and bodies, to sanctify us all; thou that healest every sickness, do thou heal thy servant, name; raise him from the bed of suffering through the mercy of thy grace; visit him through thy mercy and compassions; remove from him every ailment and weakness, that, being raised by thy mighty hand, he may serve thee with all thanksgiving, as also that we, now participating in thine unspeakable love to man, may sing and glorify thee, who doest great and wonderful, glorious and transcendent things.

For it is thine to have mercy, and to save us, O our God....

And after the prayer the fourth priest straightway taketh a fourth twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,

Holy Father, physician of souls.... Vide page 101.

Deacon. Let us attend.

The fifth priest. Peace to all.

Prokimenon, tone v.

Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt protect us, from this generation, and for ever.

Verse. Save me, O Lord, for the righteous are become few.

Deacon. Wisdom.

The epistle to the Corinthians, section clxviii.

Brethren, we would not have you ignorant.... ending, by many on our behalf.[23]

Priest. Peace to thee.

Alleluia, tone v.

Verse. I will sing of thy mercy, O Lord, for ever.

The gospel from Matthew, section cvi.

The Lord spake this parable, Then shall the kingdom.... ending, wherein the Son of man cometh.[24]

And the deacon.

Have mercy upon us, O God.... Page 98.

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

That to him may be remitted....

And the exclamation.

For a merciful....

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest, this prayer.

O Lord our God, who chastenest and again healest, who raisest the poor from the earth, and liftest up the beggar from the dunghill, O Father of the orphans, and haven of the tempest-tost, and physician of them that are sick; who painlessly bearest our weaknesses, and takest away our sicknesses; who shewest mercy with gentleness, overlookest transgressions, and takest away unrighteousness; who art quick to help and slow to anger; who didst breathe upon thy disciples, and say, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; who acceptest the repentance of sinners, and hast power to forgive many and grievous sins, and vouchsafest healing unto all that continue in weakness and protracted sickness; who me also, thine humble, sinful, and unworthy servant, involved in many sins, and overwhelmed with lusts of pleasures, hast called to the holy and exceeding great degree of the priesthood, and to enter in within the veil into the holy of holies, where the holy Angels desire to stoop to look, and hear the evangelical voice of the Lord God, and behold as eye-witnesses the presence of the holy oblation, and be enraptured with the divine and sacred liturgy; who hast counted me worthy to minister the sacred rite of thy most heavenly mystery, and to offer unto thee gifts and sacrifices for our sins, and for the ignorances of the people, and to mediate for thy rational flock, that, through thy great and unspeakable love to man, thou mayest cleanse their iniquities; do thou thyself, O most good King, attend unto my prayer at this hour, and on this holy day, and in every time and place, and accept the voice of my prayer, and grant healing unto thy servant, name, who is in weakness of soul and body, vouchsafing unto him remission of sins and forgiveness of voluntary and involuntary iniquities: heal his incurable wounds, and every sickness and every sore, bestowing upon him spiritual healing. It was thou who didst touch the mother-in-law of Peter, and the fever left her, and she arose and ministered unto thee: do thou thyself, O Master, bestow a remedy upon thy servant, name, and an alleviation of every mortal pain, and remember thine abundant compassions, and thy mercy. Remember that the intention of man inclineth constantly toward evil from his youth up, and that none is to be found sinless upon earth; for thou alone art without sin, who didst come and save the race of men, and deliver us from the servitude of the enemy. For if thou shouldest enter into judgment with thy servants, there is none that would be found pure from defilement, but every mouth would be shut, not having wherewith to answer; for all our righteousness is as filthy rags before thee. For this cause remember not, Lord, the sins of our youth; for thou art the hope of the hopeless, and the rest of them that are weary and heavy-laden with transgressions, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And after the prayer the fifth priest straightway taketh a fifth twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,

Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....

Vide page 101.

Deacon. Let us attend.

And the sixth priest. Peace to all.

Prokimenon, tone vi.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to great mercy.

Verse. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The epistle to the Galatians, section ccxiii.

Brethren, the fruit of the spirit.... ending, so fulfil the law of Christ.[25]

The sixth priest. Peace to thee.

Deacon. Wisdom, let us attend.

Alleluia, tone vi.

Verse. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, in his commandments he rejoiceth exceedingly.

Deacon. Wisdom, standing, let us hear the holy gospel.

The gospel from Matthew, section lxii.

At that time, Jesus went.... ending, from that very hour.[26]

And the deacon.

Have mercy upon us, O God....

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

That to him may be remitted....

Exclamation. For a merciful...

Deacon. Let us pray to the Lord.

The priest, this prayer.

We give thanks unto thee, O Lord our God, thou good lover of mankind, and physician of our souls and bodies, who painlessly bearest our sicknesses, and by whose stripes we have all been healed; thou good shepherd, who camest to seek the wandering sheep; who givest consolation unto the faint-hearted, and life unto them that are broken down; who didst heal the source of the issue of blood that had lasted twelve years; who didst deliver the daughter of the Chananitish woman from the ruthless demon; who didst forgive the debt unto the two debtors, and give remission unto the sinful woman; who didst bestow healing upon the paralytic, with the remission of his sins; who didst justify the publican by a word, and didst accept the thief in his last confession; who takest away the sins of the world, and wast nailed on the cross; to thee we pray, and thee we beseech, Do thou thyself, O God, in thy goodness, loosen, forgive, and pardon the transgressions and sins of thy servant, name, and his voluntary and involuntary iniquities, those in knowledge and in ignorance, those by trespass and disobedience, those by night and by day; or if he be under the curse of a priest, or of a father or a mother; or if by the glance of the eye, or a movement of the eyelid; or by the contact of adultery, or the tasting of prodigality, or in any excitement of flesh and spirit he have estranged himself from thy will, and from thy holiness. And if he have sinned, and in like manner we also, as the good God that rememberest not evil and the lover of mankind, do thou pardon, not leaving him and us to fall into a dissolute life, neither to walk in ways of destruction. Yea, O Master Lord, hear me, a sinner, at this hour on behalf of thy servant, name, and overlook, as the God that rememberest not evil, all his iniquities; deliver him from eternal torment; fill his mouth with thy praise; open his lips to the glorification of thy name; extend his hands to the doing of thy commandments; direct his feet in the path of thy gospel, confirming all his members and his intention by thy grace. For thou art our God, who, by thy holy apostles, hast commanded us, saying, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in the heavens, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens; and again, Unto whomsoever ye remit sins, they are remitted unto them, and, If ye bind them, they are bound. And, as thou didst hearken unto Ezekias in the affliction of his soul in the hour of his death, and didst not despise his prayer, so hearken unto me, thine humble, and sinful, and unworthy servant at this hour. For thou, O Lord Jesus Christ, art he that, in thy goodness and love to man, biddeth to forgive until seventy times seven them that fall into sins; and thou repentest thee concerning our evils, and rejoicest over the return of the wanderer. For, as is thy greatness, so also is thy mercy, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And after the prayer the sixth priest straightway taketh a sixth twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,

Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....

Vide page 101.

Deacon. Let us attend.

And the seventh priest. Peace to all.

Prokimenon, tone vii.

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy fury, neither chasten me in thine anger.

Verse. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.

The epistle to the Thessalonians, section cclxxiii.

Brethren, we exhort you.... ending, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.[27]

And the seventh priest. Peace to thee.

Deacon. Wisdom.

Alleluia, tone vii.

Verse. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.

The gospel from Matthew, section xxx.

At that time, Jesus, passing by.... ending, sinners to repentance.[28]

And the deacon. Have mercy upon us, O God....

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

That to him may be remitted....

And the exclamation. For a merciful....

The deacon saith, Let us pray to the Lord.

The priest, this prayer.

O Master, Lord our God, physician of souls and bodies, who restorest from long-continued sufferings, healest every sickness and every wound among the people, willest that all men should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, and desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live. For, thou, Lord, in the old testament didst appoint repentance unto sinners, to David, and to the Ninevites, and to them that were before these; but during the course of thine incarnate dispensation, didst not call the righteous but sinners to repentance, even accepting the publican, the harlot, the thief, and the blaspheming persecutor, the great Paul, through repentance. Thou, through repentance, didst accept Peter, the leader and thine apostle, who denied thee thrice, and didst make promise unto him, saying, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it, and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore we also, O good one and the lover of mankind, being bold according to thine undeceiving promises, pray unto thee, and supplicate at this hour. Hearken unto our prayer and accept it as incense offered unto thee, and visit thy servant, name, and if he have sinned by word, or deed, or intention, or in the night, or in the day, if he be under the curse of a priest, or be fallen under his own curse, or be embittered by a curse, and have forsworn himself, we supplicate thee, and to thee we pray, Pardon, forgive, and loosen him, O God, overlooking his transgressions, and the sins which in knowledge and in ignorance have been done by him. And in whatsoever he have transgressed thy commandments, or have sinned, because he beareth flesh and liveth in the world, or because of the operation of the devil, do thou thyself, as the good and man-loving God, loosen him; for there is no man that liveth and sinneth not: thou only art without sin, thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy word is the truth. For thou didst not form man for destruction, but for the keeping of thy commandments, and for the inheritance of life incorruptible, and to thee we ascribe glory, with the Father, and with the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And after the prayer the seventh priest taketh a seventh twig, and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the prayer,

Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....

Vide page 101.

And after this, the sick person that receiveth the sacred unction, if he be able, cometh himself into the midst of the priests, or, held by his own people, standeth, or sitteth. And if he be not able, the priests themselves stand around him lying on the bed. And the president, taking the holy gospel and opening it, layeth the text upon the head of the sick person, the book being held by all the priests. And he that is the leader doth not lay on his hand, but he saith this prayer with a loud voice.

O Holy King, O loving-kind and most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the living God, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should return and live; I lay not my sinful hand upon the head of him that cometh to thee in sins, and beseecheth of thee through us remission of sins, but thy strong and mighty hand which is in this holy gospel which my fellow-ministers hold upon the head of thy servant, name, and I pray with them and entreat thy merciful love to man, which remembereth not evil, O God, our Saviour, who, through thy prophet Nathan, didst grant remission of his iniquities unto the repentant David, and didst accept the prayer of repentance of Manasse; and do thou thyself, in thy wonted love to man, accept thy servant, name, who bewaileth on account of his own offences, and overlook all his iniquities. For thou art our God, who hast bidden to forgive until seventy times seven them that have fallen into sins; for as is thy greatness, so also is thy mercy, and to thee is due every glory, honour, and worship, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And taking the gospel from the head of the sick person, they present it to him to kiss.

And the deacon. Have mercy upon us, O God....

Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....

And that to him may be remitted....

Exclamation.

For a merciful and man-loving....

Then they sing, Glory, idiomelon, tone iv.

Having a fountain of remedies, O holy unmercenary ones, ye bestow healings unto all that are in need, as being counted worthy of mighty gifts from the ever-flowing fountain of our Saviour. For the Lord hath said unto you, as unto co-emulators of the apostles, Behold, I have given unto you power over unclean spirits, so as to cast them out, and to heal every sickness and every wound. Therefore in his commandments having virtuously liv’d, freely ye receiv’d, freely ye bestow, healing the sufferings of our souls and bodies.

Both now, tone the same.

Attend unto the supplications of thy servants, thou altogether undefiled one, quelling the uprisings of evils against us, and releasing us from every affliction; for thee we have alone a sure and certain confirmation, and we have gain’d thy mediation that we may not be put to shame, O Queen, who call upon thee. Be instant in supplication for them that faithfully exclaim to thee, Hail, Queen, thou aid of all, the joy and safeguard, and salvation of our souls.

Glory. Both now. Lord, have mercy, thrice. Bless.

And the dismissal.

Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother, through the power of the honourable and life-effecting cross, of the holy, glorious, and all-praised James, apostle and first highpriest of Jerusalem, the brother of God, and of all the Saints, save us and have mercy upon us, as being good and the lover of mankind.

And he that receiveth the prayer oil maketh reverence, saying,

Bless me, holy fathers, and forgive me, a sinner.

Thrice.

And, having received from them blessing and forgiveness, he departeth, thanking God.