The bell is rung to signal the beginning of the Kneeling Service.

The priest beginneth: Blessed is our God…

The appointed reader saith O heavenly King…, and the rest of the usual beginning prayers, followed by the Introductory Psalm.

Then the deacon (if there be one, or if not, the priest) intoneth the great litany—

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace from above…

For the peace of the whole world…

For this holy temple…

For our Archbishop…

For this land…

For the suffering Russian land…

For this city…

For seasonable weather…

For travelers by sea…

For the people here present, who await the grace of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who bend their hearts and knees before the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.

That we may be strengthened to do what is pleasing unto God, let us pray to the Lord.

That His rich mercies may be sent down upon us, let us pray to the Lord.

That the bending of our knees may be accepted before Him like incense, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are in need of His help, let us pray to the Lord.

That we may be delivered from all tribulation…

Help us, save us…

Calling to remembrance our most holy…

Then the priest intoneth the exclamation—

For all glory, honor and worship is due Thee—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Then, we chant Lord, I have cried…, with 6 stichera, in Tone IV—

All the gentiles beheld all-glorious things today in the city of David when the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire, as the divinely eloquent Luke doth relate, for he saith: “When the disciples were gathered, there was a sound as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting.” And they all began to speak in strange tongues, strange teachings, the strange commands of the Holy Trinity. Twice

The Holy Spirit hath always existed, is and shall be: without beginning, never ceasing, but ever reckoned and counted with the Father and the Son, life and the Creator of life, light and the Bestower of light, Himself good and the Source of goodness, in Whom the Father is recognized and the Son glorified, and by all is the one power, the one order, the single worship of the Holy Trinity acknowledged by all. Twice

The Holy Spirit is light and life, the noetic Source of life—the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, good, upright, noetic, possessing dominion, cleansing transgressions: God and deifying, Fire and transcending fire, speaking, acting, distributing gifts, by Whom all the prophets and the divine apostles and martyrs have been crowned. Strange is the report, strange the sight—fire distributed in the bestowal of gifts.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Bestower of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us of all defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

Entrance with censer. O gladsome Light…

Great prokimenon, in Tone VII—

What God is as great as our God? Thou art God Who workest wonders.

Stichos I: Thou hast made Thy power known among the peoples: with Thine arm hast Thou redeemed Thy people.

Stichos II: And I said: Now have I made a beginning; this change hath been wrought by the right hand of the Most High.

Stichos III: I remembered the words of the Lord; for I will remember Thy wonders from the beginning.

And again: What God is as great as our God…

Then, the priest or deacon intoneth—

Again and again, having bent our knees, let us pray to the Lord!

And we say: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

And when we have uncovered our heads and knelt down, the priest readeth the prayers aloud, facing the people, from within the sanctuary—

O most pure, undefiled, unoriginate, invisible, incomprehensible, inscrutable, immutable, invincible, immeasurable, gentle Lord, Who alone dost possess immortality, Who dwellest in light unapproachable, Who hast created heaven, the earth and the sea, and all things fashioned in them, Who before being asked dost grant everyone his requests: Thee do we entreat, Thee do we beseech, O Master Who lovest mankind, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from the heavens and became incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Ever-virgin Mary, the all-glorious Theotokos; Who, having first taught with words, and afterwards showed by works, when He endured the saving Passion, gave an order unto us, Thy humble, sinful and unworthy servants, to offer entreaties unto Thee while bending our necks and knees, for our own sins and for the ignorant acts of the people. Do Thou Thyself, O greatly Merciful One Who lovest mankind, hearken unto us on the day whereon we call upon Thee, and especially on this day of Pentecost, whereon, after the ascent of our Lord Jesus Christ into the heavens, and His sitting at the right hand of Thee, God the Father, sent down upon His holy disciples and apostles the Holy Spirit, Who rested upon each of them, so that they were all filled with His inexhaustible grace, and spake in other tongues of Thy mighty works, and prophesied. Wherefore, do Thou now hearken unto us who pray unto Thee, and remember us, the lowly and condemned, and return our souls from captivity, having Thy mercy interceding for us. Accept us who fall down before Thee and cry out: We have sinned; we have been cast down before Thee from the womb. From the belly of our mothers Thou art our God. But as our days have vanished in vanity, we have been stripped of Thine aid and are bereft of any answer; yet daring to hope in Thy compassions, we cry out: Be Thou not mindful of the sins of our youth and ignorance, but cleanse us of our secret deeds, and turn us not away in our old age, when our strength faileth. Forsake us not before we return to the earth, but vouchsafe that we may return to Thee; and hearken to us in Thy kindness and grace. Measure our iniquities by Thy compassions, and set against the abyss of the multitude of our offenses the abyss of Thy compassions. Look down from Thy holy heights, O Lord, upon Thy people, who stand here and await rich mercy of Thee. Visit us with Thy goodness, deliver us from the oppression of the devil; make our life steadfast by Thy holy and sacred laws. Appoint Thou an angel, a faithful guardian, for Thy people, and gather all into Thy kingdom. Grant the petitions of those who hope on Thee; remit their sins, and our own. Purify us through the activity of Thy Holy Spirit, and destroy the snares which the enemy hath laid for us.

And he addeth also this prayer:

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Master Almighty, Who hast illumined the day with the light of the sun, hast made the night bright with fiery rays, and hast vouchsafed us to pass through the length of the day and to draw nigh unto the onset of the night! Hearken unto our entreaties and all Thy people, forgiving all of us our sins, voluntary and involuntary. Accept our evening prayers, and send the plenitude of Thy mercy and Thy compassions down upon Thine inheritance. Wall us about with Thy holy angels; arm us with the sword of Thy righteousness; protect us with Thy truth; preserve us by Thy power; deliver us from every evil circumstance, from every assault of the adversary. Grant unto us that this evening, with the coming night, and all the days of our life, may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without temptations and phantasies: through the supplications of the holy Theotokos, and of all the saints who have been well-pleasing unto Thee from ages past.

Then straightway, the deacon saith—

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, raise us up, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

And the people sing: Lord, have mercy! Once

Having remembered our all-holy, all-pure, all-blessed, glorious Mistress, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves, and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Then, the priest intoneth the exclamation—

For Thine it to have mercy and to save us, O Lord our God, and we send up glory unto Thee—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Then, the priest or deacon intoneth these petitions—

Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say.

People: Lord, have mercy! Once

Deacon: O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we beseech Thee: Hearken and have mercy!

People: Lord, have mercy! Once

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee: Hearken and have mercy!

People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Deacon: Again we pray for our Archbishop…

People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Deacon: Again we pray for this land and its authorities…

People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Deacon: Again we pray for the suffering Russian land…

People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Deacon: Again we pray that He may deliver His people…

People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Deacon: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable…

People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Deacon: Again we pray for those who bring offerings…

Then, the priest intoneth the exclamation—

For a merciful God art Thou Who lovest mankind, and we send up glory unto Thee—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

And straightway the deacon saith—

Again and again, having bent our knees, let us pray to the Lord!

And we say: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

And we kneel down as set forth above, while the priest readeth the second prayer for all to hear—

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who hast given Thy peace to men and the gift of the all-holy Spirit, while Thou wast yet with us in this life, O Thou Who ever givest to the faithful an inheritance which cannot be taken away, O Thou Who most manifestly sent down this grace today upon Thy disciples and apostles, and Who hast made the nations steadfast by their fiery tongues, by whom the whole human race received in their ears the knowledge of God in their own language: By the light of the Spirit have we been enlightened and have been removed from delusion as from darkness, and through the distribution of perceptible tongues of fire and supernatural activity we have learned faith in Thee and to theologize Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and we have been illumined in one Godhead, power and authority. Wherefore do Thou, O Effulgence of the Father, immutable and immovable image of His essence and nature, Wellspring of wisdom and grace, open the lips of me, a sinner, and teach me how worthily I must needs pray and for whom; for Thou art He Who knoweth the great multitude of my sins, yet Thy compassion surpasseth the boundless number thereof: for, lo! I stand before Thee in fear, casting the despair of my soul into the abyss of Thy mercy. Guide Thou my life, O Thou Who with the ineffable power of wisdom dost direct all creation by Thy word, O calm haven of the temptest-tossed, and tell me the way wherein I should go. Impart the spirit of Thy wisdom to my thoughts, O Thou Who grantest the spirit of understanding to my mindlessness; cover Thou my works with the spirit of the fear of Thee, and renew an upright spirit within me, and by Thy governing Spirit set aright the stumbling of my thoughts, that guided every day to what is profitable by Thy Spirit, I may be vouchsafed to do Thy commandments and to be ever mindful of Thy glorious coming, which examineth the things we have done. And disdain me not as one deluded by the beautiful things of this world, which are corrupt, but strengthen me to desire the acquisition of the treasures which are to come. For Thou didst say, O Master, that whatsoever one asketh in Thy name, he will freely receive from Thee, the eternal God and Father. Wherefore, I also, a sinner, entreat Thy goodness at the coming of Thy Holy Spirit: Whatsoever I have asked, grant me for my salvation. yea, O Lord, rich Giver and good Bestower of every benefaction, as Thou art He Who granteth them in great abundance, we pray: Thou art compassionate and merciful, O Thou Who, having come to share in our flesh though without sin, dost with loving sympathy incline Thyself to those who bend their knees before Thee, as the cleansing of our sins. Wherefore, grant, O Lord, Thy compassions to Thy people; hearken unto us from Thy holy heaven; sanctify us with the power of Thy saving right hand; cover us with the shelter of Thy wings, and disdain not the works of Thy hands. Thee alone do we offend, yet Thee alone do we serve. We know not how to worship any other god, nor to stretch forth our hands to an alien god, O Master. Remit our offenses, and, accepting the entreaties we offer on our knees, extend a helping hand unto us all. Accept the prayer of all as it were pleasing incense offered up before Thine all-good kingship.

And he addeth also this prayer: 

Lord, O Lord, Who deliverest us from every arrow that flieth by day, deliver us also from every thing that walketh in darkness. Accept our evening prayer, the lifting up of our hands. And vouchsafe that we may pass through the course of the night in a blameless manner, untried by evils. And deliver us from all the turmoil and fear caused by the devil. Grant compunction to our souls, and to our thoughts care at the dread and righteous judgment of Thy trial. Nail our flesh to the fear of Thee, and mortify our members here on earth. May we be illumined by the stillness of dreams through the sight of Thy judgments. Take from us every unseemly phantasy and harmful lust. And raise us up at the hour of prayer, steadfast in faith and advancing in Thy commandments.

The deacon then saith—

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, raise us up, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Having remembered our all-holy, all-pure…

And the priest intoneth the exclamation—

By the good pleasure and goodness of Thine only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, with Thine all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Reader: Vouchsafe, O Lord…

Then the deacon saith again—

Again and again, having bent our knees, let us pray to the Lord!

And we say: Lord, have mercy! Thrice

And we again kneel down as set forth above, while the priest readeth the third prayer for all to hear—

O Christ our God, Thou ever-flowing and enlightening Source of life, creative Power Who art equally eternal with the Father, Who hast most beautifully carried out Thy full dispensation for the salvation of man, Who hast broken the indissoluble bonds of death and the bars of hades, and hast trampled the multitude of evil spirits underfoot; Who didst offer Thyself for us as an unblemished sacrifice, and didst give Thine all-pure body as an offering, untouched and immune to all sin, and Who by this dread and indescribable sacred act hast granted us life everlasting; Who didst descend into hades and break the eternal chains, and didst show unto those sitting in darkness the way of ascent; Who didst hook the serpent of the abyss, the author of evil, with the lure of divine wisdom, didst bind him with fetters of darkness in Tartarus and unquenchable fire, and by Thine incalculable might didst confine him to the outermost darkness: O Wisdom of the Father, Thou of great renown, Who hast shown Thyself to be a great helper for those who are being tested, and hast enlightened those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death! Do Thou, O Lord of eternal glory, beloved Son of the Father Most High, eternal Light of eternal Light, Sun of righteousness: Hearken unto us, who pray to Thee, and grant rest to the souls of Thy servants, our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep in times past, and our other kindred according to the flesh, and all who are Thine in the faith, whose memory we now keep, for in Thee is dominion over all, and in Thy hand Thou holdest all the ends of the earth. O Master Almighty, God of our fathers and Lord of mercy, Creator of the mortal and immortal races, and of all human nature, of what is put together and what is again dissolved, of life and of death, of existence here and of passing over yonder; Who measureth years for the living and settest the time of death, Who leadest down into hades and leadest up again, Who bindest in weakness and dost release in strength, Who arrangest the things of the present for our benefit and dost govern the things of the future well; Who dost gladden with the hope of resurrection those wounded by the sting of death: Do Thou Thyself, therefore, O Master of all, God our Savior, Thou hope of all the ends of the earth and of those far out upon the sea, Who even on this last, great and saving day of the feast of Pentecost hast shown us the mystery of the holy, consubstantial, equally eternal, indivisible and uncommingled Trinity, and the visitation and coming of Thy holy and life-creating Spirit, poured forth upon Thy holy apostles in the form of tongues of fire, Who ordained them heralds of our pious Faith, and Who showed them to be confessors and preachers of true theology. Thou Who even on this most perfect and saving feast hast deigned to accept prayers of cleansing for those confined in hades, and grantest us great hope, that for their consolation Thou wilt send release from the defilements which hold them, unto those thus confined: Hearken unto us, Thy lowly servants who are entreating Thee, and to the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep before us, grant rest in a place of light, a place of verdure, a place of coolness, from whence all sickness, grief and sighing have fled away, and reckon their spirits among the habitations of the righteous, and vouchsafe them peace and ease; for the dead do not praise Thee, O Lord, neither do those in hades dare to confess Thee; but we, the living, bless Thee and pray, and offer Thee prayers and sacrifices in behalf of their souls.

And he addeth also this prayer:

O God, great, eternal, holy, Who lovest mankind and hast vouchsafed us at this time to stand before Thine unapproachable glory: Cleanse us, Thine unworthy servants, for the laudation and praise of Thy wonders, and grant us grace, that with a contrite heart we may without distraction offer Thee the thrice-holy glorification and thanksgiving for the great gifts Thou hast given us and dost ever make for us. Be Thou mindful, O Lord, of our weakness, and destroy us not with our iniquities; but work great mercy with our lowliness, that having escaped the darkness of sin, we may walk in the daylight of righteousness, and having been armed with the weaponry of light, we may remain unassailed by any machination of the evil one, and may with boldness glorify Thee alone, the true God Who loveth mankind, for all things. For truly and verily great, O Master and Creator of all, is Thy mystery, the temporary dissolution of Thy creatures, and their restoration thereafter, and their repose forever. In all do we confess Thy grace: at our coming into this world, and our going forth; our hope of resurrection and life incorruptible bind us beforehand by thy true promise, which we will receive in Thy future second coming. For Thou art the Cause of our resurrection, the impartial Judge of the living, Who lovest mankind, the Master and Lord, the Bestower of rewards, Who hast truly shared in our flesh and blood in Thine extreme condescension; and when of Thine own will Thou didst accept, in the lovingkindness of Thy compassions, to undergo our unexceptional sufferings, Thou didst Thyself suffer being tested therein, and becoming for us who are tested the Helper, as Thou Thyself didst promise; wherefore, Thou didst raise us up with Thyself to Thy dispassion. Therefore, accept, O Master, our entreaties and pleas, and grant rest unto each of our fathers, mothers and children, the brethren and sisters of our own blood and kin, and all the souls who have gone to their rest in the past. Reckon their souls in the hope of the resurrection of life everlasting, and their names in the Book of Life, in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the paradise of bliss, leading them all into Thy holy mansions with Thy radiant angels, O Thou Who shalt also raise up our bodies on the day which Thou shalt determine, according to Thy true and holy promises. For there will be no death for us, Thy servants, when we leave the body and come to Thee, our God, but a passing from things most sorrowful to those which are most profitable and delightful, to rest and joy. And if we have sinned in any way against Thee, be Thou merciful unto us and them, for in Thy sight is no one clean of defilements, even if his life lasteth but a day, but only Thee, our Lord Jesus Christ Who manifested Thyself as sinless on the earth, through Whom we all hope to receive mercy and remission of sins. For this cause, in that Thou art the good God Who loveth mankind, absolve, remit and pardon us and them, of our falls into sin, voluntary and involuntary, whether committed in knowledge or in ignorance, overt and forgotten, whether in deed, or thought, or word, which we have done throughout our life and movements. Grant freedom and ease unto the departed, bless us who are here, granting a good and peaceful end to all of us, Thy people; open unto us the depths of Thy mercy and love for mankind, and at Thy fearsome and dread coming make us worthy of Thy kingdom.

And he addeth also this prayer:

O great God, Most High, Who alone dost possess immortality, Who dwellest in light unapproachable, Who hast fashioned all creation with wisdom, Who didst divide the light from the darkness, Who didst appoint the sun to rule the day and the moon and the stars to govern the night, Who hast vouchsafed us sinners even on this present day to come before Thy presence in confession and to offer Thee the evening sacrifice: Do Thou Thyself, O Lord Who lovest mankind, direct our prayer as incense before Thee, and accept it as an odor of sweet savor. Grant that for us this present evening and the coming night may be peaceful; array us in the armor of light; deliver us from the fear of the night and from every thing that passeth in the darkness. And grant us sleep untroubled by any phantasy of the devil, which Thou hast given us for the resting of our weakness. Yea, O Master, Bestower of all good things, that we may feel compunction upon our beds, we remember Thine all-holy name amid the night. And let us arise in joy of soul, illumined by the study of Thy commandments, for the glorification of Thy goodness, offering unto Thy compassion prayers and entreaties for our own sins and for all Thy people, whom do Thou visit in Thy mercy, through the supplications of the all-holy Theotokos.

Then, the deacon saith—

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, raise us up, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

Having remembered our all-holy, all-pure, all-blessed, glorious Mistress…

And the priest exclaimeth—

For Thou art the repose of our souls and bodies, and we send up glory unto Thee—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Then, the deacon saith—

Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.

Help us, save us…

That the whole evening may be perfect…

An angel of peace, a faithful guide…

Pardon and remission of our sins…

Things good and profitable for our souls…

That we may complete the remaining time…

A Christian ending to our life…

Calling to remembrance our all-holy, all-pure…

And the priest exclaimeth—

For a good God art Thou, Who lovest mankind…

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be unto all.

People: And to thy spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

People: To Thee, O Lord.

And the priest saith this prayer privily—

O Lord our God, Who didst bow down the heavens and come down for the salvation of the human race, look upon Thy servants and upon Thine inheritance. For before Thee, the dread Judge Who loveth mankind, have Thy servants bowed their heads and bent their knees, expecting no help from man, but awaiting Thy mercy and looking for Thy salvation. These do Thou preserve for all time, at this present evening hour and during the coming night, from every enemy, from every adverse action of the devil, from vain thoughts and the memory of evil things.

Exclamation: Blessed and all-glorified be the dominion…

Now have tongues manifestly been a sign for all; for the Jews, from whom Christ came in the flesh, being sick with unbelief, fell away from the grace of God, and those who were gentiles have been vouchsafed the divine light, established by the words of the apostles, who declared the glory of God, the Benefactor of all. Bowing our hearts and knees with them, with faith let us worship the Holy Spirit, made steadfast by the Savior of our souls.

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

Now hath the comforting Spirit been poured forth on all flesh; for, beginning with the choirs of the apostles, from them hath grace spread forth upon the faithful through communion and He giveth assurance of His mighty visitation distributing to the disciples tongues in the form of fire, for the hymning and glory of God. Wherefore, with our hearts noetically enlightened and confirmed in the Faith by the Holy Spirit, we pray that our souls be saved.

Stichos: Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Now are the apostles. clothed from on high with the might of Christ, for the Comforter reneweth them, restoring their reason with a mystical renewal, and with strange voice and exalted words they proclaim the eternal, simple Essence in three Hypostases: God, the Benefactor of all. Wherefore, enlightened by their doctrines, let us worship, the Father, with the Son and the Spirit, praying that our souls be saved.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VIII—

Come, ye people, and let us worship the Godhead in three Hypostases—the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit; for the Father timelessly begat the Son, Who is equally eternal and equally enthroned, and the Holy Spirit was glorified with the Son in the Father: one power, one essence, one Godhead. And worshipping Him, let us all say: O holy God Who hast wrought all things through the Son with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit! O holy Mighty One, by Whom we have come to know the Father, and through Whom the Holy Spirit hath come into the world! O holy Immortal One, comforting Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and dost rest in the Son! O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee!

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion through Our Father, and the troparion, in Tone VIII—

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who didst show forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. O Thou Who lovest mankind, and by them hast netted the whole world, glory to Thee!

The priest then intoneth this dismissal—

May Christ our true God, Who didst empty Himself from the divine bosom of the Father, didst come down to earth from heaven, didst assume our whole nature and deify it, and after these things didst ascend again into the heavens and sit at the right hand of God the Father; and Who didst send down upon His holy disciples and apostles the divine, holy, consubstantial, Spirit, Who with Him is equally powerful, glorious and eternal, and Who by Him didst enlighten them, and through them the whole world: through the supplications of His all-pure, all-immaculate and holy Mother, of the holy, glorious, all-praised preachers of God and Spirit-bearing apostles, and of all the saints, have mercy and save us, in that He is good and loveth mankind.

We chant the Canon to the Holy Spirit, the acrostic whereof is “I hymn the Spirit Who hath fashioned all creation”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone I—

Ode I

Irmos: Delivered from bitter slavery, Israel traversed the impassable as though it were dry land; and seeing the enemy drowned, it chanted unto God as to its Redeemer Who worketh wonders with His upraised arm, for He hath been glorified.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!

O divine and Holy Spirit Who dost distribute gifts unto all and createst all things according to Thy will: Breathe into me thy radiant gift, that I may glorify thee together with the Father and the Son.

O Comforter Who impartest the grace of Thy hallowing inspiration to the hosts of heaven: Having washed away the defilement of my mind, in that Thou art good, show me forth as full of Thy holiness.

Glory…: O Holy Spirit of God, Thou Wellspring of life and Stream of essential goodness in Whom we believe: Having imparted life to my dead soul, by Thine activity raise me up to hymn Thy divinity.

Now & ever…: Having become the temple of God when the Spirit came upon thee, O thou who art full of grace, by the creative power of Him Who bestoweth the power of birth thou gavest birth in the flesh to the unoriginate Word.

Ode III

Irmos: To Christ God, the Son Who was begotten of the Father without corruption before time began, and in latter times without seed became incarnate of the Virgin, let us cry aloud: O Lord Who liftest up our horn, holy art Thou!

Possessing by nature the concurrent power of will, the Holy Spirit, creating the supermundane hosts of heaven, unceasingly teacheth them to cry: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

With unceasing hymns let us glorify together the grace of the Spirit which illumined the divinely eloquent apostles amid a tempestuous wind, who cried out with the incorporeal choirs: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Glory…: Pondering the sole authority, the single divinity and power, the one Godhead and kingship of the Holy Trinity, let us chant, crying out in a thrice-holy voice: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Now & ever…: O most pure one, thou luminous chariot and splendid habitation, thou art more exalted than the cherubim, for thou didst bear God in thine arms. Wherefore, we all cry out to thee, O pure one: Rejoice, O most blessed one!

Ode IV

Irmos: A rod from the root of Jesse and blossom therefrom, O Christ, Thou didst spring forth from the Virgin; from the mountain overshadowed and densely wooded hast Thou come, incarnate of her who knew not man, O Thou praised and immaterial Lord and God, glory to Thy power!

The most Holy Spirit Who giveth us great things descended upon the apostles in that He is divine and good, filling them all and deifying them, sanctifying them as the Creator of all, the ruling Master.

Having seated Thyself upon the throne of the Father, O Christ our Savior, as Thou didst promise Thou didst send down upon Thy disciples the Comforter, the God Who cometh, sending Him as One unopposed, the Creator of all Who proceedeth from the Father.

Glory…: Of old, the most Holy Spirit taught the prophets to foretell things to come with tongues of grace, and by the tongues of the all-wise apostles He declareth the mighty works of God Who rageth in the voice of the wind, abiding now with us in essence.

Now & ever…: Christ, Who hath entered unto us through thee, the portal of noetic light, O Mother of God, hath shown Himself to be comely in the effulgence of His divinity, clad in the raiment of the flesh; and though He is invisible as God, yet is He now visible in appearance like unto ours.

Ode V

Irmos: As God of peace and Father of compassion, Thou didst send Thine Angel of Great Counsel, Who granteth us peace. Therefore, guided to the light of knowledge divine, and waking at dawn out of the night, we glorify Thee, Who lovest mankind.

O Spirit of the wisdom and fear of God, of truth, counsel and understanding, Who grantest peace: Abide Thou among us, that, sanctified by Thine indwelling, and rising at dawn out of the night, we may glorify Thee Who lovest mankind.

O Thou Who sustainest all things and art the God of all, Who keepest creation from falling: Grant unto us holiness and enlightenment, that, sharing in Thy bestowal of light, rising at dawn out of the night we may glorify Thee Who lovest mankind.

Glory…: The divine Comforter, Who of old engraved the law for Moses, having descended doth manifestly set forth the statutes of the new covenant and the law of grace, inscribing them upon the hearts of the apostles, in that He loveth mankind.

Now & ever…: By thy birthgiving, O Virgin, thou didst annul the curse of Eve, the mother of all, shining forth Christ as a blessing upon the world; wherefore, rejoicing, we bless thee, confessing thee with mouth and mind to be the true Theotokos.

Ode VI

Irmos: The sea monster thrust forth, like a babe from the womb, Jonah, whom it had swallowed; and the Word, Who dwelt within the Virgin and took flesh of her, issued forth, preserving her incorrupt. He kept her who gave Him birth unharmed, for He Himself was not subject to corruption.

Fulfilling Thy promise to Thy disciples, O Christ, Thou didst send unto them the Spirit Who imparteth the ability to work great wonders and bestoweth tongues of fire, that they might fill the flock of the nations with the knowledge of Thee.

Come Thou unto us, O Holy Spirit, causing us to partake of Thy holiness, of never-waning light, divine life and most fragrant effusion; for Thou art a River of divinity proceeding from the Father through the Son.

Glory…: O Comforter, save those who with faith hymn Thy divine coming, and cleanse us of all defilement, in that Thou art compassionate. Show us forth as worthy of Thine illumination, and by Thy divine light make of us pure reflections.

Now & ever…: The whole choir of the prophets, taught the mysteries by God, foretold the mystery of the ineffable and divine incarnation of God the Word through thee, O Virgin Mother; for thou hast revealed the most true and ancient counsel.

Then, Lord, have mercy! Thrice. Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: Of the Wisdom of the Word…—

The most Holy Spirit, descending now upon the apostles in the guise of fire, filled the assemblies of the nations with fear; for each heard in his own language what was spoken by the tongues of fire O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, the miracle seemed like drunkenness to the unbelieving, but was recognized as truly salvific by the faithful. We therefore glorify Thy might, O Christ God, asking that Thou send down remission of transgressions in abundance upon Thy servants.

Ode VII

Irmos: The children raised together in piety, disdaining the ungodly command, feared not the threat of the fire, but, standing in the midst of the flame, they chanted: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Now is the promise made by Christ fulfilled, for to the apostles was the multiplicity of tongues shown forth by the coming of the Spirit, shining forth from One of the all-divine Trinity.

Of old the mindless unity of languages was abolished, but now they have manifestly been gathered into a single harmony by the personal activity of the worshipful and divine Spirit, One of the all-divine Trinity.

Glory…: When the breath of the Holy Spirit was borne down from on high, the apostles of Christ all-gloriously proclaimed the mighty works of God, crying out together: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Now & ever…: In the furnace the three children showed forth an image of thy birthgiving; for they remained unharmed by the fire, while thou wast preserved in purity, having received in thy womb the unbearable Fire, the blessed God of our fathers.

Ode VIII

Irmos: The dew-bearing furnace presented an image of a supernatural wonder, for it did not consume the young men whom it had received, as the fire of the Godhead consumed not the Virgin’s womb which it had entered. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Holy Spirit Who proceedest from God, grant holiness unto all who believe on Thee; for Thou art holy and grantest holiness unto men. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

As our Benefactor Thou dost generously bestow the gift of goodness upon those who hymn thee; O Comforter; for Thou art generous and an abyss of goodness. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Glory…: The Spirit is the life-creating Lord, self-motivated and of free will, distributing the apportionment of gifts, as He desireth, ruling in His own right, unbidden by anyone else, without beginning. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Now & ever…: Who doth not marvel at the surpassing magnitude of Thy compassion, O unoriginate Word? For for our sake Thou Who art rich didst abase Thyself, and madest Thine abode in the holy Virgin’s womb. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Ode IX

Irmos: Rejoice, O boast of virgins! Rejoice, O all-pure Mother, whom all of us, all creation, do magnify with divine hymns.

Behold, Thou hast sent unto us another Comforter Who is consubstantial and equally enthroned with Thee and Thy Father, O Word.

O Comforter, from temptations save those who hold Thee to be God and who glorify Thy preëternal existence.

Glory…: Come Thou unto us, O Comforter, filling with Thy consolation us who theologize concerning Thine ineffable glory.

Now & ever…: O most immaculate Bride of God, by thy supplications deliver from temptations those who glorify and honor thee as is meet.

Instead of It is truly meet…, we chant again the irmos of Ode IX: Rejoice, O boast of virgins! After the Trisagion and Our Father…, the kontakion of the feast.

After the first Trisagion, we say the troparion of the feast. After the second Trisagion, we say the kontakion of the feast. Lord, have mercy! twelve times; and the dismissal. We omit the prayers for the departed.

At God is the Lord…, the troparion of the feast, thrice.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Joseph marveled…—

O ye faithful, with splendor let us celebrate the last and final feast: this is Pentecost, the fulfillment and conferral of the promise; for thereon the fire of the Comforter descended to earth in the form of tongues, and enlightened the disciples and showed them to be initiates of heavenly mysteries. The light of the Comforter hath come and illumined the world! Twice

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in the same tone & melody—

The wellspring of the Spirit, coming to earth, noetically divided into rivers of fire, and bedewed the apostles, enlightening them; and He was to them a bedewing cloud, a fire enlightening them, a flame raining down. Through them have we received grace, through fire and water. The light of the Comforter hath come and illumined the world. Twice

Then, both canons of the feast: that in Tone VII with 8 troparia, including the irmos; and that in Tone IV with 6 troparia.

Katavasia: The irmoi of Canon II of the feast are chanted by both choirs together.

After Ode III, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: Of the Wisdom…—

The most Holy Spirit, descending now upon the apostles in the guise of fire, filled the assemblies of the nations with fear; for each heard in his own language what was spoken by the tongues of fire, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, the miracle seemed like drunkenness to the unbelieving, but was recognized as truly salvific by the faithful. We therefore glorify Thy might,

O Christ God, asking that Thou send down remission of transgressions in abundance upon Thy servants. Twice

After Ode VI, the kontakion & ikos of the feast.

Synaxarion for Monday After Pentecost, That Is, of the Holy Spirit

Stichoi: Every breath hath glorified the Spirit of the Lord,/ by Whom the audacities of the wicked spirits are rendered useless.

On this day, the Monday of Pentecost, we celebrate the most holy, life-creating and omnipotent Spirit, One of the Trinity, God, equally worshipped, consubstantial and equal in glory with the Father and the Son. On the very day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended essentially, in the form of tongues of fire, upon the holy apostles in the Upper Room where they were abiding, and rested upon each of them. The holy fathers, most beautifully appointing, so as to honor the Holy Spirit, ordained that He be celebrated on Pentecost itself. Before His suffering, the Savior, promising that the Comforter would come, said: “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come.” And again: “When He is come, He will guide you into all truth.” And again: “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, the Spirit of truth, Who proceedeth from the Father.” And after His suffering also, when He was ascending into heaven, He told them to remain in Jerusalem until they were invested with power from on high. And having thus promised, He sent the Spirit. And so, while they were thus abiding, on the very day of Pentecost, at about the third hour of the day, suddenly thunder was heard from the sky above the Upper Room, so that those who had gathered in the city from throughout the world took flight. And to each of them—not only those of the twelve, but those also of the seventy—there appeared, in the form of tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in foreign tongues, that is, each apostle spoke in all the languages of the nations. The foreigner did not hear an apostle speaking his native language; rather, the apostle heard and spoke in the language of each nation. This is why they seemed like drunkards to those who gathered; for since they did not know how the apostle was speaking in all the individual languages, they considered him drunk. But others marveled, saying that it signified naught. They had assembled for the feast from throughout the world—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those who, long before, had been carried away by Antiochus. And so, the Holy Spirit descended after the passage of ten days following the ascension, and not immediately, so as to instill in the disciples a greater zeal to receive Him. There are those who say that every day, each of the ranks of the angels came individually and made obeisance to that deified flesh. When nine days had passed, on the tenth the Comforter descended, since reconciliation had already been achieved through the Son. It happened that fifty days after Pascha there was a commemoration of the ancient Law; for fifty days after crossing the Red Sea Israel had received the Ten Commandments. Note the symbols: Then there was the mountain; here there is the Upper Room. Then there was fire; here there are tongues of fire, and instead of claps of thunder and darkness there is a mighty wind. The Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues: this signifies that He is of the same essence as the living Word, or that the apostles had to teach and convert the nations through tongues. These tongues were fiery, because God is a consuming fire, and for purification; they were cloven, that they might be given. And as once He confused those who knew only one language and divided it into many, so now He hath divided for many those who knew only one language, so as to gather in those of those nations who had been scattered to the ends of the world. The event took place during a feast, that, having occurred amid the assembly of many, it might be spoken of everywhere, and that those who had come for the feast and seen what had happened with Christ, might marvel at this. It took place at Pentecost because it was necessary that at the very time when the Law was given that the grace of the Spirit be poured forth in abundance, in like manner as Christ did when, during the Passover of the Law, He made His own Passover, the true Passover. The Spirit rested not on the mouths of the apostles, but on their heads, thus embracing what hath dominion over the body and is higher than it, and the mind itself, from which the tongue receiveth the ability to speak. Or also because, performing ordination on the heads of the apostles, the teachers of the whole world, the Spirit expresseth His announcement through tongues; for ordination taketh place (that is, the words of the mystery are pronounced) over the top of the head. And there was a noise and fire, because such was also the case on Sinai, so as to show that now, as then, the selfsame Spirit has laid down the Law and arranged all things. The people were brought to confusion by the roar of the storm, for it seemed that everything that Christ had declared to the Jews concerning their rejection of Him was being fulfilled. The Evangelist spake of the tongues as fiery so that no one would imagine that the Holy Spirit was in any way carnal. They accused the apostles of drunkenness; but Peter, standing up in the midst of the people and delivering a speech, denied this as something far from the truth; and citing in his speech the prophecy of Joel, he converted about three thousand of them. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, since He hath the power to console and inspire us. For we have received Him in exchange for Christ, through Whom we have Him; and because He mediateth for us before God with ineffable signs, in that He loveth mankind, intervening for us just like Christ. For He is also the Comforter; and for this reason the Holy Spirit is called another Comforter. The apostle saith: We have Jesus as a Comforter before God. The Spirit is called another Comforter because He is consubstantial; for the expression “another” is applied to an identical essence and one nature, whereas we understand a “different” in the sense of a difference in the properties of nature. This Holy Spirit is in the Father and the Son in every way; for this reason He createth all things with Him, including the coming resurrection; and what He desireth, He doeth: He sanctifieth, He separateth and maketh whole again, He sendeth forth, He maketh wise, He anointeth prophets; simply put, He doeth all things, for He is His own master, omnipotent, good, just, dominant. Through Him cometh all wisdom, life, movement; or, He shareth in all holiness and life. Put briefly: proceeding from the Father, He possesseth all that the Father and the Son have, save unbegottenness and begottenness. Through the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh the world was filled with a multitude of gifts, and through Him all nations were turned to the knowledge of God, and pain and all sickness were abolished. Thrice was the Holy Spirit given by Christ to the disciples: before His sufferings, in a very unclear manner; more clearly after His resurrection, by breathing upon them; and now He hath sent Him in His very essence, or better to say, He came down Himself, in the most perfect way, enlightening and sanctifying them, and again leading the ends of the world to them by the coming of the Holy Spirit. Through the supplications of the holy apostles, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.

We do not chant the Magnificat.

After Ode IX, the first exapostilarion of the feast, twice; then the second exapostilarion, once.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone II—

In the prophets Thou didst announce to us the path of salvation; and in the apostles Thou didst shine forth the grace of Thy Spirit, O our Savior. Thou art God in the beginning, Thou art also after all things, for forever Thou art our God! Twice

I hymn Thee, the Savior of the world, in Thy courts; and bending my knees, I worship Thine invincible power. In the evening, in the morning, at noon-day, and at every time, I bless Thee, O Lord.

Bending the knees of our souls and bodies in Thy courts, O Lord, we, the faithful, hymn Thee, the unoriginate Father, the Son equally without beginning, and the all-holy Spirit Who is equally eternal, Who enlighteneth and sanctifieth our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VIII

Once, the languages were confused because of the audacity of the building of the tower; but now, the tongues are rendered wise because of the glory of the knowledge of God. There God condemned the ungodly for their transgression; and here Christ hath enlightened the fishermen with the Spirit. Then, as punishment, discord was established; now, concord is restored, unto the salvation of our souls.

First Hour

Typical Psalms. On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia, from Odes III and VI of the canons of the feast.

Then, the priest, or deacon, saith: Wisdom! Stand aright!, and the entrance verse: 

Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we shall sing and chant of Thy mighty acts.

Troparion, in Tone VIII—

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who didst show forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. O Thou Who lovest mankind, and by them hast netted the whole world, glory to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Kontakion, in Tone VIII—

When, descending, the Most High confused the tongues, He divided the nations; but when He distributed tongues of fire He called all into unity; and together we glorify the most Holy Spirit.

Trisagion.

Prokimenon, in Tone VI—

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Stichos: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.

Epistle to the Ephesians, §229 [5:8B-19]

Brethren: Walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith: Awake thou who sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Alleluia, in Tone II—

Stichos: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.

Stichos: Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Gospel According to Matthew, §75 [18:10-20]

The Lord said: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father Who is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you: Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father Who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Communion verse—

Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness.

Be it known that during this week of Holy Pentecost cheese, fish, wine and oil are permitted for monastics; and meat for the laity.

The Interhours are set aside, as well as is the canon of the all-holy Theotokos chanted at Compline.