The Liturgy of the Faithful
The Three Great Litanies
Introduction to the Three Great Litanies
The Priest makes a prostration to the East before the sanctuary door. He also receives absolution from a Bishop, if he is present, making a prostration to them. Then he makes a prostration to his brethren the Priests, embraces them, and asks of them absolution and prayer on his behalf. Then he ascends to the sanctuary and kisses the altar.
During this, the Priest focuses his mind that he may be humble of heart. Then he stands at the west side of the altar facing East and prays the Three Great Litanies.
Due to time constraints, the Priest often prays the Three Great Litanies during the Gospel reading.
The Litany of Peace
In this Litany of Peace we ask God to grant peace to the Church and to all people and those in power.
Priest (Inaudible)
Again, let us ask God, the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind: remember, O Lord, the peace of Your one, only, holy, catholic and apostolic Church...
Deacon (Inaudible)
Pray for the peace of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Orthodox Church of God.
Priest (Inaudible)
...This which exists from one end of the world to the other. All people and all flocks, bless. The heavenly peace, send down into all our hearts, but also the peace of this life, graciously grant us. The leader, the military, the chiefs, the counsellors, the multitudes, our neighbours, and our coming in and our going out, afford them with all peace.
O King of Peace, grant us Your peace, for You have given us all things. Acquire us unto Yourself, O God our Saviour, for we know none other but You; Your holy name we utter. Let our souls live by Your Holy Spirit, and do not let the sin entailing death have power over us, Your servants, nor over all Your people.
The Litany of the Fathers
In this Litany of the Fathers, we ask the Lord to grant long life and peaceful times to the Pope, and to the bishops, priests and deacons.
Priest (Inaudible)
Again, let us ask God, the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind: remember, O Lord, our
honoured father, the patriarch and high priest, Pope Abba (...), and his spiritual brothers, the Patriarch of Antioch, Mar Ignatius (...), and the Patriarch of Eritrea, Abune (...), and his partner in the apostolic ministry, our father the metropolitan/bishop, Abba (...).
Deacon (Inaudible)
Pray for our high priest, Pope Abba (...), pope and patriarch, and Archbishop of the great city of Alexandria, and his spiritual brothers in the apostolic ministry, the Patriarch of Antioch, Mar Ignatius (...), and the Patriarch of Eritrea, Abune (...), and his partner in the apostolic ministry, our father the metropolitan/bishop, Abba (...), and for all our Orthodox bishops.
Priest (Inaudible)
Keep them for us for many years and peaceful times, fulfilling the holy and high priesthood which You have entrusted unto them, according to Your holy and blessed will, rightly dispensing the word of truth, shepherding Your people in purity and righteousness, and all the Orthodox bishops, hegumens, priests, deacons, and all the fullness of Your one, only, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
Grant them and us peace and safety in every place. Their prayers which they offer up on our behalf and on behalf of all Your people, as well as ours on their behalf, receive upon Your holy, heavenly, and rational altar as fragrant incense. All their enemies, visible and invisible, trample and subdue under their feet speedily. As for them, keep them in peace and righteousness in Your holy Church.
The Litany of the Gatherings
In this Litany of the Gatherings, we pray that the Lord may bless our gatherings, and allow us to hold them without hindrance.
Priest (Inaudible)
Again, let us ask God, the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind: remember, O Lord, our gatherings; bless them.
Deacon (Inaudible)
Pray for this holy church and our gatherings.
A Deacon presents the censer to the Priest and the Priest censes over the altar in the form of a cross.
Priest (Inaudible)
Grant that we may hold them without prevention or hindrance according to Your holy and blessed will.
Houses of prayer, houses of purity, houses of blessing: grant unto us, O Lord, and unto Your servants who shall come after us, forever.
The worship of idols, root out utterly from the world. Satan and all his evil powers, trample and subdue under our feet speedily. All offences and their instigators, abolish; bring to an end all destructive divisions of heresies. The enemies of Your holy Church, O Lord, as at all times, now also subdue.
Strip their vanity and show them their weakness speedily. Bring to nought their envy, their plots, their scheming, their dishonesty and their slander which they bring against us; O Lord, bring all to no avail, and disperse their counsel, O God, Who dispersed the counsel of Ahithophel.
The priest censes towards the east three times above the altar.
Priest (Inaudible)
Arise, O Lord God, let all Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Your holy name flee before Your face.
The priest turns to the west and censes the congregation three times.
Priest (Inaudible)
Let Your people be in blessing, thousands upon thousands and myriads upon myriads, doing Your will.
Through the grace, compassion, and love of mankind of Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, through Whom the glory, honour, dominion and worship are due unto You, with Him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, Who is coessential with You, both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.