The Liturgy of the Word
The Acts of the Apostles
The Prayer of Incense before the Acts of the Apostles
Preceding this prayer, the Priest may say, inaudibly, the Litany of the Oblations from the Matins Offering of Incense service.
The celebrant puts a spoonful of incense in the censer and says inaudibly this prayer.
Following this prayer, the Priest and Deacon do a Procession of Incense and Cross of Incense. The celebrant then processes in the nave of the church, censing the congregation. He then offers incense before the chancel whilst reciting the Prayer of Return.
Priest (Inaudible)
O God, Who accepted the burnt offering of Abraham, and prepared for him a lamb in place of Isaac, likewise, accept now at our hand, O our Lord, this burnt offering of this incense, and send down upon us in return Your abundant mercy, making us pure from all stench of sin. Make us worthy to serve before Your goodness, O Lover of mankind, in righteousness, all the days of our life.
Hymn before the Acts of the Apostles
A season-specific verse may be chanted first, followed by this verse for St Mary, and verses for any other saints, and finally the conclusion.
Congregation
Hail to you, Mary,
The fair dove,
Who for us gave birth
To God the Word.
Hail to my lords and fathers
The apostles,
Hail to the disciples
Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed are You, in truth,
With Your good Father
And the Holy Spirit,
For You have come† and saved us.
Have mercy upon us.
During the Great Fast and the Fast of Nineveh, this hymn is chanted instead.
Congregation
God takes away
The sins of the people,
Through the Burnt Offering,
And the Aroma of Incense.
Blessed are You, in truth...
The Acts of the Apostles
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is read or chanted with this introduction.
Deacon
The acts of our fathers the apostles, may their holy blessings be with us.
After the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the reader concludes with this verse.
Deacon
The word of the Lord shall grow, prevail, be mighty and be confirmed in the holy Church of God. Amen.