Bishop's Kairon

At the beginning of the Praises, the Bishop descends the Episcopal Throne, being led by the Deacons, and goes to the center of the solea. After "Praise ye Him, all His angels...", the Praises stop and the Bishop and the two Deacons do the Kairon out loud.

 

Bishop: O God, be gracious unto me a sinner, and have mercy upon me. (Thrice)

 

Deacon: Bless, Master.

 

Bishop: Blessed is our God, always now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

 

Deacon: Amen.

 

Bishop: Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee. O heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life; come, abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

 

Deacon: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (Thrice)

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name’s sake.

               

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

 

Bishop: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

 

Deacon: Amen.

 

Bishop: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for laying aside all defense we sinners offer unto Thee, as Master, this supplication: have mercy on us.

 

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we put our trust; be not exceedingly wroth with us, nor remember our iniquities, but look down upon us even now, as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies; for Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy Name.

 

Bishop: Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

The deacon opens the Royal Doors.

Open unto us the door of Thy compassion, O blessed Theotokos. As we set our hope in Thee, may we not be confounded; through Thee may we be delivered from all adversities, for Thou art the salvation of the race of Christians.

 

The Bishop and the Deacons move to the icon of Christ, as the Deacon says:

Deacon: Lord, have mercy. (12 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. We reverence Thine immaculate icon, O good One, and ask remission of our transgressions, O Christ our God; for of Thine own good will Thou wast pleased to ascend from the cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from bondage to the enemy those whom Thou hast fashioned. Wherefore, we cry aloud unto Thee with thanksgiving; Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior, for Thou didst come to save the world.

 

The Bishop and the Deacons move to the icon of the Theotokos, as the Deacon says:

Deacon: Forasmuch as Thou art a fountain of tenderness, O Theotokos, make us worthy of compassion; look upon a sinful people; manifest Thy power as ever, for hoping on Thee we cry aloud unto Thee: Rejoice! As once did Gabriel, chief captain of the bodiless powers.

 

The Bishop and the Deacons move to the icon of the Forerunner, as the Deacon says:

Deacon: The memory of the righteous is celebrated with songs of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for Thee, O Forerunner. Thou wast shown indeed to be the most honorable of the prophets, for in the waters Thou didst baptize Him who had been proclaimed. After suffering with joy in behalf of the truth, Thou didst proclaim even to those in Hades the God who appeared in the flesh, who takest away the sin of the world and granteth us Great Mercy.

 

The Bishop and the Deacons move to the icon of the Patron Saint of the Church, as the Deacon says:

Deacon: (Says the apolytikion of the Patron Saint of the Church) 

 

The Bishop and the Deacons come back to the center of the solea. Once there, the Deacon says:

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

 

Bishop: Stretch forth Thy hand, O Lord, from Thy Holy dwelling place, and strengthen me for Thine appointed service, that standing without condemnation before Thy fearful judgment seat, I may fulfill the bloodless service, for Thine is the power and the glory, unto ages of ages.

 

Deacon: Amen.

 

Bishop: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to Thee.

 

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Master, bless.

 

Bishop: May Christ our true God, (appointed characteristic phrase), through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless Holy Mother; of our Father among the saints (John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople OR Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia) whose Divine Liturgy we now celebrate; of the Holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of (patron saint of the Church) the patron and protector of this Holy community; of (saints of the day) whose memory we celebrate, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and lovest mankind.

 

Deacon: Amen.

 

Bishop: I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy, and in Thy fear I will worship toward Thy Holy temple. How shall I, the unworthy, dare to enter the brilliance of Thy Holy place? If I venture to enter into the bridal chamber, my garment will denounce me, for it is not a wedding garment, and I shall be cast out bound by the angels. Cleanse, O Lord, the defilement of my soul, and save me, for Thou art the Lover of mankind.

 

Bishop: I will worship the one Godhead in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, unto all ages. Amen.

 

The Bishop takes the Trikirion and blesses the people as the people sing:

 

People: Eis polla eti, Dhespota.

 

The Bishop enters the Altar, followed by the Deacons, through the Royal Doors. The Bishop goes to vest and the Royal Doors are closed. The chanting of the Praises continues.