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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Blessing of the people with the Candles during Divine Liturgy

Pontifical Divine Liturgy

When an Archbishop / Sayedna or a Bishop / Sayedna says the Divine Liturgy, the Divine Liturgy is called a "Pontifical Divine Liturgy".
During the singing of the Trisagion Hymn, the Archbishop / Bishop / Sayedna , holding two candlesticks blesses the assembled Church (the people), asking God to "look down from heaven and see: bless this vineyard which your right hand has planted" or "nurture this vineyard" which He has planted by His own hand".
One candlestick is called the "trikerion" (symbolizing the Trinity). This candlestick has three candles.
One candlestick is called the "dikerion" (symbolizing the two natures of Christ - divine and human). This candlestick has two candles.

The Service of the Blessing with the Candles

This Service is from St. Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Download: name of Service in the Table of Contents Menu

Deacon: Bless, Master, the Thrice-holy Hymn.

Archbishop: For You are Holy, O our God, and we render glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always…

Deacon: …and forever and ever.

People: Amen
1. Holy God! Holy Mighty One! Holy Immortal One have mercy on us.
2. Agios o Theos, Agios Iskhiros, Agios Athanatos, Eleison Imas.
3. Quddooson Illah, Quddooson Ilqawee, Quddooson Illathee, laa yamootu-rhamna.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Immortal One have mercy on us.

Solo, in a solemn, long melody : Agios o Theos (Holy God)

The Archbishop gives the first blessing in English:
Lord, Lord, look down from heaven and see: bless this vineyard which your right hand has planted.

Solo: Iss pol-la é-ti, Dhes-po-ta. Agios Iskhiros (Holy Mighty One)

The Archbishop gives the 2nd blessing in Greek:
Kyrie, Kyrie, epivlepson ex ouranou ke idhe, ke episkepse tin ambelon tavtin ke katartise avtin, in efitevsen I dhexia sou.

Solo: Iss pol-la é-ti, Dhes-po-ta!
Agios athanatos! (Holy Immortal One)

The Archbishop gives the 3rd blessing in Arabic:
Solo: Eleison imas

The Archbishop hands the Dikiri-Trikirion to the Deacons and gives the blessing to the reader of the Epistle, who is supposed to have proceeded on time towards the Archbishop to kiss his hand and takes his blessing.

First Deacon: Give the order, Master.

The Archbishop: Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.

Second Deacon: Bless this Cathedra, Master.

The Archbishop: Blessed are You on the Throne of Glory of your Kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim, at all times, now and always and forever and ever.

First Deacon holding the Trikirion and facing the people from the Holy Doors proclaims:
Ky-ri-e so-son tous ev-se-vis
Lord, save the faithful!

It is repeated first by the Celebrants, then by the Choir.

Second Deacon holding the Dikirion and facing the people from the Holy Doors proclaims:
Ke e-pa-ku-son i-mon.
And hear us!
It is also repeated by the Celebrants, then by the Choir.

First Deacon proclaims the Pheme of the Archbishop:
Cyril, our most revered Shepherd, Father and Master, Eparch of Newton and all the United States of America, God grant him many years!

The Choir chants the Polychronion of the new Eparch
( Phonetic Transliteration of the Greek Text)
Po-li-khro-nion pi-yis-sé, Ki-ri-yos O Thé-os, tom-ba-ni-yé-ro-ta-ton ké sé-vaz-mi-yo-ta-ton i-mon Av-then-din ké Dhes-po-tin, ton Ar-chi-yé-ré-a New-to-nos ké pas-sis A-mé-ri-kis, Ki-ri-yé fi-lat-té av-ton: Is pol-la é-ti, is pol-la é-ti, is pol-la é-ti.

During the singing of the Polichronion, the Celebrants and the People are standing, but the Archbishop remains seated. When Iss pol-la é-ti … is chanted, he stands and gives the blessing to the People by the Dikiri-Trikirion from the Cathedra.

Second Deacon: Dhynamis !
(Again, with a mightier voice!)

The Choir (allegro melody): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

First Deacon: Let us be attentive
Prokimenon of the Epistle etc…

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, June 03, 2020, 16:45:09, CDT
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