SEPTEMBER 1: NEW YEAR We thank you, Lord of heaven and earth, who make all things new, that you have brought us to this beginning of a new year in your merciful loving kindness. Bless the year with goodness, receive the petitions of us sinners as we pray for salvation, and grant your abundance to the earth. Keep unharmed the environment that clothes the earth, through which, by your will, we who inhabit the earth live and move and have our being, so that we, your unworthy suppliants, may be delivered from destruction and ruin. Strengthen us in the observance of your commandments, loving you with our whole heart and mind and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves. Make this a year of your favor, giving alms to the poor, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked and homes to the homeless, visiting those who are sick or in prison. Grant this through the prayers of your most pure Mother, the all-holy Theotokos, and of our venerable father Simeon, for you are the giver of every good and perfect gift, and we glorify you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SEPTEMBER 13: FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTIONLord Jesus Christ, our God, you promised that the gates of the netherworld would not prevail against your Church. Today we commemorate the dedication of the church established on the site of your cross and resurrection, by which you have destroyed the power of death and the dominion of Hades. Indeed, in all your holy churches, you are present in power and might, giving yourself to us in holy communion for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. As you are present in the place of your resurrection, be present to us in all your churches and in our church, making them firm until the end of time. For you are the wisdom of God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and we give glory to you and to your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SEPTEMBER 26: PASSING OF THE HOLY BELOVED APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN (see May 8)OCTOBER 1: PROTECTION OF THE THEOTOKOSLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, born of the Theotokos, you humbled yourself to be held in the embrace of a human mother, and to be wrapped in the protection of her veil. Today, O merciful Lord, we become one with you in eating the living bread which is your flesh for the life of the world. Today we too are held in the protecting mantle of your most pure mother, whose womb bore the bread of life. Grant that her veil of protection may guard us from all physical violence and spiritual dangers. Through her intercession may we have health of body and the salvation of our souls. Protect our nation and your church from all tyranny and warfare. Glory to you who have made your most pure mother our mother, glory to your eternal Father and glory to your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
OCTOBER 6: THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ILLUSTRIOUS APOSTLE THOMASToday, with your holy Apostle Thomas, we confess you, “My Lord and my God. “ Though we have not seen you with our own eyes as did Thomas, nor did we place our fingers into your side, you have blessed us with your words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Indeed, today we have touched your risen holy Body and your precious Blood by partaking of Holy Communion. Remove all doubt from our hearts and keep us faithful in your love for us, for to you is due all glory, honor and worship, with your eternal Father and all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11-17: THE FATHERS AT THE SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF NICEALord our God, you have guided your Church in wisdom through the fathers gathered in the second Council of Nicea. They have taught that it is the truth to venerate you and your holy saints made in your image, for the honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented. Today we have seen you in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have heard you in the words of the Holy Gospel, and we have received you in the holy Body and precious Blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Keep us always faithful to the guidance of your Holy Spirit, that we may walk in the path of truth and live in hope and love. For you are the God of mercy and peace, and we give glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
OCTOBER 18: THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ILLUSTRIOUS APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST LUKELord our God, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness, you have revealed your holy physician, apostle and servant, Luke, as a witness to your merciful loving kindness. Fill us with repentance like the thief on the Cross, that we may cry out to you today, “Remember us, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.” Be with us in our Emmaus journey, that our hearts may burn within us as we hear the words of his gospel, and that we may recognize you today in our breaking of the bread of your most pure Body. Be merciful to us through the prayers of your most pure Mother and your holy apostle and evangelist Luke, for you love us all, and we give glory to you, to your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
OCTOBER 26: THE HOLY GREAT-MARTYR DEMETRIUSHoly God, Lord of power and might, you have raised up the holy and glorious great-martyr Demetrius as a model of courage in witness to the faith. As a true spiritual warrior, he fought the good fight, laying hold of eternal life by his noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. Grant that we may imitate him, turning aside the sword of hatred by the power of love. Grant rest, also, to those who have justly fought in defense of their country. Through his prayers, heal all sicknesses. Protect us from the suffering of earthquakes, fire, flood, plague, war and civil violence. You alone are the God of mercy and compassion, and we give glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
OCTOBER 31: THE BLESSED MARTYR THEODORE ROMZHA, BISHOP OF UZHHOROD (APPIA)We thank you, O Lord, for the witness to faith of your holy and zealous bishop Theodore. The threats of the godless were unable to hinder his ministry in strengthening his people in fidelity to their Church and in love. By your presence in these holy mysteries that we have celebrated today, and through the prayers of your servant Theodore, make us strong in our faith and obedience to your will, for you wish the salvation of all, that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise your most honored and magnificent name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
NOVEMBER 8: SYNAXIS OF THE HOLY ARCHANGEL MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELIC POWERSLord and God, Creator of all things, both visible and invisible, you have made the heavenly powers to carry out your will, to defeat the hostile forces of evil, and to announce to us the good news of your incarnation and life-giving resurrection. Today we celebrate our love for your angelic powers who bring us such comfort and joy. We thank you for Michael, who is like God, for defeating and rebuking Satan, we thank you for Gabriel, God is our strength, for announcing to the most pure Theotokos that the Son of God would become flesh for our salvation, and we thank you for the angels at the tomb, who told us that our Savior is not among the dead, but has trampled upon death by death and has given us life. Do not let us ignore so great a salvation announced to us by the angels, but that, having received your most pure Body and precious Blood in Holy Communion, we, too, may announce and live out our salvation in your Name, for you are most holy, worshiped without ceasing by the Cherubim and Seraphim, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
NOVEMBER 14: THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ILLUSTRIOUS APOSTLE PHILLIPLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, you called Phillip to be among your apostles, and he, in turn, calls to us, “Come and see” your face in which the merciful loving kindness of your Father is revealed to us. Today we have seen the image of your face in your holy icon and we have been called to receive your holy Body and precious Blood in communion. We honor with love the memory of your holy apostle Phillip, who had led us to your Father, and we glorify and praise you, with your Holy Father and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
NOVEMBER 16: THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ILLUSTRIOUS APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST MATTHEWLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, you called Matthew from his worldly profession of gathering money, to seek the true treasure of your heavenly Kingdom. He wrote wonderfully of your birth from the virgin Mary, and of the whole world coming to you, the Anointed One of your people Israel. Open our hearts to receive you in faith as God-with-us, the fulfillment of the prophecies and the hope of the nations. May the words of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew always be in our hearts, as we honor him and give glory, honor and worship to you with the gifts of faith, hope and love, and to your eternal Father and all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
NOVEMBER 21: FEAST OF THE ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOSLord of Israel, in your infinite wisdom and mercy, you allowed your servant Solomon to build a temple as a dwelling place for your glory. In the fullness of time, you revealed the daughter of Joachim and Anna to be the fulfillment of that temple, for, in your providence, she would become the Theotokos, giving birth in her womb to the most holy Body of your Son, which has become for us the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. In the earthly temple she received heavenly food from the hand of an angel. Today, O compassionate Lord, in this our temple, you have fed us with the heavenly food of your most pure Body and precious Blood, by your presence making our body a temple of the Holy Spirit. Grant therefore, O Lord, that we may go forth in peace, glorifying you always in our bodies, and in our hearts, in our souls, and in our minds, walking in the path of your commandments. For you are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
NOVEMBER 22-28: THANKSGIVING DAYWe praise you, we bless you, we glorify you and we give thanks to you, O Lord, God and Creator of every good and perfect gift. You have blessed us with an abundance of the gifts of this earth, and today you have given us communion in the supersubstantial bread, the Body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, your eternal Word.You have filled your land with the gifts of milk and honey, and today you let us partake of the cup of your new covenant, the Blood of your Son, Jesus Christ our God.We pray you, never deprive us of your blessings. Grant that we who have shared in your gifts may prove to be a people of faith and of love, of mercy and righteousness. Give us due respect for all your creatures, for those who have come before us into this land, and for those who are poor and in need of your mercy. Keep us from pride in our prosperity.Fulfill all the needs of those created by your hand, grant that they may realize their gifts and talents, keep them and us from all evil and temptation and grant peace to the world.For you alone are good and love humankind, and we render thanksgiving to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and at all times, and ever and foreve.
NOVEMBER 30: FEAST OF THE HOLY FIRST-CALLED APOSTLE ANDREWLord Jesus, our Savior, the Good Shepherd, you established the holy Apostles as the fishermen of your rational sheep, beginning with the first-called Andrew, the brother of Peter. He straight away recognized you as the Messiah, leading his brother to faith in you. As this day we have received your precious and holy Body and Blood, make us also your unconditional disciples, full of faith and steadfastness. Grant also the union of all your holy Churches in faith and love, for you call all to oneness in you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
DECEMBER 6: FEAST OF OUR HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS, ARCHBISHOP OF MYRA AND WONDERWORKERGod and Father of Lights, all generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from you. You have raised up your holy servant, Nicholas, to be a model bishop, a man of the people, full of love in his pastoral care for the Church of Myra. By your grace, you have made him God-like, a giver of help through all the land, remembering the oppressed, the poor and the needy. He became a victory for all the people. We celebrate his memory, as in these days, he leads us to the cave in Bethlehem, where, in your love for the world, we receive your only-begotten Son, born of a virgin. Strengthen us to imitate him, that we may perform good deeds in your churches, and remember the poor. For we glorify you, and your only-begotten Son and your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit as an all-merciful and compassionate God, now and ever, and forever.
DECEMBER 8/9: THE MATERNITY OF THE HOLY ANNALord our God, you made water flow from the dry rock and the arid desert bloom with flowers. The holy Anna, though, was cursed with childlessness and was reproached before all and before the children of Israel. She pleaded with you who are compassionate and loving, in these words, “God of our fathers, bless me and hear my prayer.” Indeed, O Lord, you answered her by blessing her to be the mother of the holy virgin more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim. Not only did you take away the barrenness of Anna, but you began to take away the disobedience of Eve and the shame of the human race, for her child was to give birth to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Through the intercession of Anna’s daughter conceived today, grant that we also may be freed from the power of sin and glorify you with one voice, for you are the giver of life, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
JANUARY 30: THE HOLY THREE BISHOPSLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, you alone are the way, the truth and the life. In your loving providence you have raised up three holy bishops, Gregory the Theologian to guide us on the way, John Chrysostom to preach the truth and Basil the Great to strengthen us in life and faith. Provide for us always good bishops to support us on the road to holiness, ministering to us as servants of your presence, drawing us together in unity and nourishing us with your pure body and precious blood. For in you we place our hope, asking for the grace to serve you and your people in love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, you came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance. Today you have come to us and have made us worthy of your heavenly and immortal mysteries. As in Jericho, you have come to stay at the house of our souls to bring salvation to us as children of Abraham in faith. Grant us the grace to imitate Zaccheus in this coming time of repentance, giving to the poor and righting injustices, that we may observe an acceptable fast and partake of the mystical supper for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting, for you are the Giver of Life, and we glorify you with your eternal Father, and all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARERSLord our God, by your death on the Cross, you trampled upon death, granting life to those in the tombs. Today we celebrate the glory of your resurrection, as you first appeared to the women who came in faith to attend to the service of anointing your pure and precious Body. An angel, however, startled them, saying, “ “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.” Today we hear these sweet words and are filled with joy to not only hear them but to taste the Body and Blood of the risen Lord, given to us for the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Now grant, O Lord, that we stand together with these holy women before the mystery of your resurrection, and overcoming fear, proclaim to the world that Christ is risen. For you, O Christ our God, are the resurrection and the life, and we glory to you, together with your eternal Father, and the all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MANO Lord our God, you rule from the Cherubic throne and are glorified by the Seraphim. Not as an angel or a messenger, but you alone have become our Savior. You have replaced the pool of Bethesda touched by an angel with the waters of baptism touched by your Holy Spirit. You have replaced the burning coal which the angel touched to the lips of the Prophet Isaiah with your most pure Body, truly removing our wickedness and purifying our sin. Having received your holy mysteries, grant that we may sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to us and that we may receive everlasting life through your holy and glorious resurrection.For you, O Christ, are our resurrection and our life, and we give glory to you, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMANO Lord Jesus Christ our God, you are the source of life and the giver of light. Whoever hears your words and believes in the Father who sent you has eternal life and will not come to condemnation. You have revealed the mystery of baptism to your holy apostles, sending them out to reap the harvest of faith. In this way you fulfilled the promise made to the Samaritan woman that “the water you shall give will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”You have revealed to us the mystery of worship in Spirit and truth, coming to us more closely than to the people of Sychar, through the precious gifts of your most holy Body and pure blood. Having tasted your goodness, may we always hear your words and proclaim them to all who are thirsty for the living water of faith.For all glory is due to you, and to your eternal Father and to your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SUNDAY OF THE MAN BORN BLINDO Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, joy-giving Light of the eternal Father, you enlightened the man born blind by forming clay to spread on his eyes and commanding him to wash. Cleanse us of our sins by the washing of regeneration, guide our steps in the path of your commandments and lead us into the new heaven and the new earth of your blessed promise.You have made us partakers of your mystical supper, keep us in your holiness, so that we may always confess you as Lord and not come to judgment.For you are a God of mercy, and are glorified together with the Father and the all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever.SUNDAY OF THE FATHERS AT THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF NICEALord Jesus Christ our God, you are Son of God, one in essence with the Father, through whom all things were made. In this way, the holy 318 Fathers in Nicea manifested in words the reality of the being of our Lord, who is the refulgence of the glory of God, the very imprint of his being, who sustains all things by his mighty word. Today we have received the precious Body and Blood of our Lord, who sustains us in faith and hope and love and in our very life, calling us into unity as you are one in the Holy Trinity, whom we glorify, one Light and True God in whom we are saved, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in essence and undivided, forever and ever.
APRIL 23: FEAST OF THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR GEORGEToday, O Lord, we celebrate the martyrdom of your holy Great-Martyr George, who in his fierce zeal for your truth and in love of God’s people was able to slay the power of evil. Grant us also, through his holy prayers, the strength and the might to fight the good fight, to finish the holy race, and to keep the profession of faith. We honor him as your champion, holy God, and we give all glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
MAY 8 AND SEPTEMBER 26: THE HOLY BELOVED APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN THE THEOLOGIANO Lord, God and Savior, today we have received the holy Body which your beloved apostle and theologian John, has proclaimed to us, the Word of life which he had heard and seen and looked upon and touched with his own hands. In the fire of the Spirit, he has proclaimed that you are Life and light, in whom there is no darkness. Grant that we may walk in the light and have fellowship with one another, and that your blood, O Jesus, Son of God, may cleanse us from all sin. We give glory, thanksgiving and worship to you, with your eternal Father, and your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
MAY 11: OUR HOLY FATHERS CYRIL AND METHODIUS, ENLIGHTENERS OF THE SLAVSLord our God, through the gift of your Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire, you enlightened your holy apostles to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. Today we joyfully celebrate the mission of our holy fathers Cyril and Methodius, equal to the apostles, who brought this same Gospel to the Slav peoples, bringing them into the light of your truth. Today we have heard this good news proclaimed to us in our own tongue. Grant that these words may fill our minds with light to follow you in faith, in hope and in love. Today you have fed us also with the sacrifice of praise, your holy and Divine Liturgy, as food for both body and soul, for great is your love for us, and we glorify you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
JUNE 19: THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ILLUSTRIOUS APOSTLE JUDEO Lord our God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, you have sent your holy apostles to preach your good news to all peoples. Truly their message that you would always be with us reaches to the ends of the world, as you promised Jude, your disciple, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” As you have been with us today in the holy Liturgy, be with us always and bring us into life, in your merciful loving kindness, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
JUNE 29: THE HOLY PRE-EMINENT APOSTLES PETER AND PAULMaster and Lord, Jesus Christ our God, you wish all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. By your loving grace you brought the fisherman Simon to repentance after his denial, and the Pharisee Saul to the light of faith even after he had persecuted your followers. Grant that we may imitate them in their faith and repentance, turn away from our sins of weakness or malice to receive your heavenly Spirit, coming into your true light, that you may live in us, and that we may remain in your love. As we honor your pre-eminent apostles by the names of Peter, the rock of faith, and Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, we give glory to you, the light of the world, with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
SUNDAY, JULY 13-19: THE FATHERS AT THE FIRST SIX ECUMENICAL COUNCILS Lord, God, Creator of all, you summoned those mystical trumpets of the Spirit, the God-mantled Fathers, to teach us that the Trinity is One, not differing in essence or Godhead You have sent your only-begotten Son, one in essence with you, as God, to make us partakers of the divine nature, and to destroy the power of sin and death in our human nature. Having received today his most pure Body and precious Blood, we thank you for this perfect gift from on high, and for the teachings of the Fathers to enlighten our minds with understanding and our hearts with love, that, in the unity of the Spirit, we may worship you, eternal Father, only-begotten Son and all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.JULY 20: THE HOLY GREAT PROPHET ELIJAHToday we honor the holy Elijah, a great prophet, his words like a flaming furnace. He was taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses. How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours? Yet God sent down a double portion of his spirit upon Elisha. O Lord our God, you have granted to us an even greater portion in the gift of the pure body and precious blood of your only Son, now overlook the weakness of our faith, and bless us with zeal to do your will in faith and in love for our neighbor. For you alone are the Giver of Life, through your only-begotten Son and in your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.AUGUST 1: THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY CROSSToday we rejoice in the procession of your Holy Cross, Lord Jesus, Son and Word of God, for though it was intended as an instrument of torture, it became our salvation, a weapon of peace, and the invincible trophy of your victory of love for us all. With the holy Apostle Paul, may each of us proclaim, “may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Today, O Lord, as we partake of the fruit of the tree of your Cross. grant that we may begin this holy fast in joy and love, and come to the feast of the Dormition of the holy Theotokos and to the great feast of the Exaltation of your all-holy, precious and life-giving Cross, through the prayers of your all-pure Mother and of the holy seven Machabees, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar. For you are holy, O Christ our God, who have redeemed us by the power of the Cross and the resplendent Resurrection, and we give glory to you, with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
AUGUST 16: TRANSLATION OF THE ICON OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, THE ICON NOT MADE BY HUMAN HANDS, FROM EDESSA TO CONSTANTINOPLE(944). Lord Jesus Christ, Master and Lord of all, we bow today before your sacred image, which you have revealed to us without human artistry. Indeed, to only look upon your holy face reflecting to us the glory and mercy and love of God, heals us in soul and body. Together with your most holy and all-pure Mother, whose falling asleep and glorification we joyously celebrate, bring us also into eternal life, that gazing with unveiled face on your glory, we may be transformed into the same image from glory to glory. We give glory to you and to your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.
ORDINATION TO THE EPISCOPATE Father in heaven, you loved the world so much that you sent your only-begotten Son and Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ to save us from the evils of sin and death. He proclaimed the good news of life to us and sent his apostles and, in turn, their successors to carry on his mission through the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. Through them you have established the community of the Church as an ark of truth, of holiness and of divine support. Though this same Spirit, we pray today for your servant (name), ordained (arch)bishop of (city), that you may bestow on him the grace of teaching, of prophecy, of sanctification, of consolation, of wisdom and of rightly imparting the word of truth for many years in health and happiness. Bring us together in unity that we may, with him, witness to the presence of God in the holy gospel and in holy communion, for you alone are God, to whom is due all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
ORDINATION TO THE Priesthood Lord our God, who can give proper praise? Who can glorify your boundless love for the human race? You have sent your only Son into the world, that whoever believes in him might have life everlasting. He entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, and achieved eternal redemption. He has cleansed the world by the sending of his Holy Spirit in tongues of fire, making fearless preachers out of fishermen. He has given us his flesh and blood as food and drink for our souls and bodies. He has appointed priests and elders as servants of these holy mysteries. Lord, our God, today all of us here present thank you for having so richly poured out your Spirit, that your servants may see visions and your priests dream dreams, and that we may call upon your Name and be saved. Today, we thank you that we have partaken of your holy gifts and have received the heavenly Spirit.For you are holy and we give glory to you, and to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest, and to the all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, you came to dwell among us not to be served but to serve. When you washed the feet of your disciples, you told them, I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Today, O God our Savior, you have been pleased, by the coming of your holy and life-creating Spirit, to raise up one of us to be our guide in prayer and a model of service in the order of deacon. Fill him with all faith, love, power, and holiness that he may be worthy of the service of the diaconate. Unite all of us today in the fellowship of Holy Communion in your pure Body and precious Blood, that we may bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For you are life and mercy and wisdom, O Lord our God, and we give glory to you, and to your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.