Blessed is the Lord our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!

{the priest stands before the altar and begins} The Funeral Service Blessed is the Lord our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages! (Panikhida music, page 1) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x) {the priest proceeds to the front of the casket during the reading of Psalm 91} Reader: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling -- even the Lord, who is my refuge -- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." The First Stasis (Psalm 119) Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 1

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy. We pray to You: hear us and have mercy! Furthermore we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God who has departed this life; and for the forgiveness of all (his/her) sins committed in knowledge or in ignorance, whether voluntary or involuntary. That the Lord our God will establish (his/her) soul where the just repose. We entreat of Christ, our Immortal King and Savior, that (he/she) will receive the mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the remission of (his/her) sins. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy! For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Your departed servant, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your 2

Father who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. The Second Stasis (Psalm 119) In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your law. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! The earth is filled with your love, O Lord; teach me your decrees. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Do good to your servant according to your word, O Lord. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Have mercy upon Your servant, O Lord! 3

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy! For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Your departed servant, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. The Third Stasis (Psalm 119) Your compassion is great, O Lord; preserve my life according to your laws. See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your love. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you. May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word. May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. 4

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy! For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Your departed servant, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. (Panikhida music, page 12-19) Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes! Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy! O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who has trampled down death by death in Your glorious Resurrection, thereby overthrowing the Devil and bestowing life to Your world; As the same Lord, now give rest to the soul of Your servant, in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away. Forgive every transgression which (he/she) has committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought. For You are a good and loving God; because there is no person who has lived without sin. For You only are without sin, and Your righteousness is to all eternity, and Your word is truth. For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Your departed servant, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your allholy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. (Panikhida music, page 22-24) Give rest with the Just, O our Savior 5

Reader: (Psalm 51) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (Panikhida music, page 27-36) The Canon *refrains are sung, little litanies are omitted (by Saint John of Damascus) Where do we find pleasure in life that is not mixed with sorrow? Where do we find a glory upon the earth that is unshakable and never changing? All things are like a shadow, and more illusive than passing dreams. The tragic moment comes suddenly, and death shatters all earthly vanities! Therefore we turn to the Light of Christ, and in His countenance and in the sweetness of His beauty we seek repose from sorrow, for He is the friend and lover of mankind! Like a flower blossom that falls to the ground, and like a dream that passes and is no more, so is every mortal human returned to dust in death; but when the trumpet of God sounds its call, as the earth quakes in the presence of God, all the dead shall arise and go forth to meet You, O Christ our God! On that day, 6

O Lord, appoint a place for Your servant who has been taken from us, in the dwelling place of Your saints. Behold! What agony the soul endures when it is parted from the body. Look at the tears and weeping that cannot be comforted. Therefore, my beloved friends, let us all ponder how very brief the time of our life is. Let us pray for the peaceful rest that awaits our (brother/sister) who is now departed from us. Let us ask of Christ our Lord, God and Savior, that He will grant abundant mercy to us! All of the works and desires we pursue in this life are vanity! They have no existence after death has come. Our wealth is with us no longer when we depart the earth. How can our glory go with us? For when death comes all of these things vanish. Therefore let us call out to Christ, our Immortal King: Grant repose to our departed (brother/sister), and grant (him/her) a home prepared for all those whose hearts You have filled with joy and gladness. I weep and lament with tears as I think about death, and see that in the graves there sleeps the beauty that was fashioned in the image of God. The likeness of God has become lifeless, humiliated, and empty of grace! What a strange thing that we witness! What does this mean for us? Why have we been given up to death and corruption? Why have we been united to death? Truly, this has come to pass by the will of God, that we might acknowledge His salvation; therefore let us call to Him who saves us from death, and Who now gives rest eternal to our (brother/sister) who has fallen asleep. (Panikhida music, page 60-62) The Beatitudes Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. O Christ our God, You made the repentant thief upon the cross to be a citizen of Paradise. He cried out to You: Remember me! Make me, a sinner, also worthy of Paradise. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Lord who rules over life and death, grant a place in Your heavenly courts to (him/her) who has been removed from this temporal life. Hear (him/her) as (he/she) calls out to You: Remember me, also, O Lord, when You come in the glory of Your Kingdom! Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. O Lord who rules over souls and bodies, in whose hand is our breath; You are the consolation of the afflicted. Give rest to Your servant, who has been taken from us, in the land of the righteous. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 7

May Christ give you rest in the land of the living, and open to you the gates of Paradise. May He make you a citizen of His Kingdom, and grant you forgiveness of sins, O you who loves Christ our God. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Let us go forth, brothers and sisters, and look into the tombs. Man is naked bones and without beauty. And we will learn about true riches, and beauty, and strength. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Let us listen to the voice of the Almighty calling to us: Woe to those who seek to behold the day of the Lord! For lo, all things shall be tested by fire. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. I worship Him who has no beginning and is the eternal Father! I glorify the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ! And I sing praises to the Holy Spirit Who shines forth together with the Father and the Son. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. How is it possible that you held in your arms and fed the child Jesus, O Virgin Mother of God? How did you nourish the Nourisher of all creation? It was He, who in times of old, caused the rock to split open in the wilderness so that water could come forth; streams of water for a people who were thirsty. For thus it has been written in the Scriptures. {The Epistle & Gospel Readings, Panikhida page 63-66} Let us attend! Peace be unto all! Reader: And to your spirit. Wisdom! Reader: The prokeimenon is in the sixth tone: Blessed is the way in which you shall walk today, O soul; for a place of rest is prepared for thee. Blessed is the way in which you shall walk today, O soul; for a place of rest is prepared for thee. Reader: Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my god! 8

Blessed is the way in which you shall walk today, O soul; for a place of rest is prepared for thee. Reader: Blessed is the way in which you shall walk today, O soul. For a place of rest is prepared for thee. Wisdom! Reader: The reading is from the first letter of the holy Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians. Reader: Let us attend! Brothers and Sisters, We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. Peace be to you, reader. Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (3x) Reader: Blessed are those whom You have chosen and taken, O Lord. Alleluia! (3x) Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel! Peace be unto all! And to your spirit. 9

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Saint John. Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee! Let us attend! The Lord said to those who came to him: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out -- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee! {The Homily} Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy! {Prayer of Absolution} Greatly merciful and Sovereign Lord, Jesus Christ our God: You gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Your holy Disciples and Apostles following Your Resurrection on the third-day. So also, You bestowed the authority of Your grace to both bind and to loose the sins of men and women, so that those things bound by Your ministers on earth might be bound in Heaven, and likewise those things loosed on earth might be loosed in Heaven. We gather as the successors of the Apostles, and prayerfully we come before You as unworthy servants; we have been given, by Your inexpressible and infinite love, the same grace given to those whom You loved in days of old; so that we, in a manner like the Apostles, might both bind and loose the things that are done among Your people. Therefore, we beg that You Yourself, O all-good King, will through me a priest of Your holy Church, forgive Your servant of all mistakes made as a human being. Forgive (his/her) sins committed in word, or deed, or thought. And loose (him/her) also from any guilt or condemnation that may have come upon (him/her). 10

{as he anoints the body with blessed water, the priest continues } May all those things that proceeded from the weakness of (his/her) mortal, human nature be consigned to oblivion and be forgiven. Be well pleased, as our Good and Most-Merciful God, to receive (his/her) soul in the place prepared for the Saints who have been acceptable to You throughout the ages. For You are blessed and glorified, O Christ our God, forever and ever. Reader: Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! (3x) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. O most holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. 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. For Yours 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. (Panikhida music, page 37-40) With the Souls of the Righteous Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy. We pray to You: hear us and have mercy! 11

Furthermore we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God who has departed this life; and for the forgiveness of all (his/her) sins committed in knowledge or in ignorance, whether voluntary or involuntary. That the Lord our God will establish (his/her) soul where the just repose. We entreat of Christ, our Immortal King and Savior, that (he/she) will receive the mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the remission of (his/her) sins. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy! O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who has trampled down death by death in Your glorious Resurrection, thereby overthrowing the Devil and bestowing life to Your world; As the same Lord, now give rest to the soul of Your servant, in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away. Forgive every transgression which (he/she) has committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought. For You are a good and loving God; because there is no person who has lived without sin. For You only are without sin, and Your righteousness is to all eternity, and Your word is truth. For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Your departed servant, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. {Dismissal Panikhida page 43-47} Wisdom! Most holy Theotokos save us! More honorable than the Cherubim.. Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope! Glory to You! Glory to the Father. now and ever Lord, have mercy (3x) Father, bless! 12

May He who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His all-pure Mother; through the prayers of the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles; through the prayers of our holy and God-bearing Fathers and Mothers; and through the prayers of all His saints, establish the soul of His servant, who has been taken from us, in the mansions of the Righteous; give (him/her) rest in Abraham s bosom, and number (him/her) among the Just. And may He have mercy on us, for He is good and loves mankind. {Announcements} Grant rest eternal in blessed repose, O Lord, to your servant who is fallen asleep; and make (his/her) memory to be eternal! Memory eternal! (3x) (His/her) soul shall dwell with the blessed! {the following is read, or sung, as the faithful pay their last respects and offer a final kiss} My friends, come and let us offer a farewell kiss to (him/her) who has been taken from us. Let us offer thanks to God for the joy of eternal life given to us through the Resurrection. Our (brother/sister) has now departed from loved ones and friends, and (he/she) is prepared for burial. (He/she) no longer cares for the vanities of this life, nor is concerned with the flesh that is often in great distress. Let us pray to the Lord that (he/she) may be brought to (his/her) rest. Friends, what is the meaning of your crying and distress as you offer a final kiss to the one who has departed from us? What does this parting mean? Come, let us give a kiss to (him/her) who was with us days ago. For (he/she) is now prepared for final rest in the grave, and a stone shall cover the place where (he/she) shall lay. Now is the time for parting, therefore let us pray to the Lord that He will bring (him/her) to (his/her) final rest. My loved ones and friends: look upon me as I lie here before you. I am voiceless and without breath. You mourn for me, my beloved family and friends, and you knew me well. Yesterday I talked with you, and suddenly there came to me the hour of death. Therefore come, all of you that have known me, and kiss me with a final kiss. For no longer shall I walk with you, and I shall not talk with you; for I go to meet the Judge, and He receives all people regardless of their earthly status. Indeed, poor and rich stand before Him together; all persons are accounted of equal rank. For each one shall be judged according to their life and deeds. Therefore I call out to you and implore you: 13

pray to Christ our God on my behalf, that I may be forgiven of all my sins, and that He may assign me to the place where the Light of Life is unending! Ps 23:1-6 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Ps 25:1-21 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. {As we depart the church, we sing } Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! 14