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Euchologion >

Baptism on the Holy and Glorious Feast of Pascha

The following texts, translated from the Roman Malyj Trebnyk (1952), are based on the work of the Inter-Eparchial Liturgical Commission of the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, and being made available for study by cantors enrolled in the courses of the Metropolican Cantor Institute. These texts are unofficial and provisional, and you should obtain episcopal permission before using them for any purpose other than private self-study.

On Holy Saturday evening, the priest prepares as usual for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.  However, if there is no deacon, then he says the prayer, “Compassionate and merciful God...” found below, immediately after the prayer, “Lord, stretch forth your hand from the height of your holy dwelling-place...” during the prayers before the icon screen. The priest and deacons then vest in dark, penitential vestments.

The Divine Liturgy of our Holy Father Basil the Great is celebrated with Vespers according to the order found in the Triodion. During the Litany of Peace the following petitions are inserted after, “For those who travel by sea, air, and land...” The response to each petition is “Lord, have mercy.”

 – That this water may be sanctified by the power, action and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
– That the grace of redemption and the blessing of the Jordan may come upon it, let us pray to the Lord.
– For those (him, her) who now approach(es) holy enlightenment and for their (his, her) salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
– That they (he, she) may prove themselves (himself, herself) children (a son, a daughter) of light and heirs (an heir) of eternal blessing, let us pray to the Lord.
–  That this water may become for then (him, her) the washing of rebirth; for the forgiveness of sins and a garment of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord.
–  That they (he, she) may be delivered with us from all affliction, wrath and need, let us pray to the Lord.

If there is a deacon, the priest says the following prayer silently during this litany.  If there is no deacon, however, it is said during the prayers before the icon screen.

Compassionate and merciful God, you alone search the heart and soul and know their secrets. There is nothing hidden from you; all things are naked and exposed to your sight.  Since you know everything about me, do not loathe me nor turn your face from me; but rather, at this time, overlook my offenses, as you overlook the sins of all when they repent.  Wash away the filth of my body and the stain of my soul and make all my being holy and perfect by your unseen power and your spiritual right hand, that while I proclaim freedom and offer it to others by the perfect faith of your unspeakable love for humanity, I myself may not be found an abandoned slave of sin.

O Master, you alone are good and loving; do not humiliate me, but send upon me the power from on high, and strengthen me for the ministry of this great and heavenly mystery.  Form Christ in those (him, her) who seek(s) to be born again through my humble ministry.  Build them (him, her) firmly upon the foundation of your apostles and prophets and do not destroy them (him, her). Plant them (him, her) as a planting of truth in your holy, catholic and apostolic Church so that they (he, she) may not be rooted out, and that as they (he, she) grow(s) in the practice of faith, your all-holy name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit may be glorified in them (him, her), now and ever and forever. Amen.

The litany then concludes with the doxology:

Priest:          For to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is due all glory, honor and worship, now and ever and forever.

Response:    Amen.

Then Vespers continues with the singing of Psalm 140, the incensation of the church, and the Little Entrance with the holy gospel. The Evening Hymn, “O Joyful Light...” is sung as usual, but there is no prokeimenon.

Before beginning the rite of baptism, the priest, the deacons and all servers put on white vestments.

If the church has a baptistery, then during the Evening Hymn, the priest, the deacon, the candidates for baptism, and the cantor process to the baptistery and there celebrate the rite of baptism and chrismation, beginning with the blessing of the water and ending with the chrismation.

During the baptism, one deacon remains in the church and introduces the readings of the Paschal Vigil. If there is not a second deacon, then the reader reads as many of the lessons as necessary during the baptisms, introducing them simply as “A reading from the book of (name).”

When the baptisms come to a close, the final reading must be the fifteenth reading, from the Book of Daniel (3:1-90). Then, in the baptistery, the priest exclaims, “For you are holy, our God, and we give glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.” The cantors respond, “Amen.  All you who have been baptized into Christ...” During this hymn, the priest, the deacons, the newly-baptized, and the cantors process back into the church, and the rest of the Divine Liturgy for Holy Saturday is celebrated as prescribed.

If the church has no baptistery, then the baptisms take place in the middle of the church in front of the tomb or at a special baptismal font. The office of Vespers is celebrated up to and including the readings, a selection of which may be made. During the final reading, which must be that of Daniel (3:1-90) as mentioned above, the priest, deacons, and servers all put on white vestments.  At the conclusion of the reading, the rite of baptism and chrismation is celebrated, beginning with the blessing of the water and ending with the chrismation.

When the chrismation of all the newly-baptized has been done, then the priest exclaims, “For you are holy, our God, and we give glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.” The cantors respond, “Amen. All you who have been baptized into Christ...” During this hymn, the priest, the deacons, the newly-baptized, and the cantors process once around the interior of the church, and the rest of the Divine Liturgy for Holy Saturday is celebrated as prescribed.

At Communion, the newly-enlightened and the sponsors are the first to be communicated after the clergy.

The rite of removal of chrism and of tonsure is celebrated after the Ambon Prayer.