The Order of Holy Chrismation Apart from Baptism
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.
If the mystery of chrismation is celebrated separately from baptism for any reason, the following order is to be followed:
Deacon: Reverend Father, give the blessing.
Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Response: Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious One.
Throughout Pascha, the following is said in place of “Heavenly King.”Priest: Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life.
Response: Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life. (Twice)
The deacon intones the following litany, and to each petition the faithful respond, “Lord, have mercy.”
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
– For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
– For peace in the whole world, for the stability of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
– For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
– For our holy father (Name), Pope of Rome, let us pray to the Lord.
– For our most reverend Metropolitan (Name), for our God-loving Bishop (Name), for the venerable presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
– For our government and for all in the service of our country, let us pray to the Lord.
– For this city [or: For this holy monastery], for every city, community, and for the faithful living in them, let us pray to the Lord.
– For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
– For those who travel by sea, air, and land, for the sick, the suffering, the captive and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy, saving, and perfecting chrism the (newly)-enlightened servant of God (name) may be given divine power to conquer and overcome all the hostile deceits of the devil and the assaults of the flesh and the world, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy chrism and by the power, action, grace, and descent of the Holy Spirit, he (she) may become a brave and victorious soldier of Christ our God, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy chrism, he (she) may be firm, strong, and steadfast in true faith, love, and hope all the days of his (her) life, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy chrism, he (she) may be given the grace to profess the name of Christ our God before all without fear and shame, and to be always ready to accept suffering for his sake with love, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy chrism, he (she) may grow in all virtues and prosper in the commandments of Christ our God, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy chrism, he (she) may be kept in purity and truth by a saving fear, let us pray to the Lord.
– That by the anointing with this all-holy and perfecting chrism, and the power, action, grace, and descent of the Most Holy Spirit, he (she) may grow to complete maturity, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
– That we be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
– Protect us, save us, have mercy on us, and preserve us, O God, by your grace.Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
Response: To you, O Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.Response: Lord, have mercy.
The priest prays aloud the prayer of holy chrismation:
Blessed are you, Lord, God, Ruler of all, Source of all good things, Sun of Righteousness. You have raised up a light of salvation for those in darkness, through the manifestation of your only-begotten Son and our God. Though we are unworthy, you have given us a blessed cleansing in holy water and a divine sanctification through life-creating anointing. Now, to your newly enlightened servant, you have been pleased to give new birth by water and the Spirit, for the forgiveness of his (her) voluntary and involuntary sins. Now, O Master and gracious King of all, grant him (her) also the seal of the gift of your holy, almighty, and adorable Spirit, and the communion of the holy body and precious blood of your Christ. Keep him (her) in your holiness, strengthen him (her) in the true faith, and deliver him (her) from the evil one and all his deceitful ways. Keep him (her) in purity and righteousness by a fear of you that brings salvation, that he (she) may please you in his (her) every word and deed and become a son (daughter) and an heir of your heavenly kingdom.
For you are our God, a God of mercy and salvation, and we give glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Response: Amen.
After this prayer, the priest anoints the previously baptized person with holy chrism, making the sign of the cross on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, breast, hands, and feet, saying each time:
The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Response: All you who have been baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. Alleluia! (three times)
On feasts of our Lord or of the Theotokos, or on the Sundays from Pascha to All Saints inclusive, the Prokeimenon, Apostolic Reading, Alleluia, and Gospel proper to the feast or Sunday are sung. Otherwise the following:
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
Priest: Peace be to all!
Deacon: Wisdom! Be attentive!
Prokeimenon, Tone 3 (Ps. 26:1):The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
v. The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?Deacon: Wisdom!
Lector: A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
The lector reads Romans 6:3-11.
Priest: Peace be to you, reader.
Deacon: Wisdom! Be attentive!
Alleluia Tone 8 (Psalm 92:1):Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
v. The Lord reigns, he is clothed in majesty; robed is the Lord and girt about with strength
v. The world he made firm, not to be moved.During the Alleluia, the deacon censes as usual before the Gospel reading.
Deacon: Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace be to all!
Response: And to your spirit.
Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Response: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you.
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
The priest reads Matthew 28:16-20.
Response: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you.
The deacon intones the Litany of Fervent Supplication, and to each petition the faithful respond, “Lord, have mercy” (three times).
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy.
– Again we pray for our holy father (Name), Pope of Rome, and for our most reverend Metropolitan (Name), for our God-loving Bishop (Name), for those who serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
– Again we pray for our government and for all in the service of our country.
– Again we pray for the newly enlightened servant of God (name), that he (she) be protected in the pure profession of faith, in all piety and in the fulfillment of the commandments of Christ all the days of his (her) life.
– Again we pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant mercy, for those who show us mercy, and for all Christians of the true faith.
Priest: For you are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Response: Amen.
Priest: Glory to you, O Christ God, our hope, glory to you.
Response: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Give the blessing.
Throughout Pascha, the following is said in place of “Glory to the Father.”
Response: Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Give the blessing.
Priest: May Christ our true God, who for our salvation deigned to be baptized by John in the Jordan, have mercy on us and save us through the prayers of his most pure Mother, and of all the saints; for Christ is good and loves us all.
Response: Amen.