Chapter 1 - The Order of Small Vespers

Typikon

That is, the Order of the Church Service in the Holy Lavra of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Sabbas. The same order is observed in other venerable monasteries in Jerusalem and similarly in other churches of God.

Order of Small Vespers

Before the setting of the sun on Saturday:

1. Preparation:

   • The sacristan (that is, the candle-lighter) comes to the presiding priest and makes a bow to him, indicating that it is time to ring the bell.

   • Receiving the blessing, he goes out and rings the small bell.

   • When the brethren have gathered in the narthex, the priest begins: "Blessed is our God."

   • The appointed reader says: "Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee."

   • Then, "O Heavenly King," the Trisagion, and after the Lord’s Prayer, the priest exclaims, and the reader reads the 9th Hour as usual.

   • After its conclusion and the dismissal, we enter the church, and each stands in his place.

   • If the 9th Hour is said in the church, then the dismissal of the 9th Hour does not take place, but the priest immediately begins, saying: "Blessed is our God."

   • The reader says: "Come, let us worship," three times, and the evening Psalm: "Bless the Lord, O my soul" (Psalm 103), in a soft and quiet voice.

   • After the Psalm: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen." "Alleluia," three times.

   • The priest does not say the litany, but the reader says: "Lord, have mercy," three times. "Glory, both now and ever."

   • Then immediately, "Lord, I have cried" (Psalm 140). We set the verses at 10.

   • We sing the resurrection stichera, three times, repeating them. "Glory, both now and ever," the Theotokion.

   • Then, "O Gentle Light," the Prokeimenon: "The Lord is King" (Psalm 93).

     • Verse: "The Lord is clothed with strength and has girded Himself."

     • Again, "The Lord is King."

   • Then, "Grant, O Lord, that in this evening," and immediately we sing the stichera of the resurrection.

   • And the other stichera of the Theotokos, similar in Tone 8, with their refrains. "Glory, both now and ever," their Theotokion.

   • Then, "Now let us dismiss" (Luke 2:29), the Trisagion, and after the Lord’s Prayer, the resurrection troparion. "Glory, both now and ever," the Theotokion.

   • Then the priest says the small litany: "Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy."

     • The choir responds: "Lord, have mercy," three times.

     • Again we pray for the most pious and autocratic great lord, our Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich, of all Russia; for his pious consort, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna; for his pious mother, the Empress Maria Feodorovna; for his heir, the pious great lord, Tsarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich, and for all his reigning house.

     • The choir responds: "Lord, have mercy," three times.

     • Again we pray for the most holy governing Synod.

     • The choir responds: "Lord, have mercy," three times.

     • Again we pray for all our brethren and for all Christians.

     • The choir responds: "Lord, have mercy," three times.

   • The priest exclaims: "For Thou art a merciful and man-befriending God, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages."

   • The priest: "Glory to Thee, O Christ God."

   • The choir: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen." "Lord, have mercy," three times. "Bless."

   • The priest: "May He who rose from the dead, Christ our true God," and others.

   • After the dismissal, the deacon exclaims: "In blessed repose, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants," and others.

   • The singers chant: "Eternal memory," three times.

   • Where there is no deacon, the singers chant: "To the servants of God," and others, "eternal memory."

When we have entered the refectory:

2. Blessing of the Meal:

   • We say: "The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and they that seek the Lord shall praise Him; their hearts shall live forever" (Psalm 22:26).

   • "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen." "Lord, have mercy," three times. "Bless."

   • The priest blesses the table. We partake of the light meal set before us, so that we may not be burdened for the vigil.

   • After the meal: "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."

   • "The womb that bore Thee became the table holding the heavenly Bread, Christ our God, whence all who partake thereof shall not die, as Thou hast said, O Giver of life to all."

   • Then, "More honorable than the Cherubim."

   • Then, "Thou hast made us glad, O Lord, in Thy works, and in the works of Thy hands we rejoice: the light of Thy countenance has shone upon us, O Lord, Thou hast given gladness in my heart, more than in the time when their grain, wine, and oil increased. In peace, together we shall lie down and sleep, for Thou, O Lord, alone hast made me dwell in hope" (Psalm 4:7-8).

   • "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen." "Lord, have mercy," three times. "Bless."

   • The priest: "God is with us, by His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."