Chapter 14 - Panikhida for the Departed

On the Order for the Departed

It is proper to know how to conduct the service for the departed.

On Friday Evening, After the End of Vespers:

The priest, vested in a phelonion, and the deacon in a sticharion, take the censer and incense and go to the narthex, led by the sacristan with a candle, followed by us. When they reach the narthex where the koliva (memorial wheat) is prepared, the deacon says: "Bless, Master."

• The priest responds: "Blessed is our God," and censes the koliva crosswise. We then chant Psalm 90: "He who dwells in the help of the Most High."

[At other times, besides Vespers or Matins, it begins as usual: we chant the Trisagion, and after the Lord’s Prayer: the priest exclaims: "For Thine is the kingdom": Then, "Lord, have mercy," 12 times: "Glory, both now and ever: Come, let us worship," three times: and Psalm 90.]

• After its conclusion: "Glory, both now and ever: Alleluia," three times.

• There follows the litany for the departed: "In peace, let us pray to the Lord."

• The priest exclaims: "For Thou art the resurrection and the life," followed by "Alleluia," three times, in tone 8.

• We chant these verses, the 7th: "Blessed are those whom Thou hast chosen and received, O Lord," verse 8: "Their memory is from generation to generation," verse 9: "Their souls shall dwell in good things."

• Then the troparion, tone 8: "With the depth of wisdom, O Lover of mankind," twice. "Glory, both now and ever," Theotokion: "Thou art our wall and refuge."

• Then we chant the Kathisma: "Blessed are the blameless," in tone 8. Refrain: "Remember, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants." The second choir repeats the second verse. After each verse, other verses follow, dividing them into two choirs.

• After the first section, we do not say "Glory, both now and ever," but immediately the verse: "If Thy law had not been my study," three times.

• Then the priest or deacon says the litany: "Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord." The choir responds: "Lord, have mercy." The priest silently says the prayer: "O God of spirits and of all flesh."

• The choir responds: "Lord, have mercy," 40 times, quietly.

• Then the second choir begins: "I am Thine, save me." Refrain: "Rest, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants."

• After each verse, the two choirs alternate: and other verses follow. At the end, we chant the verse: "My soul shall live," to the end, three times.

• Then we sing the troparia for the departed in tone 8. Refrain: "Blessed art Thou, O Lord." The second choir repeats: "The choir of the saints found the fountain of life, and the door of Paradise."

• After that, "Alleluia," three times. Then, the litany. The priest commemorates the departed according to rank. If we do not sing "Blessed are the blameless," after "Alleluia," we chant the troparion: "With the depth of wisdom," and its Theotokion.

• Immediately after, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord." Then the troparion: "The choir of the saints found," and others.

• The priest commemorates the departed as previously indicated.

• We chant the sedalen for the departed, tone 8: "Rest, O Savior, with the righteous, Thy servants." "Glory, both now and ever," Theotokion: "Thou who gavest birth to the Light, O Virgin Theotokos."

• After Psalm 90, the canon of the departed, according to the tone, on 8. After the 6th ode, irmos and litany: The priest commemorates the departed according to rank, as previously indicated, in the midst of the blameless. Exclamation: "For Thou art the resurrection and the life."

• Then the sedalen, tone 8: "Indeed, all things are vanity." "Glory, both now and ever," Theotokion: "O Most Pure Theotokos."

• After the 6th ode, irmos and litany: The priest commemorates the departed according to rank, as previously indicated. Exclamation: "For Thou art the resurrection and the life."

• Then the kontakion, tone 8: "With the saints give rest." Ikos: "Thou alone art immortal." After the 7th ode, the priest says: "Theotokos and Mother of Light." People, spirits, and souls of the righteous glorify Thee, O Lord."

• We chant the irmos of the 7th ode.

• Then, the Trisagion: After the Lord’s Prayer, we chant these troparia, tone 4: "With the spirits of the righteous who have passed on." Others.

• Then the priest or deacon says the litany: "Have mercy on us, O God." Others.

• The priest: "O God of spirits." He commemorates those who have departed, our fathers and brethren, and all Orthodox Christians.

• Exclamation: "For Thou art the resurrection and the life." The priest or deacon says: "Wisdom." We: "More honorable than the Cherubim." Priest: "Glory to Thee, O Christ God." We: "Glory, both now and ever: 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 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."