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THE PROSKOMEDE

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tongues have they spoken deceitfully; judge them, O God.
Let them fall down on account of their own devising;
according to the multitude of their ungodliness, cast them
out, for they have embittered Thee, O Lord. And let all them
be glad that hope in Thee; they shall ever rejoice, and Thou
shalt dwell among them. And all shall glory in Thee that love
Thy name, for Thou shalt bless the righteous. O Lord, as
with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us.

Having come into the sanctuary, they make three bows before the Holy Table and kiss
the Holy Gospel and the Holy Table. Then each one takes his sticharion in his hands,
and they make three reverences toward the east, while saying to themselves with each:

O God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy on me.

Then the deacon comes to the priest, holding in his right hand the sticharion with the
orarion, and bowing his head before the priest, says:

Deacon:

Bless, Master, the sticharion with the orarion.

Priest:

Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto the

ages of ages. Then the deacon goes to one side of the
sanctuary, puts on the sticharion, praying thus:

Deacon:

My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath

clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture
of gladness hath He covered me; He hath placed a crown
upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me as a
bride with comeliness.

And then kissing the orarion, he places it on the left shoulder. Then putting the
epimanikia on the hands, with the right cuff he says:

Deacon:

Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy