Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
- 36 -
When this prayer is completed the priest and the deacon say also the
Cherubimic hymn, thrice, the priest with his hands raised up, and the
deacon holding his orarion up high with three fingers of his right hand,
and each time, at the conclusion thereof, they bow once.
Priest: Let us, who mystically represent the
Cherubim and chant the thrice-holy hymn unto the
life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly cares:
Deacon: That we may receive the King of all, Who
cometh invisibly upborne in triumph by the ranks of
angels. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The deacon, taking the censer and placing incense therein,
approacheth the priest, (in current practice, he censeth while the
priest is saying the secret prayer, or the priest, if he serve alone,
censeth immediately after the secret prayer) and taking a blessing
from him, censeth round about the whole table, and the whole altar,
and the whole altar and the priest, and he sayeth the 50th Psalm and
the troparia of compunction, and whatsoever he may wish, together
with the priest.
And the priest goeth to the table of oblation, the deacon preceding,
and the deacon or priest censeth the holy things, praying secretly:
Deacon:
O God cleanse me, a sinner.
Thrice
Deacon:
Lift up, Master.
And the priest taking the aer and layeth it upon the deacon's left
shoulder saying:
Priest: Lift up your hands to the holies, and bless
the Lord.