THE WASHING OF THE ALTAR TABLE
Since the Altar Table represents the Tomb of Christ and His body lies therein. The Altar must undergo its own “Baptism” (washing) and “Chrismation” (anointing). Before washing and anointing the Altar Table the Bishop puts on a white linen garment called the Savanon. While the faithful kneel, the Bishop reads the prayer of Consecration.
THE BISHOP: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Again and again, bending on our knees, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
THE BISHOP: O God, without beginning and eternal, Who callest all things into being from nothingness; Who dwellest in light unapproachable, and hast the heavens for Thy throne, and the earth for Thy footstool; Who didst give a law and pattern unto Moses and didst inspire Bezaleel with the spirit of wisdom, and didst enable them to complete the perfect building of the Tabernacle of Thy Covenant, wherein ordinances of divine worship were instituted which were the images and types of the truth; Who didst bestow upon Solomon breadth and greatness of heart, and thereby didst rear of old the Church; and upon Thy holy and all; laudable Apostles didst renew the service in the Spirit, and the grace of the true Tabernacle, and through the same, O Lord of Hosts, didst plant thy Churches and Thine Altars in all the earth, that there might be offered unto Thee consecrated and bloodless sacrifices; Who, also, hast graciously been pleased to found this Church, in the Name of (Church’s Name) to Thy glory, and to the glory of Thine Only-begotten Son, and of Thine all-holy Spirit:
Do Thou, the same immortal and generous King, call to mind Thy bounties and Thy mercies, which are from everlasting, and abhor not us who are defiled with a multitude of sins, neither annual Thou Thy Covenant because of our uncleanliness; but disregard Thou now our iniquities, and strengthen us with the Grace and inspiration of Thy life-giving and Holy Spirit, that without condemnation we may accomplish the renewal of this Church, and fulfill the consecration of the Altar therein; that therein blessing Thee in Psalms, and songs, and mystical rites we may always magnify Thy loving-kindness. Yea, O Master, Lord our God, the hope of all the ends of the earth, hear us sinners who make our supplications unto Thee, and send down Thine all-holy and worshipful, and almighty Spirit, and sanctify this Church and this Altar; Fill it with the light everlasting; elect it for Thy dwelling place; make it the abode of Thy glory. Adorn it with Thy divine and supernatural gifts.
Appoint it for a haven of the tempest tossed, for a healing of passions, for a refuge of the weak, for an expelling of evil spirits. Let Thine eyes be open upon it day and night and let Thine ears be heedful of the prayer of those who shall enter therein in Thy fear, and in devoutness, and shall call upon Thine all honorable and worshipful Name; that whatsoever they shall ask of Thee, Thou wilt hear it in heaven above and wilt show mercy and be gracious unto them. Preserve it indestructible even unto the end of the ages, and show forth the holy Altar therein, an Altar of Thy Holy Things through the power and indwelling of Thy Holy Spirit, Glorify it above the Mercy Seat according to the Law; that the holy offices which shall be celebrated thereon may attain unto Thy holy, and most heavenly and super-sensual Altar and obtain for us the grace of Thy most pure overshadowing; for we trust not in the service of our unworthy hands, but in Thine unspeakable goodness.
The Deacon then offers petitions for the peace of the world, for the Church and city in which it is located, for the Consecrating Bishop, and for the Holy Altar Table.
DEACON: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, raise and protect us, O God by Thy Grace.
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For this Holy House and for those that enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For our (Consecrating Bishop) the honorable Priesthood, the Diaconate in Christ and for all clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the work of our hands and our assembled brethren, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For the sanctification of this Holy House and the Altar therein through the descent, might and works of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For this City and every city and land and for the faithful who dwell in them, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: For those who travel by land, sea and air, for the sick, the suffering and captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save, have mercy on us, O God, by Thy Grace.
Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed and glorified Lady, Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
THE BISHOP: For holy art Thou, O our God, Who restest among the Saints and the Martyrs who suffered for Thee, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
A basin of water is brought to the Bishop who blesses and prays for its sanctification.
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
THE BISHOP: O Lord our God, Who sanctified the streams of Jordan by Thy saving manifestation. Do Thou, the same Lord, Send down also now the Grace of the all; Holy Spirit on this Thy present Altar and bless us and this water unto sanctification and completion of Thy Holy Altar.
For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
THE BISHOP: In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
The Bishop then pours water on the Altar three times saying: “In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, and washes the Altar Table while Psalm 84 is read. This act symbolizes Baptism: The Altar is cleaned by washing, and sanctified (made Holy) by the Grace of the Holy Spirit. After washing, the Altar is then dried.
READER:
Psalm 84
O how amiable are Thy dwellings, Thou Lord of Hosts! My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young; even Thy altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house they will be always praising Thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are Thy ways. Who going through the valley of misery use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water. They will go from strength to strength, and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Zion. O Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of Thine Anointed. For one day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness. For the Lord God is a light and defense; the Lord will give grace and worship; and no good thing shall He withhold from them that live a godly life. O Lord God of Hosts blessed is the man that putteth his trust in Thee.
THE BISHOP: Glory to our God unto the ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
~Website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA), Service of the Consecration of a Church, http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/consecrate_church. Liturgical texts provided by Holy Cross, Brookline, MA.
