ANOINTING OF THE CHURCH
The Bishop then anoints the four walls of the Church and the Holy Icons making the sign of the Cross on them with Holy Chrism. This act symbolizes the sanctification of all creation with the Grace of Christ.
THE BISHOP: Glory to the Holy and Almighty and life-giving Trinity, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
DEACON: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON: Help us, save, have mercy on us and protect 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 to Thee belong all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH AND THE ALTAR TABLE
Upon completion of the Anointing, the Bishop offers prayers for the Altar and the Church:
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
THE BISHOP: O Lord of heaven and earth, Who with wisdom ineffable hast founded Thy holy Church and hast appointed the Order of the Priesthood upon the earth for an antitype of the Angels’ service in heaven. Do Thou. O munificent Lord, receive also us who now make our petitions unto Thee; not as being worthy to ask such great things of Thee, but that the exceeding excellence of Thy goodness may be manifested; for Thou hast not ceased in manifold benefits to be gracious unto mankind. And, as the chiefest of Thy benefits, Thou hast bestowed upon us the coming in the flesh of Thine Only begotten Son, Who was seen upon earth, and shedding forth the light of salvation upon them that sat in darkness, did offer Himself a sacrifice for us, and became a propitiation for the whole world, making us to be partakers of His Resurrection; and after that He had ascended into heaven.
He endured His Apostles and Disciples, as fie had promised, with from on high, which is the Holy Spirit, adored power and almighty, who proceedeth from Thee, our God and Father; through Whom, also, they became mighty in deed and in word, administered Baptism unto the adoption of sonship, built Churches, established Altars, and instituted the laws and precepts of the Priesthood. And we sinners, having preserved the tradition thereof, do fall down before Thee, the everlasting and compassionate God, and implore Thee: Fill with Thy glory divine this Church erected to Thy praise, and show Thou forth the holy Altar therein set up as the Holy of Holies: that we who stand before it, as before the dread Throne of Thy kingdom, may serve Thee uncondemned, sending up unto Thee petitions for ourselves and for all the people, and offering the bloodless sacrifice to Thy goodness, unto the remission of sins both voluntary and involuntary, unto the governing of our life, the attainment of a good life and the fulfilling of all righteousness.
For blessed be Thine all-holy Name of the Father, and Of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
THE BISHOP: Peace be with you all.
CHOIR: And with thy spirit.
DEACON: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
The Bishop blesses the faithful and offers another prayer for the Altar Table. He asks God to fill this Altar with His Grace so that the Bloodless Sacrifice may be offered upon it:
BISHOP: We thank Thee, O Lord our God, for that Thou hast graciously vouchsafed to continue also even unto us sinners and Thine unworthy servants, because of Thy great love toward mankind, that grace which Thou hast poured out upon Thy holy Apostles and upon our holy Fathers. Wherefore we pray Thee, O All merciful Lord: Fill with glory, and holiness, and Grace this Altar, that the bloodless sacrifices which shall thereon be offered unto Thee may be transformed into the most pure Body and precious Blood of Thine Only begotten Son, Who is our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto the salvation of all Thy people, and of our unworthiness.
For Thou art our God and to Thee we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
SCRIPTURAL READINGS
The Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews (Chapter 3:1-4) is read, as well as a selection from the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 10:22-30).
DEACON: Let us attend.
READER: Holiness befits Thy house, O Lord. The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty.
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews (3: 1-4).
DEACON: Let us attend.
READER: Therefore holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God’s house. Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone but the builder of all things is God.
THE BISHOP: Peace be with you Reader.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
PRIEST: Wisdom. Attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
THE BISHOP: Peace be with you all.
CHOIR: And with Thy Spirit.
PRIEST: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John (10:22-30). Let us attend.
CHOIR: Glory to Thee O Lord glory to Thee.
THE BISHOP: It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him: “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me: but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
CHOIR: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
~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.
