NOTE: In most cases, only rubrics that are unique to the Bishop’s presence are noted here.

Prior to giving the Peace in the Vespers service, the Bishop dons the epitrachelion and omophorion. The procession with the Icon is done is in the usual manner, as the Bishop descends the Episcopal Throne. After coming up the center of the Church and circling the table three times, the Priest brings the icon to the Bishop and offers it to him for veneration, the Priest himself kissing the Bishop’s right hand. The Bishop takes his place in front of the table, facing the Royal Doors, and serves as the Protos for this service.

Deacon:     Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:     Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:     Again we pray for our Father and Metropolitan (Name), for our father and Bishop (Name), and all our brotherhood in Christ.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:     Again we pray for every Christian soul, afflicted and weary, in need of God’s mercies and help; for the protection of this holy house and those who sing therein and the people here present; for the peace and stability of the whole world; for the good estate of the holy churches of God; for the salvation and help of our fathers and brethren who with diligence and fear of God labor and serve; for those who are gone away and those who are abroad; for those who travel by sea, land, air and through space; for the healing of those who lie in infirmity; for the deliverance of captives; for those imprisoned and in danger; for our brethren who are serving and who are remembered for their labor, and for all who await the mercies of God, let us say.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:     Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation and pardon and forgiveness of sins for the servants of God, the parishioners, members of the parish council and organizations, donors and benefactors of this holy temple and those here present who celebrate this holy feast.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Deacon:     Again we pray that he may keep this holy church and this city and every city and countryside from wrath, famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasion, civil war and sudden death; that our good God, Who lovest mankind, will be gracious, favorable and conciliatory and turn away and dispel all the wrath stirred up against us and all sickness, and may deliver us from His righteous chastisement which impendeth on us, and have mercy upon us.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (40 times)

Deacon:     Again we pray that the Lord our God may hearken unto the voice of the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy upon us.

People:      Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Bishop:      Hear us, O God our Savior, the Hope of all the ends of the earth and of those who are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be gracious, O Master, upon our sins, and have mercy upon us. For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People:      Amen.

THE PEACE

Bishop:      Peace be to all.

People:      And to thy spirit.

Deacon:     Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

People:      To Thee, O Lord.

Bishop:      O Master, great in mercy, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; by the might of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of heaven; at the supplications of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, all-laudable and foremost of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the holy apostles; of our Fathers among the Saints, great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of our fathers among the saints, Athanasius, Cyril and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria; of our Holy Father Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous and Nektarios, bishop of Pentapolis, the wonder-workers; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious martyrs, George the Trophy-Bearer, Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming, Theodore the Soldier, Theodore the General, and Menas the wonder-worker; of the hieromartyrs, Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch, Haralampos and Eleftherios; of the holy, glorious great women martyrs, Thekla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriaki, Photeini, Marina, Paraskeva and Irene; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers who shone in the ascetic life; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of (Patron Saint/Feast of the Church), the patron and protector of this holy community, and of all Thy saints:

                   Make our prayer acceptable;

People:      Amen.

Bishop:      Grant us remission of our trespasses;

People:      Amen.

Bishop:      Shelter us under the shelter of Thy wings;

People:      Amen.

Bishop:      Drive away from us every enemy and adversary;

People:      Amen.

Bishop:      Give peace to our life.

People:      Amen.

Bishop:      O Lord, have mercy on us and on Thy world and save our souls, for Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind.

People:      Amen.

THEOTOKION IN TONE FIVE

Priest:          Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb; for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

Deacon:     Let us pray to the Lord.

People:      Lord, have mercy.

Bishop:      O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who didst bless the five loaves in the wilderness and didst satisfy the five thousand therewith, Thyself bless these loaves, this wheat, wine and oil, and multiply them in this city, in the houses of those who celebrate this feast and in all thy world, and sanctify the faithful who partake of them. For it is Thou Who dost bless and sanctify all things, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People:      Amen.

TROPARION IN TONE SEVEN

Bishop:      Rich men have turned poor and gone hungry; but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good thing.

People:      Rich men have turned poor and gone hungry; but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good thing. (Twice)

Great Vespers resumes with the Aposticha.