The augmented litany

[Michael Astley]

I am very interested by the various petitions that are, from time to time, inserted into the Augmented Litany at the Divine liturgy. (For clarity's sake, this is the litany after the Gospel with the triple "Lord, have mercy". This is referred to in modern Greek usage as the Litany of Fervent Supplication, which is the same title used in the Slav use to refer to the litany after the Great Entrance - all very confusing).

I know that there are set ones in the priest's service book for the sick, for those about to travel, for petitons granted, and for one or two other things, I think. I also know that there are others that are stipulated for use occasionally by local synods. For instance, during the run up to the restoration of normal relations between the Church of Russia and the Russian Church Abroad, the ROCOR Synod directed that the following two petitions be added:


O Master all-good, watch over thy flock and all the children of the Russian Church Abroad, that we may bring about the structuring of our Church in a manner well-pleasing to Thee. Grant us the spirit of wisdom and understanding; instill in our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety and zeal for the glory of Thy holy name. Guard us against all temptations, stumbling-blocks and divisions, that, bound together, one to another, by the bond of love for Thee, our Master, we may without hindrance perform the work of our ministry for the edification of the Holy Church as the one Body of Christ. We pray Thee, O greatly Merciful One: hearken and have mercy!

O good Shepherd, Who hast promised to gather Thy scattered sheep into a single flock, put down scandal and division within the Church; all who have strayed from thy path do Thou lead to repentance and a knowledge of the Truth, and return them to thy fold; and confirm us all in the Orthodox Faith and the doing of thy commandments. We pray Thee: hearken and have mercy!

At my parish, we also used the first one of these during the weeks before the synod elected our new First Hierarch.

However, there are others that I have heard, some of which are rather lovely, but which I have never seen in any service book and have been unable to find online.

One that I have heard used regularly is this rather splendid one:


Again we pray Thee, look down with mercy upon thy Church; do Thou strengthen, govern, and establish Her, and defend her against the wiles of her enemies. Do Thou cast down all dissension, schism, heresy, apostasy, and unbelief, and spread abroad in our land and in every place piety, devotion, and zeal for Orthodoxy; illumine those in darkness and error and those enslaved to sin, and soften the hardness of their hearts that they may come to know Thee. Help them and us to live holy and blameless lives, and root the saving Faith firmly and make it bear fruit in our hearts; we fervently entreat Thee, hearken, and have mercy!

Then there's the beautiful one for expectant mothers, in which we ask for them to be granted safe delivery, and that their infants may grow healthy in body and intelligent in soul.

Does anybody know where these come from, or indeed of any others? Where might I find more, if there are any?

Thank you.

Pax,
Michael

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Michale Astley wrote:


Does anybody know where these come from, or indeed of any others? Where might I find more, if there are any?



Most of these prayers come from Molebens of different sorts. As you point out they can be inserted into the Litany of Fervent Supplication according to need and appropriateness.

In certain cases petitions are also added to the Great Litany at Liturgy.


What is the source for the beautiful petition you quote: "Again we pray Thee, look down with mercy upon thy Church..." It feels like it comes from the Moleben done on the Sunday of Orthodoxy for the return of those fallen away from the Church. Do you know if this petition is available in Slavonic also?

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear friends,

On the subject of this litany, I have heard it claimed (from someone whom I consider generally knowledgeable) that it is 'the deacon's prerogative' to add petitions to this litany if he so wish, at the given place for insertions, as part of his ministry. However, I've never known this to be a practice, and can think of nothing textual to substantiate it.

Have others any thoughts?

INXC, Dcn Matthew
(who has no wish to augment the litany, but is curious all the same about the statement)

[Father David Moser]

it is 'the deacon's prerogative' to add petitions to this litany if he so wish, at the given place for insertions, as part of his ministry.

I would amend the above to say, "it is the deacon's prerogative, with the blessing of the priest(rector/chief celebrant) and ruling hierarch, to add petitions (such as are approved by the priest/bishop) to this litany." I don't think that the idea is to give the deacon license to "create" litanies on the fly (or even to create them ahead of time according to his wishes) and insert them willy nilly into the litany. Remember that all things must be done in good order in the Church.

The litanies are not the deacon's private prayers, but rather the prayers of the whole Church. The deacon speaks with the voice of the whole people when he intones the litanies and the priest takes the "prayer of the people" and offers it up to God, thus neither the priest nor the deacon can pray "willfully" in the liturgy for then they would no longer be in "synch" with the communal prayer, and would be turning the liturgy into their own private prayers, with the people then only watching them pray (rather than participating in the prayer themselves). In this regard I think the qualifier that the deacon can do this "as a part of his ministry" takes on extreme importance. The deacon's ministry is undertaken with the blessing of and at the direction of the priest and bishop. The deacon's ministry is to be the eyes and ears (and hands) of the bishop (and priest) when the latter are not able to intervene. But the deacon does nothing on his own initiative (he doesn't vest without a blessing, he doesn't read or offer litanies without a blessing, etc), but only with the blessing of the priest (or their ruling bishop).

Fr David Moser

[Michael Astley]

Most of these prayers come from Molebens of different sorts.

Aha! Thank you for this, Father. I must explore the Book of Needs a little more thoroughly.


In certain cases petitions are also added to the Great Litany at Liturgy.

Under what circumstances would this happen? I know that there are additional petitions in this Litany for other services, such as the blessing of bells, consecration of churches, baptisms, and such like, but I
wasn't aware that there were additional petitions for use at the Liturgy as well.


What is the source for the beautiful petition you quote: "Again we pray Thee, look down with mercy upon thy Church..." It feels like it comes from the Moleben done on the Sunday of Orthodoxy for the return of those fallen away from the Church. Do you know if this petition is available in Slavonic also?

Having googled this moleben, I see that you are right. There is a significant amount of overlap and it seems that some of the expressions were borrowed from there. As for who penned it and whence it comes, I cannot tell, but I can try to find out. It is used at my parish, presumably from the days when we were under the care of the St Eadward Brotherhood at Brookwood, for it also appears in the text of their Liturgy, of which I have a copy.

I'll see what I can find out.

Deacon Matthew's sign-off about not wanting to augment the litany led me to wonder whether these petitions are only used in certain jurisdictions. I mentioned the above petition to an Antiochian priest friend of mine, who loved it but said that it seemed awfully long for a litany petition. I respectfully pointed out that it is no longer than the other petitions that are provided in the service books for insertion into that litany, and it seems that he had never encountered these petitions. His parish generally follows the Greek tradition (the use of the antiphons, Greek variations where there are textual and ceremonial differences, one large loaf, and so forth), and I wonder whether the provision for additional petitions is not made in the Greek service books. It would go some way to explaining why it is only in the Russian tradition service books that I have seen this referred to as the Augmented Litany. I suppose you wouldn't call it that if you didn't actually augment it, which could be why Greek service books tend to call it something different. That said, I know that Father Deacon Matthew is in the Sourozh diocese, so that sort of blows my theory out of the water.

Any thoughts?

Pax,
Michael

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Michael Astley asked concerning petitions added at the Great Litany during the Divine Liturgy:



Under what circumstances would this happen? I know that there are additional petitions in this Litany for other services, such as the blessing of bells, consecration of churches, baptisms, and such like, but I
wasn't aware that there were additional petitions for use at the Liturgy as well.

There are numbers of these found in various service books. So far however I haven't seen these provided in our English (rocor) books but only in the Slavonic versions.

Thus they can be found in the Иерейский Молитвослов (Hierarchal Prayer Book- Montreal 1987; blessed by Metropolitan Vitaly) and in the most recent edition of the служебник from Russia (priest's service book).

Along with these can be added petitions at the Fervent Supplication (many of these can be found in our English rocor priest's service book) along with a special prayer at the proskomedia. The variety of these prayers again, is wider than we find presently offered in our English service books; eg for the Departed. Following this logic I think that petitions from other molebens could also be chosen.

These would be chosen according to the circumstance at hand.

Such petitions are very commonly chosen in the churches influenced or following the Russian tradition. In some cases these petitions can be quite long. Keep in mind that various prayers are also often added. In the Russian tradition in the length of these prayers along with the sound of the Slavonic there is some special atmosphere that becomes part of the Liturgy. Maybe that is why Russians so much love adding Molebens and even Panichidas at the end of a Liturgy that has already gone on for many hours.

I don't know why this would be called the Augmented Litany. In Slavonic it is called сугубая (sugubaya) which with my not too extensive knowledge has a meaning closer to that of Fervent Supplication.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Michael Astley]

Thank you for that, Father. It is unfortunate that we are "short-changed" in the English translations of the provision for additional petitions. They can be so beautiful. I managed to acquire the text of three more that we use at my parish. My parish priest assures me that they come either from molebens or elsewhere in various trebniks. For clarity, I posted one of the petitions above from memory. the correct text appears below.


For expectant mothers

Again we pray Thee Who didst not abhor the Virgin's womb, look down with mercy upon thy handmaidens, N. and N.,and bless the fruits of their wombs, that their infants grow healthy and well-formed in body, and intelligent in soul, and that they may come to know Thee: and do Thou vouchsafe unto thy handmaids, in due course, safe and easy deliveries, we fervently entreat Thee, hearken and have mercy!

In times of conflict

Again we pray for all those who commit injustice against their neighbours, whether by causing sorrow unto orphans, or by spilling innocent blood, or by returning hatred for hatred, that the Lord God may grant them repentance. Enlighten their souls with the light of love towards their enemies, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy!

For mission and the averting of schism

Again we pray Thee, look down with mercy upon thy Church; do Thou strengthen, establish, and increase Her, and evermore defend her against the wiles of her enemies. Do Thou cast down all dissension, schism, heresy, apostasy, and unbelief, and spread abroad in our land and in every place piety, devotion, and zeal for Orthodoxy; illumine those in darkness and error, and those enslaved to sin, and soften the hardness of their hearts that they may come to know Thee. Help them and us to live holy and blameless lives, and root the saving Faith firmly and make it bear fruit in our hearts; we fervently entreat Thee, hearken, and have mercy!

Pax,
Michael

[Anthony Stokes]

Does anybody know where these come from, or indeed of any others? Where might I find more, if there are any?
Thank you.
Pax,
Michael


We have 4 that we insert for the building of a new church. I'm not sure where they came from. I think they come from a prayer for building a church, but we break it up into 4 petitions. I know that the bishop has blessed our use of them.

1) O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Cornerstone of Thy holy Church, Giver of every good gift, the One who first loved us, look down upon us Thy people who desire to build a temple unto Thy glory in memory of Thy saint [Maximus the Confessor] and grant us the wisdom, strength, and resources to accomplish this task in accordance with Thy will, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.

2) Remember the friends and benefactors of this parish who support the construction of this holy temple and bless them with Thy good things.

3) And as Thou didst proclaim that even if Thy disciples were silent, the very stones would cry out, so also grant that this holy temple may proclaim Thee and draw all who dwell in this city and county to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. Inflame our hearts with love for Thee that we may offer to Thee ourselves and all Thou hast given us to the glory of Thy holy Name.

There is another one, and I think that #2 may have more to it. I copied this from the prayer on our church website.

Subdeacon Anthony

[Andreas Moran]

In the monastery here, it is usual to include, during the prayers of the faithful before the cherubic hymn, some petitions written by Elder Sophrony. These petitions are called 'Before the Cherubic Hymn' and there are six sets of them. 'Kyrie eleison' is sung between the verses in each set. I can't set them out here but they are in Elder Sophrony's book, 'On Prayer'.

[Aristibule]

Aha! Collects. I had wondered where we had them in the Byzantine rite. I just hadn't seen it in the Greek or Antiochian liturgy (and, I've missed it in the Serbian and Russian liturgies, as I've not been to many of those in English.)

[Christopher]

. . .the deacon does nothing on his own initiative (he doesn't vest without a blessing, he doesn't read or offer litanies without a blessing, etc), but only with the blessing of the priest (or their ruling bishop).

. . . and, the Presbyter's are reminded that they are the deputy's to the Bishop with the recurring, "Bless Master!", from the lowly deacons.

The USTAV/Usage [Russian/Greek/Serbian/etc.] varies from Jurisdiction to Jurisdiction, and, from country to country, etc., in "allowing" augmented petitions.

A blanket statement might need this qualification.

Evlogeite!

[Carlos Antonio Palad]

I see that this discussion is a little more than a month old, so I'd like to ask the following:

In the English translation of the Divine Liturgy that is in the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese there is a "Prayer of the Faithful", but it doesn't seem to be litanic in form

http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/liturgical_texts/liturgy_hchc.asp

The relevant section reads as follows:


THE HOLY GOSPEL

Priest: Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be with all.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to (Name). Let us be attentive.
People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
(*The Priest reads the designated pericope of the holy Gospel.)
People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

THE HOMILY
(Following the readings, it is customary for the priest to proclaim the Gospel.)

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Priest (in a low voice): Again, we bow before You and pray to You, O good and loving God. Hear our supplication: cleanse our souls and bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and grant that we may stand before Your holy altar without blame or condemnation. Grant also, O God, progress in life, faith, and spiritual discernment to the faithful who pray with us, so that they may always worship You with reverence and love, partake of Your Holy Mysteries without blame or condemnation, and become worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.
Priest: And grant that always guarded by Your power we may give glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.

THE GREAT ENTRANCE
People: We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all . . .

*******************************

I have been listening to an online broadcast of the Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy (and attended it on occasion in the Greek Orthodox cathedral in Metropolitan Manila) and I've noticed that the Divine Liturgy jumps almost straight from the Gospel to the Cherubic Hymn, with just a very few prayers chanted (and certainly no litanies).

Is this Litany of Fervent Supplication after the Gospel routinely omitted in Greek churches?

[Olga]

Is this Litany of Fervent Supplication after the Gospel routinely omitted in Greek churches?


In my experience, yes. Though this is beginning to change in some Greek churches where I live. The Prayer of the Faithful you linked to is one of the priestly "inaudible" prayers.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Carlos and others,

Yes, this is a 'standard abbreviation' in the Greek tradition, where the closing proclamation of the Gospel jumps directly to the proclamation at the end of the second litany of the faithful, and thus directly into the Great Entrance. This means that the Litany of Fervent Supplication, the Litany of the Catechumens and the Litanies of the Faithful are ommitted.

Regrettably.

INXC, Deacon Matthew

[Michael Astley]

This means that the Litany of Fervent Supplication, the Litany of the Catechumens and the Litanies of the Faithful are ommitted.

And the Litany for the Departed, on the appropriate days.

Mind you, I have never heard this in a Greek church, even on those days when it would normally be said. Is this another abbreviation in the (modern) Greek tradition?


Regrettably.

Agreed.

[Carlos Antonio Palad]

Dear Carlos and others,

Yes, this is a 'standard abbreviation' in the Greek tradition, where the closing proclamation of the Gospel jumps directly to the proclamation at the end of the second litany of the faithful, and thus directly into the Great Entrance. This means that the Litany of Fervent Supplication, the Litany of the Catechumens and the Litanies of the Faithful are ommitted.

Regrettably.

INXC, Deacon Matthew

I would like to note, though, that what the Greeks have shortened in the text of the Divine Liturgy, they seem to make up for with long and elaborate chanting.

I've just finished listening to the daily Divine Liturgy from Pireaus Cathedral and, with all these abbreviations and without any sermon and no intervals of silence, it still lasted about an hour and a half. I think that it's quite longer on Sundays.

If the abbreviated portions are used (the Litanies, the longer litany before the Our Father, the typical psalms and troparia of the Beatitudes, etc.), the Divine Liturgy may well last two hours or more on an ordinary day.

[Anthony H.]

In his commentary on the Divine Liturgy, The Heavenly Banquet, Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis, says the following about these litanies, addressing the Greek practice:

These ancient petitions are unfortunately left out in most of our churches for the sake of brevity. However in some churches the priest uses them to commemorate the sick, those traveling and those in need. Special petitions are also inserted at this time for victims of natural disasters and conflicts around the world, for calamities and other needs as they emerge, etc., so that the Church shows her concern about what is happening in the world and in the lives of Her children.

Perhaps this is also the proper place to acknowledge special events in the lives of parishioners, such as anniversaries, graduations, promotions, special recognitions, new members, and to pray as a community for such church members. Thus the congregation is and feels united, remembering and praying for the well-being of each other, and thus solidifying their unity.

A Litany for the Departed, consisting of a set of petitions for the departed, used to follow at this point, whenever there was a memorial. This Litany is usually omitted, the main reason being that on Sundays we are not supposed to offer memorial services for the dead. (THB, page 150)

[Archimandrite Irenei]

I do not believe there was ever a point when all the insertable petitions at this litany were ever included by default; they are, by their very nature, situational and only inserted when appropriate as need arises (e.g. the petitions for the sick are included when there are sick persons in the parish; those for famine when famine is present); so it isn't quite correct to say that these are left out for the sake of brevity. It might be more accurate to say that, given they are only meant for use on given occasions and not 'generally', many priests may simply not be aware of their existence.

[Theodora E.]

Michael, thank you for mentioning this! I've been thinking about this recently, as we've got additional prayers for the election of a new bishop (I'm in the OCA Diocese of the Midwest) to replace Archbishop Job of blessed memory. :(