THE DIVINE LITURGY OF
ST. BASIL THE GREAT
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysosysom are
identical up to Ye Catechumens, bow your heads unto the Lord.
From thereon, all the prayers said by the Priest are different. For the Choir
the only difference is the hymn to the Mother of God sung after the Priest
exclaims
More especially our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and
glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Instead of “Meet it is” the Choir shall sing the following:
Hail, thou who art full of grace, all creation rejoices in thee, the
assembly of the angels and all the human race. O hallowed
temple, mystical paradise, and the glory of maidenhood, of
whom God, our God before all worlds, was incarnate and
became a child. Thy womb He made His throne and the same He
made wider than the heavens. All creation rejoices in thee, O full
of grace, glory to thee.
On Holy and Great Thursday instead of the Cherubic Hymn the Choir shall
sing:
Of thy mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me this day as a
partaker; for I will not speak of the mystery to Thine enemies,
nor will I give Thee a kiss like Judas;
And the Choir shall pause for the Great Entrance and after the Great Entrance
the Choir shall continue:
But like the thief I will acknowledge Thee:
Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when Thou comest into Thy
kingdom.
Remember
me, O Holy one, when Thou comest into Thy
kingdom.
Instead of “We have seen the true light” the Choir shall sing:
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Of thy mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me this day as a
partaker; for I will not speak of the mystery to Thine enemies,
nor will I give Thee a kiss like Judas; but like the thief I will
acknowledge Thee: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest
into Thy kingdom.
On Holy and Great Saturday, instead of the Cherubic Hymn, the Choir shall
sing:
Let
all mortal flesh keep silent, and stand with fear and
trembling, taking no thought for any earthly thing. For the King
of kings and Lord of lords cometh to be slain and given as food
for the faithful.
And the Choir shall pause for the Great Entrance and after the Great Entrance
the Choir shall continue:
Before Him go the choirs of angels with all the principalities
and powers, the many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged
seraphim, covering their faces as they sing the hymn: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Instead of “We have seen the true light” the Choir shall sing:
Remember us, O Merciful One, as Thou didst remember the
thief in the kingdom of heaven.
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