Service Commemorating the Ten Year Anniversary of September 11, 2001
Served in churches of the Greek Archdiocese, Metropolis of Atlanta.
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Choir: (Eviogitos El Christe o Theos lmon)[1] Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, / Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise / by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, / and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. // O Befriender of man, glory be to Thee.
Choir: (Soson Kyrie)[2] O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant Thou victory unto Orthodox Christians over their enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.
Choir: (Ti Upermacho)[3] To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee: Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Priest: Have mercy on us, 0 God, according to Thy great love, we pray to Thee hear us and have mercy.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for our Archbishop Alexios and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, protection, pardon and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all devout and Orthodox Christians living and residing in this community and city, for the members, council members, trustees and benefactors of this Holy and Sacred Church.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for our country, the United States of America, for our President, for those in civil authority, for the men and women who serve in our armed forces and their families, and for those living in areas of conflict throughout our nation and throughout the world.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for the reconciliation of nations, the ending of hostilities and the establishment of peace in the world.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, protection, strength and healing for the servants of God, all those whose lives were affected by the terrorist attack on America on September 11, for their health and salvation, let us pray.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray for the repose of the souls of God’s servants, those who fell asleep in the Lord during and after the terrorist attack on America on September 11, and for the forgiveness of their sins voluntary and involuntary; that the Lord our God will place their souls where the just repose, let us ask for the mercies of God, the kingdom of heaven and for the remission of their sins from Christ our immortal king and our God.
People: Aionia I Mnimi, Aionia I Mnimi, Aionia Auton I Mnimi May their memory be eternal, may their memory be eternal, may their memory be eternal. Aionia I Mnimi, Aionia I Mnimi, Aionia Auton I Mnimi.
Priest: Again we pray for the protection and safekeeping of this Holy Church, this city and every city and town, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasions, civil strife and accidental death, that our good and loving God may be merciful, gracious and favorable to us, that He may turn and keep away from us all wrath and sickness, and deliver us from His impending justified chastisement and have mercy on us.
People: Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Again we pray that the Lord our God will hear the voice of the petitions of us sinners and have mercy on us.
People:Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Priest: Hear us O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and from those who live far off on the sea. Be gracious towards us, O Master, towards our many sins, and have mercy on us. For Thou art a merciful and loving God and to Thee we offer up Glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Kyrie Eleison
Priest: 0 Lord, our God, Creator and Sovereign ruler of all, who has put boundaries around the nations for the people to live in peace, and who has blessed our country with prosperity and freedom, we ask that Thou extend Thy hand from heaven and place it upon our nation especially today, as we commemorate the unjustified and savage attack on September 11, 2001.
We pray that Thou wilt grant rest to the souls of all those who died in faith on that dark and sad day, that Thou wilt continue to grant healing to those who were wounded, and that Thou wilt grant comfort to those who are still in grief over the loss of their loved ones. Lord, protect the men and women of our armed forces, together with their families. Also we ask that Thou wilt bless and guide our President and all the leaders of this nation, by inspiring them with Thy love and understanding, enable them to make the right decisions so the Faithful live in peace.
In places where there is violence, bring peace.
In places of spiritual darkness, bring the Light of Christ.
In places of sadness, bring joy.
In places of hate, bring love and reconciliation, and in places of despair, bring hope.
All in all, we ask Thee to bless us with Thy presence and make us faithful followers of Thy Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Hear us, 0 God our Savior and help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us by Thy Grace.
For Thou art the King of Kings, the Provider of Peace and the Savior of our souls and to Thee we give glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Chant: The Apollitikion of the Holy Trinity (Eviogitos)
People: God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her,
Through the night with the Light from Above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
Priest: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
People: Amen.
The original text of this service was received in email from my father in law in an image file. The language has been changed to reflect liturgical usage, and common Orthodox hymns changed to the versions sung in our church. We did not use this service[4], but is an example of what was done in another local church on this somber day. This small supplicatory service (paraklesis) was served after Divine Liturgy.
Priest Seraphim Holland 2011. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas
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[1] It is customary to refer to hymns by their first few words. This often also indicates the melody to sing. This hymn is the troparion for Pentecost.
[2] This is the troparion for the Cross. It is sung on the Feastday of the exaltation of the cross, and in all daily matins services, and other services.
[3] The Kontakion from the Akathist to the Theotokos. It is sung in many services, notably at the end of the first hour at vigil.