Order of the Blessing of New Ecclesiastical Vestments

That is, the sticharion, epitrochelion, belt, cuffs, and phelonion

Translated by Archpriest Eugene Tarris from the Trebnik published by St. Job of Pochaev Monastery in Slovenia, May 12, 1944.

Before the Royal Doors on a table prepared for the blessing of the offerings are placed the new vestments. The priest in epitrochelion and phelonion with the censer, goes out through the Royal Doors, and censes crosswise around the vestments, and begins as usual:

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth Who is everywhere and fills all things, Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

O most holy Trinity: have mercy on us. Lord: cleanse us from our sins. Master: pardon our transgressions. Holy One: visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.

Lord, have mercy (3)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

Come! Let us worship God, our King!
Come! Let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!
Come! Let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!

And Psalm 132 (133)

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

The priest reads this prayer:

O Lord, God Almighty, Who from the beginning performs all things useful for the human race, to create temples made by human hands in Your holy Name, to sanctify them in Your own glory, and to name the delightful place of the tent of Your glory: Who had ordered by Your servant Moses the vestments of the high priest, priestly and Levitical, and those various decorations in comeliness and beauty of the temple and Your sanctuary; mercifully hear now our entreaty, and bless, cleanse, and sanctify these vestments (name them), in honor and glory of Your all holy Name, prepared for the adornment of Your holy mysteries, through me Your humble and unworthy servant, so that they be worthily revealed for the service for Your holy Mysteries, and for every Doxology of Your all holy Name, and for Your consecrated servers to be vested with them, that they be for the deliverance and protection from all wiles and temptations of enemies, in Your pleasantness, and for the proper service for Your holy Mysteries, and in provision of Your grace and mercy;

Through the grace and compassion and love toward mankind of Your only begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all holy, good, and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be to all.

People: And to your Spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.

People: To You, O Lord.

The Priest, bowing his head, reads this prayer:

O Master, God Almighty, Source of every good gift and sanctification, look down now on our prayer, and these vestments (he names them), made for the adornment and comeliness of Your priestly servers, by the grace of Your all holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this holy water, are blessed, holy, and sanctified, that all those who are worthily vested for Your holy Mysteries, serve, and accept You always as Creator.

And he exclaims: For You are our Sanctification, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your only begotten Son, and Your all holy, good, and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The priest then takes the holy water, sprinkles it on the vestments lying there, saying:

These vestments (he names them) are sanctified by the grace of the all Holy Spirit, through the sprinkling of this sanctified water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen (3)

And if it be the Divine Liturgy, not performing the dismissal, the priest himself carries them into the Sanctuary, vests himself in them, and continues the service: if there is no service, he performs the usual daily dismissal, carries them into the sanctuary, and lays them on the Holy Altar.


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