WESTERN ORTHODOX FORGIVENESS VESPERS FOR THE BEGINNING OF GREAT AND HOLY LENT

A Contemporary Byzantine Icon of the Reconciliation of the Prodigal Son

The Liturgy of Forgiveness According to the Use of the Ancient Church of the West 

Opening Versicles and Responses

The Priest (standing before the Altar): O Lord, open thou our lips. 

The People: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. 

The Priest: O God, make speed to save us. 

The People: O Lord, make haste to help us. 

The Priest: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; 

The People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Psalmody

(One or more of the following Psalms may be chanted or read:)

- Psalm 103 (Benedic, anima mea) – “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy Name…” 

- Psalm 141 (Domine, clamavi) – “Lord, I call upon thee; haste thee unto me, and consider my voice, when I cry unto thee…” 

The Hymn: The Phos Hilaron or a Lenten hymn such as “O Kind Creator, Bow Thine Ear” may be sung. 

The Prophecy

Lesson: Joel 2:12-17 - 

Reader: The Word of the Lord according to the Prophet Joel, beginning in the second chapter and the twelfth verse…

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? 

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

The Reader shall read the Lesson, saying at the end: Here endeth the Lesson. 

The People: Thanks be to God. 

The Canticle 

(The Song of Hezekiah, Isaiah 38:10-20, or the Magnificat, may be used.)

The Epistle

Lesson: Romans 13:11-14

Reader: The Epistle according to the Romans, chapter thirteen, beginning in the eleventh verse…

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The Reader shall read the Lesson, saying at the end: Here endeth the Epistle. 

The People: Thanks be to God. 

The Gospel

All stand. The Priest or Deacon shall read the Gospel, saying first: The Holy Gospel is written in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the sixth chapter, beginning at the fourteenth verse. 

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The People: Glory be to thee, O Lord. 

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” 

At the conclusion:

Deacon or Priest: The Gospel of the Lord. 

The People: Praise be to thee, Lord Christ. 

The Great Prokimenon (chanted by the Cantor or Choir)

“Turn not away thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble: hear me speedily, O Lord.” 

The Litany of Penitence (All kneeling)

The Priest: O Lord, hear our prayer. 

The People: And let our cry come unto thee. 

The Priest: Let us pray. 

O Lord God, who dost not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: we beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ear unto our supplications, and to grant unto us true repentance; that we, acknowledging our sins, and forsaking the same, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

The People: Amen. 

The Rite of Mutual Forgiveness

The Priest (facing the People): Brethren, on this solemn evening, as we enter the Fast of Great and Holy Lent, let us forgive one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us. 

The Priest kneels and says: Forgive me, my brethren, for I have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through mine own fault. 

The People respond: May God forgive thee, and have mercy upon thee. 

The People, in turn, kneel and say: Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through our own fault. 

The Priest responds: May God forgive you, and have mercy upon you. 

(All then exchange the kiss of peace, saying: "Forgive me, a sinner," to which the response is, "God forgiveth thee, and I forgive thee.")

The Collect for the First Day of Lent (Ash Wednesday)

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

The People: Amen. 

The Dismissal

The Priest: Let us bless the Lord. 

The People: Thanks be to God. 

The Priest: May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us absolution and remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Ghost. 

The People: Amen. 

The Priest: The Lord be with you. 

The People: And with thy spirit. 

The Priest: The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. 

The People: Amen. 

(All depart in silence, or the Great Canon of St. Andrew may follow in private recitation throughout the first week of Lent.)