The Funeral Service

The Service for Those Who Have Fallen Asleep

"For you are all one in Jesus Christ."

                                                        --Galatians 3:28

The Funeral Service below is sung for all those who have fallen asleep: kings and patriarchs, bishops and priests, men and women, young and old, except for infants, whose Funeral Service can be found on pages 126-132.

When a pious Orthodox Christian dies, the Clergy are invited by one of his (her) relatives. Coming to the place, where the deceased lies, the Clergy put on their vestments, take up the censer, and begin.

Trisagion for the Dead

Priest

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

Reader

Amen. 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.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake.

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.

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 are in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name; Your Kingdom come.

Your 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, I of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; both  now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparia, Tone 4

With the spirits of the righteous made perfect Give rest to the soul of Your servant, O Savior; And keep it safe in that life of blessedness That is lived with You, O Friend of Man.

In the place of Your rest, O Lord, Where all Your Saints repose, Give rest also to the soul of Your servant, For You alone are immortal.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

You are our God Who went down to Hades To loose the pains of the dead that were there; Give rest also to the soul of Your servant, O Savior.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

O Virgin, alone pure and immaculate that in maiden-motherhood brought forth God, intercede for the salvation of the soul of your servant.

Priest

Have mercy on us. O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray You, listen and have mercy.

Choir:

Lord have mercy.

Priest:

Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God (Name), departed this life, and for the forgiveness of his (her) every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.

Choir:

Lord have mercy. Let the Lord God establish his (her) soul where the Just repose; the mercies of God, the Kingdom of the Heavens, and the remission of his (her) sins, let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and our God.

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

Priest:

O God of all spirits and of every flesh, Who did trod down death and overcome the devil, bestowing life on this Your world, to the soul of this Your servant (Name), departed this life, do You Yourself, O Lord, give rest in a place of fight, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain and sorrow and mourning have fled away. Every sin by him (her) committed in thought, word, or deed, do You as our Good and Loving God forgive; seeing that there is no man who shall live and sin not, for You alone are without sin. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth; for You are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Your servant (Name), departed this life, O Christ our God; and to You do we send up glory, with Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit; both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Reader:

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

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy. Holy Father Bless.

Priest:

Glory to You, O Christ our God and our Hope; glory to You. May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, have mercy on us; He Who as Immortal King has authority over both the dead and the living. Through the intercessions of His spotless, pure and holy Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all;praiseworthy Apostles; of our venerable and Godbearing Fathers; of the holy and glorious forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; of His holy and just friend Lazaros, who lay in the grave four days; and of all the Saints; establish the soul of His servant (Name), departed from us, in the tentings of the Just; give him (her) rest in the bosom of Abraham; and number him (her) among the Just, through His goodness and compassion as our merciful God.

Everlasting be your memory, O our brother, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory. (3)

For women:

Everlasting be your memory, O our sister, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord, Jesus Christ our God, have mercy and save us. Amen.

When all things are ready for the funeral, the priest blesses again, and we begin to sing the Trisagion.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Taking up the body, we take it to the church, where it is placed on the solea The priest leads the way, singing the Trisagion and holding the censer.