The Great Ecténia.

After the glorification of the Creator in the words of the Introductory Psalm, short petitions for the granting of various favors are slowly recited by the deacon, and after each petition the worshippers — or the choir in their stead — sing the response “Lord, have mercy!” The collection of these petitions is called ectenia, from a Greek word which means “extended, protracted.” It begins with the invitation: “In peace let us pray to the Lord” (i.e., “being at Peace with all men and undistracted in spirit”), — and consists of supplications “for the peace from above and the salvation of our souls” (i.e., that the Lord may be at peace with us, forgive us our transgressions and grant through this salvation to our souls); “for the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God and the union of all” (i.e., that the Lord may grant peace to the whole world, help Christian communities to stand firm in faith and piety, cause the divisions between Christians to cease, and unite them all into one Church); “for this holy temple (wherein the service is performed), and for them that with faith, reverence and the fear of God enter herein.” Then follow supplications for various members of the Church and the State: “For the Orthodox episcopate of the Church of Russia (or another national Church under which the service is being held); for our Lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our Lord the Most Reverend (Arch­bishop or Bishop N, whose diocese it is); for the venerable priesthood,” (i.e., the body of bishops and presbyters or priests who govern the Church), “the diaconate in Christ,” (the body of deacons), “for all the clergy” (all persons attached to the Church, including readers, choristers, sextons) “and people,” (the congregation and parishioners); “for the suffering Russian Land and its Orthodox peo­ple both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation”; “for this land, its authorities and armed forces”; “that He may deliver His people from enemies visible and invisible, and confirm in us oneness of mind, brotherly love, and piety”; “for this city” (or town or holy monastery, wherein the Church is), “for every city and country, and those that in faith dwell therein” (i.e., the Christian population).* After offering up petitions for the members of the Church and the State, we pray to the Lord “for seasonable weather, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times,” (i.e., that the Lord may deliver us from calamitous weather, and from airborne maladies, from bad crops, and from war); “For travelers by sea, land, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, and for their salvation”; “that we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity”; that He may “help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.” The ectenia ends by our committing ourselves to the will of God: “Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.”

In response to these words, the worshippers sing “To Thee, O Lord.” Upon which, the petitions being ended, the priest calls out aloud “For to Thee are due all glory, and honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of the ages”; i.e., we offer our supplications unto Thee, because to Thee, the Triune God, we owe glory, honor and adoration. In response to this exclamation of the priest, the worshippers utter the word, “Amen,” which means “yes, truly is this so.”

This ectenia is called “the Great,” because it consists of many petitions, also “the Ectenia of Peace,” because it beseeches for mercy. It is recited in front of the closed Royal Gates, in token that sin has removed us from God and has closed against us the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven. The closing of the Royal Gates soon after the Introductory Psalm is meant to signify that the bliss of our first parents in Eden was of brief duration.