Great Vespers

The Beginning.

The service begins with the glorification of the Holy Trinity. With the Royal Gates open, the Church being fully illumined, the priest, standing before the altar, sayeth:— “Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and indivisible Trinity”; then the deacon* thrice invites the congregation to worship Christ, our God and King. In answer to this invitation, the faithful — or the choir in their stead — proceed to sing Psalm 103 of David, which glorifies God the Creator and His Providence: “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly. Confession and majesty hast Thou put on.... Wondrous are Thy works, O Lord! in wisdom hast Thou made them all.... Glory to Thee, Lord, Who hast made all things!” The Psalm is concluded with the thrice-sung “Alleluia!” which means “Praise the Lord,” or “May the Lord be praised!” This Psalm beginning the series of the daily services, it is called Proemiac, i.e., “prefatory or introductory.” The words of it induce the worshippers into the blissful condition of the first man, when he, innocent as yet, praised his Creator together with the holy angels. The open Royal Gates remind us that sin did not at that time separate men from God, while the light of the lamps and candles and the fumes of the incense symbolize the Divine Light, which illumined men, and the grace of the Holy Spirit which quickened them.