The Litiá.

Sometimes, at an All-night Vigil, towards the end of Vespers, the officiating clergy go forth with censers and candles into the vestibule of the church, there to perform the Litiá. The word means “earnest supplication.” In ancient times this was done in order that the catechumens and penitents who stood in the vestibule might participate in the gladness of the festival. The faithful used to come out with the clergy, to signify their humility and their brotherly love towards those who had sinned. At the present time this custom still survives and serves as a reminder to all Christians that they may have a care to the purity of their souls, which alone makes them worthy to enter into the House of God. The Litia consists chiefly of an ectenia, recited by the deacon, “for the salvation of the people; for the sovereign and his House; for the clergy; for all afflicted Christian souls (afflicted by sorrow or sin), desirous of aid; for the city, the country and all Christians living therein; for the deceased fathers and brethren; for deliverance from famine, epidemics, earthquakes, flood, fire, sword, hostile invasion and civil strife.” After the ectenia all present bow their heads and the priest says a prayer in which he beseeches the Lord to “accept our prayer, to grant us the remission of our transgressions, to chase away from us every foe, to keep our life in peace, to have mercy on us and to save us.” In the churches which have no vestibule, the Litia is performed inside the church, by the western entrance.

Note.— In times of public calamities, the Litia is sometimes performed out of doors, on fields, public squares or city halls. For this purpose the clergy comes out bearing Crosses, banners and icons, forming a procession.

After the Litia, the clergy, to the singing of verses, return from the vestibule into the church, and stand in the middle of it, before a table on which have been placed five loaves of bread and three vessels, one with wheat, one with grape wine and one with oil. After reading the concluding prayers of the Vespers office, the priest makes the sign of the Cross over the loaves and prays the Lord that He may bless them and multiply them “in the whole world, and sanctify the faithful (Christians) who partake of these gifts.” The service concludes with a blessing to the congregation. In ancient times, immediately after the blessing of the loaves, a portion of the Apostle was read,* with appropriate explanations. During this reading all sat, and the deacons distributed to the hearers a piece each of the blessed bread and a cup of the wine, that they might sustain their strength. At the present time, the services being abridged, no food is offered between Vespers and Matins.