Vesting prayers
(Ephesians IV, XXII and XXIV) He washes his hands, saying: Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendam omnem maculam immundam; ut sine pollutione mentis et corporis valeam tibi servire.
At the Amice: Impone, Domine, galeam salutis in capite meo, ad expugnandas omnes diabolicas fraudes, inimicorum omnium versutias superando.
At the Alb: Dealba me, Domine, et a delicto meo munda me; ut cum his, qui stolas suas dealbaverunt in sanguine Agni, gaudiis perfruar sempiternis.
He takes the Pectoral cross, saying: Munire digneris me, Domine Jesu Christe, ab omnibus insidiis inimicorum omnium, signo sanctissimae Crucis tuae: ac concedere digneris mihi indigno servo tuo, ut sicut hanc Crucem, Sanctorum tuorum reliquiis refertam, ante pectus meum teneo, sic semper mente retineam at memoriam passionis, et sanctorum victorias Martyrum.
At the Stole: Redde mihi, Domine, obsecro, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in praevaricatione primi parentis; et, quamvis indignus accedere praesumo ad tuum sacrum mysterium cum hoc ornamento, praesta, ut in eodem in perpetuum merear laetari.
"Restore unto me, O Lord, I beseech Thee, the stole of immortality, which I lost through the transgression of our first parents, and unworthy though I be, inasmuch as I presume to draw near to Thy holy Mystery with this adornment, grant that I may be worthy to rejoice in the same unto eternity."
At the Episcopal gloves: Circumda, Domine, manus mea munditia novi hominis, qui de caelo descendit; ut, quemadmodum Iacob dilectus tuus pelliculis hoedorum opertis manibus, paternam benedictionem, oblato patri cibo potuque gratissimo, impetravit; sic et oblata per manus nostras salutaris hostia, gratiae tuae benedictionem mereatur.
(St. Matthew XI, XXX) At the Mitre: Mitram, Domine, et salutis galeam impone capiti meo; ut contra antiqui hostis omniumque inimicorum meorum insidias inoffensus evadeam.
(Ephesians VI, XVII) At the Ecclesiastical ring: Cordis et corporis mei, Domine, digitos virtute decora, et septiformis Spiritus sanctificatione circumda.
He washes his hands, saying: Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendam omnem maculam immundam; ut sine pollutione mentis et corporis valeam tibi servire.
At the Amice: Impone, Domine, galeam salutis in capite meo , ad expugnandas omnes diabolicas fraudes, inimicorum omnium versutias superando.
At the Alb: Dealba me, Domine, et a delicto meo munda me; ut cum his, qui stolas suas dealbaverunt in sanguine Agni, gaudiis perfruar sempiternis.
He takes the Pectoral Cross, saying: Munire digneris me, Domine Jesu Christe, ab omnibus insidiis inimicorum omnium, signo sanctissimae Crucis tuae: ac concedere digneris mihi indigno servo tuo, ut sicut hanc Crucem, Sanctorum tuorum reliquiis refertam, ante pectus meum teneo, sic semper mente retineam at memoriam passionis, et sanctorum victorias Martyrum.
At the Stole: Redde mihi, Domine, obsecro, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in praevaricatione primi parentis; et, quamvis indignus accedere praesumo ad tuum sacrum mysterium cum hoc ornamento, praesta, ut in eodem in perpetuum merear laetari.
'Restore unto me, I beseech You, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which I lost through the collusion of our first parents, and inasmuch as I presume to draw near to Your holy Mystery with this adornment, unworthy though I be, grant that I may be worthy to rejoice in the same unto eternity.'
The Celebrant first says, whilst washing his hands: Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendam omnem maculam ut sine pollutione mentis et corporis valeam tibi servire.
At the cincture: Praecinge me, Domine, cingulo puritatis, et exstingue in lumbis meis humorem libidinis; ut maneat in me virtus continentiae et castitatis.
At the stole, which he crosses over his breast: Redde mihi, Domine, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in praevaricatione primi parentis: et, quamvis indignus accedo ad tuum sacrum mysterium, merear tamen gaudium sempiternum.
Largire sensibus nostris quesumus Domine omnipotens Pater: ut sicut exterius inquinamenta manuum abluuntur: sic per te mentium sordes misericorditer emundentur: et crescat in nobis augmentum sanctarum virtutum.
Grant to our understandings, we beseech You, O Lord, almighty Father; that as the defilements of the hands are washed away outwardly, so the filth of our minds may mercifully be cleansed by You; and may the growth of holy virtues increase within us.
At the Amice: Pone Domine galeam salutis in capite meo: ad expugnandas et superandas omnes diabolicas fraudes: omniumque inimicorum meorum seviciam superandam.
'Restore unto me, I beseech You, O Lord, the stole of immortality, which I lost through the collusion of our first parents, and inasmuch as I presume to draw near to Your holy Mystery with this adornment, unworthy though I be, grant that I may be worthy to rejoice with the same unto eternity.
V. Quanti mercenarii in domo patris mei abundant panibus: ego autem hic fame pereo: surgam et ibo ad patrem meum et dicam ei.
Deus qui de indignis dignos: de peccatoribus iustos: et de immundis facis mundos: munda cor meum et corpus meum a omni sorde et cogitatione peccati: et fac me dignum atque strenuum sanctis altaribus tuis ministrum: et presta ut in hoc altari ad quod indignus accedere presumo: acceptabiles tibi hostias offeram pro peccatis et offensionibus: et innumeris quotidianis meis excessibus: et pro peccatis omnium viventium: et defunctorum fidelium: et eorum qui se meis commendaverunt orationibus: et per eum tibi meum sit acceptabile votum: qui se tibi Deo Patri pro nobis obtulit in sacrificium: qui est omnium opifex et solus sine peccati macula Pontifex.
At the Alb: "Almighty, everlasting God, let me, disrobed of all unrighteousness and dressed in the white garment of holiness, follow you in your kingdom where the true joy resides."
"[2] When it is time to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, the priest and deacon enter the temple (church building), say the entrance prayers, and venerate the icons of the Lord and the Theotokos.
Before approaching the priest for a blessing, the deacon takes up his vestments (sticharion, orarion and epimanikia) and goes to the High Place (the area behind the Holy Table, where the bishop's throne sits) and makes three metanias to the east, saying each time, "O God, cleanse me a sinner."
The Deacon says Amen, kisses the right hand of the Priest, withdraws to another part of the sanctuary (the diaconicon) and puts on his vestments saying (for the Sticharion): My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the garment of salvation and covered me with a tunic of happiness; He has crowned me as a bridegroom and as a bride, adorned me with jewels.
Basil): The prophets proclaimed thee from on high, O Virgin: the Jar, the Staff, the Tablets of the Law, the Ark, the Candlestick, the Table, the Mount Uncloven (Daniel 2:49), the Golden Censer and the Tabernacle, the Gate Impassable (Ezekiel 44:1–3), the Palace (1 Chronicles 29:1) and Ladder, and the Throne of Kings.
They may also chant the first vesting prayer, the one for the sticharion: Thy soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed thee in the garment of salvation... A server brings the vestments on a tray to the bishop.
