Consecration of a Church

Structure

Opening

Opening Psalm 142

• Asking for the Lord’s help.

Litany and Prayer for the Relics

Proclaiming the Lord’s faithfulness.

He is the strength of the martyrs.

The Peace

Asking for the Lord to direct the works of our hands.

The Processions

Thrice

Singing the praise of the martyrs, those who have gone on before in the faith.

The relics are processed around the church on the paten (diskos)

1st and 3rd Ode of the Canon of Church Consecration

God guided his people Israel, rescuing them from slavery and leading them thru the Red Sea. Likewise, the church is planted in the water of baptism.

The church is God’s heaven on earth.

The Cross is the boast of the Church.

The Father willed the Incarnation of the Son and the establishment of the Church.

We ask God to cause this building, made by our hands to be something far greater, to house his glory “divine and ineffable.”

The First Scripture Readings

Hebrews 2.11–18

Christ became human; this enables us to have life in him. He destroyed death through his death. He is now our High Priest and because he suffered can help those who are tempted

Matthew 16.13–19

Christ is greater than the prophets, he is the Son of God; the promised Messiah. This is only known through the revelation of God. Since the Church has been given this revelation, and this is her charter, she can bind and loose on earth.

The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Odes

Continuing the theme of the Cross and the Blood from Christ’s side as the establishment of the Church.

Connection to Moses seeing God’s face unveiled.

The oil of the church anointing depicts the chrism of God’s people.

On Sinai, God showed Moses the Tabernacle that prefigured the Chruch.

O Master, You have built * this tabernacle here on earth, * where heavenly hosts of Angels * meet the choirs of humans, * by Your divine omnipotence.

The Theotokos the shield of the church.

Christ has redeemed the church; echos of the Exodus.

The cross drives out demons. See the powers of death in Mt 16.13–19

The Miracle of the Incarnation.

The Second Readings

Hebrews 9.1–7

The old Tabernacle.

Luke 10.38–42

Mary chooses the good portion; listening to the Master’s teaching.

The Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Odes

Chrism sanctifies the faithful. It is a furnace but we can stand because of God’s grace “bedewed with grace”; connection to 7th Precommunion Prayer. Those who ‘are smitten with love and longing’ enter the temple as a mystical bridal chamber.

The Theotokos the hallowed habitation of the Most High God.

The wedding gown of the Bride is woven of divine grace in the heavens.

Christ has restored Eden, paradise, in the Chruch. The Tree of Life is the Cross, and armor against the demons. The Virgin Mary was not consumed by the fire of the unapproachable light.

Mary the daughter of the King and Bride of the King (Ps 44).

Petition for God to protect the Church

Entry into the Chruch

First Prayer

The love of God to mankind. He’s given us entry into the Holy Church

This Temple a representation of the Church. But also our body represents the Church. St Paul and the Temple.

Second Prayer

God has appointed the heavenly powers. We ask that these powers enter with us into the Temple.

Psalm 23/24

The King of Glory

The Apolytikion of Church Consecration

HROC’s Apolytikion!

The Placing of the Relics

The Bishop enters the church with the relics and goes into the altar. He places the relics in the Holy Table, anointing the relics with Chrism.

The deceased are commemorated, because they are still a part of the Church.

The First Prayer

Of martyrs and their relics. Sowing and reaping fruits of healing.

The sacrifice of the Eucharist is offered on the bones of the saints.

May the relics of the saints work miracles for our salvation.

The Second Prayer

The grace of God makes us worthy to pray. Salvation of the Lord.

The written names of the living and departed are placed into a niche in the altar: the book of Life. This is also how the living and departed are commemorated every Eucharist.

The niche is sealed with the reliquary and names with hot wax.

Psalm 144

The greatness of God.

The Lord is merciful.

The Lord’s kingdom is for ever.

Psalm 22/23

The Lord is my shepherd.

“Thou has prepared a table for me…” The Holy Table.

The dedication

Prayer at the bending of the knees

Remembering Pentecost.

Bezaleel the inspired craftman of the tabernacle, whose name means in the Shadow of God.

The tablernacle a picture of the heavenly reality.

Solomon and the Temple. 1 Kings/3 Kingdoms 8.22 ff.

(Yet the Tabernacle in some sense greater than the Temple, perhaps because God showed Moses the patern directly.)

All that we do to offer to God he has already offered to us.

“We trust not in the ministrations of our unworthy hands, but in Thine ineffable goodness.”

Overshadowing, a reference to the Annunciation and Bezaleel’s name.

The litany

The Washing of the Holy Table

Soap and warm water

The prayer

Baptism in the Jordan.

Psalm 83

How lovely are thy dwellings…

The Anointing of the Holy Table

Rosewater Psalm 50.7 Sprinkle me with Hyssop

The rest of Psalm 50

The altar is anointed with chrism.

The antimensions are consecrated and anointed with Chrism.

Psalm 132

Oil of myrrh running down the beard of Aaron

Icons of the evangelists are sealed into the altar.

The altar is vested during Ps 131, 92

Psalm 131

David’s desire for the temple.

Psalm 92

Clothing of the Lord. His throne.

Psalm 25

At Psalm 25 the bishop does the great censing.

Ps 25 is a judgment Psalm.

The Anointing of the Church Interior

The

• high place,
• above the church doors,
• south,
• north, and
• every column
  is annointed with chrism in the shape of a cross or chi-rho. (ΧΡ χρ)

The Bishop lights a new lamp.

The Prayer of Anointing

Priesthood models the angels

We beseech Thee, O munificent Lord, receive us who pray unto Thee; not that we are worthy to ask such great things of Thee, but that the overabundance of Thy goodness may become apparent; for Thou hast not ceased doing good in many ways to the race of man.

For God’s name sake, not ours

The incarnation the chief of God’s gifts.

We partake in his resurrection.

And we sinners, now in possession of this tradition, come before Thee, the eternal God, and implore Thee, O compassionate Lord: As this sanctuary was erected for the purpose of singing hymns of praise to Thee, fill it with Thy divine glory, and make the holy altar set up herein to be a Holy of Holies, so that when we stand before it, as before the dread throne of Thy kingdom, we may serve Thee without condemnation, and may send up petitions for ourselves and for all Thy people, and offer the bloodless sacrifice to Thy goodness, for the forgiveness of sins both voluntary and involuntary, for the governing of our life, to lead a good life, and to fulfill all righteousness.

The Peace

The Service of Church Consecration is now complete. It took the place of the antiphons, the Little Entrance, the apolytikia and kontakion in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which now continues as usual.

The Epistle Hebrews 3.1–4

Jesus greater than Moses.

The Gospel John 10.22–27

The feast of dedication in Jerusalem.

The Anti-cherubic Hymn in Tone Five

Let all mortal flesh keep silence and in fear and trembling stand, pondering nothing earthly minded. For the King of kings and Lord of lords cometh forth to be slain and given as food to the faithful. Before Him go the ranks of angels, with all the principalities and powers: The cherubim many-eyed and the six-winged seraphim, covering their faces and chanting their hymn: Alleluia.

Kontakion

O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house,
and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Alleluia.

References

https://www.goarch.org/-/service-church-consecration

Canon of Consecration

Ode i. Mode 4. The Red Sea was crossed.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

You led the chosen people of Israel using a cloud long ago. * And now in Zion You planted Your Church * through the water of baptism, * O Christ, and she cries out to all, * «Come, let us sing unto our God a song».

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Today the descending of Your glory, which is unapproachable, * has made this church, constructed here on earth, * into heaven, O Christ our God. * In it we all together sing, * «Come, let us sing unto our God a song».

Glory.

O Savior, Your Church is decorated not by ritual rules of the Law, * nor by the slavish lifting of the hands. * But she sings to You, boasting in * the grace of Your all-holy Cross, * «Come, let us sing unto our God a song».

Both now. Theotokion.

The Father so willed, and by the Holy Spirit without seed you conceived * the Son of God and bore Him in the flesh, * whom the Father begot without * a mother, and whom you brought forth * without a father, for the sake of all.

Ode iii. Your Church rejoices in You.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Anointing this holy Church * with oil of gladness here on earth today, * by Your all-holy Spirit’s grace * You have sanctified it, O Christ our God.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

O Christ, this Your holy Church * has its unbreakable foundation in You; * and now Your most holy Cross, * like a royal crown, is surmounting it.

Glory.

Benevolent Lord, today * You make this building, that was made by hands, * to providentially house * Your glory, divine and ineffable.

Both now. Theotokion.

Through you only we on earth * procure divine and supernatural gifts, * all-holy Mother of God. * Therefore we salute you and sing, «Rejoice!».

When they have circled the church and reach the front doors, they sing the following:

Grave Mode.

O holy Martyr Saints, who competed well and received the crowns of laurel, intercede with the Lord for us, that His mercy come upon our souls.

Ode iv. When the Church beheld You.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Now Your Church, O Christ, is not sprinkled like the Temple * with sacrificial victims, but rather with Your precious * blood from Your life-giving side. * And rightly she sings to You, * «Glory to Your strength, O Lord!».

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

To the faithful who desire to lay their eyes on * the glory of Your face unveiled, O Lord, Your beloved * tabernacles shout to them * with one voice and cry aloud, * «Glory to Your strength, O Lord!».

Glory.

Now this church has been anointed today, depicting * the spiritual anointing of us Your chosen people * with the very precious oil * of chrism, receiving thus * the Spirit’s divine grace invisibly.

Both now. Theotokion.

Remaining virgin, you conceived in your womb, O Virgin, * and even after childbirth, you remained a virgin. * Therefore with unwavering faith, O Lady, unceasingly * singing, we salute you: Rejoice!

Ode v. My Lord, You are the light.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

On Sinai long ago * You showed Moses, that seer of God, * the plan of the tabernacle, * O my Christ, that prefigured * Your Church, not made by human hands.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

O Master, You have built * this tabernacle here on earth, * where heavenly hosts of Angels * meet the choirs of humans, * by Your divine omnipotence.

Glory.

O Christ, we know that You * are the source of eternal life. * You came and You preached the Gospel * of peace unto Your people, * Your Church, O holy Lord our God.

Both now. Theotokion.

Against our every foe, * we have you, our unbreakable shield. * We hope in you for salvation. * We have you as our anchor, all-holy Virgin, Bride of God.

Ode vi. I will sacrifice to You.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Christ the King as Lord has now desired the beauty of the holy Church that He founded. * He has made her mother of all the nations * He adopted by the Spirit and rescued from slavery.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Battalions of wicked demons shudder before the Church of Christ and fearfully tremble, * for the holy sign of the Cross is marked there; * and the Spirit’s illumination covers and hallows it.

Glory.

Having her foundation not on sand but the rock of Christ, the holy Church of the Gentiles * is adorned with unapproachable beauty, * with the symbols of the eternal kingdom bedecking her.

Both now. Theotokion.

O miracle, more novel than all other miracles! * Behold, without man a Virgin * in her body conceived the One who holds * in His hands the universe, and He was not confined by her.

When they reach the front of the church again, they sing the following hymn:

Grave Mode.

Glory be to You, Christ our God, the Apostlesʼ pride and joy, exultation of the Martyr Saints, whose proclamation was the consubstantial Trinity.

Ode vii. Inside the furnace.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

That fiery furnace * long ago became like a dew-laden breeze. * Now the spiritual chrism composed of oil * sanctifies the faithful, who cry out * together, «In the temple of Your holy glory, You are blessed, O Lord».

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

As in that furnace, * we who are the spiritual Israel, * standing in this new tabernacle where God dwells, * are bedewed with grace. So let us sing * together, «In the temple of Your holy glory, You are blessed, O Lord».

Glory.

All who are smitten * with sweetest love and longing for God, * entering this mystical bridal chamber now, * be united to the Bridegroom Christ. * Together let us sing to Him, «O Lord of glory, You are blessed».

Both now. Theotokion.

Divine and hallowed * habitation of the Most High God, rejoice! * For through you, O Theotokos, was given joy * unto us who cry aloud to you: * Among all women, Lady, you are blessed, all-blameless, and immaculate.

Ode viii. Daniel shut.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Master, on this day Your holy Church is like a bride who is wearing a wedding gown * that has been woven of grace divine * in the heavens. She invites her friends * and all the people to rejoice * and celebrate with her together singing, * «Bless the Lord and praise Him, all you works of the Lord».

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Today, second Adam, namely Christ, has made this new tabernacle a spiritual * Garden of Eden. And in its midst, * instead of the tree of knowledge, * is the holy Cross, which is for us * life-giving armor, as we are singing, * «Bless the Lord and praise Him, all you works of the Lord».

Glory.

Single is the Godhead we adore, and unoriginate, in three hypostases, * consubstantial, indivisible, * perfect: Father unoriginate, * and You His Son, and the divine * Spirit, the Trinity. We extol You, * «Bless the Lord and praise Him, all you works of the Lord».

Both now. Theotokion.

Immaculate Virgin, in all generations only you became the Mother of God; * and you were also the dwelling place * of the Godhead, O all-blameless one, * and you were not at all consumed * by the fire of the unapproachable light. * We all now bless you, O Mary the Bride of God.

Ode ix. A cornerstone was cut out.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Purified in heart and with wakeful eyes of our intellect beholding * all the beauty and all the glory, * which is more splendid than gold, within the Church, * let us perceive the daughter of the King and magnify her evermore.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Bride of the great King, we salute you: Rejoice, O Virgin, and be merry! * For you are distinctly reflecting * the holy beauty of your celestial Bridegroom. * And with your people sing to Him, «We magnify You, O Giver of life».

Glory.

Grant Your Church the mighty protection that comes from heaven, O our Savior. * For she knows no other protector * except for You, who laid down Your life for her. * And knowing this, she magnifies You as the Lord who loves humanity.

Both now. Theotokion.

Rejoice, holy Bride of the great King, Maiden full of grace, Virgin Mary! * Through you we have all been delivered * from the curse that Eve heard long ago in Eden, * and we have found eternal life, O ever-virgin, through your childbirth.