Usual beginning


The usual beginning is the series of prayers with which most Divine Services begin in the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite.

Normal form

The usual beginning starts with a blessing by the priest, which is usually:
However, if there is no priest, the reader says:
Then, the reader continues:
*
The priest concludes the Our Father by saying:
Reader:
Among the Old Believers the usual beginning is preceded by the following, known as the "Prayer of the Publican":
After this, some add:
Then the Axion Estin is said, followed by "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. ' Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. ' Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. Lord, bless '
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, through the intercessions of my holy Guardian Angel, and of all the saints, have mercy on me and save me a sinner, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. '

Abbreviated form

The different services of the Daily Office are often combined into aggregates, often of three services, combined together into one continuous period of worship. When this happens, the full usual beginning is only performed at the first service, at subsequent services, only "O come, let us worship..." is said. Sometimes this is preceded by a blessing from the priest.

Pentecostarion

During Bright Week the services are completely different from the rest of the year, and there is no usual beginning.
The hymn, "O Heavenly King..." is one of the propers of Pentecost, and will not be said from Pascha until the feast of Pentecost, fifty days later.
From Thomas Sunday until the Great Feast of the Ascension, "O Heavenly King" is replaced with the Troparion of Pascha:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

From Ascension until its leavetaking, “O Heavenly King” is omitted entirely, and replaced by nothing. Instead, immediately after the priest's blessing, the reader says: "Amen. Holy God..."