Rubrics for the

Divine Liturgy of St. James

T
he Divine Liturgy of St. James the Brother of God is the first apostolic liturgy. The liturgies of St.
John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great were based on it and replaced it, according to St. Nico-
demus the Hagiorite.1 Today, it is celebrated only on October 23rd, the feast day of St. James.
The music for the hymn “Only-begotten Son” (page 113), the responses of the petitions (“Lord, have
mercy”) (pages 83-107), the Thrice-holy Hymn (pages 152-163), and the “Alleluia” (pages 176-193) fol-
lowing the epistle reading are identical to those used in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Between the epistle and gospel readings, there is a set of petitions intoned by the deacon. The re-
sponse for each petition is “Lord, have mercy,” except for the final petition, which has the response
“Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.” After the gospel reading, the deacon intones
another set of petitions. The response to the first five petitions is a single “Lord, have mercy,” the re-
sponse to the next six is “Grant this, O Lord,” and the response to the final petition of the deacon is “To
You, O Lord.” The cherubic hymn for the Divine Liturgy of St. James is the cherubic hymn of Holy Sat-
urday: “Let All Mortal Flesh” (see page 260).
After the creed and the deacon’s petitions: “Let us love one another with a holy kiss… Let us bow our
heads unto the Lord,” the priest chants the hymn: “O magnify the Lord with me…” (see page 577) Imme-
diately thereafter, the choir responds with the hymn: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you…” (see page
578).
The responses for the anaphora are identical to the anaphora in the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
(see pages 266-328), with the difference that there are eighteen petitions with the response, “Lord, have

1
Vid. The Rudder, p. xxvii. St. Nicodemus the Hagiorite probably relied on the validity of a treatise (PG 45:849-
852) attributed to St. Proclus (d. 446). Later scholars, however, (e.g., Swainson, C.A., The Greek Liturgies, Cam-
bridge 1884, and Brightman, F.E., Liturgies Eastern and Western I, Eastern Liturgies, Oxford, 1896) question the
validity of these statements and ascribe that treatise to a much later writer. Moreover, they believe that the Liturgy
of St. James developed independently of and simultaneously with the other liturgies. (See also Fountouv-
lh, !Iwavnnou M., !Apanthvsei" eij" Leitourgika;" !Aporiva", Tovmo" DV, !Apostolikh; Diakoniva, !Aqhvna, 1994, sel.
49-50, and Conomos, Dimitri E., Byzantine Trisagia and Cheroubika of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries,
pp. 13-18.)
576 Liturgy of St. James - Rubrics

mercy” and then one petition with the response, “Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy.” preceding the petitions “Through the compassions…, Peace be unto all…, Let us stand well…,”
etc.
At the consecration of the Holy Gifts, the deacon intones the petition “We believe and confess.”
Then, instead of chanting “We hymn You…,” the choir chants the hymn: “We proclaim Your death…”
(see page 579). The priest then chants the hymn: “For Your people…” (see page 579), and the choir re-
sponds by repeating three times the hymn: “Have mercy on us…” (see page 580).
While the priest reads the long prayer “We offer unto You, O Master…,” the choir quietly repeats
many times the hymn: “Remember them, O Lord our God” (see pages 581-582). When the priest com-
pletes that prayer, he intones the petition: “Especially our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed…,” and the
choir chants the hymn “Remember them…” for the last time with a different melody (see pages 582-583).
After the petition “Grant unto us and them…,” the choir chants the hymn: “Pardon, remit, and for-
give…” (see pages 584-585).
Following the deacon’s petition: “In the peace of Christ let us chant unto the Lord,” the clergy receive
communion. According to Athonite rubrics, at this point in the liturgy (whether it be the Liturgy of St.
John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, St. James, or the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts), the reader
reads the pre-communon prayers: “I believe, O Lord, and I confess…,” “Behold, I approach…,” “Receive
me today…,” Tremble, O man…,” “You have smitten me…,” “Into the splendor…,” “O man-befriending
Master…,” and again “Receive me today….” The reader then reads Psalms 33 (“I will bless the Lord…”)
and 144 (“I will exalt You…”). After the reader has completed these two psalms, the choir chants the
communion hymn from the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: “O Taste and See…” (see pages 566-570).
While the faithful receive communion, the choir repeats the hymn: “Receive me today…” (see pages
494-500).
After the faithful have received communion, the choir chants the hymn: “Fill my mouth with Your
praise…” (see page 586).
According to Athonite rubrics, at the end of every liturgy in which the faithful received communion,
the reader reads the thanskgiving prayers for holy communion while the priest distributes the antidoron.
 Only-Begotten Son
Second Mode
adapted from traditional melody

  
160




lo - 
ry 
ƒƒto 
ƒthe 
ƒƒFa -   and
ƒ- ƒther,  
ƒto 
ƒthe 
ƒSon, 
and 
to


the 
ƒHo - 
- ly 
ƒƒSpir - 
- 
- it.  

B ƒoth 
 ƒnow 
ƒƒand 
ev - 
- 
ƒer,  un - 
and  ƒto  
ƒthē 
ƒa -  
ƒ- ges ƒƒa - ƒƒ-
of 


ges. 
A - 
ƒmen.  

n -   
ƒƒGod,   
ƒƒYou Who
O   ƒly - 
be - 
ƒgot - 
ten 
ƒSon   
ƒand ƒƒWord of__Ì  ƒƒare 
im -

 
- 
- - 
ƒƒmor -

ƒƒtal,   
ƒƒand did con -   
de - ƒscend 
for our sal 
- va - 
- -
tion 
114 Only-begotten Son


ƒto   
beƒ-ƒcome ƒin - 
car - -  
ƒƒnate ƒƒof the 
ƒƒho -    -
ƒly ƒTheƒ-ƒƒo ƒto -  
- ƒƒkos and


ƒƒev - er -  
ƒVirƒ-ƒgin Mar - - 
ƒy,    
change
withƒƒ-ƒƒout  
be-com-ing ƒWho 

man, ƒƒwas 
ƒcru -


ƒci - 
fied,  
O Christ our 
ƒGod,      
by___ÌÌdeath   down
tram-pling  up 
- on______ƒdeath,

  
ƒYou___Ì ƒWho  ƒare__Ì
    ƒƒthe
ƒone ƒƒof  Ho -
ly 
ƒTrin -
- 
i - 
ƒty,  
glo -      
ƒƒriƒ-ƒfied_Ì̃with ƒthe

and 

Fa - - 
ther  ƒwith 
the 
ƒHo - 
ƒly 
Spir - 
- 
- - 

ƒit,     
save_____ÌÌ ƒus._ 

  
ƒƒ_______Ì 


 Let All Mortal Flesh
Keep Silence
Cherubic Hymn for Holy Saturday
Plagal First Mode
by Iakovos the Protopsaltis (d. 1800)
adapted from the interpretation by Athanasios Karamanis (1911- )


Duration: 7:00 + 1:30


66




et  ƒƒmor -  
ƒƒall   - 
- -  
-  
- 
- 
- 
-  - -   
-  -  -


- -  - 
 - - 
- 
 - 
- -  - - 
- 
- 
- 
-  tal   
-   let  
all  
mor - 
 Cherubic Hymn for Holy Saturday 261


- - 

tal___ flesh    si 
keep____________ - - -    
lence______________ and 

            
stand_______________________________________     
with________________ÌÌ ƒfear_

         fear     

trem - 
- 
- 
-   

________________________ with_________ and____ and_ tremƒ-

- -  - 
-  - -     
ƒbling,__  
and___
    
take____________________________

no____

        
________________________thought 
for____ ƒƒan -  -
-  earth  
 
- y___ - - 
- 


- - - -  
-  
ly________   
thing,_______________________________ ƒfor  
the

   
ƒƒKing________ of______ kings, 
    
and______ the    
Lord_____   
of___________________

 ap- 
lords  
 - -  
proach - -   - -  
- -      
ƒes_________Ì ƒto  
be______Ì

 - 
slaugh- - 
- - 
- 
- - -   
ƒƒtered_ 
ƒƒand___Ì ƒgiv- 
-  en  
-  -  food_
ƒas 

     
__________________      ƒƒthe____Ì
ƒfor_____________________    
faith -
- - - 
- - -
262 Cherubic Hymn for Holy Saturday

       
ful._____________Ì ƒBe -       
ƒƒfore_________________     
ƒHim____________________

     
_______________ go           
choirs____________________________________
ƒthe___Ì

  
of_______ an -  
the   - - 
-  -  
-  -
- -  
- - - 
gels______________Ì

    
with___      
all__________________ thor - 
au - -  - i - -   
- ƒty_______Ì and 

 - - -
pow- -  --- - 
-ƒƒer:_____________________________________Ì

After the Great Entrance:



T 
he 
man -
y -   - 
eyed____ÌÌCheƒ-ƒru  
  ƒand
ƒƒbim________ ƒƒthe 
ƒsix - 
-

- 
-   
- ƒwinged_____ ƒSer - 
- 
- ƒƒa - -
ƒphim,_________ 
   which  - 
cov -  -

*

-    
er____   
their________ fa - 
- 
- - 
-  ƒces    
-  and   
cry______
 Cherubic Hymn for Holy Saturday 263

    

____________ƒƒout________

ƒƒthe________   
hymn:____________ÌÌ ƒAl - 
ƒle - 
lu -

  

i -- a.__________________________ 


* Alternate melody:

 
and  
ƒcry___________    
ƒƒout___Ì

ƒthe______


 O Magnify the Lord
Chanted by the priest soon after the Creed

Grave Mode
adapted from Abraham Efthymiadis (1911- )



80




ƒƒ   
ƒmagƒƒ-ƒni - -   
ƒfy ƒthe     
   ƒƒwith____________Ì
ƒLord__________Ì
  
ƒƒme,_____ÌÌ

 
ƒand 
ƒƒlet 
us    
exƒƒ-ƒƒalt_______ÌÌ ƒHis  
name_____
 geth -
ƒto -  - 
- -
   
ƒer.______
578 Liturgy of St. James - O Magnify the Lord

The choir immediately responds:



T 
ƒƒhe 
Ho - 
- 
ƒƒly 
ƒSpir - 
- - -     ƒcome____Ì
- it______̃shall__   
ƒup - -

 
on___________ÌÌ
     
ƒƒthee,_____ ƒand 
the 
ƒpow -  of  
er   
ƒthe___Ì  
ƒMost________

    
_____ƒHigh  
ƒƒshall___ o- 
-  ƒver
  ƒshad - 
- - 
 - - -
-    
ƒow___________Ì

   
thee._____ 


Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Col. 3:16
 We Proclaim Your Death
Chanted instead of "We hymn You"
at the consecration of the Holy Gifts

Plagal First Mode (Sticheraric)

adapted from Abraham Efthymiadis (d. 2005)



72




ƒe   Your
ƒƒproƒƒ-ƒƒclaim   
death,____ÌÌ  
ƒO____ Lord,    
ƒand___Ì 
we______Ì

   
____________ ƒƒcon- 
-  -       
- fess____ƒYour__ res -    
- -ƒur -ƒƒrec -  -   - tion._
- 

    

_______________Ì


130

 
Then the priest chants:


ƒƒor 
ƒYour 
ƒpeo - - - ƒple
         
and______Ì̃Your_̃Church_________Ì ƒsup - 
ƒpli -

    
ƒƒcate_________ÌÌ ƒƒYou.  
580 Liturgy of St. James - We Proclaim Your Death

And the choir responds thrice:

Plagal First Mode (Heirmologic)

 
100

 

ƒave 
*
et   ƒƒmer - - 
ƒƒcy 
on 
ƒƒus, 
O 
   ƒGod,
Lord  our__Ì   
ƒO_

 ƒFa 
__  - -
ƒther 
Al - 
might-  
- - -
ƒy.  


 * Finale:

  
ƒƒO____Ì Fa -- ther
  
Al - might - 
- -      
ƒy._____________ 


 Remember Them,
O Lord our God
Repeated quietly while the priest reads
the long prayer: "We offer unto Thee, O Master"

Plagal First Mode

adapted from traditional melodies



72




ƒe - 
 mem -   
ƒber them,__        
ƒO__________ÌLord_________ÌÌ 
O___

       

ƒLord__________________________  
ƒour__ÌÌ ƒƒGod.  

 Alternate Melody


R 
ƒƒe -    
ƒmemƒƒ-ƒƒber 
them,_      
ƒƒO________________Ì Lord   
ƒO___   our_
ƒLord________ 


____Ì       
God.________________________ 
582 Liturgy of St. James - Remember Them, O Lord our God

Another Melody

 
adapted from Abraham Efthymiadis (1911- )

R 
e - ƒƒƒmem
-  -   
-ƒƒber___   
them,________   
ƒO_______     ƒour__Ì
ƒƒLord______ÌÌ 


God,    
ƒO___    ƒƒour___
ƒLord_____________ÌÌ      
ƒGod.__________________ÌÌ 

After the priest intones the petition:

"Especially our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed. . .,"

 
the choir chants either of the following two melodies once:

R 
e - mem
   
- ƒƒber__Ì  
ƒthem,_ÌÌ      
ƒƒO__________̃ƒLord____   ƒƒGod,___
ƒour________Ì  


____Ì     
ƒƒO________ÌÌ      our_________Ì
ƒLord____________          
ƒƒGod.________________________

  
_________________Ì 
 Liturgy of St. James - Remember Them, O Lord our God 583

Alternate Melody

 
adapted from Abraham Efthymiadis (1911- )

R 
e - ƒmem
- -
ƒber  
ƒƒthem,__Ì O      
ƒƒLord___________________ÌÌ O_ÌÌ

    
______________ÌÌ     
Lord______ƒour________Ì God,    
ƒO____   
ƒƒLord_____̃our_____ÌÌ 
God._

                 

_____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌ

__  

Those who chant should offer their psalmodies

with great care to God, Who looks into the hidden recesses

of the heart, i.e., into the psalmody and prayer that are done

mentally in the heart rather than uttered in external cries.

—Canon LXXV of the Sixth Ecumenical Synod

 Pardon, Remit, and Forgive
Chanted after the petition:
"Grant unto both us and them…"

Plagal First Mode

 
80



   
ar - don, ƒƒƒre -    
ƒƒmit,__________ÌÌ    
ƒand ƒƒforƒ-ƒƒgive,___  
ƒƒO___ ƒGod, 
ƒour


ƒof - 
fen - -  - ƒces,
    
ƒboth ƒvol -  
un - - 
tar - -  -    
-ƒƒy____Ì ƒƒand


ƒin -
ƒƒvol - - 
ƒƒun - 
ƒtar - 
- -  -
ƒƒy,        
ƒƒin knowl-edge____Ì ƒƒig -  - ƒƒno
ƒand   -

         

ƒƒrance._______________________Ì 


 Liturgy of St. James - Pardon, Remit, and Forgive 585

Alternate Version
adapted from Abraham Efthymiadis (1911- )

Second Mode

  
 

P ar  - 
 - 
- -   
ƒdon,__ re - 
-         
mit,_______________________Ì ƒand   
for -

ƒ-    
give,___  
ƒO___   ƒour__Ì
ƒGod,_____Ì   ƒƒof - - 
 - 
fen -  -  - 
-   
- ƒƒces,___Ì


ƒboth 
ƒvol -  
ƒƒun - - 
tar - 
- -  -  - -
ƒƒy   
and___Ì in - - 
- -
vol - - - 
ƒun -


ƒtar -  - y,   
-   
in___ knowl
- -     
edge___
    
and___________ ƒig - 
- -


- - 
ƒno 
- 
- - -     
ƒƒrance.__________Ì 


 Fill My Mouth
with Your Praise
Chanted by the choir after
the faithful have received communion


Plagal First Mode


170




ill 
ƒmy   
mouth__Ì with  
Your praise, ƒO 
Lord,   -
and ƒim bue  
my lips


ƒƒwith 
ƒƒjoy,    ƒI 
ƒso that ƒmay 
ƒhymn   
ƒYour ƒgloƒ-ƒƒry. 


 Liturgy of St. James - Fill My Mouth 587

Alternate Melody
Second Mode

  
 

F ill  
  
ƒƒmy ƒmouth  
with Your 
praise,__ ƒO 
ƒLord, 
ƒand 
im -   
ƒbue my  
lips ƒwith

  
ƒjoy, so 
ƒthat 
ƒI  
may ƒhymn ƒYour 
glo 
- - 
ƒry.  

 Immediately after completing either of the previous two melodies,

the choir chants the following words in a monotone:

We thank You, O Christ our God, for You have counted us worthy
to partake of Your body and blood unto remission of sins and eternal life.
Since You are good and lovest mankind, keep us without condemnation, we pray.
 O Taste and See
First Mode
adapted from Hieromonk Gregory
of Simonos Petras Monastery

 
Duration: 1:00


76

 

O
          
_____________________________           
taste______________________________Ì

      
and______________ see  
that 
the            
ƒLord__________________________________


ƒƒthat 
ƒƒthe  
ƒLord__________________________Ì  
is___ƒƒgood. ƒAl - 
ƒle - 
ƒlu - 
-

- - 
- 
i -
- -- 
-   
- a.________________________________Ì 
 O Taste and See
Communion Hymn
Duration: 4:30
First Mode "Tetraphonic"
(or 3:00 if
adapted from John Kladas the Lampadarios (second half of 14th century)
abbreviated)
abbreviated by John the Protopsaltis from Trebizond (d. 1770)



70



              

ƒƒtaste_______________________________________________________Ì

                    

______________________________________________________________________________

        
________________________Ì          
and________________________________________ O
[
 O Taste and See - First Mode 567

               

taste______________________________________________________
    ]
ƒƒand_______________

         [

         

____________________________________Ì ƒsee___________________________________Ì

                

__________________________________________________________________________

  
ƒO_______              
ƒƒtaste___________________________________________________Ì
]
ƒand_


__Ì    
             ƒƒthat__________ÌÌ
ƒsee____________________________________________________Ì

       

ƒƒthe_____________________
[
          
ƒƒLord_______________________________________________Ì

                

_____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌ
]
                
________________________________________________________________Ì
  
ƒis _________ÌÌ

              ƒgood________________Ì

________________________________________________________Ì     

            
_______________________________________________Ì   
that_____ the  
Lord______Ì ƒƒis_Ì
568 O Taste and See - First Mode

ƒƒlu -   - 
   ƒƒgood.
            
_______ Al - 
ƒle -  - 
- - - - i- - - - - - - -

-                 

ƒƒa._______________________________________________________ 


 O Taste and See
Fourth Mode
adapted from Hieromonk Gregory Duration: 1:00


of Simonos Petras Monastery



76




O     
_________________    
taste___________Ì     
ƒand____________Ì see   
ƒƒthat______


____Ì 
     
the________________           
Lord________________________Ì ƒƒthat 
the 
ƒLord_Ì


__Ì      
ƒis_______________Ì            
good._______________________________ Al - 
le - 
ƒƒlu -

 - -  -
- -  i - - 
- 
- - 
-          
- a.____________________________________

   
________ 