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Offices of the Holy Eastern Church

tr. Littledale, 1863

13. Office for the Foundation of a Church

The foundation of the intended Church having been carefully laid, the Bishop comes there, and putting on his stole and pall, he says:

Blessed be our God, at all times, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

The Trisagion: All-Holy Trinity. Our Father. For Thine.

And the Bishop censes the foundations in a circle. The singers say the Dismissory of the Saint in whose name the Church is to be erected, and other Troparia as the Provost directs.

Then the Bishop, standing in the place where the Altar is to be fixed, says this prayer:

Let us beseech the Lord.

O Lord our God, Who art pleased that a church should be built to Thee upon this stone, look on those who bring to Thee Thine own of Thine, and in the abundance of Thy heavenly gifts make a return for this house built (or founded) and strengthen those who labour at it, guarding them free from sin. Keep its foundations unbroken and undisturbed, and make Thy House perfect, that in it we may hymn Thee our Very God with all praiseworthy songs and doxologies. For Thee befits all glory, honour and adoration, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost &c.

And after the Prayer, he gives the Dismissal.

Then, taking one of the stones, and graving a Cross with it, he lays it with his own hand in the foundation, saying:

The Most High hath stablished her, God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed, God shall help her, and that right early.

And then the workmen commence the building.