Master, Lord our God, who didst honour man with thine image, providing him with a rational soul and comely body, that the body might serve the rational soul; for thou didst place the head in superiority, and therein emplant the greater number of the senses, which impede not one another, and didst cover the head with hair that it might not be injured by the changes of weather, and didst fit all the members serviceably thereunto, that by all it might render thanks unto thee, the excellent artist; do thou thyself, O Master, who, by thy chosen vessel, Paul, the apostle, hast bidden us to do all things to thy glory, bless thy servant, _name_, who is come to make the first offering by the cutting of the hair of his head; and with him also his sponsors; and grant unto them all that they may exercise themselves in thy law, and do those things that are acceptable unto thee. For a merciful and man-loving God thou art, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. _Choir._ Amen. Peace to all. _Choir._ And to thy spirit. _Deacon._ Bow your heads to the Lord. _Choir._ To thee, O Lord. _And the priest saith this prayer._ O Lord our God, who, through the completion of the bath, hast, by thy goodness, sanctified them that believe in thee; do thou bless the present child, and may thy blessing come down upon his head. And as by Samuel the prophet thou didst bless David the King, so also bless the head of thy servant, _name_, by the hand of me, a sinner, visiting him with thy Holy Ghost, that he may increase unto maturity, and in the grey hairs of old age may ascribe glory unto thee, and may see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of his life. For to thee is due all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. _Choir._ Amen. _And he sheareth him in the form of a cross, saying,_ The servant of God, _name_, is shorn, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. _Choir._ Amen. _Then the ectenia, in which after THE EMPEROR, the sponsor is commemorated together with the newly-illuminated._ Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy.... Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life, peace, health, and for the salvation of the servant of God, _name_, the sponsor, and, _name_, the newly-illuminated. _Priest._ For a merciful.... _And the customary dismissal is made._ [Illustration] A PRAYER FOR HOLY BAPTISM, THAT IS, HOW BRIEFLY TO BAPTIZE A CHILD BECAUSE OF FEAR OF DEATH. _The priest saith_, Blessed be the kingdom.... _Then_, Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... For thine is.... Let us pray to the Lord.