_Then graduals, tone vi._ Unto heaven have I lifted up mine eyes, unto thee, O Word; have compassion upon me, that I may live to thee. Have mercy upon us who have been set at nought, appointing us, O Word, to be vessels acceptable unto thee. _Glory._ To the Holy Ghost belongs every all-saving cause: on whomsoever he, through worthiness, doth breathe, he quickly taketh him from earthly things, gives wings, exalteth and appoints his place on high. _Both now, the same._ _Then prokimenon, tone vi._ Blessed is the way wherein thou goest to-day, O soul, because a place of rest hath been prepared for thee. _Verse._ Return O my soul, unto thy rest, for the Lord hath wrought a good thing for thee. _The message of the holy apostle Paul to the Thessalonians, section cclxx._ Brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant.... _ending_, be ever with the Lord.[35] _Priest._ Peace to thee. _Reader._ And to thy spirit. _Reader. A psalm of David. Alleluia, tone viii._ Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and received, O Lord. _Deacon._ Wisdom, standing, let us hear the holy gospel. _Priest. The reading of the holy gospel from John, section xvi._ The Lord said unto the Jews that came unto him, Verily, verily, I say.... _ending_, the Father which hath sent me.[36] _Then the deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord. _Choir._ Lord, have mercy. _And the priest the prayer._ Master, Lord our God, who only hast immortality, who dwellest in unapproachable light, who killest and makest alive, who wentest down into hades and didst arise therefrom; thou didst in wisdom create man, and didst turn him again to earth, exacting payment of his spiritual debt. Thee we beseech, Accept the soul of thy servant, and rest him in the bosom of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and give unto him the crown of thy righteousness, the portion of the saved, in the glory of thine elect; that in whatsoever he hath laboured in this world for thy name’s sake, he may receive a plenteous reward in the habitations of thy saints; through the grace, and compassions, and love to man of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. _Kathisma, tone ii._ To-day I from my kinsfolk sever’d am, and unto thee betake myself, thou only sinless one: O rest me in the tabernacles of the just with thine elect. _Then we say psalm xxii._ The Lord tendeth me, and there is nothing lacking to me. _Alleluia, thrice, repeating alleluia to every verse of the rest of the psalm._ _Then the present troparion, tone ii._