*Gen. 28:17*
How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven; and it shall be called the court of God. (Alleluia, alleluia.)
*Ps 83:2-3*
How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord.
Glory Be to the Father…
How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven; and it shall be called the court of God. (Alleluia, alleluia.)
*Prayer on the anniversary of the dedication:*
O God, who dost every year bring round unto us again the day whereon this thine holy temple was hallowed, and bringest us again in soundness of body and mind to be present at thine holy worship, graciously hear the supplications of thy people, and grant that whosoever shall come into this thine house to ask good at thine hand, may be rejoiced in the obtaining of all his request.
Through our Lord…
Lesson from the book of Revelation
*Rev 21:2-5*
In those days, I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold the dwelling of God with men, and He will dwell with them. And they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. And He Who was sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new!
This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof.
℣. O God, before Whom stands the choir of angels, give ear to the prayers of Your servants. Alleluia, alleluia.
*Ps 137:2*
I will worship at Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name. Alleluia.
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
*Luke 19:1-10*
At that time, Jesus entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus; and he was a leading publican, and he was rich. And he was trying to see Jesus, Who He was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay in your house today. And he made haste and came down, and welcomed Him joyfully. And upon seeing it all began to murmur, saying, He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, I give one-half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
*1 Par 29:17-18*
O Lord God, in the simplicity of my heart I have joyfully offered all these things; and I have seen with great joy Your people which are here present: O God of Israel, keep this will, alleluia.
Look with favor upon our prayers, we beseech You, O Lord, that as we offer our prayers before You, we may, with Your help attain eternal rewards.
Through our Lord…
*Common*
It is truly meet and just, and profitable unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominions adore it, the Powers are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed Seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do Thou command that it be permitted us to join with them in confessing Thee, while we say with lowly praise:
*Matt 21:13*
My house shall be called a house of prayer, says the Lord; in it everyone who asks receives: and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.
