In prayer books and liturgical books, some frequently used prayers and even the most common series of prayers are not given in full each time, but are indicated in abbreviated form. Such abbreviations - for example, the abbreviation “Glory, and now:” - are found in almost all prayer books. This not only saves space, but is also very convenient for experienced readers and singers. However, a novice prayer book can sometimes be confused by abbreviations that are not yet familiar to him. Therefore, we provide for our readers a list of the most common abbreviations that can be found in prayer books.
There are much more abbreviations of this kind in liturgical books: they are designed for the reader to have a firm knowledge of a very wide range of prayers and chants. In the Church Slavonic tradition, the indicator of such a contraction is the colon (:) - it plays here a role similar to the role of the ellipsis (...) in modern Russian writing.
1.
“Glory, and now:” (or: “Glory: And now:”) - Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
“Glory:” - Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“And now:” - And now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Attention! In the Psalter, each of the kathismas - the twenty II parts into which the Psalter is divided for reading - is divided into three parts, after each of which it is usually written: “Glory:” (these parts are therefore called “Glories”). In this (and only this) case, the designation “Glory:” replaces the following prayers:
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God.
(Thrice)
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
2.
“Alleluia” (Three times) - Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
3.
“The Trisagion according to Our Father” or “The Trisagion. The Most Holy Trinity... Our Father..." - the prayers are read sequentially:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
4.
The abbreviation “Come, let us worship...” should read:
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)