Vespers represents the revelation of the glory and wisdom of the Triune God, revealed by Him in the creation of the world and man; the blissful state of the first parents (Adam and Eve) in paradise, their loss of this bliss through the Fall and their expulsion from paradise. This part of the all-night vigil (vespers) begins with the exclamation of the priest:
Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving, and indivisible Trinity, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages, -
and then with a threefold exclamation - an invitation to those present - to worship Christ as God.
Come, let us worship... (See above)
In response to this invitation, those present, or on their behalf the choir, sing the Psalm of David (103rd), glorifying God, the Creator of the world and Provider:
Bless the Lord, my soul. Blessed are you, Lord! Lord my God, you are greatly exalted. You have clothed yourself with confession and decrees. Wonderful are Your works, O Lord. You have created all things with wisdom. Glory to You, Lord, who created everything. Russian translation: Bless the Lord, O soul! Blessed are You, Lord! Lord, my God! You are wonderfully great. You are clothed with glory and splendor. Wonderful are Your works, O Lord! You have created everything wisely. Glory to You, Lord, who created everything.
While singing the psalm, a priest with a censer in his hand, preceded by a deacon with a lit candle, goes around the entire church and burns incense to the images and people, as if spreading the grace of the Lord to all those present.
At the end of the incense, the royal doors are closed. This means the expulsion of the first parents from paradise, after which the gates to the kingdom of heaven were closed for them.
In the short petitions that follow, in the so-called great litany, the Church begins to pray to the Lord to send down those mercies and grace that man has lost through his fall.