People: By the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us (3).

Priest: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
People: Kyrie eleison

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
People: Kyrie eleison.

Priest: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: (in a low voice) Lord our God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; protect the whole body of Your Church; sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house; glorify them in return by Your divine power; and do not forsake us who hope in You. (aloud) For yours is the dominion, the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father and the son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.

(Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, pp. 4-5)

After the Great Litany, the Liturgy continues with three groups of hymns and prayers called antiphons, separated by two small litanies.
The word “antiphon” comes from the Greek: anti means opposite and phone voice.
The old tradition, still preserved in the monasteries, was two have two opposite chanting groups (on the right and on the left) that would take turns singing these verses. This is called antiphonal singing.

The first antiphon is an appeal to Christ the Savior to save us, both as individuals and as a community, from all affliction and danger, and especially from the real possibility of being engulfed forever into sin. We do not ask this based upon our own achievements and merit, but rather by the intercessions of the most pure Mother of God.

The small litany refocuses our prayer, by invoking “again and again” the peace from above. The next two petitions form the same conclusion that ended the Great Litany. Each small litany has its own silent prayer and doxology.

The silent, or mystical prayer, is said by the priest in a low voice and expands the appeal that is sung by the whole congregation. We are God`s people, His inheritance (or possession), and as such the priest intercedes for our salvation. He invokes God`s protection upon the whole body of the church (the Greek word pleroma means fullness, hence the church in all its aspects).

Everything in the church is important and worth preserving, because our Tradition is guided by God`s Holy Spirit. Those who love the beauty of God`s house and take good care of it receive a special blessing in turn: they are glorified by God`s divine power. Finally, all of us who put our faith in God will not be abandoned by Him.

The prayer ends with a doxology (praise) proclaimed aloud by the priest, very similar in vein with the one from the Great Litany. It ascribes to the Holy Trinity the whole dominion, rule, power and glory throughout the ages.

The whole congregation responds: Amen – So be it!