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HOLY SATURDAY

from a well in paradise and bade thee water the whole earth in four streams; Who changed thy
bitterness in the desert by putting sweetness into thee and made thee fit to drink; and
produced thee out of a rock to quench his people's thirst. I bless thee also by Jesus
Christ, our Lord, His only Son; Who in Cana of Galilee by a wonderful miracle of His power changed
thee into wine, Whose feet walked upon thee, and Who was baptized in thee by John in the
Jordan; Who made thee flow out of His side, together with His blood, and commanded His disciples
that such as believed should be baptized in thee, saying, Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in
the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Changing the tone of his voice to
that of a Lesson, the priest continues :) Almighty God, in Thy mercy stand by us who observe
this commandment; do Thou graciously breath upon us. (He breathes thrice on the water
cross-wise, saying :) Do Thou with Thy lips bless these common waters; that besides their
natural virtue of cleansing the body, they may also have the power to purify the soul.
(Here he dips the paschal candle into the water, saying :) May the power of the Holy
Ghost descend into this brimming font. (He brea­
thes thrice on the water, in the form of the Greek letter).
And make the whole substance of this water fruitful for
regeneration. (He takes the candle out of the water :)
Here may all stain of sin be wiped away. Here let
human nature, created in Thy likeness, and reformed
to the honor of its Creator, be cleansed from inherited defilement;
 so that every man who enters into this sacrament of regeneration may be born
again into a new childhood of true innocence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son : Who
will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.
Amen.