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THE
GREAT LITANY
Priest: In
peace let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
the peace of God and the salvation of our souls, let
us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
peace in the whole world, for the stability of the
holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let
us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
this holy house and for those who enter it with
faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray
to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
our Archbishop (Name), our Bishop (Name),
the honorable presbyters, the deacons in the service
of Christ, and all the clergy and laity, let us pray
to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
our country, the president, and all those in public
service, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
this parish and city, for every city and town, and
for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to
the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the
earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the
Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
travelers by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the
suffering, the captives, and for their salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger,
and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Help
us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O
God, by Your grace.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
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, whose power is beyond compare, and glory is
beyond understanding; whose mercy is boundless, and
love for us is ineffable: look upon us and upon this
holy house in Your compassion. Grant to us and to
those who pray with us Your abundant mercy.
Priest: For
to You belong all glory, honor, and worship to the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
THE
FIRST ANTIPHON
(The
designated verses from the Psalms are sung with the
hymn:)
People: By
the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us
(3).
Priest: In
peace let us again pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Help
us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O
God, by Your grace.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
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.
Priest: 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.
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THE
SECOND ANTIPHON
(The
designated verses from the Psalms are sung with the
hymn:)
People: Save
us, O Son of God, (who rose from the dead),to You we
sing: Alleluia (3).
Glory to
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Only
begotten Son and Word of God, although immortal You
humbled Yourself for our salvation, taking flesh
from the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary and,
without change, becoming man. Christ, our God, You
were crucified but conquered death by death. You are
one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father
and the Holy Spirit-save us.
Priest: In
peace let us again pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Help
us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O
God, by Your grace.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
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,
You have given us grace to offer these common
prayers with one heart. You have promised to grant
the requests of two or three gathered in Your name.
Fulfill now the petitions of Your servants for our
benefit, giving us the knowledge of Your truth in
this world, and granting us eternal life in the
world to come.
Priest: For
You are a good and loving God, and to You we give
glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
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THE
THIRD ANTIPHON
(The
designated verses of the Psalms are sung with the
Apolytikion.)
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THE
SMALL ENTRANCE
(While the
Apolytikion is sung, the priest carrying the holy
Gospel Book comes in procession before the Beautiful
Gate of the ikonostasis offering in a low voice the
following prayer:)
Master and
Lord our God, You have established in heaven the
orders and hosts of angels and archangels to
minister to Your glory. Grant that the holy angels
may enter with us that together we may serve and
glorify Your goodness. For to You belong all glory,
honor, and worship to the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of
ages. Amen.
The priest
blesses the entrance saying in a low voice:) Blessed
is the entrance of Your saints always, now and
forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
(He then
raises the Holy Gospel Book and says:)
Priest: Wisdom.
Let us be attentive.
People: Come,
let us worship and bow before Christ. Save us, O Son
of God (who rose from the dead),[2]to
You we sing: Alleluia.
(The priest
enters the sanctuary. The Apolytikion is repeated
and the Troparion of the church and the Kontakion of
the day are sung.)
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THE
TRISAGION HYMN
Priest: Let
us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest (in
a low voice): Holy
God, You dwell among Your saints. You are praised by
the Seraphim with the thrice holy hymn and glorified
by the Cherubim and worshiped by all the heavenly
powers. You have brought all things out of nothing
into being. You have created man and woman in Your
image and likeness and adorned them with all the
gifts of Your grace. You give wisdom and
understanding to the supplicant and do not overlook
the sinner but have established repentance as the
way of salvation. You have enabled us, Your lowly
and unworthy servants, to stand at this hour before
the glory of Your holy altar and to offer to You due
worship and praise. Master, accept the thrice holy
hymn also from the lips of us sinners and visit us
in Your goodness. Forgive our voluntary and
involuntary transgressions, sanctify our souls and
bodies, and grant that we may worship and serve You
in holiness all the days of our lives, by the
intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the
saints who have pleased You throughout the ages.
Priest: For
You are holy, our God, and to You we give glory, to
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
forever . . . * and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on
us (3).
Glory to
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen. Holy
Immortal, have mercy on us.
Priest: Again,
fervently.
(The
priest, turning towards the Prothesis, says in a low
voice:)
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed are You on the throne of glory of Your
kingdom, seated upon the Cherubim always, now and
forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
People: Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
THE
READINGS
THE
EPISTLE
Priest: Let
us be attentive.
(The Reader
reads the verses from the Psalms.)
Priest: Wisdom.
Reader:
The reading is from (the
name of the book of the New Testament from which the
Apostolic reading is taken).
Priest: Let
us be attentive.
(The Reader
reads the designated Apostolic pericope.)
Priest: Peace
be with you.
People: Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Priest (in
a low voice): Shine
within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of
Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our minds
that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel.
Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed
commandments, so that having conquered all sinful
desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking
and doing all those things that are pleasing to You.
For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls
and bodies, and to You we give glory together with
Your Father who is without beginning and Your all
holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever
and to the ages of ages. Amen.
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THE
HOLY GOSPEL
Priest: Wisdom.
Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be with
all.
People: And
with your spirit.
Priest: The
reading is from the Holy Gospel according to (Name).
Let us be attentive.
People: Glory
to You, O Lord, glory to You.
(*The
Priest reads the designated pericope of the holy
Gospel.)
People: Glory
to You, O Lord, glory to You.
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THE
HOMILY
(Following
the readings, it is customary for the priest to
proclaim the Gospel.)
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PRAYER
OF THE FAITHFUL
Priest (in
a low voice): Again,
we bow before You and pray to You, O good and loving
God. Hear our supplication: cleanse our souls and
bodies from every defilement of flesh and spirit,
and grant that we may stand before Your holy altar
without blame or condemnation. Grant also, O God,
progress in life, faith, and spiritual discernment
to the faithful who pray with us, so that they may
always worship You with reverence and love, partake
of Your Holy Mysteries without blame or
condemnation, and become worthy of Your heavenly
kingdom.
Priest: And
grant that always guarded by Your power we may give
glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
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THE
GREAT ENTRANCE
People: We
who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the
thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us
set aside all the cares of life that we may receive
the King of all . . .
(While the
Cherubic Hymn is being sung, the Priest prays in a
low voice:) No one
bound by worldly desires and pleasures is worthy to
approach, draw near or minister to You, the King of
glory. To serve You is great and awesome even for
the heavenly powers. But because of Your ineffable
and immeasurable love for us, You became man without
alteration or change. You have served as our High
Priest, and as Lord of all, and have entrusted to us
the celebration of this liturgical sacrifice without
the shedding of blood. For You alone, Lord our God,
rule over all things in heaven and on earth. You are
seated on the throne of the Cherubim, the Lord of
the Seraphim and the King of Israel. You alone are
holy and dwell among Your saints. You alone are good
and ready to hear. Therefore, I implore you, look
upon me, Your sinful and unworthy servant, and
cleanse my soul and heart from evil consciousness.
Enable me by the power of Your Holy Spirit so that,
vested with the grace of priesthood, I may stand
before Your holy Table and celebrate the mystery of
Your holy and pure Body and Your precious Blood. To
you I come with bowed head and pray: do not turn
Your face away from me or reject me from among Your
children, but make me, Your sinful and unworthy
servant, worthy to offer to You these gifts. For
You, Christ our God, are the Offerer and the
Offered, the One who receives and is distributed,
and to You we give glory, together with Your eternal
Father and Your holy, good and life giving Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
(The Priest
censes and recites in a low voice the “Cherubic
Hymn,” “Having Beheld Christ’s
Resurrection”(on Sundays), and the 50th Psalm.
Then the Great Entrance takes place.)
Priest: May
the Lord God remember all of you in His kingdom, now
and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
(The priest
enters the sanctuary, while the people sing the end
of the Cherubic Hymn.)
People: ...invisibly
escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Alleluia.
(After
placing the holy gifts on the holy Table, the priest
says:)
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THE
PETITIONS
Priest: Let
us complete our prayer to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
the precious gifts here presented, let us pray to
the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
this holy house and for those who enter it with
faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray
to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger,
and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Help
us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O
God, by Your grace.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us
ask the Lord.
People: Grant
this, O Lord.
Priest: For
an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of
our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.
People: Grant
this, O Lord.
Priest: For
forgiveness and remission of our sins and
transgressions, let us ask the Lord.
People: Grant
this, O Lord.
Priest: For
all that is good and beneficial to our souls, and
for peace in the world, let us ask the Lord.
People: Grant
this, O Lord.
Priest: For
the completion of our lives in peace and repentance,
let us ask the Lord.
People: Grant
this, O Lord.
Priest: For
a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without
shame and suffering, and for a good account before
the awesome judgment seat of Christ, let us ask the
Lord.
People: Grant
this, O Lord.
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.
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THE
PRAYER OF THE PROSKOMIDE
Priest (in
a low voice): Lord,
God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept a
sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You
with their whole heart. Receive also the prayer of
us sinners and let it reach Your holy altar. Enable
us to bring before You gifts and spiritual
sacrifices for our sins and for the transgressions
of the people. Make us worthy to find grace in Your
presence so that our sacrifice may be pleasing to
You and that Your good and gracious Spirit may abide
with us, with the gifts here presented, and with all
Your people.
Priest: Through
the mercies of Your only begotten Son with whom You
are blessed, together with Your all holy, good, and
life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages
of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: Peace
be with all.
People: And
with your spirit.
Priest: Let
us love one another that with one mind we may
confess:
(The Priest
kisses the holy Gifts saying:) I
love You, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock,
and my fortress, and my deliverer.
(At this
time it is customary for the kiss of peace to be
exchanged.)
People: Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, Trinity one in essence and
inseparable.
Priest: Guard
the doors. Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
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THE
CREED
People: I
believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things
visible and invisible.
And in one
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of
Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created,
of one essence with the Father, through whom all
things were made.
For us and
for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was
incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and
became man.
He was
crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He
suffered and was buried.
On the
third day He rose according to the Scriptures.
He ascended
into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He will
come again in glory to judge the living and the
dead. His kingdom will have no end.
And in the
Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who
proceeds from the Father, who together with the
Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who
spoke through the prophets.
In one,
holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I
acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I expect
the resurrection of the dead.
And the
life of the age to come. Amen.
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THE
HOLY ANAPHORA
Priest: Let
us stand well. Let us stand in awe. Let us be
attentive, that we may present the holy offering in
peace.
People: Mercy
and peace, a sacrifice of praise.
Priest: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God
the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be
with all of you.
People: And
with your spirit.
Priest: Let
us lift up our hearts.
People: We
lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let
us give thanks to the Lord.
People: It
is proper and right.
Priest (in
a low voice): It
is proper and right to sing to You, bless You,
praise You, thank You and worship You in all places
of Your dominion; for You are God ineffable, beyond
comprehension, invisible, beyond understanding,
existing forever and always the same; You and Your
only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought
us into being out of nothing, and when we fell, You
raised us up again. You did not cease doing
everything until You led us to heaven and granted us
Your kingdom to come. For all these things we thank
You and Your only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit;
for all things that we know and do not know, for
blessings seen and unseen that have been bestowed
upon us. We also thank You for this liturgy which
You are pleased to accept from our hands, even
though You are surrounded by thousands of Archangels
and tens of thousands of Angels, by the Cherubim and
Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring with their
wings,
Priest: Singing
the victory hymn, proclaiming, crying out, and
saying:
People: Holy,
holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are
filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna to God in the highest.
Priest (in
a low voice): Together
with these blessed powers, merciful Master, we also
proclaim and say: You are holy and most holy, You
and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You
are holy and most holy, and sublime is Your glory.
You so loved Your world that You gave Your only
begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should
not perish, but have eternal life. He came and
fulfilled the divine plan for us. On the night when
He was betrayed, or rather when He gave Himself up
for the life of the world, He took bread in His
holy, pure, and blameless hands, gave thanks,
blessed, sanctified, broke, and gave it to His holy
disciples and apostles saying:
Priest: Take,
eat, this is my Body which is broken for you for the
forgiveness of sins.
People: Amen.
Priest (in
a low voice): Likewise,
after supper, He took the cup, saying:
Priest: Drink
of it all of you; this is my Blood of the new
Covenant which is shed for you and for many for the
forgiveness of sins.
People: Amen.
Priest (in
a low voice): Remembering,
therefore, this command of the Savior, and all that
came to pass for our sake, the cross, the tomb, the
resurrection on the third day, the ascension into
heaven, the enthronement at the right hand of the
Father, and the second, glorious coming.
Priest: We
offer to You these gifts from Your own gifts in all
and for all.
People: We
praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and
we pray to You, Lord our God.
Priest (in
a low voice): Once
again we offer to You this spiritual worship without
the shedding of blood, and we ask, pray, and entreat
You: send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon
these gifts here presented.
Priest: And
make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ.
Amen.
Priest: And
that which is in this cup the precious Blood of Your
Christ.
Amen.
Priest: Changing
them by Your Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Priest: So
that they may be to those who partake of them for
vigilance of soul, forgiveness of sins, communion of
Your Holy Spirit, fulfillment of the kingdom of
heaven, confidence before You, and not in judgment
or condemnation. Again, we offer this spiritual
worship for those who repose in the faith,
forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs,
confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous spirit
made perfect in faith.
Priest: Especially
for our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady,
the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary.
People: It
is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever
blessed, most pure, and mother of our God. More
honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more
glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you
gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true
Theotokos.
Priest (in
a low voice): For
Saint John the prophet, forerunner, and baptist;for
the holy glorious and most honorable Apostles, for
Saints(s) (Name(s)) whose memory we
commemorate today; and for all Your saints, through
whose supplications, O God, bless us. Remember also
all who have fallen asleep in the hope of
resurrection unto eternal life. (Here the priest
commemorates the names of the deceased.) And
grant them rest, our God,where the light of Your
countenance shines. Again, we ask You, Lord,
remember all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the
word of Your truth, all presbyters, all deacons in
the service of Christ, and every one in holy orders.
We also offer to You this spiritual worship for the
whole world, for the holy, catholic, and apostolic
Church, and for those living in purity and holiness.
And for all those in public service; permit them,
Lord, to serve and govern in peace that through the
faithful conduct of their duties we may live
peaceful and serene lives in all piety and holiness.
Priest: Above
all, remember, Lord, our Archbishop (Name) and
our Bishop (Name): Grant that they may serve
Your holy churches in peace. Keep them safe,
honorable, and healthy for many years, rightly
teaching the word of Your truth.
Priest: Remember
also, Lord, those whom each of us calls to mind and
all your people.
People: And
all Your people.
Priest (in
a low voice): Remember,
Lord, the city in which we live, every city and
country, and the faithful who dwell in them.
Remember, Lord, the travelers, the sick, the
suffering, and the captives, granting them
protection and salvation. Remember, Lord, those who
do charitable work, who serve in Your holy churches,
and who care for the poor. And send Your mercy upon
us all.
Priest: And
grant that with one voice and one heart we may
glorify and praise Your most honored and majestic
name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: The
mercy of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be
with all of you.
People: And
with your spirit.
Priest: Having
remembered all the saints, let us again in peace
pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: For
the precious Gifts offered and consecrated, let us
pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: That
our loving God who has received them at His holy,
heavenly, and spiritual altar as an offering of
spiritual fragrance, may in return send upon us
divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us
pray.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Having
prayed for the unity of the faith and for the
communion of the Holy Spirit, 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): We
entrust to You, loving Master, our whole life and
hope, and we ask, pray, and entreat: make us worthy
to partake of your heavenly and awesome Mysteries
from this holy and spiritual Table with a clear
conscience; for the remission of sins, forgiveness
of transgressions, communion of the Holy Spirit,
inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, confidence
before You, and not in judgment or condemnation.
Priest: And
make us worthy, Master,with confidence and without
fear of condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly
God, FATHER, and to say:
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THE
LORD’S PRAYER
People: Our
Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For
Yours is the kingdom and 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.
Priest: Peace
be with all.
People: And
with your spirit.
Priest: Let
us bow our heads to the Lord.
People: To
You, O Lord.
Priest (in
a low voice): We
give thanks to You, invisible King. By Your infinite
power You created all things and by Your great mercy
You brought everything from nothing into being.
Master, look down from heaven upon those who have
bowed their heads before You; they have bowed not
before flesh and blood but before You the awesome
God. Therefore, Master, guide the course of our life
for our benefit according to the need of each of us.
Sail with those who sail; travel with those who
travel; and heal the sick, Physician of our souls
and bodies.
Priest: By
the grace, mercy, and love for us of Your only
begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together
with Your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
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HOLY
COMMUNION
Priest (in
a low voice): Lord
Jesus Christ, our God, hear us from Your holy
dwelling place and from the glorious throne of Your
kingdom. You are enthroned on high with the Father
and are also invisibly present among us. Come and
sanctify us, and let Your pure Body and precious
Blood be given to us by Your mighty hand and through
us to all Your people.
Priest: Let
us be attentive.
Priest: The
holy Gifts for the holy people of God.
People: One
is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of
God the Father. Amen.
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THE
COMMUNION HYMN
People: Praise
the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the
highest. Alleluia (3).
(The
Communion Hymn changes according to the Feast Day.)
**
*
Priest
(After the fraction of the sacred Bread, the priest
says in a low voice): The
Lamb of God is broken and distributed; broken but
not divided. He is forever eaten yet is never
consumed, but He sanctifies those who partake of
Him.
(Then the
priest places a portion of the sacred Bread in the
Cup saying:) The
fullness of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(He then
blesses the warm water saying:) Blessed
is the fervor of Your saints, now and forever and to
the ages of ages. Amen.
(Pouring
the water into the Cup crosswise, he says:) The
warmth of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
**
* * * * *
(The
Communion Prayers are recited silently by those
prepared to receive the holy Mysteries.)
I believe
and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ,
the Son of the living God, who came into the world
to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also
believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that
this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray
to You, have mercy upon me, and forgive my
transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word
and deed, known and unknown. And make me worthy
without condemnation to partake of Your pure
Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and for life
eternal. Amen.
How shall
I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your
saints? If I dare to enter into the bridal chamber,
my clothing will accuse me, since it is not a
wedding garment;and being bound up, I shall be cast
out by the angels. In Your love, Lord, cleanse my
soul and save me.
Loving
Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these
holy Gifts be to my condemnation because of my
unworthiness, but for the cleansing and
sanctification of soul and body and the pledge of
the future life and kingdom. It is good for me to
cling to God and to place in Him the hope of my
salvation.
Receive me
today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical
Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your
adversaries. Nor will I give You a kiss as did
Judas. But as the thief I confess to You: Lord,
remember me in Your kingdom.
*
* *
(The Priest
prepares to receive holy Communion.)
Priest: Behold,
I approach Christ, our immortal King and God.
The
precious and most holy Body of our Lord, God, and
Savior Jesus Christ is given to me (Name) the
Priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and eternal
life.
(He then
partakes of the sacred Bread.)
The
precious and most holy Blood of our Lord, God, and
Savior Jesus Christ is given to me (Name) the
priest, for the forgiveness of my sins and eternal
life.
(He then
drinks from the Chalice.)
(Afterwards,
he wipes the Chalice, kisses it, and says:) This
has touched my lips, taking away my transgressions
and cleansing my sins.
(The priest
then transfers the remaining portions of the
consecrated Bread into the Cup, saying:)
Having
beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship
the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We
venerate Your cross, O Christ, and we praise and
glorify Your holy resurrection. You are our God. We
know no other than You, and we call upon Your name.
Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy
resurrection of Christ. For behold, through the
cross joy has come to all the world. Blessing the
Lord always, let us praise His resurrection. For
enduring the cross for us, He destroyed death by
death.
*
* *
(He takes
the holy Cup, comes to the Royal Doors, raises it
and says:)
Priest: Approach
with the fear of God, faith, and love.
(Those
prepared come forth with reverence to receive Holy
Communion while the people sing the communion hymn.)
(When
administering Holy Communion, the priest says:) The
servant of God (Name) receives the Body and
Blood of Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal
life.
(When
Communion has been given to all, the priest blesses
the people with his hand, saying:)
Priest: Save,
O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.
People: We
have seen the true light; we have received the
heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith,
worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity
has saved us.
(Having
returned the Cup to the holy Table, the priest
transfers the particles of the Theotokos and the
saints into the Chalice, and then those of the
living and the dead saying:) Wash
away, Lord, by Your holy Blood, the sins of all
those commemorated through the intercessions of the
Theotokos and all Your saints. Amen.
(He covers
the vessels and censes them saying:) Be
exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let Your glory be
over all the earth (3).
(He lifts
the vessels and says in a low voice:) Blessed
is our God.
Priest
(aloud):
Always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
People: Let
our mouths be filled with Your praise, Lord, that we
may sing of Your glory. You have made us worthy to
partake of Your holy mysteries. Keep us in Your
holiness, that all the day long we may meditate upon
Your righteousness. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
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PRAYER
OF THANKSGIVING
Priest: Let
us be attentive. Having partaken of the divine,
holy, pure, immortal, heavenly, life giving, and
awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give
thanks to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Help
us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O
God, by Your grace.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Having
prayed for a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless,
day, 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): We
thank You, loving Master, benefactor of our souls,
that on this day You have made us worthy once again
of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Direct our
ways in the right path, establish us firmly in Your
fear, guard our lives, and make our endeavors safe,
through the prayers and supplications of the
glorious Theotokos and ever virgin Mary and of all
Your saints.
Priest: For
You are our sanctification and to You we give glory,
to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now
and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
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THE
DISMISSAL
Priest: Let
us go forth in peace.
Priest: Let
us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy.
Priest: Lord,
bless those who praise You and sanctify those who
trust in You. 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. Grant peace to Your
world, to Your churches, to the clergy, to those in
public service, to the armed forces, and to all Your
people. For every good and perfect gift is from
above, coming from You, the Father of lights. To You
we give glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Blessed is
the name of the Lord, both now and to the ages (3).
(The priest
proceeds to the Prothesis and prays in a low voice:)
Christ
our God, You are the fulfillment of the Law and the
Prophets. You have fulfilled all the dispensation of
the Father. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness
always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Amen.
Priest: Let
us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord,
have mercy (3).Father, give the blessing.
Priest: May
the blessing of the Lord and His mercy come upon you
through His divine grace and love always, now and
forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Priest: Glory
to You, O God, our hope, glory to you.
Priest: May
Christ our true God (who rose from the dead),[3]as
a good, loving, and merciful God, have mercy upon us
and save us, through the intercessions of His most
pure and holy Mother; the power of the precious and
life giving Cross; the protection of the honorable,
bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the
honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the
Baptist; the holy, glorious and praiseworthy
apostles; the holy, glorious and triumphant martyrs;
our holy and God-bearing Fathers (name of the
church); the holy and righteous ancestors
Joachim and Anna; Saint (of the day) whose
memory we commemorate today, and all the saints.
People: Amen.
People: Lord,
grant long life to him who blesses and sanctifies
us.
Priest: Through
the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ,
our God, have mercy on us and save us.[4]
People: Amen.
Priest
(blessing the people): May
the holy Trinity protect all of you.
(Distributing
the antidoron, the priest says:)
May the
blessing and the mercy of the Lord be with you.
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