The Orthodox Pages THE PEOPLE'S HANDBOOK
THE OFFICE OF PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION
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Translation from the ORTHODOX LITURGY by the Holy Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex.
If a priest be present he shall say Blessed is our God always, now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. In other wise a layman shall begin In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory be to Thee, O our God, glory be to Thee. O heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of truth, which art in all places and fillest all things; Treasure of goodness and Giver of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from all that defileth. And save our souls, O Thou who art good. O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. [3] Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, purge away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. [3] Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
PRIEST For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. Lord, have mercy. [12] Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God.
Psalm 22 [23] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23 [24] The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.
Psalm 115 [116] (vv. 10-19) I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, all men are liars. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to thee, O God. [3] Lord, have mercy. [3] O Lord, born of the Virgin, regard not my transgressions. Cleanse Thou my heart, and make of it a temple for Thy most pure Body and Blood. Neither cast me from Thy presence, O Thou whose mercy cannot be measured. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. How dare I to partake of Thy hallowed things, unworthy as I am? For if I make bold to draw nigh among them that are worthy, and have not on a wedding garment, I do but procure the condemnation of my most sinful self. Cleanse my denied soul, O Lord, and save me, for Thou art loving-kind. Now, and for ever: world without end. Amen. Great is the multitude of my transgressions, O Mother of God, I turn to thee, thou who art pure, seeking salvation. Visit my ailing soul, and pray thy Son and our God, to grant me remission of my evil deeds, thou who alone art blessed.
Troparion for Thursday in Holy Week That night after Jesus had washed their feet the glorious disciples were illumined. But darkness blinded the eyes of Judas the traitor; ailing with covetousness; and unto unjust judges, he betrayed Thee, the righteous judge. O Man who seekest thine own, consider him who for possessions’ sake went and hanged himself. Shun him that was greedy of gain; who dared such deeds against the Master. Thou who art gracious unto all, O Lord, Glory be unto Thee. Lord, have mercy. [40]
Then these verses O man who desirest to eat of the body of the Lord, Draw near in fear, lest thou be consumed: for fire it is. And drinking the Blood of God unto communion first be thou reconciled to them that have afflicted thee, and then with boldness eat of the sacramental food. Before partaking of the dread sacrifice of the life-giving Body of the Lord, after this manner, and in fear and trembling, pray:
1. A Prayer of St. Basil the Great O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, well-spring of life and immortality, Maker of all things visible and invisible, Son co-eternal with the Father; who in the latter days of Thy great goodness wast clothed in flesh, and wast crucified and buried for us thankless and wicked men, and hast by Thy blood renewed our nature, corrupted by sin: do Thou, O King immortal, accept the repentance of a transgressor. Incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my cry. For I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee, and am no more worthy to behold the height of Thy glory. I have angered Thy goodness: I have transgressed Thy commandments, and disobeyed Thine ordinances. But Thou, O Lord, inasmuch as Thou art kind, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, hast not suffered me to perish with my unlawful deeds; looking at all times for my conversion. For Thou who lovest mankind hast said, by the mouth of Thy prophet: I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Thou dost not wish, O Master, that the work of Thy hands should perish, neither desirest Thou the destruction of man; but wilt have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Wherefore even I, unworthy though I be of heaven and of earth and of this transitory life, in that I have made me subject to sin and a lover of pleasures, and have defiled Thine image: yet, inasmuch as I am Thy creature and the work of Thy hands, I despair not of my salvation, O wretched man that I am! And emboldened by Thy measureless compassion, I draw nigh. Wherefore accept me also, O Lord and lover of mankind, as Thou didst accept the harlot, the thief, the publican, and the prodigal son: and take away the heavy burden of my sins, O Thou who takest away the sin of the world, and healest the diseases of mankind, calling unto Thee all that labour and are heavy laden and giving them rest. Who camest not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Cleanse me from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and teach me to perfect holiness in Thy fear: that having the answer of a good conscience, and receiving a portion of Thy holy things, I may be joined unto Thy sacred Body and Blood; and may have Thee to abide and dwell in me, with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit. Yea, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of Thy most pure and life-giving mysteries; neither let my soul and body become weak because I have partaken thereof unworthily. But grant me even unto my last breath to partake uncondemned of Thy hallowed gifts, unto communion of the Holy Ghost, unto provision for life eternal, and an acceptable defence at Thy dread judgment-seat. That I also, together with all Thine elect, may be a partaker of Thine incorruptible blessings which Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee, O Lord: in whom Thou art glorified for ever. Amen.
2. A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy, neither is it meet, that Thou shouldest come under the roof of the temple of my soul. All is desolate therein, and downfallen, and in me Thou hast not where to lay Thy head. Yet inasmuch as for our sakes Thou didst humble Thyself from on high, so now do Thou descend to the measure of my lowliness; And as Thou tookest upon Thee to be laid in the manger of dumb creatures, so also graciously vouchsafe to lie in the manger of my empty soul, and enter my defiled body. And as Thou didst not disdain to sit at meat with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so also consent to enter into the humble dwelling of my soul, leprous and sinful though it be. And as Thou didst not reject the woman which was a sinner like unto me, when she came to Thee and touched Thee, so have compassion upon me, a sinner, who now come unto Thee and touch Thee. May that fiery coal, Thy most pure Body and Thy precious Blood, be to me unto the hallowing, enlightening and health of my humble soul and body; unto the relieving of the burden of my manifold sins; unto preservation from the working of Satan; unto the averting and prevention of my evil and wicked ways; unto the mortification of my passions; unto the keeping of Thy commandments; unto the increase of Thy divine grace; unto an inheritance in Thy kingdom. For I do not presume to come unto Thee, O Christ-God, except that I am made bold by Thine ineffable goodness, and fear lest long absenting myself from communion with Thee the ghostly wolf devour me. Wherefore I pray Thee, O Master, who alone art holy: Sanctify my soul and body, my mind and my heart. Renew me wholly. Implant Thy fear in my members. And let Thy hallowing remain with me always. Be Thou my help and my defence. Sustain my life in peace. Deem me worthy to stand at Thy right hand among Thy saints: Through the prayers and supplications of Thy most pure Mother; of the bodiless servitors and heavenly hosts; and of all the saints which have been well-pleasing in Thy sight since the world began. Amen.
3. A Prayer of St. Simeon Metaphrastes O Lord the only pure and incorruptible, who in the ineffable mercy of Thy love toward mankind didst assume our nature, being incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, by the good will of the eternal Father; O Jesus Christ, Divine Wisdom, Peace and Power, who didst take upon Thyself the life-giving and redeeming passion of the cross, the nails, the spear, death itself: do Thou destroy the bodily passions that slay my soul. O Thou who by Thy burial didst conquer the infernal regions, so do Thou overcome my wicked thoughts with good counsel, and blot out the evil spirit. O Thou who by Thy life-giving resurrection on the third day didst restore our fallen forefather Adam, do Thou restore me who am laid low by sin, putting forth to me the manner of repentance. O Thou whose glorious ascension made human flesh divine, and honoured it by Thy sitting on the right hand of the Father, enable me through the partaking of Thy sacred mysteries to stand aright among them that are saved. O Thou who by the descent of the Comforter madest the disciples worthy vessels of thy Spirit, so make me likewise to be a receptacle of the same Spirit. O Thou who wouldest come again to judge both the quick and the dead in righteousness, vouchsafe even unto me to behold Thee in the clouds, my Judge and my Creator, with all Thy saints: that I may ever glorify and praise Thee, together with Thine eternal Father and Thy most holy, good and life-giving Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen.
4. Another Prayer of St. Simeon Metaphrastes Like as I were now standing before Thy dread judgment-seat, O Christ God, in expectation of sentence, and giving account of the sins that I have committed: So also at this moment, ere the day of condemnation be come, I stand before Thee, in the presence of Thy holy angels, bent under the weight of my conscience; and confess my evil deeds. Thou seest, O Lord, my humiliation. Forgive me all my sins. Thou seest how mine iniquities are more than the hairs of mine head. There is no sin, no evil, that I have not committed; that I have not imagined in my heart. I have filled my soul with uncleanness. I have defiled my senses, and am become altogether unworthy. Wherefore, O King most marvellous, O good and gentle Lord, shew the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of Thy mercy even unto me, for there is no sin that can overcome Thy loving-kindness. Accept me, a sinner, as Thou didst accept the prodigal son, the thief that was crucified with Thee, the woman which was a sinner. Accept me that beyond measure, in the day and in the night, voluntarily and involuntarily, in word and deed and thought, have sinned against Thee. And as Thou didst receive them that came about the eleventh hour, and bore not the burden and heat of the day, so receive me also. For I have sinned greatly, I have vexed Thy Holy Spirit, and grieved Thy love. Nevertheless, O Lord, render not to me my desert. Rebuke me not in Thy wrath: neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for though I be weak yet am I the work of Thine hands. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned; but I pray Thee, enter not into judgment with Thy servant. If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? I am a bottomless pit of sin, and am not worthy to lift up so much as mine eyes unto heaven, by reason of my sins. I am a reproach of Thee, and despised of the people. Who shall raise me from the multitude of my sins? O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust. If so be I may have hope of salvation; if Thy clemency may prevail against my transgressions that are without number, then be Thou my Saviour; and according to Thy great mercy, remit and forgive all my sins. For my soul hath wrought many evils; and there is no hope of salvation in me. Have mercy upon me, according to Thy loving-kindness: and judge me not according to my deeds. Turn me unto Thee. Protect and deliver my soul from mine iniquities that do wax ever worse, and from my wicked imaginations. Save me for Thy mercy’s sake, that where sin has multiplied, there also Thy grace may abound. And I will praise and laud Thee all the days of my life. For Thou art the God of them that repent; and the Saviour of sinners and unto Thee we ascribe glory, with Thine eternal Father, and Thy most holy, good and life-giving Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen.
5. A Prayer of St. John Damascene O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, who alone hast power to absolve the sins of man: For that Thou art good and loving-kind, forgive me all my transgressions, witting and unwitting; and vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of Thy divine and glorious, most pure and life-giving mysteries, neither unto affliction, nor torment, nor the increase of my sins, but unto cleansing and hallowing, and the earnest of the Kingdom and the life to come; unto help and defence, refutation of adversaries, and the purging of my manifold transgressions. For Thou art the God of mercy, of bounties and of love toward mankind; And unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with the Father, and the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen.
6. A Prayer of St. Basil the Great I know, O Lord, that I partake unworthily of Thy most pure Body and Thy precious Blood; that I am guilty, not discerning Thy Body and Thy Blood, O Christ my God, and do eat and drink damnation to myself: Yet, trusting in Thy bounties, I come unto Thee, that didst say, He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Wherefore have pity, O Lord, and put me not to rebuke, but deal with me, a sinner, according to Thy mercy; And let these holy things be for me unto healing, cleansing and enlightenment, preservation and salvation, and unto the hallowing of soul and body; unto the driving out of every idle thought, and of the works and deceits wrought by the devil within me; unto boldness and love toward Thee; unto the reformation of my life, and steadfastness; unto the increase of virtue and perfection; unto the fulfilling of Thy commandments; unto fellowship with the Holy Spirit, provisioning for the journey to eternal life, and an acceptable answer at Thy dread judgment-seat; not unto judgment nor unto condemnation.
7. A Prayer of St. Simeon the New Theologian From lips defiled, from a vile heart, an unclean tongue and a soul polluted, receive this prayer, O Christ; and despise not my words, neither my manner nor mine importunity. Suffer me to speak boldly that which I desire, O my Christ. Nay, teach me rather that which it becometh me to do and to speak. I have sinned more than the woman in the city who, when she knew where Thou didst sit at meat, bought ointment and ventured to anoint Thy feet, O Christ, my Master and my God. Inasmuch as Thou didst not reject her whose heart led her to Thee, neither despise Thou me, O Word, but suffer me also to clasp and embrace Thy feet, and dare to anoint them with a flood of tears, as with a precious ointment. Wash and purify me with my tears, O Word. Forgive me my trespasses, and grant me pardon. Thou knowest the multitude of mine evil-doing. Thou knowest also my wounds, and dost behold my sores. But Thou knowest too my faith; Thou seest mine intent; Thou hearest my sighs. No tear is hidden from Thee, O God, my maker, my deliverer. Thine eyes behold that which I have not yet done: for in Thy book is written that which has not yet come to pass. Consider my lowliness. Look upon mine affliction and my pain. Forgive my every sin, O God of all, that with a pure heart and fearful mind, and with a contrite soul, I may partake of Thine undefiled and most holy mysteries, wherewith every man who eateth and drinketh thereof with a pure heart is quickened with life divine. For Thou, O Master, didst say, He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. True in all ways is the word of my Lord and God. Partaking of the divine grace whereby man becometh like unto God, I am no longer alone but am with Thee, O my Christ, light of the world. Suffer me not to dwell apart from Thee, O Giver of life, who art my breath, my life, my joy, the salvation of the world. Wherefore I draw nigh unto Thee, as Thou seest, with tears and a contrite soul: I beseech Thee, deliver me from my sins, and grant me to partake without condemnation of Thy life-giving and pure mysteries, that according to Thy word Thou mayest abide in me, of all men the most miserable: lest if I be found without Thy grace the tempter should craftily beguile me, and having tempted entice me from Thy precepts which make man god-like. For this cause I fall down before Thee, and earnestly cry unto Thee: As Thou didst accept the prodigal son, and the woman in the city when she came to Thee, so also receive me, who am prodigal and vile, O Thou who art bountiful. Turning to Thee now with a contrite soul, I know, O Saviour, that no man hath so sinned against Thee as I, nor done the things that I have done. Yet this also I know, that neither the magnitude of the transgression, nor the multitude of the sins surpasseth the long-suffering patience of my God, and his exceeding love toward mankind. According to Thy merciful compassion Thou dost cleanse and lighten them that earnestly repent, and makest them to partake of the light, and abundantly to share Thy divinity. And strange though it be to angels and to the mind of man, Thou dost oft-times hold converse with them as with Thy true friends. All which doth render me bold, doth inspire me, O my Christ. And confident of Thy rich mercy toward us, both rejoicing and trembling, I who am as grass do partake of fire. And lo, a mighty wonder, I am refreshed and not consumed; even as of old the burning bush was not consumed. Now with thankful mind, with grateful heart, with thankfulness in my soul and body. I worship Thee, my God. I glorify Thee and I magnify Thee, for blessed art Thou, now, and for evermore.
8. A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom O God, loose, remit, forgive me my transgressions whereby I have sinned against Thee, whether in word, or deed, or thought, willing or unwilling, witting or unwitting. Forgive me all, for Thou art good and dost love mankind. And by the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of the holy powers that serve Thee, and of all the saints which have been well-pleasing in Thy sight since the world began, vouchsafe that uncondemned I may receive Thy most pure Body and Thy precious Blood, unto the healing of my soul and body, and the purging of my evil imagination. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen.
9. Another Prayer of St. John Chrysostom I am not worthy, Lord and Master, that Thou shouldest come under the roof of my soul; But for that Thou desirest, O Lover of mankind, to dwell in me, I make bold to draw near. Thou biddest me to open the doors that Thou, my Creator, mayest enter in with mercy proper to Thee, and bring light to my darkened mind. I believe that Thou wilt so do. For Thou didst not turn from the woman, which was a sinner, when she came to Thee with tears. Neither didst Thou reject the publican that repented; nor the malefactor when he confessed Thy kingdom. Nor didst Thou despise the persecutor when he was converted. But all who came to Thee in repentance Thou didst reckon among Thy friends: Thou alone who art blessed, now, and world without end. Amen.
10. Another Prayer of S. John Chrysostom O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, absolve, remit, cleanse and forgive me, Thy sinful, unprofitable and unworthy servant, my sins, offences and transgressions, which from my youth even unto this present day and hour I have sinned against Thee, witting or unwitting, whether of word or deed, whether in thought or imagination, in my own counsels and in all my senses. And by the prayers of her who bare Thee, Mary, Thy most pure and ever-Virgin Mother, my hope which maketh not ashamed, my support and my salvation, vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of Thy most holy, immortal, life-giving and dread mysteries, for the remission of sins and unto life eternal; unto hallowing and enlightening, unto strength, healing and health of soul and body; and unto the destruction and dispatch of my perverse thoughts and imaginings and intents, of night phantoms and the evil spirits of darkness; For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, the honour and worship, with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, now, and for ever: world without end. Amen.
11. A Prayer of St. John Damascene Though I stand before the doors of Thy temple, yet I refrain not from my evil thoughts. But Thou, O Christ my God, didst justify the publican, and shew mercy upon the woman of Canaan, and open the gates of Paradise to the thief: Open unto me the bowels of Thy loving-kindness, and accept Thou me, who would approach unto Thee and would feel Thee, as Thou didst accept the woman in the city, and her with the issue of blood: for the one having touched the hem of Thy garment was readily made whole; the other who washed Thy feet with tears was forgiven her sins. And I, a pitiful wretch, make bold to receive Thy whole Body, yet let me not be consumed. And reject me not, even as Thou didst not reject them; And enlighten my spiritual senses, and consume the guilt of my sins, through the prayers of her who without seed gave birth to Thee, and of the heavenly hosts: For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
12. A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom I believe, O Lord, and confess that Thou art in truth the Christ, the Son of the living God, come into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is indeed Thine incorruptible Body, and this Thy most precious Blood. Wherefore I pray Thee, have mercy upon me, and forgive me my trespasses, voluntary and involuntary, whether of word or deed, witting or unwitting; and vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of Thy most pure mysteries, for the remission of sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.
And making ready to partake of the sacred gifts pronounce in thy heart this verse from St. Simeon Metaphrastes Behold I draw near to divine Communion, O Creator, let me not be destroyed thereby; for Thou art fire to consume the unworthy. The rather do Thou cleanse me from all that defileth.
This also say Of Thy mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me this day as a partaker; for I will not speak of the mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss like Judas; but like the thief I will acknowledge Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
And these lines The Blood that maketh divine, O man, let it be your fear, let it be your dread. Fire it is to consume the unworthy. The divine Body doth make me a partaker of the divine nature, and likewise feedeth me. Maketh the spirit divine and wondrously nourisheth the mind. Likewise the troparia Thou hast ravished my heart with Thy love, O Christ; Thy divine care hath converted my soul. Yet do Thou consume my sins with celestial fire. And grant me to delight myself in Thee; that rejoicing I may exalt Thine incarnation and Thy second coming, O Thou who art good.
How may I, unworthy as I am, enter into the brightness of Thy saints? For if I come boldly to the king’s palace my apparel doth convict me, in that I have no wedding garment, and I shall be bound and cast away by the angels. O Lord, cleanse my soul from all filthiness, And save me for Thou art loving-kind.
And the Prayer O Master and lover of mankind, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these holy things be to my judgment, in that I am unworthy: but rather unto the cleansing and hallowing of soul and body, unto an earnest of life eternal and the Kingdom. For I hold it good to cleave to God, to hope in the Lord for my salvation.
And this Of thy mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me this day as a partaker; for I will not speak of the mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss like Judas; but like the thief I will acknowledge Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
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