The Coptic Liturgy
Of Saint Basil
(The priest recites inaudibly
the prayer of preparation of alter): Lord, who knows the hearts of all, who is
Holy, and who rests amid the saints; who alone is without sin, and who is
mighty to forgive sins; You, O Lord, know my unworthiness, my unfitness, and my
unmeetness, unto this, Your holy service; and I have
no boldness that I should draw near and open my mouth before Your holy glory;
but according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, pardon me a sinner, and
grant unto me the I may find grace and mercy at this hour, and send me straight
form high (here he uncovers the chalice, and arranges it upon the alter,
together with the paten and the spoon, continuing mean while) that I may begin,
and may be made fit, and may finish Your holy service according to Your
pleasure, according to the good pleasure of Your will, and for a sweet Savior
of incense. Even so, O our Lord; be with us, take part with us in this; bless
us; for You are the forgiveness of our sins, the light of our souls, our life,
and our strength and our confidence; You are He unto whom we ascribe praise,
and glory, and worship, O Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and at all times,
and unto the age of all ages. Amen. (He continues immediately and still
inaudibly with the prayer after the preparation of the altar): You, O Lord,
have taught us this great mystery of salvation. You have called us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to be servants of Your
holy altar. O You, our Lord, make us meet, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, to
finish this service; so that, without falling into condemnation before Your
great Glory, we may offer up unto You a sacrifice of praise, glory, and great
beauty, in Your sanctuary. O God, who gives grace, who sends forth salvation,
who works all in all, grant, O Lord, that our sacrifice may be accepted before
You for my sins, and for the ignorances of Your
people; for, behold it is holy, according to the gift of Your Holy Spirit, in
Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom becomes You glory, and honor and worship,
with Him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with You,
now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
PRIEST: Glory and honor, honor and glory to the
all-Holy Trinity: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Peace and
edification unto the one, only, holy catholic and apostolic
DEACON: Pray for these holy and precious gifts, our
sacrifices and those who have brought them. Lord, have mercy.
CONGREGATION: Alleluia.
This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. O
Lord save us, O Lord, straighten our ways. Blessed is
He who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia.
PRIEST: In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, One God. Blessed be God the Father the Pantocrator. Amen.
DEACON: Amen.
PRIEST: Blessed be His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen.
DEACON: Amen.
PRIEST: Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Amen.
DEACON: Amen. One is the Holy Father, One is the Holy
Son, and One is the Holy Spirit. Amen. Blessed be the
Lord God forever. Amen. Praise the Lord, all you nations: praise Him, all you
peoples for His mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord endures
for ever. Amen, Alleluia.
CONGREGATION: Glory
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and forever and to the age of all ages. Amen, Alleluia.
PRIEST: Pray.
DEACON: Stand up
for prayer.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CONGREGATION: And
with your spirit.
PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the beneficent and
merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He has
covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Him, spared us, supported us,
and has brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the
Pantocrator, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our
life.
DEACON: Pray.
CONGREGATION: Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: O Master, Lord, God the Pantocrator, the
Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we thank you for every
condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition. For you have
covered us,helped us,
guarded us, accepted us to You, spared us, supported us, and have brought us to
this hour.
DEACON: Pray that God have mercy and compassion upon
us, hear us, help us and accept the supplications and prayers of his saints for
that which is good on our behalf at all times, and make us worthy to partake of
the communion of his holy and blessed mysteries, for the remission of our sins.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Therefore we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Philanthropic one, grant us to complete
this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace with your fear. All
envy, all temptation, all the work of satan
the counsel of wicked men and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest,
take them away from us, and from all your people, and form this table, and from
this holy place that is yours. But those things which are good and profitable
do provide for us, for it is you who have given us the authority to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil, by the grace, compassion and
philanthropy of your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto
you, with him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is of one essence with
you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
PRIEST: (inaudibly) Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the
co-eternal Logos of the unblemished Father who is of one essence with him and
the Holy Spirit. For you are the living bread which came down
from heaven and did aforetime make yourself a Lamb without spot, for the life
of the world. We ask and entreat your goodness, O philanthropic One
(here the priest points with his hand to the bread set before him on the paten)
Show your face upon this bread (and here he points to the wine set before him
in the chalice) and upon this cup, which we have set upon (here he points to
the altar) this, your priestly table. (and her he
makes the sign of the cross three times over the bread and wine together,
saying at first signing) Bless them, (at the second signing) sanctify them,
(and at the third signing) purify them and change them (her he points with his
hand to the bead in particular) in order that this bread, on the one hand may
become indeed your holy Body (here he points with his hand to the chalice in
particular)and the mixture on the other hand, which is in this cup, indeed your
precious Blood, and may they become for all of us a partaking, healing, and
salvation of our souls, our bodies and our spirits. For you are our God and
glory is due unto you with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver
who is of one essence with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all
ages. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Saved, Amen. And with your
spirit.
PRIEST: May your servants, ministers of this day, the
hegemon, the priest, the deacons, the clergy, all the
people and my weak self, be absolved from the mouth of the all-Holy Trinity,
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and from the mouth of the one only
holy catholic and apostolic church, and form the mouth of the beholder-of-God
the evangelist Saint Mark the apostle and martyr, the patriarch Saint Severus, our teacher Dioscorus,
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, Saint Peter the
priest- martyr and the high priest, Saint John Chrysostom,
Saint Cyril, Saint Basil, and Saint Gregory, and form the mouths of the three
hundred and eighteen assembled at Nicea, the one hundred and fifty at
Constantinople, and the two hundred at Ephesus, and form the mouth of our honored
father, the high priest Abba....., and from the mouth of my abject self. For
blessed and full of glory is Your holy name, O Father,
and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages.
Amen.
PRIEST: (inaudibly) O God the great and the eternal,
without beginning and without end, great in His counsel and mighty in His
works, who is in all places, dwells with every one. Be
with us also, our Master, in this hour and stand in the midst of us all. Purify
our hearts and sanctify our souls. Cleanse us from all sins which we have done
willingly and unwillingly and grant to us to offer before you rational
sacrifices and sacrifices of blessing.
DEACON: Pray for our sacrifice and for those who
bring it.
PRIEST: And a spiritual
incense entering within the veil in the holy place of your holies. And we ask
you, O our Master, remember O Lord... (as in the offering of incense.)
The hymn of the Censer
This censer of pure gold,
bearing the aroma, is in the hands of Aaron the priest, offering up incense on
the altar.
The hymn of the
Intercessions
Through the intercessions of the
Theotokos, Saint Mary, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness
of our sins.
Through the intercessions of the
seven archangels and the heavenly orders, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of
our sins.
Through the prayers of my
masters and fathers, the apostles, and the rest of the disciples, O Lord, grant
us the forgiveness of our sins.
Through the prayers of the
beholder-of-God the evangelist Mark the apostle, O Lord, grant us the
forgiveness of our sins.
Through the prayers of the
victorious martyr, my lord the
Through the prayers of the
saints of this day, each by his name, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our
sins.
Through their prayers, Keep the
life of our honored father, the high priest, Papa Abba O Lord,
grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
We worship You O Christ with
Your good father and the Holy Spirit for you have come and saved us.
READER: Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A chapter from the Epistle of our
teacher
(after
the Pauline Epistle is read, he says: ) The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
(while
the deacon is reading the Pauline Epistle, the priest says the following prayer
inaudibly) O God of knowledge, giver of wisdom, who brings to light the hidden
things of darkness, and gives the word to them that preach the gospel with
great power, who of your goodness has called upon Paul, who was for some time a
persecutor, to be a chosen vessel; And was pleased in him that he should become
a chosen apostle and preacher of the gospel, O Christ our God. We ask you also
now, O you the good and philanthropic one, graciously grant us and all your
people a mind free from wondering and a clear understanding that we may learn
and understand how profitable are your holy teachings which are read to us now
after him. And as he followed your example, O Prince of life, so make us to be
like him in deed and in faith, that we may glorify your holy name and ever
glory in your cross. And unto you we stand up glory, honor and worship with
your good father and the Holy spirit the Life-Giver
who is of one essence with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all
ages. Amen.
READER: The Catholic Epistle from the Epistle of our
teacher... his blessing be upon us all. Amen.
(after
the Catholic Epistle is read, he says: ) Do not love the world, nor things which are in the world. The world shall pass away
and all its desires; but he who does the will of God shall abide forever. Amen.
(During the reading of the
Catholic Epistle, the priest says the following prayer inaudibly: ) O Lord God, who has revealed unto us through your holy
apostles, the mastery of the gospel of the glory of your Christ, and has given
unto them according to the power of the infinite gift of your grace, that they
should proclaim among all nations the glad news so the unsearchable
riches of your mercy, we ask you, O our Lord, make us worthy to have a share
and inheritance with them. Graciously, grant unto us always to walk in their
footsteps: and to imitate their struggle, and to have communion with them in
the sweat which they had for godliness sake. Keep your holy church, which You
founded through them, and bless the lambs of your flock and make to increase
this vine, which your right hand has planted; in Christ Jesus our Lord, through
whom are due unto you glory, honor, dominion and worship with him and the Holy
Spirit the Life-Giver who is of one essence with you, now and at all times and
unto the age of all ages. Amen.
The Praxis Response
Hail to you, Mary, the fair
dove, Who has borne unto us God the Logos.
READER: The Acts of our fathers the apostles, May
their holy blessing be with us all. Amen.
(after
the Acts of the Apostles is read, he says: ) The word of the Lord shall grow,
multiply, be mighty and be confirmed in the holy
(the
priest says the following prayer inaudibly during the reading of the Acts) O
God, who accepted the sacrifice of Abraham, and prepared for him a lamb in
place of Isaac, even so accept now at our hand, O our Lord, this sacrifice of
incense, and send down upon us in return your abundant mercy and make us pure
from all pollution of sin and make us worthy to serve in holiness and
righteousness before Your goodness all the days of our life.
(the “Synxadrium” (the chronicle of the saints) is read, then the
congregation sings)
The Hymn of the Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
who was born of the Virgin, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
who was crucified for us, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
who was form the dead and ascended into the heavens have mercy upon us.
Glory be
to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and always, and unto
the ages of ages. Amen. O Holy Trinity have mercy upon
us.
PRIEST: Pray.
DEACON: Stand up
for prayer.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CONGREGATION: And
with your spirit.
PRIEST: O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who said
to his saintly, honored disciples and holy apostles, Many prophets and
righteous men have desired to see the things which you see, and have not seen
them, and to hear the things which you hear and have not heard them. But
blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. May we be
worthy to hear and to act according to your holy gospels through the prayers of
your saints.
DEACON: Pray for
the holy gospel.
CONGREGATION: Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: Remember
also, O our Master, all those who have bidden us to remember them in our
supplications and prayers which we offer up unto you, O Lord our God. Those who
have already fallen asleep, repose them. Those who are sick, heal them. For you
are the life of us all, the salvation of us all, the hope of us all, the
healing of us all, and the resurrection of us all.
(and he continues inaudibly) And to you we
send up the glory, and the honor and the adoration, together with your good
Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with you. Now
and at all times and unto the age of all ages Amen.
DEACON: Stand
with the fear of God. Let us hear the holy gospel.
PRIEST: Blessed
be he who comes in the name of the Lord.
READER: Bless, O
Lord, the reading of the holy gospel, according to ..
CONGREGATION: Glory
to You, O Lord.
READER: Our
Lord, God, Savior, and king of us all, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, to
whom is glory forever. (the Gospel is read: )
CONGREGATION: Glory
to you, O Lord.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly)
O You, who are long-suffering, abundant in mercy and true, receive our prayers
and supplications, receive our petitions, repentance and confession upon your
holy undefiled altar in heaven; may we be made worthy to hear your holy gospel
and may we keep your precepts and commandments and bring forth fruit therein a
hundred-fold, sixty-fold and thirty-fold, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Remember, O
Lord the sick of your people that you have visited them with mercies and
compassion, heal them. Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who are
traveling, bring them back to their own in peace and safety. Remember O Lord,
the air of heaven and the fruits of the earth, bless them. Remember, O Lord,
the water of the rivers, bless them, and raise them to their measure according
to your grace. Remember, O Lord, the seeds, the herbs and the plants of the
field, bless them. Remember, O Lord, the safety of the people and the beasts.
Remember, O Lord, the safety of this place, which is yours, and every place and
every monastery of our Orthodox fathers. Remember, O Lord, the king (president)
of our land, your servant, keep him in peace, justice and might. Remember, O
Lord, those who are in captivity, save them all. Remember, O Lord, our fathers
and brethren who have fallen asleep and reposed in the Orthodox faith, repose
all their souls. Remember, O Lord, those who have been brought unto you these gifts,
those on whose behalf they have brought, and those by whom they have been
brought, give them all the heavenly reward. Remember, O Lord, those who are
distressed in hardships and oppressions, save them from all their hardships.
Remember, O Lord, the catechumens of your people, have mercy upon them; confirm
their faith in you; uproot all traces of idolatry form their hearts. Your law,
your fear, your commandments, your truths, and your holy precepts, establish in
their hearts. Grant that they know the steadfastness of the preaching they have
received. And in the set time, may they be worthy of the washing of the new
birth for the remission of their sins; as you prepare them to be a temple of
your Holy Spirit, by the grace, compassion, and philanthropy (love of mankind)
of your only-Begotten Son, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Through whom
the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto you, with
him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is of one essence with you, now and
at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) O God, who in Your
unspeakable love toward mankind sent Your Only-Begotten Son into the world,
that He might bring the lost sheep home unto You, we ask You, O our Lord, thrust
us not behind You when we offer this awesome and bloodless sacrifice. For we
put no trust in our righteousness but in Your mercy,
whereby, You have given life to our race. We pray and entreat Your goodness, O
philanthropic One, that this mystery which You have appointed unto us for
salvation may not be unto condemnation unto us or unto any of Your people, but
unto the washing away of our sins and forgiveness of our negligence and unto
the glory and honor of Your holy name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now, and
at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
DEACON: In the wisdom of God, let us attend. Lord,
have mercy. Lord, have mercy, In truth.
CONGREGATION: We believe in one God, God the Father, the
Pantocrator, who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen. We
believe 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, by whom all things were made; Who for
us men and our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy
Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became Man. And he was crucified for us
under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose from
the dead, according to the scriptures, ascended into the heavens; he sits at
the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in his glory to judge the
living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. Yes, we believe in the
Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with
the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. We confess
one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the
dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen.
PRIEST: Pray.
DEACON: Stand up
for prayer.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CONGREGATION: And
with your spirit.
PRIEST: O God the Great and the Eternal, who formed
man in incorruption, and death which entered into the world by the envy of the
devil, you have destroyed, by the life-giving manifestation of your
Only-Begotten Son, our Lord God and savior Jesus Christ. You have filled the
earth with the heavenly peace, by which the hosts of angels glorify you saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will toward men”.
DEACON: Pray for perfect peace, love and the holy
apostolic kisses.
CONGREGATION: Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: According to your good will, O God fill our hearts with your peace. Cleanse us from all blemish, all guile, all hypocrisy, all malice and the
remembrance of evil entailing death. And make us all worthy, O our Master, to
greet one another with a holy kiss, that without falling into condemnation, we
may partake, of your immortal and heavenly gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(And he continue Inaudibly) Through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion,
and the adoration are due unto you with him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver
who is of one essence with you, now and at all times, and unto the age of all
ages. Amen
DEACON: Greet one another with a holy kiss. Lord,
have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Yes, Lord, who is Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, hear us and have mercy upon us. Offer,
offer, offer in order. Stand with trembling. Look towards the east. Let us
attend.
CONGREGATION: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Saint Mary, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of
our sins. We worship you, O Christ, with your good Father and the Holy Spirit,
for you have come and saved us. A mercy of peace, a sacrifice
of praise.
PRIEST: The Lord be with you
all.
CONGREGATION: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: Lift up your hearts.
CONGREGATION: We have them with the Lord.
PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
CONGREGATION: It is meet and right.
PRIEST: Meet and right, meet and right, truly,
indeed, it is meet and right. O You, who are, Master,
Lord, God of truth, being before the ages and reigning forever, who dwells in
the highest and looks upon the lowly, who has created the heaven, the earth,
the sea and all is therein. The Father of our Lord, God and Savior
Jesus Christ, by whom you have created all things, seen and unseen. Who
sits upon the throne of his glory, and who is worshipped by all the holy power.
DEACON: You who are seated, stand.
PRIEST: Before whom stand the angels, the archangels,
the principalities, the authorities, the thrones, the dominion and the powers.
DEACON: Look towards the east.
PRIEST: You are he around whom
stand the Cherubim full of eyes, and the Seraphim with six wings praising
continuously without ceasing saying.
DEACON: Let us attend.
CONGREGATION: The Cherubim worship you, and the Seraphim
glorify you, Proclaiming and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your holy glory.
PRIEST: Agios (Holy), Agios, Agios. Holy, Holy, Holy, truly O Lord, our God, who formed
us, created us and placed us in the paradise of joy. When we disobeyed your
commandment by the guile of the serpent, we fell from eternal life, and were
exiled from the paradise of joy. You have not abandoned us to the end, but have
always visited us through your holy prophets, and in the last days, you did
manifest yourself to us, who were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death,
through your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, who of
the Holy Spirit and of the holy Virgin Mary.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: Was incarnate and became man, and taught us
the ways of salvation. He granted us the birth from on high through water and
Spirit. He made us unto himself a congregation, and sanctified us by your Holy
Spirit; He loved his own who are in the world, and gave himself up for our
salvation unto death which reigned over us, whereby we were bound and sold on account
of our sins, he descended into Hades through the cross
CONGREGATION: Amen. We believe.
PRIEST: He rose form the dead on the third day; He
ascended into the heavens and sat at your right hand, O Father; He has
appointed a day for recompense, on which He will appear to judge the world in
righteousness and give each one according to his deeds.
CONGREGATION: According to your mercy, O Lord, and not
according to our sins.
PRIEST: He instituted for us this great mystery of
godliness. For being determined to give himself up to death for the life of the
world.
CONGREGATION: We believe.
PRIEST: He took bread into his holy, spotless,
unblemished, blessed and life-giving hands.
CONGREGATION: We believe that this is true. Amen.
PRIEST: He looked up towards heaven to you, O God,
who are his Father and Master of every one. He gave thanks,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: He blessed it,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: And he sanctified it.
CONGREGATION: Amen. We believe, we confess, and we glorify.
PRIEST: He broke it, gave it to his own holy
disciples and saintly apostles saying “Take, eat of it all of you. For this is My Body, which shall be broken for you and for many, to
be given for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
CONGREGATION: This is true. Amen.
PRIEST: Likewise also the cup after supper He mixed
it of wine and water. He gave thanks,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: He blessed it,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: And He sanctified it.
CONGREGATION: Amen. Again, we believe, we confess, and we
glorify.
PRIEST: He tasted, and gave it also to his own holy
disciples and saintly apostles saying “Take, drink of it all of you. For this is my Blood for the new covenant which shall be shed for
you and many, to be given for the remission of sins. Do this in
remembrance of Me.”
CONGREGATION: This is also true. Amen.
PRIEST: For every time you shall eat of this bread
and drink of this cup, you proclaim my death, confess my resurrection and
remember me till I come.
CONGREGATION: Amen. Amen. Amen. Your death, O Lord, we
proclaim. Your holy resurrection and ascension, we confess. We praise You, we bless You, we thank You, O Lord, and we entreat You,
O our God.
PRIEST: Therefore, as we also commemorate his holy
passion, his resurrection form the dead, His ascension into heavens, his
sitting at your hand, O Father, and his second coming which shall be form the
heavens, awesome and full of glory; we offer unto you your oblations form what
is your, for every condition, concerning every condition and in every
condition.
DEACON: Worship God in fear and trembling.
CONGREGATION: We praise you, we bless you, we serve you, we worship you.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) And we
ask you, O Lord, our God, we, your sinful and unworthy servants. We worship you
by the pleasure of your goodness, that your Holy Spirit descend upon us upon
these gifts set forth, and purify them, change them and manifest them as a
sanctification of your saints.
DEACON: Let us attend. Amen.
PRIEST: And this bread he makes into his Holy Body.
CONGREGATION: We believe.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus
Christ, given for the remission of sins and eternal life to those who shall
partake of him.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: And this cup also, into the precious Blood of
his new covenant.
CONGREGATION: Again, we believe. Amen.
PRIEST: Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, given
for the remission of sins and eternal life to those who shall partake of him.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: Make us all worthy, O our Master, to partake,
of your holies unto the purification of our souls, our bodies and our spirits.
That we may become one body and one spirit, and may have a share and an
inheritance with all the saints who have pleased you since the beginning.
Remember, O Lord, the peace of your one, only, holy, catholic and apostolic
church.
DEACON: Pray for the peace of the one holy catholic
and apostolic Orthodox church of God.
CONGREGATION: Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: This which you have acquired unto yourself
with the precious Blood of your Christ. Keep her in peace, with all the
Orthodox bishops who are in her. Foremost, remember, O Lord, our blessed and honored
father, the archbishop our patriarch Abba......
DEACON: Pray for our high priest Papa Abba..., pope,
and patriarch and archbishop of the great city of
CONGREGATION: Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: And those who rightly define the word of
truth with him, grant them unto your holy church to
shepherd your flock in peace. Remember, O Lord, the Orthodox hegemonies,
priests and deacons.
DEACON: Pray for the hegemonies, priests, deacons,
sub-deacons, and the seven orders of the
CONGREGATION: Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: And all the ministers, all who are in
virginity, and the purity of all your faithful people, Remember, O Lord, to
have mercy upon us all.
CONGREGATION: Have mercy upon us, O God, the Father, the Pantocrator.
PRIEST: Remember, O Lord, the safety of this holy
place, which is yours, and every place and every monastery of our Orthodox
fathers.
DEACON: Pray for the safety of the world and of this
city of ours and of all cities, districts, islands and monasteries.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: And those who dwell therein in Gods faith.
PRIEST: Graciously accord, O Lord, the air of heaven,
the fruits of the earth, the waters of the rivers, the seeds, the herbs and the
plants of the field this year, bless them.
DEACON: Pray for the air of heaven, the fruits of the
earth, the rising of the waters of the rivers, the seeds, the herbs and the
plants of the field, that Christ our God may bless them, bring them to
perfection in peace without harm, and forgive us our sins.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord,
have mercy.
PRIEST: Raise them to their measure according to your
grace. Give joy to the face of the earth. May its furrows be abundantly watered
and its fruits be plentiful. Prepare it for sowing and
harvesting. Manage our life as deemed fit. Bless the crown of the year with
your goodness for the sake of the poor of your people, the widow, the orphan,
the traveler, the stranger, and for the sake of us all who entreat you and seek
your holy name. For the eyes of every one wait upon you, for you give them
their food in due season. Deal with us according to your goodness, O you who
give food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness that we too,
having sufficiency in every thing always, may abound in every good deed.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Remember O Lord, those who have brought unto
you these gifts, those on whose behalf they have been brought, and those by
whom they have been brought. Give them all the heavenly reward.
DEACON: Pray for these holy and precious gifts, our
sacrifices and those who have brought them.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: As this, O Lord, is the command of your
Only-Begotten Son, that we share in the commemoration of your saints,
graciously accord, O Lord, to remember all the saints who have pleased you
since the beginning: our holy fathers the patriarchs, the prophets, the
apostles, the preachers, the evangelists, the martyrs, the confessors and all
the spirits of the righteous who were consummated in the faith. Most of all, the pure, full of glory, ever-virgin, holy Theotokos, Saint Mary, who in truth, gave birth to God the
Logos. And Saint John the forerunner, Baptist and martyr; Saint Stephen
the archdeacon, the protomartyr; the beholder-of-God
Saint Mark, the evangelist the apostle and martyr; the patriarch Saint Severus; our teacher Dioscorus;
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic; Saint Peter the
priest-martyr and the high priest; Saint John Chrysostom,
Saint Theodosuius, Saint Theophilus,
Saint Demetrius, Saint Cyril, Saint Basil, Saint Gregory the theologian, Saint
Gregory the wonder-worker, Saint Gregory the Armenian; the three hundred and
eighteen assembled at Nicea, the one hundred at Ephesus; our righteous father
great Abba Antony, the righteous Abba Paul, the three
saints Abba Macarii, and all their children the
cross-bearers, our father Abba John the hegomen; our
father Abba Pishoi the righteous perfect man, the
beloved of our good Savior; our father Abba Paul of Tammoh
and Ezekiel his disciple; my masters the Roman fathers Saints Maximus and Domitius; the forty
nine martyrs the elders of Shiheet; the strong Saint
Abba Moses; John Kame the priest; our father Abba
Daniel the hegomen; our father Abba Isidore the priest; our father Abba Pachom,
of the Koinonia, and Theodore his disciple; our
father Abba Shenoute the archimandrite and Abba Wissa his disciple. And all choir of your saints, through
whose prayers and supplications, have mercy on us all and save us, for the sake
of your holy name, which is called upon us.
DEACON: Let those who read, recite the names of our
holy fathers, the patriarchs who have fallen asleep; O Lord repose their souls
and forgive us our sins.
PRIEST: (the priest says the following Diptych
inaudibly) Remember also, O Lord, all those who have fallen asleep and reposed
in the priesthood and in the order of laity. Graciously, O Lord, repose all
their souls in the bosom of our holy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, sustain
them in a green pasture, by the water of rest in the paradise of joy, the place
our of which grief, sorrow and groaning have fled away in the light of your
saints.
PRIEST: Those, O Lord, and everyone whose names we
have mentioned, and those whose names we have not mentioned, those whom each
one has in mind, and those who are not in our minds, those who have fallen
asleep and reposed in the faith of Christ, graciously, O Lord, remember the
souls of your servants (here the priest mentions the names of the departed).
DEACON: Pray for our fathers and brethren who have
fallen asleep and reposed in the faith of Christ since the beginning, our holy
fathers the archbishops, our fathers the bishops, our fathers the hegemons, our fathers the priest, our brethren the deacons,
our fathers the monks and our fathers the laymen, and for the full repose of
the Christians, that Christ our God may repose all their souls in the paradise
of joy, and we too accord mercy unto us and forgive us our sins.
PRIEST: Graciously, O Lord, repose all their souls in
the bosom of our holy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, sustain them in a green
pasture, by the water of rest in the paradise of joy, the place our of which
grief, sorrow and groaning have fled away in the light of your saints.
CONGREGATION: May their holy blessing be with us. Amen. Glory to you, O Lord. Glory be to
you. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, bless us. Lord repose them.
Amen.
PRIEST: Those, O Lord, whose souls you have taken,
repose them in the paradise of joy, in the region of the living forever, in the
heavenly
CONGREGATION: As it was, and shall be, form generation to
generation, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
PRIEST: Lead us throughout the way into your kingdom,
that as in this so also in all things your great and holy name be glorified,
blessed and exalted, in every thing honored and blessed, together with Jesus
Christ, your beloved son and the Holy Spirit.
Peace be
with all.
CONGREGATION: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: Again let us give thanks unto God the
Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, for also he
has made us worthy now to stand up in this holy place, to lift up our hands and
to serve his holy name. Let us also ask him to make us worthy of the communion
and partaking of his divine and immortal mysteries.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: The holy body.
CONGREGATION: We worship your holy body.
PRIEST: And the Precious blood.
CONGREGATION: And your precious blood.
PRIEST: Of his Christ, the Pantocrator, the Lord, our God.
DEACON: Amen, Amen. Pray.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CONGREGATION: And with you spirit.
PRIEST: O Master, Lord our God, the great and the
eternal, who are wondrous in glory; who keeps his covenant and his mercy unto
them who love him with all their heart; who has given to us redemption from
sins through his only-begotten son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, the life of
everyone, the help of those who flee to him, the hope of those who cry unto
him. Before whom stand thousands of thousands and ten
thousand times ten thousands of holy angels and archangels, the Cherubim and
the Seraphim and all the innumerable host of the heavenly powers. O God,
who has sanctified these gifts which are set fourth, through the coming down
upon them of your holy spirit, you have purified them. Purify us also, our
Master, form our sins, the hidden and manifest; and every thought which is not
pleasing to your goodness, God the philanthropic one, may it be far from us.
Purify our souls, our bodies, our spirits, our hearts, our eyes, our
understanding, our thoughts and our consciences, so that with a pure heart, and
enlightened soul, and unashamed face, a faith unfeigned, a perfect love, and
firm hope, we may dare with boldness without fear to pray to you, O God the
holy Father who are in the heavens and say: Our Father....
CONGREGATION: Our father who art in heaven; hallowed be thy
name; thy kingdom come; they will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us
this day our bread of the morrow, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
form evil. In Christ Jesus, our Lord. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.
Amen.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) Yes, we
ask you, O good father, who loves goodness, lead us not into temptation, nor
let any iniquity get the rule over us but deliver us from worthless works and
form the thoughts, motions, sights and touch thereof. Destroy the tempter and
drive him away. Rebuke also his movements implanted in us, and cut off from us
all impulses which drag us into sin. And deliver us by your holy power, in
Christ Jesus, our Lord, through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and
adoration are due unto you, with him and the holy spirit, the Life-giver, who
is of one essence with you now, and at all times, and unto the age of all ages.
Amen.
DEACON: Bow your heads to the Lord.
CONGREGATION: Before you, O Lord.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly: Prayer of submission) The grace of the beneficence of your only-begotten son, our
Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ are now fulfilled. We have confessed his
saving passion, we have preached his death, we have believed in his
resurrection, and the mystery is accomplished. We give thanks to you, O Lord
God the Pantocrator for your mercy is great upon us, for you have prepared for
us those things which the angels desire to behold. We ask and entreat your
goodness, O Philanthropic One, that since you have purified us all, you join us
unto Yourself, through our partaking of your divine
mysteries. That we may become filled with your holy spirit with the longing for
your true love, may we speak of your glory at all times, in Christ Jesus, our
Lord, through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are
due unto you, is of one essence with you, now, and at all times and unto the
age of all ages. Amen.
DEACON: Let us attend in the fear of God.
PRIEST: Peace be
with all.
CONGREGATION: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly: absolution to the father) O
Master, Lord God the Pantocrator, healer of our souls, our bodies, and spirits,
you are he who said unto our father Peter through the mouth of your
only-begotten son, “You are Peter, upon this rock I will build y church, and
the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it, and I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of the heavens. That which you will bind upon the earth shall be
bound in the heavens, and that which you will loose upon the earth shall be
loosed in the heavens. Therefore, O Lord, let your servants, my fathers, my
brethren and my own weakness, be absolved by my mouth, through your holy
spirit, O you, good and Philanthropic one. O God, who takes away the sin of the
world, hasten, to accept the repentance of your servants for a light of
understanding and forgiveness of sins. For you are a compassionate and merciful
God; you are patient; your mercy is great and true. If we have sinned against
you either by word or by deeds, pardon and forgive us, as a good and
Philanthropic one. O God, absolve us and all your people form
every sin, form every curse, form every denial, form every false oath, and from
every encounter with the heretics and the heathens. O our Lord, grant us
a reason, power and understanding to flee from any evil deed of the adversary,
and grant us to do what is pleasing unto you at all times. Inscribe our names
with all the choir of your saints in the kingdom of the heavens, in Christ
Jesus, our Lord, through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the
adoration are due unto you, with him and the holy spirit, the Life- giver who
is of one essence with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages.
Amen.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) Remember, O Lord, my own weakness
and forgive my many sins, and where transgression has abounded, let your grace
be multiplied in abundance. Because of my own sins and the abomination of my
heart, deprive not your people of the grace of your holy spirit. Absolve us and
absolve all your people form every sin, from every curse, from every denial,
from every false oath, and from every encounter with the heretics and the
heathens. O our Lord, grant us a reason, power and understanding to flee from
any evil deed of the adversary, and grant us to do what is pleasing unto your
at all times. Inscribe our names with all the choir of your saints in the
kingdom of the heavens, in Christ Jesus, our Lord, through whom the glory, the honor,
the dominion, and the adoration are due unto you, with him and the holy spirit,
the life-giver who is of one essence with you, now and at all times and unto
the age of all ages. Amen
HERE the PRIEST prays the
litanies for peace and fathers inaudibly and litany for congregation audibly.
PRIEST: Remember, O Lord, our congregations; bless
them.
DEACON: Saved, Amen. And with your
spirit. In the fear of God, let us attend.
CONGREGATION: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord,
have mercy
PRIEST: The holies for the holy. Blessed be the Lord
Jesus Christ the Son of God, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONGREGATION: One is the All-Holy Father. One is the
All-Holy Son. One is the All-Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRIEST: Peace be
with all.
CONGREGATION: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: The holy Body, and the precious and true
Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of our God. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: The holy and precious Body and the true Blood
of Jesus Christ, the Son of our God. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: The Body and the Blood of Emmanuel our God,
this is in truth. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen. We believe.
PRIEST: Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I believe, I
believe and confess to the last breath, that this is the life-giving body that
your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ took from our
lady, the lady of us all, the holy Theotokos Saint
May. He made it one with his divinity without mingling, without confusion and
without alteration. He witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate. He
gave it up for us upon the holy wood of the cross, of his own will, for us all.
Truly I believe that his divinity parted not from his humanity for a single
moment nor a twinkling of an eye. Given for us for salvation,
remission of sins and eternal life to those who partake of him. I
believe, I believe, I believe that this is so in truth. Amen.
HERE the PRIEST worships saying: That
every glory, honor, and worship..
DEACON: Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I believe, I
believe that this is so in truth. Amen. Pray for us and for all the Christians
who said to us concerning them, remember us in the house of the Lord. The peace
and love of Jesus Christ be with you. Sing. Alleluia. Pray for the worthy
communion of the immaculate heavenly and holy mysteries. Lord, have mercy.
CONGREGATION: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to You.