Psalm
22
The
Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want. In a place of green
pasture, there hath He made me to dwell; beside the water of rest hath
He nurtured me. He hath converted my soul, He hath led me on the paths
of righteousness for His name’s sake. For though I should walk in
the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art
with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they have comforted me. Thou hast
prepared a table for me in the presence of them that afflict me. Thou
hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup which filleth me, how
excellent it is! And Thy mercy shall pursue me all the days of my
life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
Psalm
23
The
earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world, and all
that dwell therein. He hath founded it upon the seas, and upon the
rivers hath He prepared it. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the
Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that is innocent in
hands and pure in heart, who hath not received his soul in vain, and
hath not sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. Such a one shall receive
a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour. This is the
generation of them that seek the Lord, of them that seek the face of
the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted
up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is
this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in
war. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye
everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this
King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.
Psalm
115
I
believed wherefore I spake; I was humbled exceedingly. As for me, I
said in mine ecstasy: Every man is a liar. What shall I render unto
the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me? I will take the cup of
salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows unto the
Lord will I pay in the presence of all His people. Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, I am Thy
servant; I am Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid. Thou hast
broken my bonds asunder. I will sacrifice a sacrifice of praise unto
Thee, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows unto the Lord
will I pay in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the
house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God (thrice).
Lord,
have mercy (thrice).
Troparia,
8th Tone:
Disregard
my transgressions, O Lord Who was born of a Virgin, and purify my
heart, and make it a temple for Thy spotless Body and Blood. Let me
not be rejected from Thy presence, O Thou Who hast great mercy without
measure.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
How
can I who am unworthy dare to come to the Communion of Thy Holy
Things? For if I should dare to approach Thee with those that are
worthy, my garment betrayeth me, for it is not a festal robe, and I
shall cause the condemnation of my greatly-sinful soul. Cleanse, O
Lord, the pollution from my soul, and save me, as Thou art the Lover
of mankind.
Both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Greatly
multiplied, O Theotokos, are my sins; unto Thee have I fled, O pure
one, imploring salvation. Do thou visit mine enfeebled soul, and pray
to thy Son and our God that He grant me forgiveness for the evil I
have done, O thou only blessed one.
During
Holy and Great Lent say this:
When
the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet,
then Judas the ungodly one was stricken and darkened with the love of
silver. And unto the lawless judges did he deliver Thee, the righteous
Judge. Behold, O lover of money, him that for the sake thereof did
hang himself; flee from that insatiable soul that dared such things
against the Master. O Thou Who art good unto all, Lord, glory be to
Thee.
Psalm
50
Have
mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the
multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me
thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know
mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I
sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified
in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was
conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For
behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy
wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with
hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be
made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness;
the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from
my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart,
O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy
presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the
joy of Thy salvation and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I
shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back
unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my
salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou
shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou
hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings
Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a
heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O
Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem
be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of
righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall
they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
And
immediately:
The Canon for Holy Communion, 2nd Tone
Ode
I
Eirmos:
Come, O you people,
let us sing a hymn to Christ our God, Who divided the sea, and guided
the people whom He brought out of the bondage of Egypt; for He is
glorified.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
May
Thy holy Body be for me the Bread of life eternal, O Compassionate
Lord, and may Thy precious Blood also the healing for my many forms of
illness.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Defiled
by unseemly deeds, I the wretched one am unworthy, O Christ, of the
communion of Thy most pure Body and divine Blood, which do Thou
vouchsafe me.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O
blessed Bride of God, O good soil that grew the Corn untilled and
saving to the world, vouchsafe me to be saved by eating it.
Ode
III
Eirmos:
By establishing me
on the rock of faith, Thou hast enlarged my mouth over mine enemies,
for my spirit rejoices when I sing: There is none holy as our God, and
none righteous beside Thee, O Lord.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Tear
drops grant me, O Christ, to cleanse my defiled heart, that, purified
and with a good conscience, I may come with faith and fear, O Master,
to the communion Thy divine Gifts.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
May
Thy most pure Body and divine Blood be unto me for remission of sins,
for communion with the Holy Spirit and unto life eternal, O Lover of
mankind, and to estrangement of passions and sorrows.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O
thou most holy table of the Bread of Life that for mercy’s sake came
down from on high, giving new life to the world, vouchsafe even me,
the unworthy, to eat it with fear and live.
Ode
IV
Eirmos:
From a Virgin didst
Thou come, not as an ambassador, nor as an angel, but the very Lord
Himself incarnate, and didst save me, the whole man. Wherefore, I cry
to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
O
Thou Who wast incarnate for our sake, O Most-merciful One, Thou didst
will to be slain as a sheep for the sins of mankind. Wherefore I
entreat Thee to blot out my sins also.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Heal
the wounds of my soul, O Lord, and sanctify all of me, and vouchsafe,
O Master, that I the wretched one, may partake of Thy divine Mystical
Supper.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Propitiate
for me also, Him that came from thy womb, O Lady, and keep me, thy
servant, undefiled and blameless, so that by obtaining the spiritual
pearl I may be sanctified.
Ode
V
Eirmos:
O
Lord, Giver of light and Creator of the ages, guide us in the light of
Thy commandments, for we know none other God beside Thee.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
As
Thou didst foretell, O Christ, let it be to Thy wicked servant, and in
me abide as Thou didst promise; for behold, I eat Thy divine Body and
drink Thy Blood.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
O
Word of God and God, may the live coal of Thy Body be unto the
enlightenment of me who am in darkness, and Thy Blood unto the
cleansing of my defiled soul.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O
Mary, Mother of God, precious tabernacle of fragrance, through thy
prayers make me a chosen vessel, that I may partake of the Sacrament
of thy Son.
Ode
VI
Eirmos:
Whirled about in the
abyss of sin, I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion:
From corruption raise me up, O God.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
O
Saviour, sanctify my mind, soul, heart and body, and vouchsafe me
uncondemned, O Master, to approach the fearful Mysteries.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Grant
that I may be rid of passions, and the assistance of Thy grace, and
strengthening of life by the communion of Thy holy Mysteries, O
Christ.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O
Holy Word of God and God, sanctify all of me as I now come to Thy
divine Mysteries, through the prayers of Thy holy Mother.
Lord,
have mercy (thrice).
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion,
2nd Tone:
Count
me not unworthy, O Christ, to receive now the Bread which is Thy Body,
and Thy divine Blood, and to partake, O Master, of Thy most pure and
dread Mysteries, wretched though I be. Let these not be for me unto
judgment, but unto life immortal and everlasting.
Ode
VII
Eirmos:
The wise children
did not serve the golden image, but went themselves into the flame and
reviled the pagan gods. They cried in the midst of the flame, and the
angel bedewed them: Already the prayer of your lips was heard.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
May
the communion of Thine immortal Mysteries, the source of blessings, O
Christ, be to me now light, and life, and dispassion and for progress
and increase in the most divine virtues, O only Good One, that I may
glorify Thee.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
That
I may be delivered from passions, enemies, need, and every sorrow, I
now draw nigh with trembling, love and reverence, O Lover of mankind,
to Thine immortal and divine Mysteries. Vouchsafe me to hymn Thee:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O
thou who art full of grace, who beyond understanding gavest birth to
Christ the Saviour, I thy servant, the impure, now entreat thee, the
pure: Cleanse me, who am now about to approach the most pure
Mysteries, from all defilement of flesh and spirit.
Ode
VIII
Eirmos:
God
Who descended into the fiery furnace unto the Hebrew children and
changed the flame into dew, praise Him as Lord O ye works, and
supremely exalt Him unto all the ages.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Of
Thy heavenly, dread and holy Mysteries, O Christ, and of Thy divine
Mystical Supper, vouchsafe now even me, the despairing one, to partake
O God my Saviour.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit front me.
Fleeing
for refuge to Thy loving-kindness, O Good One, with fear I cry unto
Thee: Abide in me, O Saviour, and I, as Thou hast said in Thee. For
behold, presuming on Thy mercy, I eat Thy Body and drink Thy Blood.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I
tremble at taking fire, lest I be consumed as wax and grass. O fearful
Mystery! O loving-kindness of God! How is it that I, being but clay,
partake of the divine Body and Blood, and am made incorruptible!
Ode
IX
Eirmos:
The Son of the
unoriginate Father, God and Lord, hath appeared unto us incarnate of a
Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness, and to gather the dispersed.
Wherefore the all-hymned Theotokos do we magnify.
Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Christ
it is, O taste and see! The Lord of old for our sake made like unto us
once offered Himself as an offering to His Father, and is ever slain,
sanctifying them that partake.
Cast
me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
May
I be sanctified in soul and body, O Master; may I be enlightened, may
I be saved, may I become Thy dwelling through the communion of Thy
holy Mysteries, having Thee with the Father and the Spirit living in
me, O Benefactor, plenteous in mercy.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
May
Thy Body and Thy most precious Blood, O my Saviour, be unto me as fire
and light, consuming the substance of sin and burning the thorns of
passions, and enlightening all of me to worship Thy Divinity.
Both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God
took flesh of thy pure blood; Wherefore, all generations do hymn thee,
O Lady, and throngs of heavenly minds glorify thee, for through thee
they have clearly seen Him Who ruleth all things endued with human
nature.
And
immediately:
It
is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most
blameless and Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim,
and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without
corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do
we magnify.
Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (thrice).
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins; O
Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord,
have mercy (thrice).
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our
Father, Who art in the heavens, 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 debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
And
the troparion of the day, if it be the feast of the Lord’s Nativity.
If it be Sunday, the Sunday troparion of the tone. If not, these:
Troparia,
6th Tone:
Have
mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for at a loss for any defense,
this prayer do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master: Have mercy on us.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord,
have mercy on us; for we have hoped in Thee, be not angry with us
greatly, neither remember our iniquities; but look upon us now as Thou
art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies, for Thou art our
God, and we, Thy people; all are the works of Thy hands, and we call
upon Thy name.
Both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The
door of compassion open unto us, O blessed Theotokos, for, hoping in
thee, let us not perish; through thee may we be delivered from
adversities, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Lord,
have mercy (40).
And
reverences (bows or prostrations), as many as thou desirest.
And
thereafter these lines:
If
thou desirest, O man, to eat the Body of the Master,
Approach
with fear, lest thou be burnt; for It is fire.
And
when thou drinkest the Divine Blood unto communion,
First
be reconciled to them that have grieved thee,
Then
dare to eat the Mystical Food.
Other
lines:
Before
partaking of the Awesome Sacrifice
Of
the life-creating Body of the Master,
After
this manner pray with trembling:
Prayer
I, of St. Basil the Great:
O
Master Lord Jesus Christ our God, Source of life and immortality,
Creator of all things visible and invisible, the co-eternal and co-unoriginate
Son of the unoriginate Father, Who, out of Thy great goodness, didst
in the latter days clothe Thyself in flesh, and wast crucified, and
buried for us ungrateful and evil-disposed ones, and hast renewed with
Thine Own Blood our nature corrupted by sin: Do Thou Thyself, O
Immortal King, accept the repentance of me a sinner, and incline Thine
ear to me, and hearken unto my words. For I have sinned against heaven
and before Thee, and I am not worthy to look upon the height of Thy
glory; for I have angered Thy goodness by transgressing Thy
commandments and not obeying Thine injunctions. But Thou, O Lord, Who
art not vengeful, but long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, hast not
given me over to be destroyed with my sins, but always Thou awaitest
my complete conversion. For Thou hast said, O Lover of mankind,
through Thy prophet: For I desire not the death of the sinner, but
that he should return and live. For Thou desirest not, O Master, to
destroy the work of Thy hands, neither shalt Thou be pleased with the
destruction of men, but desirest that all be saved and come to a
knowledge of the truth. Wherefore, even I, although unworthy of heaven
and earth, and of this temporal life, having submitted my whole self
to sin, and made myself a slave of pleasure, and having defaced Thine
image, yet being Thy work and creation, wretched though I be, I
despair not of my salvation, and dare to approach Thine immeasurable
loving-kindness. Accept, then, even me, O Lord, Lover of mankind, as
Thou didst accept the sinful woman, the thief, the publican, and the
prodigal; and take away the heavy burden of my sins, Thou that takest
away the sin of the world, and healest the infirmities of mankind, Who
callest the weary and heavy-laden unto Thyself and givest them rest,
Who camest not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And
do Thou cleanse me from all defilement of flesh and spirit, and teach
me to achieve holiness in fear of Thee; that with the pure testimony
of my conscience, receiving a portion of Thy Holy Things, I may be
united unto Thy Holy Body and Blood, and have Thee living and abiding
in me with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit. Yea, O Lord Jesus Christ my
God, let not the communion of Thine immaculate and life-giving
Mysteries be unto me for judgment, neither unto infirmity of soul and
body because of my partaking of them unworthily; but grant me until my
last breath to receive without condemnation the portion of Thy Holy
Things, unto communion with the Holy Spirit, as a provision for life
eternal, for an acceptable defense at Thy dread judgment seat; so that
I also, with all Thine elect, may become a partaker of Thine
incorruptible blessings, which Thou hast prepared for them that love
Thee, O Lord, in whom Thou art glorified unto the ages. Amen.
Prayer
II, of our father among the saints John Chrysostom:
O
Lord My God, I know that I am not worthy nor sufficient that Thou
shouldest enter beneath the roof of the temple of my soul, for all is
empty and fallen, and Thou hast not in me a place worthy to lay Thy
head; but as from on high Thou didst humble Thyself for our sake, do
Thou now also lower Thyself to my lowliness; and as Thou didst consent
to lie in a cave and in a manger of dumb beasts, so consent also to
lie in the manger of mine irrational soul and to enter into my defiled
body. And as Thou didst not refuse to enter and to dine with sinners
in the house of Simon the Leper, so deign also to enter into the house
of my lowly soul, leprous and sinful. And as Thou didst not reject the
harlot and sinner like me, when she came and touched Thee, so be
compassionate also with me a sinner, as I approach and touch Thee. And
as Thou didst feel no loathing for the defiled and unclean lips of her
that kissed Thee, do Thou also not loathe my defiled lips nor mine
abominable and impure mouth, and my polluted and unclean tongue. But
let the fiery coal of Thy most Holy Body and Thy precious Blood be
unto me for sanctification and enlightenment and health for my lowly
soul and body, unto the lightening of the burden of my many sins, for
preservation from every act of the devil, for the expulsion and
prohibition of mine evil and wicked habits, unto the mortification of
the passions, unto the keeping of Thy commandments, unto the
application of Thy divine grace, unto the acquiring of Thy kingdom.
For not with disdain do I approach Thee, O Christ God, but as one
trusting in Thine ineffable goodness, and that I may not by much
abstaining from Thy communion become the prey of the spiritual wolf.
Wherefore do I entreat Thee, for Thou art the only Holy One, O Master:
Sanctify my soul and body, my mind and heart, my belly and inward
parts, and renew me entirely. And implant Thy fear in my members, and
make Thy sanctification inalienable from me, and be unto me a helper
and defender, guiding my life in peace, vouchsafing me also to stand
at Thy right hand with Thy saints, through the intercessions and
supplications of Thy most pure Mother, of Thine immaterial ministers
and immaculate hosts, and of all the saints who from the ages have
been pleasing unto Thee. Amen.
Prayer
III, of St. Symeon Metaphrastes:
O
only pure and sinless Lord, Who, through the ineffable compassion of
Thy love for mankind, didst take on all of our substance from the pure
and virgin blood of her that bare Thee supernaturally through the
descent of the Divine Spirit and the good will of the everlasting
Father; O Christ Jesus, Wisdom of God, and Peace, and Power, Thou Who
through the assumption of our nature didst take upon Thyself Thy
life-giving and saving Passion: the Cross, the nails, the spear, and
death: Mortify the soul-corrupting passions of my body. Thou Who by
Thy burial didst lead captive the kingdom of hades, bury with good
thoughts mine evil schemes, and destroy the spirits of evil. Thou Who
by Thy life-bearing Resurrection on the third day didst raise up our
fallen forefather, raise me up who have slipped down into sin, setting
before me the ways of repentance. Thou Who by Thy most glorious
Ascension didst deify the flesh that Thou hadst taken, and didst
honour it with a seat at the right hand of the Father, vouchsafe me
through partaking of Thy holy Mysteries to obtain a place at Thy right
hand among them that are saved. O Thou Who by the descent of Thy
Spirit, the Comforter, didst make Thy holy disciples worthy vessels,
show me also to be a receptacle of His coming. Thou Who art to come
again to judge the world in righteousness, deign to let me also meet
Thee on the clouds, my Judge and Creator, with all Thy saints; that I
may endlessly glorify and praise Thee, with Thine unoriginate Father,
and Thy Most-Holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and
unto the ages of-ages. Amen.
Prayer
IV, of the divine Damascene:
O
Master Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who alone hast authority to remit
the sins of men: Do Thou, as the Good One and Lover of mankind,
overlook all mine offences, whether committed with knowledge or in
ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy
Divine, glorious, immaculate, and life-giving Mysteries; not as a
burden, nor for punishment, nor for an increase of sins, but unto
purification and sanctification, and as a pledge of the life and
kingdom to come, as a bulwark and help, and for the destruction of
enemies, and for the blotting out of my many transgressions. For Thou
art a God of mercy, and compassion, and love for mankind, and unto
Thee do we send up glory, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer
V, of St. Basil the Great:
I
know, O Lord, that I partake unworthily of Thine immaculate Body and
Thy precious Blood, and that I am guilty, and eat and drink damnation
to myself, not discerning the Body and Blood of Thee, my Christ and
God; but taking courage from Thy compassion I approach Thee Who hast
said: He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me
and I in him. Show compassion, therefore, O Lord, and do not accuse
me, a sinner, but deal with me according to Thy mercy; and let these
Holy Things be for me unto healing, and purification, and
enlightenment, and preservation, and salvation, and unto
sanctification of soul and body; unto the driving away of every
phantasy, and evil practice, and activity of the devil working
mentally in my members; unto confidence and love toward Thee, unto
correction of life, unto steadfastness, unto an increase of virtue and
perfection, unto fulfillment of the commandments, unto communion with
the Holy Spirit, as a provision for life eternal, as an acceptable
defense at Thy dread tribunal, not unto judgment or condemnation.
Prayer
VI, of St. Symeon the New Theologian:
From
sullied lips, from an abominable heart, from a tongue impure, from a
soul defiled, accept my supplication, O my Christ, and disdain me not,
neither my words, nor my ways, nor my shamelessness. Grant me to say
boldly that which I desire, O my Christ. Or rather, teach me what I
ought to do and say. I have sinned more than the sinful woman who,
having learned where Thou wast lodging, bought myrrh, and came
daringly to anoint Thy feet, my God, my Master, and my Christ. As Thou
didst not reject her when she drew near from her heart, neither, O
Word, be Thou filled with loathing for me, but grant me Thy feet to
clasp and kiss, and with floods of tears, as with most precious myrrh,
dare to anoint them. Wash me with my tears, and purify me with them, O
Word; remit also my transgressions, and grant me pardon. Thou knowest
the multitude of mine evils, Thou knowest also my sores, and Thou
seest my wounds; but also Thou knowest my faith and Thou beholdest my
good intentions, and Thou hearest my sighs. Nothing is hidden from
Thee, my God, my Creator, my Redeemer, neither a teardrop, nor a part
of a drop. My deeds not yet done Thine eyes have seen, and in Thy book
even things not yet accomplished are written by Thee. See my
lowliness, see my toil, how great it is, and all my sins take from me,
O God of all; that with a pure heart, a trembling mind, and a contrite
soul I may partake of Thy spotless and most holy Mysteries, by which
all that eat and drink in purity of heart are quickened and deified.
For Thou, O my Master, hast said: Everyone that eateth My Flesh and
drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him. True is every word of
my Master and God; for whosoever partaketh of the divine and deifying
grace is no more alone, but with Thee, my Christ, the three-sunned
Light that enlighteneth the world. And that I may not remain alone
without Thee, the Life-giver, my Breath, my Life, my Rejoicing, the
Salvation of the world, therefore have I drawn nigh unto Thee, as Thou
seest, with tears, and with a contrite soul. O Ransom of mine
offences, I ask Thee to receive me, and that I may partake without
condemnation of Thy life-giving and perfect Mysteries, that Thou
mayest remain, as Thou hast said, with me, a thrice-wretched one, lest
the deceiver, finding me without Thy grace, craftily seize me, and
having beguiled me, draw me away from Thy deifying words. Wherefore, I
fall down before Thee, and fervently cry unto Thee: As Thou did
receive the prodigal, and the sinful woman who drew near, so receive
me, the prodigal and profligate, O Compassionate One. With contrite
soul I now come to Thee. I know, O Saviour, that none other hath
sinned against Thee as have I, nor hath wrought the deeds that I have
done. But this again I know, that neither the magnitude of mine
offences nor the multitude of my sins surpasseth the abundant
long-suffering of my God and His exceeding love for mankind; but with
sympathetic mercy Thou dost purify and illumine them that fervently
repent, and makest them partakers of the light, sharers of Thy
divinity without stint. And, strange to angels and to the minds of
men, Thou conversest with them oftimes, as with Thy true friends.
These things make me bold, these things give me wings, O Christ. And
taking courage from the wealth of Thy benefactions to us, rejoicing
and trembling at once, I partake of Fire, I that am grass. And,
strange wonder! I am bedewed without being consumed, as the bush of
old burned without being consumed. Now with thankful mind, and
grateful heart, with thankfulness in my members, my soul and body, I
worship and magnify and glorify Thee, my God, for blessed art Thou,
both now and unto the ages.
Prayer
VII, another of Chrysostom:
O
God, loose, remit, and pardon me my transgressions wherein I have
sinned against Thee, whether by word, deed, or thought, voluntarily or
involuntarily, consciously or unconsciously; forgive me all, for Thou
art good and the Lover of mankind. And through the intercessions of
Thy most pure Mother, Thy noetic ministers and holy hosts, and all the
saints who from the ages have been pleasing unto Thee, deign to allow
me without condemnation to receive Thy holy and immaculate Body and
precious Blood, unto the healing of soul and body, and unto the
purification of mine evil thoughts. For Thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer
VIII, of the same:
I
am not sufficient, O Master and Lord, that Thou shouldest enter under
the roof of my soul; but as Thou dost will as the Lover of mankind to
dwell in me, I dare to approach Thee. Thou commandest: I shall open
the doors which Thou alone didst create, that Thou mayest enter with
Thy love for mankind, as is Thy nature, that Thou mayest enter and
enlighten my darkened thought. I believe that Thou wilt do this, for
Thou didst not drive away the sinful woman when she came unto Thee
with tears, neither didst Thou reject the publican who repented, nor
didst Thou spurn the thief who acknowledged Thy kingdom, nor didst
Thou leave the repentant persecutor to himself; but all of them that
came unto Thee in repentance Thou didst number among Thy friends, O
Thou Who alone art blessed, always, now and unto endless ages. Amen.
Prayer
IX, of the same:
O
Lord Jesus Christ my God, loose, remit, cleanse, and forgive me, Thy
sinful and unprofitable, and unworthy servant, my transgressions and
offences and fallings into sin, which I have committed against Thee
from my youth until the present day and hour, whether consciously or
unconsciously, whether by words or deeds, or in thought or
imagination, in habit, and in all my senses. And through the
intercessions of her that seedlessly gave Thee birth, the most pure
and Ever-Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, the only hope that maketh not
ashamed, and my mediation and salvation, vouchsafe me without
condemnation to partake of Thine immaculate, immortal, life-giving and
awesome Mysteries, unto the remission of sins and for life eternal,
unto sanctification and enlightenment, strength, healing, and health
of both soul and body, and unto the consumption and complete
destruction of mine evil reasonings and intentions and prejudices and
nocturnal phantasies of dark and evil spirits; for Thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and the honour and the worship,
with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
Prayer
X, of St. John Damascene:
I
stand before the doors of Thy temple, yet I do not put away evil
thoughts. But do Thou, O Christ God, Who didst justify the publican,
and didst have mercy on the woman of Canaan, and didst open the doors
of paradise to the thief, open unto me the abyss of Thy love for
mankind, and receive me as I come and touch Thee, as Thou didst
receive the sinful woman and the woman with an issue of blood. For the
one received healing easily by touching the hem of Thy garment, while
the other, by clasping Thy most pure feet, carried away absolution of
sins. And I, a wretch, daring to receive Thy whole Body, let me not be
consumed by fire; but receive me, as Thou didst receive them, and
enlighten my spiritual, senses, burning up my sinful errors; through
the intercessions of her that seedlessly gave Thee birth, and of the
heavenly hosts, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Another
Prayer of Chrysostom:
I
believe, O Lord and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son
of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I
am chief. Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most pure Body
and this is truly Thine Own precious Blood; wherefore I pray thee:
Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and
involuntary, whether in word or deed, in knowledge or in ignorance.
And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure
Mysteries, unto the remission of sins and life everlasting. Amen.
When
Coming to Partake of Holy Communion,
say these verses of Symeon Metaphrastes:
Behold,
I approach the Divine Communion.
O
Creator, let me not be burnt by communicating:
For
Thou art Fire, consuming the unworthy.
But,
rather, purify me of all impurity.
Then
again say:
Of
Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant;
for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies; nor will I give
Thee a kiss, as did Judas, but like the thief do I confess Thee:
Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
Furthermore,
these lines:
Be
awe-stricken, O mortal, beholding the deifying Blood;
For
It is a fire that consumeth the unworthy.
The
Divine Body both deifieth and nourisheth me.
It
deifieth the spirit, and wondrously nourisheth the mind.
Then
the Troparia:
Thou
hast sweetened me with Thy love, O Christ, and by Thy Divine zeal hast
Thou changed me. But do Thou consume my sins with immaterial fire, and
vouchsafe me to be filled with delight in Thee; that, leaping for joy,
O Good One, I may magnify Thy two comings.
Into
the brilliant company of Thy saints how shall I the unworthy enter?
For if I dare to enter into the bridechamber, my garment betrayeth me,
for it is not a wedding garment and I shall be bound and cast out by
the angels. Cleanse, O Lord, my soul of pollution, and save me, as
Thou art the Lover of mankind.
Then
the Prayer:
O
Master, Lover of mankind, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, let not these
Holy Things be unto me for judgment, through my being unworthy, but
unto the purification and sanctification of soul and body, and as a
pledge of the life and kingdom to come. For it is good for me to
cleave unto God, to put my hope of salvation in the Lord.
And
again:
Of
Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant;
for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies; nor will I give
Thee a kiss, as did Judas; but like the thief do I confess Thee:
Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.
