The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a Byzantine Rite liturgical service which is performed on the weekdays of Great Lent wherein communion is received from Gifts (the Body and Blood of Christ) that are consecrated in advance, hence its name; this Divine Liturgy has no anaphora (eucharistic prayer).
The Presanctified is used on the weekdays of Great Lent, a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer when the more frequent reception of communion is desirable; however, the full Divine Liturgy having a joyful character is not in keeping with the somberness of the season of repentance (Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving”) and so the Presanctified is substituted. Although this service may be performed on any weekday (Monday through Friday) of Great Lent, common parish practice is to celebrate it only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and a feast day on which the polyeleos is sung that falls on a weekday. The Typicon also prescribes the Presanctified on the Thursday of the Great Canon (the fifth Thursday of Lent), and on first three days of Holy Week.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of our Father Gregory Dialogos, Pope of Rome
The holy doors are closed.
Deacon: Bless, Master.
Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Call to Worship our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ
+ O come, let us worship God our King.
+ O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God.
+ O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
While Psalm 103 is being read, the PRIEST, standing in front of the holy doors, reads the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Prayers of Light:
Prayers Of Light
Fourth Prayer
Priest: О You Who are hymned by the holy Powers with never-silent hymns and unceasing doxologies. Fill our mouths with the praise of You, that we may magnify Your holy name. And grant unto us a portion and inheritance with all them that fear You in truth and keep Your commandments, through the prayers of the holy Theotokos, and of all Your Saints.
For unto You are due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Fifth Prayer
Priest: О Lord, Lord, Who upholds all things in the most-pure palm of Your hand. Who shows long-suffering upon us all, and turns aside from our evil deeds: Do remember Your compassions and Your mercy. Visit us with Your goodness and grant unto us, by Your grace, that during the remainder of the present day we may avoid the diverse snares of the evil one. And preserve our lives unassailed, through the grace of Your All-holy Spirit.
Through the mercy and love for man-kind of Your Only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your most-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sixth Prayer
Priest: O God, great and wonderful, Who with ineffable goodness and rich providence orders all things, and grants unto us earthly good things, and Who has given us a pledge of the promised Kingdom through good things already given, and has caused us during the part of the day that has passed to turn aside from evil things: Do grant us to complete the rest of the day without reproach before Your holy glory, and to hymn You, our God Who alone are Good and loves mankind.
For You are our God, and unto You do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Seventh Prayer
Priest: О God, great and most-high. Who alone has immortality. Who abides in unapproachable light. Who, with wisdom, has fashioned all creation. Who has divided the light from the darkness, and has appointed the sun to rule the day, the moon and the stars also to rule the night. Who has counted us sinners at the present hour worthy to come before Your face with confession, and to offer unto You the evening doxology: Do You, О Lover of mankind, set forth our prayer as incense before You, and accept it as a sweet-smelling fragrance; and grant that we may pass the present evening and the coming night in peace. Clothe us in the armour of light, deliver us from the terror of the night and from every thing that walks about in darkness; and grant that the sleep that You have given for the repose of our weakness, be free from every illusion of the devil. Yes, O Master. Giver of good things, may we, being moved to compunction on our beds, call to remembrance Your name in the night, and, enlightened by meditation on Your commandments, arise in gladness of soul unto the glorification of Your goodness, offering up prayers and supplications to Your deep compassion for our own sins and for those of all Your people who You do visit in Your mercy, through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos.
For You are a good God and the Lover of mankind, and unto You do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Note: 1) Through Tuesday of the fourth week of the Great Fast, we use the following dismissal of the catechumens:
Deacon: All catechumens depart. Catechumens, depart. Let none of the catechumens remain — *let us, the faithful, again and again, in peace, pray unto the Lord.
AND ALL CATHECUMENS LEAVE THE TEMPLE
…and we continue with the **First Litany of the Faithful
Note: 2) But from Wednesday of the fourth week, after the preceding exclamation of the Priest: “That with us they may also glorify…” the following petitions and dismissal are said by the DEACON:
Deacon: All catechumens depart. Catechumens, depart. As many as are preparing for Enlightenment, draw near. Those who are preparing for Enlightenment pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Believers, for our brothers who are preparing for holy Enlightenment, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the Lord our God may give them strength and power, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may enlighten them with the light of knowledge and true religion, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may count them worthy in due time of the bath of rebirth, the forgiveness of sins and the garment of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may give them rebirth through water and Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may grant them the perfection of the Faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That He may number them with his holy and chosen flock, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Save them, have mercy upon them, help them, and keep them, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Those for Enlightenment, bow your heads to the Lord.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.
And the PRIEST reads the Prayer for those preparing for Enlightenment:
Priest: Manifest Your countenance, Master, to those preparing for holy Enlightenment and who long to shake off the defilement of sin. Illumine their understanding; confirm them in the Faith; establish them in Hope, perfect them in Love; show them to be honourable members of Your Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for our souls.
Ecphonesis: For You are our Enlightenment, and to You we give glory, to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
Deacon: As many as are for Enlightenment, depart. Those who are for Enlightenment, depart.As many as are Catechumens, depart. Let none of the catechumens remain — *Let us, the faithful, again and again, in peace, pray unto the Lord.
AND THOSE PREPARING FOR HOLY ILLUMINATION LEAVE THE TEMPLE
…and we continue with the **First Litany of the Faithful.
**The First Litany of the Faithful
Deacon: *…Let us, the faithful, again and again, in peace, pray unto the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
The PRIEST reads the First Prayer of the Faithful:
Priest: O God, who are great and to be praised, who have brought us from corruption to incorruption by the life-giving death of Your Christ, free all our senses from the death of the passions, setting over them as a good leader the thought that comes from within. Let the eye abstain from every evil sight, the hearing give no entrance to idle words, the tongue be cleansed of unfitting speech. Purify our lips, Lord, that praise You. Make our hands keep from base actions, to perform only such things as are well-pleasing to You, making all our limbs and our mind secure by your grace.
Ecphonesis: For to You are due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
The Second Litany of the Faithful
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
When a DEACON serves the following petitions are also said:
Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom!
The PRIEST reads the Second Prayer of the Faithful:
Priest: Holy Master, supremely good, we implore You, the One rich in mercy, to take pity on us sinners and make us worthy of the reception of Your only begotten Son and our God, the king of glory. For see, His Most-pure Body and Life-giving Blood, that are entering at this present hour, are about to be set forth on this mystical table, invisibly escorted by a multitude of the heavenly host. Grant us communion in them that is without condemnation, so that, with the eye of our mind illumined through them, we may become children of the light.
Ecphonesis: According to the gift of your Christ, with whom You are blessed, together with Your All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
The holy doors are opened.
THE FAITHFUL MAKE A FULL PROSTRATION — AND REMAIN PROSTRATE UNTIL THE PRIEST HAS ENTERED THE ALTAR.
The Great Entrance
Faithful: Now the Hosts of Heaven invisibly worship with us; for behold, the King of glory enters in. Behold, the accomplished mystical Sacrifice is being escorted in.
Note: The Great Entrance is made in silence.
The PRIEST and Deacon enter the altar through the holy doors.
The Faithful stand.
Faithful: With faith and love let us draw near, that we may become partakers of eternal life. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian
Priest: O Lord and Master of my life! The spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk, grant me not.
THE PRIEST AND ALL PRESENT MAKE A PROSTRATION.
Priest: Grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, to me, your servant.
THE PRIEST AND ALL PRESENT MAKE A PROSTRATION.
Priest: Yes, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins, and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.
THE PRIEST AND ALL PRESENT MAKE A PROSTRATION.
And the holy doors are closed and the katapetasma (veil) is partly drawn.
Litany before The Lord’s Prayer
Deacon: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the precious Gifts offered and presanctified, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That our God, Who loves mankind, having received them on His holy, heavenly, and ideal altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send upon us divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That this whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: All that is good and beneficial for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: A Christian end to our life — painless, blameless and peaceful and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Faithful: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.
The PRIEST quietly prays:
Priest: O God of ineffable and unseen mysteries, with whom are the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who have revealed to us the service of this ministry and through Your great love for humankind appointed us sinners to offer You gifts and sacrifices for our own sins and those committed in ignorance by the people, do You, invisible king, who do great and unfathomable things, things glorious and extraordinary that are without number, look upon us, Your unworthy servants, who stand before this Your holy altar, as before the throne of the Cherubim, on which, though the dread mysteries here set forth, rests Your Son and our God. And, having freed us and Your faithful people from all uncleanness, sanctify the souls and bodies of us all with a sanctification that cannot be taken away, so that receiving communion of these Divine and Holy things with a pure conscience, a face unashamed, an enlightened heart and being given life them, we may be united to Your Christ, our true God, who said, “One who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in them”. So that, with Your Word, Lord, dwelling in us and living among us, we may become a temple of Your Holy and Adorable Spirit, having been rescued from every wile of the devil effected by word or deed or in the mind; and that we may obtain the good things promised to us, with all Your Saints, who have been well-pleasing to you since time began.
Ecphonesis: And make us worthy, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to dare call on You, the Heavenly God, as Father, and to say:
THE FAITHFUL KNEEL DURING THE LORD’S PRAYER.
The Lord’s Prayer
Faithful: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
The Faithful stand.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Faithful: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.
The PRIEST reads the Prayer at the Bowing of the Heads:
Priest: O God, alone good and compassionate, who dwell on high and watch over lowly things, with a compassionate eye look upon all Your people, guard them and make us all worthy to partake uncondemned of these Your life-giving Mysteries. For to You we have bowed our heads, awaiting from You rich mercy.
Ecphonesis: Through the grace, mercy, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your All-holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
Holy Communion
The katapetasma is drawn closed, completely covering the holy doors. The Priest washes his hands and quietly prays:
Priest: Attend, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, out of Your holy dwelling place, from the throne of the glory of Your kingdom, and come to sanctify us. You, Who sit on high with the Father and are also invisibly present among us; grant that by Your own mighty hand, Your Pure Body and Precious Blood might be given to us, and through us, to all the people.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Priest: The Presanctified Holy Things for the holy.
Faithful: One is Holy, One is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Communion Hymn
Faithful: O taste and see that the Lord is good. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
If it is a feast on which the Epistle and Gospel are read, a second Communion Hymn is also chanted.
COMMUNION OF THE CLERGY
Following the Communion of the clergy, the DEACON opens the katapetasma and the holy doors, receives the holy chalice from the PRIEST, turns to the faithful and raising the holy chalice, intones:
Deacon: With fear of God, faith, and love, draw near.
ALL THE FAITHFUL MAKE A PROSTRATION.
Faithful: I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall be on my lips.
The PRIEST, standing in the holy doors facing the people, says the Prayer before Holy Communion, and all communicants recite this prayer together with the PRIEST.
The Prayer before Holy Communion
Communicants: + I believe, O Lord and I confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am first. I also believe that this is truly Your Own Most Pure Body and that this is truly Your Own Precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You: have mercy on me and forgive my transgressions – both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, committed in knowledge or in ignorance, and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your Most Pure Mysteries for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Amen.
+ Of Your Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant, for I will not speak of Your Mysteries to Your enemies, neither like Judas will I give You a kiss; but like the thief will I confess You: + Remember me, O Lord, in Your Kingdom.
May the communion of Your Holy Mysteries, O Lord, be neither to my judgement nor condemnation, but unto the healing of soul and body. Amen.
All communicants cross their hands on their chest (right hand over left) and individually they approach the holy chalice for Holy Communion.
COMMUNION OF THE FAITHFUL
After the communion of the faitfhul, the PRIEST enters the holy altar, places the Holy Gifts on the holy table, turns towards the people, and blesses them, saying:
Priest: Save Your people, O God, and bless Your inheritance.
Faithful: Taste the heavenly bread and the cup of Life, and see how good the Lord is. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Quietly:
Priest: Blessed is our God.
And turning to the holy doors, blessing the people with the holy chalice, he says aloud:
Priest: Always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
Let our mouths be filled with Your praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Your glory; for You have made us worthy to partake of Your Holy divine, immortal and life-giving Mysteries. Keep us in Your holiness, that all day long we may meditate upon Your righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The Litany of Thanksgiving
Deacon: Let us stand aright. Having partaken of the Divine, Holy, most-pure, immortal, heavenly, life-giving and awesome mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Having asked that the whole evening be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.
Faithful: To You, O Lord.
The PRIEST says the Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Priest: We give thanks unto You, O Saviour, God of all, for all the good things You have granted unto us, and for the communion of the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, and we pray You, O manbefriending Master, keep us under the shelter of Your wings, and grant that even unto our last breath we may worthily partake of Your holy things, unto illumination of soul and body, unto inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.
Ecphonesis: For You are our sanctification and to You we give glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
Priest: Let us depart in peace.
Faithful: In the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Faithful: Lord, have mercy.
The Prayer behind the Ambon
Priest: O Almighty Master, Who has made all created things in wisdom, and by Your inexpressible providence and great goodness has brought us to these all-venerable days, for the purification of body and soul, for the controlling of passions, and for the hope of the Resurrection; Who, during the forty days did give into the hand of Your servant Moses the tablets of the Law in characters divinely traced by You: Enable us also, O Good One, to fight the good fight; to accomplish the course of the fast; to preserve inviolate the Faith; to crush underfoot the heads of invisible serpents; to be accounted victors over sin; and uncondemned to attain unto and adore the holy Resurrection. For blessed and glorified is Your all-honourable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
+ Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forevermore. (thrice)
On Wednesday of Holy Week, the PRIEST reads The Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian, with three prostrations.
The PRIEST quietly reads the Prayer for the Consuming of the Holy Gifts:
Priest: Lord our God, who have brought us to these most holy days, and have made us communicants of Your dread mysteries, join us to Your rational flock and declare us to be heirs of Your kingdom, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Psalm 33
Reader: 2. I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 3. In the Lord shall my soul be praised; let the meek hear and be glad. 4. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. 5. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my tribulations. 6. Come unto Him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed. 7. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his tribulations. 8. The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear Him, and will deliver them. 9. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that hopes in Him. 10. O fear the Lord, all you His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him. 11. Rich men have turned poor and gone hungry; but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good thing. 12. Come, children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 13. Who is there who wants life, loves to see good days? 14. Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 15. Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. 16. The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and His ears towards their supplication. 17. The Lord’s face is set against those who do evil, to destroy their memory from the earth. 18. The just cried and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their afflictions. 19. The Lord is close to those who are broken-hearted, and will save the humble in spirit. 20. The afflictions of the just are many, but the Lord will deliver them from them all. 21. The Lord guards all their bones, not one of them will be broken. 22. The death of sinners is evil, and those who hate the just will go astray. 23. The Lord will rescue the souls of His servants, and no one of those who hope in Him will go astray.
Dismissal
Priest: May the blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Faithful: Amen.
Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God, our Hope, glory to You.
Faithful: + Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (thrice)
Give the blessing. (“Master, bless”, in a cathedral church or when a bishop is present.)
Priest: May Christ our true God have mercy on us and save us, through the intercessions of His Most-pure Mother; of our holy father-among-the-saints, Gregory the Dialogist; and of (name of the saint of the temple); and (the saint of the day); and of all the saints, forasmuch as He is Good and the Lover of mankind.
Faithful: Amen.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING FOLLOWING HOLY COMMUNION
Those who received the holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ attentively listen to or read the Prayers of Thanksgiving following Holy Communion.
Reader: + Glory to You, O God! (thrice)
I thank You, O Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have allowed me to be a partaker of Your holy things. I thank You that You have permitted me, though unworthy, to have a share in Your most pure and heavenly gifts. O Master and Lover of mankind, who
for our sake died and rose again and gave us these awe-inspiring and life-giving Mysteries for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies. Let these gifts be for the healing of my soul and body, for the averting of every adversary, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned,
the fulfilling of wisdom, the observance of Your commandments, the receiving of
Your divine grace and the inheritance of Your kingdom. Preserved by them in Your holiness,
may I always be mindful of Your grace,
no longer living for myself, but for You,
our Master and Benefactor. May I then pass from this life in the hope of eternal life and attain to the everlasting rest where the voice of those who feast is unceasing and the unending delight of those who behold the beauty of Your face is inexpressible.
For You, O Christ our God, are truly the ineffable joy and desire of all those who love You, and all creation sings Your praise forever. Amen.
2nd Prayer – of St. Basil the Great
I thank You, О Christ, Master and God, King of the ages and Maker of all things, for all the good gifts You have given me and especially for the participation in Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries. I pray You, О Gracious Lover of mankind; preserve me under Your protection and beneath the shadow of Your wings. Grant that even to my final breath, I may partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Your holy things for the remission of my sins and for eternal life.
For You are the Bread of life, the Wellspring of holiness, the Giver of all good, and we glorify You, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
3rd Prayer of St. Simeon the Translator
You who willingly gave Your Flesh to me as food, who are a fire burning
the unworthy: burn me not, my Creator. Rather, enter into all my members,
my joints, my reins and my heart. Burn the thorns of my iniquities. Рurify my soul and sanctify my reasoning.
Strengthen my joints and bones. Enlighten my five senses. Fill me completely with the fear of You. Always shelter, guard and protect me from every soul-corrupting word and deed. Cleanse, purify and adorn me. Beautify me,
grant me understanding and enlighten me. Show me to be the habitation of Your one Holy Spirit and no longer the abode of sin, that having become Your dwelling place by the communion of Your holy Mysteries, every evil deed and passion may flee from me as from fire. As intercessors I bring all the Saints: the leaders of the Bodiless hosts,
Your Forerunner, the most wise Apostles and with them, Your undefiled, most pure Mother — accept their prayers, O Christ,
my Merciful one and make Your servant a child of light.
For You, O Good One, are the only sanctification and enlightenment of our souls and to You, as God and Master,
we worthily render glory day by day. Amen.
4th Prayer
May Your holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for me eternal life, and Your precious Blood for the remission of my sins. May this Eucharist be for me joy, health and gladness. At Your dread second coming make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the right hand of Your glory, through the intercessions of Your all-pure Mother and of all Your Saints. Amen.
5th Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
All-holy Lady, Theotokos, light of my darkened soul — my hope, my shelter and refuge, my consolation and joy: I thank You for accepting me, the
unworthy one, as a communicant of the most pure Body and precious Blood of your Son. In that You gave birth to the true light, enlighten the intellectual eyes of my heart. As the one who carried the fountain of immortality in your womb, enliven me,
slain by sin. Loving Mother of the most merciful God, have mercy on me, grant me contrition and compunction of heart, humility in my thoughts and release from the slavery of my own reasonings. Make me worthy until my final breath to receive the sanctification of the immaculate Mysteries without condemnation, for healing of soul and body.
Grant me tears of repentance and confession, that I may chant hymns and glorify you all the days of my life, for blessed and glorified are you to the ages. Amen.
Song of St. Simeon (Luke 2:29–32)
Now let Your servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light of revelation for the gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.
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.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
O Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
O Master, pardon our transgressions.
O Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your 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.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Tropar, Kondak and Theotokion
Receiving divine grace from God on high, O glorious Gregory, and strengthened with its power, You willed to walk in the path of the Gospel, O most blessed one. Therefore you have received from Christ the reward of your labors! Entreat him that he may save our souls!
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
You showed yourself to be an imitator of Christ, the chief Shepherd, O Father Gregory, Guiding the orders of monks to the fold of heaven. From there you taught the flock of Christ His commandments! Now you rejoice and dance with them in the mansions of heaven!
+ Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, unchanging mediation unto the Creator, do not despise the suppliant voices of sinners, but be quick to come to our aid, O Good One, who in faith cry out to You: hasten to intercession and come quickly to make supplication, for you, O Theotokos, always protect those who honour you.
Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
More honourable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption You gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify You.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your most pure Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
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O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance!
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