THE DIVINE LITURGY OFST. PETER

Prayer at the Oflering bfthe Bread

L IKE a sheep he was led t o the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer

without voice, thus he openeth not his mouth; in his humiliation his

judgment was taken away: who shall his generation? In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

And at the mingling ofthe Wine and Water:

0 NE of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and straightway there

came forth blood and water, welling forth the salvation of the world.

A Prayer of Prothesis:

0 LORD our God, Who didst offer Thyself for the life of the world, look

down upon us, and upon this Bread, and upon this Chalice, and make this

t o be Thy pure Body and precious Blood, unto the communion of souls and

bodies: for hallowed and glorified is Thy most honourable and majestic Name,

of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto

ages of ages.

Prayer oftbe Incense. .

OLY God, Who reposest in the Holies, dwelling in unapproachable light:

Thyself, 0 Master, with Thine accustomed love of mankind, overlook our

many sins, and as Thou wast pleased to accept the incense of Zacharias, thus

also from the hands of us sinners graciousIy receive this incenseas a savour of

spiritual fragrance, and act mercifully towards us: for hallowed and glorified is

Thy most honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

O r This:

0 MASTER, Lord our God, Who hast granted us Thy humble and

unworthy servants to be ministers of Thy holy Altar: cleanse Thou all our

transgressions and make us worthy, by the indwelling of Thy Holy Spirit, to

glorify and praise Thy thrice-holy Name; so that we may enter with a pure

conscience, and be granted to complete also Thy Divine Service; and accept this

incense unto Thy holy and celestial Altar as a savour of spiritual fragrance. For

Thou art our sanctification and illumination, and to Thee do we send up

to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto

ages of ages.

And lensing, the Priest covers the Gifts, saying:

Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, 0 Lord, and the earth is filled with Thy praise.

And he places the Veil, saying:

The Lord reigneth, let the people be angry: He that sitteth upon the Cherubim,

let the earth be moved.

Another Prayer ofthe ~iothesis:

B LESS, 0 Lord our God, this Offering, and grant us Thy servants a pure

heart and thoughts unconfounded: that we may be found worthy to draw

nigh, and to touch Thy Most Pure Body, and T h y Precious Blood; and make US

to stand witout condemnation before Thee even on the dread Day of Judgment:

wherefore grant us remission of sins, and life eternal. For hallowed and

glorified is Thy most honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the -

Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. . .

Here follows the Dismissal ofthe Prothesis.

And the Nave is lensed.

THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST+ PETER

The Deacon intones:

Bless, Master.

The Priest says:

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

The Deacon:

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace &om above ...

For the peace of the whole world ...

For this holy temple ...

For our Father and Patriarch ... for the honourable priesthood...

The Priest, meanwhile, says the Prayer of the First Antiphon:

L ORD our God, Whose might is ineffable, Whose glory is inconceivable,

Whose mercy is infinite, and Whose love towards mankind is unutterable:

look down, 0 Master, in Thy-tender compassion, upon us and upon this holy

temple; and deal with us and with those who here pray with us, according to the

riches of Thy mercies and Thy bounties. Exclamation:

For unto Thee are due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father, and

to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir:

Amen.

The Choir rlow sings the First Ailtiphon.

The Deacon:

Again and again in peace ...

The Priest says the Praycr- ofthe Second Antiphon:

L ORD our God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance: preserve the

fulness of Thy Church: sanctify those who love the beauty of Thy house;

glorify them in return by Thy divine power, and forsake us not who put our

hope in Thee. ExcLamation:

For Thine is the majesty, and 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 ages of ages.

The Choir sings the Secoi~d Antiphon.

The Deacon:

Again and again in peace ...

The Priest says the Prayer ofthe third Antiphon:

0 THOU Who hast given us grace at this time, with one accord, to make

our common supplications unto Thee; and dost promise that when two

or three are gathered together in Thy Name, Thou wilt grant their requests:

fulfill now, 0 Lord, the desires and petitions of T h y servans as may be most

expedient for them, granting them in this world knowledge of Thy tmth, and

in the world to come life everlasting. Exclamatron:

For Thou art a good God,and lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send

up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever

and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.

The Choir sings tbe Third Antiphon.

The Priest says the Prayer of the Entrance:

ENEFACTOR of all, and Architect of all creation, receive T h y Church

which draweth nigh unto Thee1, fulfill the requests of all as is

expedient for them, kad us all to perfection, and make us worthy of

Thy Kingdom, by the grace of Thy sanctification gathering us in Thy Holy

Catholic and Apostolic Church, which Thou hast obtained by the precious

Blood of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together

with Thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto

ages of ages.

The Deacon: Wisdom, let us attend.

The People [or Choir]:

0 come, let us worship,and fail down before Christ ...

The Troparion and Kontakion are now sung.

The Priest: T h e Lord be with you2.

Deacon: Let us pray.

The Priest says this Prayer:

ILL our mouths, we pray Thee, 0 Lord, with rejoicing, and with Thy praise in joy, through our Lord Jesus christ3, Thy Son, with Whom

Thou livest and reignest, 0 our God, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,

unto all ages of ages. He then begins:

G LORY be t o God on High:"' And on earth peace, good will among men. W e

praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee: we glorify Thee, we give thanks to

Thee for Thy great glory. 0 Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

0 Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ: 0 Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the

Father: Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest

I In the Slavonis: "Receive those who in Thy Church draw nigh unto Thee".

2 In the Slavonic: "The Lord is with us".

3 ~ l a r o n i i : "In the joy of our Lord Jesus Christ"

'lt would appear that the Priest begins and the People/Choir continue.

away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sirresr at the right hand of the

Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art Holy. Thou only art the Lord. Thou

only, 0 Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art Most High in the glory of God the Father. Amen. I

Deacon: Let us pray.

The Priest, inclining, says this Prayer:

G RANT, 0 Lord, unto Thy faithful servants help from heaven by Thy right hand, that they might seek Thee with their whole heart, and obtain those things that they worthily ask': through our Lord Jesus

Christ, Thy Son. Exclamation:

For holy art Thou, 0 our God, and to Thee do we send up glory and the Thrice-holy Hymn, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now

and ever, and unto ages of ages. The Choir sings the Tr i s~g ion .~

Prayer ofthe Trisagion:

ASTER, Lord God Almighty, Thou Who alone art holy4, Who

acceptest the Thrice-holy Hymn from the heavenly Powers, receive also

from the mouths of us sinners the Trisagion, granting us to pass this day and

all the time of our lives without sin, Deacon:

Let us attend.

Priest:

Peace be unto all.

Response: And with thy spirit.

'1n the Greek text "Kyrie eIeison" 3 times, "Christe eleison" 3 times and "Kyrie eleison" 3 times are added rrftcr- the Great Doxology. Something similar is found in the Ambrosian Rite.

2~lavonic: "That they might seek of Thee with their whole heart those things that are needful".

31t is worthy of note that the version of the Western Liturgy approved by the Holy Synod of

Russia in 1870 inserted the Trisagion "as a reminder of our unity with the Eastern Church" foIlowing

the Great Doxology--as in the Liturgy of St. Peter.

4 ~ r e e k : "...and reposeit in the HoIies,"

Deacon: Li7isdom.

Here follow the Prokeimenon, Epistk, Alleluia rind GospelJ [rlnd Horniw . Then the Derlron says the it an^.'

Prayer ofthe Litany.

0 LORD our God, accept this fervent prayer from Thy servants, and have

mercy upon us according to the multitude of Thy mercy, and send down

Thy compassion upon us, and upon all Thy people, who await the rich mercy

that cometh from Thee.

For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and to Thee we send

up to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever,

and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Priest:

Peace be unto dl.

[&' And with thy spirit.]

Deacon:

Bow your heads unto the Lord.

T o Thee, 0 Lord.

Prayer ofBowed Heads: .

ASTER, Creator of Life and Giver of Good Things, Who givest unto

mankind the blessed hope of eternal life, our Lord Jesus Christ: grant

us, 0 Good One2, to complete this Divine Liturgy unto our sanctifiction, and

I Only the cues for these litanies are provides in the MSS. In the Slavonic HiIandar MS [:HM.SMS.? 3 2.1 the cue "Have mercy upon us, and che rest" appears.

It is worthy of noce chat the Litanv of Fervenc Supplication appears in some medizval Western manuscripts, where it has a form similar t o that in che earlier Church Slavonic sources, i.e.:

7 Let us all say: Lord. have mercy.

Jt! From all our heart. and all our mind, we beseech Thee: $ ~ o r d ; have mercy. These first two petitions have been joined inco one in modern editions of the Licurgy of Sr. John

Chrysoscom.

2~lavonic: "0 good Lord".

unto the enjoyment of that bliss which is to come.

Exclamation:

That always guarded under Thy might, we may send up glory unto Thee: to the

Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of

ages. &' Amen.

The Choir now sings the Chcrtibicon:

E T us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and sing the Thrice-holy Hymn unto the Life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly cares. a! Tha t we may raise on high

the King of All, invisibly upborne by angelic hosts, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

And whilr t h ~ Cherubicon is bring sung, thr Priest says a P r t ~ r r for himsrlf, as follows:

N ONE is worthy of those that are bound by carnal desires and sensual

pleasures to approach, or to come near, or to serve Thee, the King of

glory: for to serve Thee is a great and terrible thing even to the

Heavenly Powers. Nevertheless, through Thine unutterable and boundless love

toward mankind, Thou did become man, yet without change, and without

transmutation, and a n become our High Priest, and hast committed unto us the

ministry of this unbloody Sacrifice, in that Thou art Lord over all. For Thou

alone, 0 Lord our God, ruIest over those in heaven and on earth; Who art borne on the throne of the Cherubim; Who art Lord of the seraphim and King over

Israel; Who alone art holy and restest in the Saints. Therefore do I now make

my entreaty unto Thee, Who alone art good and art ready to listen. Look down

upon me, a sinner, and Thine unprofitable servant, and cleanse my s o d and my

heart from an evil conscience; and by the might of Thy Holy Spirit enable me,

who a m endued with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this Thy holy

Altar, and perform the sacred Mystery of Thy holy and pure Body and precious

Blood. For unto Thee do I draw near, and bowing my neck I implore Thee: turn

not Thy face from me, neither cast me out from among Thy children; but

graciously vouchsafe that I, a sinner and unworthy servant, may offer unto Thee

these Holy Gifts. For it is Thou Who offerest and art offered, Who receivest

and art Thyself received, 0 Christ our God: and to Thee do we send up glory,

together with Thy Father Who is from everlasting, and Thine All-Holy, and I Good, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

And after the Holy G$s have been placed upon the Holy Table, the Priest washes his hands, saying: . . . .

I will wash my hands among the innocent, and thus will I take my lace with those at Thine

Altar, 0 Lord: listening to the sound of Thy praise.

And he mdkes 3 revernces, s~zying:

May the Holy Spirit come upon thee, and the power of the Almighty protect thee.

After the Great Entrance, the Deacon S L - ~ S :

Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord, for the heaven and earth are full of His glory.

p Lord, have AerLy.'(3 times).

Exclamation:

For Thou art a God of humility, mercy, love and compassion, with Thine Only-

begotten Son, and T h y most holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Q' Amen.

Priest:

'Peace be unto all.

Ijr And with thy spirit.

h his Prayer and the formula fo r the LVashing of Hands which tbIlows are in the Greek ~ x t ,

but lacking in the Slavnnic.

* o n l y chis sue is given, but by implication the entire Litany is t o be said. T h e same form of

the first petit ion is also found ~t this point in the Liturgy o f St . Mark.

Deacon:

Let us love one anorher with a holy kiss.

A n d after the K i s s of Peace, the Deacon says:

In the wisdom of God, let us attend.'

The People now say the Creed:

I believe in One God*

The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God;

Begotten of the Father before all ages;

Light of Light, Very God of Very God;

Begotten, not made;

Being of one Substance with the Father,

By Whom a11 things were made;

Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven; And was Incarnate by the HoIy Ghost and the Virgin Mary;

And was made man;

And was crucified also for us, under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered and was buried;

And the third Day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven;

And sitteth on the right hand of the Father;

And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead;

Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Giver of Life,

Who proceedeth from the Father;

Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets;

And in One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church;

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;

And I look for the Resurrection of the dead;

And the Life of the world to come.

Amen.

' ~ n the Codex Rossantnsis, the Priest then excIaims "The doors. [he doors!" before [he Creed.

Deacon: .

Let us s t a n d ar ight , let us s t a n d w i t h fear, le t u s a t t e n d ,

to offer t h e H o l y Sacrifice i n peace. t

Choic

Mercy , peace, sacrifice a n d song2.

The Priest says this Prayer secretly: . .

h ALLOW, 0 Lord, the Sacrifice brought as an offering to Thee, and be

pleased propitiously to accept it from usJ, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, with Whom Thou livest and reignest, 0 God, in the unity of the Holy

Spirit, for all ages of ages.

Amen.

Pi The Lord be with you.

q And with thy spirit.

Let us lift up our hearts.

q We lift them up unto the Lord.

7 Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.

l$? It is meet and right.

The Priest prays:

I T is truly meet and right, needful and for our salvation, at all times and

places to send up thanks unto Thee, 0 holy Lord, Father and Ruler of All, Almighty, everlasting God: Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the

Angels praise Thy glory, the Dominions bow down in worship, the Powers

tremble, the Heavens and the heavenly Virtues, and blessed Seraphim together

worship Thee rejoicing: with whom we pray Thee also to accept our voices,

saying in prayerfu1 confession:

his exclamation by the Deacon, and the Choir's response, are lacking in the SIavonic.

he text here given in Greek is the same one found in the pre-Nikonian Slavonic text of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

3 ~ h u s in the Slavonic: the Greek has instead. "Through it, receive US propitiously"

Exclamation:

I Singing the triumphal hymn, shouting, crying out, and saying:

People:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Hosanna in the highest: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name

of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Priest prays:

EREFORE, most mercifd Father,' we humbly pray and beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, to receive and bless these C ~ i f t s ' , this Offering, this holy and spotless Sacrifice: Which we offer

unto Thee, first for Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, that it may please Thee to preserve and govern it in peace and unity4 throughout the world, together with Thy servants our Patriarch [Name], and our humility and

5 unworthiness.

B E mindful, 0 Lord, of Thy servants and handmaids (here he names those

specially to beprayedfor), and of all round about us, whose faith and devotion are known unto Thee: who offer to Thee this sacrifice of praise, for themselves and for their own, for the redemption of their souls, and for their hope of

h his Exclamation is' in the Greek Codex Rossanensis, but not in the Paris manuscript o r in

the Slavonic, where it appears that the full Preface is t o be intoned by the Celebrant.

he Greek text here has &C~&~~&JTUT& l ldr~~e , which is virtually identical t o the Latin

clementissime Pater, "one who judges in mildness and clemency, and not according to the letter of the

law". The Slavonic C M H ~ ~ ? M d n ~ can be interpreted as "Father o f mildness", but is obviously a translation of the above.

3 ~ ~ a r o n i c : "To receive our prayer as spotless, Amen. And t o bless these Gifts, Amen. This

Offering, Amen. And this holy Table of Sacrifice, Amen."

4 ~ e r e the Slavonic adds "and freedom".

h he Slavonic adds, as an Exclamation, the passage f rom the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom

and St. Basil the Great, "Among the first be mindful, 0 Lord, o f our Bishop [Name], whom d o Thou grant unto Thy holy churches in peace, safety, honour, health and length o f days, rightly dividing the

word o f Thy truth".

health and sa1vation;'they now offer up their prayers to Thee, the eternal, living,

and true ~ o d . ~

U NITED in one Communion, we honour first the memory of the holy,

glorious and ever Virgin Mary, the Birthgiver of our Lord, God and

Saviour Jesus ~ h r i s t ; ' together with Thy blessed Apostles and Marryrs: Peter,

Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon,

Thaddeus, ~ i l u s , ~ Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Laurence,

Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints:'

through whose prayers and intercessions6 do Thou grant, that in all things we

may be defended by the help of Thy protection: through Jesus Christ our Lord.

U) E therefore beseech Thee, 0 Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of

our bounden service, and of all Thy people, and to order all our days in

Thy peace; to deliver us from eternal condemnation, that we may be counted in

the number of Thy chosen flock.

CD HICH oblation do Thou, 0 God, we beseech Thee, vouchsafe in all

things to bless, approve, rati$ and accept: that it may become for us the

Body and Blood of Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

T h u s in the Slavonic; the Greek has "for their hope, salvation, and deliverance".

2~lavonic text: "Whom we bring in prayer t o Thee, the eternal, living, and true God"

3 ~ e r e the Codex Rossanensis inserts the Angelic Salutation X a y e ~ x ~ ~ a e t ~ o G q while the

Paris manuscript and the Slavonic instead insert f rom the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom the

ExcIamation "EspecialIy fo r our most holy, most pure and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-

Virgin Mary".

4 This name is peculiar t o the Greek text. Xilus (NcChoq) [he Elder, called the Ascetic, was a

staunch friend and defender of St. JohnChn-sostom. and reposed around A.D. 430. NiIus the

Younger rvas a Greek monk of South Italy. who reposed in 1004 A.D.

he list of names in the Slavonic version is somewhat different from the Greek: "Peter and

PauI, Andrew, James. Philip, BarthoIomew, Mattherv, Simon, Judah, Thaddeus, Matthew, Thomas,

Mark, Luke, Linus, Clement, Laurence, Chrysogonus, John, Paul, Cornelius, Cyprian, Cosmas and

Damian, HiIar~on, Martin, Gerasimos, Xmbros~us, GregoY, Benedict, Anthony, Nicholas, Basil. and all

T h y Saints ..."

%\%ere the traditionaI Latin text has snd merits", the Greek has "rt ~ceccs(3cia xai TaCq ~ x E & ~ L < ' . and the Slavonic " M O A ~ T ~ ~ M H M O A ~ H ~ ' ~ M Z " - - b o t h of which mean "by their prayers

and intercessions".

The Priest removes the Veil, and wi th~reat reverence takes up the Host, saying secretly:'

HO, on the day before He. suffered, taking Bread into His holy and

venerable hands, and lifting His eyes up to heaven, unto Thee, God His

Almighty Father, giving thanks unto Thee, He blessed, brake, and gave it to His

disciples, saying: Exclamation:

Take and eat ye of this: This is My Body which is broken for you.'

Secretly:

In like manner after He had supped, taking the Chalice in His holy and

venerable hands, again giving thanks unto Thee, He blessed and gave it to His

holy disciples, saying: Exclamation:

Drink ye all of this, for this is the Chalice of My Blood of the New and Eternal

Testament, the Mystery of Faith, which is shed for you and for many for the

resmission of sins. Again the Priest covers the Holy. Gzfts, and says secretly:

As often as ye do these things, do them in remembrance of Me.

HEREFORE, 0 Lord, we Thy servants, and the holy people of Thy Christ, calling to remembrance the blessed Passion of our Lord and

God, His Resurrection from Hades, and His glorious Ascension into Heaven:

Exckzmation:

Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, on behalf of all, and for all.'

rhe Priest prays secretly:

We offer unto Thy most excellent Majesty, of Thine own gifts and bounty, a

l ~ h e Slavonic mentions the Chalice Veil, but the Greek does not. "Host" here corresponds to

the Greek word &vacpopdr.

's~avonic adds: "For the remission of sins".

3 ~ e r e the Greek, but not the Slavonic text, calls for the Choir to sing "We hymn Thee, we

bless Thee ..." as in the Liturgy .of St. John Chrysostom.

I a pure sacrifice, a holy sacrifice, a spotless sacrifice, the holy Bread of eternal

life, and the Chalice of everlasting salvation."

U PON which vouchsafe to look, with a gracious and serene countenance, and

to accept them, as Thou wast pleased to accept the gifts of Thy just servant

AbeI, and the sacrifice of our Patriarch Abraham; and, as Thy first priest

Melchisedek offered unto Thee, a holy Sacrifice, a pure Oblation.

And kissing the Holy Table, he s q s secretly the following Prayer:

E beseech Thee, Almighty God3: Command these Gifts to be borne up

w b Y the hand of Thy holy Angel to Thine Altar on high, before Thy Divine Majesty, that as many of us as receive a holy part at this Altar of the

Body and Blood of Thy Son, may be filled with all heavenly benediction and grace, by our Lord Jesus C h r i ~ t . ~

Here the Departed are rommmorated. Then, bowing his head, the Priest continues silently:

LSO to us, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, who trust in the multitude

of Thy mercy, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with Thy holy

Apostles and Martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthew, Barnabas, Ignatius,

Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia,

Anastasia, Barbara, Juliania, the all-glorious Forty Martyrs, and all Thy Saints:

into whose company we beseech Thee to admit us, not weighing our merits, but

'Thus in the Greek and Latin. T h e Slavonic says only mi'g.ra)l r h c d , "a pure sacrifice", omitting the next two appositives.

he sense of both the Greek and Siavonic is that of an inexhaustibie well: a source that never comes t o an end.

3 ~ e r e rhere is a space left In the Slavonic. At this point the Synodal text of 1 8 7 0 inserts the Epiclesis f rom the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: "...Mitte Spiritum Sanctum tuum super nos et super haec tua dona oblata ..." However, the 14th century Byzantine commentary on the Divine Liturgy by NichoIas Cabasiias interprets the text as it here stands, as constituting a full Epiclesis already.

ere the Rossano manuscript calls f o r the insertion of "Among the first, remember, 0 Lord, our Archbishop X., " as in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The Paris manuscript and the Slavonic d o nor have this.

pardoning our offenses: Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And again -removing the Veil he takes up the Host and makes the Skn ofthe Cmss with it 0ve-r the Holy Chalice three

t i m q saying:

By Whom, 0 Lord, Thou dost ever create, sanctify: Amen. Quicken: Amen. Bless: Amen.

And taking up the Holy Chalire, and signing with it over the Diskos, he says sec-retly:

And bestow all these Good Things upon us. By Him, and with Him, and in

Him, and in Him, is to Thee, God the Father Almighty, in the unity of the

Holy Ghost, all honour and glory. Exclamation:

For dl ages of ages.

People:

,Amen.

The Priest exclaims:'

As we have been taught by divine teaching, and commanded by our Saviour's

precepts, we make bold to say:

The People:'

0 UR Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom

come. Thy will be done, on earth as i t is in heaven. Give us this day our

daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass

against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. fir1amation:

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 ages of ages. People:

Amen.

'The Rossano manuscript here inserts "Let us pray" and "Kyrie eleison" 3 times before the introduction to the Lord's Prayer. But the Paris Greek manuscript, and the Slavonic, give the text as

above.

'1n the Paris manuscript it is the Priest who says the Lord's Prayer, then the People respond

"But deliver us from evil". The Rossano manuscript agrees with the SIavonic, as above.

Priest:

Peace be unto all. People:

And with thy spirit. Deacon:

Bow your heads unto the Lord. The Priest prays:

D ELNER us, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, from all evil, past, present and to

come: and at the intercession of the blessed and glorious Birthgiver of God

and ever Virgin Mary, Thy blessed and glorious Apostles Peter and Paul, and of 1 all Thy Saints, grant peace in our hearts, that helped and protected by Thy

mercy, we may be delivered from our sins, and be found unharmed by all

adversity: Through our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom Thou livest and reignest,

0 our God, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: Exclamation:

For all ages of ages.

Amen. The Priest says this Prayer:

OOK down, 0 Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Thy holy dwelling-place,

and from the throne of the glory of Thy kingdom; and come to sanctify us,

0 Thou Who sittest on high with the Father, and art here invisibly present with

us: and vouchsafe by Thy mighty hand to impart unto us thine immaculate Body

and precious Blood, and through us, unto all the people. Deacon:

Let us attend. The Priest elevates the Host, saying:

Holy Things are for the holy. People:

One is holy, the Father; One is holy, the Son; One is holy, the Spirit, in the

unity of the Holy Ghost, Amen. I

The Deacon and Clerics say:

0 Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

1 Here the Slavonic and the Paris manuscript add "0 Lover of mankind".

Prayer before Communion.

ITH soul defiled and unclean lips, with base hands and earthen tongue,

wholly in sins, mean and unrepentant, I beseech Thee 0 Lover of

mankind, Saviour of the hopeless and Haven of those in danger, Who callest

sinners unto repentance, 0 Lord God, loose, remit, forgive me a sinner my

transgressions, whether deliberate or unintentional, whether of word or deed,

whether committed in knowledge or in ignorance, and if I have sinned in

thought, forgive me all, as One good and loving unto mankind, slow to wrath

and great in mercy: through the prayers of the holy Birthgiver of God and ever

Virgin Mary. Vouchsafe me to receive without condemnation Thy holy and

most pure Gift, unto theremission of sins and life eternal, unto forgiveness of

mine evil shortcomings and the enlightenment of Thy commandments. For to

Thee belongeth all glory, honour and worship:to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

And the Priest dividing up the Holy Bread, communicates, saying secretly:

L ET not these Thy Holies, O Master, be for us unto sin, but unto the

remission of sins and the purification1 of soul and body.

Likewise taking the Chalice, the priest communicates, saying secretly:

. I, E T Thy holy Body, 0 Lord, be unto life for me, and rhis Thy precious Blood unto remission of sins, and at Thy righteous judgment vouchsafe me

a place. [with those] at Thy right hand, and may rhis Eucharist be for me unto

joy and the healing of my soul.

The Priest says aloud:

With the fear of God, and faith, draw near.

And after all have communicated, the Priest) censing the Holy Gifts) says:

Be Thou exalted, 0 God, above the heavens, and Thy glory above all the

earth. And after the Censing, he says:

Blessed is our God:

Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

'~Iavonic: "enlightenrrient of soul and body".

The People:

Let our mouths be filled with Thy raise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory: for Thou hast granted us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal and life-creating Mysteries. Establish us in Thy sanctification, that all the day long

we may meditate upon Thy righteousness, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Deacon:

Let us attend: Having partaken of the divine, holy, immaculate, immortal,

heavenly, life-creating, terrible Mysteries, let us worthily give thanks for all these things unto the Lord.'

Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, 0 God, by Thy grace.

Asking that the whole day be perfect, holy, and sinless, let us

commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ, our God. And the Priest prays:

AY this Communion, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, cleanse us from every

stain of flesh and spirit, and make us to be of the good things

of heaven: through our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom Thou livest and reignest,

0 God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ages of ages. Exclamation:

For Thou art our sanctification, and unto Thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Ijl Amen.

The Priest:

Let us go forth in peace.

Let us pray to the Lord. The Priest says the Ambon Prayer:

LMIGHTY God and Knower of hearts, we who by the communion of Thy divine, most pure, immortal and life-creating Mysteries have become

of Thy divine nature, pray Thee: turn not away from us, cast us not

off, forsake us not: but in alI things grant that which is needful, healing the sick,

delivering those in temptations, consoling in troubles, aiding in virtues and -

patience, making every good gift to abound fillfilling al l entreaties for those

' ~ o t e the slightly different wording o f the petit ion, according t o the Rossano MS.

things that are in this present life; and grant us1 and all Thy people

Thine immortal and heavenly kingdom.

For Thou art the Giver of every good thing, and to Thee we send up

glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and

unto ages of ages.

Ijl Amen.

Prayer of Dismissal.'

B LESSED is the Lord our God, by Whom we have been deemed worthy to

receive His most pure Body and precious Blood; may He bless and keep us

d, and make us worthy of His heavenly kingdom, now and ever, and unto ages

of ages.

VAmen . .

Another Ambon Prayer, fw the Repose of Souls.

0 MASTER, Lord God Almighty, Who dost at no time reject Thy servants

and despisest not the sods of them that pray to Thee: give rest to the

souls of Thy servanrs, all the Orthodox Christians, in the paradise of

consolation, in the land of the devout, overlooking their sins, whether

committed in knowledge or ignorance. Grant them that place of sweetness;

unite us with them in joy, and preserve us in the remission of sins, through the

prayers of our most pure Lady, the Birthgiver of God and ever Virgin Mary,

[the holy and heavenly angelic Powers, the holy John, Prophet and Forerunner

and Baptist; the holy and glorious Apostles] 4 and al l the Saints which have been

well-pleasing unto Thee from all ages.

For Thou art He that blesseth and sanctifieth all, and unto Thee do we

send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and

e ere the Slavonic says "us", while the Greek has "those with me"--i.e. either "this

congregationw o r else "those who have concelebrated with me".

' ~ y analogy with the Liturgies o f St. James and St. Mark, where a similar text occurs, it would

appear that this prayer originally was used as the final Dismissal. However, in the MSS. there are also rubrics suggesting it came t o be used as an alternative Ambon Prayer, o r as the Prayer in the Diaconicon.

'~nser ted phrases are in the Greek but not the Slavonic.

ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Prayer ofDimissa1 for the Repose ofSouls:

B LESSED is the Lord our God, by Whom we have been deemed worthy to

receive His most pure Body and precious Blood; may H e bless and keep us

all, and grant rest to those who have departed this life before us, in the bosom

of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Ip: Amen.

Another Ambon Prayer for the Repose ofsouls.

0 GOD of Spirits and of all flesh, Who takest of Thine own unto Thine

own; Who hast said, All sods are mine, and Who callest them and keepest

them till the Day of Resurrection; Thyself, 0 Master, deliver the soul of Thy servant N., whom Thou hast taken t o Thyself, from every action of the contrary

power; set as guides for him, angels of peace; propitiously grant him to see Thy countenance; overlook his misdeeds .in this life, whether voluntary or

involuntary; make him worthy of the portion of Thy Saints and establish him

in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Thy righteous ones, whence grief,

distress, wailing and gnashing of teeth have fled; and for us arrange all things

as is good and leasing to Thee.

For Thou a r t a good God and lovest mankind, and to Thee do we send up

glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and

unto ages of ages. '

Amen.

The Priest says the Prayer in the Diaroniron, 0 Christ our God, Who art ThyseIf the fulfillment of the Law

and the Prophets ...

The People sing Ps. 3, I wiII bIess the Lord at all rimes ...

Priest:

The blessing of the Lord and His mercy come upon you, through His grace

and love towards mankind, always, now and ever,

and unto ages of ages.

Ip Amen.