Anaphoras: The Book of
Divine Liturgies

Preface
Introduction

Order of the Liturgy

Mawrbo
Preparatory Order
Public Celebration
Kiss of Peace
Supplications

Anaphoras

St. James
St. Mark
St. Peter
Twelve Apostles
St. John
St. Xystus
St. Julius
St. John Chrysostom
St. Cyril
St. Jacob of Sarugh
St. Philoxenus
St. Severius
Mar Bar Salibi

Appendix

Supplication to
    Virgin Mary
Consecration of
    Vestments/Vessels
Purification of Altars
Blessing of Icons
For the Sick
Repentance

© Syrian Orthodox Dioceses of North America and Canada. Reproduced with permission. No part of the material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without written permission from the publisher.

The Prayer of the Kiss of Peace

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
O Merciful, Holy and Almighty Lord God Who are peace, tranquility, love, gentleness, purity and goodness; O Father and Lord of those who seek peace, make us worthy, while filled with meekness and hope, and adorned with faith and spiritual love for You and for each other, that we embrace one another in spirit and in the excellence of love which is the fulfillment of Your law, so that we may become to You the children of tranquility and peace and be worthy of the spiritual blessings which Your Only-begotten and Holy Son has promised us, through Whom and with Whom befit You praise, honor and dominion with Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen. Barekhmor.

Celebrant: Peace be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Barekhmor. Let us give peace to one another, everyone to his neighbor with a holy and divine kiss, in the love of our Lord and God.

People: Make us worthy, O Lord and God, of this peace all the days of our lives.

Deacon: After this holy and divine peace which has been given, let us once again bow down our heads before the merciful Lord.

People: Before You, our Lord and our God.

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
Now, O You Compassionate Lord of abundant mercy, from Whom flows and comes down every good and perfect gift, bless and protect Your servants and worshipers, those who have bowed the heads of their souls and bodies before You, and grant them the gift of Your mercies and the perfect remembrance of Your grace according to the promise and the grace of Your Anointed One, with Whom it is due and right to offer You adoration with Your Holy Spirit now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
O Lord, Who, by Your paternal and blessed mercies, created us in the beginning, and found it good that we be at the sublime state of the angelic and immaterial life, when we who, as aforetime, were nothing, became exiles from our first estate, by Your very eternal mercies sent Your Only-begotten and Holy Son for our salvation, we sinners and offenders; and He became man corporeally and unchangeably in order to make us more divine and to return to our first inheritance. Even now, our God, send Your grace for our atonement and purification and for the acceptance and perfection of this pure and undefiled sacrifice which is being offered to You on account of our sins according to the evangelic and life-giving teachings of Your Anointed with Whom befit You praise, honor and dominion with Your adorable Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant waves the shushefo (veil) over the elements.

Deacon: Barekhmor. Let us stand well, let us stand with fear, let us stand with modesty, purity and holiness and let us all stand, my brethren, in love and true faith. Let us intelligently behold, with the fear of God, this awesome and Holy Eucharist which is being set before us by this reverend priest who, in peace and tranquillity, offers this living sacrifice on behalf of us all to God the Father, Lord of all.

People: Mercy, peace and a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

The celebrant lifts up the shushefo (veil) and waves it three times over the elements, saying in a low voice:
You are the hard rock which sent forth twelve rivers of water for the twelve tribes of Israel. You are the hard rock which was set against the tomb of our Savior.

The celebrant puts his left hand on the altar, turns to the people and blesses them, saying:
The love of God the Father +, the grace of the Only-begotten Son + and the fellowship and descent of the Holy Spirit + be with you all, my brethren, forever.

People: Amen. And with your spirit.

The celebrant, extending and elevating his hands, says aloud:
Upward, where Christ sits on the right hand of God the Father, let our thoughts, minds and hearts be at this hour.

People: They are with the Lord God.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord in awe.

People: It is meet and right.

The celebrant bows down his head, waves his hands over the elements, and says in a low voice:
Truly and very justly, glory is meet and right to You and adoration is due to You because You are blessed, the Maker of all and God over all.

The celebrant stretches out his hands and says aloud:
To You, O Lord, both heaven, which is the throne of Your Majesty, and the earth, which is the footstool under Your feet, sing praise. The earth glorifies Your Holy Name in this church that chants the sound of glory to You from the mouth of her children; by the succession of the prophets, the company of the apostles, the sufferings of the martyrs, the orders of the confessors, the theology of the doctors, the orderly standing of the ascetics, the endurance of the abstinents, the hosts of the just, the assemblies of the righteous and the faithful of all ages. In that heavenly Church which is set on high, where Your first-born are inscribed in Your holy books, You are praised by sons of the angels, the joyful voices of the archangels, the melodies of the cherubim, the zeal of the primacies, the splendor of the principalities, the brilliance of the thrones, the honor of the lords, the fiery glow of the legions, the companies of the victorious, the assemblies of the perfect, the feasts and the rejoicing of the saints and the hallowing of the seraphim, who, with their six wings and the serenity of their voices, praise and cry out, saying:

People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; heaven and earth are full of His glories. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who came and will come in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The celebrant, waving his hands over the elements, prays silently:
Holy, holy, holy, O Holy and Most High God, Who are hallowed thrice and are gloriously confessed; Holy Father Who is begetter and not begotten, Holy Son Who is begotten, and not begetter and the Holy Spirit Who proceeds from the Father and is life-giving and adorable, sanctify us, now, O Holy One Who sanctifies all, so that we may become guests, prepared in holiness, for the banquet, which is full of life and the enjoyment of Your Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is one of the Holy Trinity, and partake in His Holy and Lordly Mysteries.

The celebrant takes the host from the paten with his right hand. He puts it on the palm of his  left hand, and raising his eyes skyward, says aloud:
When He became man of His own will and was brought up according to the measures of the human stature, He was not deprived of His glory, nor did He lose His divinity. When He became incarnate, He was still the same Word, Might and Wisdom of God, in nature and substance, even when He took the image of a servant for the salvation of our life before His redemptive passion. This very One took bread in His holy hands, He blessed + +, sanctified +, broke and gave it to His disciples, and said: This is My Body which invites you and many for the forgiveness of sins and for life eternal.

People: Amen.

The celebrant takes the chalice with both hands, then he holds it with his left hand and makes over it the sign of the Cross three times. Then he puts the second finger of his right hand on its edge and tilts it crosswise, saying:
He then blended wine and water in the cup of life. He blessed + +, sanctified + and gave it to the company of His disciples, and said: This is My Blood which seals and confirms the New Covenant of My death and invites you and many faithful for the forgiveness of sins and for life eternal.

People: Amen.

The celebrant takes the gomouro from the northern side with his left hand; then he takes the spoon from the southern side with his right hand and puts it on the gomouro. He now raises them with his right hand to remind the faithful of the Lord's second coming, which will be like a flash of lightning, and puts them on the southern side. Then he places the sponge on the northern side and says aloud:
Whenever you partake of this Bread and of this Cup remember and commemorate My death until I come.

People: Your death, our Lord, we commemorate, Your resurrection we confess and Your second coming we wait for. May Your mercy be upon us all.

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
We also, O Lord our God, adorable and holy, Jesus Christ, hold the Mystery of Your redemptive act as a pledge of life, and in Your passion and Your death for our sake will we glorify. We rejoice in the salvation and in the remembrance of Your most marvelous resurrection. We beseech Your goodness and everlasting mercies that you cast us not from Your presence on that fearful and last day of judgment. Do not let us stand in disgrace and reproach, in darkness and gloom, in hell and torment, in weeping and gnashing of teeth, in pain and in sadness, in sorrows and sighing and threatened and rebuked. Let not our enemies mock us, let us not be ridiculed by our adversaries. We are, O Lord, those who were not ashamed of Your passion, nor did we deny Your Holy Name. Do then acknowledge us and let the light of Your countenance shine upon us and upon Your Holy Orthodox Church which You have betrothed from among the nations so that with a loud, joyful voice she may cry out to You and to Your Father, saying:

People: Have mercy upon us, O God, Father Almighty. We glorify You, we bless You, we worship You and we beseech You. O Lord our God, have compassion and mercy upon us, O Good One.

The celebrant, stretching out his hands at equal level and gazing upward, says silently:
We also, O Lord, Your weak and sinful servants, offer You thanksgiving and acknowledge Your loving-kindness unto all and for all.

People: We glorify You, we bless You, we worship You, O Lord God, and we beseech You for mercy. Have mercy upon us.

Deacon: Barekhmor, How awful is this hour and how dreadful is this moment, my beloved, wherein the Holy Spirit from the topmost heights takes wing and descents and hovers and rests upon this Eucharist here present and sanctifies it. Be in calm and awe, while standing and praying. Pray that peace may be with us and for all of us tranquillity.

People: May peace be with us and tranquillity to all of us.

The Invocation of the Holy Spirit

The celebrant waves his hands over the Mysteries, and bowing down his head, says silently:
Yea, O Lord, because we are Your creation and the image of Your Majesty, let the Holy Spirit, Who is consubstantial with You and Your Only-begotten Son in nature and in substance, in honor and in glory, in dominion and in authority, come down, hover and rest upon these offerings, and may He descend and dwell in our hearts. I beseech You, O Lord, Who take pity on men, have mercy and pity on me, save me, pour Your gift upon me and cleanse me. Let not Your grace reject me because of the defilement and filth of my vices. I know, O Lord, that I have sinned. I acknowledge that I have stumbled. Your mercies, O Lord, are abundant and Your grace is immeasurable. May Your Holy Spirit come to me and purify the impurity of my soul, forgive my debts, sanctify my thoughts and accept my sacrifices and offerings.

The celebrant stretches out his hands and, looking upward, says aloud:
Answer me, O Lord; answer me, O Lord; answer me, O Lord; O Good One, have compassion and mercy upon me.

People: Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant stretches out his left hand and waves his right hand over the Body and says aloud:
May He perfect this cup into the Blood of Christ + + +.

People: Amen.

The celebrant waves his right hand over the chalice, saying:
May He perfect this cup into the Blood of Christ + + +.

People: Amen.

The Diptychs

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
May He, by this divine communion, make us pure and holy in Your eternal kingdom, in Your blessed household, in the habitation of Your glory, in the ecstasy that shine forth in light, in the rejoicing of those who fulfilled Your will and in the delight of Your right hand so that from all, in all, by all and for all, we raise glory, honor, dominion and exaltation to You and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Accept, O Lord, this our sacrifice which is being offered to You by mind, word and thought, particularly, for the tranquility and the peace of Your Holy Church, the steadfastness of her just and upright shepherds our blessed Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius (N), Moran Mor (N), our Prelate Mor (N) with all the rest of the orthodox bishops; for the honor and exaltation of her priests, the splendor and modesty of her deacons, the atonement and forgiveness of her children, the unity and accord of her congregations, the victory of the faithful kings, the visitation of the sick and afflicted and the help of all those who are in peril.

Canon of the Living Fathers of the Church.

The deacon stands in the Royal Entrance and intones Canon of the Living Fathers:
Barekhmor. Let us pray and beseech our Lord and our God at this great, awful and holy time for all our fathers and leaders who are ruling over us this day and in this present life, who tend and rule the Holy Churches of God in the four corners of the world; our, venerable and blessed Patriarch: Mor Ignatius and Mor (N), Mor Basilius and our Prelate Mor (N), that they may be confirmed by God with the rest of all the orthodox bishops. May their prayers be a stronghold for us. Let us beseech the Lord.

People: Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
In You everything is sustained and preserved. In You all the good requests are granted, all the abundant blessings, all the pleasant good tidings, all the rejoicing of pleasantness, all the strength and the mightiness, all the perfect guardianship and the sustenance of Your creation, and to You befit praise, honor and dominion and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Yea, O Compassionate and Merciful Lord, Who, when asked for the least, grants in abundance, answer my poor self who is calling upon You at this time on behalf of all those who are fallen in all kinds of hard temptations and take refuge in You. Come quickly and save them. Bring salvation to all those who partake in the offerings of Your Church and in the needs of Your saints. Remember all those who have asked us to remember them and help all those who call upon Your Holy Name.

Canon of the Faithful Brethren

Deacon: Barekhmor. Again, we remember all our faithful and true Christian brethren who have urged and entreated our humble and weak selves to remember them at this hour and at this time: and on behalf of all those who are fallen into all kinds of hard temptations and who take refuge in You, Lord God Almighty, and for their salvation and speedy visitation by You; for this city sustained by God and for the concord and prosperity of all its faithful dwellers that they may attain righteousness. Let us beseech the Lord.

People: Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
Hear, O Lord, the prayers of Your people. Accept the supplication of Your flock. Have compassion and mercy upon the sinners, upon the offenders, upon those who are gone astray, upon those who are lost, upon the captives and the persecuted, upon the weary and the distressed, upon the unjustly treated and the oppressed, upon the strangers and the expelled, upon the miserable and the poor, upon the orphans and the widows, upon those who are ill-treated, upon those who travel by sea or by land and upon all those who know, confess and believe that You are the Good God and Helper of all to Whom befit glory, honor and dominion and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever. 

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Grant, O Lord, Your people and the whole world prosperous times that are filled with riches of pleasantness. Bless the rotation of the years with rain, dew and a variety of good things, and with all kinds, varieties and types of profitable things because You are He Who always helps His creation.Grant, O Lord, Your people and the whole world prosperous times that are filled with riches of pleasantness. Bless the rotation of the years with rain, dew and a variety of good things, and with all kinds, varieties and types of profitable things because You are He Who always helps His creation.

Canon of the Faithful Kings

Deacon: Barekhmor. Again, we remember all the faithful and true Christian rulers, who in the four corners of the earth, have supported and confirmed the churches and monasteries of God in the true faith, and for all Christendom, all the clergy and all the faithful people that they may attain righteousness. Let us beseech the Lord.

People: Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
Save and deliver us, O Guardian of all, from all difficulty and chastisement, from all persecution and plague, from all calamity and captivity, from all devastation and famine, from all war and plunder and from all blows and bloodshed of peoples alien to Your worship. Do not reprove or chastise us with anger and wrath, because of the multitude of our sins, but fill us with mercy and kindness, acquire us like a father who loves his children for we have no other god besides You of Whom we may seek salvation and to Whom our eyes and our hearts are lifted up, and to You we raise praise and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Blessed are You, O Holy One and Lover of saints and Most Holy Lord, Who are always pleased that we participate in the commemoration of Your saints, particularly and especially that of the most honorable among all the saints, the unblemished, holy Virgin Mary Mother of God, and that of John the preacher and the messenger and the fulfiller of Your Mysteries and that of St. Stephen the first-born, head and the first of the martyrs, and the rest of all the saints who pleased You.

Canon of the Mother of God and the Saints

Deacons: Barekhmor. Again, we commemorate her who is worthy to be blessed and glorified by all generations of the earth, the holy, glorious, blessed, exalted and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God. With her, let us remember the prophets, the apostles, the preachers, the evangelists, the martyrs, the confessors, the blessed St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of his Master, the holy, illustrious St. Stephen, the head of the deacons and the protomartyr, and the exalted heads of the apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul. Let us also remember together all the saints, both men and women. May their prayers be a stronghold for us. Let us beseech the Lord.

People: Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
Remember, O Lord, all those whom we have mentioned and all the fathers and the heads of the fathers, the just and the righteous, the prophets and the apostles, the preachers and the messengers, the martyrs and the confessors, the teachers and the workers of miracles, the celibates and the saints, the chaste and the abstinent, the hermits and the monks and the true faithful and all the benefactors. By their acceptable prayers and holy supplications, look upon us with a merciful eye and with a peaceful and kind countenance. Join us with the companies, the ranks and the positions of Your beloved ones so that with them and among them we may, purely and solemnly, sing unto You, O Lord, uninterrupted praise, and through You and with You, to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
O Lord, make worthy of Your kingdom's pleasure the fatherly bishops, the renowned doctors, the saintly high priests: Ignatius, Dionysius, Basilius, Julius, Cyril and the rest of all the saints who valiantly strove and were persecuted for the sake of Your indivisible, orthodox and inseparable faith.

Canon of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church

Deacon: Barekhmor. Again, we commemorate those who have gone before, fallen asleep in holiness, and are at rest among the saints; those who have kept the one apostolic faith without blemish and entrusted it to us. We proclaim the three sacred and holy Ecumenical Synods of Nicaea, of Constantinople and of Ephesus. We also remember our glorious and God-fearing fathers, prelates and doctors present at the Synods. Bishop James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, the apostles and martyrs and the saints: Ignatius, Clement, Dionysius, Athanasius, Julius, Basilius, Gregorius, Dioscoros, Timothy, Philoxenus, Antemus, Ivanius. Particularly, St. Cyril that exalted and firm tower who declared and made manifest the incarnation of the Word God, our Lord Jesus Christ Who took flesh. We also remember our Patriarch St. Severius, the crown of the Syrians, that rational mouth, pillar and teacher of all the Holy Church of God; and our saintly and holy father St. Jacob Burd`ono the supporter of the orthodox faith and St. Ephrem, St. Jacob, St. Isaac, St. Balai, St. Barsaumo, head of the anchorites, St. Simon the Stylite and the chosen St. Abhai. Let us, also, remember all those before them, with them and after them, who kept the one, true and uncorrupted faith and delivered it to us. May their prayers be a stronghold to us. Let us beseech the Lord.

People: Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
Remember, O Lord, those who piously and most gloriously confirmed and strengthened Your Holy Church purchased by the Blood of Your Only-begotten Son. Those who, by the splendid rays of theology, led and turned the peoples who were in the darkness to the light of the Gospel of Your Christ. Those who, by the strong resolution of the soul and by the serenity of the mind, risked their lives for the sake of Your truth. Those who abundantly drew water from the pure rushing streams of orthodoxy and irrigated the spiritual and rational vineyard. Those who, by eloquence and manifestation inspired by Your Holy Spirit, cast out from Your Holy Church the madness of heresies mixed with wickedness. Those who completed their struggle with labors and sweat and fulfilled Your will. May we, too, who uphold their truth, stand with them before You confidently and without shame, and we offer You a new song and unceasing praise and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Grant, O Lord, by this sacrifice, rest and atonement, and make good remembrance, on Your rational and spiritual altar, of all our natural and spiritual fathers and brothers, and with them remember all those who, from this place and from everywhere, have gone before and rested in true faith and in Christian manner.

Canon of the Faithful Departed

Deacon: Barekhmor. Again, we commemorate all the faithful departed who from this holy sanctuary, from this place and from everywhere have departed, fallen asleep in true faith and are at rest; those who have already departed and have attained to God the Father of spirits and of all flesh. Let us ask and beseech Christ our God, Who has received their souls and spirits unto Himself, that, in His abundant mercy, He may make them worthy of the remission of trespasses and the forgiveness of sins, and carry us and them to His heavenly kingdom. Let us cry out and say kyrie eleison three times.

People: Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
We beseech You, O Fountain of Life and Lord of the dead, on behalf of all those who, by Your command have departed from this life and journeyed to You in true faith, that You remember them kindly according to Your essential and substantial mercies. Do not neglect our intercession on their behalf because they are Your image, but lift them up by Your grace and raise them to the summit of immortal life in those heavenly mansions where Your Only-begotten Son is continually blessed and glorified by the rational hosts who are above, in Whom and through Whom we greatly hope to find mercy and forgiveness of sins both for us and for them.

People: O God, remove, pardon and forgive the offenses of ours and theirs which we have committed before You willingly and unwillingly, wittingly and unwittingly.

The celebrant says silently:
O God, remove and pardon our offenses committed in thought, word and deed, those that are manifest and those that are concealed, yet are evident to You.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
O You, the Knower of hidden secrets and the Judge of thoughts, remit and blot out all our sins, the known and the unknown, the voluntary and the involuntary, the hidden and the manifest, those of the present and of the past and of the times to follow. And when, by Your command, we are released from this life and become worthy of the end in accordance with the general way which is predestined and inscribed for everyone, make us prepared to stand, uncondemned, before You. Help us, O God our Redeemer. Show us the ways of life and the paths full of light which lead straight to the haven of Your goodness so that, by us and for us and on our behalf, Your Honored Name be glorified with that of our Lord Jesus Christ and with that of the Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen. As it was is now and ever shall be unto ages of ages and all the ages of the world without end. Amen. Barekhmor.

The celebrant takes power from the Mysteries, stretches out his right hand toward the people and shall say:

Celebrant: Peace be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

The celebrant takes blessing from the chalice, paten and the edge of the tablitho, crosses himself, then he draws the sign of the Cross first to the north then to the south. He then turns to his right-hand side and draws the sign of the Cross on the people three times, saying:

Celebrant: May the mercies of God the Great + and our Savior Jesus Christ + be with you all, my brethren + forever.

The curtain is drawn across the sanctuary. The people sing a hymn suitable for the occasion, then they may chant the general litany. The celebrant breaks and the signs the Mysteries, then he recites the metrical homily of St. Jacob:

O Father of truth, behold Your Son, the well-pleasing sacrifice unto You,
Accept You Him Who died for me, and may I be forgiven through Him.
Receive this offering from my hands and reconcile with me.
And remember not the sins I committed before Your greatness.
Behold His Blood is shed on Golgotha by the wicked, and it is pleading for me.
For my sake, accept my petition.
If you weigh how much my debts and how much Your mercy,
Your compassion is heavier than the mountains that are weighed by You.
Look, You, at the sins and look at the offering for them.
The offering and the sacrifice are much greater than the debts.
Because I sinned, Your beloved One endured the nails and the spear.
Sufficient are His passions to reconcile You and by them shall I live.
Glory be to the Father Who delivered His Son for our salvation,
Adoration to the Son Who died on the Cross and gave life to all of us,
Thanks be to the Spirit Who began and fulfilled the Mystery of our salvation,
O Trinity, exalted, above all, have mercy on us all.

The curtain is withdrawn.

The Lord's Prayer

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
We worship You, O God the Father Almighty the Creator and Maker of all that is visible and invisible, Who are mysterious and incomprehensible, indescribable and infinite, the good source and the fountain of life, Who has no beginning, the King of kings, the Lord of the angels, Who, with supreme exaltation that surpasses all creatures, ranks and powers, are glorified on the triumphant throne of Your Majesty on high, You, Who when You beheld our race to be in danger, and stricken by absence of the word of life, You did not turn away from us Your assistance and diligence. You first sent the prophets and the just to preach in every manner and in all ways for our restoration; and in the latter days, You spoke to us through Your beloved Son Who is Your First-begotten; the brightness and the splendor of Your bosom, that Sun of Your being, the truth, the life and the salvation, the incorporeal Who became incarnate; that Who having no flesh, took flesh, Who, when He was on earth with us, taught us the fatherly prayer and became for us an unblemished sacrifice, an acceptable offering and a sweet fragrance and delivered us to these holy and life-filled Mysteries. You then, our God, make us perfect by His most instructive discipleship so that with a clear soul, a pure mind and with tongues full of rejoicing, we may cry out to You, and pray and say: Our Father Who art in heaven.

People: 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 evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
To You, O Lord, belong dominion, power, might, kingdom and glory. You are able to deliver us from the evil one and his deeds, from afflictions, temptations and the rods of wrath and to forgive our offenses and sins by the great multitude of Your loving-kindness so that, when Your Name is hallowed by us and Your will is done by us, we may glorify You with holiness together with Your Only-begotten Son and with Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen. Barekhmor.

Celebrant: Peace be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Before partaking of these Divine and Holy Mysteries that have been offered, let us bow down our heads before the merciful Lord.

People: Before You, our Lord and our God.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
O our blessed God, bless Your people and Your inheritance with Your lofty arm and by Your mighty power. Grant us all Your grace and Your blessings that we may, undefiled and sinless, join with Your Holy Mysteries and, by receiving them, may we be filled with all the spiritual fragrance and with the ardent faith in You, and we offer You praise and thanksgiving and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen. Barekhmor.

Celebrant: Peace be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

Celebrant: May the grace + and the mercies of the Holy and Glorious Trinity, uncreated +, self-existent, eternal, adorable + and of one substance be with you all, my brethren, forever.

People: Amen.

Here incense is burnt.

The Elevation of the Holy Mysteries

Deacon: Barekhmor. With fear and trembling let us look.

People: Lord, have compassion and mercy upon us and help us.

Celebrant: The Holies to the holy and pure alone ought to be given.

People: Barekhmor. One Holy Father. One Holy Son. One Holy Spirit.

People: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Living Holy Spirit, Who are one, forever and ever. Amen.

The celebrant carries the paten with his right hand and the chalice with his left hand, and putting his right hand on his left hand in the shape of the Cross, he says:
The one Holy Father with us Who formed the world by His compassion.

People: With us. Amen.

Celebrant: The one Holy Son with us Who redeemed us by His Person's precious sufferings.

People: With us. Amen.

Celebrant: The one Holy and Living Spirit with us Who is the Perfecter and Fulfiller of all that has been and that which will be. May the Name of the Lord be blessed forever and ever.

People: With us. Amen.

The celebrant puts the paten and the chalice on the tablitho and covers the Holy Mysteries. Then he descends from the altar step and burns incense. Then the people shall intone the following prayer:

People: In offerings and in prayers, let us remember our fathers, who while they were alive, taught us to become children of God in this transitory world. O Son of God, grant them rest in the heavenly kingdom, with the just and the righteous, in the world that never passes away. Lord have mercy upon us and help us.

Then they shall sing the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints and the faithful departed. On the festivals of our Lord they may say:
By the resurrection of Christ the King, we receive atonement for our souls. Let us, in true faith, cry out together in praise of the Son Who redeemed us by His Cross and say: Blessed be Your salvation, our Savior. Holy, holy are You Who everywhere magnify the commemoration of Your Mother, Your saints and the faithful departed. O Christ the King, halleluiah. Halleluiah, halleluiah, O Christ the King, halleluiah. The heavenly hosts stand with us in the sanctuary and exalt the Body and Blood of the Son of God Who is sacrificed before us. Come near, O faithful, partake of Him for the remission of offenses and sins, halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah, O Christ the King, halleluiah. On Your altar, Lord, remember our fathers, our brethren and our elders. Let them stand at Your right hand of the shining forth of Your Majesty. Christ the King, halleluiah, Christ the King, halleluiah.

Here the celebrant blesses the bread (bourktho) and delivers the sermon of the day.

The celebrant turns to the people with outstretched hands, saying:
My brethren and my beloved, pray for me.

The curtain is drawn across the sanctuary.

The celebrant kneels on the altar step and prays silently:
Make us worthy, O Lord God, to eat Your Holy Body and drink Your Atoning Blood and become inheritants in Your heavenly kingdom with all those who pleased Your good will, our Lord and our God, forever.

Then the celebrant ascends the altar step and partakes of the Holy Mysteries, then he communicates the clergy and the deacons.

Celebrant: Let us cry out and say.

Deacon: Worshipped and glorified are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. From eternity and forever and ever glory to Him. Halleluiah.

The Procession of the Holy Mysteries

The curtain is drawn back. The celebrant carries the paten in his right hand and the chalice in his left hand. He then turns around from the left-hand side toward the people, saying:
From Your atoning altar, may atonement descend upon Your servants, O Son of God, Who came for our salvation and will come for our resurrection and the restoration of our kind, forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant descends from the altar step, walks forward two steps and says:
Stretch out, O Lord God, Your invisible right hand and bless this congregation of Your worshipers who are prepared to receive Your Precious Body and Blood for the remission of debts, the forgiveness of sins and confidence in Your presence, our Lord and our God, forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant crosses his hands, walks one step forward and says:
May the mercies of God the Great and of our Savior Jesus Christ be upon the bearers of these Holies, their donors, their receivers and upon all those who labored and took part and are taking part in them. May the mercy of God be upon us and upon them in both worlds.

People: Amen. Our Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Lord, spare us and have mercy upon us. Our Lord, answer us and have mercy upon us. Glory to God in the highest, exaltation to His Mother, a crown of glory to the martyrs and compassion and mercy to the departed. Halleluiah.

The celebrant administers the Holy Communion to the faithful.

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says:
Glory be to You, glory be to You, our Lord and our God, forever. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, let not Your Holy Body, which we have eaten, and Your Atoning Blood, which we have drunk, be unto us for judgment nor for revenge, but for eternal life and for the redemption of all of us, and have mercy upon us.

People: The world shall kneel and worship You and every tongue shall confess Your Name for You are the Raiser of the dead and the Good Hope to those who are buried, halleluiah.

The celebrant returns to the altar.

Deacon: We give thanks to You, our Lord and our God, and especially for Your grace unto us.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
Now that we have enjoyed the fullness of Your Divine Holies and have drawn the drink of life from the blessed fountain of Now that we have enjoyed the fullness of Your Divine Holies and have drawn the drink of life from the blessed fountain of Your compassion, O Lord, what have we to repay Your goodness for generosity like this? But when we endeavor earnestly to attain inner-most understanding and comprehend Your Majesty, then, with a voice of praise, we shall say: O, the depth of Your riches and Your wisdom! O, the extent of Your grace! O, the inscrutable depth of Your mercies! For, while we were captivated by the wickedness of sin, You brought us to such rejoicing and delight. By this, and for the sake of this, we make petition that we be delivered from condemnation, judgment, damnation and loss so that at the great, early dawn of the general resurrection, we may be entrusted with that spiritual banquet with Your saints and sing to You, with the perfect, thoroughly indivisible praise, O Eternal Father, and to Your Only-begotten Son and to your Living Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen. Barekhmor.

Celebrant: Peace be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

Deacon: After having received these Holy and Divine Mysteries, that have been given, let us again bow down our heads before the merciful Lord.

People: Before You, our Lord and our God.

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
Lord, our Lord, the Refuge of the sinners, the Physician of the sick, the Healer of the afflicted, the Helper for souls, Acceptor of prayers and Grantor of requests, have compassion and mercy upon the sinners, Your servants. Heal the wounds of Your people, accept the prayers of Your flock and grant the requests of Your sheep. May this sacrifice, which we have offered on Your holy altar, be for the pleasure of Your Lordship and for the holiness and protection of our souls and bodies. May this atoning and holy Blood with which our lips have been anointed, which is much greater than the blood of the lamb that withheld the destroyer from the Israelites, keep away and remove us from the destroyer, the adversary and all kind of sin. May Your tranquility guide us, Your peace be with us and Your right hand rest upon us, and to You we offer praise and thanksgiving and to Your Father and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen. Barekhmor.

Celebrant: Huthomo

Deacons: Huthomo

The Dismissal of the Faithful

Celebrant: Depart in peace +, our brethren and beloved, while we entrust you to the grace and mercy of the Holy and Glorious Trinity, with the food for the way and the blessings which you have received from the atoning altar of the Lord; those who are far off and those who are near, the living and the departed, redeemed by the victorious Cross + of the Lord and sealed with the seal of the Holy Baptism; may the Holy Trinity forgive your offenses, pardon your debts and grant rest to the souls of your departed. And may I, a weak and sinful servant, be helped and spared by your prayers. Depart in peace +, happy and rejoicing, and pray for me always.

People: Amen. May the Lord accept your offering and help us by your prayers.

The veil is drawn across the sanctuary.

The deacons sing the following metrical homily of St. Jacob of Sarug during the closing acts of the Liturgy:

The Lord Whom the seraphs fear to look at,
The same you behold in bread and wine on the altar.
The lightning clothed hosts are burned if they see Him in His brilliance.
Yet the contemptible dust partakes of Him with confidence.
The Son's Mysteries are fire among the heavenly beings,
Isaiah bears witness with us to have seen them.
These Mysteries which were in the Divinity's bosom,
Are distributed to Adam's children on the altar.
The altar is fashioned like the cherubim's chariot,
And is surrounded by the heavenly hosts.
On the altar is laid the Body of God's Son,
And Adam's children carry it solemnly on their hands.
Instead of a man clad in linen, stands the (priest),
And distributes alms (the Eucharist) among the needy.
If envy existed among the angels,
The cherubim would have envied men.
Where Zion set up the Cross to crucify the Son,
There grew up the tree that gave birth to the Lamb.
Where nails were driven in the Son's hands,
There Isaac's hands were bound for an offering.
Welcome, priest, who carries the Mysteries of his Lord,
And with his right hand distributes life to men.
Welcome, priest, who carries a pure censer,
And with its fragrance makes the world sweet and pleasant.
Welcome, priest, whom the Holy Spirit did raise up,
And on his tongue bears the keys to the house of God.
Welcome, priest, who binds man in the depth below,
And the Lord binds him in heaven on high. Halleluiah.
Welcome, priest, who unbinds men on earth,
And the Lord unbinds him in the highest. Kyrie eleison.
Praise be to the Lord. His mercy upon you and absolution for me.
And good commemoration to Mor Jacob the malphono.

The Post Communion Prayers to be recited by the celebrant.