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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
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©
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 God the Father, Who are infinite tranquility indivisible peace and unbreakable
love; Who, according to the abundance of Your goodness, created man in
the state of incorruptibility, and because he transgressed the commandment
and was condemned to death by the envy of the evil one, consequently,
You did fill the earth with peace from heaven by the life-giving coming
of Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord and God, Whose glory even the heavenly
hosts praised, saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace
and good hope for men. Fill, O Lord, our hearts with Your good will, cleansing
us from all defilement, all malice, all death-bearing spite, all wickedness
and cunning. Make us worthy to give sincere peace to one another with
a holy kiss and to partake, without condemnation, of Your heavenly and
incorruptible gift in Christ Jesus, our Lord, through Whom befit You praise,
honor and dominion, with Your Living Spirit, all holy, good, adorable,
life-giving and consubstantial with You, 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:
O Adorable, Who are praised by the angels, blessed by the cherubim, hallowed
by the seraphim, glorified by the fiery companies, magnified by the spiritual
beings, honored by men and exalted and worshiped by the whole creation;
look, O Lord, upon Your servants who have bowed down their necks before
Your Majesty. Make Your right hand that is full of mercies rest upon this
congregation of Your worshipers. Send to them, from the heights of Your
sanctuary, springs of blessings, fountains of good things, sources of
holiness, an overflow of purity, streams of virtue, and make us children
and inheritants of the heavenly kingdom by virtue of this peace which
we have been worthy to receive from You. We offer You praise and thanksgiving
and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable,
life giving and consubstantial with You, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
O Great and Everlasting God, Who are sublime and exalted, admirable and
invisible; Who shows mercy to the thousands and myriads of those who love
You and keep Your commandments; Who revealed to us the Mystery which was
hidden from old times and from generations by the coming of Your Only-begotten
Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and made us worthy to be mediators and ministers
of Your revered and heavenly Mysteries. Do not look upon our worthlessness
because weare not worthy to approach and partake of Your heavenly gifts.
Nevertheless, through Your grace and Your love toward men, visit us with
Your mercy and compassion and deliver us from all guile and envy; grant
us Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit
of knowledge and mightiness, the Spirit of chastity and holiness, the
Spirit of piety and good will, so that, when we become cleansed by the
sprinkles of Your purifying hyssop, we may be worthy to stand before You
with a pure heart and offer You this revered and bloodless sacrifice for
the remission of our debts, the forgiveness of our sins, the remembrance
of our departed ones and for Your glory, O God the Father, and that of
Your Only-begotten Son and of Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving
and consubstantial with You, 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:
Unto You we lift up our minds and hearts, O God, Lord of all, Who are
revered, glorified, Wonder Worker, the Father of life, the King of all
worlds, the invisible Who is inconceivable, the Most High Who is inscrutable,
the glorious Who is infinite, God Who is unsearchable, the Father and
Begetter of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, Who is like You,
the Only-begotten Who is similar to You, hypostasis of Your substance,
the glorious Son of Your Majesty, the manifestation of Your light, the
splendor of Your flame, the brightness of Your glory, the expressed image
of Your being and Who upholds all things by the power of His word, Who
is begotten of You everlastingly and without beginning and Who is with
You eternally and endlessly, by Whom and through Whom You created the
worlds by Your grace. Even we, O Lord, worship, give thanks and glorify
You, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit, one triune, indivisible God.
The celebrant stretches out his hands and says
aloud:
Glory to You, O Lord, from Your Church which You have enlightened for
Your worship. Thanksgiving to You from the mouths which have been honored
by Your word. You are hallowed by the unclean who have been cleansed by
Your hyssop. Not that You are not in need of praise, nor You are magnified
by our thanksgiving because You have in heaven and in the heaven of heavens
innumerable praise singers, unlimited worlds of light, heavenly hosts
who honorably praise Your being fiery choirs who move one another and
raise their voices chanting Your glory and thousands upon thousands and
myriads upon myriads who stand before You and worship Your Holy Name.
Extensive ranks of the consuming fire354:1
offer gifts of praise to Your Majesty. The admirable powers of the mighty
wind354:2 send
blessings to Your place. The awesome legions of the flame make joyful
sounds of praise to Your invisibility, the thunder of wheels and the voice
of the cherubim bless Your honor and the assemblies of the seraphim, by
the sound of their wings and their swift flying on high, sing sweet and
sacred songs to Your holiness, and with mouths formed of fire and lips
clothed in flame, with thrice holies, praise and cry out and say:
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:
O Lord, the voice of the seraphim proclaims Your Trinity. The assemblies
of the cherubim bless Your secrecy. The ranks of the angels praise Your
admirable being. Glory to You, the Magnifier of our race by Your grace
and Who has joined the voices of the earthly beings with the praise of
the heavenly hosts. You are, O Lord, He Who, by Your abundant mercies,did
send the Savior and Deliverer, Your beloved Only-begotten Son Who shone
forth from You through the Virgin like a flash of light to clear the eye.
He took upon Himself the form of a servant356:1
from the holy womb, whereas, in truth, He is the likeness of Your Majesty.
He became man of His own will in order to make us gods as it pleased Him.
He was born of the womb of flesh that He might bring us forth from the
spiritual womb. He became unto us a brother and made us Your children.
He raised us from the humiliation of slaves and granted us to obtain the
honor of inheritants. He took away from us the work of the laborers and
raised us to the state of the beloved children. He restrained us from
the spirit of slavery that we may no longer be in fear of the subdued,
and gave us the Spirit of adoption356:2
by which we confidently call on You our Father.
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:
And when He was prepared to suffer, he left a memorial for us. On that
evening in which all the mysteries and symbols came to an end, on that
night when He was being delivered for the life and the salvation of the
world, He took bread in His holy hands and gave thanks and He blessed
+ + and sanctified +
and broke and gave the assemble of His disciple and said to them: Take,
eat of it. This is My Body which for you and for many is broken and given
for the remission 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:
Likewise, after they had supper, He also blended the cup of life
of wine and water and gave thanks and blessed +
+, sanctified + and gave the assembly
of His disciples and said to them: Take, drink of it all of you, this
is the cup of the New Covenant in My Blood which for you and for many
is shed and given 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 eat this bread and drink this cup, make remembrance of My
death and My resurrection 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:
Who can relate the greatness of Your exalted and everlasting Majesty,
O Word of God, or who can understand Your willing renunciation. Who is
capable to explain Your admirable birth of the Virgin, or who can suitably
relate the voluntary and blameless passions You bore and endured for us,
or who is qualified to worship and honor all Your redemptive dispensation
for our sake. We, therefore, beseech You, O Lord, that on the last day
of Your second coming when You shall judge the quick and the dead358:1,
when You shall sit down on the sublime and majestic throne, when the angels
and the archangels shall stand before You, O just and upright Judge, when
all the hidden things shall be revealed and all the deeds shall be examined
and all men shall stand in fear and trembling; at that hour of judgment,
O Merciful Lord, do not turn Your face away from us, do not enter into
judgment with us. Do not bring our offenses to exact trial. Do not disgrace
us with that eternal shame. Do not cast us away from among Your servants.
Do not throw us from Your presence. Do not drive us away from the gate
of Your chamber, and do not say to us: "I do not know you," for we have
not denied Your Holy Name, but return mercifully, O Lord, and have compassion
and mercy upon us. Pardon the sinners. Forgive the evildoers. Have pity
on the guilty. Hear the prayers of Your servants. Accept the supplications
of Your worshipers and be pleased with the requests of Your intercessors.
On account of all these and of all such things, Your repentant Church
entreats You and through You 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 God Almighty, we entreat You to have mercy upon us. Let the
gates of heaven be opened and let Your Holy Spirit, Who is consubstantial
with You and with Your Son, come down, abide, move upon and rest over
us and over these offerings that are set before us and change them.
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:
And may he prove this bread to be the honored Body +
+ + of our Lord Jesus.
People: Amen.
The celebrant waves his right hand over the
chalice, saying:
And this cup the redeeming Blood + + + of
our Lord Jesus.
People: Amen.
The Diptychs
The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says
aloud:
May He make them one Body and Blood, one worthy and supreme sacrifice
so that, when it is mingled with our souls and our bodies, it may become
unto us and unto those who receive it for the growth of the true faith
in You and for the washing from all spots. May the sinners be pardoned
by it, the penitents be sanctified, the evildoers be justified, the erring
be converted, the wrathful be reconciled, the malicious be calm, the brutal
be pacified, the distressed be delighted, the mourners be comforted, the
afflicted be relieved and the sick be healed so that, from all, in all
and for all, we offer praise and thanksgiving to You and to Your Only-begotten
Son and to Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving and consubstantial
with You, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
We offer You this fearful and bloodless sacrifice for Your Holy Universal
Church that is in every place. Confirm her in the true faith and adorn
her with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Be mindful, O Lord, of her shepherds
and teachers, in particular, our blessed Patriarch Mor (N)
and Mor (N) and the Catholicos Mor Basilius
and our Bishop Mor (N) with the rest of all
the orthodox bishops and all the ranks of Your Holy Church. Remember me,
O Lord, a sinner and miserable who is defiled with all filthy deeds. Purify
me with the sprinkling of Your cleansing hyssop. Do not turn Your face
away from Your servant. Do not detest me because of the multitude of my
sins, but according to the abundance of the multitude of Your mercies,
let Your grace be increased unto me and Your compassion grow upon me.
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:
Deliver, O Lord, Your faithful people from all afflictions and rods of
wrath, and from the evil spirits and from all the misleading guiles of
the wicked and from all heathen deception and from fear of demons. Do
not allow Your Holy Name to be defiled among the pagans. Do not neglect
or forsake us that we be unjustly humiliated and trampled, but help us,
O God our Savior, for You alone are capable of redeeming us; and to You
we offer continuous glory and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Spirit,
all holy, adorable, life-giving and consubstantial with You, now, always
and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, also those who have offered these offerings at Your
priestly altar, and those of Your Church who bring forth fruit and those
who had the desire to offer, but were unable to do so and those who requested
us to remember them in prayers raised to You, O Our God; bestow upon them
the good things that come from You.
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:
Remember, O Lord, all those who are standing and praying with us
and those who are afar, and those who help the poor, me needy and the
distressed. Protect them and us by the multitude of Your angelic powers.
Preserve and deliver us from all the burning and destructive arrows of
the adversary, from the ambushes and the snares of the evil spirits, from
all hunger and the corruption of evil doctrines, from all the opposition
of the impudent enemies, from the hands of foreigners and from evil and
wicked men and from those who speak perversity. Girding us with peace
and tranquility from You, make us worthy to be preserved unharmed until
the last breath, and we offer praise and thanksgiving to You and to Your
Only-begotten Son and to Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving
and consubstantial with You, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, all the faithful and Christian kings and their armies
and do battle against those who fight them. Be mindful, O Lord, also of
those who journey by sea and by rough roads. Grant quick healing and salvation
to the sick and afflicted. Be mindful, O Lord, of the atmosphere, the
rains, the dews, the fruits and the crown of the year. To You the eyes
of everyone are lifted for You are the One Who fulfills their necessities
at the convenient time.
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:
Help, O Lord, all the pious patrons and Your people who have taken refuge
in You. Bring to an end the schisms of the Churches. Suppress the arrogance
of the pagans. Break down the opposition of the heretics. Free those who
are in prisons, exile and slavery. Deliver those who are in captivity,
persecution and perils. Restore to health those who suffer from difficult
diseases. Relieve those who are afflicted and weary. Bring back those
who journey by seas and distant roads. Send to the places in need early
rains, gentle showers and bless the crown of the year by Your grace for
You are kind and compassionate. To You we offer praise and to Your Only-begotten
Son and to Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving and consubstantial
with You, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, all the just, the righteous and the holy fathers form
Adam until the present time, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary, who
did not experience marriage, and St. John the Baptist, Stephen the archdeacon
and those who have 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:
Arrange and count us in the companies of Your beloved ones, O Lord, and
in the ranks of those who loved Your truth, in the bands of the just and
the righteous who waited upon Your salvation, in the congregations of
the martyrs who were slain trusting in You in the glorious assemblies
of the hermits and celibates, Your intimate friends; in the circle of
the disciples, the preachers and the prophets, the eyewitnesses of Your
revelation; in the feasts and delights of those who struggled and fulfilled
Your will and in the places of everlasting delights and bliss so that
with them and among them we may offer You praise and thanksgiving and
to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable
life-giving and consubstantial with You, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, all the holy fathers and the renowned teachers who,
in true faith, governed Your Holy Churches and fought for the doctrine
of the true faith, in particular, Ignatius, Dionysius, Basilius, Gregorius
and the rest of the orthodox fathers and teachers.
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, the victorious illuminators of Your Holy Churches who
showed fortitude for the true religion, those who preached Your Name among
the gentiles, the kings and the children of Israel. By their acceptable
prayers, bring to an end the insolence of heresy, establish in our souls
the true teachings of their faith, place us in their blessed ranks, join
us to the splendor of their heavenly companies and grant us confidence
before Your glorious throne for You are Holy Who finds rest in the saints
and makes them perfect. To You befits glory, honor and dominion with Your
Only-begotten Son and with Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving
and consubstantial with You, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, all those who, in the true faith, have preceded and
fallen asleep from Adam until the present day; the priests, the deacons,
the subdeacons, the readers, the singers, the hymn instructors, the monks
and the laymen who have fallen asleep in Christ, as well as those for
whom this sacrifice is offered.
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:
Yea, O Lord God, grant rest to the souls of those whom we have mentioned,
and write their names in Your book of life. Make them worthy of the bliss
of paradise. Place them in the realm of the righteous. Number them among
the companies of the just and bring them safe to the haven of life where
the habitation of rest exists, where all pains, misery, griefs and sighing
flee away, where all the saints rejoice and all the just repose, making
us not condemned, cast away or separated from Your heavenly kingdom because
only one appeared on earth without sin, Your Only-begotten Son, our
Lord and our God Jesus Christ, through Whom we also hope to find mercy
and forgiveness of sins for His sake 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 evident to You.
The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says
aloud:
Absolve, O Lord, and forgive all our and their unlawfulness. Deliver us
from all the kinds of sicknesses of iniquity and sin. Direct our footsteps
in the paths of Your divine commandments. Grant us to become holy people,
a redeemed congregation and an angelic priesthood for You. Make us worthy
that, with spiritual exaltation, intellectual bands and joyful dancing,
we may rejoice and be delighted with the blessed ones so that with them
and among them we may praise, extol and glorify Your All Respected and
Blessed Name with that of our Lord Jesus Christ and Your 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:
O God, Who are wonderful and indescribable, invisible and inscrutable,
Most High and incomprehensible, Who are unceasingly exalted by the heavenly
hosts, adored by the spiritual ranks and are praised by the sublime hymns
of glory. To You, Who behold our secrets, we pray with the mouths of our
minds for You are the first and the last Creator and God and there is
no other god besides You. You are the hope of the persecuted, the companion
of the strangers, the nourisher of the poor, the comfort of the mourners
and the finder of the lost. Let, then, O God, Your mercifulness seek our
loss, and may we be cleansed by Your grace from the defilement of sins
and be delivered from the temptation that injures the body and soul. Grant
us that our weak prayers may fly with the wings of the wheels of Your
grace until they reach to the throne of Your glory; and may we stand before
You with confidence and with a pure heart and pray to You that prayer
which Your Only-begotten Son taught to His holy disciples, and cry 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:
O Lord, lead us not into the temptation of soul and body that may afflict
with sickness and sins, but You, O Lord God, through Your grace as a merciful
and kind Father, protect our bodies from distresses and illnesses and
our souls from offenses and sins. Along with these, may we also be protected
from the evil one, his hosts, snares and plots for we do not have the
power to resist the evil one if Your Holy Name does not help us. For Yours
is the kingdom and the power and the glory, with Your Only-begotten Son
and Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving and consubstantial
with You, 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:
Before You, O King of kings, Lord of lords and Wonder Worker; Most High
in Your glory, magnified in Your majesty and invisible in Your being,
Your servants have bowed their heads at this time, looking for Your hope,
awaiting Your compassion and thirsting for the mercies that are given
by You. Stretch out, O Lord, Your mighty and omnipotent hand and bless
Your servants and worshipers. Perfect them to be pure and without the
spot and stain of sin so that they may be counted worthy to receive Your
Holy and Divine Mysteries. Deliver us from illusions by night, day, noon
time and evening, and may the Body and Blood of Your Only-begotten Son
be unto us the leaven and the pledge of life on the day of judgment, and
also 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:
What have we to render the Lord on account of all His rewards toward us
and for all His graces, His gifts and His kind visitation to us, He Who
made us mortals, worthy to partake of His Holy Mysteries? We give thanks,
worship, praise and raise the hymns of thanksgiving. We beseech You, O
Lover of mankind, as You called us and brought us near this blessed and
life-giving banquet, so also grant us and count us worthy of the remission
of debts, the forgiveness of sins, the provisions for the way of eternal
life and for the glory and the exaltation of Your Name, that of Your Only-begotten
Son and that of Your Spirit, all holy, good, adorable, life-giving and
consubstantial with You, 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:
Before You, O Lord God, we bow down our minds, our understanding, our
impulses, our thoughts and all the structure of our bodies with our souls,
beseeching and entreating You to let Your invisible hand, which is full
of blessings, rest upon all of us. Bless, sanctify, preserve and protect,
by Your redemptive Cross, all of us, the receivers of Your Holy Body and
the drinkers of Your Innocent Blood, from the injuries of body and soul.
Confirm in us Your life-giving will, strengthen in us the true faith in
You, give us the power to observe Your holy commandments, lead us to the
blessed end and to the delight in the kingdom, and,with all Your saints,
we offer to You 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.
_____
354:1 Hebrews 12:29
354:2 Acts 2:2
356:1 Philippians 2:7
356:2 Romans 8:15
358:1 II Timothy 4:1
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