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 Mighty Lord God, Who are the true love, the invincible tranquillity and the hope that does not disappoint; O Lord God, grant these Your servants, who are standing before Your Majesty, love, pleasantness, tranquillity and continual peace. Make us all worthy that, with purity of heart and holiness of soul, we may give peace to one another with a holy kiss that pleases Your Holy Name. To You we offer 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.

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 that we are bending the heads of our souls and bodies before Your Majesty, consent, O Lord, and send to us, from the glorious heights of Your sanctuary, a splendid grace and a steady and irremovable blessing so that we may glorify and exalt You with Your Only-begotten Son and with Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
You Who did send Your beloved Son, at the time appointed for our salvation and He delivered unto us these Holy and Life-giving Mysteries; Lord, do not make us aliens from this service and do not turn away Your countenance from us because of the multitude of our sins, for You alone are holy with Your Only-begotten Son and with Your 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:
Glory is meet and proper to You, O Lord of the heavenly and of the earthly beings.

The celebrant stretches out his hands and says aloud:
The heavenly hosts and the heaven where on they stand praise and glorify You; the fiery companies in awe extol You, the cherubim in fear bless You and the holy seraphim sanctify Your greatness while, with the rapid motion of their feathers and the movement of their wings, they fly one to another, 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:
The celebrant waves his hands over the elements and says silently: Holy are You, O Mighty Lord, with Your Only-begotten Son and with Your Holy Spirit; one indivisible Nature Who is holy and Who sanctifies all by the power of His Divinity; the Father Who sent His Son for our salvation, the Son Who descended, took flesh, suffered and was crucified for man, His image, that had degenerated, and the Holy Spirit and Sanctifier of the divine sacrifices.

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, of His own will, came to the redemptive passion and suffered the Holy Cross for our salvation, He took bread on His holy hands before the company of His disciples and looked toward heaven and gave thanks. He blessed + +, and consecrated +, and broke and gave it to His holy apostles, and said: Take, eat of it, this is My Body, which is broken for your sake and for the sake of all those who believe in Me, and given 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:
After His mystical supper, He took the cup blended with wine and water and gave thanks unto it. He blessed + +, consecrated + and gave the company of His disciples,and said to them: This is My Blood. Take drink of it all of you. This is shed for the life of the world, and for the remission of offenses and the forgiveness of sins for all those who believe in Me, forever and ever.

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:
Do this in remembrance of Me. When you eat this Mystery and drink this Absolving Blood, preach My death till 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:
As we make remembrance of Your redemptive dispensation, O Christ our God, we entreat and beseech Your goodness that when You come in the glory with Your holy angels, when the throne of your Majesty is set up and You command the earth to bring forth all the dead to stand before You in fear and trembling; when You make the sheep to stand at the right and the goats at the left and everyone looks to the reward which he deserves and the mansions which are reserved for him; Lord let us hear not from You that bitter and death-bearing word. Lord, do not say to us: Go away from Me, you cursed, to the everlasting fire that is never quenched. Lord, may we not be strangers to Your household. Lord, let not our sins and offenses come into Your holy heart and enter not into judgment with us. Do not deal with us like those who have no hope. Avenge of us not like enemies. Reject us not like aliens. Lord, cast us not away from Your presence, we who have known Your Holy Name and acknowledged Your Divinity, rather treat us according to Your true and unfailing promises. Pardon our offenses and forgive our sins and have mercy upon Your inheritance and upon the sheep of Your flock. So that Your repentant Church entreats You and through You and with 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:
O Merciful and compassionate Lord, have mercy upon me and send upon me and upon these Offerings the living and life-giving Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier of all and Giver of holiness, Who spoke through the holy prophets and crowned the apostles and the martyrs. May He rest upon these Mysteries and sanctify 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:
So that by His indwelling may He make this bread the Body + + + of Christ our God.

People: Amen.

The celebrant waves his right hand over the chalice, saying:
And this cup the Blood + + + of Christ our God

People: Amen.

The Diptychs

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
So that they may sanctify the souls and the bodies of those who partake of them for the purification of their hearts, the cleansing of their thoughts, the sanctification of their souls and the delight in the kingdom of heaven and in the new eternal life. To You we offer praise and thanksgiving and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
We make remembrance before You, O Lord God, at this time of this sacrifice, of all the Holy Churches and their orthodox pastors who are alive, especially and namely our Patriarch: Mor Ignatius and Mor (N), Mor Basilius and our Prelate Mor (N) with the rest of the orthodox bishops. Together with them, we remember all true priests and deacons and the rest of Your household who keep Your commandments.Again, we entreat You, O Lord, for the blessings of the year and the abundance of the fruits. We also beseech You on behalf of the sick and the afflicted and those who are tempted by the evil spirits that You may visit them with Your care. We also entreat You on behalf of those who call upon You on sea and on land and know and confess that You are the true God.

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:
Save and deliver, O True Lord God, Your priestly flock from all harmful, bitter and deadly blows and from all oppression of barbaric peoples who do not know Your Holy Name and do not acknowledge Your Divinity. Guide it by Your powerful and almighty right hand so that it may give thanks to You and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Again remember, O Lord, those who have presented the offering today on this altar as well as those who desired to, but were unable to do so.

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, on Your rational altar, which is high above heaven, all those who have known You and have fulfilled Your good will. Accept, by Your grace, their offerings and tithes. Make them worthy of the glory of Your All-respected Name with that of Your Only-begotten Son and of Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, the faithful kings take armor and shield and arise for their help, and grant them victory over their enemies by Your great strength.

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:
You are, O Lord, the Giver of strength and Bestower of victory unto all those who believe in You and truly love You, and to You we offer praise and thanksgiving and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Again, we make remembrance before You, O Lord, of all the saints and the fathers together with the prophets, the apostles, the martyrs, the confessors, the Mother of God and all the righteous.

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:
And as we make remembrance of these Your saints and those who pleased You, we beseech and entreat Your loving kindness, O Lord, that, by their pure and holy prayers, we may be worthy to stand with them and of the portion which is allotted to them, through Your grace, Your mercies and Your love toward mankind and that of Your Only-begotten Son and that of Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Also remember, O Lord, the supporters, the doctors and the pastors of Your Holy and Orthodox 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:
And those who, by their true and masterly teaching, have erected and confirmed Your Holy Churches and have overthrown from them the corruptive heresies, and by their dogmas have brought to light the truth of Your true faith. We beseech You, O Lord, that through their saintly supplications, we may become steadfast in their life-giving doctrine so that we may offer praise and thanksgiving to You and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, by Your grace, all those who, having received the Precious Body and Blood of Your Only-begotten Son and being baptized in His sign, have departed from among us and have come to You from the time of Christian discipleship and until today.

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:
You are, indeed, the Creator of the souls and the bodies and for You wait those who lie asleep and look for Your life-giving hope. Raise them, O Lord, on that Last Day and may Your countenance be cheerful to them. Forgive their faults and their shortcomings by Your mercies because no one is found on earth who is purified from the filthiness of sin except our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Your Only begotten Son, through Whom we trust to find mercy and forgiveness of sins 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:
Absolve and blot out, O Lord God, our and their sins and stains which were committed by us and by them unjustly and wickedly. Grant us purity, holiness, a blameless standing and full confidence in Your presence free from fall into sin so that Your most honorable and Blessed Name be praised, exalted and glorified with that of our Lord Jesus Christ and 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:
O God the Father, Who accepts prayers and answers requests, Who, through His Son, taught us to stand in His presence and pray to Him with purity; You, O Lord God, grant us that, with purity of soul, purification of mind and refinement of thought, we may cry out to You and pray, saying: 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 God, deliver the souls of Your servants from the hard temptations, the mischiefs of the rebellious evil one and from the wicked and disobedient men because You are Almighty and to You we offer praise and thanksgiving, 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.

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:
Bless, O Lord, by Your grace and abundant mercies, these who are bent before You and make them worthy of the life-giving Mysteries and of the fellowship with the company of Your saints, so that they may 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 mercy 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 shall we reward to Your grace, our pleasant God, on account of this salvation that You have granted us? Who can offer glory that befits You? Yet, as little as it is and as much as possible, we worship You, thank You and glorify You and Your Only-begotten Son and Your 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:
You, O God, we worship and glorify. To You, O Jesus Christ, we give thanks, beseeching Your grace and Your abundant mercies for the salvation and the deliverance of the whole world, for the preservation of the living, the repose of the departed, the satisfaction of the hungry, the nourishment of the needy, the visitation of the sick and the consolation of the distressed. Do, by Your grace, visit them and by Your abundant mercies, give them life. Bless Your people and preserve Your inheritance with Your victorious Cross, for to You bents worship and to Your  Father and 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.

Huthomo

Celebrant:
Establish Your Church on rock and strengthen her foundations.
With Your power, protect the shepherds who guide her.
Grant her priests adornment and clothe her deacons with glory.
And enlighten the subdeacons and readers with Your light.