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 God, the life and light of all, Who are in the heights from the beginning and Who are above all minds, make us worthy that, with awe, we may stand before You as we give peace to one another in the love of Your Only-begotten Son, 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:
May Your invisible right hand, O Lord, rest upon and bless Your worshipers who are now bent before Your through the abundance of the mercies of Your Only-begotten Son, through Whom and with Whom befit You praise, honor and dominion with Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
We entreat You at this hour, O Lord, to grant us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen us to minister unto You this spiritual service and chase and drive away from us all evil thoughts and earthly illusions through the compassion of Your Only-begotten Son, through Whom and with Whom befit You praise, honor and dominion 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:
It is meet and right that we always worship You and praise You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one true God.

The celebrant stretches out his hands and says aloud:
To You, O Lord, the heavenly hosts sing praises, to You the earthly beings give glory, to You the spiritual congregations, whose companies are innumerable and beyond reckoning, extend glorious voices of marvelous exaltations to one another, and sing thrice 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:
You are holy and glorious, O Lord, Who sent Your Son into the world and He took flesh of the Virgin Mary and fulfilled His dispensation and redeemed His creation while He never departed afar from what He was.

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, accepted to taste death on behalf of us sinners and fulfill the Mosaic Passover, on that very night of His passion, He took bread in His holy, unblemished and undefiled hands, and looked toward heaven, and showed it to You, God the Father, and gave thanks. He blessed + + and sanctified + and broke and gave it to the rank of His holy apostles, and said: Take, eat of it, this is My Body which for your sake and for the sake of many is broken and given for the absolution of offenses and 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, He blended the cup from wine and water, gave thanks, blessed + + and sanctified + and gave it to the very company of His holy disciples, saying: Take, drink of it all of you, this is My Blood which for your sake and for the sake of many is shed and given for the remission 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:
This He commanded and admonished that, whenever you minister these Mysteries, remember 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:
While we sinners, who keep Your holy and life-giving commandments, make remembrance of Your divine dispensation, namely Your birth from the Virgin, Your baptism in Jordan,Your redemptive and voluntary passion, Your redemptive burial, Your glorious resurrection, Your ascension into heaven and Your sitting on the right hand of God the Father, offer praise and exaltation to Your adorable Name. We, moreover, await Your second coming in which You will reveal all the hidden things to appear publicly. On account of this, Your life-giving dispensation we remember, and to You we offer this fearful sacrifice, beseeching You with mournful voices and sighing that we may not become a portion for that burning fire since we are signed by Your holy chrism. Let not the gnashing worm take possession of our members for Your Holy Body and Blood are hidden in us. Let not the blazing fire torment us, O Lord, for we are sealed by the mark of Your life-giving Cross; so make us not hear that bitter and awful word which says: "Go away from me, you cursed, for I do not know you." Rather, make us, O Lord, on account of Your compassion, dwell in that heavenly church and make us rejoice with the everlasting joy of Your saints. On account of all these Your Church is repenting and Your flock is entreating 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:
Send upon me, O Lord, at this time, the comforting gifts of Your life-giving Holy Spirit, the indescribable Spirit, the eternal Spirit, the infinite Spirit Who appeared on the Jordan like a dove and rested upon the Holy disciples in the likeness of tongues of fire, that He may come and sanctify these Mysteries and cleanse and purge me, a sinner, from all the passions of sin.

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 through His hovering may He perfect this bread into the Body + + + of Christ our God.

People: Amen.

The celebrant waves his right hand over the chalice, saying:
And may He make the mixture in this cup into the Blood + + + of Christ our God.

People: Amen.

The Diptychs

The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says aloud:
In order that these life-giving Mysteries be unto us guardians against wickedness, destroyers of evil spirits, dispellers of foul thoughts, and inviters to the eternal kingdom through the loving-kindness, mercies and love toward mankind of Your Only-begotten Son, through Whom and with Whom befit You praise, honor and dominion with Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, Your Holy Church and adorn and make honorable and chaste her shepherds, priests and deacons in Your worship.

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:
Grant, O Lord God, Your Church peaceful and pleasant times and to her leaders the discourse of the Gospel with great might, for with You is the fountain of life 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:
Remember, O Lord, those who are diligent about Your Holy Church and attend to sustenance of the poor and needy.

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:
 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear the voices and the supplications of Your worshipers and accept the offerings and the first fruits which are offered to You by Your Church for You are He Who accepts sacrifices 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:
Remember, O Lord, the faithful kings who correctly believe in You and grant them victory over their enemies and those who hate them.

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:
Cause to cease, O Lord God, for Your faithful people all the wars of the visible and invisible enemies and gird them and us with peace and tranquility all the days of our lives for Yours is the victory 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:
Remember, O Lord, Your beloved ones, in particular, Mary the Mother of God, John the forerunner and Stephen the martyr and all the saints.

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:
Make us, O Lord, partakers of their holy prayers and worthy to follow the example of their manners for from Your are all the good and perfect gifts and to Your 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:
Remember, O Lord, the divine teachers who proclaimed the true discourse of faith to Your faithful Church. By their prayers may we, her children, be added to their ranks and to their choirs.

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:
We beseech You, O King of kings and Lord of lords, to make us worthy of the portion of those who preached Your work in true teaching, those who were true doctors of Your Holy Orthodox Church, so that with them and among them we may offer You praise and thanksgiving and to Your Only-begotten Son and to Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, all the faithful departed who in Your hope have fallen asleep.

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 God of abundant mercy, that You accept their souls in the Jerusalem mansions and Abraham's bosom. Remember not the sins that they committed in this world full of offenses, for no one among those born of women is free from sin except our Lord and our God and our Savior 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:
Put to an end and quench from us, O Lord, all the passions of sins, the willing and unwilling, the witting and unwitting. Lead us and our departed ones to the everlasting delight so that, herein as in all things, Your all Honored and Blessed Name be glorified and exalted with that of our Lord Jesus Christ and of 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 the Holy Father, Who dwells in the unapproachable light, Whom the angels and the archangels serve, purify and sanctify our hearts so that we may pray the prayer which Your Only-begotten Son taught to His holy disciples; may we, in purity of soul and holiness of body, cry out to You, O God the Father of mercy, 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:
Yea, O Compassionate and Gentle Lord, lead us not into hard temptations, but deliver us, O Lord, from all the painful adversities by the might of Your right hand. For Yours is the kingdom and the glory and Your Only-begotten Son's and Your Holy Spirit's, 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:
Because from You is every good and perfect gift and every present of delights, we beseech You, O God the Father of lights, to enlighten our minds and to bless Your servants who have bent their necks before You; and to make us and them worthy that we may, reverently and virtuously, partake of the Body and Blood of Your Only-begotten Son, 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.

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:
We give thanks to You, O God of abundant mercy, we acknowledge Your grace and we praise Your Lordship for You have made us worthy to approach Your heavenly table and to partake of Your redeeming Mysteries. On account of this, we beseech You, O Lord, not to condemn us on that fearful day, but rather deliver us from condemnation and disgrace and let us have part with Your saints' portion, so that with them and among them we 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.

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:
We offer You worship, O Holy King Jesus Christ, Who descended and delivered us from death and made us worthy that our body be mixed with Your Body and our blood with Your Precious Blood. On account of this, we worship Your Majesty, exalt Your Godhead, proclaim Your mercies and forget not Your truth, while we beseech and entreat You to bless us all with Your heavenly blessings, to deliver us from the torture that is reserved for the evildoers and make us worthy of that paradise full of delights. We offer You praise and thanksgiving and to Your blessed Holy Father Who sent You for our salvation 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.

Huthomo

Celebrant:
At the house of St. Mark, He brought the Old Testament to an end.
On that night, He hindered the knife from slaying the animals.
There He wrote the New Testament of all the newly decreed laws.
And rendered null all the deceitful heresies.