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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, Who are the Creator of all, and especially of man Whom You made
rational in Your own image. You are Who brought him into existence and
adorned him with Your divine gifts. You ordained for us the law to love
one another, desiring that we all be one, just as You and Your Only-begotten
Son, our Lord and our God Jesus Christ, are one. Freeing us from all divisions
and uniting our hearts with the fellowship and the unity of Your Holy
Spirit, make us worthy to greet one another with a holy kiss and thus
becoming one body and one spirit, even as we have been called in one hope
of our calling in Christ Jesus our Lord, with Whom befit You glory and
honor 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:
O Lord God, Who made Your beloved Son descend to us from heaven that He
might make those who are on earth to be lifted up on high to You; even
now, incline our hearts to obey Your commandments, destroying all the
lustful vanity that exalts itself in us against Your knowledge, and capturing
all our thoughts to the example of the humility of Your Only-begotten
Son Who, of His own will, humbled Himself for us according you Your good
pleasure, O God the Father, with Whom befit You glory and honor with Your
Holy Spirit, now and always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
O God of the unspeakable and invisible Mysteries, Who has the hidden treasures
of knowledge and wisdom, Who revealed to us the administration of this
service while we were still babes that we may be no longer like the priests,
wearing the breastplate of the revelation and the truth of judges, who
could only gaze upon the Holy of Holies; but we, being clothed with righteousness,
may behold the High Priest, the Word and Brightness that shines forth
from Your bosom. Make us worthy not to approach You with an alien fire,
but, as You make us free by Your Holy Spirit, let all our defiled, old
habits be consumed. Sanctify Your rational flock. Make us ready that,
doing without the body and casting off from us all the corruptible thoughts
and moving from earth to heaven, we may be with You, O Most Pure Mind,
the Father of lights so that we may be worthy of this sacrifice which
we are offering to You, for the confirmation of those who are offering
it, for the forgiveness and the rest of the fathers and brethren who preceded
and departed hence; by the grace, the compassion and the love toward mankind
of Your Only-begotten Son, with Whom befit You glory and honor 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:
What thought that we may obtain, or what power of word that we may attain,
that we might be able to offer You the proper praise, King of kings and
God Almighty? When You established the rational powers, You also made
the perceptible creation out of nothing. You formed man out of visible
substance and invisible soul and made him recipient of all virtue and
of the divine likeness in order that we might not be deprived of all the
wondrous works which were performed by You, but that even the soil might
enjoy the ecstasy of Your glory and become enriched by the good things
of the angels. When man considers all Your works he becomes amazed at
You, O Maker of all things, and he worships You in deep silence.
The celebrant stretches out his hands and says
aloud:
Even the congregations of the angels, the chief ranks of the archangels,
the supremacy of the united thrones, the rulers that are unchangeable,
the realms of the dominions, the myriads of powers, the majesty of the
lordships, the spirits of the righteous, the church of the first born
who are written in heaven, the many-eyed cherubim, the six-winged seraphim
and the most intelligent natures trembling from Your invisible and incomprehensible
Godhead. When they move around themselves and make clear the incomprehensibility
and the incomparability of the sight, they sing the continuous glory of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, 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:
Who is able to speak of Your might? Or who can declare Your glory? You
are in truth, O God and Father, the Head of all. From You shone forth
the co-eternal Son, the unique Wisdom Who springs forth from Your Substance
inseparably and eternally, who is equal in might and in all the glories
that befit God. Holy and all Holy is also Your Spirit, the life-giving
Who is perfect in all and omnipotent, and Who, without beginning and through
eternity, proceeds from You, Father. Therefore, the heavenly powers glorify
You and Your Only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You are one God in
three persons, and Who can gaze intently into the depth of Your love toward
mankind for, while we were still condemned for transgressing of the command,
You were well pleased that He, even God the Word, the Only-begotten Son
and the Brightness of Glory, become the leader of our salvation. And according
to Your pleasure, O Father, and by His willing determination, He accepted
upon Himself the dispensation for our sake. He took flesh from the Holy
Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, who was sanctified by the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit so that, when He was conceived and born, He became
everything like us, body, soul and mind and completely united with Adam,
Who fulfilling His dispensation, made for us the beginning of the ascent
into heaven.
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 the Healer of our afflictions, left for us the remembrance of
the redemptive passion and of the Cross, He offered His sacrifice on our
behalf to You, O God the Father. He took bread in His hands and stretched
them out toward heaven. He blessed + +, sanctified
+ broke and gave to His disciples, the apostles,
saying: Take, eat of it, because this is My Body, which for Your sake
and for the sake of many is broken and given for the salvation of its
partakers 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 also, he took the cup, after they had eaten supper, and when
He mixed wine and water and gave thanks, He blessed +
+, sanctified + and gave to His disciples,
the apostles, saying: Take, drink of it all of you. This is My Blood of
the New Covenant which is shed for you and for may and is 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:
Do this, continually, in remembrance of Me whenever you eat this bread
and drink this cup preach My death until I come.
People: Your death, our Lord, we
commemorate, Your resurrection we confess and Your second coming we wait
for. May Your mercy be upon us all.
The celebrant, with crossed hands, says aloud:
Offering this bloodless sacrifice, O our Lord Jesus, we beseech You on
account of Your love toward man, for which You willingly delivered up
Yourself for us. We make remembrance also of Your fearful and glorious
second manifestation when you will sit on Your exalted throne and tens
of thousands of angels and archangels will stand before You. When the
river of fire will flow to burn the wicked mercilessly and men of old
time will be answerable for their manner of life and will need neither
accusers nor helpers for their deeds will follow
them.416:1
When the fire will test everyone's work as they are, at that hour do not
turn away Your face from us, O Lord, and do not neglect Your inheritants
to be delivered to everlasting tortures. Your people and Your inheritants
herein entreat 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:
Have mercy upon me, O God, Father Almighty, and consider the cry and the
sighing of Your people. Do not regard, O Lord, my impure lips, my defiled
voice and my mind which is full of wickedness, but accept on Your rational
altar, which is above heaven, this sacrifice for a sweet fragrance. Send
to us, from the height of Your holy sanctuary, the Comforter Your Spirit,
the Life-giving Lord Who spoke through the law, through the prophets and
the apostles, Who is near to everyone and fills all. He bestows, of His
own free will, holiness to those who are worthy through Your good pleasure.
The Spirit Who is simple418:1
and co-essential with You and with Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord and
God and Savior Jesus Christ, to Him be praise and thanksgiving.
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 this bread may become the life-giving Body +,
the heavenly Body +, the redemptive Body
+ of our souls and bodies, the Body of the
Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ for the remission of the sins of
those who receive it and for eternal life.
People: Amen.
The celebrant waves his right hand over the
chalice, saying:
Likewise, may He make the mixture in this cup the Blood of the New Covenant
+, the life-giving Blood +,
the redemptive Blood +, the Blood which was
shed for the salvation and the life of the world for the forgiveness of
sins to those who receive it and for eternal life.
People: Amen.
The Diptychs
The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says
aloud:
Yea, O Lord, just as they420:1
are perfected by Your working grace and Your might, likewise perfect everyone
who partakes of them through Your grace and the good pleasure of Your
Only-begotten Son and that of Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, our Patriarch, namely Moran Mor
(N), Moran Mor (N), our Prelate Mor
(N) and all the orthodox bishops. Fill them
with wisdom and keep them sound in soul and body. Remember, also, O our
God, all the orthodox priests who are present and praying with us and
all the others who are everywhere. Fill the faithful deacons with the
Holy Spirit, faith and power that they may serve You without defilement.
Remember, O Lord, my humble self and grant to me that I may understand
the greatness of standing before Your holy altar and remove from me all
the pleasures that are lacking of intelligence and all childish ignorance
and all deception. Strengthen, with the power of Your Holy Spirit, the
subdeacons, the singers, the readers, the interpreters, the exorcists,
the monks and the ascetics. Sanctify the pure partnership and the dignified
married persons, and adorn all the fullness of the Church with heavenly
gifts so that the great Mystery of the fear of God be glorified.
Canon of the
Living Fathers of the Church.
The deacon stands in the Royal Entrance and
intones the 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:
Be, O Lord, a sustainer to the widows, a refuge to the orphans, a staff
to the aged, an instruction to childhood, healing to those who suffer
injuries and freedom to those who are severely oppressed by unclean spirits.
Have mercy upon those who suffer from chronic illness and infirmities.
Release all those who are entangled in all types of troubles. Make straight
those who are bent down. Raise those who are fallen. Never allow that
we sleep the sleep of sin which leads to perpetual death, but cleanse
all of us with repentance and make us white with the tears of conversion
so that, with purity, 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:
Grant, O Lord, a fair climate to the seasons of the year. Let the rains
flow and the favorable dews fall. You are indeed the Sustainer of the
needy and the Provider of all necessities. Save us from all types of sickness,
general degeneration of the public and affliction. Remove Your wrath and
do not allow our transgressions to stand against Your goodness. Remember,
O Lord, this Your rational flock and every orthodox place. Remember, O
Lord, those who are standing and praying with us and those who have requested
us to remember them in the supplication that is being offered to You,
O God, at the time of this holy sacrifice, in particular, my brethren
who are oppressed; visit them through Your love toward mankind. Remember,
O Lord, those who do good to us in any manner, especially (N).
Reward them, on the day of judgment, with the voice of Your Anointed:
"Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom which has been prepared
for you."424:1
Remember, O Lord, also, the catechumen of Your people and deliver them
completely from the bondage of the adversary. Remember, also, O Lord,
those who, on this very day, have offered these offerings and those for
whom they have been offered and let all of them have abundance according
to their faith, as well as those who are now mentioned.
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 have offered of their own and those who
had the desire, but were unable to offer for You know the readiness of
their heart. Reward them with Your rich gifts which cannot be taken away
for You are the Provider and the Giver of all good things and to You befit
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 orthodox kings, the military ranks and the assistants.
Fight with them against the enemies of the kingdom of Your Anointed that
they may spread peace within Your Churches.
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:
Grant us, O King, Lover of mankind, Your peace which surpasses all understanding,
for You reign over us, O God, and Your Only-begotten Son and Your Holy
Spirit, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Make us worthy, O Lord, to participate in the memorials of those who have
pleased You: the prophets, the preachers, the evangelists, the martyrs,
the fathers, the Ever-virgin Mary, Mother of God, all the saints, both
men and women, the righteous and the confessors.
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:
May they stand with us in the action of unity and with us offer to You
this sacrifice, though they are in the heavenly habitations, and are worthy
of greater honors and not in need of our oblations on their account. By
their supplications, be absolver of our transgressions for You are the
God of mercies and to You befit praise, honor and dominion with Your Only-begotten
Son and Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, the orthodox bishops who have preceded and found rest,
those who glorified the true doctrine of faith from James the archbishop
till the present day.
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:
By the prayers and the supplications of those who fought for Your Holy
Name, and those who lit the light of knowledge to Your Holy Churches,
grant us a blameless manner of life, a pure apostolic faith, a ready departure
form here which is unconquerable by the evil powers of darkness and a
confident stand before Your fearful throne for You are a merciful God
and to You befits praise from all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now, always
and forever.
People: Amen.
The celebrant says silently:
Remember, O Lord, the orthodox priests who have preceded and rested, all
the priestly ministry, and those for whom these oblations have been offered
on this day and those who are mentioned.
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:
O Lord, all those who have departed from flesh and blood and traveled
to You, O God of spirits and all flesh, make their souls, bodies and spirits
rest in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the paradise of bliss,
in the place of rest, in the habitations of the saints, where the sound
of those who celebrate is surpassingly glorious, where the beginning of
life free from grief and the firstfruits of the unspeakable promises are
fulfilled. Make them worthy of that blessed end, holding not their offenses
against them nor entering into judgment with them for all flesh cannot
be justified in Your presence. Only one is He Who partook of flesh, appeared
on earth without sin and pulled out from the roots the carnal passion
and the pleasures of sin as if they had no advantage over Him, our Lord
and God Jesus Christ, Your Only-begotten Son through Whom we trust to
obtain 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 evident to You.
The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says
aloud:
Guide, O Lord, our temporal life and make us ready to meet Your Only-begotten
Son so that when He comes with the angels in Your glory, O Father, to
gather His saints, we may not remain under the pressure and the weight
of sins which we have committed, but make us worthy to sing pure hymns,
and say: Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord, so that in this
and in all things Your All Respected and Blessed Name be praised and glorified
by all with the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and 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:
The celebrant, with extended hands, says aloud: Our Almighty Lord Whose
Name is great,O Lord, Who are beyond all titles and understanding, Who
while we were strangers430:1
to the covenants of the promises and aliens to the good manners, You brought
us to this knowledge and drew us to the inner parts of Your sanctuaries
when we were unable to lay our hands on the doors. Make us worthy to renounce
all material thoughts and to seek only only Your kingdom and Your righteousness
and pray unto You, 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 Lord, Who does not allow anyone to be tempted beyond endurance
and Who makes a way to escape from temptation, deliver us from all temptation,
from all the operation and the spoil of the evil one and from all the
like, through Jesus Christ our Lord 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: Before partaking of these
Divine and Holy Mysteries that have been offered, let us bow down our
heads before the merciful Lord.
People: Before You, our Lord and
our God.
The celebrant, with outstretched hands, says
aloud:
O God, Who so loved us and granted us the authority of the adoption of
sons, incline Your ear and hear us with those who have bowed their heads
to You. Purify our inward man,432:1
just as Your Only-begotten Son, Whom we are ready to receive, is pure.
Let pride and haughtiness be removed from us by Him Who humbled Himself
for us, and timidity by Him Who suffered in the flesh and raised the sign
of the victorious Cross. Let vain glory cease from us through Him Who
was beaten and scourged for our sake. May the Lamb of God, Who took away
the sin of the world, bring to an end envy, murder and hatred from among
us. May anger and wrath be removed from us by Him Who put the adversary
to shame by His crucifixion. Dispel from us all evil thoughts through
Him Who raised us up with Him to heaven so that we may purely partake
of this most Holy Mystery and be completely sanctified in soul, body and
spirit that 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.
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 glory or praise or what compensation of gratitude shall we render
to You, O God the Lover of mankind? You gave us freedom while we were
condemned to death. You made us partakers of this immortal and heavenly
food, and You revealed to us the whole Mystery which was hidden since
old times and ages. We, truly, offer You praise 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:
And now that You have revealed to us, through Your incomprehensible wisdom,
the Mystery which was concealed from ages and have, providentially, fulfilled
the things that belong to us, what do we have to offer You in return for
Your love toward man, or how and with what can we praise this fatherly
care? We can only make petition to You that Your grace may always protect
and preserve us by the abundance of Your mercies. And 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.
Huthomo
Celebrant:
Son of God, grant the righteous resurrection
To all who faithfully received Your Body and Your Blood.
May Your life-giving voice awaken them from sleep,
And make them sit at Your table in the kingdom.
_____
416:1 Revelation 14:13
418:1 Simple,
not compounded or complex.
420:1 The Mysteries.
424:1 Mathew 25:34
430:1 Ephesians 2:12
432:1 Romans 7:22
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