The Coptic Liturgy
(of Saint Basil)
The Offertory
The Prayer of Reparation
(The priest recites inaudibly the prayer
of preparation of alter): Lord, who knows the hearts of all, who is Holy, and
who rests amid the saints; who alone is without sin, and who is mighty to
forgive sins; You, O Lord, know my unworthiness, my unfitness, and my
unmeetness, unto this, Your holy service; and I have no boldness that I should
draw near and open my mouth before Your holy glory; but according to the
multitude of Your tender mercies, pardon me a sinner, and grant unto me the I
may find grace and mercy at this hour, and send me straight form high (here he
uncovers the chalice, and arranges it upon the alter, together with the paten
and the spoon, continuing mean while) that I may begin, and may be made fit,
and may finish Your holy service according to Your pleasure, according to the
good pleasure of Your will, and for a sweet Saviour of incense. Even so, O our
Lord; be with us, take part with us in this; bless us; for You are the
forgiveness of our sins, the light of our souls, our life, and our strength and
our confidence; You are He unto whom we ascribe praise, and glory, and worship,
O Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and at all times, and unto the age of all
ages. Amen. (He continues immediately, and still inaudibly with the prayer
after the preparation of the altar): You, O Lord, have taught us this great
mystery of salvation. You have called us, Your lowly and unworthy servants, to
be servants of Your holy altar. O You, our Lord, make us meet, in the power of
Your Holy Spirit, to finish this service; so that, without falling into
condemnation before Your great Glory, we may offer up unto You a sacrifice of
praise, glory, and great beauty, in Your sanctuary. O God, who gives grace, who
sends forth salvation, who works all in all, grant, O Lord, that our sacrifice
may be accepted before You for my sins, and for the ignorances of Your people;
for, behold it is holy, according to the gift of Your Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus
our Lord, through whom becomes You glory, and honour and worship, with Him and
the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with You, now and at all
times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
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The Procession of the Lamb
PRIEST: Glory and honour, honour and
glory to the all-Holy Trinity: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Peace and edification unto the one, only, holy catholic and apostolic church of
God. Amen. Remember, O Lord those who have brought unto You these gifts, those
on whose behalf they have been brought, and those by whom they have been
brought. Give them all the heavenly reward.
DEACON: Pray for these holy and precious
gifts, our sacrifices and those who have brought them. Lord have mercy.
CONGREGATION:
Alleluia. this is the Alleluia: fai pe pi eho-oo eta
day which the Lord ep Chois thamiof: maren
thelil
has made, let us rejoice en ten oonof emmon enkhitf:
and be glad in it. O Ep Chois
ek-e nahmen:
O Lord save us, O Lord O Ep Chois ek-e sooten nen moit:
straighten our ways. Ef-esmaro-oot enje fi ethnioo
Blessed is He who comes khen ef raan
in the name of the Lord. em ep Chois:
Alleluia. Alleluia.
PRIEST: In the Name of the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Blessed be God the Father the
Pantocrator. Amen.
DEACON: Amen.
PRIEST: Blessed be His Only-Begotten
Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
DEACON: Amen.
PRIEST: Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the
Paraclete. Amen.
DEACON: Amen. One is the Holy Father,
One is the Holy Son, One is the Holy Spirit. Amen. Blessed be the Lord God
forever. Amen. Praise the Lord, all you nations: praise Him, all you peoples
for His mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Amen, Alleluia.
CONGREGATION:
Glory be to the Father, Doxa patri ke eyou
and to the Son, Ke Agiou Epnevmati.
and to the Holy Spirit, Ke nin ke a-ee ke
now and forever and Ke yes tos e-onas
to the age of all ages. Ton e-onon.
Amen, Alleluia. Amen, Alleluia.
PRIEST:
Pray. Eshlil.
DEACON:
Stand up for prayer. Epi prosevki stathite.
PRIEST:
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with your spirit. Ke to pnevmati soo.
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Prayer of Thanksgiving
PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the
beneficent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus
Christ, for He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Him,
spared us, supported us, and has brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him,
the Lord our God, the Pantocrator, to guard us in all peace this holy day and
all the days of our life.
DEACON:
Pray. Prosevexaste.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: O Master, Lord, God the
Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we thank
you for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition.
For you have covered us,helped us, guarded us, accepted us to You, spared us,
supported us, and have brought us to this hour.
DEACON: Pray that God have mercy and
compassion upon us, hear us, help us and accept the supplications and prayers
of his saints for that which is good on our behalf at all times, and make us
worthy to partake of the communion of his holy and blessed mysteries, for the
remission of our sins.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: Therefore we ask and entreat
Your goodness, O Philanthropic one, grant us to complete this holy day, and all
the days of our life, in all peace with your fear. All envy, all temptation,
all the work of satan the counsel of wicked men and the rising up of enemies,
hidden and manifest, take them away from us, and from all your people, and form
this table, and from this holy place that is yours. But those things which are
good and profitable do provide for us, for it is you who have given us the
authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the
enemy. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, by the grace,
compassion and philanthropy of your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the
adoration are due unto you, with him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is
of one essence with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages.
Amen.
PRIEST: (inaudibly) Master, Lord Jesus
Christ, the co-eternal Logos of the unblemished Father who is of one essence
with him and the Holy Spirit. For you are the living bread which came down from
heaven and did aforetime make yourself a Lamb without spot, for the life of the
world. We ask and entreat your goodness, O philanthropic One (here the priest
points with his hand to the bread set before him on the paten) Show your face
upon this bread (and here he points to the wine set before him in the chalice)
and upon this cup, which we have set upon (here he points to the altar) this,
your priestly table. (and her he makes the sign of the cross three times over
the bread and wine together, saying at first signing) Bless them, (at the
second signing) sanctify them, (and at the third signing) purify them and
change them (her he points with his hand to the bead in particular) in order
that this bread, on the one hand may become indeed your holy Body (here he
points with his hand to the chalice in particular)and the mixture on the other
hand, which is in this cup, indeed your precious Blood, and may they become for
all of us a partaking, healing, and salvation of our souls, our bodies and our
spirits. For you are our God and glory is due unto you with Your Good Father
and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is of one essence with you, now and at
all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Saved, Amen. And with your
spirit.
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The Absolution of Ministers
PRIEST: May your servants, ministers of
this day, the hegomen, the priest, the deacons, the clergy, all the people and
my weak self, be absolved from the mouth of the all-Holy Trinity, the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and from the mouth of the one only holy
catholic and apostolic church, and form the mouth of the beholder-of-God the
evangelist Saint Mark the apostle and martyr, the patriarch Saint Severus, our
teacher Dioscorus, Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, Saint Peter the priest-
martyr and the high priest, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Cyril, Saint Basil,
and Saint Gregory, and form the mouths of the three hundred and eighteen
assembled at Nicea, the one hundred and fifty at Constantinople, and the two
hundred at Ephesus, and form the mouth of our honoured father, the high priest
Abba....., and from the mouth of my abject self. For blessed and full of glory
is Your holy name, O Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and at all times and
unto the age of all ages. Amen.
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The Prayer of incense of the Pauline
Epistle
PRIEST:(inaudibly) O God the great and
the eternal, without beginning and without end, great in His counsel and mighty
in His works, who is in all places, dwells with every one. Be with us also, our
Master, in this hour and stand in the midst of us all. Purify our hearts and
sanctify our souls. Cleanse us from all sins which we have done willingly and
unwillingly and grant to us to offer before you rational sacrifices and
sacrifices of blessing.
DEACON: Pray for our sacrifice and for
those who bring it.
PRIEST: And a spiritual incense entering
within the veil in the holy place of your holies. And we ask you, O our Master,
remember O Lord...(as in the offering of incense.)
The hymn of the Censer
This censer of pure Tai shori en noob en katharos:
gold, bearing the Etfai kha pi aromata: et
khen
aroma, is in the hands of nen jij en Aaron
pi owib: ef
Aaron the priest, offering up tali oo esthoinoofi epshoi ejen
incense on the altar. pi ma en ershooshi.
The hymn of the Intercessions
Through the Hiten ni presvia ente ti
intercessions of the The-otokos: Ethowab
Theotokos, Saint Mary, Maria: Ep Chois: ari
O Lord, grant us the ehmot nan em pi ko
forgiveness of our sins. evol ente nen novi.
Through the Hiten ni presvia ente pi:
intercessions of the shashf en
arshi-angelos:
seven archangels and nem ni tagma en ep
the
heavenly orders,
ooranion: Ep Chois: ari
O Lord, grant us the ehmot nan em pi ko
forgiveness of our sins. evol ente nen novi.
Through the prayers of Hiten ni evki ente na
my masters and fathers, chois en yoti en
the apostles, and the Apostolos: nem ep sepi
rest of the disciples, ente ni Mathitis:
O
Lord, grant us the Ep Chois, ari ehmot nan
forgiveness of our sins. em pi ko enol ente nen novi.
Through the prayers of Hiten ni enki ente pi
the beholder-of-God Theorimos en
the evangelist Mark the Evangelistis: Markos pi
apostle, O Lord, grant Apostolos: Ep Chois:
us the forgiveness of ari ehmot nan em pi ko
our sins. evol ente nen novi.
Through the prayers of Hiten ni evki ente pi
the victorious martyr athloforos em martiros:
my lord the prince pa chois ep ooro
George, O Lord, grant Ge-orgios: Ep Chois:
us the forgiveness of ari ehmot nan em pi ko
our sins. evol ente nen novi.
Through the prayers of Hiten ni evki ente ni
the saints of this day, ethowab ente pai eho-oo:
each
by his name, pi
owai pi owai kata pef
O Lord, grant us the raan. Ep Chois: ari ehmotnan
forgiveness of our sins. em pi ko evol ente
nen novi.
Through their prayers Hiten no enki areh ep
Keep the life of our onkh em pen yot
honored
father, the
ettayoot: en arshi-erves
high priest, Papa Abba Papa Abba...., Ep
O Lord, grant us ari ehmot nan
the forgiveness of our sins. em pi ko evol ente nen novi.
We worship You Ten oo-osht Emmok:
O Christ with Your O Pi khristos: nem
good father and the Pek Yot en Aghathos:
Holy Spirit for you nem pi pnevma
have come and Ehtowab: je ak ee ak
saved us. soti emmon nai nan.
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The Pauline Epistle
READER: Paul, the servant of our Lord
Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A chapter from the Epistle of our
teacher St. Paul to .... His blessings be upon us, Amen.
(after the Pauline Epistle is read, he
says:) The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
(while the deacon is reading the Pauline
Epistle, the priest says the following prayer inaudibly) O God of knowledge,
giver of wisdom, who brings to light the hidden things of darkness, and gives
the word to them that preach the gospel with great power, who of your goodness
has called upon Paul, who was for some time a persecutor, to be a chosen
vessel; And was pleased in him that he should become a chosen apostle and
preacher of the gospel, O Christ our God. We ask you also now, O you the good
and philanthropic one, graciously grant us and all your people a mind free from
wondering and a clear understanding that we may learn and understand how
profitable are your holy teachings which are read to us now after him. And as
he followed your example, O Prince of life, so make us to be like him in deed
and in faith, that we may glorify your holy name and ever glory in your cross.
And unto you we stand up glory, honor and worship with your good father and the
Holy spirit the Life-Giver who is of one essence with you, now and at all times
and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
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The Catholic Epistle
READER: The Catholic Epistle from the
Epistle of our teacher... his blessing be upon us all. Amen.
(after the Catholic Epistle is read, he
says:) Do not love the world, nor things which are in the world. The world
shall pass away and all its desires; but he who does the will of God shall
abide forever. Amen.
(During the reading of the Catholic
Epistle, the priest says the following prayer inaudibly:) O Lord God, who has
revealed unto us through your holy apostles, the mastery of the gospel of the
glory of your Christ, and has given unto them according to the power of the
infinite gift of your grace, that they should proclaim among all nations the
glad news so the unsearchable riches of your mercy, we ask you, O our Lord,
make us worthy to have a share and inheritance with them. Graciously, grant
unto us always to walk in their footsteps: and to imitate their struggle, and
to have communion with them in the sweat which they had for godliness sake.
Keep your holy church, which You founded through them, and bless the lambs of
your flock and make to increase this vine, which your right hand has planted;
in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom are due unto you glory, honour, dominion
and worship with him and the Holy Spirit the Life-Giver who is of one essence
with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
The Praxis Response
Hail to you, Mary, Shere ne Maria: ti
the fair dove, Who has etchrompi ethnessos:
borne unto us God thi etas misi nan: em
the Logos. Ef Nooti pi Logos.
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The Praxis
READER: The Acts of our fathers the
apostles, May their holy blessing be with us all. Amen.
(after the Acts of the Apostles is read,
he says:) The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty and be confirmed
in the holy church of God. Amen.
(the priest says the following prayer
inaudibly during the reading of the Acts) O God, who accepted the sacrifice of
Abraham, and prepared for him a lamb in place of Isaac, even so accept now at
our hand, O our Lord, this sacrifice of incense, and send down upon us in
return your abundant mercy and make us pure from all pollution of sin and make
us worthy to serve in holiness and righteousness before Your goodness all the
days of our life.
(the "Synxadrium" (the
chronicle of the saints) is read, then the congregation sings)
The Hymn of the Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Agios O the-os:
Mighty, Holy Agios Ees-shiros;
Immortal, who was Agios Athanatos;
born of the Virgin, O ek partheno gennethis:
have mercy upon us. elsison imas.
Holy God, Holy Agios O theos:
Mighty, Holy Agios Ees-shiros;
Immortal, who was Agios Athanatos:
crucified for us, O stavrothis di imas:
have mercy upon us. eleison imas.
Holy God, Holy Agios O theos:
Mighty, Holy Agios Ees-shiros:
Immortal, who was Agios Athanatos:
form the dead and O anastas ek ton nekron:
ascended into the heavens Ke anelthon ees toos
have
mercy upon us. ooranoos: eleison imas.
Glory be to the Father Doxa patri ke eio:
and to the Son and to ke Agio pnevmati:
the Holy Spirit, both ke nin ke a-ee: ke ees
now and always, and toos e-onas ton
unto the ages of ages. e-onon: Amen.
Amen. O Holy Trinity Agia Trias;
have mercy upon us. eleison imas.
PRIEST:
Pray. Eshill.
DEACON:
Stand up for prayer. Epi prosevki stathite.
PRIEST:
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with your spirit. Ke to pnevmati soo.
The Prayer for the Gospel
PRIEST: O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our
God, who said to his saintly, honoured disciples and holy apostles, Many
prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see, and
have not seen them, and to hear the things which you hear and have not heard
them. But blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. May
we be worthy to hear and to act according to your holy gospels through the
prayers of your saints.
DEACON: Pray for the holy gospel.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: Remember also, O our Master, all
those who have bidden us to remember them in our supplications and prayers
which we offer up unto you, O Lord our God. Those who have already fallen
asleep, repose them. Those who are sick, heal them. For you are the life of us
all, the salvation of us all, the hope of us all, the healing of us all, and
the resurrection of us all.
(and he continues inaudibly) And to you
we send up the glory, and the honour and the adoration, together with your good
Father and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with you. Now
and at all times and unto the age of all ages Amen.
DEACON: Stand with the fear of God. Let
us hear the holy gospel.
PRIEST: Blessed be he who comes in the
name of the Lord.
READER: Bless, O Lord, the reading of
the holy gospel, according to ..
CONGREGATION: Glory to You, O Lord.
READER: Our Lord, God, Saviour, and king
of us all, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, to whom is glory forever. (the
Gospel is read:)
CONGREGATION: Glory to you, O Lord.
PRIEST :(Inaudibly) O You, who are
long-suffering, abundant in mercy and true, receive our prayers and
supplications, receive our petitions, repentance and confession upon your holy
undefiled altar in heaven; may we be made worthy to hear your holy gospel and
may we keep your precepts and commandments and bring forth fruit therein a
hundred-fold, sixty-fold and thirty-fold, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Remember, O
Lord the sick of your people that you have visited them with mercies and
compassion, heal them. Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who are
traveling, bring them back to their own in peace and safety. Remember O Lord,
the air of heaven and the fruits of the earth, bless them. Remember, O Lord,
the water of the rivers, bless them, raise them to their measure according to
your grace. Remember, O Lord, the seeds, the herbs and the plants of the field,
bless them. Remember, O Lord, the safety of the people and the beasts.
Remember, O Lord, the safety of this place, which is yours, and every place and
every monastery of our Orthodox fathers. Remember, O Lord, the king (president)
of our land, your servant, keep him in peace, justice and might. Remember, O
Lord, those who are in captivity, save them all. Remember, O Lord, our fathers
and brethren who have fallen asleep and reposed in the Orthodox faith, repose
all their souls. Remember, O Lord, those who have been brought unto you these
gifts, those on whose behalf they have brought, and those by whom they have
been brought, give them all the heavenly reward. Remember, O Lord, those who
are distressed in hardships and oppressions, save them from all their
hardships. Remember, O Lord, the catechumens of your people, have mercy upon
them; confirm their faith in you; uproot all traces of idolatry form their
hearts. Your law, your fear, your commandments, your truths, and your holy
precepts, establish in their hearts. Grant that they know the steadfastness of
the preaching they have received. And in the set time, may they be worthy of
the washing of the new birth for the remission of their sins; as you prepare
them to be a temple of your Holy Spirit, by the grace, compassion, and
philanthropy (love of mankind) of your only-Begotten Son, our Lord God and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the
adoration are due unto you, with him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is
of one essence with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages.
Amen.
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Prayer of the Veil
PRIEST :(Inaudibly) O God, who in Your
unspeakable love toward mankind sent Your Only-Begotten Son into the world,
that He might bring the lost sheep home unto You, we ask You, O our Lord,
thrust us not behind You when we offer this awesome and bloodless sacrifice.
For we put no trust in our righteousness but in Your mercy, whereby, You have
given life to our race. We pray and entreat Your goodness, O philanthropic One,
that this mystery which You have appointed unto us for salvation may not be
unto condemnation unto us or unto any of Your people, but unto the washing away
of our sins and forgiveness of our negligence and unto the glory and honour of
Your holy name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now, and at all times and unto
the age of all ages. Amen.
DEACON: In the wisdom of God, let us
attend. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. In truth..
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The Orthodox Creed
CONGREGATION: We believe in one God, God
the Father, the Pantocrator, who created heaven and earth, and all things seen
and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of light, true God of true God,
begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were
made; Who for us men and our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became Man. And he was crucified
for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose
from the dead, according to the scriptures, ascended into the heavens; he sits
at the right hand of his Father, and He is coming again in his glory to judge
the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. Yes, we believe in
the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceeds from the Father, who
with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the
prophets. And in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. We confess one
baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the coming age. Amen.
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The Prayer of Reconciliction
PRIEST:
Pray. Eshlil.
DEACON:
Stand up for prayer. Epi prosevki stathite.
PRIEST:
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with your spirit. Ke to Pnevmati soo.
PRIEST: O God the Great and the Eternal,
who formed man in incorruption, and death which entered into the world by the
envy of the devil, you have destroyed, by the life-giving manifestation of your
Only-Begotten Son, our Lord God and saviour Jesus Christ. You have filled the
earth with the heavenly peace, by which the hosts of angels glorify you
saying,"Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will toward
men".
DEACON: Pray for perfect peace, love and
the holy apostolic kisses.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: According to your good will, O
God fill our hearts with your peace. Cleanse us from all blemish, all guile,
all hypocrisy, all malice and the remembrance of evil entailing death. And make
us all worthy, O our Master, to greet one another with a holy kiss, that
without falling into condemnation, we may partake, of your immortal and
heavenly gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(And he continue Inaudibly) Through whom
the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto you with
him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is of one essence with you, now and
at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen
DEACON: Greet one another with a holy
kiss. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Yes, Lord, who is
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hear us and have mercy upon us. Offer, offer,
offer in order. Stand with trembling. Look towards the east. Let us attend.
CONGREGATION: Through the intercessions
of the Theotokos, Saint Mary, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. We
worship you, O Christ, with your good Father and the Holy Spirit, for you have
come and saved us. A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.
PRIEST: The Lord be with you all.
CONGREGATION: And with your spirit.
PRIEST: Lift up your hearts.
CONGREGATION: We have them with the
Lord.
PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
CONGREGATION: It is meet and right.
PRIEST: Meet and right, meet and right,
truly, indeed, it is meet and right. O You, who are, Master, Lord, God of
truth, being before the ages and reigning forever, who dwells in the highest
and looks upon the lowly, who has created the heaven, the earth, the sea and
all is therein. The Father of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, by whom
you have created all things, seen and unseen. Who sits upon the throne of his
glory, and who is worshipped by all the holy power.
DEACON: You who are seated, stand.
PRIEST: Before whom stand the angels, the
archangels, the principalities, the authorities, the thrones, the dominion and
the powers.
DEACON: Look towards the east.
PRIEST: You are he around whom stand the
Cherubim full of eyes, and the Seraphim with six wings praising continuously
without ceasing saying.
DEACON: Let us attend.
CONGREGATION: The Cherubim worship you,
and the Seraphim glorify you, Proclaiming and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of
hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your holy glory.
PRIEST: Agios (Holy), Agios, Agios.
Holy, Holy, Holy, truly O Lord, our God, who formed us, created us and placed
us in the paradise of joy. When we disobeyed your commandment by the guile of
the serpent, we fell from eternal life, and were exiled from the paradise of
joy. You have not abandoned us to the end, but have always visited us through
your holy prophets, and in the last days, you did manifest yourself to us, who
were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, through your Only-Begotten
Son, our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who of the Holy Spirit and of the
holy Virgin Mary.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: Was incarnate and became man,
and taught us the ways of salvation. He granted us the birth from on high
through water and Spirit. He made us unto himself a congregation, and sanctified
us by your Holy Spirit; He loved his own who are in the world, and gave himself
up for our salvation unto death which reigned over us, whereby we were bound
and sold on account of our sins, he descended into Hades through the cross
CONGREGATION: Amen. We believe.
PRIEST: He rose form the dead on the
third day; He ascended into the heavens and sat at your right hand, O Father;
He has appointed a day for recompense, on which He will appear to judge the
world in righteousness and give each one according to his deeds.
CONGREGATION: According to your mercy, O
Lord, and not according to our sins.
The Institution Narrative
PRIEST: He instituted for us this great
mystery of godliness. For being determined to give himself up to death for the
life of the world.
CONGREGATION: We believe.
PRIEST: He took bread into his holy,
spotless, unblemished, blessed and life-giving hands.
CONGREGATION: We believe that this is
true. Amen.
PRIEST: He looked up towards heaven to
you, O God, who are his Father and Master of every one. He gave thanks,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: He blessed it,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: And he sanctified it.
CONGREGATION: Amen. We believe, we
confess, and we glorify.
PRIEST: He broke it, gave it to his own
holy disciples and saintly apostles saying "Take, eat of it all of you.
For this is My Body, which shall be broken for you and for many, to be given
for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of Me."
CONGREGATION: This is true. Amen.
PRIEST: Likewise also the cup after
supper He mixed it of wine and water. He gave thanks,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: He blessed it,
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: And He sanctified it.
CONGREGATION: Amen. Again, we believe,
we confess, and we glorify.
PRIEST: He tasted, and gave it also to
his own holy disciples and saintly apostles saying "Take, drink of it all
of you. For this is my Blood for the new covenant which shall be shed for you
and many, to be given for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of
Me."
CONGREGATION: This is also true. Amen.
PRIEST: For every time you shall eat of
this bread and drink of this cup, you proclaim my death, confess my
resurrection and remember me till I come.
CONGREGATION: Amen. Amen. Amen. Your
death, O Lord, we proclaim. Your holy resurrection and ascension, we confess.
We praise You, we bless You, we thank You, O Lord, and we entreat You, O our
God.
PRIEST: Therefore, as we also
commemorate his holy passion, his resurrection form the dead, His ascension
into heavens, his sitting at your hand, O Father, and his second coming which
shall be form the heavens, awesome and full of glory; we offer unto you your
oblations form what is your, for every condition, concerning every condition
and in every condition.
DEACON: Worship God in fear and
trembling.
CONGREGATION: We praise you, we bless
you, we serve you, we worship you.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) And we ask you, O
Lord, our God, we, your sinful and unworthy servants. We worship you by the
pleasure of your goodness, that your Holy Spirit descend upon us upon these
gifts set forth, and purify them, change them and manifest them as a
sanctification of your saints.
DEACON: Let us attend. Amen.
PRIEST: And this bread he makes into his
Holy Body.
CONGREGATION: We believe.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) Our Lord, God and
Saviour Jesus Christ, given for the remission of sins and eternal life to those
who shall partake of him.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: And this cup also, into the precious
Blood of his new covenant.
CONGREGATION: Again, we believe. Amen.
PRIEST: Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus
Christ, given for the remission of sins and eternal life to those who shall
partake of him.
CONGREGATION: Lord have mercy. Lord have
mercy. Lord have mercy.
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The Seven Short Prayers
PRIEST: Make us all worthy, O our
Master, to partake, of your holies unto the purification of our souls, our
bodies and our spirits. That we may become one body and one spirit, and may
have a share and an inheritance with all the saints who have pleased you since
the beginning. Remember, O Lord, the peace of your one, only, holy, catholic
and apostolic church.
DEACON: Pray for the peace of the one
holy catholic and apostolic Orthodox church of God.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: This which you have acquired
unto yourself with the precious Blood of your Christ. Keep her in peace, with
all the Orthodox bishops who are in her. Foremost, remember, O Lord, our
blessed and honoured father, the archbishop our patriarch Abba......
DEACON: Pray for our high priest Papa
Abba..., pope, and patriarch and archbishop of the great city of Alexandria; and
for our Orthodox bishops.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: And those who rightly define the
word of truth with him, grant them unto your holy church to shepherd your flock
in peace. Remember, O Lord, the Orthodox hegemonies, priests and deacons.
DEACON: Pray for the hegemonies,
priests, deacons, subdeacons, and the seven orders of the church of God.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: And all the ministers, all who
are in virginity, and the purity of all your faithful people, Remember, O Lord,
to have mercy upon us all.
CONGREGATION: Have mercy upon us, O God,
the Father, the Pantocrator.
PRIEST: Remember, O Lord, the safety of
this holy place, which is yours, and every place and every monastery of our
Orthodox fathers.
DEACON: Pray for the safety of the world
and of this city of ours and of all cities, districts, islands and monasteries.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: And those who dwell therein in
Gods faith.
PRIEST: Graciously accord, O Lord, the
air of heaven, the fruits of the earth, the waters of the rivers, the seeds,
the herbs and the plants of the field this year, bless them.
DEACON: Pray for the air of heaven, the
fruits of the earth, the rising of the waters of the rivers, the seeds, the
herbs and the plants of the field, that Christ our God may bless them, bring
them to perfection in peace without harm, and forgive us our sins.
CONGREGATION: Lord have mercy. Lord have
mercy. Lord have mercy.
PRIEST: Raise them to their measure
according to your grace. Give joy to the face of the earth. May its furrows be
abundantly watered and its fruits be plentiful. Prepare it for sowing and
harvesting. Manage our life as deemed fit. Bless the crown of the year with
your goodness for the sake of the poor of your people, the widow, the orphan,
the traveler, the stranger, and for the sake of us all who entreat you and seek
your holy name. For the eyes of every one wait upon you, for you give them
their food in due season. Deal with us according to your goodness, O you who
give food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that we too,
having sufficiency in every thing always, may abound in every good deed.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST: Remember O Lord, those who have
brought unto you these gifts, those on whose behalf they have been brought, and
those by whom they have been brought. Give them all the heavenly reward.
DEACON: Pray for these holy and precious
gifts, our sacrifices and those who have brought them.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
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The Commemoration Of The Saints
PRIEST: As this, O Lord, is the command
of your Only-Begotten Son, that we share in the commemoration of your saints,
graciously accord, O Lord, to remember all the saints who have pleased you
since the beginning: our holy fathers the patriarchs, the prophets, the
apostles, the preachers, the evangelists, the martyrs, the confessors and all
the spirits of the righteous who were consummated in the faith. Most of all,
the pure, full of glory, ever-virgin, holy Theotokos, Saint Mary, who in truth,
gave birth to God the Logos. And Saint John the forerunner, Baptist and martyr;
Saint Stephen the archdeacon, the protomartyr; the beholder-of-God Saint Mark,
the evangelist the apostle and martyr; the patriarch Saint Severus; our teacher
Dioscorus; Saint Athanasius the Apostolic; Saint Peter the priest-martyr and
the high priest; Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Theodosuius, Saint Theophilus,
Saint Demetrius, Saint Cyril, Saint Basil, Saint Gregory the theologian, Saint
Gregory the wonder-worker, Saint Gregory the Armenian; the three hundred and
eighteen assembled at Nicea, the one hundred at Ephesus; our righteous father
great Abba Antony, the righteous Abba Paul, the three saints Abba Macarii, and
all their children the cross-bearers, our father Abba John the hegomen; our
father Abba Pishoi the righteous perfect man, the beloved of our good Saviour;
our father Abba Paul of Tammoh and Ezekiel his disciple; my masters the Roman
fathers Saints Maximus and Domitius; the forty nine martyrs the elders of Shiheet;
the strong Saint Abba Moses; John Kame the priest; our father Abba Daniel the
hegomen; our father Abba Isidore the priest; our father Abba Pachom, of the
Koinonia, and Theodore his disciple; our father Abba Shenoute the archimandrite
and Abba Wissa his disciple. And all choir of your saints, through whose
prayers and supplications, have mercy on us all and save us, for the sake of
your holy name, which is called upon us.
DEACON: Let those who read, recite the
names of our holy fathers, the patriarchs who have fallen asleep; O Lord repose
their souls and forgive us our sins.
PRIEST: (the priest says the following
Diptych inaudibly) Remember also, O Lord, all those who have fallen asleep and
reposed in the priesthood and in the order of laity. Graciously, O Lord, repose
all their souls in the bosom of our holy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
sustain them in a green pasture, by the water of rest in the paradise of joy,
the place our of which grief, sorrow and groaning have fled away in the light
of your saints.
PRIEST: Those, O Lord, and everyone
whose names we have mentioned, and those whose names we have not mentioned,
those whom each one has in mind, and those who are not in our minds, those who
have fallen asleep and reposed in the faith of Christ, graciously, O Lord,
remember the souls of your servants (here the priest mentions the names of the
departed).
DEACON: Pray for our fathers and
brethren who have fallen asleep and reposed in the faith of Christ since the
beginning, our holy fathers the archbishops, our fathers the bishops, our
fathers the hegomens, our fathers the priest, our brethren the deacons, our
fathers the monks and our fathers the laymen, and for the full repose of the
Christians, that Christ our God may repose all their souls in the paradise of
joy, and we too accord mercy unto us and forgive us our sins.
PRIEST: Graciously, O Lord, repose all
their souls in the bosom of our holy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, sustain
them in a geen pasture, by the water of rest in the paradise of joy, the place
our of which grief, sorrow and groaning have fled away in the light of your
saints.
CONGREGATION: May their holy blessing be
with us. Amen. Glory to you, O Lord. Glory be to you. Lord have mercy. Lord
have mercy. Lord bless us. Lord repose them. Amen.
PRIEST: Those, O Lord, whose souls you
have taken, repose them in the paradise of joy, in the region of the living
forever, in the heavenly Jerusalem, in that place, and we too, who are
sojourners in this place, keep us in your faith, and grant us your peace unto
the end.
CONGREGATION: As it was, and shall be,
form generation to generation, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
PRIEST: Lead us throughout the way into
your kingdom, that as in this so also in all things your great and holy name be
glorified, blessed and exalted, in every thing honoured and blessed, together
with Jesus Christ, your beloved son and the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with your spirit. Ke to Pnevmati soo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction To The Fraction
PRIEST: Again let us give thanks unto
God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, for
also he has made us worthy now to stand up in this holy place, to lift up our
hands and to serve his holy name. Let us also ask him to make us worthy of the
communion and partaking of his divine and immortal mysteries.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: The holy body.
CONGREGATION: We worship your holy body.
PRIEST: And the Precious blood.
CONGREGATION: And your precious blood.
PRIEST: Of his Christ, the Pantocrator,
the Lord, our God.
DEACON: Amen, Amen. Pray.
CONGREGATION:
Lord have mercy. Kirie Eleyson.
PRIEST:
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with you spirit. Ke to Pnevmati soo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fraction
PRIEST: O Master, Lord our God, the
great and the eternal, who are wondrous in glory; who keeps his covenant and
his mercy unto them who love him with all their heart; who has given to us
redemption from sins through his only-begotten son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, the
life of everyone, the help of those who flee to him, the hope of those who cry
unto him. Before whom stand thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten
thousands of holy angels and archangels, the Cherubim and the Seraphim and all
the innumerable host of the heavenly powers. O God, who has sanctified these
gifts which are set fourth, through the coming down upon them of your holy
spirit, you have purified them. Purify us also, our Master, form our sins, the
hidden and manifest; and every thought which is not pleasing to your goodness,
God the philanthropic one, may it be far from us. Purify our souls, our bodies,
our spirits, our hearts, our eyes, our understanding, our thoughts and our
consciences, so that with a pure heart, and enlightened soul, and unashamed
face, a faith unfeigned, a perfect love, and firm hope, we may dare with
boldness without fear to pray to you, O God the holy Father who are in the
heavens and say: Our Father....
CONGREGATION: Our father who art in
heaven; hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; they will be done on earth as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our bread of the morrow, and forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us form evil. In Christ Jesus our Lord. For thine is
the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) Yes, we ask you, O
good father, who loves goodness, lead us not into temptation, nor let any
iniquity get the rule over us but deliver us from worthless works and form the
thoughts, motions, sights and touch thereof. Destroy the tempter and drive him
away. Rebuke also his movements implanted in us, and cut off from us all
impulses which drag us into sin. And deliver us by your holy power, in Christ
Jesus, our Lord, through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and
adoration are due unto you, with him and the holy spirit, the Life-giver, who
is of one essence with you now, and at all times, and unto the age of all ages.
Amen.
DEACON: Bow your heads to the Lord.
CONGREGATION: Before you, O Lord.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly: Prayer of
submission) The grace of the beneficence of your only-begotten son, our Lord,
God and Saviour Jesus Christ are now fulfilled. We have confessed his saving
passion, we have preached his death, we have believed in his resurrection, and
the mystery is accomplished. We give thanks to you, O Lord God the Pantocrator
for your mercy is great upon us, for you have prepared for us those things
which the angels desire to behold. We ask and entreat your goodness, O
Philanthropic One, that since you have purified us all, you join us unto
Yourself, through our partaking of your divine mysteries. That we may become
filled with your holy spirit with the longing for your true love, may we speak
of your glory at all times, in Christ Jesus, our Lord, through whom the glory,
the honour, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto you, is of one essence
with you, now, and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
DEACON: Let us attend in the fear of
God.
PRIEST:
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with your spirit. Ke to Pnevmati soo.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly: absolution to the
father) O Master, Lord God the Pantocrator, healer of our souls, our bodies,
and spirits, you are he who said unto our father Peter through the mouth of
your only-begotten son, “You are Peter, upon this rock I will build y church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it, and I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of the heavens. That which you will bind upon the earth
shall be bound in the heavens, and that which you will loose upon the earth
shall be loosed in the heavens. Therefore, O Lord, let your servants, my
fathers, my brethren and my own weakness, be absolved by my mouth, through your
holy spirit, O you, good and Philanthropic one. O God, who takes away the sin
of the world, hasten, to accept the repentance of your servants for a light of
understanding and forgiveness of sins. For you are a compassionate and merciful
God; you are patient; your mercy is great and true. If we have sinned against
you either by word or by deeds, pardon and forgive us, as a good and
Philanthropic one. O God, absolve us and all your people form every sin, form
every curse, form every denial, form every false oath, and from every encounter
with the heretics and the heathens. O our Lord, grant us a reason, power and
understanding to flee from any evil deed of the adversary, and grant us to do
what is pleasing unto you at all times. Inscribe our names with all the choir
of your saints in the kingdom of the heavens, in Christ Jesus, our Lord,
through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the adoration are due
unto you, with him and the holy spirit, the Life- giver who is of one essence
with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
PRIEST: (Inaudibly) Remember, O Lord, my
own weakness and forgive my many sins, and where transgression has abounded,
let your grace be multiplied in abundance. Because of my own sins and the
abomination of my heart, deprive not your people of the grace of your holy
spirit. Absolve us and absolve all your people form every sin, from every
curse, from every denial, from every false oath, and from every encounter with
the heretics and the heathens. O our Lord, grant us a reason, power and
understanding to flee from any evil deed of the adversary, and grant us to do
what is pleasing unto your at all times. Inscribe our names with all the choir
of your saints in the kingdom of the heavens, in Christ Jesus, our Lord,
through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the adoration are due
unto you, with him and the holy spirit, the life-giver who is of one essence
with you, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen
HERE the PRIEST prays the litanies for
peace and fathers inaudibly and litany for congregation audibly.
PRIEST: Remember, O Lord, our
congregations; bless them.
DEACON: Saved, Amen. And with your
spirit. In the fear of God, let us attend.
CONGREGATION: Lord have mercy, Lord have
mercy, Lord have mercy
PRIEST: The holies for the holy. Blessed
be the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
CONGREGATION: One is the All-Holy
Father. One is the All-Holy Son. One is the All-Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRIEST:
Peace be with all. Irini pasi.
CONGREGATION:
And with your spirit. Ke to Pnevmati soo.
PRIEST: The holy Body, and the precious
and true Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of our God. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: The holy and precious Body and
the true Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of our God. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
PRIEST: The Body and the Blood of
Emmanuel our God, this is in truth. Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen. We believe.
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The Confession
PRIEST: Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I
believe, I believe and confess to the last breath, that this is the life-giving
body that your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ took
from our lady, the lady of us all, the holy Theotokos Saint May. He made it one
with his divinity without mingling, without confusion and without alteration.
He witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate. He gave it up for us
upon the holy wood of the cross, of his own will, for us all. Truly I believe
that his divinity parted not from his humanity for a single moment nor a
twinkling of an eye. Given for us for salvation, remission of sins and eternal
life to those who partake of him. I believe, I believe, I believe that this is
so in truth. Amen.
HERE the PRIEST worships saying: That
every glory, honor, and worship..
DEACON: Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I
believe, I believe that this is so in truth. Amen. Pray for us and for all the
Christians who said to us concerning them, remember us in the house of the
Lord. The peace and love of Jesus Christ be with you. Sing. Alleluia. Pray for
the worthy communion of the immaculate heavenly, and holy mysteries. Lord have
mercy.
CONGREGATION: Glory to you, O Lord,
glory to You.
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