The Prayers of Preparation and Thanksgiving

Transcript

1 The Prayers of Preparation and Thanksgiving Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

2 Η Θεία Λειτουργία ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΙΑΣ ΜΕΤΑΛΗΨΕΩΣ Μέλλων προσελθεῖν τοῖς ἀχράντοις Μυστηρίοις, μετὰ τὴν ἀφ ἑσπέρας εἰθισμένην Ἀκολουθίαν τοῦ Ἀποδείπνου, ἕως τέλους τοῦ «Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν...», λέγε μετὰ κατανύξεως τὸν παρόντα Κανόνα, οὗ ἡ ἀκροστιχὶς κατ ἀλφάβητον. Ο ΚΑΝΩΝ ᾨδὴ α. Ἦχος β. Δεῦτε λαοί, ᾄσωμεν ᾆσμα Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, τῷ διελόντι θάλασσαν, καὶ ὁδηγήσαντι, τὸν Λαόν, ὃν ἀνῆκε, δουλείας Αἰγυπτίων, ὅτι δεδόξασται Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Ἄρτος ζωῆς αἰωνιζούσης γενέσθω μοι τὸ Σῶμά σου τὸ ἅγιον, εὔσπλαγχνε Κύριε, καὶ τὸ Τίμιον Αἷμα, καὶ νόσων πολυτρόπων ἀλεξητήριον. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Βεβηλωθεὶς ἔργοις ἀτόποις ὁ δείλαιος, τοῦ σοῦ ἀχράντου Σώματος καὶ Θείου Αἵματος ἀνάξιος ὑπάρχω, Χριστέ, τῆς μετουσίας, ἧς με ἀξίωσον. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Γῆ ἀγαθή, εὐλογημένη Θεόνυμφε, τὸν στάχυν ἡ βλαστήσασα τὸν ἀγεώργητον καὶ σωτήριον κόσμῳ, ἀξίωσόν με τοῦτον τρώγοντα σώζεσθαι. ᾨδὴ γ. Ἐν πέτρᾳ μὲ τῆς πίστεως στερεώσας, ἐπλάτυνας τὸ στόμα μου ἐπ ἐχθρούς μου εὐφράνθη γὰρ τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐν τῷ ψάλλειν. Οὐκ ἔστιν ἅγιος, ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δίκαιος, πλήν σου Κύριε Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Δακρύων μοι παράσχου, Χριστέ, ῥανίδας, τὸν ῥύπον τῆς καρδίας μου καθαιρούσας, ὡς ἂν εὐσυνειδότως κεκαθαρμένος, πίστει προσέρχωμαι καὶ φόβῳ, Δέσποτα, ἐν τῇ μεταλήψει τῶν θείων δώρων σου. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Εἰς ἄφεσιν γενέσθω μοι τῶν πταισμάτων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶμα καὶ θεῖον Αἷμα, εἰς Πνεύματος Ἁγίου τε κοινωνίαν καὶ εἰς αἰώνιον ζωήν, Φιλάνθρωπε, καὶ παθῶν καὶ θλίψεων ἀλλοτρίωσιν. 2

3 The Divine Liturgy PRAYERS IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION The evening before receiving Holy Communion, at Small Compline read the following Kanon following the Creed. Kanon of Preparation to Receive Holy Communion First Ode 2nd Tone Come, all you people, let us all sing to Christ God, Who divided the sea, and made a way for the people which He had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; for He is glorified. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. May Your holy Body be for me the Bread of life everlasting, O compassionate Lord, and may Your precious Blood be a remedy for diverse maladies. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. Defiled by unseemly deeds, wretched as I am, I am unworthy, O Christ, to partake of Your immaculate Body and divine Blood; but make me worthy of Them. Most holy Theotokos, save us. O blessed Bride of God, O good land which produced the Ear of wheat which knew no husbandry and which brings salvation to the world: grant that I who eat of it may be saved. Third Ode Establishing me on the rock of faith, You have enlarged my mouth over my enemies; for my spirit rejoices in chanting: there is none holy as our God, and none righteous but You, O Lord. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. Grant me, O Christ, teardrops to cleanse the defilement of my heart, that, purified and with good conscience, I may draw near with fear and faith, O Master, to the communion of Your divine Gifts. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. May Your immaculate Body and divine Blood be for the forgiveness of my offenses, for communion with the Holy Spirit, and for life everlasting, O Friend of man, and for estrangement from passions and sorrows. 3

4 Η Θεία Λειτουργία Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Ζωῆς τοῦ Ἄρτου τράπεζα, Παναγία, τοῦ ἄνωθεν δι ἔλεον καταβάντος, καὶ κόσμῳ καινοτέραν ζωὴν διδόντος, κἀμὲ ἀξίωσον νῦν τὸν ἀνάξιον, μετὰ φόβου γεύσασθαι τούτου καὶ ζήσεσθαι. ᾨδὴ δ. Ἐλήλυθας ἐκ Παρθένου, οὐ πρέσβυς, οὐκ Ἄγγελος, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριος, σεσαρκωμένος καὶ ἔσωσας, ὅλον μετὸν ἄνθρωπον, διὸνκραυγά ζω σοι, Δόξα τῇ δυνάμει σου Κύριε. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Ἠθέλησας δι ἡμᾶς σαρκωθείς, Πολυέλεε, τυθῆναι ὡς πρόβατον διὰ βροτῶν ἁμαρτήματα ὅθεν ἱκετεύω σε καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ ἐξαλεῖψαι πλημμελήματα. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Θεράπευσον τῆς ψυχῆς μου τὰ τραύματα, Κύριε, καὶ ὅλον ἁγίασον καὶ καταξίωσον, Δέσποτα, ὅπως κοινωνήσω σου τοῦ μυστικοῦ Θείου Δείπνου ὁ ταλαίπωρος. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Ἱλέωσαι καὶ ἐμοὶ τὸν ἐκ σπλάγχνων σου, Δέσποινα, καὶ τήρει με ἄῤῥυπον τὸν σὸν ἱκέτην καὶ ἄμεμπτον, ὅπως εἰσδεχόμενος τὸν νοητὸν μαργαρίτην ἁγιάζωμαι. ᾨδὴ ε. Ὁ τοῦ φωτὸς χορηγός, καὶ τῶν αἰώνων Ποιητὴς Κύριος, ἐν τῷ φωτὶ τῶν σῶν προσταγμάτων, ὁδήγησον ἡμᾶς ἐκτός σου γὰρ ἄλλον, Θεὸν οὐ γινώσκομεν. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Καθὼς προέφης, Χριστέ, γενέσθω δὴ τῷ εὐτελεῖ δούλῳ σου καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ μεῖνον ὡς ὑπέσχου ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὸ Σῶμα τρώγω σου τὸ θεῖον καὶ πίνω τὸ Αἷμὰ σου. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Λόγε Θεοῦ καὶ Θεέ, ὁ ἄνθραξ γένοιτο τοῦ σοῦ Σώματος εἰς φωτισμὸν τῷ ἐσκοτισμένῳ ἐμοί, καὶ καθαρισμὸν τῆς βεβηλωθείσης ψυχῆς μου τὸ Αἷμὰ σου. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Μαρία μῆτερ Θεοῦ, τῆς εὐωδίας τὸ σεπτὸν σκήνωμα, ταῖς σαῖς εὐχαῖς σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς με ἀπέργασαι, ὅπως τῶν ἁγιασμάτων μετέχω τοῦ Τόκου σου. 4

5 The Divine Liturgy Most holy Theotokos, save us. O all-holy one, table of the Bread of life Who for mercy's sake came down from on high and gave new life to the world, make even me, who am unworthy, worthy now with fear to taste of it and live. Fourth Ode You came from a virgin, not as an ambassador, nor as an angel, but the very Lord Himself incarnate, and You saved me, the whole man. Wherefore I cry to You: Glory to Your power, O Lord. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. O most merciful One, Who was incarnate for us, You willed to be slain as a sheep for the sins of mortals. Wherefore also, I implore You to blot out my offenses. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. Heal the wounds of my soul, O Lord, and wholly sanctify me, the wretched one, and make me worthy, O Master, to partake of Your divine mystical Supper. Most holy Theotokos, save us. Make Him Who came forth from your womb, O Lady, to be gracious also to me; and to keep me, your supplicant, blameless and free of stain, that, by receiving within me the noetic Pearl, I may be sanctified. Fifth Ode You Who grants light and are Lord, Creator of the ages: guide me in the light of Your commandments; for we know none other as God but You. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. As You foretold, O Christ, so let it be even now to me Your abject slave, and abide in me as You promised; for behold, I eat Your divine Body and drink Your Blood. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. O Word of God, and God, may the live coal of Your Body be for the enlightenment of me who am darkened, and may Your Blood be for the cleansing of my defiled soul. Most holy Theotokos, save us. O Mary, Mother of God, august tabernacle of the sweet Fragrance: by your prayers, make me a chosen vessel, that I may partake of the holy Gifts of your Child. 5

6 Η Θεία Λειτουργία ᾨδὴ ς. Ἐν ἀβύσσῳ πταισμάτων κυκλούμενος, τὴν ἀνεξιχνίαστον τῆς εὐσπλαγχνίας σου, ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἄβυσσον Ἐκ φθορᾶς ὁ Θεός με ἀνάγαγε. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Νοῦν, ψυχὴν καὶ καρδίαν ἁγίασον, Σῶτερ, καὶ τὸ σῶμά μου, καὶ καταξίωσον ἀκατακρίτως, Δέσποτα, τοῖς φρικτοῖς μυστηρίοις προσέρχεσθαι. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Ξενωθείην παθῶν, καὶ τῆς χάριτος σχοίην τε προσθήκην ζωῆς καὶ ἀσφάλειαν, διὰ τῆς μεταλήψεως τῶν ἁγίων, Χριστέ, Μυστηρίων σου. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Ὁ Θεοῦ Θεὸς Λόγος ὁ Ἅγιος, ὅλον με ἁγίασον νῦν προσερχόμενον τοῖς θείοις Μυστηρίοις σου, τῆς ἁγίας Μητρός σου δεήσεσι. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος β. Τὰ ἄνω ζητῶν. Τὸν Ἄρτον, Χριστέ, λαβεῖν μὴ ὑπερίδῃς με, τὸ Σῶμα τὸ σὸν καὶ τὸ θεῖον νῦν Αἷμά σου τῶν ἀχράντων, Δέσποτα, καὶ φρικτῶν Μυστηρίων σου μετασχεῖν τῷ ἀθλίῳ, μὴ εἰς κρῖμά μοι γένοιτο γένοιτο δέ μοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον καὶ ἀθάνατον. ᾨδὴ ζ. Εἰκόνος χρυσῆς, ἐν πεδίῳ Δεηρᾷ λατρευομένης, οἱ τρεῖς σου Παῖδες κατεφρόνησαν ἀθεωτάτου προστάγματος, μέσον δὲ πυρὸς ἐμβληθέντες, δροσιζόμενοι ἔψαλλον Εὐλογητὸς εἶ ὁ Θεός, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Πηγὴ ἀγαθῶν ἡ μετάληψις, Χριστέ, τῶν ἀθανάτων σου νῦν Μυστηρίων γενηθήτω μοι φῶς καὶ ζωὴ καὶ ἀπάθεια, καὶ πρὸς ἀρετῆς θειοτέρας προκοπὴν καὶ ἐπίδοσιν πρόξενος, μόνε Ἀγαθέ, ὅπως δοξάζω σε. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Ῥυσθείην παθῶν καὶ ἐχθρῶν καὶ ἀναγκῶν καὶ πάσης θλίψεως, τρόμῳ καὶ πόθῳ προσιὼν τανῦν, μετ εὐλαβείας, Φιλάνθρωπε, σοῦ τοῖς ἀθανάτοις καὶ θείοις Μυστηρίοις καὶ ψάλλων σοι Εὐλογητὸς εἶ ὁ Θεός, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Σωτῆρα Χριστὸν ἡ τεκοῦσα ὑπὲρ νοῦν, Θεοχαρίτωτε, ἐκδυσωπῶ σε νῦν ὁ δοῦλός σου, τὴν καθαρὰν ὁ ἀκάθαρτος μέλλοντά με νῦν τοῖς ἀχράντοις Μυστηρίοις προσέρχεσθαι, κάθαρον ὅλον μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος. 6

7 The Divine Liturgy Sixth Ode Encompassed round about by an abyss of offenses, I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Your compassion: raise me up from corruption, O God. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. O Savior, sanctify my mind, soul, heart, and body; and grant that without condemnation, O Master, I may approach the dread Mysteries. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. Grant me estrangement from passions, and the increase of Your grace, and assurance of life by my participation in Your holy Mysteries, O Christ. Most holy Theotokos, save us. O Holy Word of God, and God, as I now approach Your divine Mysteries, sanctify the whole of me, by the supplications of Your holy Mother. Kontakion 2nd Tone Disdain me not to receive now, O Christ, the bread which is Your Body, and Your divine Blood, and to partake, O Master, of Your immaculate and dread Mysteries; and may these not be to me, the wretched one, for judgment, but for eternal and immortal life. Seventh Ode When the golden image was adored in the plain of Deira, Your three children trampled underfoot the ungodly decree; and though cast into the midst of the fire, as ones refreshed they chanted: Blessed are You, the God of our fathers. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. May the reception of Your immortal Mysteries, the Source of every good, O Christ, be now light, and life, and dispassion, and the cause of furtherance and proficiency in divine virtue, O only good One, that I may glorify You. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. That I may be redeemed from passions, enemies, want, and every affliction, I now draw near with trembling, love, and reverence to Your immortal and divine Mysteries, O Friend of man, and chant unto You: Blessed are You, the God of our fathers. Most holy Theotokos, save us. O you who are graced of God, and who gave birth incomprehensibly to Christ the Savior, I your slave, impure as I am, now beseech you, the pure one: from all defilement of flesh and spirit cleanse me who am now about to approach the immaculate Mysteries. 7

8 Η Θεία Λειτουργία ᾨδὴ η. Τὸν ἐν καμίνῳ τοῦ πυρός, τῶν Ἑβραίων τοῖς παισὶ συγκαταβάντα, καὶ τὴν φλόγα εἰς δρόσον, μεταβαλόντα Θεόν, ὑμνεῖτε τὰ ἔργα ὡς Κύριον, καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Τῶν οὐρανίων καὶ φρικτῶν καὶ ἁγίων σου, Χριστέ, νῦν Μυστηρίων, καὶ τοῦ Θείου σου Δείπνου καὶ μυστικοῦ κοινωνὸν γενέσθαι κἀμὲ καταξίωσον, τὸν ἀπεγνωσμένον, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ Σωτήρ μου. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν καταφυγὼν εὐσπλαγχνίαν, Ἀγαθέ, κράζω σοι φόβῳ Ἐν ἐμοὶ μεῖνον, Σῶτερ, κἀγώ, ὡς ἔφης ἐν σοί ἰδοὺ γάρ, θαῤῥῶν τῷ ἐλέει σου, τρώγω σου τὸ Σῶμα καὶ πίνω σου τὸ Αἷμα. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σῶσον ἡμᾶς Φρίττω δεχόμενος τὸ πῦρ, μὴ φλεχθῶ ὡσεὶ κηρὸς καὶ ὡσεὶ χόρτος. Ὤ φρικτοῦ Μυστηρίου! Ὤ εὐσπλαγχνίας Θεοῦ! Πῶς θείου Σώματος καὶ Αἵματος ὁ πηλὸς μετέχω καὶ ἀφθαρτοποιοῦμαι; ᾨδὴ θ. Ἀνάρχου Γεννήτορος, Υἱὸς Θεὸς καὶ Κύριος, σαρκωθεὶς ἐκ Παρθένου, ἡμῖν ἐπέφανε, τὰ ἐσκοτισμένα φωτίσαι, συναγαγεῖν τὰ ἐσκορπισμένα διὸ τὴν πανύμνητον, Θεοτόκον μεγαλύνομεν. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Χρηστός ἐστι, γεύσασθε καὶ ἴδετε, ὁ Κύριος δι ἡμᾶς καθ ἡμᾶς γὰρ πάλαι γενόμενος, ἅπαξ ἑαυτόν τε προσάξας, ὡς προσφορὰν Πατρὶ τῷ ἰδίῳ ἀεὶ σφαγιάζεται, ἁγιάζων τοὺς μετέχοντας. Ελέησον με ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον με Ψυχὴν σὺν τῷ σώματι ἁγιασθείην, Δέσποτα, φωτισθείην, σωθείην, γενοίμην οἶκός σου τῇ τῶν Μυστηρίων μεθέξει τῶν ἱερῶν, ἔνοικόν σε ἔχων σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, εὐεργέτα Πολυέλεε. Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, Ὡς πῦρ γενηθήτω μοι καὶ ὡσεὶ φῶς τὸ Σῶμά σου καὶ τὸ Αἷμα, Σωτήρ μου, τὸ τιμιώτατον, φλέγον ἁμαρτίας τὴν ὕλην, καὶ ἐμπιπρῶν παθῶν τὰς ἀκάνθας καὶ ὅλον φωτίζον με προσκυνεῖν σου τὴν Θεότητα. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν Θεὸς σεσωμάτωται, ἐκ τῶν ἁγνῶν αἱμάτων σου ὅθεν πᾶσα ὑμνεῖ σε γενεά, Δέσποινα νόων τε τὰ πλήθη δοξάζει, ὡς διὰ σοῦ σαφῶς κατιδόντα τὸν πάντων δεσπόζοντα, οὐσιωθέντα τὸ ἀνθρώπινον. 8

9 The Divine Liturgy Eighth Ode O you works, praise the Lord God Who descended into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children and changed the flame into dew; and supremely exalt Him unto all the ages. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. Grant me, who am despairing, to be a communicant now of Your heavenly, dread, and holy Mysteries, O Christ, and of Your divine and mystical Supper, O God my Savior. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. I flee for refuge under Your compassion, O good One, and I cry to You with fear: abide in me, O Savior, and I in You, as You said; for behold, trusting in Your mercy, I eat Your Body and drink Your Blood. Most holy Theotokos, save us. I tremble as I receive the Fire, lest I be burned as wax and as grass. O dread mystery. O divine compassion. How is it that I who am but clay partake of the divine Body and Blood and am made incorruptible? Ninth Ode Our God and Lord, the Son of the Father Who is without beginning, has appeared to us incarnate of a Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness, and to gather the dispersed; wherefore we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. The Lord is good: O taste and see. For of old He became like us for our sake, and offered Himself once as an offering to His Father, and is ever slain, sanctifying those that partake of Him. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. May I be sanctified in body and soul, O Master; may I be enlightened; may I be saved; may I become Your dwelling-place by the communion of the sacred Mysteries, having You with the Father and the Spirit abiding in me, O most merciful Benefactor. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. May Your most precious Body and Blood be to me as fire and light, O my Savior, consuming the substance of sin and burning the thorns of my passions, and enlightening the whole of me to worship Your Divinity. Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. God took flesh of your pure blood, wherefore, every generation hymns you, O Lady, and the multitudes of the noetic beings glorify you; for through you we have clearly seen the Master of all, Who assumed the nature of man. 9

10 Η Θεία Λειτουργία Καὶ εὐθὺς τὸ Ἄξιόν ἐστιν. Τρισάγιον. 10

11 The Divine Liturgy Resume Small Compline with: It is truly proper to bless you, Theotokos And then the Trisagion Prayers. 11

12 Η Θεία Λειτουργία Τῌ ΕΠΑΥΡΙΟΝ Τὴν πρωΐαν μετὰ τὴν συνήθη Ἑωθινὴν Ἀκολουθίαν, λέγε Δι εὐχῶν των ἁγίων Πατέρων ἡμῶν, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἐλέησον καὶ σῶσον ἡμᾶς. Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, δόξα σοι. Βασιλεῦ οὐράνιε, Παράκλητε, τὸ Πνεῦμα της ἀληθείας ὁ πανταχοῦ παρὼν καὶ τὰ πάντα πληρῶν ὁ θησαυρός τῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ ζωῆς χορηγός, ἐλθὲ καὶ σκήνωσον ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ καθάρισον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης κηλῖδος καὶ σῶσον ἀγαθέ, τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ἀμήν. Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, Ἀμήν. Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου. Κύριε, ἐλέησον, Κύριε, ἐλέησον, Κύριε, ἐλέησον. Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, Ἀμήν. Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τόν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον, καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ. Δι εὐχῶν των ἁγίων Πατέρων ἡμῶν, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἐλέησον καὶ σῶσον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἐλέησον (ιβ ) Δεῦτε, προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσωμεν τῷ βασιλεῖ ἡμῶν Θεῷ. Δεῦτε, προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσωμεν Χριστῷ, τῷ βασιλεῖ ἡμῶν Θεῷ. Δεῦτε, προσκυνήσωμεν καὶ προσπέσωμεν αὐτῷ Χριστῷ, τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ Θεῷ ἡμῶν. 12

13 The Divine Liturgy On the Following Day The morning on which you will receive Holy Communion, read the following as your Morning Prayer. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen. Glory to You, O God, glory to You. Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, present everywhere and filling all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and dwell in us, cleanse us of every impurity; and save our souls, O good One. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name's sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, Who art in the heavens, 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 the evil one. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen. Lord, have mercy (12) Come, let us worship and bow down before our King and God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ himself, our King and God. 13

14 Η Θεία Λειτουργία Ψαλμὸς ΚΒ (22) Κύριος ποιμαίνει με καὶ οὐδέν με ὑστερήσει εἰς τόπον χλόης, ἐκεῖ με κατεσκήνωσεν. Ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀναπαύσεως ἐξέθρεψέ με τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐπέστρεψεν. Ὡδήγησέ με ἐπὶ τρίβους δικαιοσύνης ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ. Ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ πορευθῶ ἐν μέσῳ σκιᾶς θανάτου, οὐ φοβηθήσομαι κακά, ὅτι σὺ μετ ἐμοῦ εἶ. Ἡ ῥάβδος σου καὶ ἡ βακτηρία σου, αὗταί με παρεκάλεσαν. Ἡτοίμασας ἐνώπιόν μου τράπεζαν, ἐξ ἐναντίας τῶν θλιβόντων με. Ἐλίπανας ἐν ἐλαίῳ τὴν κεφαλήν μου, καὶ τὸ ποτήριόν σου μεθύσκον με ὡσεὶ κράτιστον. Καὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου καταδιώξει με πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς μου. Καὶ τὸ κατοικεῖν με ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου εἰς μακρότητα ἡμερῶν. Ψαλμὸς ΚΓ (23) Τοῦ Κυρίου ἡ γῆ καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ. Αὐτὸς ἐπὶ θαλασσῶν ἐθεμελίωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπὶ ποταμῶν ἡτοίμασεν αὐτήν. Τὶς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου; ἢ τὶς στήσεται ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ; Ἀθῷος χερσὶ καὶ καθαρὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὃς οὐκ ἔλαβεν ἐπὶ ματαίῳ τὴν ψυχὴν αὑτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ὤμοσεν ἐπὶ δόλῳ τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ. Οὗτος λήψεται εὐλογίαν παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ ἐλεημοσύνην παρὰ Θεοῦ σωτῆρος αὐτοῦ. Αὕτη ἡ γενεὰ ζητούντων τὸν Κύριον, ζητούντων τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακώβ. Ἄρατε πύλας, οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε, πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης. Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος κραταιὸς καὶ δυνατός, Κύριος δυνατὸς ἐν πολέμῳ. Ἄρατε πύλας, οἱ ἄρχοντες ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπάρθητε, πύλαι αἰώνιοι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης. Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης; Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῆς δόξης. Ψαλμὸς ΡΙΕ (115) Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα ἐγὼ δὲ ἐταπεινώθην σφόδρα. Ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα ἐν τῇ ἐκστάσει μου Πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης. Τί ἀνταποδώσω τῷ Κυρίῳ περὶ πάντων, ὧν ἀνταπέδωκέ μοι; Ποτήριον σωτηρίου λήψομαι καὶ τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἐπικαλέσομαι. Τὰς εὐχάς μου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω, ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ. Τίμιος ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ θάνατος τῶν ὁσίων αὐτοῦ. Ὦ Κύριε, ἐγὼ δοῦλος σός, ἐγὼ δοῦλος σὸς καὶ υἱὸς τῆς παιδίσκης σου διέῤῥηξας τοὺς δεσμούς μου. Σοὶ θύσω θυσίαν αἰνέσεως καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου ἐπικαλέσομαι. Τὰς εὐχὰς μου τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἐν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Κυρίου ἐν μέσῳ σου, Ἱερουσαλήμ. Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, kαὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν Ἀλληλούϊα,. Ἀλληλούϊα,. Ἀλληλούϊα. Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός.. Ἀλληλούϊα,. Ἀλληλούϊα,. Ἀλληλούϊα. Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός. Ἀλληλούϊα,. Ἀλληλούϊα,. Ἀλληλούϊα. Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός. Κύριε, ἐλέησον, Κύριε, ἐλέησον, Κύριε, ἐλέησον. 14

15 The Divine Liturgy Psalm 22 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Psalm 115 I believed, wherefore I spoke; I was humbled exceedingly. As for me, I said in my ecstasy: Every man is a liar. What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia; glory to You, O God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia; glory to You, O God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia; glory to You, O God. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 15

16 Η Θεία Λειτουργία Καὶ τὰ παρόντα τροπάρια. Ἦχος πλ. β. Τὰς ἀνομίας μου πάριδε, Κύριε, ὁ ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθείς, καὶ τὴν καρδίαν μου καθάρισον, ναὸν αὐτὴν ποιῶν τοῦ ἀχράντου σου Σώματος καὶ Αἵματος μή με ἐξουδενώσῃς ἀπὸ τοῦ σοῦ προσώπου, ὁ ἀμέτρητον ἔχων τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Εἰς τὴν μετάληψιν τῶν Ἁγιασμάτων σου πῶς ἀναιδεσθῶ ὁ ἀνάξιος; ἐὰν γὰρ τολμήσω σοι προσελθεῖν σὺν τοῖς ἀξίοις, ὁ χιτών με ἐλέγχει, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι τοῦ Δείπνου, καὶ κατάκρισιν προξενήσω τῇ πολυαμαρτήτῳ μου ψυχῇ. Καθάρισον, Κύριε, τὸν ῥύπον τῆς ψυχῆς μου καὶ σῶσόν με, ὡς φιλάνθρωπος. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν Πολλὰ τὰ πλήθη τῶν ἐμῶν, Θεοτόκε, πταισμάτων πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον, ἁγνή, σωτηρίας δεόμενος. Ἐπίσκεψαι τὴν ἀσθενοῦσάν μου ψυχὴν καὶ πρέσβευε τῷ Υἱῷ σου καὶ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, δοθῆναί μοι τὴν ἄφεσιν, ὧν ἔπραξα δεινῶν, μόνη εὐλογημένη. Κύριε, ἐλέησον (μ ), ΣΤΙΧΟΙ ΔΙΔΑΚΤΙΚΟΙ Περὶ τοῦ, πῶς δεῖ προσέρχεσθαι τοῖς Ἀχράντοις Μυστηρίοις Μέλλων φαγεῖν, ἄνθρωπε, Σῶμα Δεσπότου, φόβῳ πρόσελθε, μὴ φλεγῇς πῦρ τυγχάνει. Θεῖον δὲ πίνων Αἷμα πρὸς μετουσίαν, πρῶτον καταλλάγηθι τοῖς σὲ λυποῦσιν, ἔπειτα θαῤῥῶν, μυστικὴν βρῶσιν φάγε Ἕτεροι ὅμοιοι. Πρὸ τοῦ μετασχεῖν τῆς φρικώδους θυσίας, τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ Σώματος τοῦ Δεσπότου, τῷδε πρόσευξαι τῷ τρόπῳ μετὰ τρόμου. ΕΥΧΗ Α Τοῦ Μεγάλου Βασιλείου Δέσποτα Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἡ πηγὴ τῆς ζωῆς καὶ τῆς ἀθανασίας, ὁ πάσης ὁρατῆς καὶ ἀοράτου κτίσεως δημιουργός, ὁ τοῦ ἀνάρχου Πατρὸς συναΐδιος Υἱὸς καὶ συνάναρχος, ὁ δι ὑπερβολὴν ἀγαθότητος ἐπ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν σάρκα φορέσας, καὶ σταυρωθεὶς καὶ τυθεὶς ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀχαρίστων καὶ ἀγνωμόνων ἡμῶν, καὶ τῷ οἰκείῳ σου Αἵματι ἀναπλάσας τὴν φθαρεῖσαν ὑπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας φύσιν ἡμῶν, αὐτὸς ἀθάνατε Βασιλεῦ, πρόσδεξαι κἀμοῦ τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ τὴν μετάνοιαν καὶ κλῖνον τὸ οὖς σου ἐπ ἐμοὶ καὶ εἰσάκουσον τῶν ῥημάτων μου ἥμαρτον γάρ, Κύριε, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν 16

17 The Divine Liturgy Then the following Troparia: Plagal of the 2 nd Tone Overlook my iniquities, O Lord Who was born of a Virgin, and purify my heart, and make it a temple for Your immaculate Body and Blood. Do not cast me away from Your presence as one despised, O You Who has immeasurably great mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. How can I, the unworthy one, shamelessly dare to partake of Your Holy Gifts? For should I dare to approach You with those who are worthy, my vesture betrays me, for it is not fitting for the Supper, and I shall bring condemnation upon my sin-laden soul. O Lord, cleanse the defilement of my soul, and save me, since You love mankind. Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Great are the multitudes of my offenses, O Theotokos; I have fled to you, O pure one, and implore salvation. Visit my ailing soul, and intercede with your Son and our God that He may grant me forgiveness for the grievous deeds which I have committed, O only-blessed one. Lord, have mercy. (40) Didactic Verses on How One Must Approach the Immaculate Mysteries When you, O man, are about to eat the Master's Body draw near with fear, lest you be seared: It is Fire. And as you drink the divine Blood unto communion, first reconcile yourself with those who grieve you, then, with daring, venture to eat the Mystic Food. Other Similar Verses Before partaking of the dread Sacrifice of the life-creating Body of the Master, pray in this manner with trembling: FIRST PRAYER of Saint Basil the Great Master Lord Jesus Christ our God, the Source of life and immortality, Who are the Maker of all creation, both visible and invisible, the co-eternal and cobeginingless Son of the eternal Father, Who in the abundance of Your goodness were in the last days clothed in flesh, were crucified and buried for us, the ungrateful and thankless ones, and by Your own Blood refashioned our nature which had been corrupted by sin: O immortal King, accept the repentance even of me the sinner, and incline Your ear to me and hear my words. For I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against heaven and before 17

18 Η Θεία Λειτουργία καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου καὶ οὔκ εἰμι ἄξιος ἀτενίσαι εἰς τὸ ὕψος τῆς δόξης σου παρώργισα γάρ σου τὴν ἀγαθότητα, τὰς σὰς ἐντολὰς παραβὰς καὶ μὴ ὑπακούσας τοῖς σοῖς προστάγμασιν. Ἀλλὰ σύ, Κύριε, ἀνεξίκακος ὤν, μακρόθυμός τε καὶ πολυέλεος, οὐ παρέδωκάς με συναπολέσθαι ταῖς ἀνομίαις μου, τὴν ἐμὴν πάντως ἀναμένων ἐπιστροφήν. Σὺ γὰρ εἶπας, φιλάνθρωπε, διὰ τοῦ προφήτου σου, ὅτι οὐ θελήσει θέλω τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ὡς τὸ ἐπιστρέψαι καὶ ζῆν αὐτόν οὐ γὰρ βούλει, Δέσποτα, τὸ πλάσμα τῶν σῶν ἀπολέσθαι χειρῶν, οὐδὲ εὐδοκεῖς ἐπ ἀπωλείᾳ ἀνθρώπων, ἀλλὰ θέλεις πάντας σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν. Διὸ κἀγώ, εἰ καὶ ἀνάξιὸς εἰμι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ αὐτῆς τῆς προσκαίρου ζωῆς ὅλον ἑμαυτὸν ὑποτάξας τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ καὶ ταῖς ἡδοναῖς δουλώσας καὶ τὴν σὴν ἀχρειώσας εἰκόνα, ἀλλὰ ποίημα καὶ πλάσμα σὸν γεγονώς, οὐκ ἀπογινώσκω τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ σωτηρίαν ὁ ἄθλιος τῇ δὲ σῇ ἀμετρήτῳ εὐσπλαγχνίᾳ θαῤῥήσας προσέρχομαι. Δέξαι οὖν κἀμέ, φιλάνθρωπε Χριστέ, ὡς τὴν Πόρνην, ὡς τὸν Λῃστήν, ὡς τὸν Τελώνην καὶ ὡς τὸν Ἄσωτον καὶ ἆρόν μου τὸ βαρὺ φορτίον τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, ὁ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αἴρων τοῦ κόσμου καὶ τὰς ἀσθενείας τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἰώμενος ὁ τοὺς κοπιῶντας καὶ πεφορτισμένους πρὸς σεαυτὸν καλῶν καὶ ἀναπαύων ὁ μὴ ἐλθὼν καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν καὶ καθάρισόν με ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος δίδαξόν με ἐπιτελεῖν ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ σου, ἵνα ἐν καθαρῷ τῷ μαρτυρίῳ τῆς συνειδήσεώς μου, τῶν ἁγιασμάτων σου τὴν μερίδα ὑποδεχόμενος, ἑνωθῶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Σώματί σου καὶ Αἵματι, καὶ ἕξω σε ἐν ἐμοὶ κατοικοῦντα καὶ μένοντα σὺν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Ναί, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεός μου καὶ μὴ εἰς κρῖμά μοι γένοιτο ἡ μετάληψις τῶν ἀχράντων καὶ ζωοποιῶν Μυστηρίων σου, μηδὲ ἀσθενὴς γενοίμην ψυχῇ τε καὶ σώματι, ἐκ τοῦ ἀναξίως αὐτῶν μεταλαμβάνειν ἀλλὰ δός μοι, μέχρι τελευταίας μου ἀναπνοῆς, ἀκατακρίτως ὑποδέχεσθαι τὴν μερίδα τῶν ἁγιασμάτων σου, εἰς Πνεύματος ἁγίου κοινωνίαν, εἰς ἐφόδιον ζωῆς αἰωνίου καὶ εἰς εὐπρόσδεκτον ἀπολογίαν τὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ φοβεροῦ βήματός σου ὅπως ἂν κἀγώ, σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς σου, μέτοχος γένωμαι τῶν ἀκηράτων σου ἀγαθῶν, ὧν ἡτοίμασας τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί σε, Κύριε ἐν οἷς δεδοξασμένος ὑπάρχεις εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. ΕYXΗ B Τοῦ Μεγάλου Βασιλείου Οἶδα, Κύριε, ὅτι ἀναξίως μεταλαμβάνω τοῦ ἀχράντου σου Σώματος καὶ τοῦ τιμίου σου Αἵματος καὶ ἔνοχὸς εἰμι καὶ κρῖμα ἐμαυτῷ ἐσθίω καὶ πίνω, μὴ διακρίνων τὸ Σῶμα καὶ τὸ Αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ Θεοῦ μου ἀλλὰ τοῖς οἰκτιρμοῖς σου θαῤῥῶν, προσέρχομαί σοι τῷ εἰπόντι. Ὁ τρώγων μου τὴν Σάρκα καὶ πίνων μου τὸ Αἷμα ἐν ἐμοὶ μένει, κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ. Σπλαγχνίσθητι οὖν, Κύριε, καὶ μὴ παραδειγματίσῃς με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν, ἀλλὰ ποίησον μετ ἐμοῦ κατὰ τὸ ἔλεός σου καὶ γενέσθω μοι τὰ ἅγια ταῦτα εἰς ἴασιν καὶ κάθαρσιν καὶ φωτισμὸν καὶ φυλακτήριον καὶ σωτηρίαν καὶ ἁγιασμὸν ψυχῆς τε καὶ σώματος εἰς ἀποτροπὴν πάσης φαντασίας καὶ πονηρᾶς πράξεως καὶ ἐνεργείας διαβολικῆς, κατὰ διάνοιαν τῆς ἐν τοῖς μέλεσί μου ἐνεργουμένης εἰς παῤῥησίαν καὶ ἀγάπην τὴν πρὸς σέ εἰς διόρθωσιν βίου καὶ ἀσφάλειαν εἰς αὔξησιν ἀρετῆς καὶ τελειότητος εἰς πλήρωσιν ἐντολῶν εἰς Πνεύματος ἁγίου 18

19 The Divine Liturgy You, and I am not worthy to gaze on the height of Your glory; for I have provoked Your goodness by transgressing Your commandments and not obeying Your ordinances. But in Your forbearance, patience, and great mercy, You, O Lord, have not given me up to be destroyed with my sins, but You await my complete conversion. For You Who love mankind have said through Your Prophet that You desire not the death of the sinner, but that he should return to You and live. For You do not will, O Lord, that the work of Your hands should be destroyed, neither do You delight in the destruction of men, but You desire that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth. Therefore, though I am unworthy both of heaven and earth, and even of this transient life since I have completely succumbed to sin and am a slave to pleasure and have defaced Your image, yet being Your work and creation, wretch that I am, even I do not despair of my salvation and dare to draw near to Your boundless compassion. Wherefore receive even me, O Christ Who Loves mankind, as the harlot, as the thief, as the publican, and as the prodigal; and take from me the heavy burden of my sins: You Who take away the sin of the world, Who heal men's sicknesses, Who call the weary and heavy laden to Yourself and give them rest; for You came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. And cleanse me from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Teach me to attain perfect holiness in the fear of You, that with the clear witness of my conscience I may receive a portion of Your holy Things and be united with Your holy Body and Blood, and have You dwelling and remaining in me with the Father and Your Holy Spirit. And, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, do not let the communion of Your immaculate and life-giving Mysteries be to me for condemnation, nor let it make me sick in body or soul through my partaking of them unworthily; but rather grant that until my last breath I may receive a portion of Your holy Things without condemnation, for communion with the Holy Spirit, as a provision for eternal life, and as an acceptable defense at Your dread tribunal, so that I, too, with all Your elect may become a partaker of Your pure joys which You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord, in whom You are glorified throughout the ages. Amen. SECOND PRAYER of Saint Basil the Great I know, O Lord, that I partake of Your immaculate Body and precious Blood unworthily, and that I am guilty, and eat and drink judgment to myself by not discerning the Body and Blood of You, my Christ and God. But, trusting in Your compassion, I take courage and approach You, for You have said: "He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him." Wherefore have compassion, O Lord, and do not make an example of me, the sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy; and let these Holy Things be for my healing, and purification, and enlightenment, and protection, and salvation, and sanctification of body and soul; for the turning away of every fantasy, and all evil practice, and diabolical activity working subconsciously in my members; for confidence and love towards You; for reformation of life and stability; for an increase of virtue and perfection; for fulfillment of the 19

20 Η Θεία Λειτουργία κοινωνίαν εἰς ἐφόδιον ζωῆς αἰωνίου καὶ εἰς ἀπολογίαν εὐπρόσδεκτον, τὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ φοβεροῦ βήματός σου μὴ εἰς κρῖμα ἢ εἰς κατάκριμα. ΕΥΧΗ Γ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, οἶδα, ὅτι οὔκ εἰμι ἄξιος οὐδὲ ἱκανός, ἵνα μου ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην εἰσέλθῃς τοῦ οἴκου τῆς ψυχῆς, διότι ὅλη ἔρημος καὶ καταπεσοῦσὰ ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἔχεις παρ ἐμοὶ τόπον ἄξιον τοῦ κλῖναι τὴν κεφαλήν. Ἀλλ ὡς ἐξ ὕψους δι ἡμᾶς ἐταπείνωσας σεαυτόν, συμμετρίασον καὶ νῦν τῇ ταπεινώσει μου. Καὶ ὡς κατεδέξω ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ καὶ φάτνῃ ἀλόγων ἀνακλιθῆναι, οὕτω κατάδεξαι καὶ ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ τῆς ἀλόγου μου ψυχῆς καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐσπιλωμένῳ μου σώματι εἰσελθεῖν. Καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἀπηξίωσας εἰσελθεῖν καὶ συνδειπνῆσαι ἁμαρτωλοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ Σίμωνος τοῦ λεπροῦ, οὕτω κατάδεξαι εἰσελθεῖν καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκον τῆς ταπεινῆς μου ψυχῆς, τοῦ λεπροῦ καὶ ἁμαρτωλοῦ. Καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἀπώσω τὴν ὁμοίαν μοι πόρνην καὶ ἁμαρτωλόν, προσερχομένην καὶ ἁπτομένην σου, οὕτω σπλαγχνίσθητι καὶ ἐπ ἐμοὶ τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ, προσερχομένῳ σοι καὶ ἁπτομένῳ σου. Καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἐβδελύξω τὸ ῥυπαρὸν ἐκείνης στόμα καὶ ἐναγὲς καταφιλοῦν σε, μηδὲ ἐμοῦ βδελύξῃ τὸ ῥυπαρώτερον ἐκείνης στόμα καὶ ἐναγέστερον, μηδὲ τὰ ἔμμυσα καὶ ἀκάθαρτά μου χείλη καὶ βέβηλα, καὶ τὴν ἀκαθαρτοτέραν μου γλῶσσαν. Ἀλλὰ γενέσθω μοι ὁ ἄνθραξ τοῦ παναγίου σου Σώματος καὶ τοῦ τιμίου σου Αἵματος εἰς ἁγιασμὸν καὶ φωτισμὸν καὶ ῥῶσιν τῆς ταπεινῆς μου ψυχῆς καὶ τοῦ σώματος εἰς κουφισμὸν τοῦ βάρους τῶν πολλῶν μου πλημμελημάτων εἰς φυλακτήριον πάσης διαβολικῆς ἐνεργείας εἰς ἀποτροπὴν καὶ ἐμπόδιον τῆς φαύλης μου καὶ πονηρᾶς συνηθείας εἰς ἀπονέκρωσιν τῶν παθῶν εἰς περιποίησιν τῶν ἐντολῶν σου εἰς προσθήκην τῆς θείας σου χάριτος καὶ τῆς σῆς βασιλείας οἰκείωσιν. Οὐ γὰρ ὡς καταφρονῶν προσέρχομαί σοι, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, ἀλλ ὡς θαῤῥῶν τῇ ἀφάτῳ σου ἀγαθότητι, καὶ ἵνα μή, ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀφιστάμενος τῆς κοινωνίας σου, θηριάλωτος ὑπὸ τοῦ νοητοῦ λύκου γένωμαι. Διὸ δέομαί σου, ὡς μόνος ὢν ἅγιος, Δέσποτα, ἁγίασὸν μου τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τὸ σῶμα, τὸν νοῦν καὶ τὴν καρδίαν, τοὺς νεφροὺς καὶ τὰ σπλάγχνα, καὶ ὅλον με ἀνακαίνισον καὶ ῥίζωσον τὸν φόβον σου ἐν τοῖς μέλεσί μου, καὶ τὸν ἁγιασμόν σου ἀνεξάλειπτον ἀπ ἐμοῦ ποίησον. Καὶ γενοῦ μοι βοηθὸς καὶ ἀντιλήπτωρ, κυβερνῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ τὴν ζωήν μου, καταξιῶν με καὶ τῆς ἐκ τῶν δεξιῶν σου παραστάσεως μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων σου εὐχαῖς καὶ πρεσβείαις τῆς παναχράντου σου Μητρός, τῶν ἀΰλων σου λειτουργῶν καὶ ἀχράντων Δυνάμεων καὶ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων, τῶν ἀπ αἰῶνος σοι εὐαρεστησάντων. Ἀμήν. ΕΥΧΗ Δ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου Οὔκ εἰμι ἱκανός, Δέσποτα Κύριε, ἵνα εἰσέλθῃς ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην τῆς ψυχῆς μου ἀλλ ἐπειδὴ βούλει σύ, ὡς φιλάνθρωπος, οἰκεῖν ἐν ἐμοί, θαῤῥῶν προσέρχομαι. Κελεύεις, ἀναπετάσω τὰς πύλας, ἃς σὺ μόνος ἐδημιούργησας, καὶ εἰσέρχῃ μετὰ φιλανθρωπίας, ὡς πέφυκας εἰσέρχῃ καὶ φωτίζεις τὸν ἐσκοτισμένον μου λογισμόν. Πιστεύω ὡς τοῦτο ποιήσεις οὐ γὰρ Πόρνην προσελθοῦσὰν σοι μετὰ δακρύων ἀπέφυγες, οὐδὲ Τελώνην ἀπεβάλου μετανοήσαντα, οὐδὲ 20

21 The Divine Liturgy commandments; for communion with the Holy Spirit; as a provision for eternal life; and as an acceptable defense at Your dread Tribunal, not unto judgment nor unto condemnation. THIRD PRAYER of Saint John Chrysostom Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy or sufficient that You should come under the roof of the house of my soul, for all is desolate and fallen, and You do not have within me a place fit to lay Your head. But even as from on high You humbled Yourself for our sake, so now conform Yourself to my humility. And as You consented to lie in a cave and in a manger of irrational beasts, so also consent to lie in the manger of my irrational soul and to enter my defiled body. And as You did not disdain to enter and dine with sinners in the house of Simon the Leper, so consent also to enter the house of my humble soul which is leprous and sinful. And as You did not reject the woman who was a harlot and a sinner like me, when she approached and touched You, so also be compassionate with me, the sinner, as I approach and touch You, and let the live coal of Your most-holy Body and precious Blood be for the sanctification, and enlightenment, and strengthening of my humble soul and body; for a relief from the burden of my many sins; for a protection from all diabolical practices; for a restraint and a check on my evil and wicked way of life; for the mortification of passions; for the keeping of Your commandments; for an increase of Your divine grace; and for the advancement of Your Kingdom. For it is not as one insolent and presumptuous that I draw near to You, O Christ my God, but as one taking courage from Your ineffable goodness, so that having long abstained from Your communion I may not become a prey to the noetic wolf. Therefore, I pray to You, O Lord, Who alone are holy: sanctify my soul and body, my mind and heart, my emotions and affections, and wholly renew me. Root in my members the fear of You, and make Your sanctification indelible within me. Be also my Helper and Defender, guide my life in peace, and make me worthy to stand on Your right hand with Your Saints; through the prayers and intercessions of Your all-pure Mother, of Your ministering Angels, of the immaculate Powers, and of all the Saints who have been well-pleasing to You. Amen. FOURTH PRAYER of Saint John Chrysostom I am not worthy, O Lord and Master, that You should enter under the roof of my soul; but since You, in Your love for men, do will to dwell in me, I take courage and I draw near. You command: I will open wide the gates which You alone created, that You may enter with love as is Your nature, that You may enter and enlighten my darkened thought. I believe that You will do this, for You did not banish the harlot who approached You with tears, nor did You 21

22 Η Θεία Λειτουργία Λῃστὴν ἐπιγνόντα τὴν βασιλείαν σου ἀπεδίωξας, οὐδὲ Διώκτην μετανοήσαντα κατέλιπες, ὃ ἦν ἀλλὰ τοὺς ὑπὸ τῆς μετανοίας προσαχθέντας, ἅπαντας ἐν τῷ χορῷ τῶν σῶν φίλων κατέταξας, ὁ μόνος ὑπάρχων εὐλογημένος πάντοτε, νῦν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀπεράντους αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν. ΕΥΧΗ Ε Ἰωάννου τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεός μου, ἄνες, ἄφες, ἱλάσθητι καὶ συγχώρησὸν μοι, τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ καὶ ἀχρείῳ καὶ ἀναξίῳ δούλῳ σου, τὰ πταίσματα καὶ πλημμελήματα καὶ παραπτώματά μου, ὅσα σοι ἐκ νεότητός μου μέχρι τῆς παρούσης ἡμέρας καὶ ὥρας ἥμαρτον, εἴτε ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἀγνοίᾳ, εἴτε ἐν λόγοις ἢ ἔργοις ἢ ἐνθυμήμασιν ἢ διανοήμασι καὶ ἐπιτηδεύμασι, καὶ πάσαις μου ταῖς αἰσθήσεσι. Καὶ τῇ πρεσβείᾳ τῆς ἀσπόρως κυησάσης σε παναχράντου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας τῆς Μητρός σου, τῆς μόνης ἀκαταισχύντου ἐλπίδος καὶ προστασίας καὶ σωτηρίας μου, καταξίωσόν με ἀκατακρίτως μεταλαβεῖν τῶν ἀχράντων καὶ ἀθανάτων καὶ ζωοποιῶν καὶ φρικτῶν Μυστηρίων σου, εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον εἰς ἁγιασμὸν καὶ φωτισμὸν καὶ ῥώμην καὶ ἴασιν καὶ ὑγείαν ψυχῆς τε καὶ σώματος καὶ εἰς ἐξάλειψιν καὶ παντελῆ ἀφανισμὸν τῶν πονηρῶν μου λογισμῶν καὶ ἐνθυμήσεων καὶ προλήψεων καὶ νυκτερινῶν φαντασιῶν τῶν σκοτεινῶν καὶ πονηρῶν πνευμάτων. Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα καὶ ἡ τιμὴ καὶ ἡ προσκύνησις, σὺν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. ΕΥΧΗ Ϛ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Δαμασκηνοῦ Δέσποτα Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ μόνος ἔχων ἐξουσίαν ἀνθρώποις ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας, ὡς ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος, πάριδέ μου πάντα τὰ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἀγνοίᾳ πταίσματα, καὶ ἀξίωσόν με ἀκατακρίτως μεταλαβεῖν τῶν θείων καὶ ἐνδόξων καὶ ἀχράντων καὶ ζωοποιῶν σου Μυστηρίων, μὴ εἰς κόλασιν, μὴ εἰς προσθήκην ἁμαρτιῶν, ἀλλ εἰς καθαρισμὸν καὶ ἁγιασμὸν καὶ ἀῤῥαβῶνα τῆς μελλούσης ζωῆς καὶ βασιλείας εἰς τεῖχος καὶ βοήθειαν καὶ ἀνατροπὴν τῶν ἐναντίων καὶ εἰς ἐξάλειψιν τῶν πολλῶν μου πλημμελημάτων. Σὺ γὰρ εἶ Θεὸς ἐλέους καὶ οἰκτιρμῶν καὶ φιλανθρωπίας, καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, σὺν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. ΕΥΧΗ Ζ Συμεὼν τοῦ Νέου Θεολόγου Ἀπὸ ῥυπαρῶν χειλέων, ἀπὸ βδελυρᾶς καρδίας, ἀπὸ ἀκαθάρτου γλώττης, ἐκ ψυχῆς ἐῤῥυπωμένης, δέξαι δέησιν, Χριστέ μου καὶ μὴ παρωσάμενός μου, μὴ τοὺς λόγους, μὴ τοὺς τρόπους, μηδὲ τὴν ἀναισχυντίαν, δός μοι παῤῥησίᾳ λέγειν, ἃ βεβούλευμαι, Χριστέ μου, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ δίδαξόν με, τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν καὶ λέγειν. Ἥμαρτον ὑπὲρ τὴν Πόρνην ἥ, μαθοῦσα ποῦ κατάγεις, μύρον ἐξωνησαμένη, ἦλθε τολμηρῶς ἀλεῖψαι, σοῦ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου, τοῦ Δεσπότου καὶ Θεοῦ μου. Ὡς ἐκείνην οὐκ ἀπώσω, 22

23 The Divine Liturgy reject the Publican who repented, nor did You drive away the thief who acknowledged Your Kingdom, nor did You abandon the repentant persecutor Paul as he was; but You established all who had been brought to You by repentance in the company of Your friends, O You Who alone are blessed always, now and to endless ages. Amen. FIFTH PRAYER of Saint John Chrysostom Lord Jesus Christ my God, loose, remit, forgive, absolve, and pardon the sins, offenses and transgressions which I, Your sinful, useless and unworthy servant have committed from my youth, up to the present day and hour, whether in knowledge or in ignorance, whether by words or in deeds, whether in my intentions or in my thoughts, and whether by habit or through any of my senses. And through the intercession of her who conceived You without seed, the all-pure and ever-virgin Mary Your Mother, my only sure hope and protection and salvation, make me worthy to receive without condemnation Your pure, immortal, life-giving and fearful Mysteries, unto forgiveness of sins and for eternal life; for sanctification, and enlightenment, and strength, and healing, and health of soul and body; and for the blotting out and complete destruction of my evil reasonings, and intentions, and prejudices, and the nocturnal fantasies of dark evil spirits. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and the honor, and the worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. SIXTH PRAYER of Saint John of Damascus Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who alone have authority to forgive men their sins, in Your goodness and love for men overlook all my offenses whether committed with knowledge or in ignorance, and make me worthy to receive without condemnation Your divine, glorious, spotless, and life-giving Mysteries, not for punishment, nor for an increase of sins, but for purification and sanctification, and as a pledge of the life and Kingdom to come, as a protection and help, for the destruction of enemies, and for the blotting out of my many transgressions. For You are a God of mercy and compassion and love for men, and to You we send up the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. SEVENTH PRAYER of Saint Symeon the New Theologian From lips tainted and defiled, from a heart unclean and loathsome, from an unclean tongue, and out of a polluted soul: receive my prayer, O my Christ. Do not reject me, nor my words, nor my ways, nor even my shamelessness, but give me courage to say what I desire, O my Christ; and even more, teach me what to do and what to say. I have sinned more than the harlot who, on learning where You were lodging, bought myrrh and dared to come and anoint Your feet, my Christ, my Lord and my God. As You did not repulse her when 23

24 Η Θεία Λειτουργία προσελθοῦσαν ἐκ καρδίας, μηδ ἐμὲ βδελύξῃ, Λόγε, σοὺς δὲ πάρασχέ μοι πόδας καὶ κρατῆσαι καὶ φιλῆσαι, καὶ τῷ ῥείθρῳ τῶν δακρύων, ὡς πολυτιμήτῳ μύρῳ, τούτους τολμηρῶς ἀλεῖψαι. Πλῦνόν με τοῖς δάκρυσί μου, κάθαρον αὐτοῖς με, Λόγε, ἄφες καὶ τὰ πταίσματά μου, καὶ συγγνώμην πάρασχέ μοι. Οἶδας τῶν κακῶν τὸ πλῆθος, οἶδας καὶ τὰ τραύματά μου καὶ τοὺς μώλωπας ὁρᾷς μου ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν πίστιν οἶδας καὶ τὴν προθυμίαν βλέπεις καὶ τοὺς στεναγμοὺς ἀκούεις. Οὐ λανθάνει σε, Θεέ μου, ποιητά μου, λυτρωτά μου, οὐδὲ σταλαγμὸς δακρύων, οὐδὲ σταλαγμοῦ τι μέρος. Τὸ μὲν ἀκατέργαστόν μου ἔγνωσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ἐπὶ τὸ βιβλίον δέ σου, καὶ τὰ μήπω πεπραγμένα, γεγραμμένα σοι τυγχάνει. Ἴδε τὴν ταπείνωσίν μου, ἴδε μου τὸν κόπον, ὅσος! καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας πάσας ἄφες μοι, Θεὲ τῶν ὅλων,ἵνα καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ, περιτρόμῳ διανοίᾳ καὶ ψυχῇ συντετριμμένῃ, τῶν ἀχράντων σου μετάσχω καὶ πανάγνων μυστηρίων, οἷς ζωοῦται καὶ θεοῦται πᾶς ὁ τρώγων σε καὶ πίνων ἐξ εἰλικρινοῦς καρδίας. Σὺ γὰρ εἶπας, Δέσποτά μου Πᾶς ὁ τρώγων μου τὴν Σάρκα, πίνων δέ μου καὶ τὸ Αἷμα, ἐν ἐμοὶ μὲν οὗτος μένει, ἐν αὐτῷ δ ἐγὼ τυγχάνω. Ἀληθὴς ὁ λόγος πάντως τοῦ Δεσπότου καὶ Θεοῦ μου. Τῶν γὰρ θείων ὁ μετέχων καὶ θεοποιῶν χαρίτων, οὔμενουν, οὐκ ἔστι μόνος, ἀλλὰ μετὰ σοῦ, Χριστέ μου, τοῦ φωτὸς τοῦ τρισηλίου, τοῦ φωτίζοντος τὸν κόσμον. Ἵνα γοῦν μὴ μόνος μένω δίχα σου τοῦ Ζωοδότου, τῆς πνοῆς μου, τῆς ζωῆς μου, τοῦ ἀγαλλιάματός μου, τῆς τοῦ κόσμου σωτηρίας, διὰ τοῦτό σοι προσῆλθον, ὡς ὁρᾷς μετὰ δακρύων καὶ ψυχῆς συντετριμμένης, λύτρον τῶν ἐμῶν πταισμάτων ἱκετεύων τοῦ λαβεῖν με, καὶ τῶν σῶν ζωοπαρόχων καὶ ἀμέμπτων μυστηρίων μετασχεῖν ἀκατακρίτως, ἵνα μείνῃς, καθὼς εἶπας, μετ ἐμοῦ τοῦ τρισαθλίου ἵνα μή, χωρὶς εὑρών με τῆς σῆς χάριτος, ὁ πλάνος, ἀφαρπάσῃ με δολίως, καὶ πλανήσας ἀπαγάγῃ τῶν θεοποιῶν σου λόγων. Διὰ τοῦτό σοι προσπίπτω καὶ θερμῶς ἀναβοῶ σοι Ὡς τὸν Ἄσωτον ἐδέξω, καὶ τὴν Πόρνην προσελθοῦσαν, οὕτω δέξαι με τὸν πόρνον καὶ τὸν ἄσωτον, Οἰκτίρμον, ἐν ψυχῇ συντετριμμένῃ νῦν με προσερχόμενόν σοι. Οἶδα, Σῶτερ, ὅτι ἄλλος, ὡς ἐγώ, οὐκ ἔπταισέ σοι οὐδὲ ἔπραξε τὰς πράξεις,ἃς ἐγὼ κατειργασάμην. Ἀλλὰ τοῦτο πάλιν οἶδα, ὡς οὐ μέγεθος πταισμάτων, οὐχ ἁμαρτημάτων πλῆθος, ὑπερβαίνει τοῦ Θεοῦ μου τὴν πολλὴν μακροθυμίαν, καὶ φιλανθρωπίαν ἄκραν ἀλλ ἐλαίῳ συμπαθείας, τοὺς θερμῶς μετανοοῦντας, καὶ καθαίρεις καὶ λαμπρύνεις καὶ φωτὸς ποιεῖς μετόχους, κοινωνοὺς Θεότητός σου ἐργαζόμενος ἀφθόνως καί, τὸ ξένον καὶ ἀγγέλοις καὶ ἀνθρώπων διανοίαις, ὁμιλεῖς αὐτοῖς πολλάκις, ὥσπερ φίλοις σου γνησίοις. Ταῦτα τολμηρὸν ποιεῖ με, ταῦτά με πτεροῖ, Χριστέ μου καὶ θαῤῥῶν ταῖς σαῖς πλουσίαις πρὸς ἡμᾶς εὐεργεσίαις, χαίρων τε καὶ τρέμων ἅμα, τοῦ πυρὸς μεταλαμβάνω, χόρτος ὢν καὶ ξένον θαῦμα! δροσιζόμενος ἀφράστως ὡσπεροῦν ἡ βάτος πάλαι, ἡ ἀφλέκτως καιομένη. Τοίνυν εὐχαρίστῳ γνώμῃ, εὐχαρίστῳ δὲ καρδίᾳ, εὐχαρίστοις μέλεσί μου, τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ τῆς σαρκός μου προσκυνῶ καὶ μεγαλύνω καὶ δοξάζω σε, Θεέ μου, ὡς εὐλογημένον ὄντα νῦν τε καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Εὐχὴ Η Συμεὼν τοῦ Μεταφραστοῦ Ὁ μόνος καθαρὸς καὶ ἀκήρατος Κύριος, ὁ δι οἶκτον φιλανθρωπίας ἀνεκδιήγητον τὸ ἡμέτερον ὅλον προσλαβόμενος φύραμα, ἐκ τῶν ἁγνῶν καὶ 24

25 The Divine Liturgy she drew near in her heart, neither, O word, reject me, but grant that I may clasp and kiss Your feet, and dare to anoint them with a flood of tears as with most-precious myrrh. Wash me with my tears and purify me with them, O Word. Forgive my sins and grant me pardon. You know the multitude of my evil-doings, You also know my wounds, and You see my bruises. But You also know my faith, and You behold my willingness, and You hear my sighs. Nothing escapes You, my God, my Maker, my Redeemer, not even a tear-drop, nor part of a drop. Your eyes know what I have not achieved, and in Your book things not yet done are written by You. See my depression, and see how great is my trouble: take from me all my sins, O God of all, that with a clean heart, a trembling mind, and a contrite spirit I may partake of Your pure and all-holy Mysteries by which all who with sincerity of heart eat and drink You are quickened and deified. For You, my Lord, have said: "Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in Him;" wholly true is the word of my Lord and God. For whoever partakes of Your divine and deifying Gifts certainly is not alone, but is with You, my Christ, the Light of the Triune Sun Which illumines the world. That I may not remain alone without You, the Giver of Life, my Breath, my Life, my Joy, the Salvation of the world, I have therefore drawn near to You, as You see, with tears and with a contrite spirit. Ransom of my offenses, I beseech You to receive me, that I may partake without condemnation of Your life-giving and perfect Mysteries, and that You may remain as You have said with me, thrice-wretched as I am, lest the tempter find me without Your grace and craftily seize me and, having deceived me, seduce me from Your deifying words. Therefore I fall at Your feet and fervently cry to You: as You received the prodigal and the harlot who drew near to You, so also have compassion and receive me, the profligate and the prodigal, as I now draw near to You with a contrite spirit. I know, O Savior, that no other has sinned against You as I have, nor has done the deeds that I have committed. But I also know this: that neither the greatness of my offenses, nor the multitude of my sins, surpasses the great patience of my God, and His extreme love for men. Despite our offenses, You purify and enlighten with the oil of compassion those who fervently repent, and You make them children of the light and sharers of Your divine nature. And You act most generously, for what is strange to Angels and to the minds of men You often tell to the repentant as to Your true friends.these things make me bold, my Christ, these things give me wings, and I take courage from the wealth of Your goodness to us. With rejoicing, yet with trembling, I who am but straw partake of Fire and, strange wonder., I am ineffably bedewed, like the bush of old which burnt without being consumed.wherefore with thankful mind, and with thankful heart, and with thankfulness in all the members of my soul and body, I worship and magnify and glorify You, my God, for You are blessed, now and ever, to all ages. EIGHTH PRAYER of Saint Symeon Metafrastes (Saint Symeon the Translator) Lord, Who alone are pure and incorrupt, Who through the ineffable compassion of Your love for mankind assumed our whole nature through the 25