The Divine Liturgy (3 of 5)

III. The Liturgy of the Faithful

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

The First Prayer of the Faithful

The Priest, secretly.

We give thanks unto thee, O Lord God of the Powers, who hast graciously vouchsafed unto us to stand now before thy holy Altar, and fall down in adoration before thy compassion toward our sins, and the errors of the people. Accept our supplications, O God; make us worthy to offer unto thee prayers and supplications, and unbloody sacrifices for all thy people. And enable us, whom thou hast appointed to this thy ministry, by the power of thy Holy Spirit, at all times, and in every place, blamelessly, without offence, and in the witness of a pure conscience, to call upon thee; that hearing us thou mayest show mercy upon us, according to the plenitude of thy goodness.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

Thou, O Lord, hast shown us this great mystery of salvation. Thou hast graciously permitted us, thy humble and unworthy servants, to be the ministrants of thy holy Altar. Do thou enable us with the power of thy Holy Spirit for this ministry; that, standing uncondemned before thy holy glory, we may offer unto thee an oblation of praise. For thou art he who worketh all things in all men. Grant, therefore, O Lord, that our sacrifice for our own sins, and for the errors of thy people, may be acceptable and well-pleasing in thy sight.]

Exclamation.

Priest. For unto thee are due all honour, glory and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Deacon. Again, yet again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

When the Priest serveth without a Deacon, the following part of this Litany is omitted, as far as: Succour us, save us.

For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God's holy Churches, and for the union of them all, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For this holy Temple, and for those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered therein, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

The Second Prayer of the Faithful

The Priest, secretly.

Again and oftentimes we fall down before thee, and beseech thee, O Good One who lovest mankind, that, looking down upon our petition, thou wilt purify both our souls and bodies from all defilement of the flesh and of the Spirit; and grant that in blamelessness and without condemnation we may stand here before thy holy Altar. Grant also, O God, unto us and unto those who here with us make their supplications unto thee, prosperity of life and increase of faith, and of spiritual understanding. Grant that they may serve thee continually with love and fear, and that they may partake of thy Holy Mysteries in blamelessness of heart and without condemnation, and be deemed worthy of thy heavenly kingdom.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

O God, who in mercy and bounties hast visited our lowliness; who hast set us, thy humble, and sinful, and unworthy servants before thy holy glory, to serve thy holy Altar: Strengthen us by the power of thy Holy Spirit for this ministry, and grant us utterance, in the opening of our lips, to invoke the grace of thy Holy Spirit upon the Gifts which we are about to set forth.]

Deacon. Wisdom!

Then shall the Deacon enter through the north door.

Exclamation.

Priest. That being kept always by thy might, we may ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Cherubimic Hymn

Choir. Let us, the Cherubim mystically representing, and unto the Life-giving Trinity the thrice-holy chant intoning, all cares terrestrial now lay aside.

(Here the Great Entrance, with the Holy Gifts, is made. And after it the Hymn is finished:)

That we may raise on high the King of all, like conqueror on shield and spears, by the Angelic Hosts invisibly up-borne.

The Prayer of the Cherubimic Hymn

The Priest, secretly.

No one who is in bondage unto carnal desires and sensual pleasures is worthy to approach, or to come near, or to serve thee, O King of Glory: For to serve thee is a great and terrible thing even to the Heavenly Powers. Nevertheless, through thine unutterable and boundless love toward mankind thou didst become man, yet without change, and without transmutation, and art become our High Priest, and hast committed unto us the ministry of this unbloody Sacrifice, in that thou art Lord over all. For thou alone, O Lord our God, rulest over those in heaven and on earth; who art borne on the throne of the Cherubim; who art Lord of the Seraphim and King over Israel; who alone art holy and restest in the Saints. Therefore do I now make my entreaty unto thee, who alone art good and art ready to listen: Look down upon me, a sinner, and thine unprofitable servant, and cleanse my soul and my heart from an evil conscience; and by the might of thy Holy Spirit enable me, who am endued with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this thy holy Altar, and perform the sacred Mystery of thy Holy and Pure Body and Precious Blood. For unto thee do I draw near, and bowing my neck I implore thee: turn not thy face from me, neither cast me out from among thy children; but graciously vouchsafe that I, a sinner and thine unworthy servant, may offer unto thee these Holy Gifts. For it is thou who offerest and art offered, who receivest and art thyself received, O Christ our God: and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thy Father, who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

(At a Pontifical Service the Bishop washeth his hands.) Then the Deacon taketh the censer, and having received the Priest's blessing, he censeth the Holy Altar round about, and the Sanctuary, saying, secretly, to himself, Psalm li.: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great goodness. Then the Priest and Deacon stand before the Altar, and make three reverences, saying:

O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner.

The Priest, elevating his hands, saith in a low voice: Let us, the Cherubim mystically representing . . . now lay aside. (Thrice.) (See page 94.) Then each finisheth the Hymn: That we may raise on high . . . And they kiss the Altar, and go to the Chapel of Oblation, which the Priest censeth.

If it be a Pontifical Service, the Bishop taketh out the particles at the Table of Oblation, making mention of the living, and the dead, and his fellow-clergy.

Then shall the Deacon say to the Priest:

Take up, Master.

And the Priest, taking the air (vózdukh), shall lay it on the Deacon's left shoulder, and shall say:

Lift up your hands unto the Holy Things, and bless the Lord.

Then taking the holy paten (dískos), in like manner, he shall set it on the head of the Deacon, with all reverence, the Deacon holding the censer the while on one of his fingers. But the Priest himself shall take in his hand the holy chalice (potír), and they shall go forth through the north door, preceded by a taper, and shall stand facing the People. (But the Bishop remaineth in the Sanctuary.)

The Great Entrance (following the Russian Service Book)

Deacon. Our most God-fearing Sovereign, N., the Emperor of All the Russias, may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Priest. And all the Reigning House (and the Ruler of the country), may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Deacon. The most Holy Synod of Russia, and our Archbishop, N., may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Priest. All you Orthodox Christians, may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Then the Choir finisheth the Cherubimic Hymn:

That we may raise on high the King of all, like conqueror on shield and spears, by the Angelic Hosts invisibly upborne.

Then the Deacon shall enter in through the Holy Door, and shall take his stand on the right, and shall say to the Priest, as the latter entereth, secretly:

May the Lord God remember thy priesthood in his kingdom.

And the Priest shall say to him:

May the Lord God remember thy diaconate in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

If it be a Pontifical Service, the Bishop now cometh forward in the Sanctuary, to the Holy Door, and taketh the holy paten from the Deacon.

(Deacon. Thy Bishopric may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.)

And exclaimeth:

Our most God-fearing Sovereign, N., the Emperor of All the Russias, and all the Reigning House, may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Bishop, having placed the paten on the Altar, censeth the chalice, and taketh it from the Priest.

(Priest. Thy Bishopric may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. — Bishop. Thy priesthood may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.)

Bishop. The Most Holy Governing Synod may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

The right Reverend Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Archbishops, Bishops, and all orders of the clergy and of monks may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

The Faithful Governing Councils, and Commanders of the Army, Chiefs of Cities, and the Christ-loving Army and the Navy (and the Ruler of the land, if in a foreign country, N.), may the Lord God remember in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And all Clergy enter the Sanctuary.

The Bishop shall set the holy chalice upon the Holy Altar, saying: (and the Priest, at a Liturgy without a Bishop, shall set the holy chalice upon the Holy Altar, to the right; taking the holy paten from the head of the Deacon, he shall place it also upon the Holy Altar, to the left, saying, secretly:)

Noble Joseph, when he had taken thy pure Body from the tree, did wrap it in fine linen and spices, and sorrowing did lay it in a new sepulchre.

In the Grave with the body, but in Hell with the soul, in that thou art God; in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit, wast thou, O Christ, filling all things, in that thou art infinite.

How life-giving, how than Paradise more fair and, of a truth, more splendid than any king's chamber, O Christ, is shown forth thy tomb, the fountain of our resurrection.

Then shall he take the veils from the holy paten and the holy chalice, and shall lay them on one side of the Holy Altar; and having taken the air from the Deacon's shoulder, and censed it, he shall cover therewith the Holy Gifts, and shall say:

Noble Joseph, when he had taken thy pure Body from the tree, did wrap it in fine linen and spices, and sorrowing did lay it in a new sepulchre.

Then taking the censer from the hands of the Deacon, he shall thrice cense the Holy Gifts, saying:

Exalt thou Zion in thy favour, O Lord, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with sacrifices and burnt-offerings; then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Then he shall give the censer to the Deacon, and shall bow his head, saying:

Remember me, O brother, and fellow-minister.

And the Deacon shall say to him:

May the Lord God remember thy priesthood in his kingdom.

The Deacon also, bowing his head, and holding his stole with three fingers of his right hand, shall say to the Priest:

Pray for me, holy Master.

If a Bishop be the celebrant, he saith to those who serve with him:

Brethren, fellow-servitors, Abbots and Priests, pray for me.

And they all answer:

The Priest (or all the Clergy). May the Holy Spirit come upon thee, and the power of the Most High overshadow thee.

Deacon. May the Holy Spirit himself minister together with us, and with you, all the days of our life. And again: Pray for me, holy Master.

Bishop. May the Lord direct your steps.

Clergy. Remember us, holy Master.

Bishop or Priest. May the Lord God remember you (thee) in his kingdom always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Here Priests are ordained.

Deacon. Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For these Holy Elements now spread forth, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For this holy Temple, and for all those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered therein, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

A day all-perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us beseech of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord.

An Angel of Peace, the faithful guide and guardian both of our souls and bodies, let us beseech of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord.

The pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us beseech of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord.

All things which are profitable to our souls and bodies, and peace to the world, let us beseech of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord.

That we may pass the residue of our life in peace and penitence, let us beseech of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord.

A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful; and a good defence before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us beseech of the Lord.

Choir. Grant it, O Lord.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

The Bishop blesseth with the díkiri and tríkiri, while the Choir chanteth: Eis pollá éti, Déspota.

The Bishop, or Priest, secretly.

O Lord God Almighty, who alone art holy; who acceptest the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon thee with their whole heart: Accept also the prayer of us sinners, and bear it to thy holy Altar; and enable us to offer unto thee gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the errors which thy people have committed through ignorance. And graciously grant us to obtain grace in thy sight, that our sacrifice may be acceptable unto thee; and that the good spirit of thy grace may rest upon us, and upon these Holy Gifts, now offered up unto thee, and upon all thy people.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

O Lord our God, who hast created us, and hast brought us into this life; who hast shown us the way of salvation, graciously bestowing upon us the revelation of heavenly Mysteries: Thou art he who hath appointed us to this ministry in the power of thy Holy Spirit. Graciously grant us, therefore, O Lord, to be servitors of thy new Covenant, ministers of thy Holy Mysteries. Accept us who draw near to thy holy Altar, according to the plenitude of thy mercy, that we may be worthy to offer unto thee this reasonable and unbloody sacrifice for our own sins, and for the errors of thy people: which do thou accept upon thy holy, and heavenly, and supersensual Altar for the savour of a sweet odour. Send down upon us the grace of thy Holy Spirit. Look upon us, O God, and behold this our service, and accept it as thou didst accept the gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the burnt-offerings of Abraham, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron, the peace-offerings of Samuel. Even as thou didst accept at the hands of the holy Apostles this true ministry, so also do thou in thy beneficence, O Lord, accept from the hands of us sinners these gifts; that having been accounted worthy blamelessly to minister at thy holy Altar, we may receive the recompense of wise and faithful stewards, in the terrible day of thy just requiting.]

Exclamation.

Through the bounties of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art glorified, together with the most holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Peace be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Deacon. Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess:

Choir. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in Essence and undivided.

Deacon. The Doors! The Doors! Wisdom! Let us attend.

The Symbol of the Faith

Choir. I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made; Being of one Essence with the Father; By whom all things were made; Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

While the Creed is sung, the Priest shall do reverence, and shall say privately, within himself:

I will love thee, O Lord my strength; the Lord is my firm foundation, and my deliverer. (Thrice.)

And he shall kiss the Holy Gifts, they being still covered; first the top of the holy paten, and likewise the top of the holy chalice, and the edge of the Holy Altar before him. If there be several Priests, they shall both kiss all the Holy Things, and each other on the shoulder.

And if a Bishop be the celebrant, he saith, secretly, as he kisseth the paten: O Holy God; and the holy chalice: O Holy Mighty; and the Holy Altar: O Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us.

Then the Bishop or Priest shall say:

Christ is in the midst of us.

And having been kissed on the shoulder and on the hand, he is answered:

He is and shall be.

The Priest shall fan the Holy Elements with the air. If several Priests take part in the service, they shall all fan the Holy Elements with the air, in like manner, and shall repeat, as do the People also, the Symbol of the Faith.

Then the Priest shall take the air from the Holy Elements, and having kissed it, he shall lay it aside.

Deacon (or Priest). Let us stand aright, let us stand with fear, that we may offer in peace the Holy Oblation.

Choir. A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.

Priest. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

If a Bishop celebrateth, as he saith this he turneth to the People, and blesseth with the díkiri and the tríkiri.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

Priest (pointing upward). Lift up your hearts.

Choir. We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest. Let us give thanks unto the Lord.

Choir. Meet and right is it that we should adore the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in Essence and undivided.

The (Bishop) Priest shall offer this Prayer, secretly.

It is meet and right that we should laud thee, bless thee, praise thee, give thanks unto thee, and adore thee in all places of thy dominion: for thou art God ineffable, incomprehensible, invisible, inconceivable; thou art from everlasting and art changeless, thou, and thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Holy Spirit. Thou from nothingness hast called us into being; and when we had fallen away from thee, thou didst raise us up again; and thou hast not ceased to do all things until thou hadst brought us back to heaven, and hadst endowed us with thy kingdom which is to come. For all which things we give thanks unto thee, and thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Holy Spirit; for all the things whereof we know, and whereof we know not; for all thy benefits bestowed upon us, both manifest and unseen. And we render thanks unto thee for this ministry which thou dost deign to accept at our hands, although before thee stand thousands of Archangels and myriads of Angels, with the Cherubim, and Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, who soar aloft, borne on their pinions.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used, this Prayer:

O thou who in verity existest, Master, Lord God, Father Almighty adorable: Meet is it, in truth, and just and befitting the majesty of thy holiness, that we should magnify thee, praise thee, bless thee, adore thee, give thanks unto thee and glorify thee, the only God which verily existeth, and offer unto thee, with contrite heart and humbleness of spirit, this our reasonable service: for it is thou who hast graciously bestowed upon us the knowledge of thy truth. And who hath power enough to express thy mighty acts, to make all thy praises to be heard, or to utter forth all thy wonders at all times, O Master? O Sovereign Master of all things, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all created things both visible and invisible; who sittest on the throne of glory and beholdest the depths; who art from everlasting, invisible, inscrutable, ineffable, immutable, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and the Saviour, our hope, who is the image of thy goodness, the seal of equal type, in himself showing forth thee, the Father, the living Word, the true God, the Wisdom before all the ages, the Life, the Sanctification, the Might, and the true Light, through whom, also, the Holy Spirit was manifested; the Spirit of Truth, the Gift of Adoption, the Earnest of an inheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal good things, the life-giving Power, the Fountain of holiness; by whom enabled every creature endowed with reason and intelligence doth serve thee, and evermore doth send up unto thee an everlasting tribute of praise; for all things are thy servants. For Angels and Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, and the many-eyed Cherubim do laud thee. Before thee, round about, stand the Seraphim, having each six wings; for with twain do they cover their faces, and with twain their feet, and with twain do they fly, crying one to another continually, with never-ceasing praises.]

Exclamation.

Priest. Singing the triumphant song, crying, calling aloud, and saying:

Choir. Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Hosanna in the highest: Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Deacon now taking the holy star-cover from the holy paten, shall make the sign of the cross above it, and shall kiss it, and lay it on one side. He shall then go and stand on the right of the Holy Altar.

The Priest prayeth, secretly.

And we also, O Lord who lovest mankind, in company with these blessed Powers do cry aloud and say: Holy art thou, and all-holy thou, and thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Holy Spirit; holy and all-holy and majestic is thy glory. Who hast so loved thy world that thou gavest thine Only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but should have everlasting life; who, when he had come and had performed all the dispensation for us, in the night in which he was given up, — in the which, rather, he did give himself for the life of the world, — took bread in his holy and pure and sinless hands; and when he had given thanks, and blessed it, and so sanctified it, he gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying:

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used, this Prayer:

With these blessed Powers, O Master who lovest mankind, we sinners also do cry aloud and say: Holy art thou, of a truth, and all-holy, and there are no bounds to the majesty of thy holiness, and just art thou in all thy works; for in righteousness and true judgment hast thou ordered all things for us. When thou hadst created man, and hadst fashioned him from the dust of the earth, and hadst honoured him with thine own image, O God, thou didst set him in the midst of a Paradise of plenty, promising him life eternal and the enjoyment of everlasting good things in keeping thy commandments.

But when he disobeyed thee, the true God, who had created him, and was led astray by the guile of the serpent, and rendered subject to death through his own transgressions, thou didst banish him, in thy righteous judgment, O God, from Paradise into this present world, and didst turn him again to the earth from which he was taken, providing for him the salvation of regeneration, which is in thy Christ himself. For thou didst not turn thyself away forever from thy creature, whom thou hadst made, O Good One, neither didst thou forget the work of thy hands; but thou didst visit him in divers manners, through the tender compassion of thy mercy. Thou didst send forth Prophets; thou didst perform mighty works by thy Saints who, in every generation, were well-pleasing unto thee; thou didst speak to us by the mouths of thy servants the Prophets, who foretold unto us the salvation which was to come; thou didst give us the Law to aid us; thou didst appoint guardian Angels. And when the fulness of time was come, thou didst speak unto us by thy Son himself, by whom also thou madest the ages; who, being the Brightness of thy glory, and the Express Image of thy Person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, thought it no robbery to be equal to thee, the God and Father. But albeit he was God before all the ages, yet he appeared upon earth and dwelt among men; and was incarnate of a Holy Virgin, and did lay aside his godhead,* taking on the form of a servant, and becoming conformed to the fashion of our lowliness, that he might make us conformable to the image of his glory. For as by man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, so it seemed good unto thine Only-begotten Son, who is in thy bosom, our God and Father, to be born of a woman, the holy Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary; to be born under the Law, that he might condemn sin in the flesh; that they who were dead in Adam might be made alive in thy Christ. And becoming a dweller in this world, and giving commandments of salvation, he released us from the delusions of idols, and brought us unto a knowledge of thee, the true God and Father, having won us unto himself for a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; and having purified us with water, and sanctified us with his Holy Spirit, he gave himself a ransom to Death, whereby we were held, sold into bondage under sin. And having descended into Hell through the Cross, that he might fill all things with himself, he loosed the pains of death, and rose again from the dead on the third day, making a way for all flesh through the Resurrection from the dead — for it was not possible that the Author of Life should be holden of corruption — that he might be the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first-born from the dead; and he shall be all things, the first in all things. And ascending into heaven, he sat down at the right hand of thy Majesty on high; and he shall come again to render unto every man according to his works. And he hath left with us, as memorials of his saving Passion, these Things which we have spread forth according to his commandment. For when he was about to go forth to his voluntary, and ever-memorable, and life-creating death, in the night in which he gave himself for the life of the world, he took bread in his holy and stainless hands, and when he had shown it unto thee, his God and Father, he gave thanks, blessing it, sanctifying it, and breaking it, he gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying:]

* [Editor's note: in the copy of the book scanned for this edition, a reader has struck out “did lay aside his godhead” by hand and written “emptied himself” in the margin, which is the wording of St. Paul (Philippians ii. 7) and of the Greek of this prayer.]

Exclamation.

Priest. Take, eat, this is my Body which is broken for you, for the remission of sins.

As he saith this, the Deacon shall point out the holy paten to the Priest, holding his stole with three fingers of his right hand.

Priest. And in like manner, after supper he took the cup, saying:

As he saith this, the Deacon pointeth to the holy chalice.

[At the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great: The Priest, secretly.

In like manner, having taken the cup of the fruit of the vine, and mingled it, given thanks, blessed it, and sanctified it,

Exclamation.

He gave it to his holy disciples and apostles, saying:]

Exclamation.

Priest. Drink ye all of this: for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins.

The Priest, secretly.

Bearing in remembrance, therefore, this commandment of salvation, and all those things which came to pass for us; the Cross, the Grave, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into Heaven, the Sitting on the right hand, the Second and glorious Coming-again:

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

This do, in remembrance of me: for as often as ye shall eat this Bread and drink of this Cup ye do proclaim my death and confess my Resurrection.

Wherefore, we also, O Master, having in remembrance his redeeming Passion and life-giving Cross, his three days' Burial, and his Resurrection from the dead, his Ascension into Heaven, and his Sitting on the right hand of thee, the God and Father, and his glorious and terrible Coming-again:]

Exclamation.

Priest. Thine own, of thine own, we offer unto thee, in behalf of all, and for all.

Here the Deacon, crossing his hands, shall lift up the holy paten and the holy chalice, and making with them the sign of the cross, he shall himself make a humble reverence.

Choir. We praise thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, O Lord, and we pray unto thee, O our God.

The Priest prayeth, secretly.

Again we offer unto thee this reasonable and unbloody service. And we beseech and implore thee, and offer our supplications unto thee, that thou wilt send thy Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these Gifts here spread forth.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

Wherefore, O all-holy Master, we also, thy sinful and unworthy servants, whom thou hast graciously permitted to minister at thy holy Altar, not through our own righteousness (for we have done no good deed on earth), but because of thy mercies and bounties, which thou hast richly poured out upon us, now have boldness to draw near unto this, thy holy Altar; and presenting unto thee the holy emblems of the sacred Body and Blood of thy Christ, we pray thee and implore thee, O Holy of Holies, by the favour of thy goodness, that thy Holy Spirit may descend upon us, and upon these Gifts here spread forth before thee, and bless them, and sanctify and manifest them.]

Then the Deacon shall approach the Priest; and standing side by side, they shall both make three lowly reverences before the Holy Altar, praying silently thus:

Priest. O Lord, who at the Third Hour didst send down upon thine Apostles thy Holy Spirit: Take not the same from us, O Good One, but renew it in us who make our supplications unto thee.

Deacon. Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Priest. O Lord, who at the Third Hour . . .

Deacon. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Priest. O Lord, who at the Third Hour . . .

Then the Deacon, bowing his head and pointing with his stole to the Holy Bread, shall say:

Bless, Master, the Holy Bread.

And the Priest, standing erect, shall sign the Holy Bread with the sign of the cross, and shall say:

And make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

For this bread is in very truth the precious Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ.]

Deacon. Amen. Bless, Master, the holy chalice.

And the Priest shall bless it, and shall say:

And make that which is in this chalice the precious Blood of thy Christ.

[Or, if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used:

For this chalice, in very truth the precious Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ (Deacon. Amen), which was poured out for the life of the world.]

Deacon. Amen.

And again, the Deacon, pointing to both the Holy Elements, shall say: