The Divine Liturgy (4 of 5)

And the Priest, blessing both, shall say:

Transmuting them by thy Holy Spirit.

Deacon. Amen, amen, amen.

And bowing his head to the Priest, the Deacon shall say:

Bear me in remembrance, holy Master.

And the Priest shall say:

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

Deacon. Amen.

If a Bishop be the celebrant, the Proto-Deacon saith:

Bear us in remembrance, holy Master.

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

Priest and Deacon. Amen.

And if a Priest hath been ordained at this same Liturgy, the Bishop now biddeth him to draw near, and taking the Holy Bread, and breaking the portion XC from the top thereof, where the cross is, he giveth it to him, saying:

Receive thou this pledge, and preserve it whole and unharmed until thy last breath, because thou shalt be held to an accounting therefor in the second and terrible Coming of our great Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

And taking it, the Priest kisseth the Bishop's hand, and withdrawing he standeth behind the Holy Altar; and placing his hand on the Holy Altar, he prayeth, saying:

Have mercy upon me, O God. . . . (Psalm li.).

And when: Holy things to the holy: is to be said, he who hath received Ordination restoreth the Bread, and the Bishop layeth it on the holy paten; and the newly ordained Priest is communicated before the other Priests.

The Priest prayeth.

That to those who shall partake thereof they may be unto soberness of soul, unto the remission of sins, unto the fellowship of thy Holy Spirit, unto the fulfilling of the kingdom of Heaven, and unto boldness toward thee; and not unto judgment or unto condemnation.

And again we offer unto thee this our reasonable service, for all thy servants departed this life before us in the faith; for our ancestors, fathers, the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Ascetics; and for every righteous soul who hath died in the faith:

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

And unite all us who partake of the one Bread and the one Cup, one to another in the communion of the Holy Spirit; and grant that no one of us may partake of that holy Body and Blood of thy Christ unto judgment or unto condemnation; but that we may find mercy and grace, together with all the Saints who, in all the ages, have been acceptable unto thee, our ancestors, fathers, the Patriarchs, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Teachers; and with the spirits of just men made perfect in the faith:]

And the Deacon shall cense the Holy Altar round about, and shall make mention of the living and of the dead.

Then the Priest shall say, aloud:

Especially our most holy, all-undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary:

And Saint John, the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist; the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; Saint N. (the Saint of the day), whose memory we commemorate; and all thy Saints: through whose prayers visit thou us, O God, and call to remembrance all those who have fallen asleep in the hope of Resurrection unto life eternal.

(Here he maketh mention of the Names, in the order of their rank.)

If it be at the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

Choir. Meet is it, in truth, to bless thee, the Birth-giver of God, ever-blessed, and all-undefiled, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

Meanwhile the Priest prayeth, secretly:

Furthermore we beseech thee, O Lord, that thou wilt call to remembrance all Bishoprics of Orthodox Christians, which rightly dispense the word of thy truth; all the Priesthood, the Diaconate in Christ, and every order of the Clergy.

Furthermore we offer unto thee this our reasonable worship on behalf of the whole universe; of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; of those who continue in chastity and soberness of life; of our most God-fearing Sovereign, N. (in Russia, the Emperor of All the Russias); and all the Reigning House, and all their Council and Army and Navy. Grant unto them, O Lord, a peaceful reign, and that we, through their tranquillity, may pass our time in rest and quietness, in all godliness and soberness of life.

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

Choir. In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of Grace, every created being, the Hierarchy of the Angels, and all mankind, O Consecrated Temple and supersensual Paradise, Glory of Virgins, of whom God, who is our God before all the ages, was incarnate and became a little child. For he made of thy womb a throne, and thy belly did he make more spacious than the heavens. In thee doth all Creation rejoice, O thou who art full of Glory: Glory to thee.

Or, at the different Feasts, there shall be sung the appointed Hymn to the Birth-giver of God.

Meanwhile the Priest prayeth, secretly:

And give them rest where the light of thy countenance shall visit them.

Have in remembrance, also, O Lord, we beseech thee, thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which is from end to end of the Universe; and give peace unto Her whom thou hast purchased with the precious Blood of thy Christ: and establish thou firmly this holy Temple, even unto the end of the world. Remember, O Lord, those who have offered unto thee these Gifts; and those for whom, and by whom, and in behalf of whom they have offered them.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, those who bear fruit and do good works in thy holy churches, and those who are mindful of the poor. Requite them with thy rich and heavenly gifts. Give them things heavenly for things earthly; things eternal for things temporal; things incorruptible for things corruptible.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, those who are in the deserts, and mountains, and caverns, and in the subterranean pits of the earth.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, all those who continue in virginity and godliness, and in asceticism and devoutness of life.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, our most God-fearing and Christ-loving Sovereign, N. (in Russia, the Emperor of All the Russias), to whom thou hast given the right to reign in the earth. Crown him with the armour of truth, with the panoply of contentment. Overshadow his head in the day of battle. Strengthen his arm, exalt his right hand; make mighty his kingdom; subdue under him all barbarous nations which seek wars; grant unto him peace profound and inviolate; inspire his heart with good deeds toward thy Church, and toward all thy people; that through his serenity we may lead a quiet and tranquil life, in all godliness and soberness. Remember, also, O Lord, all the Reigning House.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, all Rulers and Authorities, as also our brethren who are in their Council; and all their Army and Navy. In their goodness, preserve thou the good, and through thine own goodness make thou the evil good.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, this congregation here present, and those who are absent for reasonable cause; and have mercy upon them and upon us, according to the multitude of thy mercies. Fill their treasuries with every good thing; maintain their marriage-bond in peace and concord; rear the infants; guide the young; support the aged; encourage the faint-hearted. Collect the scattered, and turn them from their wandering astray, and unite them to thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Set at liberty those who are vexed by unclean spirits; voyage with those who voyage, journey with those who journey; defend the widows; protect the orphans; free the captives; heal the sick. Have in remembrance those who are under trial, and in the mines, and in exile, and in bitter slavery, and in all affliction, distress and tribulation.

Have in remembrance, O God, all those who invoke thy great loving-kindness; those also who love us, and those who hate us, and those who have enjoined us, unworthy though we are, that we should pray for them; and all thy people, O Lord our God: And upon them all pour out thy rich mercy, granting unto all such of their petitions as are unto salvation. And those whom we, through ignorance, or forgetfulness, or the multitude of names, have not remembered, do thou thyself call to mind, O God, who knowest the age and the name of each, and knowest every man even from his mother's womb. For thou, O Lord, art the Helper of the helpless, the Hope of the hopeless, the Saviour of the storm-tossed, the Haven of the voyager, the Healer of the sick. Be thyself all things unto all men, O thou who knowest every man, his petition, his abode, and his need. Deliver, O Lord, this city, and every city and land from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, the invasion of enemies, and from civil war.]

And when the Hymn is finished, the Priest shall say, aloud:

Among the first have in remembrance, O Lord, the Most Holy Governing Synod (or Patriarch); and grant that they (or he) may rightly dispense unto thy Church the word of thy truth, in peace, safety, health, honour and length of days.

And the Choir singeth:

And all the people.

If a Bishop be the celebrant, the Proto-Deacon, standing at the Holy Door, and looking on the People, saith:

And all the people.

Choir. And all the people.

And the Bishop reciteth the Prayer for the Synod: Among the first . . .

The Senior Priest then saith:

Have in remembrance, O Lord, our Right Reverend Bishop, N., granting that in peace, safety, honour, health and length of days he may guide thy holy Church, rightly administering the word of thy truth.

He kisseth the Bishop's mitre, and the Bishop, blessing him, saith:

May the Lord have in remembrance thy priesthood.

The Senior Deacon, turning to the People (in Russia):

The Most Holy Governing Synod, and the Right Reverend N., who offereth these Holy Elements unto the Lord our God.

For the salvation of our most God-fearing Sovereign, N., Emperor of All the Russias; and for all the Reigning House; and for all their Council and Army and Navy.

Choir. And for all the people.

The Deacon then commemorateth the living, while the Priest prayeth, secretly.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, this city in which we dwell; and every city and country, and all those who with faith dwell therein. Have in remembrance, O Lord, all those who journey by sea or by land, all sick persons and sufferers and captives, and their salvation. Have in remembrance, O Lord, those who bear fruit and do good works in thy holy Churches, and those who are mindful of the poor; and send down thy grace upon us all.

[If the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used, this Prayer is said, secretly:

Priest. Have in remembrance, O Lord, every Bishopric of the Orthodox which rightly administereth the word of thy truth.

Have in remembrance, also, O Lord, my unworthiness, according to the multitude of thy bounties; pardon me every transgression, whether voluntary or involuntary, and withhold not, because of my sins, the grace of thy Holy Spirit from the Gifts now spread forth unto thee.

Have in remembrance, O Lord, the Priesthood, as also the Diaconate in Christ, and all sacerdotal orders, and put not to confusion any one of us who stand about thy holy Altar. Visit us with thy loving-kindness, O Lord; manifest thyself unto us in thy rich bounties. Vouchsafe unto us temperate and healthful seasons. Give gentle showers upon the earth, unto fruitfulness. Bless the crown of the year of thy beneficence. Make schisms to cease in the Church. Quench the ragings of the nations; speedily destroy, by the might of thy Holy Spirit, all uprisings of heresies. Receive us all into thy kingdom, making us children of the light and of the day; and grant unto us thy peace, and thy love, O Lord our God; for all things hast thou given unto us.]

Exclamation.

Priest. And grant that with one mouth and one heart we may glorify and praise thine all-honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

And turning to the People and blessing them, the Priest saith:

And may the mercy of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, be with you all.

Choir. And with thy spirit.

And the Deacon shall stand at his accustomed place, and shall say: (Here Deacons are ordained.)

[℟ marks where the Choir answereth: Lord, have mercy. In the book this response is printed once in the margin.]

Calling to remembrance all the Saints, again, yet again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. ℟

For the Precious Gifts which have been offered and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord. ℟

That our God, who loveth mankind, will accept them upon his holy, and most heavenly, and supersensual Altar, for an odour of spiritual fragrance; and will send down upon us in return his divine grace and the gift of his Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord. ℟

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

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

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

[From here to the end of the Litany the Choir answereth each petition: Grant it, O Lord. In the book this response is printed once in the margin.]

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.

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

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

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

Having made our petition for the unity of the faith, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

The Priest prayeth, secretly.

Unto thee do we commit our whole life and hope, O Lord, who lovest mankind. And we entreat thee, and beseech thee, and implore thee: Vouchsafe that we may partake of thy heavenly and terrible Mysteries, of this sacred and spiritual food, with a pure conscience, unto the remission of our sins, unto the pardon of our transgressions, unto the communion of the Holy Spirit, unto inheritance of the kingdom of Heaven, and unto boldness toward thee; not unto judgment or condemnation.

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

O our God, the God of salvation, do thou teach us how we may worthily give thanks unto thee for thy benefits, which thou hast ever bestowed and yet dost bestow upon us. Do thou, O our God, who acceptest these Gifts, purify us from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and teach us to perfect holiness in thy fear; that we, receiving a portion of thy Holy Things in the witness of a pure conscience toward thee, may be made one with the holy Body and Blood of thy Christ; and that having received them worthily, we may have Christ abiding in our hearts, and may become a Temple of thy Holy Spirit.

Yea, O our God, cause also that none of us may be guilty of these thy terrible and heavenly Mysteries, or sick in soul or in body through an unworthy partaking of the same: but enable us, even unto our last breath, worthily to receive a portion of thy Holy Things, which is a support upon the road to life eternal, an acceptable defence at the dread Judgment Seat of thy Christ. That we also, together with all the Saints who, in all the ages, have been acceptable unto thee, may be made partakers of thine everlasting blessedness, which thou hast prepared for those who love thee, O Lord.]

Exclamation.

Priest. And vouchsafe, O Lord, that boldly and without condemnation we may call upon thee, God the heavenly Father, and say:

Here the Deacon bindeth his stole about him in the form of a cross.

The People:

Our Father, who art in heaven, 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:

Exclamation.

Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 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 bow our heads unto the Lord.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

The Priest prayeth, secretly.

We give thanks unto thee, O King invisible, who by thine illimitable power hast made all things, and by the plenitude of thy mercy hast called into being all things from nothingness. Do thou, the same Lord, look down from heaven upon those who have bowed their heads before thee; for they have not bowed down unto flesh and blood, but unto thee, the terrible God. Do thou, therefore, O Lord, render this oblation efficacious to us all, according to the individual need of each. Voyage with those who sail upon the seas; journey with those who travel on dry land. Heal the sick, O thou who art the healer of our souls and bodies.

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

O Master, Lord, the Father of bounties, and the God of all comfort, bless, sanctify, guard, strengthen, fortify those who have bowed their heads unto thee; withdraw them from every evil work; unite them to every good work; and graciously grant that, without condemnation, they may partake of these, thy pure and life-giving Mysteries, unto the remission of their sins, and unto the communion of the Holy Spirit.]

Exclamation.

Priest. Through the grace, and bounties, and love toward mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Priest prayeth, secretly:

Give heed from thy holy dwelling-place, and from the throne of glory of thy kingdom, and come and sanctify us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who sittest on high with the Father, and art invisibly here with us. And deign, with thine own mighty hand, to impart thine all-pure Body and most precious Blood unto us, and through us unto all the people.

Then the Priest shall do homage, and the Deacon, standing before the Holy Door, shall repeat, secretly, thrice:

O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner.

When the Deacon seeth the Priest stretch out his hand and touch the Holy Bread in the act of making the Holy Oblation, he shall say, loudly:

Let us attend.

Here the Holy Door is closed, and the curtain is drawn.

And the Priest, as he elevateth the Holy Bread, shall say:

Holy things unto the Holy.

Choir. One only is holy, one only is the Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Then shall the Choir chant the Anthem for the Day (or of the Saint, or of the Feast):

Praise ye the Lord from heaven: praise him in the height. Alleluia.

And the Deacon shall enter the Sanctuary, and standing at the right hand of the Priest, who holdeth the Holy Bread, he shall say:

Break, Master, the Holy Bread.

And the Priest, breaking it in four pieces, with all heedfulness and awe, shall say:

Broken and divided is the Lamb of God, which is broken, yet not disunited; which is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifieth those who partake thereof.

Concerning the Partition of the Holy Lamb

After dividing the Holy Lamb, the Priest must place the portions in the form of a cross upon the holy paten, with a profound reverence, such as he hath made before when censing. He shall lay the IHC at the upper part of the holy paten, which lieth towards the east. The XC shall he place in a line beneath it, on that side of the paten which lieth to the west; and the NI upon the north side, while the KA shall be opposite, upon the south side, as is here set forth.

[A drawing here shows the paten with the four portions: IHC at the top, marked “This portion is placed in the Chalice”; NI and KA on either side, marked “With these two portions the people are communicated”; and XC at the bottom, marked “With this portion the Priest communicateth himself and the Clergy who serve with him.”]

When the portion IHC hath been removed, it shall be placed in the holy chalice. The portion XC shall be partaken of by the Clergy who take part in the Liturgy. The two other portions, namely, the NI and the KA, are broken for the communion of the laity. And from the portion which representeth the Holy Birth-giver of God, or from the particles representing the nine ranks of the Heavenly Hierarchy, which are upon the holy paten, shall no one be communicated: but only from the two portions of the Holy Lamb which remain shall the laity be communicated.

Then the Deacon, pointing with his stole to the holy chalice, shall exclaim:

Fill, Master, the holy chalice.

And the Priest, taking the portion IHC from the place where it lieth, shall make therewith the sign of the cross above the holy chalice, saying: The fulness of the Holy Spirit: and shall place it in the holy chalice.

Deacon. Amen.

And taking the warm water, he shall say to the Priest:

Bless, Master, the warm water.

And the Priest shall bless it, saying:

Blessed is the fervour of thy Saints always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Deacon shall pour into the holy chalice, in the form of a cross, what is required, saying:

The warmth of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When the divine Blood of the Lord is mingled with the holy warm water, it must be done with heed, and in amount according to the number of those who desire to receive the Holy Sacrament.

The Priest breaketh the portion XC into a number of pieces, corresponding to the number of Clergy who take part in the Liturgy.

Then the Priest saith:

Deacon, draw near.

And the Deacon shall approach, and shall make a devout reverence, entreating forgiveness; and having kissed the Altar, he shall say:

Lo, I draw near unto the King Immortal and to God.

Impart unto me, Master, the precious and holy Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

And the Priest shall give him a portion of the Holy Body, and shall say:

To N., Deacon, is imparted the precious, and holy, and all-pure Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, unto the remission of his sins, and unto life everlasting.

And the Deacon shall kiss the Priest's hand as he taketh the Holy Body, and shall withdraw behind the Holy Altar; and bowing his head over the Holy Altar, he shall pray like the Priest:

I believe, O Lord, and I confess, that thou art, in very truth, the Christ, the Son of the living God: . . .

All the Priests, in the order of their seniority, first make an obeisance to each other, and to the People; and having besought forgiveness: Forgive me, fathers and brethren: and kissed the side of the Altar, they say:

Lo, I draw near unto the King Immortal, and to God.

The precious and all-holy Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is imparted to me, N., Priest, unto the remission of my sins, and unto life everlasting.

Then each taketh a piece of the Holy Body, and bowing low over the Holy Altar, and gazing devoutly upon the Holy Body of Christ, they say privately, each to himself:

I believe, O Lord, and I confess, that thou art, in very truth, the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is, of a truth, thine all-pure Body, and that this is thine own precious Blood. Wherefore, I beseech thee, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, whether voluntary or involuntary; whether of word or of deed; whether committed with knowledge or in ignorance. And vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of thine all-pure Mysteries, unto the remission of my sins, and unto life eternal.

Of thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me to-day as a communicant: for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither, like Judas, will I give thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.

And let not this participation in thy Holy Mysteries be unto judgment upon me, or unto condemnation, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.

When a Bishop is the celebrant, he divideth the portion XC, and having prayed: I believe, O Lord, and I confess, that thou art, in very truth, the Christ, the Son of the living God: . . . he consumeth part of the portion XC, saying:

The precious, and all-holy, and most pure Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is imparted to me, the unworthy, N., Bishop, unto the remission of my sins, and unto life eternal. (In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.)

Then, taking the sponge, he wipeth his hand; and having kissed the sponge, he layeth it aside. Then, taking the holy veil and the chalice with both hands, he communicateth himself therefrom thrice, saying:

The precious, and holy, and life-giving Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is imparted to me, the unworthy, N., Bishop, unto the remission of my sins, and unto life everlasting. (In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.)

Then he wipeth his lips and the chalice with the veil which is in his hand, saying:

Lo, this hath touched my lips, and shall take away mine iniquities, and shall purge away my sins.

Then kissing the holy chalice, he saith:

Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.)

Proto-Deacon. Archimandrites, Archpriests, Priests, Deacons, draw near.

Then the other Clergy approach the Bishop in the order of their seniority and kiss the edge of the Altar, and having said:

Lo, I draw near unto the King Immortal and to God. Impart to me, Right Reverend Master, the precious and holy Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ:

Each receiveth from him a portion of the Holy Body, the Bishop saying to each:

To thee, Priest (or Deacon, or as his rank may be), is imparted the precious, and all-pure, and immortal Body of our Lord, and God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto the remission of thy sins, and unto life everlasting. (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.)

And they kiss the hand and the shoulder of the Bishop; and to his greeting:

Christ is in the midst of us,

They reply:

He is, and shall be.

Then he giveth to each of them thrice the holy chalice, saying:

Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and shall take away thine iniquities, and shall purge away thy sins.

And so shall they partake of the Holy Body which they hold in their hands, with awe, and all godly fear.

And when they have partaken thereof, the Priests partake, in due order, of the Holy Blood from the chalice, thrice, saying each time:

The precious and holy Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is imparted to me, the servant of God, Priest, N., unto the remission of my sins, and unto life everlasting.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sometimes: O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us.

Then having wiped his mouth and the holy chalice with the veil, which he holdeth in his hand, the Priest shall say:

Lo, this hath touched my lips, and shall take away mine iniquities, and shall purge away my sins.

Then the Senior Priest saith again:

Deacon, draw near.

And the Deacon shall approach, and shall make one reverence, saying:

Lo, I draw near unto the King Immortal, and to God.

And the Priest, giving him the chalice, shall say:

The servant of God, N., Deacon, partaketh of the precious and all-holy Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, unto the remission of his sins, and unto life everlasting.

And having communicated the Deacon, the Priest shall say:

Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and shall take away thine iniquities, and shall purge away thy sins.

If there be any who desire to partake of the Holy Mysteries, the Priest shall divide the remaining portions, the NI and the KA, into small particles, sufficient for all, and place them in the chalice.

Then the Deacon, setting the holy paten above the holy chalice, saith these Hymns of the Resurrection:

In that we have beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us bow down before the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. Thy Cross do we adore, O Christ, and thy holy Resurrection we laud and glorify: for thou art our God, and we know none other beside thee; we call upon thy Name. O come, all ye faithful, let us adore Christ's holy Resurrection. For lo, through the Cross is joy come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us sing his Resurrection: for in that he endured the Cross he hath destroyed Death by death.

Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee! Shout now and be glad, O Zion! And do thou, O Pure One, Birth-giver of God, rejoice in the Rising-again of him whom thou didst bear.

O Christ, Passover great and most Holy! O Wisdom, Word, and Power of God! Vouchsafe that we may more perfectly partake of thee in the days which know no evening of thy kingdom.

While with the sponge he wipeth all the particles into the chalice with all care and reverence, he saith:

Wash away, O Lord, the sins of all who are here commemorated, by thy precious Blood, through the prayers of thy Saints.

And he shall cover the holy chalice with the veil; and in like manner he shall cover the holy paten with the star-cover and the veil. Then the Priest shall recite the Prayer of Thanksgiving, secretly.

We give thanks unto thee, O Lord, who lovest mankind, Benefactor of our souls and bodies, for that thou hast vouchsafed this day to feed us with thy heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Guide our path aright; stablish us all in thy fear; guard our life; make sure our steps: through the prayers and supplications of the glorious Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, and of all thy Saints.

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

We give thanks unto thee, O Lord our God, for the participation in thy holy, pure, immortal and heavenly Mysteries, which thou hast given unto us for the welfare and sanctification and healing of our souls and bodies. Do thou, the same Lord of all, grant that the communion of the holy Body and Blood of thy Christ may be for us unto faith which cannot be put to confusion, unto love unfeigned, unto increase of wisdom, unto the healing of soul and body, unto the turning aside of every adversary, unto the fulfilment of thy commandments, unto an acceptable defence at the dread Judgment Seat of thy Christ.]

Then the Holy Door is opened, and the Deacon, making a reverence, shall approach the Holy Door; and he taketh from the Bishop or the Priest the holy chalice, and elevating it, he saith:

In the fear of God and with faith draw near.

Choir. Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; God is the Lord and hath revealed himself unto us.

At Eastertide:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.

If there are communicants: Those who desire to communicate shall then approach. They shall come singly, and shall do reverence, with all devoutness and awe, with their hands crossed on their breasts: and in this manner shall they receive the Holy Mysteries, after the Priest hath said aloud the Prayer:

I believe, O Lord, and I confess, . . . (See page 116.)

And as he communicateth each one, the Priest shall say:

The servant of God, N., partaketh of the precious and holy Body and Blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, unto the remission of his (or her) sins, and unto life everlasting.

And as each person is communicated, the Choir singeth:

Receive ye the Body of Christ; taste ye of the Fountain of Life.

Then the communicant's mouth shall be wiped with the holy veil, and he shall kiss the holy chalice, and making a reverence, he shall go aside, where he is given the antidóron and the holy warm water.

And when all have finished, the Choir singeth:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

And the Priest shall set the chalice on the Altar, and shall bless the People, saying:

O God, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance.

At a Pontifical Service:

Eis pollá éti, Déspota.

(The Bishop blesseth with the díkiri and the tríkiri.)

Choir. We have beheld the true Light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith. Let us bow down in worship to the Trinity Undivided, for it hath saved us.

Or, at Eastertide:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.

Then the Priest and the Deacon shall turn to the Holy Altar; and the Priest shall cense it, saying thrice, to himself:

Be thou exalted in heaven, O God, and thy glory above all the earth.

The Priest, taking the holy paten, shall then set it upon the head of the Deacon; and the Deacon, holding it reverently, shall go to the Table of Oblation, and set it down there.

The Priest, having done reverence also, shall take the holy chalice (from the Bishop, if it be a Pontifical Service); and turning to face the Holy Door, he shall look upon the People, while he saith, secretly: