The Armenian Liturgy (Brightman translation)
The Armenian Liturgy (Brightman translation)
5th century onward
The Armenian liturgy as Brightman gives it, from the vesting of the priest to the dismissal and the blessing of the bread. It is in substance the Byzantine liturgy of the Cappadocian type, which the Armenians translated and developed from the fifth century, with their own prayers, hymns and ceremonies added.
The Vesting
1 While the priest is vesting the choir sings this hymn The hymn of the vesting of the priest O mystery deep unsearchable eternal which hast decked with splendid glory the heavenly dominions, the legions of fiery spirits in the chamber of light unapproachable With wonderful power didst thou create Adam in a lordly image and didst clothe him with gracious glory in the garden of Eden, the abode of delights When the priest will offer the sacrifice he must put on vestments privately on this wise With the deacon he goes into the vestry where the vestments are kept The ministers being vested each according to his order, they say in antiphon Ktzord let thy priests be clothed with righteousness and thy saints sing with joyfulness Phokh Lord remember David and all his trouble and the rest of Ps. cxxxii Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
2 Now and ever and world without end. Amen
The deacon proclaims
3 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord Let us in faith with one accord request of the Lord that he will bestow on us the grace of mercy The almighty God our Lord save and have mercy
And they say twelve times
4 Lord have mercy. Through the sufferings of thine only begotten all creatures are renewed and man hath again been made immortal, clad in a garment that none can take from him O chalice of rain of fire that wast poured on the apostles in the holy upperroom, o Holy Ghost, pour thy wisdom on us also along with the vestment Thou who didst spread thy creating arms to the stars, strengthen our arms with power to intercede when we lift up our hands unto thee Bind our thoughts as the crown wreathes our head and our senses with the crossdecked stole woven with gold and flowers like Aaron's for the honour of the sanctuary Supreme divine sovereign of all beings, thou hast covered us with a robe as with love to be ministers of thine holy mystery Heavenly king, keep thy church immovable and maintain in peace the worshippers of thine holy name.
5 Holiness becometh thine house, who art clothed with majesty. Like as thou art girt about with the glory of holiness, so also gird us about with truth The priest says this prayer O our Lord Jesus Christ who deckest thyself with light as with a garment, thou didst show thyself upon earth in unspeakable humility and didst converse with men, who wast made eternal highpriest after the order of Melchisedec and didst adorn thine holy church: almighty Lord who hast granted us to put on the same heavenly garment, account me worthy, thine unprofitable servant, at this hour when I make bold to draw nigh to the same spiritual service of thy glory, to be stripped of all mine ungodliness which is the garment of filthiness and be adorned with thy light: remove my wickedness from me and blot out my transgressions that I be accounted worthy of the light prepared of thee. Grant me to enter with priestly glory upon the ministry of thine holy things in fellowship with them that have kept thy commandments innocently, so that I also be found ready for the heavenly marriage feast with the wise virgins there to glorify thee, o Christ, who didst take away the sins of all men. For thou art the holiness of our souls and thee, o beneficent God, glory dominion and honour befitteth now and ever world without end. Amen.
6 Then the deacons draw near and vest him saying In peace let us beseech the Lord Receive save and have mercy
The priest
7 Blessing and glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen And first he puts the Saghavart upon his head saying Lord, put upon me the helmet of salvation to fight against the power of the enemy: by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ unto whom is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen
For the Schapik
8 Clothe me, o Lord, with the garment of salvation and with the robe of gladness and gird me with vesture of salvation: by the grace
For the Ourar
9 Clothe my neck, O Lord, with righteousness and cleanse my heart from all filthiness of sin: by the grace
For the Goti
10 Let the girdle of faith bound in the midst of my heart and of my mind quench in them the thought of impurity and may the power of thy grace abide in them at all times: by the grace
For the Bazpan
11 Give strength, O Lord, to my hands and wash away all my filthiness that I be enabled to serve thee in cleanness of mind and body: by the grace
For the Vacas
12 Clothe my neck, O Lord, with righteousness and cleanse my heart from all filthiness of sin: by the grace
For the Schourdchar
13 Lord, of thy mercy clothe me with a bright garment and protect me against the wiles of the evil one that I be accounted worthy to glorify thy glorious name: by the grace
After putting on all his vestments the priest says
14 My soul shall be joyful in the Lord, for he hath clothed me with a garment of salvation and with a vesture of gladness: he hath put upon me a crown as upon a bridegroom and hath adorned me like a bride with her jewels: by the grace.
The Preparation of the Ministers
15 Then the priest coming into the middle of the church washes his hands saying Ktzord I will wash my hands in innocency, o Lord: and so will I go to thine altar Phokh be thou my judge, o Lord, for I have walked innocently and the rest of Psalm xxvi Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost Now and ever world without end. Amen.
The priest
16 And for the sake of the holy mother of God, o Lord, accept our supplications and save us
The deacon
17 Let us make the holy mother of God and all the saints our intercessors with the Father in heaven that he be pleased to have mercy and in his pity to save his creatures Almighty Lord our God, save and have mercy
The priest
18 Receive, o Lord, our supplications through the intercession of the holy mother of God, the immaculate mother of thine onlybegotten Son, and through the supplications of all thy saints. Hear us, o Lord, and have mercy: pardon expiate and forgive us our sins and account us worthy with praises to glorify thee with thy Son and the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen. Then turning towards the people he says I confess before God and the holy mother of God and before all the saints and before you, fathers and brethren, all the sins I have committed: for I have sinned in thought word and deed and with every sin committed of men: I have sinned, I have sinned: I pray you request for me of God forgiveness The [priests] standing by answer God the potentate have mercy on thee and grant thee forgiveness of all thy trespasses past and present, deliver thee from those in the time to come, confirm thee in every good work and give thee rest in the life to come. Amen.
The priest answers
19 God the lover of men set you also free and forgive you all your trespasses, give you time for repentance and for the practice of good works and direct also your life in time to come: through the grace of the Holy Ghost the potentate and merciful unto whom be glory for ever. Amen.
The bystanders
20 Remember us before the immortal lamb of God
The priest
21 Ye shall be remembered before the immortal lamb of God.
The clerks then say Ps. c in antiphon
22 O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands Glory be. Now and ever.
The deacon
23 Through the holy church let us beseech the Lord that through her he will deliver us from sins and save us through the grace of his mercy Almighty Lord our God, save and have mercy
The priest
24 In the midst of this temple and in the presence of these divine and bright holy signs and holy place, bowing down in fear we worship, we glorify thine holy marvellous and triumphant {Resurrection} and unto thee with the Father and the Holy Ghost we offer blessing and glory now and ever and world without end. Amen The priest saying Ps. xliii in antiphon with the deacon goes up to the altar Ktzord I will go unto the altar of God even unto the God of my joy and gladness
The deacon
25 Phokh give sentence with me, o God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people and the rest of Ps. xliii Glory be. Now and ever.
The deacon
26 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord. Let us bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath vouchsafed unto us to stand in this place of praise and to sing spiritual songs Almighty Lord our God, save and have mercy
The priest
27 In this abode of holiness and in this place of praise, the dwelling of angels and expiatory of men, in presence of these divine and bright holy signs and holy place, bowing down in fear we worship, we bless and glorify thine holy marvellous and triumphant {Resurrection} and unto thee with the Father and the Holy Ghost we with the host of heaven offer blessing and glory now and ever and world without end. Amen. If the celebrant be a bishop he shall draw over his breast the venerable emphoron: and approaching to the table of gifts and falling on his knees with copious flow of tears, he shall say, silently and without whispering, prayers to the Holy Ghost who is the dispenser of the work
Prayer of S. Gregory of Narek [the 33rd chap. of his Book of prayer
28 O almighty beneficent lover of men, God of all, creator of all things visible and invisible, saviour and preserver, provider and peacemaker, mighty Spirit of the Father, we entreat thee with open arms with loud groanings of prayer in thine awful presence: we draw nigh in great fear and trembling to offer this reasonable sacrifice, first to thine unsearchable power, being as thou art sharer in throne, in glory and in creation with the unchangeable majesty of the Father and searcher as thou art also of the hidden deep mysteries of the almighty will of the Father of Emmanuel who sent thee, who is the saviour and quickener and creator of all. Through thee was made known to us the threefold personality of God undivided, whereof thou art known as one, o thou incomprehensible. By thee and through thee did the offspring of the patriarchal family of old, called seers, declare aloud and clearly things past and things to come, things wrought and things not yet come to effect. Thou, o energy illimitable whom Moses proclaimed Spirit of God moving on the face of the waters, by thine immense brooding and by thy tender sheltering of the new generations under the overspreading of thy wings madest known the mystery of the font: who after the same pattern spreading first the liquid element as a veil on high didst in lordly wise form out of nothing, o mighty, the complete natures of all things that are.
29 By thee all creatures made by thee shall be renewed at the resurrection, the which day is the last of this existence and the first of the land of the living. Thee also did the firstborn Son, thy fellow and of the same essence with the Father, in our likeness, obey with oneness of will, as he did his Father. Thee he announced as the true God equal and of the same substance with his mighty Father: he declared that blasphemy against thee should never be forgiven, and stopped the impious mouths of thy gainsayers as fighters against God, while he the just and spotless saviour of all forgave his own accusers, even he who was delivered for our sins and rose again for our justification. Unto him be glory through thee, unto thee be praise with the Father almighty world without end. Amen 30 It shall again be repeated to the same effect until confidence through upward contemplation of light be wonderfully certified and revealed, the bishop again announcing a second peace
31 We entreat and beseech with sighs and tears from all our souls thy glorious creatorship, o incorruptible uncreated timeless merciful Spirit, who art our advocate with the Father of mercies with groanings unutterable, who keepest the saints and cleansest sinners and makest them temples of the living and saving will of the most high Father: set us now free from all unclean deeds that are not conformable to thine indwelling, that the light of thy grace which enlighteneth the eyes of our mind be not quenched within us, for that we are taught that it is by prayer and the incense of a godly life that we are united with thee. And forasmuch as one of the Trinity is being offered and another accepteth, wellpleased in us through the reconciling blood of his firstborn Son, do thou receive our supplications and make us an habitation unto honour with every preparation for partaking of the heavenly lamb and for receiving without punishment of damnation this manna of life, of new salvation, that maketh immortal. And let our every offence be consumed by this fire, like as was the prophet's by the live coal brought in the tongs, that in all thy mercy may be proclaimed as the Father's lovingkindness manifested through the Son, who brought the prodigal son into the inheritance of his father and directed harlots to the heavenly kingdom, the bliss of the righteous. Yea, yea, I also am one of them: receive me also with them as requiring great lovingkindness and save me by thy grace who have been purchased by the blood of Christ: that in all this and in all thy godhead be made manifest unto all, which is glorified together with the Father in like honour with one will and in one power of praise
The deacon proclaims
32 Sir, give a blessing
The bishop aloud
33 For thine is the clemency, the power, the mercy, the strength and the glory world without end. Amen.
The Prothesis
1 [The curtain is drawn to and so remains during the whole prothesis] Meanwhile the clerks sing a meghedi proper to the day or else the following which is the Hymn of Censing In this abode of votive offerings in the Lord's temple Then the celebrant comes to the table of gifts where the protodeacon brings the wafer and the celebrant takes it and places it on the paten saying In remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ assembled together for the mystery of worship and supplication for the holy sacrifice, here round about in the upper hall of this altar we form a choir, with sweet spices Favourably receive our prayers as the savour of sweet-smelling incense, myrrh and cinnamon Keep firm us who offer it to thee to serve thee now and ever in holiness Through the intercession of thy virgin mother accept the supplications of thy ministers Then taking the wine he pours it in the form of a cross into the chalice saying
2 For the remembrance of the saving dispensation of the Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Then he says privately this prayer of S. John Chrysostom O God, even our own God, who didst send forth the heavenly bread, the food of the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be a Saviour redeemer and benefactor, to bless and to sanctify us: do thou, o Lord, thyself bless now this presentation: receive it on thine heavenly table. Remember, good and lover of man as thou art, both them that offer it and them for whom it is offered, and keep us without rebuke in the priestly ministration of thy divine mysteries. For holy and glorious is the most honourable majesty of thy glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever and world without end. Amen. Then he covers (the oblation) saying The Lord is king and hath put on glorious apparel
3 and the rest of Psalm xciii Glory be. Now and ever. Then he burns incense saying I offer incense before thee, o Christ, a spiritual fragrance: receive it for a sweetsmelling savour on to thine holy heavenly and immaterial place of offering: do thou in its stead send upon us the graces and gifts of thine Holy Spirit: for unto thee we offer glory with the Father and the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen. O Christ who with thy blood hast made thy church brighter than the heavens and hast appointed within her after the pattern of heavenly hosts orders of apostles prophets and holy teachers: we, priests deacons readers and clergy assembled here, burn incense before thee as Zachariah did of old Accept from us our prayers which we offer with the incense, like the sacrifice of Abel, of Noah and of Abraham Through the intercession of thine heavenly hosts maintain ever firm the throne of the Armenians
4 The Hymn of the church Rejoice greatly, o Zion, daughter of light, holy motherchurch with thy children: adorn and embellish thyself, o fair spouse and heavenlike sanctuary, for the anointed God, being of being, is ever sacrificed in thee unconsumed in reconciliation of the Father and distributeth his own body and blood in expiation of us for the fulfilment of his dispensation May he grant forgiveness to the founder of this temple The holy church confesseth the pure virgin Mary mother of God, from whom hath been given us the bread of immortality and the cup of rejoicing. Give ye him blessings in spiritual songs. Then the curtain is drawn aside and the priest comes down censing into the midst of the church along with the deacons and censes the church and the people and then returning bows three times to the altar.
The Enarxis
1 The protodeacon standing in the midst of the church proclaims Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
2 Blessed be the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen The clerks say the Shamamout according to the proper of the day {On ordinary Sundays Onlybegotten Son and Word, God and immortal being, thou who didst endure to take flesh of the holy mother of God and evervirgin: thou unchangeable didst become man and wast crucified: o Christ our God, thou by death didst overcome death, thou one of the holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Ghost: save us}
The deacon proclaims
3 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord Receive save and have mercy Sir, give a blessing
The priest
4 Blessing and glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen Peace ✠ be to all
The clerks
5 And with thy spirit
The deacon
6 Let us worship God
The clerks
7 Before thee, o Lord
The priest aloud
8 Lord our God whose power is unsearchable and thy glory incomprehensible, whose mercy is unmeasurable and thy clemency boundless: look down according to thine abundant love towards mankind upon thy people and upon this holy temple and abundantly perform thy mercy and pity on us and on them that pray with us: for unto thee is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen Then the clerks sing the psalm and hymn appointed for the day {The Lord is king and hath put on glorious apparel Christ the king, consubstantial with the Father, who for us hast been made man of the holy virgin King of glory, o Christ, glory to thee Thou who by voluntary death hast slain death and by thine incorruptible resurrection hast renewed the world King of glory, o Christ, glory to thee} While they sing the priest says privately Lord our God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, guard the fulness of thy church, sanctify them that in love come to greet the beauty of thine house: glorify us, o Lord, by thy divine power and forsake not them that put their trust in thee: for thine is the power and the dominion and the glory world without end. Amen
9 Peace be to all Thou that didst teach us all to pray thus in common and with one accord and didst promise to grant the requests of two or three gathered together in thy name: fulfil now the petitions of thy servants as shall be most expedient for them, granting us in this world the knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting: for thou, o God, art good and a lover of man and unto thee is fitting glory dominion and honour world without end. Amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost Now and ever and world without end. Amen {Thou who by thy lifegiving blood hast enlightened the holy church, we sing to thee with angels saying King of glory, o Christ, glory to thee} Then while the clerks give glory they all bow before the sanctuary and the priest bowing to the holy table says privately the prayer following
10 Lord God who hast disposed in heaven the troops and armies of angels and archangels for the ministry of thy glory, cause that along with our entrance there be an entrance of holy angels ministering with us and with us glorifying thy goodness
The deacon proclaims
11 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
12 For thine is the power and the dominion and the glory for ever. Amen.
The Mass of the Catechumens
1 {The little entrance} Then they kiss the holy table and the deacon proclaims Proschümen Then one of the deacons takes up the holy Gospel [from the altar and going round the altar offers the book to one of the people to kiss] The clerks sing the proper Trisagion of the feast Holy God holy and mighty holy and immortal who {didst rise from death} have mercy upon us Holy God holy and mighty holy and immortal who {didst rise from death} have mercy upon us Holy God holy and mighty holy and immortal who {didst rise from death} have mercy upon us.
The priest says privately
2 Holy God who dwellest in the holy place and with the song of the trisagion the seraphim praise thee and the cherubim glorify and all the heavenly hosts adore thee: thou who didst out of nothing bring all creatures into being, who didst make man after thine own image and likeness and didst adorn him with all thy graces and didst teach him to seek wisdom and good understanding and didst not pass over the sinner but didst ordain for him repentance unto salvation: thou hast vouchsafed unto us thine humble unworthy servants in this hour to stand before the glory of thine holy altar and to offer thee the worship and praise that is due. Receive. o Lord, out of the mouth of us sinners the hymn of the trisagion and keep us by thy goodness, forgive us all our trespasses voluntary and involuntary, sanctify our souls and minds and bodies and grant us to serve thee in holiness all the days of our life: through the intercession of the holy mother of God and of all thy saints who since the world began have been wellpleasing unto thee: for holy art thou, o Lord our God, and unto thee is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen.
Then the deacon proclaims
3 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
4 Lord have mercy For the peace of the whole world and for the stability of the holy church let us beseech the Lord For all the holy and orthodox bishops let us beseech the Lord For the long life of our patriarch lord N and for the salvation of his soul let us beseech the Lord For the doctors priests deacons clerks and for every order of the church's children let us beseech the Lord For religious kings and Godloving princes, their generals and their armies let us beseech the Lord For the souls of them that rest in death, who are fallen asleep in Christ in the true and orthodox faith let us beseech the Lord Meanwhile the priest with open arms says this prayer privately O Lord our God, accept the fervent supplications of thy servants: have mercy upon us after thy great goodness: send down thy compassion on us and on all this people that awaiteth the abundant mercy which is of thee
The clerks
5 Lord remember and have mercy. Again in unity for our true and holy faith let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
6 Lord have mercy Let us commit ourselves and one another unto the Lord the almighty God
The clerks
7 Let us, o Lord, be committed unto thee Have mercy upon us, o Lord our God, after thy great goodness. Let us all say with one accord
The clerks
8 Lord have mercy Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
The deacon proclaims
9 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
10 For albeit thou art God, thou art merciful and a lover of man, and unto thee is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen. Then he kisses the altar and goes and sits on the steps.
The Lections
1 Then the clerks begin to sing the Saghmos Jashou appointed for the day {Thou, o God, art praised in Sion And unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem}. Then the Prophet is read {Hear, o heavens . . . . your hands are full of blood Isa. i 2-15}. Then the clerks sing the Mesedi Ktzord {holy is thy temple wonderful in righteousness Phokh thou, o God, art praised in Sion And unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem}. Then the Apostle is read {Let not sin therefore reign . . . . eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. vi 12-23}. The clerks sing the Alelou Jashou Alleluia Alleluia {Lord thou hast become gracious unto thy land thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob}.
The deacon proclaims
2 Orthi
The priest
3 Peace ✠ be to all
The clerks
4 And with thy spirit A deacon Hearken with fear
The deacon
5 The holy Gospel according to {Matthew}
The clerks
6 Glory be to thee, o Lord our God
The deacon
7 Proschūmen
The clerks
8 God speaks Then the deacon reads the holy Gospel {At that time Jesus went on the sabbathday . . . . even of the sabbathday S. Matt. xii 1-8} and at the end of it the clerks say Glory be to thee, o Lord our God.
The Mass of the Faithful: the Prayers
1 (The creed) And after this the deacon says the Nicene creed in full We believe in one God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God begotten of God the Father, onlybegotten, that is, of the essence of the Father: God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, an offspring and not a thing made: of the very nature of the Father: by whom all things were made in heaven and upon earth, both visible and invisible: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate, was made man, was born perfectly of the holy virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost, by whom he took body soul and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance: who having suffered, been crucified and buried and rising again the third day, ascending into heaven in the same body, sat down at the right hand of the Father: he shall come again in the same body and in the glory of the Father to judge the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end. We also believe in the Holy Ghost uncreated and perfect who spake in the law and in the prophets and in the gospels, who came down upon the Jordan, preached the apostle and dwelt in the saints. We also believe in one only universal and apostolic church: in one baptism, in repentance, in propitiation and forgiveness of sins: in the resurrection of the dead, in the everlasting judgment of souls and bodies, in the kingdom of heaven and in the life everlasting
2 But those who say there was when the Son was not, or that there was when there was no Holy Ghost, or that they came into being out of nothing, or who say that the Son of God or the Holy Ghost be of a different essence and that they be changeable or alterable, such doth the catholic and apostolic holy church anathematize
The deacon proclaims
3 Sir, give a blessing The priest says after S. Gregory the Illuminator But we will glorify him who was before all worlds by adoring the holy Trinity and the one godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen.
The Prayers — The deacon proclaims
4 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord While they sing the priest says this prayer privately
The clerks
5 Lord have mercy Again in faith let us beseech and request of the Lord God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ at this hour of worship and of prayer, that he will make us worthy of acceptation, that the Lord will hearken to the voice of our supplications, that he will receive the requests of our hearts, forgive our trespasses and have mercy upon us. May our prayers and requests at all times enter into the presence of his great majesty and may he grant us united in one faith to labour in good works in righteousness That he will bestow on us his grace of mercy May the almighty Lord save and have mercy
The clerks
6 Save us, o Lord That we may pass in peace this hour of the sacrifice and the day now before us let us ask of the Lord
The clerks
7 Grant it, o Lord The angel of peace to guard our souls let us ask of the Lord The expiation and forgiveness of our sins let us ask of the Lord The great and powerful strength of the holy cross for the help of our persons let us ask of the Lord Again in unity for our true and holy faith let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
8 Lord have mercy Let us commit ourselves and one another unto the Lord the almighty God
The clerks
9 Let us, o Lord, be committed unto thee Have mercy upon us, o Lord our God, after thy great goodness. Let us all say with one accord
The clerks
10 Lord have mercy Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
The deacon proclaims
11 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
12 That so we be accounted worthy to praise and glorify thee with the Father and the Holy Ghost now and ever world without end. Amen.
The Inclination
The priest
1 Peace ✠ be to all
The clerks
2 And with thy spirit
The deacon
3 Let us worship God
The clerks
4 Before thee, o Lord
The priest aloud
5 With thy peace, o Christ our Saviour, which passeth all understanding and words, defend us and keep us fearless from all evil, enrol us among thy true worshippers who worship thee in Spirit and in truth: for unto the allholy Trinity is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end Blessed be our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
The deacon proclaims
6 Sir, give a blessing The priest makes the sign of the cross over the people saying aloud The Lord God bless ✠ you all
The clerks
7 Amen.
The Great Entrance
The deacon
1 Let none of the catechumens, none of little faith, none of the penitents nor of the unclean draw nigh to this divine mystery.
The clerks
2 The body of the Lord and the blood of the Saviour are set forth: the heavenly hosts sing unseen and say with unceasing voice Holy holy holy Lord of hosts
The deacon
3 Sing unto our Lord God, ye clerks, spiritual songs with sweet voice Then the clerks shall sing the Hagiology according to the proper of the day {For Palm Sunday, Pentecost, the Church and the feast of the Angels and for other sundays With the angelic order, o God, thou hast filled thine holy church. Thousand thousand archangels stand before thee And ten thousand times ten thousand angels minister unto thee, o Lord: yet thou art wellpleased to accept praise from men in mystic song Holy holy holy Lord of hosts} The priest takes off his saghavart: if a bishop he takes off his emiphoron as well: and then he bows before the holy table and prays in secret 4 None of us that are bound by fleshly passions and lusts is worthy to approach thy table or to serve thy kingly glory: for to minister to thee is a great thing and a fearful even for the heavenly hosts themselves. Yet through thy measureless goodness thou, infinite Word of the Father, wast made man and didst appear as our highpriest, and as lord of all didst commit unto us the priesthood for this ministry and unbloody immolation, for that thou art the Lord our God who rulest over things in heaven and things on earth, who sittest on the cherubic throne, o lord of seraphim and King of Israel, who alone art holy and dwellest in the holy place. I beseech thee who alone art good and ready to hear, look upon me thy sinful and unprofitable servant and cleanse my soul and my mind from all filthiness of the evil one and by the power of thine Holy Spirit enable me, that have been clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand at this holy table and to sacrifice thine immaculate body and thy precious blood. I entreat thee with neck bowed down, turn not thy face away from me and reject me not from among thy servants, but vouchsafe that these gifts be offered unto thee by me a sinner and unworthy servant: for thou art he that offereth and is offered, that receiveth and giveth, o Christ our God, and to thee we offer glory with thine eternal Father and thine allholy and good Spirit now and ever and world without end. Amen
5 Meanwhile the gifts are removed [by a deacon] to the table [In some churches and on some days the following is done. When the hagiology is finished as they come burning incense to the holy mystery the deacon proclaims In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber
The clerks
6 And rejoiceth as a giant to run his course
The deacon
7 We who the cherubim
The clerks
8 mystically figure forth then coming towards the east the deacon says Cast up an highway for him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens towards the east and sing the thriceholy hymn to the lifegiving Trinity then coming towards the south the deacon says God shall come from the south and the Holy One from mount Paran lay we aside all worldly cares then coming to the steps of the altar the bearer of the holy mystery says attentively Lift up your heads, o ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in that we may receive the king of all and solemnly represent the order of the angels The celebrant censes and says Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle
The deacon
9 Lift up your heads, o ye gates: yea lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in
The priest
10 Who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts
The deacon
11 This is the King of glory Then the celebrant receives the gifts from the hands of the deacons and with them makes the sign of the cross towards the people saying Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord
The clerks
12 Alleluia]. And the priest burns incense. And he washes his hands saying I will wash my hands in innocency, o Lord, and so will I go to thine altar.
The deacon
13 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
14 Lord have mercy Again in faith and purity let us stand in prayer with awe before the holy table of God: not with scruple or offence, not with guile or fraud, not with wiles or deceit, not with doubt and not with little faith: but with a right conversation, a pure mind, a single heart, a perfect faith, being filled with love, full and overflowing with all good works let us stand in prayer before the holy table of God and find the grace of mercy in the day of his appearing and at the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May he save and have mercy
A prayer of Athanasius
15 Lord God of hosts and maker of all beings, who didst bring all things into existence out of nothing, who also in love towards mankind didst honour our earthly nature by raising us to the estate of ministers of so awful and inexplicable a mystery: thou, o Lord to whom we offer this sacrifice, accept from us this presentation and consummate it into the mystery of the body and blood of thine onlybegotten and grant this bread and cup for a remedy of forgiveness of sins to us that taste of it
The clerks
16 Save, o Lord, and have mercy
The deacon proclaims
17 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
18 Through the grace and love towards mankind of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with whom unto thee, o Father, and to the Holy Ghost is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen.
The Kiss of Peace
The priest
1 Peace be ✠ with you all
The clerks
2 And with thy spirit
The deacon
3 Let us worship God
The clerks
4 Before thee, o Lord
The deacon
5 Greet ye one another with an holy kiss and those among you that are not able to partake of this divine mystery go without the doors and pray
The clerks
6 Christ hath been manifested amongst us: God, which is, hath seated himself here: the peace hath been proclaimed, this holy greeting hath been enjoined: the church hath become one soul, the kiss hath been given to be a bond of perfectness: enmity hath been removed and love been spread abroad Now, o ye ministers, raise your voice and bless with one accord the united godhead unto whom seraphim sing the hallowing song Meanwhile they kiss the holy table and one another On festivals some add this
The deacon
7 Ye who with faith stand before the holy royal table, see the king Christ sitting and surrounded with the heavenly hosts
The clerks
8 We lift our eyes upwards and implore on this wise saying Remember not our sins but in thy compassion expiate them With the angels we bless thee and with thy saints, o Lord, we give thee glory.
The Anaphora
The deacon
1 Stand we with awe, stand we with fear, stand we well and look upwards with good heed
The clerks
2 To thee, o God
The deacon
3 Christ the Lamb of God is offered in sacrifice
The clerks
4 Mercy and peace and a sacrifice of praise
The Thanksgiving
The deacon
1 Sir, give a blessing
The priest
2 The grace, the love and the divine sanctifying power of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost be with you and with all
The clerks
3 Amen and with thy spirit
The deacon
4 The doors, the doors With all wisdom and caution Lift up your minds with divine fear
The clerks
5 We lift them up unto thee, o Lord almighty
The deacon
6 And give thanks unto the Lord with the whole heart
The clerks
7 It is meet and right On festivals in some places the deacon adds And we give thee thanks, o Christ, for the true salvation always and everywhere, through which the hosts praise thy marvellous {Resurrection}, the seraphim tremble and the cherubim shudder and the supreme powers in heaven make a choir and shout with sweet voice and say While they sing the priest says privately with clasped hands the prayer following It is very meet and right with earnest diligence always to adore and glorify thee, Father almighty, who by thine immaterial and fellowcreator Word didst remove the hindrance of the curse: who having made the church his own people reckoned all those who believe in thee his property and was pleased to dwell among us in a material nature taken by dispensation from the virgin and as a divine architect framed a new work, making earth into heaven: for that he before whom even the legions of watchers endured not to stand, awestruck at the dazzling and unapproachable light of the godhead, even he became man for our salvation and granted to us to join the spiritual choirs of the inhabiters of heaven
The deacon proclaims
8 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
9 and with seraphim and cherubim to frame songs in hallowing concert and with boldness to shout and cry aloud with them and say
The clerks
10 Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts heaven and earth are full of thy glory Blessing in the highest Blessed art thou that didst come and comest in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest While they sing the priest says privately with his arms extended Holy holy holy art thou truly and allholy: and who is he that will presume to compass in words thine infinite outflowings of lovingkindness towards us? Thou who from of old in divers manners didst take care of and comfort man fallen in sin, by prophets, by giving the law, by priesthood and the typical offering of kine, but in these last days, having torn up utterly the sentence of condemnation touching all our debts, didst give us thine onlybegotten Son, both debtor and debt, immolation and anointed, lamb and bread of heaven, highpriest and sacrifice: for he it is that distributeth and himself that is distributed in the midst of us without ever being consumed. For having been made man truly and not in semblance and becoming incarnate by union without confusion from the mother of God and holy virgin Mary, he journeyed through life with all the passions of our human life without sin and of his free will came to the cross whereby he gave life to the world and wrought salvation for us. Then taking the bread in his holy divine immortal immaculate and creative hands he blessed, gave thanks, brake it and gave it to his chosen and holy disciples sitting at meat with him saying
The deacon
11 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
12 Take eat: this is my body which is distributed for you and for many for the expiation and remission of sins
The clerks
13 Amen
The priest privately
14 Likewise taking the cup he blessed, gave thanks, drank and gave to his chosen and holy disciples sitting at meat with him saying
The deacon
15 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
16 Drink ye all of this: this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for you and for many for the expiation and remission of sins
The clerks
17 Amen Heavenly Father who didst give thy Son unto death for our sakes as debtor of our debts, we beseech thee through the shedding of his blood, have mercy on thy rational flock
The priest privately
18 And thy good onlybegotten Son delivered us the commandment always to do this in remembrance of him, and having descended into the nether abode of death in the body which he took of our nature and having broken asunder with might the bolts of hell, made thee known unto us the only true God, God of quick and dead.
The Invocation
1 And he takes the gifts in his hands and says privately We therefore, o Lord, presenting unto thee according to this commandment this saving mystery of the body and blood of thine onlybegotten, do remember the saving sufferings he endured for us, his lifegiving crucifixion, his burial of three days, his blessed resurrection, his divine ascension and his session at thy righthand, o Father, and we confess and bless his fearful and glorious second coming
The deacon
2 Sir, give a blessing The priest then raising the gifts a little offers them unto the Father, and then he places them on the holy table saying aloud And we offer unto thee thine own of thine own in all and for all
The clerks
3 In all things thou art blessed, o Lord We bless thee, we praise thee, we give thanks to thee and we beseech thee, o Lord our God While they sing the priest says privately with open arms We do indeed praise thee and give thanks unto thee, o Lord our God, continually, who passing over our unworthiness hast made us ministers of this fearful and unspeakable mystery, not for any good works of ours, whereof we are wholly bereft and always find ourselves utterly destitute: but ever trusting in thine overflowing indulgence we presume to approach the ministry of the body and blood of thine only begotten our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto whom is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen
The deacon proclaims
4 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
5 Peace be with you all
The clerks
6 And with thy spirit
The deacon
7 Let us worship God
The clerks
8 Before thee, o Lord Son of God, sacrificed for our reconciliation to the Father, thou art being distributed among us for bread of life: through the shedding of thine holy blood, we beseech thee have mercy on the flock saved by thy blood While they sing the priest humbling himself bows to the holy table and says - privately We adore and we beseech and ask thee, o good God, send upon us and upon these gifts here set forth thy coeternal and consubstantial Holy Spirit then the deacon standing close to the priest with great fear and reverence says softly at every blessing Amen. Sir, give a blessing and the priest signs the gifts with the sign of the cross saying in a low voice by whom blessing this bread ✠ thou wilt make it truly the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ thrice repeated, and blessing this cup ✠ thou wilt make it really the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ thrice repeated: by whom blessing this bread and this wine ✠ thou wilt make them truly the body and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, changing them by thine Holy Spirit thrice repeated
The deacon proclaims
9 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
10 So that this be to us all who draw nigh to it for release from condemnation and for the expiation and remission of sins
The clerks
11 Spirit of God who coming down from heaven dost operate by our hands the mystery of him who shares thy glory, we beseech thee through the shedding of his blood grant rest to the souls of our departed.
The Intercession
1 Henceforth the priest does not raise his hands spread over the gifts but holds them low and keeping his eyes on them he prays thus privately Through this grant love stability and longed-for peace to the whole world, to the holy church and to all orthodox bishops, to priests, deacons, kings of the earth and princes, to peoples, to travellers, to seafarers, to prisoners, to those in danger, to those that labour and to them that are at war among barbarians Through this grant also mild weather and to the fields fruitfulness and to those afflicted with divers diseases a speedy return to health Through this give rest to all those who aforetime have fallen asleep in Christ, to our forefathers, to the patriarchs prophets apostles martyrs bishops presbyters deacons and the whole clergy of thine holy church and to all laity, men and women, who have died in the faith
The deacon proclaims
2 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
3 With whom we also beseech thee, good God, to visit us
The clerks
4 Remember, o Lord, and have mercy
The priest
5 We beseech thee that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of the mother of God the holy virgin Mary, and of John the baptist, of the protomartyr Stephen and of all the saints
The clerks
6 Remember, o Lord, and have mercy Then the deacons go to the right side of the table and proclaim with clasped hands We beseech thee that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of the holy apostles prophets doctors martyrs and all holy patriarchs, apostolic bishops, presbyters, orthodox deacons and of all saints
The clerks
7 Remember, o Lord, and have mercy On feasts of our Lord We adore the blessed praised glorious admirable and divine {Resurrection} of Christ
The priest privately
8 Remember, o Lord, and have mercy and bless thine holy catholic and apostolic church which thou didst save with the precious blood of thine onlybegotten and didst deliver by his holy cross: grant her unshaken peace Remember, o Lord, and have mercy and bless all orthodox bishops who rightly divide the word of truth among us
The clerks
9 Glory be to thy {Resurrection}, o Lord On Saints' days We beseech that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of the holy prophet or patriarch or apostle or martyr N dear to God, whose commemoration we have made today
The clerks
10 Remember, o Lord, and have mercy) We beseech that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of our leaders and our first holy illuminators, the apostles Thaddaeus and Bartholomew, and Gregory the illuminator Aristaces, Verthanes, Hysic, Gregoris, Nerses, Sahac, Daniel, Khat, Mesrob the doctor, Gregory of Narec, Nerses Clayetsi, John Orotnetsi, Gregory and Moses Tathevatsi and of all the pastors and chief pastors of Armenia We beseech that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of the holy anchorets and God-instructed monks Paulus, Polus, Macarius, Onuphrius, Mark the abbat, Serapion, Nilus, Arsenius, Antony, Evagrius, Barsūmas, John, Simeon, Oski and his companions, Sukias and his companions and of all the holy fathers and of their disciples in the whole world We beseech that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of the christian kings Abgar Constantine Tiridates Theodosius and of all holy and pious kings and Godloving princes We beseech that in this holy sacrifice remembrance be made of all the faithful in general, men and women, old men and children and of all of every age who are fallen asleep in Christ in faith and holiness
The deacon proclaims
11 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
12 And especially grant us our archbishop the venerable patriarch of all Armenians, reverend N, for length of days in sound doctrine Then the deacons go to the left side of the table and proclaim While they sing the priest says this prayer privately We offer thee, o Lord our God, thanks and glory for this holy and immortal sacrifice which is on this holy table, that thou grant it to us for holiness of life Through this grant love stability and longed-for peace to the whole world, to the holy church and to all orthodox bishops, especially to our archbishop the venerable patriarch of all Armenians, reverend N, and to the priest who offers this sacrifice Let it be for the strength and victory of christian kings and of pious princes Let us also beseech and entreat for the souls of those who are at rest and especially for our departed prelates, for the founders of this holy church and for all those who rest under the shadow thereof, for the deliverance of those our brethren who are taken captive and for grace upon the congregation here present and for the rest of those who have died in Christ in faith and holiness: let remembrance of them be made in this sacrifice
13 And having cleansed our thoughts, make us temples fit to receive the body and blood of thine only begotten Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with whom to thee, o Father almighty, with thy lifegiving and liberating Holy Spirit is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen.
The clerks
14 In all and for all. Remember, o Lord, and have mercy and bless thy people here present and us that offer this sacrifice and grant unto them what is necessary and profitable Remember, o Lord, and have mercy and bless the pilgrims and them that bring forth fruit unto thine holy church: also them that remember the poor with alms and render them their dues according to thy wonted bounty, an hundredfold here and in the world to come Remember, o Lord, and have mercy and have pity on the souls of the departed: give them rest and light and rank them among thy saints in thy kingdom of heaven and make them worthy of thy mercy. Remember also, o Lord, the soul of thy servant N and have mercy on him after thy great goodness and give him by thy visitation rest in the light of thy countenance and if he be living save him from all snares of soul and body
15 Remember also, Lord, them that have bidden us remember in our prayers any that are alive or departed: direct the purpose of their prayers and ours to what is right and accompanieth salvation and reward them all with thine imperishable and blessed good things
The Blessing
The deacon proclaims
1 Sir, give a blessing The priest making the sign of the cross on the people says aloud And the mercy of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with ✠ you all
The clerks
2 Amen and with thy spirit.
The Lord’s Prayer
The deacon
1 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
2 Lord have mercy With all the saints whom we have commemorated especially let us beseech the Lord For the holy and divine sacrifice which is now on this holy table let us beseech the Lord That the Lord our God who hath accepted it on his holy heavenly and immaterial place of offering send down on us in recompense thereof the grace and gifts of his Holy Spirit let us beseech the Lord Receive save and have mercy and keep us, o Lord, by thy grace
The clerks
3 Save us, o Lord by thy grace Making mention of the allholy mother of God the evervirgin Mary with all the saints let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
4 Remember, o Lord and have mercy Again in unity for our true and holy faith let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
5 Lord have mercy Let us commit ourselves and one another unto the Lord the almighty God
The clerks
6 Let us, o Lord, be committed unto thee Have mercy upon us, o Lord our God, after thy great goodness. Let us all say with one accord
The clerks
7 Lord have mercy three times
The deacon proclaims
8 Sir, give a blessing While the deacon makes this proclamation the priest says this prayer privately O God of truth and Father of mercies, we thank thee for that thou hast been pleased to exalt our defaulting nature above the blessed patriarchs: because thou wast called their God, but in pity for us thou hast been pleased to be called Father. Now, Lord, we beseech thee grant to shine and flourish more and more this new and venerable name in the midst of thine holy church
The priest
9 And grant us with bold voice to open our mouth and to call upon thee heavenly Father and to sing and say The clerks then sing with open arms Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our continual bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but Deliver us from evil While they sing the priest prays in silence Lord of lords, God of gods, king eternal, creator of all things created, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil and save us from temptation
The deacon proclaims
10 Sir, give a blessing
The priest
11 For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever. Amen.
The Inclination after the Lord’s Prayer
The priest
1 Peace ✠ be to all
The clerks
2 And with thy spirit
The deacon
3 Let us worship God
The clerks
4 Before thee, o Lord The priest then bows his head and all the people bow down while the priest prays privately Holy Ghost which art the fountain of life and the spring of mercy, have mercy on this people which bowed down adoreth thy godhead: keep them entire and stamp upon their hearts the posture of their bodies for the inheritance and possession of good things to come
The deacon proclaims
5 Sir, give a blessing
The priest
6 Through Jesus Christ our Lord with whom to thee, o Holy Ghost, and the Father almighty glory dominion and honour is fitting now and ever and world without end. Amen.
The Elevation
1 Then the priest takes the holy bread in his hand while the deacon proclaims Proschümen and the priest elevating it in the sight of the whole congregation says aloud Unto the holiness of the holies The clerks in a loud voice One holy, one Lord Jesus Christ To the glory of God the Father. Amen
The deacon
2 Sir, give a blessing
The priest
3 Blessed be the holy Father, true God
The clerks
4 Amen
The deacon
5 Sir, give a blessing
The priest
6 Blessed be the holy Son, true God
The clerks
7 Amen
The deacon
8 Sir, give a blessing
The priest
9 Blessed be the Holy Ghost, true God
The clerks
10 Amen
The deacon
11 Sir, give a blessing.
The priest
12 Blessing and glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen
The clerks
13 Amen The Father is holy the Son is holy the Holy Ghost is holy Blessing be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end Amen. And while they sing the priest bows himself and says this prayer privately Look upon us, o our Lord Jesus Christ, from heaven thine holy dwellingplace and from the throne of the glory of thy kingdom: come and purify and quicken us, o thou who sittest with the Father and art here sacrificed: vouchsafe to give us of thine immaculate body and of thy precious blood, and by our hands to this whole people Having said this he worships and kisses the holy table, and taking the holy body he dips it whole into the precious blood and says Lord our God, who hast called us christians after the name of thine onlybegotten Son and hast granted us the remission of sins by the baptism of the spiritual font and hast vouchsafed us to communicate in the holy body and blood of thine onlybegotten: we now beseech thee, o Lord, account us worthy to receive this holy mystery for the remission of our sins and with thanks to glorify thee with the Son and the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen.
The deacon proclaims
14 Sir, give a blessing Then the priest elevates it in the sight of the congregation and says Let us taste in holiness of the holy holy and precious body and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who having come down from heaven is being distributed among us This is life hope resurrection expiation and forgiveness of sins Sing psalms unto the Lord our God, sing psalms unto our immortal king of heaven, who sitteth in the chariot of the cherubim.
The Fraction, Commixture and Communion
1 [The curtain is drawn to]
The deacon proclaims
2 Sing psalms to our Lord God, ye clerks, and spiritual songs with sweet voice: for unto him are fitting psalms and hymns alleluias and spiritual songs Ye ministers, sing psalms with spiritual songs and bless the Lord who is in heaven
The clerks sing
3 Christ is sacrificed and distributed among us Alleluia He gives us his body for food and he sprinkles his holy blood upon us Alleluia Draw nigh unto the Lord and take of his light Alleluia The priest takes the body in his hand and he kisses it with tears, saying privately What blessing and what thanksgivings shall we render unto thee for this bread and for this cup? But, o Jesus, we bless thee alone with the Father and the allholy Spirit now and ever world without end. Amen he adds this also I confess and believe that thou art Christ the Son of God, who didst take away the sin of the world then breaking it he puts it into the chalice of the blood saying The fulness of the Holy Ghost. Then taking one piece of the bread in his hand he says privately with tears and thanksgiving to the Father and to the Son
4 Holy Father who hast called us by the name of thine onlybegotten and hast enlightened us through the baptism of the spiritual font, vouchsafe to receive this holy mystery for the forgiveness of our sins, stamp upon us the graces of the Holy Ghost as thou didst on the holy apostles who tasted of it and became cleansers of the whole world. Now then, o Lord and good Father, make this communion a part of the supper of the disciples by removing the darkness of sins. Look not upon mine unworthiness neither withhold from me the graces of thine Holy Spirit, but according to thine infinite love towards mankind grant that this be for the expiation of sins and the remission of trespasses. As our Lord Jesus Christ promised and said whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood shall live for ever: make it now to be to us for the expiation of sins, that those who shall eat and drink of it may bless and glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost now and ever world without end. Amen
5 O taste and see how gracious the Lord is Alleluia O praise the Lord of heaven Alleluia Praise him in the height Alleluia Praise him all ye angels of his Alleluia Praise him all his host Alleluia Then they sing if necessary other hymns according to the day.
Peace be to all
6 I thank thee, Christ o king, for that thou hast made me unworthy worthy to partake of thine holy body and blood. Therefore now I beseech thee, let it not be to me for condemnation but for expiation and forgiveness of sins, for health of soul and body and for the fulfilment of all virtuous works, so that it purify my spirit and my soul and body and so make me the temple and abode of the allholy Trinity and to be worthy with thy saints to glorify thee with the Father and the Holy Ghost now and ever world without end. Amen
Prayer of S. John Chrysostom
7 I praise and magnify and glorify thee, o Lord my God, that thou hast accounted me worthy, unworthy as I am, this day to partake of thy divine and awful mystery of thine immaculate body and precious blood. Wherefore having these for intercessors I beseech thee to keep me in thine holiness every day and during the whole time of my life, so that remembering thy tender mercies I may live unto thee, who for our sake didst suffer and die and rise again. Let not, my Lord and God, the destroyer come near to me, for that my soul is sealed with thy precious blood. Do thou, almighty, cleanse me through these from all my dead works, thou who alone art without sin: strengthen my life, o Lord, against all temptation and let mine adversary turn back from me ashamed and confused so often as he riseth against me: strengthen the goings of my mind and of my tongue and all the ways of my body: be thou with me always according to thy neverfailing promise
8 Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him. Thou didst say so, o thou lover of man: stablish the divine and unchangeable words of thy mouth: for thou art the God of mercy, of pity and of love towards mankind and the giver of all good things, and unto thee is fitting glory with the Father and thine allholy Spirit now and ever world without end. Amen Then the priest signs himself and prays of the true God the sundry things he desires for himself, for the congregation and for the whole world: he also shall pray for the pardon of them that have offended him, his enemies and them that hate him And then with fear and trembling he tastes of the body and drinks of the chalice saying In faith do I believe in the allholy Trinity, in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
9 In faith do I taste of thine holy lifegiving and saving body, o Christ my God Jesus, for the forgiveness of my sins In faith do I drink thy sanctifying and cleansing blood, o Christ my God Jesus, for the forgiveness of my sins Let thine incorruptible body be to me for life and thine holy blood for the propitiation and forgiveness of sins. The deacons also communicate. [The curtain is withdrawn] The deacon proclaims to the congregation Draw near with fear and partake in holiness Then all who are worthy communicate
The clerks sing
10 Mother of faith, thou shrine of holy spousals, heavenly bridechamber Home of thine immortal bridegroom who hath adorned thee for ever A marvellous second heaven art thou from glory to glory exalted Which by the laver dost regenerate us children radiant like the light Thou that dost distribute this spotless bread and givest us to drink this pure blood Who dost lift us up to an higher station than the angels can attain unto Come then, o children of the new Sion, meet our Lord in holiness [The people come one by one and stand in front of the bema and the priest communicates them from the chalice in which is the sacred bread steeped in the wine: and he says each time The body and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be to thee for salvation and for a guide to eternal life]. O taste and see how gracious our Lord is and mighty
11 The ancient tabernacle was a type of you, but ye are of higher pattern It burst the adamantine gates: ye raze the gates of hell to their foundations It parted Jordan: ye cleave the sea of universal sin Its leader was Joshua the captain: thine is Jesus the only Son of the Father This bread is the body of Christ, this cup is the blood of the new testament The greatest of mysteries is revealed to us, God himself is manifested to us herein This is the same Christ the divine Word who sitteth at the right hand of the Father And who sacrificed here amongst us taketh away the sin of the world He is blessed for ever with the Father and the Spirit Now and ever for the time to come and world without end. When all have communicated the clerks sing in a loud voice Our God and our Lord hath appeared to us
12 Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Then the priest makes over them the sign of the cross with the sacred gifts and says Save thy people, o Lord, and bless thine inheritance: govern them and lift them up for ever [The curtain is drawn to again].
The Thanksgiving after Communion
The clerks sing
1 We have been filled, o Lord, from thy good things, tasting of thy body and blood Glory be on high to thee who hast fed us Thou who continually feedest us, send down upon us thy spiritual blessing Glory be on high to thee who hast fed us
The deacon proclaims
2 Again in peace let us beseech the Lord
The clerks
3 Lord have mercy Render again in faith thanks unto the Lord ye who have received this divine holy heavenly immortal immaculate and incorruptible mystery
The clerks
4 We render thanks unto thee, o Lord, who hast fed us at thine immortal table, distributing thy body and blood for the salvation of the world and for the life of our souls.
Meanwhile the priest prays privately on this wise
5 We thank thee, o Father almighty who didst prepare for us the holy church for a haven of rest and a temple of holiness where the holy Trinity is glorified. Alleluia We thank thee, Christ o king, who hast bestowed upon us life by thy lifegiving body and thine holy blood. Grant forgiveness and great mercy. Alleluia We thank thee, o true Spirit, who hast renewed the holy church. Keep her spotless by faith in the Trinity henceforth and for ever. Alleluia
The priest says privately
6 We render thanks unto thee, o Christ our God, for that thou hast granted to us such a taste of thy good things unto holiness of life. Keep us through it holy and without blame by dwelling among us through thy divine protection. Feed us in the fields of thine holy and benevolent will, whereby being protected against every attack of the adversary we may be accounted worthy to hear thy voice alone and to follow thee as our only most mighty and true shepherd and to receive from thee the place prepared for us in the kingdom of heaven, o our God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who art blessed with the Father and with the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end. Amen Peace be to all To the unsearchable incomprehensible triple personality, creating embracing and indivisible consubstantial holy Trinity, is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen.
The Descent from the Altar
1 [The curtain is drawn back] and the priest takes the gospel and after kissing the altar comes down into the middle of the church
The deacon proclaims
2 Sir, give a blessing
The priest aloud
3 O Lord, who blessest them that bless thee and sanctifiest them that put their trust in thee: save thy people and bless thine inheritance, guard the fulness of thy church: sanctify these who in love came to greet the beauty of thine house: glorify us with thy divine power and forsake not them that put their trust in thee Grant peace to the whole world, to the churches, to priests, to christian kings, to their armies and to all this people: for every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from thee above, that art the Father of light: and unto thee is fitting glory dominion and honour now and ever and world without end. Amen The clerks three times The Lord's name be praised from this time forth and for evermore The priest turns to the people and says aloud Thou art the fulness of the law and of the prophets, Christ, o God our Saviour, who didst fulfil all the dispensation commanded of the Father: fill us also with thine Holy Spirit.
4 <the last gospel>
The deacon
5 Orthi
The priest
6 Peace ✠ be to all
The clerks
7 And with thy spirit
The deacon
8 Hearken we in fear
The priest
9 The holy Gospel according to John
The clerks
10 Glory be to thee, o Lord our God
The deacon
11 Proschūmen
The clerks
12 God speaks
The priest
13 From the Father of light In the beginning was the word . . . . full of grace and truth. S. John i 1-14 or from Easterday to the eve of Pentecost So when they had dined . . . . follow me. S. John xxi 15-19.
The clerks
14 Glory be to thee, o Lord our God. <the dismissal>
The deacon
15 Let us beseech the Lord that through his holy cross he save us from our sins and keep us in life by the grace of his mercy Almighty Lord our God, save and have mercy
The priest
16 Keep us in peace, o Christ our God, under the protection of thine holy and venerable cross: save us from enemies visible and invisible and account us worthy to glorify thee with thanksgiving with the Father and the Holy Ghost now and ever and world without end Amen
The deacon
17 I will alway give thanks unto the Lord his praise shall ever be in my mouth The priest making the sign of the cross over the people says aloud Be ye blessed with the grace of the Holy Ghost go in peace and the Lord be with you all. Amen.
The Eulogia
The clerks say
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord The humble shall hear thereof and be glad and the rest of Psalm xxxiv Glory be. Now and ever. and while the clerks sing the psalm the Neschkar is distributed. Then he turns to the east and bows three times before the holy table and says Lord Jesus, o God, have mercy upon me. Then going into the vestry he takes off his vestments and he comes before the altar and bows again three times and goes in peace.