The Rite of the Divine Mysteries

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The Rite of Preparation

 

 

The priest or deacon first puts on a stole in order to set apart and prepare bread and wine, which are placed on a table in the sacristy or in the sanctuary. 

 

Opening Prayer

 

Glory to you, O Most High who descended, put on the flesh of our humanity, fulfilled his plan for our salvation, in whose holy Passover broke his Body and mingled his Blood and gave us, who handed himself over to the passion and endured the shameful cross, and, by the Blood and water that poured forth from his side, absolved our sins and washed and cleansed our scars in his grace and mercy, Lord of all forever, amen.

 

Setting Apart the Bread

 

The priest signs the large host and the smaller hosts with the sign of the cross, from east to west and from north to south (thus is every signing to be done) while saying:

May this bread be set apart and signed, that it may become the pure matter in which the life-giving Mysteries are to be fulfilled and perfected, and so be offered upon the lordly throne for the pardon of debts and the forgiveness of sins, amen.

 

The Mixture of the Cup

 

He takes the vessel of pure wine in his right hand and the chalice in his left, saying:

“And one of the centurions struck the Lord in the side with a spear, and immediately Blood and water poured forth. The one who saw this has given witness, and his witness is true, and he knows and speaks the truth, so that you also may believe.”

 

He pours the wine into the chalice in the sign of the cross, saying:

May this wine be set apart and poured forth into the pure chalice, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

He takes the cruet of water and pours it into the chalice in the same manner (in the sign of the cross) saying:

May water mingle with wine and wine with water, that both may become one, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

He takes the vessel of wine again and pours it into the chalice, saying:

May the mixture of wine and water in this chalice be set apart and signed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

They place the paten on a table in the sanctuary, if the Service is for Ordinary days or Commemorations, or a table in the Bema if the Service is for Sundays or Feasts.

The Rite of the Divine Mysteries

For Ordinary Days

 

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The Rite of the Revelation

of Our Lord

 

Instruction: there should be a seat prepared in the sanctuary for the priest celebrant to sit on, a table for the tray of the Mysteries, and also a niche in which the book of the Gospels is placed. The priest leaves the sacristy in the vestments of the Service with the deacon preceding him. The assembly stands. When the priest nears the altar, he genuflects and stands, and begins:

 

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

He signs himself, raising his right hand slightly above, then to his chest, then from his right shoulder to his left; and thus is every sign of the cross made on oneself.

 

Opening Prayer

 

Priest: May the adorable and glorious Name of your glorious Trinity be adored, glorified, honored, exalted, confessed and blessed in heaven and on earth at all times, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

 

They answer: Amen.

 

He continues: Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain? Uphold me with pure intentions before your altar, O Lord.

 

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain?

Deacon: He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue.

Priest: He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbor.

Deacon: Who holds the godless in disdain, but honors those who fear the Lord.

Priest: He who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan.

Deacon: And accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm forever.

Priest: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, from age to age, amen, amen. Uphold me with pure intentions before your altar, O Lord.

Deacon: Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain? How lovely and glorious is your sanctuary, O God, holier than all!

 

 

 

***

If the Mysteries are being served after a liturgical prayer service,

they begin here:

 

 

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest places incense in the thurible, where possible, and prays the prayer of the Revelation of our Lord:

Our Lord and our God, make us worthy for our hearts to be delighted in your love, for our souls to be enlightened by the knowledge of your truth, for us to partake of the gift of salvation which you have bestowed upon us in your mercies, and for us to accept your manifestation from heaven with unveiled faces.

And for all your benefits and graces toward us that cannot be repaid, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your crowned Church, full of all benefits and blessings, for you are Lord and Creator of all, forever.

The priest goes and stands by the designated seat in the sanctuary.

They answer: Amen.

And say:

We give you thanks, O Lord of all,

we glorify you, Jesus Christ;

you raise our bodies into life,

you are the Savior of our souls.

Deacon: It is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praise to your Name, O Most High.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, from age to age, amen, amen.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

As soon as they begin singing, they open the outer veil.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer of “Lord of All”

Lord, you are truly the one who raises our bodies, the good Savior of our souls, and the constant guardian of our lives. It is thus our duty to thank, adore and glorify you who are Lord of all forever.

People: Amen.

 

The Rite

of the Word of God

 

The deacon turns toward the people and says:

Lift your voices, all you people, and glorify the living God.

They reply:

Holy God,

Holy Mighty One,

Holy Immortal One:

Have mercy on us.

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: From age to age, amen, amen.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer of “Holy God”

O Holy, Glorious, Mighty and Immortal One, who dwells in the saints and delights in them: we implore you: turn to us, O Lord, pardon us and have mercy on us as you always do: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever.

People: Amen. They sit.

 

Readings

 

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

Prayer before the Epistle

Make us wise, O Lord, in your law, enlighten our faculties with your knowledge, sanctify our souls in your truth, and let us be obeyers of your words and fulfillers of your commands at all times, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen.

The Epistle reader then begins, from the north side: Brethren, this is a Reading from the Letter of (Paul) the Apostle to __. Bless me, sir.

He turns to the priest and is blessed by him.

The priest answers: May Christ instruct you in his holy teaching and make you render a fine presentation to those who listen to you.

 

 

Gospel Procession

When the Epistle is finished, the deacon says: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

And continues: Halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah.

 

 

The priest goes to the niche to venerate the holy Gospel and bring it to the north side of the opening of the sanctuary while saying: Glory to the eternal mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, Light of the world and Life of all, forever, amen. The people stand.

The deacon then proclaims: Be silent and attentive.

The priest blesses the people with the Gospels, saying: Peace be with you.

People: With you and with your Spirit.

The priest says: The holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to ____.

People: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

Deacon: Amen. Be silent!

The priest reads the Gospel, and when finished he says:

Glory to God unceasingly.

They answer: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

The Rite of the Eucharist

[Here the deacon cries out:

Let him who has not received baptism go.

Let him who has not accepted the sign of life go.

Let him who will not receive it go; and let the hearers go and watch the doors.]

They begin the Responsory of the Mysteries:

Behold, my banquet is prepared, and everything is ready; come to the feast. Gather to him, his chosen ones.

Behold, you are invited to the new life of the forgiving Body and Blood: prepare yourselves! And, with spiritual hymns glorify and confess the King’s Son who descended to us and saved us by his cross, and gave us his Body and Blood in which all the saints rejoice, and cry out to him: holy, holy, holy Giver of life! Repeat.

The Washing of the Hands

 

While it is being said, the celebrating priest washes his hands, and he dries them, while saying silently:

May the Lord wash away the filth of our trespasses with the hyssop of his clemency, and blot out the spots of our sins with the sea of his mercy, amen.

 

Then: May the Lord cleanse the foulness of our sins and trespasses in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

The Entrance of the Celebrant to the Sanctuary

 

They open the inner veil of the altar, if there is one, and the priest goes to the middle of the sanctuary before the altar, in order to enter the Holy of Holies, offering three bows, approaching at each bow. With the first bow, he pleads thus and says:

When our hearts are sprinkled and purified from wicked intentions, we will be worthy of entering the high and exalted Holy of Holies, and purely and honorably, vigilantly and in holiness, stand before your holy altar and offer you a spiritual and intellectual sacrifice in true faith.

 

[He continues: For you are the Good One who neither keeps his anger nor guards his wrath forever. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt, in the greatness of your mercy: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.]

 

But if there is not enough time, he continues thus:

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all in his grace and mercy, forever, Amen.

 

When he reaches the altar, he kneels and arises, and kisses the center and the right and left corners. He then pleads thus, whispering with his lips:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may you not consider the multitude of our sins, and may your Majesty not loathe the heaviness of our wickedness. Rather, in your indescribable grace, accept this Sacrifice from our hands and, in it, grant strength and power, that our many sins may find atonement, and that when your beloved Son is revealed at the end of time in the humanity he betook of us, we will find favor and mercy before him, and be made worthy for praising him, with the intellectual assemblies.

 

 

The Presentation of the Mysteries

at the Altar

 

The deacon then brings the offerings from the table and holds them out to the priest. The priest takes them up to the altar in procession, while holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left, with his arms crossed.

And the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

The priest says in an audible voice: Let us lift up praise to your glorious Trinity at all times and forever.

The deacon answers: Amen.

The priest continues: May Christ, who was sacrificed for our salvation and commanded us to make a Memorial of his death, burial and resurrection, accept this Sacrifice from our hands in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

 

He hits the paten against the chalice three times and says:

By your command, our Lord and God (repeat) are these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries being set and arranged upon the altar of atonement until the second coming of our Lord from heaven, to whom be glory at all times and forever, amen.

He arranges the Mysteries upon the altar: the chalice on the north side and the paten on the south side, and he covers them securely with the veil.

 

 

 

They say the continuation of the Responsory of the Mysteries:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Let there be a remembrance of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God (or: Mother of Christ) upon the holy altar.

From age to age, amen, amen. Apostles of the Son and friends of the Only-Begotten: may they be remembered in the Church of Christ.

Let all the people say: amen, amen. Let there be a remembrance of Mar Toma or the patron of the church, if there is one, or the saint who is being commemorated upon the holy altar, with the just ones who triumphed and the martyrs who were crowned.

Behold! All of our beloved deceased have fallen asleep in your trust, that you may raise them in glory by your glorious resurrection. This Responsory is not to be changed at any Mass.

 

 

When the Responsory of the Mysteries with its additions is finished, the people say:

May this Offering be accepted with unveiled faces and sanctified by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, that it may be for our help and salvation and for everlasting life in the kingdom of heaven, in the grace of Christ.

General Preparation for Offering the Eucharist

The Symbol of Faith

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary and extends his hands with his face to the west, that is, toward the people, and he says in a loud voice: We believe. They all continue:

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of all that is visible and invisible;

and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God and first born of all creatures, who was begotten from his Father before all the ages and was not made: true God from true God, of the same substance as his Father, by whose hands the world was ordered and everything was created, who, for us men and for our salvation, descended from heaven, betook a body by the power of the Holy Spirit, was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary and became man, who suffered and was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate, who died, was buried and rose on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures, who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and who will come again to judge the dead and the living;

and in one Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father: the Giver of life; and in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

 

When the Creed is finished, the priest ascends to the altar, and offers a bow, while whispering this prayer on behalf of the priesthood with his lips:

Glory to you O Finder of the lost; glory to you O Gatherer of the deserted; glory to you O Recaller of the distant; glory to you O Returner of the wayward to the knowledge of the truth; glory to you, O Lord, who have called even me in my frailty, and have brought me close to yourself in your mercy, who have established me as a recognized member in the great body of your holy catholic Church, to offer this living, holy, and acceptable Sacrifice before you, which is the Remembrance of the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom you have delighted and been pleased to forgive the sins of all mankind.

 

If there is a bishop or other priests, he says to them: Bless me, sir; bless me, sir; bless me, sir.

And to all who are in the altar he says: Brethren, pray for me.

They answer him: May Christ hear your prayers, may Christ receive your Offering, may Christ illumine your priesthood (high priesthood).

When he reaches the front of the altar, he continues this Inclination quietly, and has his arms outstretched while he is inclined, and thus with every Inclination:

We acknowledge, O Lord, the overflowing richness of your favors toward us, for while we were yet sinners and unworthy, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made us worthy to serve the holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, as we ask help from you for the strengthening of our souls.

 

The Rite of Peace

When the priest reaches the altar, the deacons say:

Since we have now been called to participate in the Offering, let us give peace to one another, in accord with the command of Christ: peace that is pure and without deceit, the peace that our Savior gave to the blessed group of disciples.

The priest continues: That we may perform the service of your Gift to us in perfect love and true faith.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

The priest turns to the people, and says, signing: (♰) Peace be with you.

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

A deacon goes to the priest, who places his right hand on the Mysteries. The priest and deacon then share in the peace of our Lord while embracing hands, and each man kisses the top of his thumbs.

The deacon says to the people:

Brethren, give peace to each other in the love of Christ.

He gives peace to the faithful, and they share it in the same way, singing this Responsory, and they sit:

The mountains bear peace to your people. May peace and serenity increase for your people, O Peace of the World. O Christ, who came for our salvation: sow harmony among the children of the Church, that they may sing the glory of your Name with the angels; uphold priests, and pacify kings, and bring an end to wars to the ends of the earth; protect the assembly of your adorers, who invoke you at all times; visit the infirm in your grace, heal the sick in your mercy, and extend your helping hand to all the afflicted. O Lord, have pity on us!

 

 

The Diptychs

 

 

Here the deacon turns to the people and reads the Diptychs, that is, the Book of the Living and the Dead, and thus he begins:

Let us pray and plead from God the Lord for all the children of the Church, especially for:

and he names the special intentions for whose sake the Offering is offered.

He concludes: May this Offering be accepted for them and for us all, forever.

 

  

Preparation for the Sanctification

 

The priest silently repeats this supplication by Mar Narsai:

Lord God almighty, support me in my weakness by your mercy, and by the help of your grace, make me worthy to offer this holy and living Sacrifice before you, for the help of all the community and for the praise of your glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

 

 

Here the priest carefully removes the veil from the Mysteries and surrounds the chalice and paten with it.

 

 

 

He then offers:

The Quddasha of the Blessed Apostles

Composed by Mar Addai and Mar Mari

Evangelizers of the East

 

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest says, while facing the people: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now, at all times, and forever and ever.

People: Amen.

Priest (as he lifts up his arms): Lift up your minds.

The priest turns to the altar.

People: Toward you, O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, O Glorious King!

Priest (indicating the Myseries and lifting his arms): The Oblation is being offered to God the Lord of all. (♰) He signs the Mysteries.

The people reply: It is fit and right.

 

 

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart, with his arms extended above:

O Lord, O Lord: grant us unveiled faces before you, that we may complete this holy and living Service in the confidence that comes from you, while our intentions are purified from all evil and bitterness. Sow love and peace within us, and harmony toward each other and toward everyone.

 

Inclination

The priest says in an audible voice:

Glory to you, O adorable and glorious Name of the majestic Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the world in his grace and its inhabitants in his compassion, who redeemed mankind in his mercy and effected great grace toward mortals.

O Lord, thousands upon thousands of exalted beings and tens of thousands of holy angels adore and worship your Greatness. Legions of spiritual beings, ministers of fire and spirit, glorify your Name and, with the holy cherubim and spiritual seraphim, present adoration to your Lordship.

Make us also worthy to participate with these heavenly hosts as they cry out and glorify unceasingly, proclaiming one to another, saying:

 

Canon

The people answer: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! Heaven and earth are filled with his glories!

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who came and will come in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

During the season of Lent, instead of “Hosanna” they say:

And with the substance of his Being, and with the beauty of his glorious Radiance!

 

 

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart:

Holy are you, God the true Father, after whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named; holy are you, eternal Son by whom all things were made; holy are you, Holy Spirit, existing above all, by whom all things are sanctified. With every “holy are you” the priest bows before the altar.

Woe is me; woe is me, for I am bewildered! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and yet my eyes have seen the King and the Mighty Lord! How awesome is this place, where daily I see the Lord eye to eye! This cannot be but the house of God, and the very door to heaven!

Then let your grace be upon us, O Lord: purify our filthiness, sanctify our lips, and mingle, O Lord, our meager voices with the hallowing of the seraphim and the praises of the angels. Glory be to your mercies, who have given the earthly communion with the spiritual.

 

 

Inclination

Then, in an audible voice:

We give thanks to you O Lord, we your deficient, feeble and miserable servants, because you have done us a great favor that cannot be repaid, in that you put on our humanity in order to quicken us by your Divinity, you lifted up our lowliness, righted our fall, raised up our mortality, forgave our debts, made righteous our sinfulness, enlightened our understanding, defeated our enemies, and made our deficient nature triumphant through the overflowing mercies of your grace.

 

Canon

And for all your benefits and graces toward us, we lift up glory, honor, thanksgiving and adoration to you now, at all times, and forever and ever. (♰) He signs over the Mysteries.

 

People: Amen.

 

Deacon: Pray in your minds; peace be with us.

 

Supplication

The priest prays in an audible voice, with his arms extended above:

Lord God Almighty, accept this Offering for the sake of the whole universal Church, and for the sake of all your graces toward the perpetual virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother and her betrothed, the just man Saint Joseph, for the sake of all the just and righteous patriarchs who were pleasing before you, of all the apostles and prophets, all the martyrs and confessors, and on behalf of all our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), all bishops, priests, deacons, and the rest of the groups of the children of the Church, on behalf of all mourners and all the weary, all the needy and afflicted, all the sick and oppressed, all the faithful deceased who have departed and gone away from us, on behalf of this people which looks for and awaits your mercies, and on behalf of my frailty, my wretchedness, and my humbleness.

 

Or this Supplication, in an audible voice:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may this Offering be accepted on behalf of all the holy catholic Church, that she may be upheld and guarded without trembling, on behalf of our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), on behalf of the priests and authorities who stand firm for the peace of the Church and the serenity of countries, on behalf of the meek, the poor and the afflicted, and on behalf of mourners, the oppressed and those in pain, on behalf of all those who stand before your holy altar and ask for prayers through my sinfulness: answer their pleadings, absolve their debts and blot out their sins, on behalf of this land and all its inhabitants, on behalf of this city (or village) and those who dwell in it: surround it, O Lord, with a mighty rampart and in your grace deliver it from all scourges; may the invader not conquer us, nor the enemy rejoice over us, and on behalf of…

 

Deacon: Stand and pray in silence and awe.

The people stand.

 

 

 

Inclination

Through the Memorial of your Christ, O Lord, make, in your indescribable mercies, a gracious remembrance for all the upright and just fathers who have pleased you, the apostles, prophets and teachers, the martyrs and confessors, the bishops, priests and deacons, and all the children of the holy catholic Church: those who have been signed (♰) with the living sign of holy baptism. He signs the sign of the cross on the altar.

Indeed, our Lord and God, grant us your tranquility and peace all the days of the age, that all the dwellers of the earth may know that you alone are God, the true Father, that you have sent your Son and Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he, our Lord and God, taught us all purity and holiness in his life-giving Gospel.

 

Here the priest, while genuflecting, says:

And we also, O Lord, your deficient, feeble and miserable servants who are assembled in the Name of your Son, and who stand before you at this moment (here he stands), having received by tradition the example that comes from him, while rejoicing and glorifying, praising and magnifying, commemorate and perform this great, awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mystery of the passion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as he taught us:

 

 

 

For when the time came that he would suffer and approach death, on that night on which he was betrayed, he took bread into his holy hands (he takes the host into his hands) and, raising his eyes to you, his almighty Father, gave thanks and blessed. He broke and gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and eat of it: this is my Body, which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

 

Likewise, after they had eaten, he took the pure cup into his holy hands (he takes the chalice into his hands), gave thanks to you and blessed; he gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and drink from it: this is my Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

Priest: Whenever you do this, do it in remembrance of me.

They answer: Amen. (We believe and confess.)

 

The priest continues: Now, thus, as we are performing his Memorial as we have been commanded, and are offering his Body and Blood upon the holy and pure altar…

 

He lifts his arms above.

 

…may your Holy Spirit come, O Lord,

and rest upon this Oblation of your servants,

bless it and sanctify it,

that it may be for us, O Lord, for the pardon of debts and the forgiveness of sins, for the great hope of resurrection from the dead and for new life in the kingdom of heaven with all of those who have pleased you.

 

Canon

And for this whole great and marvelous plan for us, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your Church redeemed by the precious Blood of your Christ, with expressive mouths and unveiled faces, as we lift up praise, honor, thanksgiving and adoration he reverences the altar to your living, holy and life-giving Name now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs the Mysteries.

 

People: Amen.

 

They then sing this Responsory:

He offers an Oblation to God, and all the power of heaven stands above him.

When the priest enters before the holy altar,

he extends his hands to heaven in purity.

He invites the Spirit, who descends from above

and sanctifies the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

While the priest silently says this Supplication:

Christ, the peace of the heavenly and the great tranquility of the earthly: make, O Lord, your peace and tranquility dwell over the four corners of the world, and especially in your holy catholic Church. Reconcile the priesthood and the kingship, and blot out wars from the edges of the earth. Disengage opposing nations who desire war, that we may dwell in a peaceful and pleasant world in all respect and fear of God.

 

The Breaking and Signing Rite

 

[The priest prays this Inclination silently:

I give you thanks, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, for while I was yet a sinner and deficient, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made me worthy in your grace to offer before you these awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Christ, that I may minister, for your people and the sheep of your flock, the remission of their debts, the forgiveness of their sins, the salvation of their souls, the reconciliation of the whole world and the peace and tranquility of all churches.]

Here the deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest draws near to the altar and says:

Our Lord and our God, may the mercy of your grace draw us near to these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, unworthy though we are.

 

Thrice: first, when he is standing in front of the altar; second, from the north side of the altar, that is, to the left of the priest; third, from the east side, with his face to the people. At the end of each time, he bows and kisses the altar with his arms folded upon his chest as a cross. If it is impossible for the priest to circle the altar, he kisses the middle, then the north and south sides. 

 

The deacon answers: Unworthy though we truly are.

 

The priest then stands and takes the large Host up with both his hands, lifting it up while looking at it, and touches it between his eyes and kisses it in the sign of the cross – not touching it to his lips, but symbolically.

He says audibly: Glory to you, Living and Life-Giving Bread that descended from heaven and gives life to the world in its totality: those who eat of it will not die, and who partake of it will be forgiven and saved, and through it will live forever.

They answer: Amen.

 

He continues: With true faith in your Name, O Lord, we draw near to these holy Mysteries. In your mercy we break and in your compassion we sign the Body and Blood of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

Upon the naming of the Trinity, he breaks the large Host which is in his hands into two halves, and puts the half in his left hand on the paten facing the chalice.

They answer: Amen.

 

He says: The precious Blood is signed with the life-giving Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

He signs, with the half in his hand, the Blood, immersing one third.

 

They answer: Amen.

He then says: The holy Body is signed with the forgiving Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

With the half in his hand he signs the half on the paten, and lays it down, with the immersed portion facing east.

They answer: Amen.

The priest shows the people the holy Mysteries, holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left. He says, in an audible voice:

These life-giving Mysteries have been set apart, sanctified, perfected, completed, united, mingled, brought together and sealed in the adorable Name of the glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Here they say the Responsory “Cherubim, seraphim,” [while the priest continues silently: that they may be, O Lord, for the remission of our debts, the forgiveness of our sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead and a new life in the kingdom of heaven, for us and for the holy Church of Christ our Lord, here and in every place, now, at all times, and forever and ever.]

The priest places them upon the altar and reverences and stands and kisses it in the middle, then returns to the west side of the altar with his face to the people. He straightens the chalice veil which was around the paten and chalice, putting it on the side of the chalice.

 

The people sit and sing this Responsory:

Praise him, all his angels.

Cherubim, seraphim and archangels

stand before the altar in awe and reverence

gazing at the priest (high priest) who breaks and divides

the Body of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

The Communion Rite

The priest then, facing the people, cries out joyfully, in a loud voice:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all; now, at all times, and forever and ever. He turns to the east.

The deacon proclaims:

Let us all, with awe and respect, approach the Mystery of the precious Body and Blood of our Savior. With a pure heart and true faith, let us recall his passion and draw comfort from his resurrection. It was for us that the Only-Begotten of God betook of man a mortal body and a rational, intellectual and immortal soul. By his life-giving laws and holy commandments, he led us from error to the knowledge of the truth. After having fulfilled his entire plan for us, the First-Born of our race endured the cross, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He handed his holy Mysteries over to us, in which we ought to recall all his goodness to us.

Let us thus, with abounding love and humble will, receive the Gift of eternal life. With sincere prayer and contritional sorrow, let us participate in the Mysteries of the Church. In penitential hope, let us quit our wrongdoings and repent of our sins, and ask mercy and forgiveness from God the Lord of all, as we forgive the faults of our brethren.

They answer: O Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants. Let us cleanse our intentions of all divisions and conflicts. O Lord, forgive…As our souls are purified of hatred and hostility, O Lord, forgive… we shall receive the Holy and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. O Lord, forgive… United and with one accord, let us receive the Communion of the Mysteries. O Lord, forgive… That they may be for us, O Lord, for the resurrection of our bodies, the salvation of our souls. And for life everlasting.

While this is being said, the priest breaks the Body and prepares the broken pieces for Communion, and he moistens the particles for the children.

 

When the proclamation is finished, the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

The priest recites this in an audible voice with extended arms:

Prayer Before the Our Father

Forgive in your mercy, O Lord, the sins and faults of your servants and sanctify our lips in your grace, that we may bear fruits of praise to your exalted Divinity with all your saints in your kingdom.

And make us worthy, our Lord and God, to stand always before you without fault, with pure hearts and unveiled faces. And, in that confidence that you have granted us all in your mercy, we call together upon you and say thus:

They answer:

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 evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

 

He continues: Indeed, Lord God Almighty, our Good God and our Father full of mercies, we plead and supplicate the immensity of your mercy: do not, O Lord, do not, O Lord, lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one and his hosts, for yours are the kingdom, the power, the strength, the greatness and the authority in heaven and on earth, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs himself.

They answer: Amen.

 

The priest turns to the people and says: Peace be with you (♰).

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

 

He continues, while indicating the Holy to the people: The Holy is fit for the holy ones living in accord.

They answer: One Holy Father, one Holy Son, and one Holy Spirit: glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit forever and ever, amen.

 

The deacon says to the people: Give glory to the living God.

 

The priest places the Host above the chalice with his left hand, and shows it to the people.

They answer: Glory be to him in his Church, and may his mercies and his compassion be upon us at all times and ages.

 

 

They say the Responsory:

The poor will eat and be filled.

The Body of Christ and his precious Blood are upon the holy altar. Let us all approach him with awe and love, and with the angels let us sing to him: holy, holy, holy is the Lord God.

 

 

 

 

The priest approaches the paten and prays, thrice:

Sanctify our bodies by your holy Body; forgive our sins by your precious Blood; purify our intentions with the hyssop of your mercy: O Christ, the hope of our race forever.

 

He takes up the Holy in his hands and says:

I, though unworthy, am holding the Lord Christ. Show the richness of your mercy in me, O Lord, and the great power of your awesome Mystery, unworthy though I am. He communicates.

 

He then takes hold of the chalice and says:

O heavenly Bridegroom, you have prepared the cup of your precious Blood at your banquet for the assembly of your guests. From this very cup you have offered me, a sinner, to drink. Glory be to you for your indescribable love. He receives.

 

When the priest communicates, the deacon cries out: Bless us, sir.

 

The priest shows the people the Holy while saying with an audible voice:

 

May the graceful Gift of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, be consummated in all of us by his mercies.

 

They answer: Forever and ever, amen.

 

 

The same deacon cries out: Brethren, receive the Body of the Son, says the Church, and drink his Cup with faith in his kingdom.

The communicants approach to participate, while first extending their hands over incense where possible. Thus do they approach: the clergy, i.e. the bishops, priests and deacons. They take Communion at the altar, approaching according to their ranks, each of them receiving the Living Body from the hand of the celebrant and the Pure Cup from the hand of the deacon.

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary while holding the ciborium, and with him the deacon carrying the chalice. After this, the subdeacons, lectors and the other communicants approach the opening of the sanctuary in order to receive. The communicant extends his hands in the figure of the cross, and the priest places the Body upon the right hand of the communicant while saying:

The Body of our Lord, or The Body of Christ, or The Body of Christ the King (for the venerable bishop, or for the reverend priest, or for the deacon of God, or for the noble believer), for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting.

The communicant responds: Amen.

Bowing his head, he venerates the Holy and receives it.

The deacon at the chalice says: The Blood of our Lord, or The Blood of Christ, or The precious Blood for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting, or Spiritual Drink (for each according to his rank) for life everlasting.

The communicant replies: Amen. He drinks.

The Host may also be administered by intinction, in which case the priest places the Host in the mouth of the communicant, while saying: The Body and Blood of Christ for the noble believer for the forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life.

 

While the Holy is being distributed, they sing a Communion hymn.

 

 

 

And afterward, the hymn of thanksgiving by Mar Timatheus, Catholicos:

O Lord, let the Mystery which we have received in faith

be for us for the forgiveness of sins.

You, O Christ, king of the world,

are the likeness of a servant and of the Maker.

By your Body and Blood, you absolved and forgave

the sins and faults of all who believe in you.

Make us all worthy to come out to meet you

  confidently at your manifestation,

and, with the ranks of the heavenly,

lift up praise. Amen, amen.

Once the people have taken the Holy, the priest faces the altar and the deacon proclaims this with his face to the people:

As we were made worthy, brethren, through the gift of grace of the Holy Spirit, to approach and participate in these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, let us all unanimously thank and glorify God, who has given them.

They answer: Glory to him for his indescribable Gift.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

The priest prays in an audible voice:

It is our duty, O Lord, to lift up glory, honor, confession, adoration and constant thanksgiving to your glorious Trinity, for the gift of the holy Mysteries which you have given us in your mercy for the forgiveness of our sins, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

 

 

He prays the other:

Blessed be your adorable Honor from your exalted place, O Forgiver of our debts and sins, and the Overcomer of our faults in his glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries: O Christ, the hope of our race, forever.

 

They sing the Responsory:

Blessed are your Body and Blood, O Lord, which you have given for the forgiveness of the nations, and in which you have sanctified our race to sing praise to your Majesty: halleluiah, halleluiah.

 

Deacon: Bless us, sir.

 

The priest goes out and stands at the opening of the altar, on the right side of the sanctuary, and blesses the people.

 

 

Final Blessing

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we have served, extolled and honored in his glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, make us worthy for radiant glory in his kingdom, for delight with his holy angels, for unveiled faces before him, for position at his right hand in the Jerusalem above, through his grace and mercies. To him be glory, and upon us and all creatures may the right hand of his providence rest, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs the people.

 

 

Another

 

To him who absolved our debts with his Body and blotted out our sins with his Blood be glory in his Church. Upon you, O people of the Lord and sheep of his flock, may his benefits overflow and within your houses may his blessings and gifts pour down. May our Lord and God deliver you from the evil one and his hosts; by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, may you be sealed and protected from all hidden and manifest harm, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever.

 

Another

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Body we have taken from the paten and whose Blood we have drunk from the chalice, make us worthy, with the thief, to sing him glory in paradise, with the just ones who fulfill his will in the Jerusalem above, for he is the Messiah, the hope of our race, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever.

 

 

܀ End ܀

The priest prays a prayer of thanksgiving.

The Rite of the Divine Mysteries

For Commemorations and Funerals

 

܀ ܀ ܀

 

The Rite of the Revelation

of Our Lord

 

Instruction: there should be a seat prepared in the sanctuary for the priest celebrant to sit on, a table for the tray of the Mysteries, and also a niche in which the book of the Gospels is placed. The priest leaves the sacristy in the vestments of the Service with the deacon preceding him. The assembly stands. When the priest nears the altar, he genuflects and stands, and begins:

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

He signs himself, raising his right hand slightly above, then to his chest, then from his right shoulder to his left; and thus is every sign of the cross made on oneself.

 

He continues: Glory to God in the highest (thrice); peace on earth, and good hope to men, at all times and forever.

They answer: Bless us, sir. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

The priest continues: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

They answer: From age to age, amen, amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

Deacon: Peace be with us.

 

The priest says the Preface: It is right at all times us to thank, adore and glorify the great and awesome, holy and blessed, felicitous and incomprehensible Name of your glorious Trinity, and your grace toward our race, O Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen.

 

 

***

If the Mysteries are being served after a liturgical prayer service,

they begin here:

 

They then say the Responsory of the Sanctuary, if there is one assigned.

 

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest places incense in the thurible where possible, and prays the prayer of the Revelation of our Lord:

Our Lord and our God, make us worthy for our hearts to be delighted in your love, for our souls to be enlightened by the knowledge of your truth, for us to partake of the gift of salvation which you have bestowed upon us in your mercies, and for us to accept your manifestation from heaven with unveiled faces.  

And for all your benefits and graces toward us that cannot be repaid, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your crowned Church, full of all benefits and blessings, for you are Lord and Creator of all, forever.

 

The priest goes and stands by the designated seat in the Sanctuary.

 

They answer: Amen.

And say:

We give you thanks, O Lord of all,

we glorify you, Jesus Christ;

you raise our bodies into life,

you are the Savior of our souls.

Deacon: It is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praise to your Name, O Most High.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, from age to age, amen, amen.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

 

As soon as they begin singing “Lord of all,” they open the outer veil.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer of “Lord of All”

Lord, you are truly the one who raises our bodies, the good Savior of our souls, and the constant guardian of our lives. It is thus our duty to thank, adore and glorify you who are Lord of all forever.

 

People: Amen.

 

The Rite

of the Word of God

 

The deacon turns toward the people and says:

Lift your voices, all you people, and glorify the living God.

They reply:

Holy God,

Holy Mighty One,

Holy Immortal One:

Have mercy on us.

Deacon: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: From age to age, amen, amen.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer of “Holy God”

O Holy, Glorious, Mighty and Immortal One, who dwells in the saints and delights in them: we implore you: turn to us, O Lord, pardon us and have mercy on us as you always do: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever.

People: Amen. They sit.

 

Readings

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

 

 

Prayer before the Epistle

Make us wise, O Lord, in your law, enlighten our faculties with your knowledge, sanctify our souls in your truth, and let us be obeyers of your words and fulfillers of your commands at all times, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen.

 

The Epistle reader then begins, from the north side: Brethren, this is a Reading from the Letter of (Paul) the Apostle to _____. Bless me, sir. He turns to the priest and is blessed by him.

The priest answers: May Christ instruct you in his holy teaching and make you render a fine presentation to those who listen to you.

 

Gospel Procession

When the Epistle is finished, the deacon says: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

And continues: Halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah.

The priest goes to the niche to venerate the holy Gospel and bring it to the north side of the opening of the sanctuary while saying: Glory to the eternal mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, Light of the world and Life of all, forever, amen. The people stand.

The deacon then proclaims: Be silent and attentive.

The priest blesses the people with the Gospels, saying: Peace be with you.

People: With you and with your Spirit.

The priest says: The holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to ____

People: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

Deacon: Amen. Be silent!

 

The priest reads the Gospel, and when finished he says:

Glory to God unceasingly.

They answer: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

 

Sermon: On Commemorations, after the Gospel, the deacon says: Be seated and silent. They are seated, and the priest preaches the sermon.

 

 

The Rite of the Eucharist

[Here the deacon cries out:

Let him who has not received baptism go.

Let him who has not accepted the sign of life go.

Let him who will not receive it go; and let the hearers go and watch the doors.]

They begin the Responsory of the Mysteries if there is one in the Propers, or that of ordinary days: “Behold, you are invited to the new life…” and they repeat it.

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

In Masses for the Deceased, they say the Responsory:

For you are a priest forever (repeat). And the absolver of his land and his people.

O High Priest of our religion and our Absolver, O Christ who became an acceptable and unspotted sacrifice for our sake: from you we ask forgiveness of debts when your judgment-seat is established. Indeed, you became acquainted with the suffering of our nature, in which you suffered and were tried, for our salvation.

 _______________________________________________________________

 

The Washing of the Hands

While the Responsory is being said, the celebrating priest washes his hands, and he dries them, while saying silently:

May the Lord wash away the filth of our trespasses with the hyssop of his clemency, and blot out the spots of our sins with the sea of his mercy, amen.

Then: May the Lord cleanse the foulness of our sins and trespasses in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

 

The Entrance of the Celebrant to the Sanctuary

They open the inner veil of the altar, if there is one, and the priest goes to the middle of the sanctuary before the altar, in order to enter the Holy of Holies, offering three bows, approaching at each bow. With the first bow, he pleads thus and says:

When our hearts are sprinkled and purified from wicked intentions, we will be worthy of entering the high and exalted Holy of Holies, and purely and honorably, vigilantly and in holiness, stand before your holy altar and offer you a spiritual and intellectual sacrifice in true faith.

 

[He continues: For you are the Good One who neither keeps his anger nor guards his wrath forever. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt, in the greatness of your mercy: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.]

 

But if there is not enough time, he continues thus: May the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all in his grace and mercy, forever, Amen.

 

 

When he reaches the altar, he kneels and arises, and kisses the center and the right and left corners. He then pleads thus, whispering with his lips:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may you not consider the multitude of our sins, and may your Majesty not loathe the heaviness of our wickedness. Rather, in your indescribable grace, accept this Sacrifice from our hands and, in it, grant strength and power, that our many sins may find atonement, and that when your beloved Son is revealed at the end of time in the humanity he betook of us, we will find favor and mercy before him, and be made worthy for praising him, with the intellectual assembly.

 

 

The Presentation of the Mysteries

at the Altar

 

The deacon then brings the offerings from the table and holds them out to the priest. The priest takes them up to the altar in procession, while holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left, with his arms crossed.

And the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

The priest says in an audible voice: Let us lift up praise to your glorious Trinity at all times and forever.

The deacon answers: Amen.

 

The priest continues: May Christ, who was sacrificed for our salvation and commanded us to make a Memorial of his death, burial and resurrection, accept this Sacrifice from our hands in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

He hits the paten against the chalice three times and says:

By your command, our Lord and God (repeat) are these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries being set and arranged upon the altar of atonement until the second coming of our Lord from heaven, to whom be glory at all times and forever, amen.

 

He arranges the mysteries upon the altar: the chalice on the north side and the paten on the south side, and he covers them securely with the veil.

 

They say the continuation of the Responsory of the Mysteries:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Let there be a remembrance of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God (or: Mother of Christ) upon the holy altar.

From age to age, amen, amen. Apostles of the Son and friends of the Only-Begotten: may they be remembered in the Church of Christ.

Let all the people say: amen, amen. Let there be a remembrance of Mar Toma or the patron of the church, if there is one, or the saint who is being commemorated upon the holy altar, with the just ones who triumphed and the martyrs who were crowned.

Behold! All of our beloved deceased have fallen asleep in your trust, that you may raise them in glory by your glorious resurrection. This Responsory is not to be changed at any Mass.

_______________________________________________________________

 

For Funeral Masses, the deacon here proclaims this with his face to the people:

 

When the Responsory of the Mysteries with its additions is finished, the people say:

May this offering be accepted with unveiled faces and sanctified by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, that it may be for our help and salvation and for everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the grace of Christ.

 

 

General Preparation for Offering the Eucharist

The Symbol of Faith

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary and extends his hands with his face to the west, that is, toward the people, and he says in a loud voice: We believe. They all continue:

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of all that is visible and invisible;

and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God and first born of all creatures, who was begotten from his Father before all the ages and was not made: true God from true God, of the same substance as his Father, by whose hands the world was ordered and everything was created, who, for us men and for our salvation, descended from Heaven, betook a body by the power of the Holy Spirit, was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary and became man, who suffered and was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate, who died, was buried and rose on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures, who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and who will come again to judge the dead and the living;

and in one Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father: the Giver of life; and in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

 

 

When the Creed is finished, the priest ascends to the altar, and offers a bow, while whispering this prayer on behalf of the priesthood with his lips:

Glory to you O Finder of the lost; glory to you O Gatherer of the deserted; glory to you O Recaller of the distant; glory to you O Returner of the wayward to the knowledge of the truth; glory to you, O Lord, who have called even me in my frailty, and have brought me close to yourself in your mercy, who have established me as a recognized member in the great body of your holy catholic Church, to offer this living, holy, and acceptable Sacrifice before you, which is the Remembrance of the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom you have delighted and been pleased to forgive the sins of all mankind.

If there is a bishop or other priests, he says to them: Bless me, sir; bless me, sir; bless me, sir.

And to all who are in the altar he says: Brethren, pray for me.

 

They answer him: May Christ hear your prayers, may Christ receive your Offering, may Christ illumine your priesthood (high priesthood).

When he reaches the front of the altar, he continues this Inclination quietly, and has his arms outstretched while he is inclined, and thus with every Inclination:

We acknowledge, O Lord, the overflowing richness of your favors toward us, for while we were yet sinners and unworthy, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made us worthy to serve the holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, as we ask help from you for the strengthening of our souls.

The Rite of Peace

When the priest reaches the altar, the deacons say:

Since we have now been called to participate in the Offering, let us give peace to one another, in accord with the command of Christ: peace that is pure and without deceit, the peace that our Savior gave to the blessed group of disciples.

The priest continues: That we may perform the service of your Gift to us in perfect love and true faith.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

The priest turns to the people, and says, while signing: (♰) Peace be with you.

 

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

 

A deacon goes to the priest, who places his right hand on the Mysteries. The priest and deacon then share in the peace of our Lord while embracing hands, and each man kisses the top of his thumbs.

The deacon says to the people: Brethren, give peace to each other in the love of Christ.

 

He gives peace to the faithful, and they share in it in the same manner and sing this Responsory, and sit:

The mountains bear peace to your people. May peace and serenity increase for your people, O Peace of the World. O Christ, who came for our salvation: sow harmony among the children of the Church, that they may sing the glory of your Name with the angels; uphold priests, and pacify kings, and bring an end to wars to the ends of the earth; protect the assembly of your adorers, who invoke you at all times; visit the infirm in your grace, heal the sick in your mercy, and extend your helping hand to all the afflicted. O Lord, have pity on us!

 

 

The Diptychs

 

 

Here the deacon turns to the people and reads the Diptychs, that is, the Book of the Living and the Dead, and thus he begins:

Let us pray and plead from God the Lord for all the children of the Church, especially for: and he names the special intentions for whose sake the Offering is offered.

 

He concludes: May this Offering be accepted for them and for us all, forever.

 

Preparation for the Sanctification

The priest silently repeats this supplication by Mar Narsai:

Lord God almighty, support me in my weakness by your mercy, and by the help of your grace, make me worthy to offer this holy and living Sacrifice before you, for the help of all the community and for the glory of your glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

Here the priest carefully removes the veil from the Mysteries and surrounds the chalice and paten with it.

 

 

 

He then offers:

The Quddasha of the Blessed Apostles

Composed by Mar Addai and Mar Mari

Evangelizers of the East

 

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest says, while facing the people: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now, at all times, and forever and ever.

 

People: Amen.

 

Priest (as he lifts up his arms): Lift up your minds. The priest turns to the altar.

People: Toward you, O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, O Glorious King!

Priest (indicating the Myseries and lifting his arms): The Oblation is being offered to God the Lord of all. (♰) He signs the Mysteries.

The people reply: It is fit and right.

 

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart, with his arms extended above:

O Lord, O Lord: grant us unveiled faces before you, that we may complete this holy and living Service in the confidence that comes from you, while our intentions are purified from all evil and bitterness. Sow love and peace within us, and harmony toward each other and toward everyone.

Inclination

The priest says in an audible voice:

Glory to you, O adorable and glorious Name of the majestic Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the world in his grace and its inhabitants in his compassion, who redeemed mankind in his mercy and effected great grace toward mortals.

O Lord, thousands upon thousands of exalted beings and tens of thousands of holy angels adore and worship your Greatness. Legions of spiritual beings, ministers of fire and spirit, glorify your Name and, with the holy cherubim and spiritual seraphim, present adoration to your Lordship.

Make us also worthy to participate with these heavenly hosts as they cry out and glorify unceasingly, proclaiming one to another, saying:

 

Canon

The people answer: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! Heaven and Earth are filled with his glories!

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who came and will come in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

During the season of Lent, instead of “Hosanna” they say:

And with the substance of his being, and with the beauty of his glorious Radiance!

 

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart:

Holy are you, God the true Father, after whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named; holy are you, eternal Son by whom all things were made; holy are you, Holy Spirit, existing above all, by whom all things are sanctified. With every “holy are you” the priest bows before the altar.

Woe is me; woe is me, for I am bewildered! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and yet my eyes have seen the King and the Mighty Lord! How awesome is this place, where daily I see the Lord eye to eye! This cannot be but the house of God, and the very door to Heaven!

 

Then let your grace be upon us, O Lord: purify our filthiness, sanctify our lips, and mingle, O Lord, our meager voices with the hallowing of the seraphim and the praises of the angels. Glory be to your mercies, who have given the earthly communion with the spiritual.

 

Inclination

Then, in an audible voice:

We give thanks to you O Lord, we your deficient, feeble and miserable servants, because you have done us a great favor that cannot be repaid, in that you put on our humanity in order to quicken us by your Divinity, you lifted up our lowliness, righted our fall, raised up our mortality, forgave our debts, made righteous our sinfulness, enlightened our understanding, defeated our enemies, and made our deficient nature triumphant through the overflowing mercies of your grace.

Canon

And for all your benefits and graces toward us, we lift up glory, honor, thanksgiving and adoration to you now, at all times, and forever and ever. (♰) He signs over the Mysteries.

People: Amen.

Deacon: Pray in your minds; peace be with us.

Supplication

The priest prays in an audible voice, with his arms extended above:

Lord God Almighty, accept this Offering for the sake of the whole universal Church, and for the sake of all your graces toward the perpetual virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother and her betrothed, the just man Saint Joseph, for the sake of all the just and righteous patriarchs who were pleasing before you, of all the apostles and prophets, all the martyrs and confessors, and on behalf of all our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), all bishops, priests, deacons, and the rest of the groups of the children of the Church, on behalf of all mourners and all the weary, all the needy and afflicted, all the sick and oppressed, all the faithful deceased who have departed and gone away from us, on behalf of this people which looks for and awaits your mercies, and on behalf of my frailty, my wretchedness, and my humbleness.

 

Or this Supplication, in an audible voice:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may this Offering be accepted on behalf of all the holy catholic Church, that she may be upheld and guarded without trembling, on behalf of our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), on behalf of priests and authorities, that they may stand firm for the peace of the Church and the serenity of countries, on behalf of the meek, the poor and the afflicted, and on behalf of mourners, the oppressed and those in pain, on behalf of all those who stand before your holy altar and ask for prayers through my sinfulness: answer their pleadings, absolve their debts and blot out their sins, on behalf of this land and all its inhabitants, on behalf of this city (or village) and those who dwell in it: surround it, O Lord, with a mighty rampart and in your grace deliver it from all scourges; may the invader not conquer us, nor the enemy rejoice over us, and on behalf of…

 

Deacon: Stand and pray in silence and awe.

The people stand.

 

 

Inclination

Through the Memorial of your Christ, O Lord, make, in your indescribable mercies, a gracious remembrance for all the upright and just fathers who have pleased you, the apostles, prophets and teachers, the martyrs and confessors, the bishops, priests and deacons, and all the children of the holy catholic Church: those who have been signed (♰) with the living sign of holy baptism. He signs the sign of the cross on the altar.

Indeed, our Lord and God, grant us your tranquility and peace all the days of the age, that all the dwellers of the earth may know that you alone are God, the true Father, that you have sent your Son and Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he, our Lord and God, taught us all purity and holiness in his life-giving Gospel.

 

 

Here the priest, while genuflecting, says:

And we also, O Lord, your deficient, feeble and miserable servants who are assembled in the Name of your Son, and who stand before you at this moment (here he stands), having received by tradition the example that comes from him, while rejoicing and glorifying, praising and magnifying, commemorate and perform this great, awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mystery of the passion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as he taught us:

For when the time came that he would suffer and approach death, on that night on which he was betrayed, he took bread into his holy hands (he takes the host into his hands) and, raising his eyes to you, his almighty Father, gave thanks and blessed. He broke and gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and eat of it: this is my Body, which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

Likewise, after they had eaten, he took the pure cup into his holy hands (he takes the chalice into his hands), gave thanks to you and blessed; he gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and drink from it: this is my Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

Priest: Whenever you do this, do it in remembrance of me.

They answer: Amen. (We believe and confess.)

 The priest continues: Now, thus, as we are performing his Memorial as we have been commanded, and are offering his Body and Blood upon the holy and pure altar…

He lifts his arms above.

…may your Holy Spirit come, O Lord,

and rest upon this Oblation of your servants,

bless it and sanctify it,

that it may be for us, O Lord, for the pardon of debts and the forgiveness of sins, for the great hope of resurrection from the dead and for new life in the kingdom of heaven with all of those who have pleased you.

 

Canon

And for this whole great and marvelous plan for us, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your Church redeemed by the precious Blood of your Christ, with expressive mouths and unveiled faces, as we lift up praise, honor, thanksgiving and adoration (he reverences the altar) to your living, holy and life-giving Name now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs the Mysteries.

 

People: Amen.

 

They then sing this Responsory:

He offers an Oblation to God, and all the power of heaven stands above him.

When the priest enters before the holy altar,

he extends his hands to heaven in purity.

He invites the Spirit, who descends from above

and sanctifies the Body and Blood of Christ.

While the priest silently says this Supplication:

Christ, the peace of the heavenly and the great tranquility of the earthly: make, O Lord, your peace and tranquility dwell over the four corners of the world, and especially in your holy catholic Church. Reconcile the priesthood and the kingship, and blot out wars from the edges of the earth. Disengage opposing nations who desire war, that we may dwell in a peaceful and pleasant world in all respect and fear of God.

The Breaking and Signing Rite

[The priest prays this Inclination silently:

I give you thanks, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, for while I was yet a sinner and deficient, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made me worthy in your grace to offer before you these awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Christ, that I may minister, for your people and the sheep of your flock, the remission of their debts, the forgiveness of their sins, the salvation of their souls, the reconciliation of the whole world and the peace and tranquility of all churches.]

Here the deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest draws near to the altar and says:

Our Lord and our God, may the mercy of your grace draw us near to these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, unworthy though we are.

 

Thrice: first, when he is standing in front of the altar; second, from the north side of the altar, that is, to the left of the priest; third, from the east side, with his face to the people. At the end of each time, he bows and kisses the altar with his arms folded upon his chest as a cross. If it is impossible for the priest to circle the altar, he kisses the middle, then the north and south sides. 

 

The deacon answers: Unworthy though we truly are.

 

The priest then stands and takes the large Host up with both his hands, lifts it up while looking upon it, touches it between his eyes and kisses it in the sign of the cross – not touching it to his lips, but symbolically.

 

He says audibly: Glory to you, Living and Life-Giving Bread that descended from heaven and gives life to the world in its totality: those who eat of it will not die, and who partake of it will be forgiven and saved, and through it will live forever.  

They answer: Amen.

 

He continues: With true faith in your Name, O Lord, we draw near to these holy Mysteries. In your mercy we break and in your compassion we sign the Body and Blood of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Upon the naming of the Trinity, he breaks the large Host which is in his hands into two halves, and puts the half in his left hand on the paten facing the chalice.

 

They answer: Amen.

 

He says: The precious Blood is signed with the life-giving Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

He signs, with the half in his hand, the Blood, immersing one third.

They answer: Amen.

He then says: The holy Body is signed with the forgiving Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

With the half in his hand he signs the half on the paten, and lays it down, with the immersed portion facing east.

They answer: Amen.

The priest shows the people the holy Mysteries, holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left. He says, in an audible voice:

These life-giving Mysteries have been set apart, sanctified, perfected, completed, united, mingled, brought together and sealed in the adorable Name of the glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Here they say the Responsory [while the priest continues silently: that they may be, O Lord, for the remission of our debts, the forgiveness of our sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead and a new life in the kingdom of heaven, for us and for the holy Church of Christ our Lord, here and in every place, now, at all times, and forever and ever.]

The priest places them upon the altar and reverences then stands and kisses it in the middle, then returns to the west side of the altar with his face to the people. He straightens the chalice veil which was around the paten and chalice, putting it on the side of the chalice.

 

The people sit and sing this Responsory:

 

 

Praise him, all his angels.

Cherubim, seraphim and archangels

stand before the altar in awe and reverence

gazing at the priest (high priest) who breaks and divides

the Body of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

In Masses for the Deceased they say:

Bread sustains the heart of man.

“I am the Bread that came down from Heaven,”

said our Lord to his chosen disciples.

“Whoever eats me with a pure heart

will indeed inherit the kingdom without end.”

____________________________________________

The Communion Rite

The priest then facing people cries out joyfully, in a loud voice:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all; now, at all times, and forever and ever. He turns to the east.

The deacon proclaims:

Let us all, with awe and respect, approach the Mystery of the precious Body and Blood of our Savior. With a pure heart and true faith, let us recall his passion and draw comfort from his resurrection. It was for us that the Only-Begotten of God betook of man a mortal body and a rational, intellectual and immortal soul. By his life-giving laws and holy commandments, he led us from error to the knowledge of the truth. After having fulfilled his entire plan for us, the First-Born of our race endured the cross, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He handed his holy Mysteries over to us, in which we ought to recall all his goodness to us.

Let us thus, with abounding love and humble will, receive the Gift of eternal life. With sincere prayer and contritional sorrow, let us participate in the Mysteries of the Church. In penitential hope, let us quit our wrongdoings and repent of our sins, and ask mercy and forgiveness from God the Lord of all, as we forgive the faults of our brethren.

They answer: O Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants. Let us cleanse our intentions of all divisions and conflicts. O Lord, forgive…As our souls are purified of hatred and hostility, O Lord, forgive… we shall receive the Holy and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. O Lord, forgive… United and with one accord, let us receive the Communion of the Mysteries. O Lord, forgive… That they may be for us, O Lord, for the resurrection of our bodies, the salvation of our souls. And for life everlasting.

 

While this is being said, the priest breaks the Body and prepares the broken pieces for Communion, and he moistens the particles for the children.

When the proclamation is finished, the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

The priest recites this in an audible voice with extended arms:

 

Prayer Before the Our Father

Forgive in your mercy, O Lord, the sins and faults of your servants and sanctify our lips in your grace, that we may bear fruits of praise to your exalted Divinity with all your saints in your kingdom.

And make us worthy, our Lord and God, to stand always before you without fault, with pure hearts and unveiled faces. And, in that confidence that you have granted us all in your mercy, we call together upon you and say thus:

 

They answer:  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 evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

He continues: Indeed, Lord God Almighty, our Good God and our Father full of mercies, we plead and supplicate the immensity of your mercy: do not, O Lord, do not, O Lord, lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one and his hosts, for yours are the kingdom, the power, the strength, the greatness and the authority in heaven and on earth, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs himself.

They answer: Amen.

The priest turns to the people and says: Peace be with you (♰).

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

He continues, while indicating the Holy to the people: The Holy is fit for the holy ones living in accord.

They answer: One Holy Father, one Holy Son, and one Holy Spirit: glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit forever and ever, amen.

 

The deacon says to the people: Give glory to the living God.

 

The priest places the Host above the chalice with his left hand, and shows it to the people.

 

They answer: Glory be to him in his Church, and may his mercies and his compassion be upon us at all times and ages.

 

They say the Responsory:

The poor will eat and be filled. The Body of Christ and his precious Blood are upon the holy altar. Let us all approach him with awe and love, and with the angels let us sing to him: holy, holy, holy is the Lord God.

 

 

The priest approaches the paten and prays thrice:

Sanctify our bodies by your holy Body; forgive our sins in your precious Blood; purify our intentions with the hyssop of your mercy: O Christ, the hope of our race forever.

 

 

He takes up the Holy in his hands and says:

I, though unworthy, am holding the Lord Christ. Show the richness of your mercy in me, O Lord, and the great power of your awesome Mystery, unworthy though I am. He communicates.

 

He then takes hold of the chalice and says:

O heavenly Bridegroom, you have prepared the cup of your precious Blood at your banquet for the assembly of your guests. From this very cup you have offered me, a sinner, to drink. Glory be to you for your indescribable love. He receives.

 

 

When the priest communicates, the deacon cries out: Bless us, sir.

 

 

The priest shows the people the holy while saying with an audible voice:

May the graceful Gift of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, be consummated in all of us by his mercies.

 

They answer: Forever and ever, amen.

The same deacon cries out: Brethren, receive the Body of the Son, says the Church, and drink his Cup with faith in his kingdom.

 

The communicants approach to participate, while first extending their hands over incense where possible. Thus do they approach: the clergy, i.e. the bishops, priests and deacons. They take Communion at the altar, approaching according to their ranks, each of them receiving the Living Body from the hand of the celebrant and the Pure Cup from the hand of the deacon.

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary while holding the ciborium, and with him the deacon carrying the chalice. After this, the subdeacons, lectors and the other communicants approach the opening of the sanctuary in order to receive. The communicant extends his hands in the figure of the cross, and the priest places the Body upon the right hand of the communicant while saying:

The Body of our Lord, or The Body of Christ, or The Body of Christ the King (for the venerable bishop, or for the reverend priest, or for the deacon of God, or for the noble believer), for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting.

The communicant responds: Amen.

Bowing his head, he venerates the Holy and receives it.

 

The deacon at the chalice says: The Blood of our Lord, or The Blood of Christ, or The precious Blood for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting, or Spiritual Drink (for each according to his rank) for life everlasting.

The communicant replies: Amen. He drinks.

The Host may also be administered by intinction, in which case the priest places the Host in the mouth of the communicant, while saying: The Body and Blood of Christ for the noble believer for the forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life.

While the Holy is being distributed, they sing a Communion hymn.

Afterward, the hymn of thanksgiving by Mar Timatheus, Catholicos:

O Lord, let the Mystery which we have received in faith

be for us for the forgiveness of sins.

You, O Christ, king of the world,

are the likeness of a servant and of the Maker.

By your Body and Blood, you absolved and forgave

the sins and faults of all who believe in you.

Make us all worthy to come out to meet you

  confidently at your manifestation,

and, with the ranks of the heavenly,

lift up praise. Amen, amen.

Once the people have taken the Holy, the priest faces the altar and the deacon proclaims this with his face to the people:

As we were made worthy, brethren, through the gift of grace of the Holy Spirit, to approach and participate in these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, let us all unanimously thank and glorify God, who has given them.

They answer: Glory to him for his indescribable Gift.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

The priest prays in an audible voice:

It is our duty, O Lord, to lift up glory, honor, confession, adoration and constant thanksgiving to your glorious Trinity, for the gift of the holy Mysteries which you have given us in your mercy for the forgiveness of our sins, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

 

He prays the other:

Blessed be your adorable Honor from your exalted place, O Forgiver of our debts and sins, and the Overcomer of our faults in his glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries: O Christ, the hope of our race, forever.

 They sing the Responsory:

Blessed are your Body and Blood, O Lord, which you have given for the forgiveness of the nations, and in which you have sanctified our race to sing praise to your Majesty: halleluiah, halleluiah.

Deacon: Bless us, sir.

The priest goes out and stands at the opening of the altar, on the right side of the sanctuary, and blesses the people.

Final Blessing

May our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we have served, extolled and honored in his glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, make us worthy for radiant glory in his kingdom, for delight with his holy angels, for unveiled faces before him, for position at his right hand in the Jerusalem above, through his grace and mercies. To him be glory, and upon us and all creatures may the right hand of his providence rest, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs the people.

 

 

 

 

Another

 

To him who absolved our debts with his Body and blotted out our sins with his Blood be glory in his Church. Upon you, O people of the Lord and sheep of his flock, may his benefits overflow and within your houses may his blessings and gifts pour down. May our Lord and God deliver you from the evil one and his hosts; by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, may you be sealed and protected from all hidden and manifest harm, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever.

 

Another

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Body we have taken from the paten and whose Blood we have drunk from the chalice, make us worthy, with the thief, to sing him glory in paradise, with the just ones who fulfill his will in the Jerusalem above, for he is the Messiah, the hope of our race, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever.

 

܀ End ܀

The priest prays a prayer of thanksgiving.

The Rite of the Divine Mysteries

For Sundays and Feasts

 

܀ ܀ ܀

 

The Rite of the Revelation

of Our Lord

 

Once the servers have prepared to leave the sacristy, the master of ceremonies says to them:

Be envigored.

 

They leave the sacristy in the vestments of their service: the priest with the ceremonial cross in his hand, the deacons, with “Gabriel and Michael” at the heads of their bands, and the subdeacons and lectors and others; they go two by two, and with them the cross, the thurible, the candles and the Gospels, and they array themselves along the platform and the passage, with the veil closed. The people then stand in the nave, and remain thus until the readings.

 

As they go to the platform, the priest says the Prayer of Preparation on behalf of the clerics:

Envigor, our Lord and our God, our weakness by your mercy, that we may serve the holy Mysteries given for the renewal and redemption of our weak race, through the mercies of your beloved Son, Lord of all, forever.

 

Once they reach the front of the sanctuary, the priest begins:

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

He signs himself, raising his right hand slightly above, then to his chest, then from his right shoulder to his left; and thus is every sign of the cross made on oneself.

 

 

 

 

He continues: Glory to God in the highest (thrice); peace on earth, and good hope to men, at all times and forever.

They answer: Bless us, sir. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

The priest continues: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

They answer: From age to age, amen, amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

If the Mysteries are being served after a liturgical prayer service,

they begin here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The deacon responds: Peace be with us.

The priest says:

 

The Prayer of the Sanctuary

     Before the glorious throne, O Lord, of your Majesty, the high and exalted seat of your Magnificence, the awesome chair of your adorable Love, the forgiving altar which your command has founded, and the dwelling-place of your Glory, do we, your people and the sheep of your flock, with thousands of cherubim crying “halleluiah,” and tens of thousands of seraphim and archangels who hallow you, kneel and adore, confess and glorify you at all times, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They then say the Responsory of the Sanctuary, whatever it might be. While it is being said, the celebrant prays the Prayer of Placing the Incense: May this incense which we place for your honor be blessed in the name of your glorious Trinity, that it may be pleasing to your will and for the forgiveness of the sins of the sheep of your flock, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

To the deacon holding the thurible he says: May the Lord gladden you in his Kingdom, and accept your service in his graceful mercy, amen.

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The celebrant raises his voice:

When the delightful scent of your tender love envelops us, our Lord and God, and our souls are enlightened by the knowledge of your truth, we are made worthy to receive your manifestation from heaven.

And for all your benefits and graces toward us that cannot be repaid, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your crowned Church, full of all benefits and blessings, for you are Lord and Creator of all, forever.

They answer: Amen.

And say:

We give you thanks, O Lord of all,

we glorify you, Jesus Christ;

you raise our bodies into life,

you are the Savior of our souls.

Deacon: It is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praise to your name, O Most High.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, from age to age, amen, amen.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

As soon as it is being said, they open the outer veil, and the ministers go in procession to the bema, with the cross, the thurible, the Gospels and the candles, they stand in the bema one by one according to rank, and they set up the cross, place the Gospels on the lectern, and place the thurible and candles in their own places.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer of “Lord of All”

Lord, you are truly the one who raises our bodies, the good Savior of our souls, and the constant guardian of our lives. It is thus our duty to thank, adore and glorify you who are Lord of all forever.

People: Amen.

 

The Rite

of the Word of God

 

The deacon turns toward the people and says:

Lift your voices, all you people, and glorify the living God.

They reply:

Holy God,

Holy Mighty One,

Holy Immortal One:

Have mercy on us.

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: From age to age, amen, amen.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer of “Holy God”

O Holy, Glorious, Mighty and Immortal One, who dwells in the saints and delights in them: we implore you: turn to us, O Lord, pardon us and have mercy on us as you always do: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever.

People: Amen.

They are seated.

 

Readings

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer before the Readings:

We plead to you O Wise Provider, O Wondrous Caretaker of his households, O Great Treasure from which all riches and blessings overflow in his compassion: turn to us, O Lord, pardon us and have mercy on us as you always do: Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

They answer: Amen.

 

The master of ceremonies says in a loud voice: Be seated and silent.

They sit, and he then explains, that is, introduces briefly, the readings and the liturgical season.

The reader says: From the book of _____. Bless me, sir.

The reader goes to the bishop or priest and is blessed by him.

He blesses him and says: Blessed be God the Lord of all who makes us wise in his teaching. May his blessings overflow upon the lector and the hearers, at all times and forever.

or: May God the Lord of all strengthen you and make you wise in his holy teaching by his grace and mercy, amen.

 

They read the readings of the day from the south side, and when the first reader finishes, another comes, and the master of ceremonies says: Be silent.

The reader responds: The prophecy of _____. Bless me, sir.

 

When the readings are finished, the deacon master of ceremonies says to the servers: Arise to pray.

 

The servers stand while the celebrant remains seated, and they sing the Preface according to its melody, with the Responsory of the feast, if there is one.

When the Preface is finished, the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

Prayer before the Epistle

Enlighten our mental faculties, our Lord and our God, that we may understand and savor the sweet sound of your life-giving and divine commands. Grant, in your grace and your mercies, that we may reap benefit from them: love, hope and the salvation that befits both body and soul. Thus will we unceasingly sing a perpetual praise to you at all times, O Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

They answer: Amen.

The servers sit. The master of ceremonies proclaims: Be silent!

He then explains, that is, introduces briefly, the Epistle and the Gospel.

 

 

The Epistle reader begins, from the north side:

Brethren, this is a Reading from the Letter of (Paul) the Apostle to ____. Bless me, sir. He turns to the priest and is blessed by him.

The priest answers: May Christ instruct you in his holy teaching and make you render a fine presentation to those who listen to you.

 

 

Prayer over the Thurible

O Lord, may the sweet smell that wafted from you when the sinner Mary poured scented oil upon your head mingle with this incense which we place for your honor and for the forgiveness of our sins and our debts, Lord of all, forever.

 

 

Gospel Procession

The deacon goes and brings the Gospels to the priest, who kisses them and says:

O Radiance of the Glory of his Father, and Image of the Person of his Begetter, who was revealed in the flesh of our humanity and enlightened the darkness of our mind by the light of his Gospel: we confess, adore and glorify you at all times, Lord of all forever, amen.

 

With the priest carrying the Gospels, they go in procession with the thurible and candles to read the Gospel of our Lord from the north side of the door of the sanctuary.

When the Epistle is finished, the master of ceremonies says:

Arise in preparation to hear the holy Gospel.

The people arise and say: Halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah.

They recite the Psalm of the day.

The deacon proclaims: Be silent and attentive.

While the priest blesses the people with the Gospels, he says: Peace be with you.

People: With you and with your Spirit.

The priest says: The holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to ____.

People: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

Deacon: Amen. Be silent!

The priest reads the Gospel, and when finished he says:

Glory to God unceasingly.

 

They answer: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

 

Sermon

After the Gospel, the master of ceremonies says: Be seated and silent.

They sit, and the priest preaches the Sermon.

 

 

The Petitions

The deacon then says: Let us all stand composed. They stand. In faith and hope, let us implore and say: Lord, have mercy on us.

They say: Lord, have mercy on us.

 

He recites the Petitions:

- O Father of mercy and God of every consolation, we implore you…

- Our Savior, our Caretaker and Provider for all, we implore you…

- For the peace, concord and well-being of the whole world and all churches, we implore you…

- For our country and for all countries, and for all the faithful who inhabit them, we implore you…

- For good weather, a fertile season, the abundance of fruits and the well-being of the whole world, we implore you…

- For the health of our holy fathers: Mar ____, our High Pontiff and the Pope of Rome, Mar ____, our Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar ____, our Bishop (Metropolitan), and for all those in their service, we implore you…

- For all the sick and oppressed, the saddened and distressed, the needy and weary, we implore you…

- For the all of our deceased, who have departed from us in hope of the resurrection, we implore you…

 

They may add other petitions of the day which are to be prepared in advance.

Save us all, O Christ our Lord, in your grace, increase your peace and your tranquility within us and have mercy on us.

They answer: Lord, have mercy on us.

At the end of the Petitions, the deacon says:

Let us entrust our souls mutually to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

They respond: To you, O Lord God.

The priest then concludes the Petitions with his arms outstretched: To you, Lord God almighty, do we beg and plead: fulfill your grace in us, make your Gift overflow in our hands, and let your mercies and the compassion of your Divinity be for the remission of the debts of your people and for the forgiveness of the sins of the sheep of your flock, whom you have chosen for yourself in your grace and your mercies, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

 

The Rite of the Eucharist

[Here the deacon cries out:

Let him who has not received baptism go.

Let him who has not accepted the sign of life go.

Let him who will not receive it go; and let the hearers go and watch the doors.]

 

Procession of the Mysteries

They begin the Responsory of the Mysteries of the day, and repeat it. Then those serving then descend from the bema, except for the cantors, who remain there. With two deacons carrying the bread and wine set apart for the Service of the Eucharist, they proceed in order with the processional cross to the opening of the sanctuary.

Washing of the Hands

 

While the Responsory is being said, the celebrating priest washes his hands, and he dries them, while saying silently:

May the Lord wash away the filth of our trespasses with the hyssop of his clemency, and blot out the spots of our sins with the sea of his mercy, amen.

Then: May the Lord cleanse the foulness of our sins and trespasses in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

 

The Entrance of the Celebrant to the Sanctuary

They open the inner veil of the altar, if there is one, and the priest goes to the middle of the sanctuary before the altar, in order to enter the Holy of Holies, offering three bows, approaching at each bow. With the first bow, he pleads thus and says:

When our hearts are sprinkled and purified from wicked intentions, we will be worthy of entering the high and exalted Holy of Holies, and purely and honorably, vigilantly and in holiness, stand before your holy altar and offer you a spiritual and intellectual sacrifice in true faith.

 

[He continues: For you are the Good One who neither keeps his anger nor guards his wrath forever. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt, in the greatness of your mercy: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.]

 

 

But if there is not enough time, he continues thus:

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all in his grace and mercy, forever, Amen.

When he reaches the altar, he kneels and arises, and kisses the center and the right and left corners. He then pleads thus, whispering with his lips:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may you not consider the multitude of our sins, and may your Majesty not loathe the heaviness of our wickedness. Rather, in your indescribable grace, accept this Sacrifice from our hands and, in it, grant strength and power, that our many sins may find atonement, and that when your beloved Son is revealed at the end of time in the humanity he betook of us, we will find favor and mercy before him, and be made worthy for praising him, with the intellectual assembly.

 

 

The Presentation of the Mysteries

at the Altar

 

When the priest is standing before the altar, two deacons walk up to him holding the paten and the chalice. The priest takes them up to the altar in procession, while holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left, with his arms crossed.

And the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

The priest says in an audible voice: Let us lift up praise to your glorious Trinity at all times and forever.

The deacon answers: Amen.

 

The priest continues: May Christ, who was sacrificed for our salvation and commanded us to make a Memorial of his death, burial and resurrection, accept this Sacrifice from our hands in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

He hits the paten against the chalice three times and says:

By your command, our Lord and God (repeat) are these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries being set and arranged upon the altar of atonement until the second coming of our Lord from heaven, to whom be glory at all times and forever, amen.

 

He arranges the mysteries upon the altar: the chalice on the north side and the paten on the south side, and he covers them securely with the veil.

 

 

They say the continuation of the Responsory of the Mysteries:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Let there be a remembrance of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God (or: Mother of Christ) upon the holy altar.

From age to age, amen, amen. Apostles of the Son and friends of the Only-Begotten: may they be remembered in the Church of Christ.

Let all the people say: amen, amen. Let there be a remembrance of Mar Toma or the patron of the church, if there is one, or the saint who is being commemorated upon the holy altar, with the just ones who triumphed and the martyrs who were crowned.

Behold! All of our beloved deceased have fallen asleep in your trust, that you may raise them in glory by your glorious resurrection. This Responsory is not to be changed at any Mass.

 

 

When the Responsory of the Mysteries with all its additions is finished, the people say:

       May this offering be accepted with unveiled faces and sanctified by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, that it may be for our help and salvation and for everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the grace of Christ.

 

General Preparation for Offering the Eucharist

The Symbol of Faith

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary and extends his hands with his face to the west, that is, toward the people, and he says in a loud voice: We believe. They all continue:

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of all that is visible and invisible;

and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God and first born of all creatures, who was begotten from his Father before all the ages and was not made: true God from true God, of the same substance as his Father, by whose hands the world was ordered and everything was created, who, for us men and for our salvation, descended from Heaven, betook a body by the power of the Holy Spirit, was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary and became man, who suffered and was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate, who died, was buried and rose on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures, who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and who will come again to judge the dead and the living;

and in one Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father: the Giver of life; and in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

When the Creed is finished, the priest ascends to the altar, and offers a bow, while whispering this prayer on behalf of the priesthood with his lips:

Glory to you O Finder of the lost; glory to you O Gatherer of the deserted; glory to you O Recaller of the distant; glory to you O Returner of the wayward to the knowledge of the truth; glory to you, O Lord, who have called even me in my frailty, and have brought me close to yourself in your mercy, who have established me as a recognized member in the great body of your holy catholic Church, to offer this living, holy, and acceptable Sacrifice before you, which is the Remembrance of the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom you have delighted and been pleased to forgive the sins of all mankind.

 

If there is a bishop or other priests, he says to them: Bless me, sir; bless me, sir; bless me, sir.

And to all who are in the altar he says: Brethren, pray for me.

 

They answer him: May Christ hear your prayers, may Christ receive your Offering, may Christ illumine your priesthood (high priesthood).

When he reaches the front of the altar, he continues this Inclination quietly, and has his arms outstretched while he is inclined, and thus with every Inclination:

We acknowledge, O Lord, the overflowing richness of your favors toward us, for while we were yet sinners and unworthy, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made us worthy to serve the holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, as we ask help from you for the strengthening of our souls. 

The Rite of Peace

When the priest reaches the altar, the deacons say:

Since we have now been called to participate in the Offering, let us give peace to one another, in accord with the command of Christ: peace that is pure and without deceit, the peace that our Savior gave to the blessed group of disciples.

The priest continues: That we may perform the service of your Gift to us in perfect love and true faith.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

The priest turns to the people, and says, while signing: (♰) Peace be with you.

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

A deacon goes to the priest, who places his right hand on the Mysteries. The priest and deacon then share in the peace of our Lord while embracing hands, and each man kisses the top of his thumbs.

The deacon says to the people:

Brethren, give peace to each other in the love of Christ.

He gives peace to the faithful, and they share in it in the same manner and sing this Responsory, and sit:

The mountains bear peace to your people. May peace and serenity increase for your people, O Peace of the World. O Christ, who came for our salvation: sow harmony among the children of the Church, that they may sing the glory of your Name with the angels; uphold priests, and pacify kings, and bring an end to wars to the ends of the earth; protect the assembly of your adorers, who invoke you at all times; visit the infirm in your grace, heal the sick in your mercy, and extend your helping hand to all the afflicted. O Lord, have pity on us!

 

 

The Diptychs

 

Here the deacon turns to the people and reads the Diptychs, that is, the Book of the Living and the Dead, and thus he begins:

Let us pray and plead from God the Lord for all the children of the Church, especially for:

 

and he names the special intentions for whose sake the Offering is offered.

 

He concludes: May this Offering be accepted for them and for us all, forever.

 

 

Preparation for the Sanctification

The deacon preaches this Instruction with his face to the people (and thus every Instruction of the Mass):

Let us all thank, implore and beseech the Lord in purity and sorrow. Stand with composure and behold what is happening: the awesome Mysteries are being sanctified. The priest has approached to pray, that, through his mediation, peace will increase among you. Cast down your eyes and raise your thoughts to heaven. At this moment, implore and beseech attentively and diligently. Let no one dare to speak, and whoever prays should pray in his heart.

 

 

 

 

While the deacon says this short prayer, the priest silently repeats this Supplication by Mar Narsai:

Lord God almighty, support me in my weakness by your mercy, and by the help of your grace, make me worthy to offer this holy and living Sacrifice before you, for the help of all the community and for the glory of your glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

The priest now carefully lifts up the veil from the Mysteries and places it around the chalice and the paten, saying: Since you have made us worthy, O Lord, in your grace, for your Body and Blood, make us worthy also to have unveiled faces before you on the day of judgment, amen.

 

The Prayer Over the Incense

He then places incense in the thurible while saying this prayer:

O Christ, who accepted the blood of the martyrs on the day of their deaths: accept this incense from my feeble hands in the grace of your mercy, amen.

Or this other prayer: O Lord, your holy Body was embalmed on the day of your entombment with the myrrh and the scented oil of Nicodemus. We your adorers also perfume your entombed Body as embalmment. May this incense be blessed by your grace and hallowed, fulfill this symbol and bring about the atonement of our sins and debts, that they may become a scent pleasing to you, to your Father and to the Holy Spirit, amen.

Or this one: May this incense which is placed for your honor and for our forgiveness be blessed in the Name of your glorious Trinity, amen.

 

The priest then incenses the paten while saying:

May the sweet perfume that we offer you before your holy altar in your glorious temple be pleasing to you, our Lord and God, and may it be for your reconciliation and for the forgiveness of the children of your flock, amen.

When the priest gives the thurible to the deacon he says: May Christ perfume you with his holy scent. The deacon incenses the sanctuary and the people while saying: In silence and awe, recollect yourselves and pray. Peace be with us. He returns to his place.

 

The priest then offers:

The Quddasha of the Blessed Apostles

Composed by Mar Addai and Mar Mari

Evangelizers of the East

 

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest says, while facing the people: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now, at all times, and forever and ever.

People: Amen.

 

Priest (as he lifts up his arms): Lift up your minds. The priest turns to the altar.

People: Toward you, O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, O Glorious King!

Priest (indicating the Myseries and lifting his arms): The Oblation is being offered to God the Lord of all. (♰) He signs the Mysteries.

The people reply: It is fit and right.

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart, with his arms extended above:

O Lord, O Lord: grant us unveiled faces before you, that we may complete this holy and living Service in the confidence that comes from you, while our intentions are purified from all evil and bitterness. Sow love and peace within us, and harmony toward each other and toward everyone.

Inclination

The priest says in an audible voice:

Glory to you, O adorable and glorious Name of the majestic Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the world in his grace and its inhabitants in his compassion, who redeemed mankind in his mercy and effected great grace toward mortals.

O Lord, thousands upon thousands of exalted beings and tens of thousands of holy angels adore and worship your Greatness. Legions of spiritual beings, ministers of fire and spirit, glorify your Name and, with the holy cherubim and spiritual seraphim, present adoration to your Lordship.

Make us also worthy to participate with these heavenly hosts as they cry out and glorify unceasingly, proclaiming one to another, saying:

Canon

The people answer: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! Heaven and Earth are filled with his glories!

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who came and will come in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

During the season of Lent, instead of “Hosanna” they say:

And with the substance of his Being, and with the beauty of his glorious Radiance!

 

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart:

Holy are you, God the true Father, after whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named; holy are you, eternal Son by whom all things were made; holy are you, Holy Spirit, existing above all, by whom all things are sanctified. With every “holy are you” the priest bows before the altar.

Woe is me; woe is me, for I am bewildered! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and yet my eyes have seen the King and the Mighty Lord! How awesome is this place, where daily I see the Lord eye to eye! This cannot be but the house of God, and the very door to Heaven!

Then let your grace be upon us, O Lord: purify our filthiness, sanctify our lips, and mingle, O Lord, our meager voices with the hallowing of the seraphim and the praises of the angels. Glory be to your mercies, who have given the earthly communion with the spiritual.

 

Inclination

Then, in an audible voice: We give thanks to you O Lord, we your deficient, feeble and miserable servants, because you have done us a great favor that cannot be repaid, in that you put on our humanity in order to quicken us by your Divinity, you lifted up our lowliness, righted our fall, raised up our mortality, forgave our debts, made righteous our sinfulness, enlightened our understanding, defeated our enemies, and made our deficient nature triumphant through the overflowing mercies of your grace.

Canon

And for all your benefits and graces toward us, we lift up glory, honor, thanksgiving and adoration to you now, at all times, and forever and ever. (♰) He signs over the Mysteries.

People: Amen.

Deacon: Pray in your minds; peace be with us.

Supplication

The priest prays in an audible voice, with his arms extended above:

Lord God Almighty, accept this Offering for the sake of the whole universal Church, and for the sake of all your graces toward the perpetual virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother and her betrothed, the just man Saint Joseph, for the sake of all the just and righteous patriarchs who were pleasing before you, of all the apostles and prophets, all the martyrs and confessors, and on behalf of all our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), all bishops, priests, deacons, and the rest of the groups of the children of the Church, on behalf of all mourners and all the weary, all the needy and afflicted, all the sick and oppressed, all the faithful deceased who have departed and gone away from us, on behalf of this people which looks for and awaits your mercies, and on behalf of my frailty, my wretchedness, and my humbleness.

 

Or this Supplication, in an audible voice:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may this Offering be accepted on behalf of all the holy catholic Church, that she may be upheld and guarded without trembling, on behalf of our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), on behalf of priests and authorities, that they may stand firm for the peace of the Church and the serenity of countries, on behalf of the meek, the poor and the afflicted, and on behalf of mourners, the oppressed and those in pain, on behalf of all those who stand before your holy altar and ask for prayers through my sinfulness: answer their pleadings, absolve their debts and blot out their sins, on behalf of this land and all its inhabitants, on behalf of this city (or village) and those who dwell in it: surround it, O Lord, with a mighty rampart and in your grace deliver it from all scourges; may the invader not conquer us, nor the enemy rejoice over us, and on behalf of…

 

Deacon: Stand and pray in silence and awe.

The people stand.

 

Inclination

Through the Memorial of your Christ, O Lord, make, in your indescribable mercies, a gracious remembrance for all the upright and just fathers who have pleased you, the apostles, prophets and teachers, the martyrs and confessors, the bishops, priests and deacons, and all the children of the holy catholic Church: those who have been signed (♰) with the living sign of holy baptism. He signs the sign of the cross on the altar.

Indeed, our Lord and God, grant us your tranquility and peace all the days of the age, that all the dwellers of the earth may know that you alone are God, the true Father, that you have sent your Son and Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he, our Lord and God, taught us all purity and holiness in his life-giving Gospel.

 

Here the priest, while genuflecting, says:

And we also, O Lord, your deficient, feeble and miserable servants who are assembled in the Name of your Son, and who stand before you at this moment (here he stands), having received by tradition the example that comes from him, while rejoicing and glorifying, praising and magnifying, commemorate and perform this great, awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mystery of the passion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as he taught us:

 

 

 

For when the time came when he would suffer and approach death, on that night on which he was betrayed, he took bread into his holy hands (he takes the host into his hands) and, raising his eyes to you, his almighty Father, gave thanks and blessed. He broke and gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and eat of it: this is my Body, which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

 

Likewise, after they had eaten, he took the pure cup into his holy hands (he takes the chalice into his hands), gave thanks to you and blessed; he gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and drink from it: this is my Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

Priest: Whenever you do this, do it in remembrance of me.

They answer: Amen. (We believe and confess.)

 

The priest continues: Now, thus, as we are performing his Memorial as we have been commanded, and are offering his Body and Blood upon the holy and pure altar…

 

 

He lifts his arms above.

…may your Holy Spirit come, O Lord,

and rest upon this Oblation of your servants,

bless it and sanctify it,

that it may be for us, O Lord, for the pardon of debts and the forgiveness of sins, for the great hope of resurrection from the dead and for new life in the kingdom of heaven with all of those who have pleased you.

 

Canon

And for this whole great and marvelous plan for us, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your Church redeemed by the precious Blood of your Christ, with expressive mouths and unveiled faces, as we lift up praise, honor, thanksgiving and adoration (he reverences the altar) to your living, holy and life-giving Name now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs the Mysteries.

 

People: Amen.

 

 

They then sing this Responsory:

He offers an Oblation to God, and all the power of heaven stands above him.

When the priest enters before the holy altar,

he extends his hands to heaven in purity.

He invites the Spirit, who descends from above

and sanctifies the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

While the priest silently says this Supplication:

Christ, the peace of the heavenly and the great tranquility of the earthly: make, O Lord, your peace and tranquility dwell over the four corners of the world, and especially in your holy catholic Church. Reconcile the priesthood and the kingship, and blot out wars from the edges of the earth. Disengage opposing nations who desire war, that we may dwell in a peaceful and pleasant world in all respect and fear of God.

The Breaking and Signing Rite

[The priest prays this Inclination silently:

I give you thanks, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, for while I was yet a sinner and deficient, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made me worthy in your grace to offer before you these awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Christ, that I may minister, for your people and the sheep of your flock, the remission of their debts, the forgiveness of their sins, the salvation of their souls, the reconciliation of the whole world and the peace and tranquility of all churches.]

He places incense into the thurible while saying this Prayer of Incense:

May our prayer and our supplication satisfy you, our Lord and our God, may the sweet scent of our thurible please you, as did the thurible of Aaron, the priest of the temporary tabernacle, and may it renew our souls with our bodies and reconcile your creation because of your many mercies, O Creator of perfumed herbs and pleasant spices, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

He draws near to the thurible with his hands extended upon the incense, and he perfumes his hands and his person with incense while saying: I have cleansed my hands in purity and encircled your altar, O Lord.

Then: Perfume us, our Lord and God, with the pleasing scent of your sweet-smelling love. Wash us therein from the grime of sin, O Good Shepherd who came searching for us, found us who were lost and rejoices in our return.

Forgive my faults and my sins, intentional and unintentional, in your grace and in your mercies.

The deacon answers: Amen.

 

The priest draws near to the altar and says:

Our Lord and our God, may the mercy of your grace draw us near to these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, unworthy though we are.

Thrice: first, when he is standing in front of the altar; second, from the north side of the altar, that is, to the left of the priest; third, from the east side, with his face to the people. At the end of each time, he bows and kisses the altar with his arms folded upon his chest as a cross. If it is impossible for the priest to circle the altar, he kisses the middle, then the north and south sides. 

The deacon answers: Unworthy though we truly are.

The priest then stands and takes the large Host up with both his hands, lifts it up while looking upon it,, touches it between his eyes and kisses it in the sign of the cross – not touching it to his lips, but symbolically.

He says audibly: Glory to you, O Living and Life-Giving Bread that descended from heaven and gives life to the world in its totality: those who eat of it will not die, and who partake of it will be forgiven and saved, and through it will live forever.

They answer: Amen.

He continues: With true faith in your Name, O Lord, we draw near to these holy Mysteries. In your mercy we break and in your compassion we sign the Body and Blood of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Upon the naming of the Trinity, he breaks the large Host which is in his hands into two halves, and puts the half in his left hand on the paten facing the chalice.

They answer: Amen.

He says: The precious Blood is signed with the life-giving Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

He signs, with the half in his hand, the Blood, immersing one third.

They answer: Amen.

 

He then says: The holy Body is signed with the forgiving Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

With the half in his hand he signs the half on the paten, and lays it down, with the immersed portion facing east.

They answer: Amen.

 

The priest shows the people the holy Mysteries, holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left. He says, in an audible voice:

These life-giving Mysteries have been set apart, sanctified, perfected, completed, united, mingled, brought together and sealed in the adorable Name of the glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Here they say the Responsory [while the priest continues silently: that they may be, O Lord, for the remission of our debts, the forgiveness of our sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead and a new life in the kingdom of heaven, for us and for the holy Church of Christ our Lord, here and in every place, now, at all times, and forever and ever.]

The priest places them upon the altar and reverences then stands and kisses it in the middle, then returns to the west side of the altar with his face to the people. He straightens the chalice veil which was around the paten and chalice, putting it on the side of the chalice.

The people sit and sing this Responsory:

Praise him, all his angels. Cherubim, seraphim and archangels stand before the altar in awe and reverence gazing at the priest (high priest) who breaks and divides the Body of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Or this one: Hear this, all you nations. Christ was crucified, died and was buried; and he rose and came back to life: the great King of Glory. He rose to heaven, and sat above all, and is destined to come and judge the living and the dead.

The Communion Rite

The priest then facing people cries out joyfully, in a loud voice:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all; now, at all times, and forever and ever. He turns to the east.

The deacon proclaims:

Let us all, with awe and respect, approach the Mystery of the precious Body and Blood of our Savior. With a pure heart and true faith, let us recall his passion and draw comfort from his resurrection. It was for us that the Only-Begotten of God betook of man a mortal body and a rational, intellectual and immortal soul. By his life-giving laws and holy commandments, he led us from error to the knowledge of the truth. After having fulfilled his entire plan for us, the First-Born of our race endured the cross, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He handed his holy Mysteries over to us, in which we ought to recall all his goodness to us.

Let us thus, with abounding love and humble will, receive the Gift of eternal life. With sincere prayer and contritional sorrow, let us participate in the Mysteries of the Church. In penitential hope, let us quit our wrongdoings and repent of our sins, and ask mercy and forgiveness from God the Lord of all, as we forgive the faults of our brethren.

They answer:

O Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants.

Let us cleanse our intentions of all divisions and conflicts. O Lord, forgive…

As our souls are purified of hatred and hostility, O Lord, forgive…

we shall receive the Holy and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. O Lord, forgive…

United and with one accord, let us receive the Communion of the Mysteries. O Lord, forgive…

That they may be for us, O Lord, for the resurrection of our bodies, the salvation of our souls.

And for life everlasting.

While this is being said, the priest breaks the Body and prepares the broken pieces for Communion, and he moistens the particles for the children.

When the proclamation is finished, the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

 

The priest recites this in an audible voice with extended arms:

Prayer Before the Our Father

Forgive in your mercy, O Lord, the sins and faults of your servants and sanctify our lips in your grace, that we may bear fruits of praise to your exalted Divinity with all your saints in your kingdom.

And make us worthy, our Lord and God, to stand always before you without fault, with pure hearts and unveiled faces. And, in that confidence that you have granted us all in your mercy, we call together upon you and say thus:

They answer:

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 evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

He continues: Indeed, Lord God Almighty, our Good God and our Father full of mercies, we plead and supplicate the immensity of your mercy: do not, O Lord, do not, O Lord, lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one and his hosts, for yours are the kingdom, the power, the strength, the greatness and the authority in heaven and on earth, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs himself.

They answer: Amen.

The priest turns to the people and says: Peace be with you (♰).

 

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

 

He continues, while indicating the Holy to the people: The Holy is fit for the holy ones living in accord.

 

They answer: One Holy Father, one Holy Son, and one Holy Spirit: glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit forever and ever, amen.

 

The deacon says to the people: Give glory to the living God.

 

The priest places the Host above the chalice with his left hand, and shows it to the people.

 

They answer: Glory be to him in his Church, and may his mercies and his compassion be upon us at all times and ages.

They say the Communion Responsory – “DBem.”

 

 

The priest approaches the paten and prays thrice:

Sanctify our bodies by your holy Body; forgive our sins in your precious Blood; purify our intentions with the hyssop of your mercy: O Christ, the hope of our race forever.

 

He takes up the Holy in his hands and says:

I, though unworthy, am holding the Lord Christ. Show the richness of your mercy in me, O Lord, and the great power of your awesome Mystery, unworthy though I am. He communicates.

 

 

 

He then takes hold of the chalice and says:

O heavenly Bridegroom, you have prepared the cup of your precious Blood at your banquet for the assembly of your guests. From this very cup you have offered me, a sinner, to drink. Glory be to you for your indescribable love. He receives.

 

When the priest communicates, the deacon cries out: Bless us, sir.

 

The priest shows the people the Holy while saying with an audible voice:

May the graceful Gift of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, be consummated in all of us by his mercies.

They answer: Forever and ever, amen.

 

The same deacon cries out: Brethren, receive the Body of the Son, says the Church, and drink his Cup with faith in his kingdom.

 

The communicants approach to participate, while first extending their hands over incense where possible. Thus do they approach: the clergy, i.e. the bishops, priests and deacons. They take Communion at the altar, approaching according to their ranks, each of them receiving the Living Body from the hand of the celebrant and the Pure Cup from the hand of the deacon.

 

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary while holding the ciborium, and with him the deacon carrying the chalice. After this, the subdeacons, lectors and the other communicants approach the opening of the sanctuary in order to receive. The communicant extends his hands in the figure of the cross, and the priest places the Body upon the right hand of the communicant while saying: The Body of our Lord, or The Body of Christ, or The Body of Christ the King (for the venerable bishop, or for the reverend priest, or for the deacon of God, or for the noble believer), for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting.

The communicant responds: Amen.

Bowing his head, he venerates the Holy and receives it.

The deacon at the chalice says: The Blood of our Lord, or The Blood of Christ, or The precious Blood for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting, or Spiritual Drink (for each according to his rank) for life everlasting.

The communicant replies: Amen. He drinks.

The Host may also be administered by intinction, in which case the priest places the Host in the mouth of the communicant, while saying:

The Body and Blood of Christ for the noble believer for the forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life.

While the Holy is being distributed, they sing a suitable Communion hymn.

After this, the hymn of thanksgiving by Mar Ephrem:

O Lord Jesus, O adorable King

     by whose passion has conquered death.

O Son of God who promised us

     a full new life in his kingdom.

Protect us from all misfortune;

     let peace and mercy dwell among us.

At your return we will arise

     and will meet you in eternal joy.

We praise your name with “hosanna”

     for your goodness towards our race.

Your mercies abounded upon us

     your love has shone on us mortals.

By your pardon, our sins are erased;

     glory to you for all your gifts.

Your Majesty always be blessed

     for your pardon and your mercy.

Make us worthy by your goodness

     to thank and adore you as our God

and offer you, at every time,

     eternal praise. Amen. Amen.  

Once the people have taken the Holy, the priest faces the altar and the deacon proclaims this with his face to the people:

As we were made worthy, brethren, through the gift of grace of the Holy Spirit, to approach and participate in these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, let us all unanimously thank and glorify God, who has given them.

They answer: Glory to him for his indescribable Gift.

 

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

The priest prays in an audible voice:

Lord, it is right every day, it is proper at all times, it is fitting at every moment to thank, adore and praise the awesome Name of your Majesty, for you made the weak race of mortal men worthy, O Lord, to proclaim your holiness with spiritual beings, to participate in the Gift of your Mysteries, to enjoy the sweetness of your words and to lift up songs of praise and thanksgiving to your sublime Divinity at all times, O Lord of all: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

 

 

 

He prays the second one:

May Christ our God, our Lord, our King, our Savior, our Life-giver, and the Forgiver of our sins who, in his grace and mercies, has made us worthy to receive his precious and sanctifying Body and Blood, grant us to please him in our words and deeds, and in our thoughts and actions. May the Mysteries that we have received and will receive be for us, O Lord, a token to obtain the pardon of our debts and the forgiveness of our sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead and new life in the kingdom of heaven with all of those who have pleased him, through his grace and mercies, forever, amen.

They continue: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

The priest continues: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

They answer: From age to age, amen, amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

They say: Bless us, sir.

 

The priest goes and stands at the door of the altar, at the right side of the sanctuary, and he blesses the people with a cross which he is holding, while saying in an audible voice:

 

 

 

Final Blessing

 

May he who has blessed (♰) us with every spiritual blessing in heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ, who indeed invited us into his kingdom; who called us and drew us close to his delightful blessings which neither pass away nor cease nor diminish, as he declared and promised in his life-giving Gospel, when he said to the blessed assembly of his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say unto you, whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood dwells in me and I in him, and I shall raise him up on the last day, and he shall not come to judgment, for he has indeed passed from death to life eternal;” may he bless our assembly, protect our community and exalt our people who have come to be renewed by the power of these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries. 

Thus, may you be sealed by the living sign of the lordly cross and be guarded from all dangers, hidden or manifest: now (♰), at all times, and for ever and ever, amen. He signs the people with the cross in his hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another

 

May he who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven, Jesus Christ our Lord and King forever, who called us to his yearned-for blessings which neither pass away nor cease and gave us his Body and Blood, the pledge of incorruptible life, bless abundantly this our assembly, saved by his cross, shelter it and guard it from all harm under the care of his diligence, protect the Church bought with his precious Blood from every enemy, uphold her priests, decorate her children with every adornment, give success to her shepherds, aid her priests, enrich her deacons with every spiritual gift, sustain the elderly, strengthen the youth, instruct the children in every teaching, bless the rich, provide for the poor and bestow all healing upon the sick.

And upon you, O people of the Lord and sheep of his flock, bought with his own Body and Blood: may his mercies, his compassion, his graces and his gifts overflow now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever.

 

 

܀ End ܀

The priest prays a prayer of thanksgiving.

 

 

 

The Rite of the Divine Mysteries

For Feasts of the Lord

 

܀ ܀ ܀

 

The Rite of the Revelation

of Our Lord

Once the servers have prepared to leave the sacristy, the master of ceremonies says to them:

Be envigored.

They leave the sacristy in the vestments of their service: the priest with the ceremonial cross in his hand, the deacons, with “Gabriel and Michael” at the heads of their bands, and the subdeacons and lectors and others; they go two by two, and with them the cross, the thurible, the candles and the Gospels, and they array themselves along the platform and the passage, with the veil closed. The people then stand in the nave, and remain thus until the readings.

As they go to the platform, the priest says the Prayer of Preparation on behalf of the clerics:

Envigor, our Lord and our God, our weakness in your mercy, that we may serve the holy Mysteries given for the renewal and redemption of our weak race, through the mercies of your beloved Son, Lord of all, forever.

 

Once they reach the front of the sanctuary, the priest begins: I will give you thanks in the great assembly, halleluiah.

They answer: And among the many nations I will sing to you, halleluiah.

Priest: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, halleluiah.

People: From age to age, amen, amen, halleluiah.

Priest: Halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah.

The deacon responds: Peace be with us.

The Prayer of the Sanctuary

(of Mar Elia III, Catholicos)

Before the awesome seat of your Greatness, the exalted throne of your Divinity, the splendid chair of your Honor, and the glorious cathedral of your Majesty, where your servants the cherubim cry “halleluiah” to you constantly and your glorifiers the seraphim hallow you unceasingly, do we bless you in awe and adore you in trembling, and thank and glorify you without ceasing and at all times, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They then say the Responsory of the Sanctuary, whatever it might be.

While it is being said, the main celebrant prays the Prayer of Placing the Incense:

May this incense which we place for your honor be blessed in the name of your glorious Trinity, that it may be pleasing to your will and for the forgiveness of the sins of the sheep of your flock, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

To the deacon holding the thurible he says: May the Lord gladden you in his Kingdom, and accept your service in his graceful mercy, amen.

The deacon responds: Peace be with us.

The celebrant raises his voice:

When the delightful scent of your tender love envelops us our Lord and God, and our souls are enlightened by the knowledge of your truth, we are made worthy to behold your manifestation from heaven.

And for all your benefits and graces toward us that cannot be repaid, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your crowned Church, full of all benefits and blessings, for you are Lord and Creator of all, forever.

They answer: Amen.

And say:

We give you thanks, O Lord of all,

we glorify you, Jesus Christ;

you raise our bodies into life,

you are the Savior of our souls.

Deacon: It is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praise to your name, O Most High.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, from age to age, amen, amen.

People: We give you thanks, O Lord of all …

 

As soon as they begin singing “Lord of all,” they open the outer veil, the ministers go in procession to the bema, with the cross, the thurible, the Gospels and the candles, they stand in the bema one by one according to rank, and they set up the cross, place the Gospels on the lectern, and place the thurible and candles in their own places.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

Prayer of “Lord of All”

Lord, you are truly the one who raises our bodies, the good Savior of our souls, and the constant guardian of our lives. It is thus our duty to thank, adore and glorify you who are Lord of all forever.

People: Amen.

 

The Rite

of the Word of God

 

The deacon turns toward the people and says:

Lift your voices, all you people, and glorify the living God.

They reply:

Holy God,

Holy Mighty One,

Holy Immortal One:

Have mercy on us.

Deacon: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: From age to age, amen, amen.

People: Holy God…

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

Prayer of “Holy God”

O Holy, Glorious, Mighty and Immortal One, who dwells in the saints and delights in them: we implore you: turn to us, O Lord, pardon us and have mercy on us as you always do: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever.

People: Amen.

 

Readings

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

Prayer before the Readings:

We plead to you O Wise Provider, O Wondrous Caretaker of his households, O Great Treasure from which all riches and blessings overflow in his compassion: turn to us, Lord, pardon us and have mercy on us as you do at all times: Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

They answer: Amen.

 

The master of ceremonies says in a loud voice: Be seated and silent.

They sit, and he explains, that is, introduces briefly, the readings and the liturgical season.

The reader says: From the book of _____. Bless me, sir.

The reader goes to the bishop or priest and is blessed by him.

He blesses him and says: Blessed be God the Lord of all who makes us wise in his teaching. May his blessings overflow upon the lector and the hearers, at all times and forever.

or: May God the Lord of all strengthen you and make you wise in his holy teaching by his grace and mercy, amen.

They read the Readings from the south side, and when the first reader finishes, another comes, and the master of ceremonies says: Be silent.

The reader responds: The prophecy of _____. Bless me, sir.

 

When the Readings are finished, the deacon master of ceremonies says to the servers: Arise to pray.

 

The servers stand while the celebrant remains seated, and they sing the Preface according to its melody, with the Responsory of the feast, if there is one.

 

When the Preface is finished, the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

 

Prayer before the Epistle

Enlighten our mental faculties, our Lord and our God, that we may understand and savor the sweet sound of your life-giving and divine commands. Grant, in your grace and mercies, that we may reap benefit from them: love, hope and the salvation that befits both body and soul. Thus will we unceasingly sing a perpetual praise to you at all times, O Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

They answer: Amen.

The servers sit. The master of ceremonies proclaims: Be silent!

The master of ceremonies then explains, that is, introduces briefly, the Epistle and the Gospel.

 

 

The reader begins, from the North side:

Brethren, this is a Reading from the Letter of (Paul) the Apostle to ____. Bless me, sir. He turns to the priest and is blessed by him.

The priest answers: May Christ instruct you in his holy teaching and make you render a fine presentation to those who listen to you.

 

 

Prayer over the Thurible

O Lord, may the sweet smell that wafted from you when the sinner Mary poured scented oil upon your head mingle with this incense which we place for your honor and for the forgiveness of our sins and our debts, Lord of all, forever.

 

Gospel Procession

The deacon goes and brings the Gospels to the priest, who kisses it and says:

O Radiance of the Glory of his Father, and Image of the Person of his Begetter, who was revealed in the flesh of our humanity, and enlightened the darkness of our mind by the light of his Gospel: we confess, adore and glorify you at all times, Lord of all forever, amen.

With the priest carrying the Gospels, they go in procession with the thurible and candles to read the Gospel of our Lord from the north side of the door of the sanctuary.

When the Epistle is finished, the master of ceremonies says:

Arise in preparation to hear the holy Gospel.

The people arise and say: Halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah.

They recite this Zumara in the designated melody: Matthew and Mark, Luke and John: may your prayers be a rampart for our souls.

The deacon responds: Be silent and attentive.

While the priest blesses the people with the Gospels, he says: Peace be with you.

People: With you and with your Spirit.

The priest says: The holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _____.

People: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

Deacon: Amen. Be silent!

The priest reads the Gospel, and when finished he says:

Glory to God unceasingly.

They answer: Glory be to Christ our Lord.

 

Sermon

After the Gospel, the master of ceremonies says: Be seated and silent.

They sit, and the priest preaches the Sermon.

 

 

The Petitions

The deacon then says: Let us all stand composed. They stand. In faith and hope, let us implore and say: Lord, have mercy on us.

They say: Lord, have mercy on us.

 

He recites the Petitions:

- O Father of mercy and God of every consolation, we implore you…

- Our Savior, our Caretaker and Provider for all, we implore you…

- For the peace, concord and well-being of the whole world and all churches, we implore you…

- For our country and for all countries, and for all the faithful who inhabit them, we implore you…

- For good weather, a fertile season, the abundance of fruits and the well-being of the whole world, we implore you…

- For the health of our holy fathers: Mar ____, our High Pontiff and the Pope of Rome, Mar ____, our Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar ____, our Bishop (Metropolitan), and for all those in the same priestly service, we implore you…

- For all the sick and oppressed, the saddened and distressed, the needy and weary, we implore you…

- For the all of our deceased, who have departed from us in hope of the resurrection, we implore you…

 

They may add other petitions of the day which are to be prepared in advance.

Save us all, O Christ our Lord, in your grace, increase your peace and your tranquility within us and have mercy on us.

They answer: Lord, have mercy on us.

At the end of the Petitions, the deacon says:

Let us entrust our souls mutually to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

They respond: To you, Lord God.

The priest then concludes the Petitions with his arms outstretched: To you, Lord God almighty, do we beg and plead: fulfill your grace in us, make your Gift overflow in our hands, and let your mercies and the compassion of your Divinity be for the remission of the debts of your people and for the forgiveness of the sins of the sheep of your flock which you have chosen for yourself in your grace and your mercies, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

 

The Rite of the Eucharist

[Here the deacon cries out:

Let him who has not received baptism go.

Let him who has not accepted the sign of life go.

Let him who will not receive it go; and let the hearers go and watch the doors.]

 

Procession of the Mysteries

They begin the Responsory of the Mysteries of the day, and repeat it. Then those serving then descend from the bema, except for the cantors, who remain there. With two deacons carrying the bread and wine set apart for the Service of the Eucharist, they proceed in order with the processional cross to the opening of the sanctuary.

Washing of the Hands

 

While the Responsory is being said, the celebrating priest washes his hands, and he dries them, while saying silently:

May the Lord wash away the filth of our trespasses with the hyssop of his clemency, and blot out the spots of our sins with the sea of his mercy, amen.

Then: May the Lord cleanse the foulness of our sins and trespasses in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

The Entrance of the Celebrant to the Sanctuary

 

They open the inner veil of the altar, if there is one, and the priest goes to the middle of the sanctuary before the altar, in order to enter the Holy of Holies, offering three bows, approaching at each bow. With the first bow, he pleads thus and says:

When our hearts are sprinkled and purified from wicked intentions, we will be worthy of entering the high and exalted Holy of Holies, and purely and honorably, vigilantly and in holiness, stand before your holy altar and offer you a spiritual and intellectual sacrifice in true faith.

 

[He continues: For you are the Good One who neither keeps his anger nor guards his wrath forever. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt, in the greatness of your mercy: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.]

 

 

But if there is not enough time, he continues thus:

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all in his grace and mercy, forever, Amen.

When he reaches the altar, he kneels and arises, and kisses the center and the right and left corners. He then pleads thus, whispering with his lips:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may you not consider the multitude of our sins, and may your Majesty not loathe the heaviness of our wickedness. Rather, in your indescribable grace, accept this Sacrifice from our hands and, in it, grant strength and power, that our many sins may find atonement, and that when your beloved Son is revealed at the end of time in the humanity he betook of us, we will find favor and mercy before him, and be made worthy for praising him, with the intellectual assembly.

 

 

The Presentation of the Mysteries

at the Altar

 

When the priest is standing before the altar, two deacons walk up to him holding the paten and the chalice. The priest takes them up to the altar in procession, while holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left, with his arms crossed.

And the deacon says: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

 

The priest says in an audible voice: Let us lift up praise to your glorious Trinity at all times and forever.

The deacon answers: Amen.

 

The priest continues: May Christ, who was sacrificed for our salvation and commanded us to make a Memorial of his death, burial and resurrection, accept this Sacrifice from our hands in his grace and mercy, amen.

 

He hits the paten against the chalice three times and says:

By your command, our Lord and God (repeat) are these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries being set and arranged upon the altar of atonement until the second coming of our Lord from heaven, to whom be glory at all times and forever, amen.

 

He arranges the Mysteries upon the altar: the chalice on the north side and the paten on the south side, and he covers them securely with the veil.

 

They say the continuation of the Responsory of the Mysteries:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Let there be a remembrance of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God (or: Mother of Christ) upon the holy altar.

From age to age, amen, amen. Apostles of the Son and friends of the Only-Begotten: may they be remembered in the Church of Christ.

Let all the people say: amen, amen. Let there be a remembrance of Mar Toma or the patron of the church, if there is one, or the saint who is being commemorated upon the holy altar, with the just ones who triumphed and the martyrs who were crowned.

Behold! All of our beloved deceased have fallen asleep in your trust, that you may raise them in glory by your glorious resurrection. This Responsory is not to be changed at any Mass.

 

When the Responsory of the Mysteries with all its additions is finished, the people say:

         May this offering be accepted with unveiled faces and sanctified by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, that it may be for our help and salvation and for everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the grace of Christ.

 

General Preparation for Offering the Eucharist

The Symbol of Faith

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary and extends his hands with his face to the west, that is, toward the people, and he says in a loud voice: We believe. They all continue:

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of all that is visible and invisible;

and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God and first born of all creatures, who was begotten from his Father before all the ages and was not made: true God from true God, of the same substance as his Father, by whose hands the world was ordered and everything was created, who, for us men and for our salvation, descended from Heaven, betook a body by the power of the Holy Spirit, was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary and became man, who suffered and was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate, who died, was buried and rose on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures, who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and who will come again to judge the dead and the living;

and in one Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father: the Giver of life; and in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

When the Creed is finished, the priest ascends to the altar, and offers a bow, while whispering this prayer on behalf of the priesthood with his lips:

Glory to you O Finder of the lost; glory to you O Gatherer of the deserted; glory to you O Recaller of the distant; glory to you O Returner of the wayward to the knowledge of the truth; glory to you, O Lord, who have called even me in my frailty, and have brought me close to yourself in your mercy, who have established me as a recognized member in the great body of your holy catholic Church, to offer this living, holy, and acceptable Sacrifice before you, which is the Remembrance of the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom you have delighted and been pleased to forgive the sins of all mankind.

If there is a bishop or other priests, he says to them: Bless me, sir; bless me, sir; bless me, sir.

And to all who are in the altar he says: Brethren, pray for me.

 

They answer him: May Christ hear your prayers, may Christ receive your Offering, may Christ illumine your priesthood (high priesthood).

When he reaches the front of the altar, he continues this Inclination quietly, and has his arms outstretched while he is inclined, and thus with every Inclination:

We acknowledge, O Lord, the overflowing richness of your favors toward us, for while we were yet sinners and unworthy, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made us worthy to serve the holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, as we ask help from you for the strengthening of our souls. 

 

 The Rite of Peace

When the priest reaches the altar, the deacons say:

Since we have now been called to participate in the Offering, let us give peace to one another, in accord with the command of Christ: peace that is pure and without deceit, the peace that our Savior gave to the blessed group of disciples.

The priest continues: That we may perform the service of your Gift to us in perfect love and true faith.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

The priest turns to the people, and says, while signing: (♰) Peace be with you.

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

A deacon goes to the priest, who places his right hand on the Mysteries. The priest and deacon then share in the peace of our Lord while embracing hands, and each man kisses the top of his thumbs.

The deacon says to the people:

Brethren, give peace to each other in the love of Christ.

 

He gives peace to the faithful, and they share in it in the same manner and sing this Responsory, and they sit:

The mountains bear peace to your people. May peace and serenity increase for your people, O Peace of the World. O Christ, who came for our salvation: sow harmony among the children of the Church, that they may sing the glory of your Name with the angels; uphold priests, and pacify kings, and bring an end to wars to the ends of the earth; protect the assembly of your adorers, who invoke  you at all times; visit the infirm in your grace, heal the sick in your mercy, and extend your helping hand to all the afflicted. O Lord, have pity on us!

 

 

The Diptychs

 

Here the deacon turns to the people and reads the Diptychs, that is, the Book of the Living and the Dead, and thus he begins:

Let us pray and plead from God the Lord for all the children of the Church, especially for:

 

and he names the special intentions for whose sake the Eucharist is offered.

 

He concludes: May this Offering be accepted for them and for us all, forever.

 

 

Preparation for the Sanctification

The deacon preaches this Instruction with his face to the people (and thus every Instruction of the Mass):

Let us all thank, implore and beseech the Lord in purity and sorrow. Stand with composure and behold what is happening: the awesome Mysteries are being sanctified. The priest has approached to pray, that, through his mediation, peace will increase among you. Cast down your eyes and raise your thoughts to heaven. At this moment, implore and beseech attentively and diligently. Let no one dare to speak, and whoever prays should pray in his heart.

 

 

 

While the deacon says this short prayer, the priest silently repeats this Supplication by Mar Narsai:

Lord God almighty, support me in my weakness by your mercy, and by the help of your grace, make me worthy to offer this holy and living Sacrifice before you, for the help of all the community and for the glory of your glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

The priest now carefully lifts up the veil from the Mysteries and places it around the chalice and the paten, saying: Since you have made us worthy, O Lord, in your grace, for your Body and Blood, make us worthy also to have unveiled faces before you on the day of judgment, amen.

 

The Prayer Over the Incense

He then places incense in the thurible while saying this prayer:

O Christ, who accepted the blood of the martyrs on the day of their deaths: accept this incense from my feeble hands in the grace of your mercy, amen.

Or this other prayer: O Lord, your holy Body was embalmed on the day of your entombment with the myrrh and the scented oil of Nicodemus. We your adorers also perfume your entombed Body as embalmment. May this incense be blessed by your grace and hallowed, fulfill this symbol and bring about the atonement of our sins and debts, that they may become a scent pleasing to you, to your Father and to the Holy Spirit, amen.

Or this one: May this incense which is placed for your honor and for our forgiveness be blessed in the Name of your glorious Trinity, amen.

 

The priest then incenses the paten while saying:

May the sweet perfume that we offer you before your holy altar in your glorious temple be pleasing to you, our Lord and God, and may it be for your reconciliation and for the forgiveness of the children of your flock, amen.

When the priest gives the thurible to the deacon he says: May Christ perfume you with his holy scent. The deacon incenses the sanctuary and the people while saying: In silence and awe, recollect yourselves and pray. Peace be with us. He returns to his place.

 

The priest then offers:

The Quddasha of the Blessed Apostles

Composed by Mar Addai and Mar Mari

Evangelizers of the East

The deacon proclaims: Peace be with us.

The priest says, while facing the people: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now, at all times, and forever and ever.

People: Amen.

Priest (as he lifts up his arms): Lift up your minds to the greatest heights, to the fearful land of glory, where there is no stilling the winds of the wings of the cherubim, or the praises and sweet utterances of the hallowings of the seraphim.

The priest turns to the altar.

People: Toward you, O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, O Glorious King!

The priest (indicating the Myseries and lifting his arms) sings, on the Feasts of the Birth of Our Lord, and of his Resurrection, and of Pentecost: The Living and Rational Oblation of our Head, the Sacrifice not slain but acceptable of the Son of our race, that the prophets prepared for in mystery, and the apostles preached in manifestation, which the martyrs bought with the blood of their necks, and the teachers explicated in churches, which priests offer on the holy altar, and levites carried on their shoulders, and which the nations receive for the forgiveness of their sins, on behalf of all creatures from the ends of creation, is being offered to God the Lord of all. (♰) He signs the Mysteries.

And on the rest of the Feasts, that is, on the Presentation at the Temple, the Epiphany, Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the Ascension, the Transfiguration and the Cross, the priest sings: The Living and Rational Oblation of our Head, the Sacrifice not slain but acceptable of the Son of our race on behalf of all creatures from the ends of creation, is being offered to God the Lord of all. (♰) He signs the Mysteries.

The people reply: It is fit and right.

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart, with his arms extended above:

O Lord, O Lord: grant us unveiled faces before you, that we may complete this holy and living Service in the confidence that comes from you, while our intentions are purified from all evil and bitterness. Sow love and peace within us, and harmony toward each other and toward everyone.

Inclination

The priest says in an audible voice:

Glory to you, O adorable and glorious Name of the majestic Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the world in his grace and its inhabitants in his compassion, who redeemed mankind in his mercy and effected great grace toward mortals.

O Lord, thousands upon thousands of exalted beings and tens of thousands of holy angels adore and worship your Greatness. Legions of spiritual beings, ministers of fire and spirit, glorify your Name and, with the holy cherubim and spiritual seraphim, present adoration to your Lordship. Make us worthy to participate with these heavenly hosts as they cry out and glorify unceasingly, proclaiming one to another, saying:

Canon

The people answer: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! Heaven and Earth are filled with his glories!

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who came and who will come in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

During the season of Lent, instead of “Hosanna” they say:

And with the substance of his being, and with the beauty of his glorious Radiance!

Supplication

The priest prays in his heart:

Holy are you, God the true Father, after whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named; holy are you, eternal Son by whom all things were made; holy are you, Holy Spirit, existing above all, by whom all things are sanctified. With every “holy are you” the priest bows before the altar.

Woe is me; woe is me, for I am bewildered! For I am

a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and yet my eyes have seen the King and the Mighty Lord! How awesome is this place, where daily I see the Lord eye to eye! This cannot be but the house of God, and the very door to Heaven!

Then let your grace be upon us, O Lord: purify our filthiness, sanctify our lips, and mingle, O Lord, our meager voices with the hallowing of the seraphim and the praises of the angels. Glory be to your mercies, who have given the earthly communion with the spiritual.

Inclination

Then, in an audible voice: We give thanks to you O Lord, we your deficient, feeble and miserable servants, because you have done us a great favor that cannot be repaid, in that you put on our humanity in order to quicken us by your Divinity, you lifted up our lowliness, righted our fall, raised up our mortality, forgave our debts, made righteous our sinfulness, enlightened our understanding, defeated our enemies, and made our deficient nature triumphant through the overflowing mercies of your grace.

Canon

And for all your benefits and graces toward us, we lift up glory, honor, thanksgiving and adoration to you now, at all times, and forever and ever. (♰) He signs the Mysteries.

People: Amen.

Deacon: Pray in your minds; peace be with us.

 

Supplication

The priest prays in an audible voice, with his arms extended above:

Lord God Almighty, accept this Offering for the sake of the whole universal Church, and for the sake of all your graces toward the perpetual virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother and her betrothed, the just man Saint Joseph, for the sake of all the just and righteous patriarchs who were pleasing before you, of all the apostles and prophets, all the martyrs and confessors, and on behalf of all our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), all bishops, priests, deacons, and other groups of the children of the Church, on behalf of all mourners and all the weary, all the needy and afflicted, all the sick and oppressed, all the faithful departed who have separated and gone away from us, on behalf of this people which looks for and awaits your mercies, and on behalf of my frailty, my wretchedness, and my humbleness.

 

Or this Supplication, in an audible voice:

Indeed, our Lord and God, may this Offering be accepted on behalf of all the holy catholic Church, that she may be upheld and guarded without trembling, on behalf of our holy fathers, Mar … the Pope of Rome, Mar … the Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar … the Bishop (Metropolitan), on behalf of priests and authorities, that they may stand firm for the peace of the Church and the serenity of countries, on behalf of the meek, the poor and the afflicted, and on behalf of mourners, the oppressed and those in pain, on behalf of all those who stand before your holy altar and ask for prayers through my sinfulness: answer their pleadings, absolve their debts and blot out their sins, on behalf of this land and all its inhabitants, on behalf of this city (or village) and those who dwell in it: surround it, O Lord, with a mighty rampart and in your grace deliver it from all scourges; may the invader not conquer us, nor the enemy rejoice over us, and on behalf of…

 

Deacon: Stand and pray in silence and awe.

The people stand.

 

Inclination

Through the Memorial of your Christ, O Lord, make, in your indescribable mercies, a gracious remembrance for all the upright and just fathers who have pleased you, the apostles, prophets and teachers, the martyrs and confessors, the bishops, priests and deacons, and all the children of the holy catholic Church: those who have been signed (♰) with the living sign of holy baptism. He signs the sign of the cross on the altar.

Indeed, our Lord and God, grant us your tranquility and peace all the days of the age, that all the dwellers of the earth may know that you alone are God, the true Father, that you have sent your Son and Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he, our Lord and God, taught us all purity and holiness in his life-giving Gospel.

Here the priest, while genuflecting, says:

And we also, O Lord, your deficient, feeble and miserable servants who are assembled in the Name of your Son, and who stand before you at this moment (here he stands), having received by tradition the example that comes from him, while rejoicing and glorifying, praising and magnifying, commemorate and perform this great, awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mystery of the passion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as he taught us:

For when the time came that he would suffer and approach death, on that night on which he was betrayed, he took bread into his holy hands (he takes the host into his hands) and, raising his eyes to you, his almighty Father, gave thanks and blessed. He broke and gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and eat of it: this is my Body, which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

Likewise, after they had eaten, he took the pure cup into his holy hands (he takes the chalice into his hands), gave thanks to you and blessed; he gave it to his disciples, saying: take, all of you, and drink from it: this is my Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

They answer: Amen.

Priest: Whenever you do this, do it in remembrance of me.

They answer: Amen. (We believe and confess.)

The priest continues: Now, thus, as we are performing his Memorial as we have been commanded, and are offering his Body and Blood upon the holy and pure altar…

He lifts his arms above.

…may your Holy Spirit come, O Lord,

and rest upon this Oblation of your servants,

bless it and sanctify it,

that it may be for us, O Lord, for the pardon of debts and the forgiveness of sins, for the great hope of resurrection from the dead and for new life in the kingdom of heaven with all of those who have pleased you.

Canon

And for this whole great and marvelous plan for us, we give you thanks and praise you unceasingly in your Church redeemed by the precious Blood of your Christ, with expressive mouths and unveiled faces, as we lift up praise, honor, thanksgiving and adoration (he reverences the altar) to your living, holy and life-giving Name now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs the Mysteries.

People: Amen.

They then sing this Responsory:

 

 

 

 

He offers an Oblation to God, and all the power of heaven stands above him.

When the priest enters before the holy altar,

he extends his hands to heaven in purity.

He invites the Spirit, who descends from above

and sanctifies the Body and Blood of Christ.

While the priest silently says this Supplication:

Christ, the peace of the heavenly and the great tranquility of the earthly: make, O Lord, your peace and tranquility dwell over the four corners of the world, and especially in your holy catholic Church. Reconcile the priesthood and the kingship, and blot out wars from the edges of the earth. Disengage opposing nations who desire war, that we may dwell in a peaceful and pleasant world in all respect and fear of God.

The Breaking and Signing Rite

[The priest prays this Inclination silently:

I give you thanks, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, for while I was yet a sinner and deficient, because of the greatness of your mercy, you made me worthy in your grace to offer before you these awesome, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Christ, that I may minister, for your people and the sheep of your flock, the remission of their debts, the forgiveness of their sins, the salvation of their souls, the reconciliation of the whole world and the peace and tranquility of all churches.]

He places incense into the thurible while saying this Prayer of Incense:

May our prayer and our supplication satisfy you, our Lord and our God, may the sweet scent of our thurible please you, as did the thurible of Aaron, the priest of the temporary tabernacle, may it renew our souls with our bodies and reconcile your creation because of your many mercies, O Creator of perfumed herbs and pleasant spices, Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

He draws near to the thurible with his hands extended upon the incense, and he perfumes his hands and his person with incense while saying: I have cleansed my hands in purity and encircled your altar, O Lord.

Then: Perfume us, our Lord and God, with the pleasing scent of your sweet-smelling love. Wash us therein from the grime of sin, O Good Shepherd who came searching for us, found us who were lost and rejoices in our return.

Forgive my faults and my sins, intentional and unintentional, in your grace and in your mercies.

The deacon answers: Amen.

The priest draws near to the altar and says:

Our Lord and our God, may the mercy of your grace draw us near to these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, unworthy though we are.

Thrice: first, when he is standing in front of the altar; second, from the north side of the altar, that is, to the left of the priest; third, from the east side, with his face to the people. At the end of each time, he bows and kisses the altar with his arms folded upon his chest as a cross. If it is impossible for the priest to circle the altar, he kisses the middle, then the north and south sides. 

The deacon answers: Unworthy though we truly are.

The priest then stands and takes the large Host up with both his hands, lifts it up while looking upon it, touches it between his eyes and kisses it in the sign of the cross – not touching it to his lips, but symbolically. He says audibly:  Glory to you, O Living and Life-Giving Bread that descended from heaven and gives life to the world in its totality: those who eat of it will not die, and who partake of it will be forgiven and saved, and through it will live forever.

They answer: Amen.

 

He continues: With true faith in your Name, O Lord, we draw near to these holy Mysteries. In your mercy we break and in your compassion we sign the Body and Blood of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Upon the naming of the Trinity, he breaks the large Host which is in his hands into two halves, and puts the half in his left hand on the paten facing the chalice.

They answer: Amen.

He says: The precious Blood is signed with the life-giving Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

He signs, with the half in his hand, the Blood, immersing one third.

They answer: Amen.

He then says: The holy Body is signed with the forgiving Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

With the half in his hand he signs the half on the paten, and lays it down, with the immersed portion facing east.

They answer: Amen.

 

The priest shows the people the holy Mysteries, holding the chalice in his right hand and the paten in his left. He says, in an audible voice:

These life-giving Mysteries have been set apart, sanctified, perfected, completed, united, mingled, brought together and sealed in the adorable Name of the glorious Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Here they say the Responsory [while the priest continues silently: that they may be, O Lord, for the remission of our debts, the forgiveness of our sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead and a new life in the kingdom of heaven, for us and for the holy Church of Christ our Lord, here and in every place, now, at all times, and forever and ever.]

 

The priest places them upon the altar and reverences then stands and kisses it in the middle, then returns to the west side of the altar with his face to the people. He straightens the chalice veil which was around the paten and chalice, putting it on the side of the chalice.

The people sit and sing this Responsory:

Praise him, all his angels. Cherubim, seraphim and archangels stand before the altar in awe and reverence gazing at the priest (high priest) who breaks and divides the Body of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Or this one: Hear this, all you nations. Christ was crucified, died and was buried; and he rose and came back to life: the great King of Glory. He rose to heaven, and sat above all, and is destined to come and judge the living and the dead.

The Communion Rite

The priest then facing people cries out joyfully, in a loud voice:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all; now, at all times, and forever and ever. He turns to the east.

The deacon proclaims:

Let us all, with awe and respect, approach the Mystery of the precious Body and Blood of our Savior. With a pure heart and true faith, let us recall his passion and draw comfort from his resurrection. It was for us that the Only-Begotten of God betook of man a mortal body and a rational, intellectual and immortal soul. By his life-giving laws and holy commandments, he led us from error to the knowledge of the truth. After having fulfilled his entire plan for us, the First-Born of our race endured the cross, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He handed his holy Mysteries over to us, in which we ought to recall all his goodness to us.

Let us thus, with abounding love and humble will, receive the Gift of eternal life. With sincere prayer and contritional sorrow, let us participate in the Mysteries of the Church. In penitential hope, let us quit our wrongdoings and repent of our sins, and ask mercy and forgiveness from God the Lord of all, as we forgive the faults of our brethren.

They answer: O Lord, forgive the sins and faults of your servants.

Let us cleanse our intentions of all divisions and conflicts. O Lord, forgive…

As our souls are purified of hatred and hostility, O Lord, forgive…

We shall receive the Holy and be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. O Lord, forgive…

United and with one accord, let us receive the Communion of the Mysteries. O Lord, forgive…

That they may be for us, O Lord, for the resurrection of our bodies, the salvation of our souls.

And for life everlasting.

While this is being said, the priest breaks the Body and prepares the broken pieces for Communion, and he moistens the particles for the children.

When the proclamation is finished, the deacon says:

Let us pray. Peace be with us.

The priest recites this in an audible voice with extended arms:

Prayer Before the Our Father

Forgive in your mercy, O Lord, the sins and faults of your servants and sanctify our lips in your grace, that we may bear fruits of praise to your exalted Divinity with all your saints in your kingdom.

He continues: O Lord, instill your peace among us and your serenity in our hearts, and our tongues will proclaim your truth. May your cross be a guardian for our souls. As we make our mouths into new harps and chant with fiery lips, make us worthy, O Lord, that we may pray before you with the confidence that comes from you, this pure and holy prayer which your life-giving mouth taught your true disciples, the sharers in your Mysteries, when you said that whenever they pray, they should give thanks and say thus: (Our Father…)

Or this: Forgive, O Lord, in your mercy, the sins and faults of your servants, sanctify our mouths in your grace, that they may become new harps and chant with fiery tongues.

And make us worthy, O Lord, that we may pray before you with the confidence that comes from you, this pure and holy prayer which your life-giving mouth taught your true disciples, the sharers in your Mysteries, when you said that whenever they pray, they should give thanks and say thus:

They answer:

 

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 evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

He continues: Indeed, Lord God Almighty, our Good God and our Father full of mercies, we plead and supplicate the immensity of your mercy: do not, O Lord, do not, O Lord, lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one and his hosts, for yours are the kingdom, the power, the strength, the greatness and the authority in heaven and on earth, now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever. He signs himself.

They answer: Amen.

 

The priest turns to the people and says: Peace be with you (♰).

The people answer: With you and with your Spirit.

He continues, while indicating the Holy to the people: The Holy is fit for the holy ones living in accord.

They answer: One Holy Father, one Holy Son, and one Holy Spirit: glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit forever and ever, amen.

 

Fearful are you…

Those in the sanctuary begin the Canon “Fearful are you…” with its verses. The people in the nave repeat it. If there is need for the Rite of Absolution, it is celebrated here.

The deacon says to the people: Give glory to the living God.

 

 

 

The priest places the Host above the chalice with his left hand, and shows it to the people.

 

They answer: Glory be to him in his Church, and may his mercies and his compassion be upon us at all times and ages.

 

They say the Communion Responsory – “DBem.”

 

The priest approaches the paten and prays, thrice:

Sanctify our bodies by your holy Body; forgive our sins in your precious Blood; purify our intentions with the hyssop of your mercy: O Christ, the hope of our race forever.

 

 

He takes up the Holy in his hands and says:

I, though unworthy, am holding the Lord Christ. Show the richness of your mercy in me, O Lord, and the great power of your awesome mystery, unworthy though I am. He communicates.

 

He then takes hold of the chalice and says:

O heavenly Bridegroom, you have prepared the cup of your precious Blood at your banquet for the assembly of your guests. From this very cup you have offered me, a sinner, to drink. Glory be to you for your indescribable love, amen. He receives.

 

When the priest communicates, the deacon cries out: Bless us, sir.

 

 

 

The priest shows the people the Holy while saying with an audible voice:

May the graceful Gift of our Life-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, be consummated in all of us by his mercies.

They answer: Forever and ever, amen.

 

The same deacon cries out: Brethren, receive the Body of the Son, says the Church, and drink his Cup with faith in his kingdom.

 

The communicants approach to participate, while first extending their hands over incense where possible. Thus do they approach: the clergy, i.e. the bishops, priests and deacons. They take Communion at the altar, approaching according to their ranks, each of them receiving the Living Body from the hand of the celebrant and the Pure Cup from the hand of the deacon.

The priest descends to the opening of the sanctuary while holding the ciborium, and with him the deacon carrying the chalice. After this, the subdeacons, lectors and the other communicants approach the opening of the sanctuary in order to receive. The communicant extends his hands in the figure of the cross, and the priest places the Body upon the right hand of the communicant while saying: The Body of our Lord, or The Body of Christ, or The Body of Christ the King (for the venerable bishop, or for the reverend priest, or for the deacon of God, or for the noble believer), for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting.

The communicant responds: Amen.

Bowing his head, he venerates the Holy and receives it.

 

The deacon at the chalice says: The Blood of our Lord, or The Blood of Christ, or The precious Blood for the forgiveness of sins and for life everlasting, or Spiritual Drink (for each according to his rank) for life everlasting.

 

The communicant replies: Amen. He drinks.

 

The Host may also be administered by intinction, in which case the priest places the Host in the mouth of the communicant, while saying:

The Body and Blood of Christ for the noble believer for the forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life.

While the Holy is being distributed, they sing the communion hymn designated for Principal Feasts: “Your body and blood,” and afterwards the hymn of praise and thanksgiving that was composed by Yezden the Great:

Strengthen, O Lord, the hands that extended

     and took the Holy for the forgiveness of sins.

Make them worthy that, every day,

     they may bear fruit for your Divinity.

The mouths that cried “halleluiah” in the sanctuary:

     make them worthy to sing your glory.

The ears that heared the sound of your praises:

     let them not, O Lord, hear the sound of wrath.

The eyes that saw your great mercy:

     let them also, O Lord, see your blessed hope.

Also the tongues who cry out “holy:”

     tune them also to speak the truth.

The legs that walked in the churches:

     let them walk in the land of light.

The bodies that ate your Living Body:

     renew them in newness of life.

Our assembly that adores your Divinity:

     increase every benefit for it.

May your great love dwell with us,

     and in it we will compete to repay praise.

Open the door to all our petitions,

     and let our service be acceptable before you.

Once the people have taken the Holy, the priest faces the altar and the deacon proclaims this with his face to the people:

As we were made worthy, brethren, through the gift of grace of the Holy Spirit, to approach and participate in these glorious, holy, life-giving and divine Mysteries, let us all unanimously thank and glorify God, who has given them.

They answer: Glory to him for his indescribable Gift.

Deacon: Let us pray. Peace be with us.

The priest prays in an audible voice:

Lord, it is right every day, it is proper at all times, it is fitting at every moment to thank, adore and praise the awesome Name of your Majesty, for you made the weak race of mortal men worthy, O Lord, to proclaim your holiness with the spiritual beings, to participate in the Gift of your Mysteries, to enjoy the sweetness of your words and to lift up songs of praise and thanksgiving to your sublime Divinity at all times, O Lord of all: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

They answer: Amen. Bless us, sir.

He prays the second one:

May Christ our God, our Lord, our King, our Savior, our Life-giver, and the Forgiver of our sins who, in his grace and mercies, has made us worthy to receive his precious and sanctifying Body and Blood, grant us to please him in our words and deeds, and in our thoughts and actions. May the Mysteries that we have received and will receive be for us, O Lord, a token to obtain the pardon of our debts and the forgiveness of our sins, the great hope of resurrection from the dead and new life in the kingdom of heaven with all of those who have pleased him, through his grace and mercies, forever, amen.

 

They continue: Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

 

The priest continues: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

 

They answer: From age to age, amen, amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come. Holy, holy, you are holy. Our Father in Heaven: heaven and earth are full of the greatness of your glory; angels and men cry out to you: holy, holy, you are holy.

 

They say: Bless us, sir.

 

 

The priest goes and stands at the door of the altar, at the right side of the sanctuary, and he blesses the people with a cross which he is holding, while saying this Final Blessing for Feasts of the Lord in an audible voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Blessing

 

May he who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven, Jesus Christ our Lord and King forever, who called us to his yearned-for blessings which neither pass away nor cease and gave us his Body and Blood, the pledge of incorruptible life, bless abundantly this our assembly, saved by his cross, shelter it and guard it from all harm under the care of his diligence, protect the Church bought with his precious Blood from every enemy, uphold her priests, decorate her children with every adornment, give victory to her shepherds, aid her priests, enrich her deacons with every charism, sustain the elderly, strengthen the youth, instruct the children in every teaching, bless the rich, provide for the poor and bestow all healing upon the sick.

And upon you, O people of the Lord and sheep of his flock, bought with his own Body and Blood: may his mercies, his compassion, his graces and his gifts overflow now (♰), at all times, and forever and ever.

 

 

 

 

 

Another

The Father has blessed us with every blessing through his living Son / and has sent him for our salvation from the heaven of heavens in his mercy. / Jesus our Lord dwelt in our body and gave us his Body, / and mingled his precious Blood with ours: the mystery of atonement.

 

May he who saved us strengthen our heart through this promise: / “Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood with a pure heart / will abide in me and I in him” – O great mystery! – / “and on the day of judgment, he will certainly not be judged as a sinner.”

 

He has shown his power and his glory in us splendidly, / imprinted his Image within us, forgiven us and sanctified us in his hidden power. / May the power that rested upon the chosen disciples and apostles / rest upon you and aid you in what is hidden and what is manifest.

 

May peace, tranquility, hope and good and pure love / dwell in you and in your homes until the end. / Glory be to Jesus Christ from every mouth / for his Gift that cannot be described by any created tongue,

now, at all times, and for ever and ever. (♰)

 

܀ End ܀

The priest prays a prayer of thanksgiving.