The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom - Part 2 | Liturgical Texts of Greek Orthodox Church

The Offertory Prayer Priest (in a low voice): Lord God Almighty, You alone are holy. You accept the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart, even so, accept from us sinners our supplication, and bring it to Your holy Altar of sacrifice. Enable us to offer You gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our own sins and the failings of Your people. Deem us worthy to find grace in Your sight, that our sacrifice may be well pleasing to You, and that the good Spirit of Your grace may rest upon us and upon these gifts presented and upon all Your people. And he exclaims: Through the mercies of Your only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Priest: Peace be with all. People: And with your spirit. Deacon: Let us love one another, that with oneness of mind we may confess: People: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Trinity, one in essence and undivided. The Priest venerates the covered Holy Gifts, saying privately: I will love you, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my foundation, my refuge, and my deliverer.[3] Deacon: The doors! The doors! In wisdom, let us be attentive! The People say: The Symbol of Our Faith I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen. The Holy Anaphora Deacon: Let us stand aright! Let us stand in awe! Let us be attentive, that we may present the Holy Offering in peace. People: A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise. Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. People: And with your spirit. Priest: Let us lift up our hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord. People: It is proper and right. Priest (in a low voice): It is proper and right to hymn You, to bless You, to praise You, to give thanks to You, and to worship You in every place of Your dominion. For You, O God, are ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, existing forever, forever the same, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. You brought us out of nothing into being, and when we had fallen away, You raised us up again. You left nothing undone until you had led us up to heaven and granted us Your Kingdom, which is to come. For all these things, we thank You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit: for all things we know and do not know, for blessings manifest and hidden that have been bestowed on us. We thank You also for this Liturgy, which You have deigned to receive from our hands, even though thousands of archangels and tens of thousands of angels stand around You, the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring aloft upon their wings, And he exclaims: Singing the triumphal hymn, exclaiming, proclaiming, and saying… People: Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Priest (in a low voice): Together with these blessed powers, Master, Who loves mankind, we also exclaim and say: Holy are You and most holy, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. Holy are You and most holy, and sublime is Your glory. You so loved Your world that You gave Your only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. When He had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and blessing, He hallowed and broke it, and gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: The Priest exclaims: Take, eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins. People: Amen. The Priest then says in a low voice: Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying, The Priest again exclaims: Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins. People: Amen. Then the Priest says in a low voice: Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again. And he exclaims: Your own of Your own we offer to You, in all and for all. People: We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Lord our God. Priest (in a low voice): Once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood, and we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented, The Deacon, gesturing with his orarion toward the holy Bread, says: Bless, Master, the Holy Bread. And the Priest blesses over the holy Bread and says: And make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ. The Deacon, gesturing with his orarion toward the holy Chalice, says: Amen. Bless, Master, the holy Cup. The Priest, blessing over the holy Chalice, says: And that which is in this Cup, the precious Blood of Your Christ. The Deacon, gesturing with his orarion toward both Holy Gifts, says: Amen. Bless, Master, both the Holy Gifts. The Priest, blessing both the Holy Bread and holy Chalice, says: Changing them by Your Holy Spirit. Deacon: Amen. Amen. Amen. The Priest says in a low voice: So that they may be for those who partake of them for vigilance of soul, remission of sins, communion of Your Holy Spirit, fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven, boldness before You, not for judgment or condemnation. Again, we offer You this spiritual worship for those who have reposed in the faith: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous spirit made perfect in faith, And he exclaims: Especially for our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary. People: It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Logos. We magnify you, the true Theotokos. The Priest says in a low voice: For Saint John the prophet, forerunner, and baptist; for the holy, glorious, and most praiseworthy apostles; for Saint(s) (Name), whose memory we celebrate; and for all Your saints, through whose supplications, visit us, O God. And remember all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection to life eternal (here the Priest commemorates by name those departed whom he wishes). Grant them rest, O our God, where the light of Your countenance keeps watch. Again we beseech You, Lord, remember all Orthodox bishops who rightly teach the word of Your truth, the presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and every priestly and monastic order. Again we offer You this spiritual worship for the whole world, for the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and for those living pure and reverent lives. For civil authorities and our armed forces, grant that they may govern in peace, Lord, so that in their tranquility we, too, may live calm and serene lives, in all piety and virtue. And he exclaims: Among the first remember, Lord, our Archbishop (Name); grant him to Your holy churches in peace, safety, honor, and health, unto length of days, rightly teaching the word of Your truth. The Deacon, facing the people, exclaims: And remember those whom each one of us has in mind, and all the people. People: And all the people. The Priest prays the following prayer in a low voice: Remember, Lord, this city in which we live, and every city and land, and the faithful who live in them. Remember, Lord, those who travel by land, sea, and air; the sick; the suffering; the captives; and their salvation. Remember those who bear fruit and do good works in Your holy churches and those who are mindful of the poor, and upon us all send forth Your mercies. And he exclaims: And grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Priest: And the mercies of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you all. People: And with your spirit. The people respond with Lord, have mercy, after each petition. Deacon: Having commemorated all the saints, again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord. For the precious Gifts here presented and consecrated, let us pray to the Lord. That our God Who loves mankind, having accepted them at His holy and celestial and mystical altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send down upon us the divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray. For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace. That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord. The people respond with Grant this, O Lord, after each petition. For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord. For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord. For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord. That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord. And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ. Deacon: Having asked for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. People: To You, O Lord. Priest (in a low voice): We entrust to You, loving Master, our whole life and hope, and we beseech, pray, and implore You: Grant us to partake of Your heavenly and awesome Mysteries from this sacred and spiritual table with a clear conscience for the remission of sins, the forgiveness of transgressions, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and boldness before You, not unto judgment or condemnation. And he exclaims: And grant us, Master, with boldness and without condemnation, to dare call You, the heavenly God, Father, and to say: The Clergy and the People: The Lord’s Prayer 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. Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Priest: Peace be with all. People: And with your spirit. Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord. People: To You, O Lord. Priest (in a low voice): We give thanks to You, invisible King, Who by Your boundless power fashioned the universe, and in the multitude of Your mercy brought all things from nothing into being. Look down from heaven, O Master, upon those who have bowed their heads before You; for they have not bowed before flesh and blood, but before You, the awesome God. Therefore, O Master, make smooth and beneficial for us all, whatever lies ahead, according to the need of each: Sail with those who sail; travel with those who travel; heal the sick, Physician of our souls and bodies. And he exclaims: Through the grace, compassion, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. The Holy Communion Priest (in a low voice): Hearken, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You Who are enthroned with the Father on high and are present among us invisibly here. And with Your mighty hand, grant Communion of Your most pure Body and precious Blood to us, and through us to all the people. Deacon: Let us be attentive! Priest: The Holy Gifts for the holy people of God. People: One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Then the Communion Hymn is chanted: Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Alleluia. (3) After the Deacon exclaims Let us be attentive, he enters through the south door into the holy Altar. Standing to the right of the Priest, he addresses him, saying: Apportion, Master, the Holy Bread. The Priest, dividing the Holy Bread into four pieces, says: The Lamb of God is apportioned and distributed; apportioned, but not divided; ever eaten, yet never consumed; but sanctifying those who partake. And the Deacon, pointing toward the holy Chalice, says: Fill, Master, the holy Cup. The Priest, taking the ΙΣ piece, makes the Sign of the Cross above the holy Chalice, saying: The fullness of the Holy Spirit. He then places the ΙΣ piece in the holy Chalice. Deacon: Amen. The Deacon, taking the zeon, addresses the Priest: Bless, Master, the zeon. The Priest, blessing the zeon, says: Blessed is the fervor of Your saints, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Deacon: Amen. The Deacon pours from the zeon the needed amount into the holy Chalice, saying: The fervor of the Holy Spirit. Amen. It is customary for the Priest and Deacon to offer the following prayers of Holy Communion. I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, in knowledge or in ignorance. And make me worthy, without condemnation, to partake of Your pure Mysteries for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Amen. Behold, I approach for Divine Communion. O Maker, burn me not as I partake, For You are fire consuming the unworthy. But cleanse me from every stain. O Son of God, receive me today as a partaker of Your mystical supper. For I will not speak of the mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas. But like the thief, I confess to You: Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom. Tremble, O man, as you behold the divine Blood. It is a burning coal that sears the unworthy. The Body of God both deifies and nourishes me: It deifies the Spirit and wondrously nourishes the mind. You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and by Your divine eros You have changed me. But burn up with spiritual fire my sins, and grant me to be filled with delight in You, so that, leaping for joy, I may magnify, O Good One, Your two comings. How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your saints? If I should dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my vesture will condemn me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I shall be cast out by the angels. Cleanse, O Lord, the filth of my soul, and save me, as You are the one Who loves mankind. In Your love, Lord, cleanse my soul, and save me. Master Who loves mankind, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these Holy Gifts be to my judgment because I am unworthy, but rather for the purification and sanctification of both soul and body and the pledge of the life and Kingdom to come. It is good for me to cleave unto God and to place in Him the hope of my salvation. O Son of God, receive me today as a partaker of Your mystical supper. For I will not speak of the mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas. But like the thief, I confess to You: Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom. The Priest prepares to receive Holy Communion. Behold, I approach Christ, our immortal King and God. Unto me, (Name), the unworthy presbyter, is imparted the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and life eternal. He communes of the Holy Bread with fear and with great care. Then he says to the Deacon: Deacon, approach. And the Deacon approaches at the Priest’s right, extending his hands with his right palm crossed over his left, saying: Behold, I approach Christ, our immortal King and God. Impart, Master, to me, (Name), the unworthy deacon, the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and life eternal. The Priest places a piece of the Holy Bread in the Deacon’s right palm, saying: Unto you, (Name), the most devout deacon, is imparted the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and life eternal. The Deacon kisses the right hand of the Priest, steps behind the holy Table, and communes of the Holy Bread. The Priest, with the communion cloth in his hand, takes the holy Chalice, saying: Again unto me, (Name), the unworthy presbyter, is imparted the precious and all-holy and life-giving Blood of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and life eternal. He communes once from the holy Chalice in silence. Then he says: This has touched my lips, and the Lord takes away all my iniquities and cleanses my sins. He calls the Deacon again, saying: Deacon, approach again. The Deacon approaches at the Priest’s left, saying: As I approach again, Master, impart to me, (Name), the unworthy deacon, the precious and all-holy and life-giving Blood of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and life eternal. The Priest communes him from the holy Chalice, saying: Again to you, (Name), the most devout deacon, is imparted the precious and all-holy and life-giving Blood of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins and life eternal. The Priest says: This has touched your lips, and the Lord takes away all your iniquities and cleanses your sins. Then the Deacon takes the holy Paten and, using the mousa (sponge), transfers the remaining portions of the Holy Body into the holy Chalice with attention and reverence. It is customary for the Deacon to say the following at this time: Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. Your Cross, O Christ, we venerate, and Your holy Resurrection we praise and glorify. For You are our God; apart from You we know no other; we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ; for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to the whole world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection; for having endured the Cross for us, He destroyed death by death. Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. Dance now and be glad, Zion, and you, O pure Theotokos, rejoice in the Resurrection of your Son. O voice divine, beloved and most sweet! For you, O Christ, have promised in truth to be with us unto the close of the age, and we faithful rejoice, having this anchor of hope. O Christ, our Pascha, most sacred and great: wisdom, Word, and power of God. Grant unto us to partake of You more profoundly in the unending day of Your Kingdom. * * * * * After the Communion Hymn the Deacon exclaims: With the fear of God, faith, and love, draw near. And the people receive Holy Communion. The Priest receives the holy Chalice from the hands of the Deacon and begins communing the people, saying to each one: The servant of God (Name) partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ for the remission of sins and life eternal. After all have communed, the Priest blesses the people, saying: Save, O God, Your people, and bless Your inheritance. People: We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us. Priest (in a low voice): Wash away, Lord, by Your Holy Blood, the sins of Your servants here remembered through the intercessions of the Theotokos and all Your saints. Amen. Deacon (in a low voice): Exalt, Master. Priest (in a low voice): Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth. (3) Blessed is our God, And, facing the people, he exclaims: Always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with Your praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Your glory, because You have made us worthy to partake of Your Holy Mysteries. Keep us in Your sanctification, that all day long we may meditate upon Your righteousness. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Deacon: Arise! Having partaken of the divine, holy, pure, immortal, heavenly, life-creating, and awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us worthily give thanks to the Lord. Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace. People: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Having prayed for a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. People: To You, O Lord. The Thanksgiving Prayer Priest (in a low voice): We give thanks to You, Master Who loves mankind, benefactor of our souls, that even on this very day You have made us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Make straight our path, fortify us in Your fear, guard our life, make secure our steps, through the prayers and supplications of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and of all Your saints. And he exclaims: For You are our sanctification, and to You we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Priest: Let us go forth in peace. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. The Prayer behind the Ambon

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The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom - Part 2

Liturgical Texts of Greek Orthodox Church

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