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  EARLY LITURGIES
  by Various (Edinburgh Translations)
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A collection of early Christian liturgical texts in English translation from the
Edinburgh series. These ancient worship forms provide insight into how the early
church conducted its services, prayers, and sacraments.

  Chapters: 6

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS
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    0. Early Liturgies
    1. Introductory Notice to the Early Liturgies.
    2. The Divine Liturgy of James the Holy Apostle and Brother of the Lord.
    3. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, The Disciple of the Holy Peter. 
    4. The Liturgy of the Blessed Apostles.
    5. ELUCIDATIONS.

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  CHAPTER 0: EARLY LITURGIES
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  CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTORY NOTICE TO THE EARLY LITURGIES.
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It is in curious contrast with the work of Brett and others like-minded that we
have in these Edinburgh translations a reflection from the minds of divines who
are unused to liturgies, and who have no interest in their elucidation. For the
mere reader this is not an advantage; but the student who goes to the originals
will find that it affords at times no inconsiderable help. These translations
are "inartificially drawn," as the lawyers say. They are so much Greek and Latin
rendered grammatically by competent scholars, who have no theories to sustain,
and who are equally devoid of technique and of a disposition to exhibit it for
the support of preconceptions. Not infrequently one gets a new view of certain
stereotyped expressions from the way in which they are here handled. The
liturgiologist finds his researches freshened by etymologies he had hardly
thought of, here literally rendered. Of course, these are mere specimens, and no
one can use them for argument, except by comparison with the Greek, or the Latin
of Renaudot, or the originals in Syriac or Coptic; but they will prove very
useful in many ways. The whole science is in its infancy; and we have no
specimen of a primitive liturgy unless it be the Clementine, so called. The
specimens here given are like cloth of gold (Ps. xlv.13), moth-eaten and
patched, and spangled over with tinsel; and the true artist has only the one
object in view, -- to restore it, that is, to the king's daughter, as it was
aforetime.The following is the announcement of the Messrs. Clark in the
Edinburgh edition: "The Liturgy of St. James has been translated by William
Macdonald, M.A.; that of the Evangelist Mark by George Ross Merry, B.A.; and
that of the Holy Apostles by Dr. Donaldson."It will be observed that the
translations are given in the Edinburgh series with hardly a line of comment,
and with no editorial helps to the reader whatever. These have been scantily
supplied, here and there, where the case seemed to require some elucidation; and
in a few instances I have ventured to reduce a word or two in the rendering to
liturgical phraseology.The interest which has recently been awakened in
liturgiology, and which exists among the learned so generally, will justify me
in stating somewhat at large the considerations which are prerequisites to an
intelligent study of these compilations. I shall not depart from my rule, nor
formulate my personal convictions; but I must indicate sources of information
not mentioned by the Edinburgh editors, only remarking, that, while they have
cited the learned and excellent Dr. Neale, with others who advance untenable
claims in some instances, I shall refer to writers of a more moderate school,
such as have taken a less narrow and more historic view of the whole matter. By
claiming too much, and by reading their own ideas back into the ancient
exemplars, many good and learned men have overdone their argument, and confused
scriptural simplicity with the artificial systems of post-Nicene ages. Earnest
and worthy of respect as they are, I must therefore prefer a class of writers
who breathe the spirit of the ante-Nicene Fathers as better elucidating the
primitive epoch and its principles, alike in doctrine and worship.Hippolytus, in
a few terse sentences, has pointed out the epoch of David, in its vast import,
as the dawning of Christianity itself. [4020] [4021] More elaborately, a recent
writer of great erudition has expounded the same historic fact, and given us the
pivot of Hebrew history on which turns the whole system of that "goodly
fellowship of prophets" who heralded the Sun of righteousness as successive
constellations rise before the day. The learned Dean Payne-Smith, more minutely
than Hippolytus, identifies Samuel, the master of David, as the great instrument
of God in shaping the institutions of Moses to be a prelude to the Advent; in
other words, transforming a local and tribal religion into that of Catholicity.
The value of the Dean's condensed and luminous elaboration of this cardinal
truth can hardly be overstated.But, to go behind even the Dean's stand-point, we
shall better comprehend the era of which, under God, Samuel was the author, by
noting the immense importance of that specific Mosaic ordinance which not only
made it possible, but which proves that an all-wise prolepsis governed the whole
law of Moses. We generally conceive of the Mosaic system as one of unlimited
hecatombs and burnt-offerings. On the contrary, it was a system restricting and
limiting the unsystematized primeval institution of sacrifice, which had done
its work by passing into the universal religions and rituals of Gentilism.
[4022] When the seminal idea of expiation, atonement, and the blood of innocence
as a propitiation for guilt, was communicated to all the families of the earth,
the Mosaic institutions limited sacrifices for the faithful, and localized them
with marvellous significance. Previously the faithful everywhere had imitated
the sacrifices of their fathers, Noah and Abraham, who reared their altars
everywhere, as Job also did, -- wherever they dwelt or sojourned. Now mark the
first step towards a more spiritual worship, based, nevertheless, on the
fundamental principle of sacrifice. Moses ordains as follows: -- 1. "When ye go
over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you,...then
there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to
dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you, your
burnt-offerings," etc. [4023]2. "Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy
burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest; but in the place which the Lord
shall choose in one of the tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings,
and there thou shalt do all that I command thee." [4024]3. "If the place which
the Lord thy God hath chosen to put His name there, be too far from thee" [i.e.,
for frequent sacrifices; observe, nevertheless, the law as to the sanctity of
blood in thy common use of meats, and forbear to sacrifice, till the opportunity
comes], "only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take,
and go unto the place which the Lord shall choose; and thou shalt offer thy
burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the Lord thy God."
[4025]4. "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy
God, in the place which He shall choose." [4026]5. "Thou mayest not sacrifice
The Passover within any of thy gates;...but at the place which the Lord thy God
shall choose to place His name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the
Passover."Note, further, that all this provision and prevision was part of the
great Messianic system, which reached its crisis in the time of David, as
prophetic of "the Son of David."It was the office of Samuel to take the Mosaic
ordinances just there, and to shape them for the advent of the Lamb of God, for
His sacrifice upon Calvary, and for the setting-up of His universal kingdom.The
Institutions of Samuel, therefore, were in essence institutions for the
Gospel-day, and they were completed by the anointing of David as king, and by
his prophetic mission to provide the Psalter (of which more, by and by); then
the Ark came out of curtains, and the Lord chose and appointed the place of
which Moses had spoken, -- none other than the spot where Abraham had rehearsed
in type the Sacrifice and Resurrection of Christ, according as it was written:
[4027] "Jehovah-Jireh...in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." Thus, all
sacrifice acceptable to God was shown to have reference to the Paschal Lamb, who
on that mount of the Lord should be sacrificed, and rise again, as was
accomplished in a figure aforetime. [4028]And next, the Psalmist commemorates
the putting away of the migratory Tabernacle, and the rest of the Ark of the
Covenant in the place designed for the grand accomplishment of redemption ("the
sure mercies of David"), as follows: [4029] -- "He refused the tabernacle of
Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: but chose the tribe of Judah, the
Mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like
the earth which He hath established for ever."Thus, localized sacrifice was made
to designate the spot where the one propitiatory sacrifice should be offered,
"for the sins of the whole world;" and that spot in turn interpreted the great
canon of redemption, [4030] -- "Without shedding of blood is no remission:"and
all this, being accomplished in the Messiah, passed away for ever. The veil of
the Temple was rent when Jesus cried, "It is finished."And now let us note the
"Institutions of Samuel." The localizing of the Temple-worship made way for the
clearer revelation of spiritual sacrifices: the Temple itself was to be supplied
with an expository liturgy. Moreover, a liturgical system, revolving about the
central worship of the Temple, was to be brought to every man's door by the
establishment of the synagogue for the villages of Israel. [4031] The
synagogue-worship became, therefore, the education and preparation of the
faithful for the simple and spiritual worship of the new law. This our Lord
Himself expounded in the grand Catholicity of His words to the outcast
Samaritans: -- "The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet
at Jerusalem, worship the Father....But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth," [4032] etc.We
have seen that the hour promised by Malachi was supposed by the Ante-Nicene
Fathers to be here intended: "My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in
every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering."
[4033]The student of this series must have observed that the primitive writers
were universally impressed with these principles, [4034] and they are essential
to the study of the liturgies here introduced into the series by the Edinburgh
editors. For other purposes, expounding the prophetic system, on a text of St.
Peter, Dean Payne-Smith has incidentally elucidated these ideas so fully, and
with such originality, that I leave the student to consult his pages, [4035]
with only the following important hints to those who may fail to see them: -- 1.
We find the prophet Samuel instituting "Schools of the Prophets," out of which
grew the synagogue system supplying the Rabbinical education to Israel, and
furnishing chiefs to the synagogues. See Acts iii.24; and compare 1 Sam. x.5,
xix.20, and 1 Chron. ix.22. [4036] 2. We find the institution of choral worship
and the chanting of hymns -- e.g., of Moses and Miriam, and Hannah (Samuel's
mother) -- in full operation under Samuel.3. We find David at this juncture
inspired, as "the sweet singer of Israel," to supply the Psalter, which in
divers arrangements has continued among Christians to be the marrow of public
worship "in every place," and throughout the world.4. The reading of the law and
the prophets was now set in order; and not only was the Temple supplied with
teachers, but also the villages in every tribe. [4037]5. Thus the Christian
Church was provided with a system of worship from the hour of its institution,
[4038] the synaxis succeeding the synagogue; the "ministration of the word"
being enriched by Gospels and Epistles, by psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
and by "the prayers" (based upon the Shemone esre) [4039] which now began to be
composed and multiplied in the churches. Touching "free prayer" as exemplified
in the first ages, see St. Cyprian's Epistles more especially: [4040] "Let us
pray for the lapsed," etc.6. It is most significant, that, as St. Paul was not
present at the institution of the Lord's Supper, he was, nevertheless, "not
behind the chiefest of the Apostles," even in this. He also "received" the whole
knowledge of the institution, and became, in so far, the author of an original
Gospel in his details of Christ's great oblation of Himself. Hereupon, he adds
the sacrificial expositions [4041] of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and "delivered
the ordinances" to every church [4042] (kata` ta'xin), providing for order and
decorum in divine offices.This he seems to have done as "Liturge" and
"Hierurge," or evangelical priest, [4043] "ministering in sacrifice [4044] the
Gospel of God," etc.Compare, then, with the Scriptures, Justin Martyr's account
of the early worship of Christians; and after consulting the (so-called)
"Clementine Liturgy," [4045] the student will be qualified to form an
enlightened judgment upon the primitive and the interpolated elements of the
following liturgies. For we must bear in mind that they are reflected from mss.,
not one of which has any claim to represent the Ante-Nicene period. To purify
them, therefore, by Scripture, and the truly primitive testimonies of this
series, is a task yet remaining to be accomplished, and one which may well
invoke the most conscientious and patient labours of the most learned in the
land.Here follows the Edinburgh Introductory Notice: -- The word Liturgy has a
special meaning as applied to the following documents. It denotes the service
used in the celebration of the Eucharist.Various liturgies have come down to us
from antiquity; and their age, authorship, and genuineness have been matter of
keen discussion. In our own country two writers on this subject stand specially
prominent: the Rev. William Palmer, M.A., who in his Origines Liturgicæ [4046]
gave a dissertation on Primitive Liturgies; and the Rev. J. Mason Neale, who
devoted a large portion of his life to liturgies, edited four of them in his
Tetralogia Liturgica, [4047] five of them in his Liturgies of St. Mark, St.
James, St. Clement, St. Chrysostom, and St. Basil, [4048] and discussed them in
a masterly manner in several works, but especially in his General Introduction
to a History of the Holy Eastern Church [4049]Ancient liturgies are generally
divided into four families, -- the Liturgy of the Jerusalem Church, [4050]
adopted throughout the East; the Alexandrian, [4051] used in Egypt and the
neighbouring countries; and the Roman and Gallican Liturgies. To these Neale has
added a fifth, the Liturgy of Persia or Edessa.There is also a liturgy not
included in any of these families -- the Clementine. It seems never to have been
used in any public service. It forms part of the eighth book of the Apostolical
Constitutions. [4052]The age ascribed to these documents depends very much on
the temperament and inclination of the inquirer. Those who have great reverence
for them think that they must have had an apostolic origin, that they contain
the apostolic form, first handed down by tradition, and then committed to
writing, but they allow that there is a certain amount of interpolation and
addition of a date later than the Nicene Council. Such words as "consubstantial"
and "mother of God" bear indisputable witness to this. Others think that there
is no real historical proof of their early existence at all, -- that they all
belong to a late date, and bear evident marks of having been written long after
the age of the apostles. [4053]There can scarcely be a doubt that they were not
committed to writing till a comparatively late day. Those who think that their
origin was apostolic allow this. "The period," says Palmer, [4054] "when
liturgies were first committed to writing is uncertain, and has been the subject
of some controversy. Le Brun contends that no liturgy was written till the fifth
century; but his arguments seem quite insufficient to prove this, and he is
accordingly opposed by Muratori and other eminent ritualists. It seems certain,
on the other hand, that the liturgy of the Apostolical Constitutions was written
at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth century; and there is no
reason to deny that others may have been written about the same time, or not
long after." Neale [4055] sums up the results of his study in the following
words: "I shall content myself therefore with assuming, (1) that these
liturgies, though not composed by the Apostles whose names they bear, were the
legitimate development of their unwritten tradition respecting the Christian
Sacrifice; the words, probably, in the most important parts, the general tenor
in all portions, descending unchanged from the apostolic authors. (2) That the
Liturgy of St. James is of earlier date, as to its main fabric, than a.d.200;
that the Clementine Office is at least not later than 260; that the Liturgy of
St. Mark is nearly coeval with that of St. James; while those of St. Basil and
St. Chrysostom are to be referred respectively to the saints by whom they
purport to be composed. In all these cases, several manifest insertions and
additions do not alter the truth of the general statement."1. The Roman Liturgy.
The first writer who is supposed to allude to a Roman Liturgy is Innocentius, in
the beginning of the fifth century; but it may well be doubted whether his words
refer to any liturgy now extant. [4056] Some have attributed the authorship of
the Roman Liturgy to Leo the Great, who was made bishop of Rome in a.d.451; some
to Gelasius, who was made bishop of Rome in a.d.492; and some to Gregory the
First, who was made bishop of Rome in a.d.590. Such being the opinions of those
who have given most study to the subject, we have not deemed it necessary to
translate it, though Probst, in his Liturgie der drei ersten christlichen
Jahrhunderte, [4057] probably out of affection for his own Church, has given it
a place beside the Clementine and those of St. James and St. Mark.2. The
Gallican has still less claim to antiquity. In fact, Daniel marks it among the
spurious. [4058] Mabillon tries to prove that three ecclesiastics had a share in
the authorship of this liturgy: Musæus, presbyter of Marseilles, who died after
the middle of the fifth century; Sidonius, bishop of Auvergne, who died a.d.494;
and Hilary, bishop of Poictiers, who died a.d.366. [4059] Palmer strives to show
with great ingenuity that it is not improbable that the Gallican Liturgy may
have been originally derived from St. John; but his arguments are merely
conjectures.3. The Liturgy of St. James, the Liturgy of the Church of Jerusalem.
Asseman, Zaccaria, Dr. Brett, Palmer, Trollope, and Neale, think that the main
structure of this liturgy is the work of St. James, while they admit that it
contains some evident interpolations. Leo Allatius, Bona, Bellarmine, Baronius,
and some others, think that the whole is the genuine production of the apostle.
Cave, Fabricius, Dupin, Le Nourry, Basnage, Tillemont, and many others, think
that it is entirely destitute of any claim to an apostolic origin, and that it
belongs to a much later age. [4060]"From the Liturgy of St. James," says Neale,
"are derived, on the one hand, the forty Syro-Jacobite offices: on the other,
the Cæsarean office, or Liturgy of St. Basil, with its offshoots; that of St.
Chrysostom, and the Armeno-Gregorian." [4061]There are only two manuscripts of
the Greek Liturgy of St. James, -- one of the tenth, the other of the twelfth
century, -- with fragments of a third. [4062] The first edition appeared at Rome
in 1526. In more recent times it has been edited by Rev. W. Trollope, M.A.,
[4063] Neale in the two works mentioned above, and Daniel in his Codex
Liturgicus Bishop Rattray edited the Anaphora, [4064] and attempted to separate
the original from the interpolations, "though," says Neale, "the supposed
restoration is unsatisfactory enough." Bunsen, in his Analecta Ante-Nicæna,
[4065] has tried to restore the Anaphora to the state in which it may have been
in the fourth century, "as far as was possible -- quantum fieri potuit "4. The
Liturgy of St. Mark, the liturgy of the church of Alexandria. The same
difference of opinion exists in regard to the age and genuineness of this
liturgy as we found existing in regard to that of St. James, and the same
scholars occupy the same relative position.The offshoots from St. Mark's Liturgy
are St. Basil, St. Cyril, and St. Gregory, and the Ethiopic Canon or Liturgy of
All Apostles. In regard to the Liturgy of St. Cyril, Neale says that it is "to
all intents and purposes the same as that of St. Mark; and it seems highly
probable that the Liturgy of St. Mark came, as we have it now, from the hands of
St. Cyril, or, to use the expression of Abu'lberkat, that Cyril perfected' it."
[4066]There is only one manuscript of the Liturgy of St. Mark, probably
belonging to the twelfth century. The first edition appeared at Paris in 1583.
The liturgy is given in Renaudot's Liturgiarum Orientalium Collectio, tom. i.
pp.120-148, [4067] in Neale's two works, and in Daniel's Codex Liturgicus5. The
Liturgy of the Apostles Adæus and Maris. This liturgy has been brought
prominently forward by Neale, who says: "It is generally passed over as of very
inferior importance, and Renaudot alone seems to have been prepared to
acknowledge in some degree its great antiquity." [4068] He thinks that it is
"one of the earliest, and perhaps the very earliest, of the many formularies of
the Christian Sacrifice." [4069] It is one of the three Nestorian liturgies, the
other two being that of Nestorius and that of Theodore the interpreter. A Latin
translation of it is given in Renaudot's Collectio, [4070] which is reprinted in
Daniel's Codex Liturgicus It is from this version that our translation is made.
Several prayers and hymns are indicated only by the initial words, and the
rubrical directions are probably of a much later date than the text.The
Liturgies are divided into two parts, -- the part before "Lift we up our
hearts," and the part after this. The first is termed the Proanaphoral Part, the
second the Anaphora.Trollope describes what he conceives to be the form of
worship in the early Church, thus: [4071] "The service of this day divided
itself into two parts; at the latter of which, called in the Eastern churches
Liturgia mystica, and in the Western Missa fidelium, none but perfect and
approved Christians were allowed to be present. To the Missa Catechumenorum, or
that part of the service which preceded the prayers peculiar to communicants
only, not only believers, but Gentiles, were admitted, in the hope that some
might possibly become converts to the faith. After the Psalms and Lessons with
which the service commenced, as on ordinary occasions, a section from the Acts
of the Apostles or the Epistles was read; after which the deacon or presbyter
read the Gospel. Then followed an exhortation from one or more of the
presbyters; and the bishop or president delivered a Homily or Sermon,
explanatory, it should seem, of the Scripture which had been read, and exciting
the people to an imitation of the virtues therein exemplified. When the preacher
had concluded his discourse with a doxology in praise of the Holy Trinity, a
deacon made proclamation for all infidels and non-communicants to withdraw; then
came the dismissal of the several classes of catechumens, energumens,
competents, and penitents, after the prayers for each respectively, as on
ordinary days; and the Missa fidelium commenced. This office consisted of two
parts, essentially distinct: viz., of prayers for the faithful, and for mankind
in general, introductory to the Oblation; and the Anaphora or Oblation itself.
The introductory part varied considerably in the formularies of different
churches; but in the Anaphora all the existing liturgies so closely agree, in
substance at least, if not in words, that they can only be reasonably referred
to the same common origin. [4072] Their arrangement, indeed, is not always the
same; but the following essential points belong, without exception, to them all:
-- 1. The Kiss of Peace; 2. The form beginning, Lift up your hearts; 3. The
Hymn, Therefore with angels, etc.; 4. Commemoration of the words of Institution;
5. The Oblation; 6. Prayer of Consecration; 7. Prayers for the Church on Earth;
8. Prayers for the Dead; 9. The Lord's Prayer; 10. Breaking of the Bread; 11.
Communion."Neale gives a more minute account of the different parts of the
service. He divides the Proanaphoral portion into parts in the following manner:
[4073] -- "Liturgy (or Missa) of the Catechumens.I.The Preparatory
Prayers.II.The Initial Hymn or Introit.III.The Little Entrance.IV.The
Trisagion.V.The Lections.VI.The Prayers after the Gospel, and expulsion of the
Catechumen."Liturgy (or Missa) of the Faithful.I.The Prayers for the
Faithful.II.The Great Entrance.III.The Offertory.IV.The Kiss of Peace.V.The
Creed."The Anaphora he divides into four parts in the following manner: [4074]
-- "The great Eucharistic Prayer.I.The Preface.II.The Prayer of the Triumphal
Hymn.III.The Triumphal Hymn.IV.Commemoration of Our Lord's Life.V.Commemoration
of Institution."The Consecration.VI.Words of Institution of the Bread.VII.Words
of Institution of the Wine.VIII.Oblation of the Body and Blood.IX.Introductory
Prayer for the Descent of the Holy Ghost.X.Prayer for the Sanctification of
Elements."The great Intercessory Prayer.XI.General Intercession for Quick and
Dead.XII.Prayer before the Lord's Prayer.XIII.The Lord's Prayer.XIV.The
Embolismus."The Communion.XV.The Prayer of Inclination.XVI.The Holy Things for
Holy Persons.XVII.The Fraction.XVII.The Confession.XIX.The Communion.XX.The
Antidoron: and Prayers of Thanksgiving."The whole subject is discussed by Mr.
Neale with extraordinary minuteness, fulness of detail, and perfect mastery of
his subject; and to his work we refer those who wish to prosecute the study of
the subject. [4075]General Note by the American Editor.I Have found a few less
noted works most useful in my own studies, which began with Palmer's Origines on
their first publication, followed up by Brett, and then by Renaudot. The
publications of Drs. Neale and Littledale are sufficiently referred to
elsewhere; and I purposely omit the mention of many purely Anglican authorities,
as well as costly works from other European sources.1. Freeman's Principles of
Divine Service, etc. [4076] A work of incomparable utility to those who would
comprehend the Jewish ritual and its preparations for Christian worship.2.
Badger's Nestorians and their Rituals [4077]3. Warren's Liturgy and Ritual of
the Celtic Church; [4078] replete with information hitherto inaccessible. 4.
Scudamore's Notitia Eucharistica; [4079] Anglican, but full of general
information.5. Trevor's Catholic Doctrine of Sacrifice, etc.; [4080] a candid
and learned study of this subject, and free from fanatical or visionary
conceptions.6. Hammond's Liturgies, etc., [4081] elsewhere spoken of.7.
Burbidge, Liturgies and Offices, [4082] of which I have only lately discovered
the value.8. Field's Apostolic Liturgy and the Ep. to the Hebrews; [4083] open
to some objections, but full of valuable and suggestive information.9. Pfaffius,
Christ. Math. His invaluable Dissertatio de Oblatione, etc. [4084] A high
Lutheran authority of great learning.10. Marriott's Testimony of the Catacombs;
[4085] learned and instructive.


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  CHAPTER 2: THE DIVINE LITURGY OF JAMES THE HOLY APOSTLE AND BROTHER OF THE LORD.
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i.The Priest. [4087]I O Sovereign Lord our God, contemn me not, defiled with a
multitude of sins: for, behold, I have come to this Thy divine and heavenly
mystery, not as being worthy; but looking only to Thy goodness, I direct my
voice to Thee: God be merciful to me, a sinner; I have sinned against Heaven,
and before Thee, and am unworthy to come into the presence of this Thy holy and
spiritual table, upon which Thy only-begotten Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ, is
mystically set forth as a sacrifice for me, a sinner, and stained with every
spot. Wherefore I present to Thee this supplication and thanksgiving, that Thy
Spirit the Comforter may be sent down upon me, strengthening and fitting me for
this service; and count me worthy to make known without condemnation the word,
delivered from Thee by me to the people, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom
Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening, and
consubstantial [4088] Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen.Prayer of
the standing beside the altar.II Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit, the triune light of the Godhead, which is unity subsisting in
trinity, divided, yet indivisible: for the Trinity is the one God Almighty,
whose glory the heavens declare, and the earth His dominion, and the sea His
might, and every sentient and intellectual creature at all times proclaims His
majesty: for all glory becomes Him, and honour and might, greatness and
magnificence, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen.Prayer of the incense at
the beginning. [4089]III Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, O Word of God, who didst
freely offer Thyself a blameless sacrifice upon the cross to God even the
Father, the coal of double nature, that didst touch the lips of the prophet with
the tongs, and didst take away his sins, touch also the hearts of us sinners,
and purify us from every stain, and present us holy beside Thy holy altar, that
we may offer Thee a sacrifice of praise: and accept from us, Thy unprofitable
servants, this incense as an odour of a sweet smell, and make fragrant the evil
odour of our soul and body, and purify us with the sanctifying power of Thy
all-holy Spirit: for Thou alone art holy, who sanctifiest, and art communicated
to the faithful; and glory becomes Thee, with Thy eternal Father, and Thy
all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.
Amen.Prayer of the commencement.IV O beneficent King eternal, and Creator of the
universe, receive Thy Church, coming unto Thee through Thy Christ: fulfil to
each what is profitable; lead all to perfection, and make us perfectly worthy of
the grace of Thy sanctification, gathering us together within Thy holy Church,
which Thou hast purchased by the precious blood of Thy only-begotten Son, and
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with whom Thou art blessed and glorified,
together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit, now and ever, and
to all eternity. Amen.The Deacon.V Let us again pray to the Lord.The Priest,
prayer of the incense at the entrance of the congregation.God, who didst accept
the gifts of Abel, the sacrifice of Noah and of Abram, the incense of Aaron and
of Zacharias, accept also from the hand of us sinners this incense for an odour
of a sweet smell, and for remission of our sins, and those of all Thy people;
for blessed art Thou, and glory becomes Thee, the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, now and ever.The Deacon.Sir, pronounce the blessing. [4090]The
Priest prays.Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, who through exceeding goodness and
love not to be restrained wast crucified, and didst not refuse to be pierced by
the spear and nails; who didst provide this mysterious and awful service as an
everlasting memorial for us perpetually: bless Thy ministry in Christ the God,
and bless our entrance, and fully complete the presentation of this our service
by Thy unutterable compassion, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen.The
responsive prayer from the Deacon.VI. The Lord bless us, and make us worthy
seraphically to offer gifts, and to sing the oft-sung hymn of the divine
Trisagion, by the fulness and exceeding abundance of all the perfection of
holiness, now and ever.Then the Deacon begins to sing in the entrance.
[4091]Thou who art the only-begotten Son and Word of God, immortal; who didst
submit for our salvation to become flesh of the holy God-mother, [4092] and
ever-virgin Mary; who didst immutably become man and wast crucified, O Christ
our God, and didst by Thy death tread death underfoot; who art one of the Holy
Trinity glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.The
Priest says this prayer from the gates to the altar.VII God Almighty, Lord great
in glory, who hast given to us an entrance into the Holy of Holies, through the
sojourning among men of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord, and God, and Saviour
Jesus Christ, we supplicate and invoke Thy goodness, since we are fearful and
trembling when about to stand at Thy holy altar; send forth upon us, O God, Thy
good grace, and sanctify our souls, and bodies, and spirits, and turn our
thoughts to piety, in order that with a pure conscience we may bring unto Thee
gifts, offerings, and fruits for the remission of our transgressions, and for
the propitiation of all Thy people, by the grace and mercies and loving-kindness
of Thy only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed to all eternity. Amen.
After the approach to the altar, the Priest says: -- VIII. Peace be to all.The
People.And to thy spirit.The Priest.The Lord bless us all, and sanctify us for
the entrance and celebration of the divine and pure mysteries, giving rest to
the blessed souls among the good and just, by His grace and loving-kindness, now
and ever, and to all eternity. Amen.Then the Deacon says the bidding prayer.
[4093]IX. In peace let us beseech the Lord.For the peace that is from above, and
for God's love to man, and for the salvation of our souls, let us beseech the
Lord.For the peace of the whole world, for the unity of all the holy churches of
God, let us beseech the Lord.For the remission of our sins, and forgiveness of
our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger,
and distress, and from the uprising of our enemies, let us beseech the Lord.Then
the Singers sing the Trisagion Hymn.Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, have
mercy upon us.Then the Priest prays, bowing.X. O compassionate and merciful,
long-suffering, and very gracious and true God, look from Thy prepared
dwelling-place, and hear us Thy suppliants, and deliver us from every temptation
of the devil and of man; withhold not Thy aid from us, nor bring on us
chastisements too heavy for our strength: for we are unable to overcome what is
opposed to us; but Thou art able, Lord, to save us from everything that is
against us. Save us, O God, from the difficulties of this world, according to
Thy goodness, in order that, having drawn nigh with a pure conscience to Thy
holy altar, we may send up to Thee without condemnation the blessed hymn
Trisagion, together with the heavenly powers, and that, having performed the
service, well pleasing to Thee and divine, we may be counted worthy of eternal
life.(Aloud.)Because Thou art holy, Lord our God, and dwellest and abidest in
holy places, we send up the praise and the hymn Trisagion to Thee, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.The
People.Amen.The Priest.XI. Peace be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.The
Singers.Alleluia.Then there are read in order [4094] the holy oracles of the Old
Testament, and of the prophets; and the incarnation of the Son of God is set
forth, and His sufferings and resurrection from the dead, His ascension into
heaven, and His second appearing with glory; and this takes place daily in the
holy and divine service. [4095]After the reading and instruction the Deacon
says: -- XII. Let us all say, Lord, be merciful. [4096]Lord Almighty, the God of
our fathers;We beseech Thee, hear us.For the peace which is from above, and for
the salvation of our souls;Let us beseech the Lord.For the peace of the whole
world, and the unity of all the holy churches of God;Let us beseech the Lord.For
the salvation and help of all the Christ-loving people;We beseech Thee, hear
us.For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, distress, from
captivity, bitter death, and from our iniquities;We beseech Thee, hear us.For
the people standing round, and waiting for the rich and plenteous mercy that is
from Thee;We beseech Thee, be merciful and gracious.Save Thy people, O Lord, and
bless Thine inheritance.Visit Thy world in mercy and compassion.Exalt the horn
of Christians by the power of the precious and quickening cross.We beseech Thee,
most merciful Lord, hear us praying to Thee, and have mercy upon us.The People
(thrice).Lord, have mercy upon us.The Deacon.XIII. For the remission of our
sins, and forgiveness of our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all
tribulation, wrath, danger, and distress, let us beseech the Lord.Let us all
entreat from the Lord, that we may pass the whole day, perfect, holy, peaceful,
and without sin.Let us entreat from the Lord a messenger of peace, a faithful
guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies.Let us entreat from the Lord
forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions.Let us entreat from the
Lord the things which are good and proper for our souls, and peace for the
world.Let us entreat from the Lord, that we may spend the remaining period of
our life in peace and health.Let us entreat that the close of our lives may be
Christian, without pain and without shame, and a good plea at the dread and
awful judgment-seat of Christ.The Priest.XIV. For Thou art the gospel and the
light, Saviour and keeper of our souls and bodies, God, and Thy only-begotten
Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and ever.The People.Amen. [4097]The PriestGod,
who hast taught us Thy divine and saving oracles, enlighten the souls of us
sinners for the comprehension of the things which have been before spoken, so
that we may not only be seen to be hearers of spiritual things, but also doers
of good deeds, striving after guileless faith, blameless life, and pure
conversation.(Aloud.)In Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom Thou art blessed,
together with Thy all-holy, good, and quickening Spirit, now and always, and for
ever.The People.Amen.The Priest.XV. Peace be to all.The People.And to Thy
spirit. The Deacon.Let us bow our heads to the Lord.The People.To Thee, Lord.The
Priest prays, saying: -- O Sovereign giver of life, and provider of good things,
who didst give to mankind the blessed hope of eternal life, our Lord Jesus
Christ, count us worthy in holiness, and perfect this Thy divine service to the
enjoyment of future blessedness.(Aloud.)So that, guarded by Thy power at all
times, and led into the light of truth, we may send up the praise and the
thanksgiving to Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.The
People.Amen.The Deacon.XVI. Let none remain of the catechumens, none of the
unbaptized, none of those who are unable to join with us in prayer. Look at one
another. [4098] The door.All erect: [4099] let us again pray to the Lord.II
[4100]The Priest says the prayer of incense.Sovereign Almighty, King of Glory,
who knowest all things before their creation, manifest Thyself to us calling
upon Thee at this holy hour, and redeem us from the shame of our transgressions;
cleanse our mind and our thoughts from impure desires, from worldly deceit, from
all influence of the devil; and accept from the hands of us sinners this
incense, as Thou didst accept the offering of Abel, and Noah, and Aaron, and
Samuel, and of all Thy saints, guarding us from everything evil, and preserving
us for continually pleasing, and worshipping, and glorifying Thee, the Father,
and Thy only-begotten Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and always, and for
ever.And the Readers begin the Cherubic Hymn.Let all mortal flesh be silent, and
stand with fear and trembling, and meditate nothing earthly within itself: --
For the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ our God, comes forward to be
sacrificed, and to be given for food to the faithful; and the bands of angels go
before Him with every power and dominion, the many-eyed cherubim, and the
six-winged seraphim, covering their faces, and crying aloud the hymn, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.The Priest, bringing in the holy gifts, [4101] says this
prayer: -- XVII. O God, our God, who didst send forth the heavenly bread, the
food of the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be a Saviour, and Redeemer,
and Benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us, do Thou Thyself bless this
offering, and graciously receive it to Thy altar above the skies:Remember in Thy
goodness and love those who have brought it, and those for whom they have
brought it, and preserve us without condemnation in the service of Thy divine
mysteries: for hollowed and glorified is Thy all-honoured and great name,
Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.The
Priest.Peace be to all.The Deacon.Sir, pronounce the blessing.The Priest.Blessed
be God, who blesseth and sanctifieth us all at the presentation of the divine
and pure mysteries, and giveth rest to the blessed souls among the holy and
just, now and always, and to all eternity.The Deacon.XVIII Let us attend in
wisdom.The Priest begins.I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God: and the rest of the
Creed.Then he prays, bowing his neck.XIX. God and Sovereign of all, make us, who
are unworthy, worthy of this hour, lover of mankind; that being pure from all
deceit and all hypocrisy, we may be united with one another by the bond of peace
and love, being confirmed by the sanctification of Thy divine knowledge through
Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with whom Thou art
blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit, now and
ever, and to all eternity. Amen.The Deacon.XX. Let us stand well, let us stand
reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with compunction of heart. In
peace let us pray to the Lord.The Priest.For God of peace, mercy, love,
compassion, and loving-kindness art Thou, and Thine only-begotten Son, and Thine
all-holy Spirit, now and ever.The People.Amen.The Priest.Peace be to all.The
People.And to thy spirit.The Deacon.Let us salute one another with an holy kiss.
[4102] Let us bow our heads to the Lord.The Priest bows, saying this prayer: --
XXI. Only Lord and merciful God, on those who are bowing their necks before Thy
holy altar, and seeking the spiritual gifts that come from Thee, send forth Thy
good grace; and bless us all with every spiritual blessing, that cannot be taken
from us, Thou, who dwellest on high, and hast regard unto things that are
lowly.(Aloud.)For worthy of praise and worship and most glorious is Thy all-holy
name, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and always, and to all eternity.The
Deacon.Sir, pronounce the blessing.The Priest.The Lord will bless us, and
minister with us all by His grace and loving-kindness.And again.The Lord will
bless us, and make us worthy to stand at His holy altar, at all times, now and
always, and for ever.And again.Blessed be God, who blesseth and sanctifieth us
all in our attendance upon, and service of, His pure mysteries, now and always,
and for ever.The Deacon makes the Universal Litany.XXII In peace let us pray to
the Lord. The People.O Lord, have mercy.The Deacon.Save us, have mercy upon us,
pity and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.For the peace that is from above, and the
loving-kindness of God, and the salvation of our souls;Let us beseech the
Lord.For the peace of the whole world, and the unity of all the holy churches of
God;Let us beseech the Lord.For those who bear fruit, and labour honourably in
the holy churches of God; for those who remember the poor, the widows and the
orphans, the strangers and needy ones; and for those who have requested us to
mention them in our prayers;Let us beseech the Lord.For those who are in old age
and infirmity, for the sick and suffering, and those who are troubled by unclean
spirits, for their speedy cure from God and their salvation;Let us beseech the
Lord.For those who are passing their days in virginity, and celibacy, and
discipline, and for those in holy matrimony; and for the holy fathers and
brethren agonizing in mountains, [4103] and dens, and caves of the earth;Let us
beseech the Lord.For Christians sailing, travelling, living among strangers, and
for our brethren in captivity, in exile, in prison, and in bitter slavery, their
peaceful return;Let us beseech the Lord.For the remission of our sins, and
forgiveness of our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all tribulation,
wrath, danger, and constraint, and uprising against us of enemies;Let us beseech
the Lord.For favourable weather, peaceful showers, beneficent dews, abundance of
fruits, the perfect close of a good season, and for the crown of the year;Let us
beseech the Lord.For our fathers and brethren present, and praying with us in
this holy hour, and at every season, their zeal, labour, and earnestness;Let us
beseech the Lord.For every Christian soul in tribulation and distress, and
needing the mercy and succour of God; for the return of the erring, the health
of the sick, the deliverance of the captives, the rest of the fathers and
brethren that have fallen asleep aforetime;Let us beseech the Lord.For the
hearing and acceptance of our prayer before God, and the sending down on us His
rich mercies and compassion.Let us beseech the Lord. [4104]And for the offered,
precious, heavenly, unutterable, pure, glorious, dread, awful, divine gifts, and
the salvation of the priest who stands by and offers them;Let us offer
supplication to God the Lord.The People.O Lord, have mercy.(Thrice.)Then the
Priest makes the sign of the cross on the gifts, [4105] and, standing, speaks
separately thus: -- XXIII Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good-will among men, etc.(Thrice.)Lord, Thou wilt open my lips, and my mouth
shall show forth Thy praise.(Thrice.)Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise, O
Lord, that I may tell of Thy glory, of Thy majesty, all the day.(Thrice.)Of the
Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Now and
always, and to all eternity. Amen.And bowing to this side and to that, [4106] he
says:XXIV. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.And they
answer, bowing: -- The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee. [4107] [4108]Then the Priest, at great length: --
O Sovereign Lord, who hast visited us in compassion and mercies, and hast freely
given to us, Thy humble and sinful and unworthy servants, boldness to stand at
Thy holy altar, and to offer to Thee this dread and bloodless sacrifice for our
sins, and for the errors of the people, look upon me Thy unprofitable servant,
and blot out my transgressions for Thy compassion's sake; and purify my lips and
heart from all pollution of flesh and spirit; and remove from me every shameful
and foolish thought, and fit me by the power of Thy all-holy Spirit for this
service; and receive me graciously by Thy goodness as I draw nigh to Thy
altar.And be pleased, O Lord, that these gifts brought by our hands may be
acceptable, stooping to my weakness; and cast me not away from Thy presence, and
abhor not my unworthiness; but pity me according to Thy great mercy, and
according to the multitude of Thy mercies pass by my transgressions, that,
having come before Thy glory without condemnation, I may be counted worthy of
the protection of Thy only-begotten Son, and of the illumination of Thy all-holy
Spirit, that I may not be as a slave of sin cast out, but as Thy servant may
find grace and mercy and forgiveness of sins before Thee, both in the world that
now is and in that which is to come.I beseech Thee, Almighty Sovereign,
all-powerful Lord, hear my prayer; for Thou art He who workest all in all, and
we all seek in all things the help and succour that come from Thee and Thy
only-begotten Son, and the good and quickening and consubstantial Spirit, now
and ever.XXV. O God, who through Thy great and unspeakable love didst send forth
Thy only-begotten Son into the world, in order that He might turn back the lost
sheep, turn not away us sinners, laying hold of Thee by this dread and bloodless
sacrifice; for we trust not in our own righteousness, but in Thy good mercy, by
which Thou purchasest our race. We entreat and beseech Thy goodness that it may
not be for condemnation to Thy people that this mystery for salvation has been
administered by us, but for remission of sins, for renewal of souls and bodies,
for the well-pleasing of Thee, God and Father, in the mercy and love of Thy
only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy and
good and quickening Spirit, now and always, and for ever. [4109]XXVI. O Lord
God, who didst create us, and bring us into life, who hast shown to us ways to
salvation, who hast granted to us a revelation of heavenly mysteries, and hast
appointed us to this ministry in the power of Thy all-holy Spirit, grant, O
Sovereign, that we may become servants of Thy new testament, ministers of Thy
pure mysteries, and receive us as we draw near to Thy holy altar, according to
the greatness of Thy mercy, that we may become worthy of offering to Thee gifts
and sacrifices for our transgressions and for those of the people; and grant to
us, O Lord, with all fear and a pure conscience to offer to Thee this spiritual
and bloodless sacrifice, and graciously receiving it unto Thy holy and spiritual
altar above the skies for an odour of a sweet spiritual smell, send down in
answer on us the grace of Thy all-holy Spirit.And, O God, look upon us, and have
regard to this our reasonable service, and accept it, as Thou didst accept the
gifts of Abel, the sacrifices of Noah, the priestly offices of Moses and Aaron,
the peace-offerings of Samuel, the repentance of David, the incense of
Zacharias. As Thou didst accept from the hand of Thy apostles this true service,
so accept also in Thy goodness from the hands of us sinners these offered gifts;
and grant that our offering may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, as
a propitiation [4110] for our transgressions and the errors of the people; and
for the rest of the souls [4111] that have fallen asleep aforetime; that we
also, Thy humble, sinful, and unworthy servants, being counted worthy without
guile to serve Thy holy altar, may receive the reward of faithful and wise
stewards, and may find grace and mercy in the terrible day of Thy just and good
retribution.Prayer of the veil. [4112]XXVII. We thank Thee, O Lord our God, that
Thou hast given us boldness for the entrance of Thy holy places, which Thou hast
renewed to us as a new and living way through the veil of the flesh [4113] of
Thy Christ. We therefore, being counted worthy to enter into the place of the
tabernacle of Thy glory, and to be within the veil, and to behold the Holy of
Holies, cast ourselves down before Thy goodness:Lord, have mercy on us: since we
are full of fear and trembling, when about to stand at Thy holy altar, and to
offer this dread and bloodless sacrifice for our own sins and for the errors of
the people: [4114] send forth, O God, Thy good grace, and sanctify our souls,
and bodies, and spirits; and turn our thoughts to holiness, that with a pure
conscience we may bring to Thee a peace-offering, the sacrifice of
praise:(Aloud.)By the mercy and loving-kindness of Thy only-begotten Son, with
whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening
Spirit, now and always:The People.Amen.The Priest.Peace be to all.The Deacon.Let
us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with contrition: let
us attend to the holy communion service, to offer peace to God.The People.The
offering of peace, the sacrifice of praise.The Priest [A veil is now withdrawn
from the oblation of bread and wine.]And, uncovering the veils that darkly
invest in symbol [4115] this sacred ceremonial, do Thou reveal it clearly to us:
fill our intellectual vision with absolute light, and having purified our
poverty from every pollution of flesh and spirit, make it worthy of this dread
and awful approach: for Thou art an all-merciful and gracious God, and we send
up the praise and the thanksgiving to Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now,
and always, and for ever.III.The Anaphora.Then he says aloud: -- XXVIII. The
love of the Lord and Father, the grace of the Lord and Son, and the fellowship
and the gift of the Holy Spirit, be with us all.The People.And with thy
spirit.The Priest.Let us lift up our minds and our hearts. [4116]The People.It
is becoming and right.Then the Priest prays.Verily it is becoming and right,
proper and due to praise Thee, to sing of Thee, to bless Thee, to worship Thee,
to glorify Thee, to give Thee thanks, Maker of every creature visible and
invisible, the treasure of eternal good things, the fountain of life and
immortality, God and Lord of all:Whom the heavens of heavens praise, and all the
host of them; the sun, and the moon, and all the choir of the stars; earth, sea,
and all that is in them; Jerusalem, the heavenly assembly, and church of the
first-born that are written in heaven; spirits of just men and of prophets;
souls of martyrs and of apostles; angels, archangels, thrones, dominions,
principalities, and authorities, and dread powers; and the many-eyed cherubim,
and the six-winged seraphim, which cover their faces with two wings, their feet
with two, and with two they fly, crying one to another with unresting lips, with
unceasing praises: (Aloud.)With loud voice singing the victorious hymn of Thy
majestic glory, crying aloud, praising, shouting, and saying: -- The
People.Holy, holy, holy, O Lord of Sabaoth, the heaven and the earth are full of
Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the
Lord. Hosanna in the highest. [4117]The Priest, making the sign of the cross
[4118] on the gifts, says: -- XXIX. Holy art Thou, King of eternity, and Lord
and giver of all holiness; holy also Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom Thou hast made all things; holy also Thy Holy Spirit, which
searches all things, even Thy deep things, O God: holy art Thou, almighty,
all-powerful, good, dread, merciful, most compassionate to Thy creatures; who
didst make man from earth after Thine own image and likeness; who didst give him
the joy of paradise; and when he transgressed Thy commandment, and fell away,
didst not disregard nor desert him, O Good One, but didst chasten him as at
merciful father, call him by the law, instruct him by the prophets; and
afterwards didst send forth Thine only-begotten Son Himself, our Lord Jesus
Christ, into the world, that He by His coming might renew and restore Thy
image;Who, having descended from heaven, and become flesh of the Holy Spirit and
Virgin Godmother [4119] Mary, and having sojourned among men, fulfilled the
dispensation for the salvation of our race; and being about to endure His
voluntary and life-giving death by the cross, He the sinless for us the sinners,
in the night in which He was betrayed, nay, rather delivered Himself up for the
life and salvation of the world,Then the Priest holds the bread in his hand, and
says: -- XXX. Having taken the bread in His holy and pure and blameless and
immortal hands, lifting up His eyes to heaven, and showing it to Thee, His God
and Father, He gave thanks, and hallowed, and brake, and gave it to us, [4120]
His disciples and apostles, saying: -- The Deacons say: [4121]For the remission
of sins and life everlasting.Then he says aloud: -- Take, eat: this is my body,
broken for you, and given for remission of sins.The People.Amen.Then he takes
the cup, and says: -- In like manner, after supper, He took the cup, and having
mixed wine and water, lifting up His eyes to heaven, and presenting it to Thee,
His God and Father, He gave thanks, and hollowed and blessed it, and filled it
with the Holy Spirit, and gave it to us His disciples, saying, Drink ye all of
it; this is my blood of the new testament shed for you and many, and distributed
for the remission of sins.The People.Amen.The Priest.This do in remembrance of
me; for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show forth the
Lord's death, and confess His resurrection, till He come.The Deacons say: -- We
believe and confess:The People.We show forth Thy death, O Lord, and confess Thy
resurrection.The Priest (Oblation).XXXI. Remembering, therefore, His life-giving
sufferings, His saving cross, His death and His burial, and resurrection from
the dead on the third day, and His ascension into heaven, and sitting at the
right hand of Thee, our God and Father, and His second glorious and awful
appearing, when He shall come with glory to judge the quick and the dead, and
render to every one according to His works; even we, sinful men, offer unto
Thee, O Lord, this dread and bloodless sacrifice, praying that Thou wilt not
deal with us after our sins, nor reward us according to our iniquities;But that
Thou, according to Thy mercy and Thy unspeakable loving-kindness, passing by and
blotting out the handwriting against us Thy suppliants, wilt grant to us Thy
heavenly and eternal gifts (which eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, and
which have not entered into the heart of man [4122] ) that thou hast prepared, O
God, for those who love Thee; and reject not, O loving Lord, the people for my
sake, or for my sin's sake:Then he says, thrice: -- For Thy people and Thy
Church supplicate Thee.The People.Have mercy on us, O Lord our God, Father
Almighty.Again the Priest says (Invocation): -- XXXII. Have mercy upon us, O God
Almighty.Have mercy upon us, O God our Saviour.Have mercy upon us, O God,
according to Thy great mercy, and send forth on us, and on these offered gifts,
Thy all-holy Spirit.Then, bowing his neck, he says: -- The sovereign and
quickening Spirit, that sits upon the throne with Thee, our God and Father, and
with Thy only-begotten Son, reigning with Thee; the consubstantial [4123] and
co-eternal; that spoke in the law and in the prophets, and in Thy New Testament;
that descended in the form of a dove on our Lord Jesus Christ at the river
Jordan, and abode on Him; that descended on Thy apostles in the form of tongues
of fire in the upper room of the holy and glorious Zion on the day of Pentecost:
this Thine all-holy Spirit, send down, O Lord, upon us, and upon these offered
holy gifts;And rising up, he says aloud: -- That coming, by His holy and good
and glorious appearing, He may sanctify this bread, and make it the holy body of
Thy Christ. [4124]The People. Amen.The Priest.And this cup the precious blood of
Thy Christ.The People.Amen.The Priest by himself standing.XXXIII. That they may
be to all that partake of them for remission of sins, and for life everlasting,
for the sanctification of souls and of bodies, for bearing the fruit of good
works, for the stablishing of Thy Holy Catholic Church, which Thou hast founded
on the Rock of Faith, [4125] that the gates of hell may not prevail against it;
delivering it from all heresy and scandals, and from those who work iniquity,
keeping it till the fulness of the time.And having bowed, he says: -- XXXIV. We
present them to Thee also, O Lord, for the holy places, which Thou hast
glorified by the divine appearing of Thy Christ, and by the visitation of Thy
all-holy Spirit; especially for the glorious Zion, the mother of all the
churches; [4126] and for Thy Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church throughout the
world: even now, O Lord, bestow upon her the rich gifts of Thy all-holy
Spirit.Remember also, O Lord, our holy fathers and brethren in it, and the
bishops in all the world, who rightly divide the word of Thy truth.Remember
also, O Lord, every city and country, and those of the true faith dwelling in
them, their peace and security.Remember, O Lord, Christians sailing, travelling,
sojourning in strange lands; our fathers and brethren, who are in bonds, prison,
captivity, and exile; who are in mines, and under torture, and in bitter
slavery. Remember, O Lord, the sick and afflicted, and those troubled by unclean
spirits, their speedy healing from Thee, O God, and their salvation.Remember, O
Lord, every Christian soul in affliction and distress, needing Thy mercy and
succour, O God; and the return of the erring.Remember, O Lord, our fathers and
brethren, toiling hard, and ministering unto us, for Thy holy name's
sake.Remember all, O Lord, for good: have mercy on all, O Lord, be reconciled to
us all: give peace to the multitudes of Thy people: put away scandals: bring
wars to an end: make the uprising of heresies to cease: grant Thy peace and Thy
love to us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth.Remember, O
Lord, favourable weather, peaceful showers, beneficent dews, abundance of
fruits, and to crown the year with Thy goodness; for the eyes of all wait on
Thee, and Thou givest their food in due season: thou openest Thy hand, and
fillest every living thing with gladness.Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit,
and labour honourably in the holy [4127] of Thy Church; and those who forget not
the poor, the widows, the orphans, the strangers, and the needy; and all who
have desired us to remember them in our prayers.Moreover, O Lord, be pleased to
remember those who have brought these offerings this day to Thy holy altar, and
for what each one has brought them or with what mind, and those persons who have
just now been mentioned to Thee.Remember, O Lord, according to the multitude of
Thy mercy and compassion, me also, Thy humble and unprofitable servant; and the
deacons who surround Thy holy altar, and graciously give them a blameless life,
keep their ministry undefiled, and purchase for them a good degree, that we may
find mercy and grace, with all the saints that have been well pleasing to Thee
since the world began, to generation and generation -- grandsires, sires,
patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, teachers, saints, and every
just spirit made perfect in the faith of Thy Christ.XXXV. [4128] Hail, Mary,
highly favoured: the Lord is with Thee; blessed art thou among women, and
blessed the fruit of thy womb, for thou didst bear the Saviour of our souls.
[4129]The Deacons.XXXVI. Remember us, O Lord God.The Priest, bowing, says: --
Remember, O Lord God, the spirits and all flesh, of whom we have made mention,
and of whom we have not made mention, who are of the true faith, from righteous
Abel unto this day: unto them do Thou give rest there in the land of the living,
in Thy kingdom, in the joy of paradise, in the bosom of Abraham, and of Isaac,
and of Jacob, our holy fathers; whence pain, and grief, and lamentation have
fled: there the light of Thy countenance looks upon them, and enlightens them
for ever. [4130]Make the end of our lives Christian, acceptable, blameless, and
peaceful, O Lord, gathering us together, O Lord, under the feet of Thine elect,
when Thou wilt, and as Thou wilt; only without shame and transgressions, through
Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ: for He is the
only sinless one who hath appeared on the earth.The Deacon.And let us pray: --
For the peace and establishing of the whole world, and of the holy churches of
God, and for the purposes for which each one made his offering, or according to
the desire he has: and for the people standing round, and for all men, and all
women:The People.And for all men and all women. (Amen.)The Priest says aloud: --
Wherefore, both to them and to us, do Thou in Thy goodness and love:The
People.Forgive, remit, pardon, O God, our transgressions, voluntary and
involuntary: in deed and in word: in knowledge and in ignorance: by night and by
day: in thought and intent: in Thy goodness and love, forgive us them all. The
Priest.Through the grace and compassion and love of Thy only-begotten Son, with
whom Thou art blessed and glorified, together with the all-holy, and good, and
quickening Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.The People.Amen.The
Priest.XXXVII. Peace be to all:The People.And to thy spirit.The Deacon.Again,
and continually, in peace let us pray to the Lord.For the gifts to the Lord God
presented and sanctified, precious, heavenly, unspeakable, pure, glorious,
dread, awful, divine;Let us pray.That the Lord our God, having graciously
received them to His altar that is holy and above the heavens, rational and
spiritual, for the odour of a sweet spiritual savour, may send down in answer
upon us the divine grace and the gift of the all-holy Spirit;Let us pray.Having
prayed for the unity of the faith, and the communion of His all-holy and
adorable Spirit;Let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to
Christ our God:The People.Amen.The Priest prays.XXXVIII. God and Father of our
Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, the glorious Lord, the blessed essence,
the bounteous goodness, the God and Sovereign of all, who art blessed to all
eternity, who sittest upon the cherubim, and art glorified by the seraphim,
before whom stand thousand thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand hosts
of angels and archangels: Thou hast accepted the gifts, offerings, and fruits
brought unto Thee as an odour of a sweet spiritual smell, and hast been pleased
to sanctify them, and make them perfect, O good One, by the grace of Thy Christ,
and by the presence of Thy all-holy Spirit.Sanctify also, O Lord, our souls, and
bodies, and spirits, and touch our understandings, and search our consciences,
and cast out from us every evil imagination, every impure feeling, every base
desire, every unbecoming thought, all envy, and vanity, and hypocrisy, all
lying, all deceit, every worldly affection, all covetousness, all vainglory, all
indifference, all vice, all passion, all anger, all malice, all blasphemy, every
motion of the flesh and spirit that is not in accordance with Thy holy
will:(Aloud.)And count us worthy, O loving Lord, with boldness, without
condemnation, in a pure heart, with a contrite spirit, with unshamed face, with
sanctified lips, to dare to call upon Thee, the holy God, Father in heaven, and
to say,The People.Our Father, which art in heaven: hollowed be Thy name; and so
on to the doxology.The Priest, bowing, says (the Embolism [4131] ): -- And lead
us not into temptation, Lord, Lord of Hosts, who knowest our frailty, but
deliver us from the evil one and his works, and from all his malice and
craftiness, for the sake of Thy holy name, which has been placed upon our
humility:(Aloud.)For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.The People.Amen.The Priest.XXXIX. Peace
be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.The Deacon.Let us bow our heads to the
Lord.The People.To Thee, O Lord.The Priest prays, speaking thus: -- To Thee, O
Lord, we Thy servants have bowed our heads before Thy holy altar, waiting for
the rich mercies that are from Thee.Send forth upon us, O Lord, Thy plenteous
grace and Thy blessing; and sanctify our souls, bodies, and spirits, that we may
become worthy communicants and partakers of Thy holy mysteries, to the
forgiveness of sins and life everlasting:(Aloud.)For adorable and glorified art
Thou, our God, and Thy only-begotten Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and
ever.The People.Amen.The Priest says aloud: -- And the grace and the mercies of
the holy and consubstantial, and uncreated, and adorable Trinity, shall be with
us all. [4132]The People.And with thy spirit.The Deacon.In the fear of God, let
us attend.The Priest says secretly: -- [4133]O holy Lord, that abidest in holy
places, sanctify us by the word of Thy grace, and by the visitation of Thy
all-holy Spirit: for Thou, O Lord, hast said, Ye will be holy, for I am holy. O
Lord our God, incomprehensible Word of God, one in substance with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, co-eternal and indivisible, accept the pure hymn, in Thy holy
and bloodless sacrifices; with the cherubim, and seraphim, and from me, a sinful
man, crying and saying: -- He takes up the gifts and saith aloud: -- XL. The
holy things unto holy.The People.One only is holy, one Lord Jesus Christ, to the
glory of God the Father, to whom be glory to all eternity.The Deacon.XLI. For
the remission of our sins, and the propitiation of our souls, and for every soul
in tribulation and distress, needing the mercy and succour of God, and for the
return of the erring, the healing of the sick, the deliverance of the captives,
the rest of our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep aforetime;Let us all
say fervently, Lord, have mercy:The People (twelve times).Lord, have mercy.
[4134]Then the Priest breaks the bread, and holds the half in his right hand,
and the half in his left, and dips that in his right hand in the chalice,
saying: -- The union of the all-holy body and precious blood of our Lord and God
and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Then he makes the sign of the cross on that in his
left hand: then with that which has been signed the other half: then forthwith
he begins to divide, and before all to give to each chalice a single piece,
saying: -- It has been made one, and sanctified, and perfected, in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever.And when he
makes the sign of the cross on the bread, he says: -- Behold the Lamb of God,
the Son of the Father, that taketh away the sin of the world, sacrificed for the
life and salvation of the world.And when he gives a single piece to each chalice
he says: -- A holy portion of Christ, full of grace and truth, of the Father,
and of the Holy Spirit, to whom be the glory and the power to all eternity.Then
he begins to divide, and to say: -- XLII. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not
want. In green pastures, and so on. [4135]Then,I will bless the Lord at all
times, and so on. [4136]Then,I will extol Thee, my God, O King, and so on.
[4137]Then,O praise the Lord, all ye nations, and so on. [4138]The Deacon.Sir,
pronounce the blessing.The Priest.The Lord will bless us, and keep us without
condemnation for the communion of His pure gifts, now and always, and for
ever.And when they have filled, [4139] the Deacon says: -- Sir, pronounce the
blessing.The Priest says: -- The Lord will bless us, and make us worthy with the
pure touchings of our fingers to take the live coal, and place it upon the
mouths of the faithful for the purification and renewal of their souls and
bodies, now and always.Then,O taste and see that the Lord is good; who is parted
and not divided; distributed to the faithful and not expended; for the remission
of sins, and the life everlasting; now and always, and for ever.The Deacon.In
the peace of Christ, let us sing:The Singers.O taste and see that the Lord is
good.The Priest says the prayer before the communion.O Lord our God, the
heavenly bread, the life of the universe, I have sinned against Heaven, and
before Thee, and am not worthy to partake of Thy pure mysteries; but as a
merciful God, make me worthy by Thy grace, without condemnation to partake of
Thy holy body and precious blood, for the remission of sins, and life
everlasting. [4140]XLIII. Then he distributes to the clergy; and when the
deacons take the disks [4141] and the chalices for distribution to the people,
the Deacon, who takes the first disk, says: -- Sir, pronounce the blessing.The
Priest replies: -- Glory to God who has sanctified and is sanctifying us all.The
Deacon says: -- Be Thou exalted, O God, over the heavens, and Thy glory over all
the earth, and Thy kingdom endureth to all eternity. [4142]And when the Deacon
is about to put it on the side-table [4143] the Priest says: -- Blessed be the
name of the Lord our God for ever.The Deacon.In the fear of God, and in faith
and love, draw nigh.The People.Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the
Lord. [4144]And again, when he sets down the disk upon the side-table, he says:
-- Sir, pronounce the blessing.The Priest.Save Thy people, O God, and bless
Thine inheritance.The Priest again. [4145]Glory to our God, who has sanctified
us all.And when he has put the chalice back on the holy table, the Priest says:
-- Blessed be the name of the Lord to all eternity.The Deacons and the People
say: -- Fill our mouths with Thy praise, O Lord, and fill our lips with joy,
that we may sing of Thy glory, of Thy greatness all the day.And again: -- We
render thanks to Thee, Christ our God, that Thou hast made us worthy to partake
of Thy body and blood, for the remission of sins, and for life everlasting. Do
Thou, in Thy goodness and love, keep us, we pray Thee, without condemnation.The
prayer of incense at the last entrance.XLIV. We render thanks to Thee, the
Saviour and God of all, for all the good things Thou hast given us, and for the
participation of Thy holy and pure mysteries, and we offer to Thee this incense,
praying: Keep us under the shadow of Thy wings, and count us worthy till our
last breath to partake of Thy holy rites for the sanctification of our souls and
bodies, for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven: for Thou, O God, art our
sanctification, and we send up praise and thanksgiving to Thee, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit.The Deacon begins in the entrance.Glory to Thee, glory to Thee,
glory to Thee, O Christ the King, only-begotten Word of the Father, that Thou
hast counted us, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, worthy to enjoy thy pure
mysteries for the remission of sins, and for life everlasting: glory to Thee.
[4146]And when he has made the entrance, the Deacon begins to speak thus: --
XLV. Again and again, and at all times, in peace, let us beseech the Lord.That
the participation of His Holy rites may be to us for the turning away from every
wicked thing, for our support on the journey to life everlasting, for the
communion and gift of the Holy Spirit;Let us pray.The Priest prays.Commemorating
our all-holy, pure, most glorious, blessed Lady, the God-Mother and Ever-Virgin
Mary, [4147] and all the saints that have been well-pleasing to Thee since the
world began, let us devote ourselves, and one another, and our whole life, to
Christ our God: The People.To Thee, O Lord.The Priest.XLVI. O God, who through
Thy great and unspeakable love didst condescend to the weakness of Thy servants,
and hast counted us worthy to partake of this heavenly table, condemn not us
sinners for the participation of Thy pure mysteries; but keep us, O good One, in
the sanctification of Thy Holy Spirit, that being made holy, we may find part
and inheritance with all Thy saints that have been well-pleasing to Thee since
the world began, in the light of Thy countenance, through the mercy of Thy
only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, with whom Thou art
blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit: for
blessed and glorified is Thy all-precious and glorious name, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.The People.Amen.The Priest.Peace
be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.The Deacon.XLVII. Let us bow our heads to
the Lord.The Priest.O God, great and marvellous, look upon Thy servants, for we
have bowed our heads to Thee. Stretch forth Thy hand, strong and full of
blessings, and bless Thy people. Keep Thine inheritance, that always and at all
times we may glorify Thee, our only living and true God, the holy and
consubstantial [4148] Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to
all eternity.(Aloud.)For unto Thee is becoming and is due praise from us all,
and honour, and adoration, and thanksgiving, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now
and ever.The Deacon.XLVIII. In the peace of Christ let us sing:And again he
says: -- In the peace of Christ let us go on:The People.In the name of the Lord.
Sir, pronounce the blessing. [4149]Dismission prayer, spoken by the Deacon.Going
on from glory to glory, we praise Thee, the Saviour of our souls. Glory to
Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit now and ever, and to all eternity. We praise
Thee, the Saviour of our souls.The Priest says a prayer from the altar to the
sacristy.XLIX. Going on from strength to strength, and having fulfilled all the
divine service in Thy temple, even now we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, make us
worthy of perfect loving-kindness; make straight our path: root us in Thy fear,
and make us worthy of the heavenly kingdom, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom
Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit,
now and always, and for ever.The Deacon.L. Again and again, and at all times, in
peace let us beseech the Lord.Prayer said in the sacristy after the
dismissal.Thou hast given unto us, O Lord, sanctification in the communion of
the all-holy body and precious blood of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ; give unto us also the grace of Thy good Spirit, and keep us blameless in
the faith, lead us unto perfect adoption and redemption, and to the coming joys
of eternity; for Thou art our sanctification and light, O God, and Thy
only-begotten Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.
Amen.The Deacon.In the peace of Christ let us keep watch.The Priest.Blessed is
God, who blesseth and sanctifieth through the communion of the holy, and
quickening, and pure mysteries, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen.Then the
prayer of propitiation.O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Lamb and
Shepherd, who takest away the sin of the world, who didst freely forgive their
debt to the two debtors, and gavest remission of her sins to the woman that was
a sinner, who gavest healing to the paralytic, with the remission of his sins;
forgive, remit, pardon, O God, our offences, voluntary and involuntary, in
knowledge and in ignorance, by transgression and by disobedience, which Thy
all-holy Spirit knows better than Thy servants do:And if men, carnal and
dwelling in this world, have in aught erred from Thy commandments, either moved
by the devil, whether in word or in deed, or if they have come under a curse, or
by reason of some special vow, I entreat and beseech Thy unspeakable
loving-kindness, that they may be set free from their word, and released from
the oath and the special vow, according to Thy goodness.Verily, O Sovereign
Lord, hear my supplication on behalf of Thy servants, and do Thou pass by all
their errors, remembering them no more; forgive them every transgression,
voluntary and involuntary; deliver them from everlasting punishment: for Thou
art He that hast commanded us, saying, Whatsoever things ye bind upon earth,
shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever things ye loose upon earth, shall be
loosed in heaven: for, thou art our God, a God able to pity, and to save and to
forgive sins; and glory is due unto Thee, with the eternal Father, and the
quickening Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen.


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 3: THE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST MARK, THE DISCIPLE OF THE HOLY PETER. 
========================================================================

The Priest. I. Peace be to all. The People. And to thy spirit. The Deacon. Pray.
The People. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. The Priest
prays secretly: [4152] [4153] We give Thee thanks, yea, more than thanks, O Lord
our God, the Father of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, for all Thy
goodness at all times and in all places, because Thou hast shielded, rescued,
helped, and guided us all the days of our lives, and brought us unto this hour,
permitting us again to stand before Thee in Thy holy place, that we may implore
forgiveness of our sins and propitiation to all Thy people. We pray and beseech
Thee, merciful God, to grant in Thy goodness that we may spend this holy day
[4154] and all the time of our lives without sin, in fulness of joy, health,
safety, holiness, and reverence of Thee. But all envy, all fear, all temptation,
all the influence of Satan, all the snares of wicked men, do Thou, O Lord, drive
away from us, and from Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Bestow upon us, O
Lord, what is good and meet. Whatever sin we commit in thought, word, or deed,
do Thou in Thy goodness and mercy be pleased to pardon. Leave us not, O Lord,
while we hope in Thee; nor lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one and from his works, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine
only-begotten Son. (In a loud voice.) Through whom and with whom be glory and
power to Thee, in Thy most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, henceforth,
and for evermore.The People.Amen.The Priest.II. Peace be to all.The People.And
to thy spirit.The Deacon.Pray for the king. [4155]The People.Lord, have mercy;
[4156] Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.The Priest prays.O God, Sovereign
Lord, the Father of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, we pray and
beseech Thee to grant that our king may enjoy peace, and be just and brave.
Subdue under him, O God, all his adversaries and enemies. Gird on thy shield and
armour, and rise to his aid. Give him the victory, O God, that his heart may be
set on peace and the praise of Thy holy name, that we too [4157] in his peaceful
reign [4158] may spend a calm and tranquil life in all reverence and godly fear,
through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten Son:(In a loud
voice.)Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with Thy most
holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The
People.Amen.The Priest.III. Peace be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.The
Deacon.Pray for the papas [4159] and the bishop.The People.Lord, have mercy;
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.The Priest.O Sovereign and Almighty God, the
Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, we pray and beseech Thee to
defend in Thy good mercy our most holy and blessed high priest our Father in God
D, and our most reverend Bishop D. Preserve them for us through many years in
peace, while they according to Thy holy and blessed will fulfil the sacred
priesthood committed to their care, and dispense aright the word of truth; with
all the orthodox bishops, elders, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, and
laity, with the entire body of the Holy and only Catholic Church. Graciously
bestow upon them peace, health, and salvation. The prayers they offer up for us,
and we for them, do Thou, O Lord, receive at Thy holy, heavenly, and reasonable
altar. But all the enemies of Thy Holy Church put Thou speedily under their
feet, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten
Son:(Aloud.)Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with Thy
all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The
People.Amen.The Priest.IV. Peace be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.The
Deacon.Stand [4160] and pray.The People.Lord have mercy (thrice).The Priest
offers up the prayer of entrance, [4161] and for incense.The Priest.O Sovereign
Lord our God, who hast chosen the lamp of the twelve apostles with its twelve
lights, and hast sent them forth to proclaim throughout the whole world and
teach the Gospel of Thy kingdom, and to heal sickness and every weakness among
the people, and hast breathed upon their faces and said unto them, Receive the
Holy Spirit the Comforter: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto
them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained: Breathe also Thy Holy
Spirit upon us Thy servants, who, standing around, are about to enter on Thy
holy service, [4162] upon the bishops, elders, deacons, readers, singers, and
laity, with the entire body of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.From the
curse and execration, from condemnation, imprisonment, and banishment, and from
the portion of the adversary;O Lord, deliver us.Purify our lives and cleanse our
hearts from all pollution and from all wickedness, that with pure heart and
conscience we may offer to Thee this incense for a sweet-smelling savour, and
for the remission of our sins and the sins of all Thy people, through the grace,
mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten Son:(Aloud.)Through whom and with whom be
the glory and the power to Thee, with Thy all-holy, good, and life-giving
Spirit, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The People.Amen.The Deacon.V.
Stand.They sing: -- Only-begotten Son and Word, [4163] etc.The Gospel is carried
in, and the Deacon says: -- Let us pray.The Priest.Peace be to all.The
People.And to thy spirit.The Deacon.Let us pray.The People.Lord, have mercy.The
Priest says the prayer of the Trisagion.O Sovereign Lord Christ Jesus, the
co-eternal Word of the eternal Father, who wast made in all things like as we
are, but without sin, for the salvation of our race; who hast sent forth Thy
holy disciples and apostles to proclaim and teach the Gospel of Thy kingdom, and
to heal all disease, all sickness among Thy people, be pleased now, O Lord, to
send forth Thy light and Thy truth. Enlighten the eyes of our minds, that we may
understand Thy divine oracles. Fit us to become hearers, and not only hearers,
but doers of Thy word, that we, becoming fruitful, and yielding good fruit from
thirty to an hundred fold, may be deemed worthy of the kingdom of
heaven.(Aloud.)Let Thy mercy speedily overtake us, O Lord. For Thou art the
bringer of good tidings, the Saviour and Guardian of our souls and bodies; and
we offer glory, thanks, and the Trisagion to Thee, the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The People.Amen. Holy God, holy mighty,
holy immortal. Holy, holy, holy, [4164] etc. VI. After the Trisagion the Priest
makes the sign of the cross over the people, and says: -- Peace be to all.The
People.And to thy spirit.Then follow the Let us attend; [4165] The Apostle and
Prologue of the Hallelujah. [4166] The Deacons, after a prescribed form, say: --
Lord, bless us. [4167]The Priest says: -- May the Lord [4168] in His mercy bless
and help us, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The Priest, before the Gospel is
read, offers incense, [4169] and says: -- Accept at Thy holy, heavenly, and
reasonable altar, O Lord, the incense we offer in presence of Thy sacred glory.
Send down upon us in return the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, for Thou art blessed,
and let Thy glory encircle us.VII. The Deacon, when he is about to read the
Gospel, says: -- Lord, bless us.The Priest.May the Lord, who is the blessed God,
bless and strengthen us, and make us hearers of His holy Gospel, now,
henceforth, and for evermore. Amen.The Deacon.Stand and let us hear the holy
Gospel.The Priest.Peace be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.VIII. The Deacon
reads the Gospel, and the Priest says the prayer of the Collect. [4170]Look down
in mercy and compassion, O Lord, and heal the sick among Thy people.May all our
brethren who have gone or who are about to go abroad, safely reach their
destination in due season.Send down the gracious rain upon the thirsty lands,
and make the rivers [4171] flow in full stream, according to Thy grace.The
fruits of the land do Thou, O Lord, fill with seed and make ripe for the
harvest.In peace, courage, justice, and tranquillity preserve the kingdom of Thy
servant, whom Thou hast deemed worthy to reign over this land.From evil days,
from famine and pestilence, from the assault of barbarians, defend, O Lord, this
Christ-loving city, lowly and worthy of Thy compassion, as Thou didst spare
Nineveh of old.For Thou art full of mercy and compassion, and rememberest not
the iniquities of men against them.Thou hast said through Thy prophet Isaiah, --
I will defend this city, to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant
David's sake.Wherefore we pray and beseech Thee to defend in Thy good mercy this
city, for the sake of the martyr and evangelist Mark, who has shown us the way
of salvation through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten
Son.(Aloud.)Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with Thy
all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit.The Deacon.IX. Begin.Then they say the
verse. [4172] The Deacon says -- The three. [4173]The Priest.O Sovereign and
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray and beseech Thee to
fill our hearts with the peace of heaven, and to bestow moreover the peace of
this life. Preserve for us through many years our most holy and blessed Papas D,
[4174] and our most pious Bishop D, while they, according to Thy holy and
blessed will, peacefully fulfil the holy priesthood committed to their care, and
dispense aright the word of truth, with all the orthodox bishops, elders,
deacons, sub-deacons, [4175] readers, singers, with the entire body of the holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. Bless our meetings, O Lord. Grant that we may
hold them without let or hindrance, according to Thy holy will. Be pleased to
give to us, and Thy servants after us for ever, houses of praise and prayer.
Rise, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered. Let all who hate Thy holy name
be put to flight. Bless Thy faithful and orthodox people. Multiply them by
thousands and tens of thousands. Let no deadly sin prevail against them, or
against Thy holy people, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine
only-begotten Son.(Aloud.)Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee,
with Thy all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit.The People.Amen.The Priest.Peace
be to all.The People.And to thy spirit.The Deacon.Take care that none of the
catechumens [4176] -- II.Then they sing the Cherubic hymn. [4177]X. The Priest
offers incense at the entrance, [4178] and prays: -- O Lord our God, who lackest
nothing, accept this incense offered by an unworthy hand, and deem us all worthy
of Thy blessing, for Thou art our sanctification, and we ascribe glory to
Thee.The holy things are carried to the altar, and the Priest prays thus: -- O
holy, highest, awe-inspiring God, who dwellest among the saints, sanctify us,
and deem us worthy of Thy reverend priesthood. Bring us to Thy precious altar
with a good conscience, and cleanse our hearts from all pollution. Drive away
from us all unholy thoughts, and sanctify our souls and minds. Grant that, with
reverence of Thee, we may perform the service of our holy fathers, and
propitiate Thy presence through all time; for Thou art He who blesseth and
sanctifieth all things, and to Thee we ascribe glory and thanks.The Deacon.XI.
Salute one another.The Priest says the prayer of salutation.O Sovereign and
Almighty Lord, look down from heaven on Thy Church, on all Thy people, and on
all Thy flock. Save us all, Thy unworthy servants, the sheep of Thy fold. Give
us Thy peace, Thy help, and Thy love, and send to us the gift of Thy Holy
Spirit, that with a pure heart and a good conscience we may salute one another
with an holy kiss, without hypocrisy, and with no hostile purpose, but guileless
and pure in one spirit, in the bond of peace and love, one body and one spirit,
in one faith, even as we have been called in one hope of our calling, that we
may all meet in the divine and boundless love, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with
whom Thou art blessed. Then the Priest offers the incense, and says: -- The
incense is offered to Thy name. Let it ascend, we implore Thee, from the hands
of Thy poor and sinful servants to Thy heavenly altar for a sweet-smelling
savour, and the propitiation of all Thy people. For all glory, honour,
adoration, and thanks are due unto Thee, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now,
henceforth, and for evermore. Amen.After the Salutation, [4179] the Deacon in a
loud voice says: -- XII. Stand and make the offering duly. [4180]The Priest,
making the sign of the cross over the disks and chalices, says in a loud voice
(the Nicene Creed): -- I believe in one God, etc.The Deacon.Stand for prayer.The
Priest.Peace be to all.The Deacon.Pray for those who present the offering.The
Priest says the prayer of the Oblation. [4181]O Sovereign Lord, Christ Jesus the
Word, who art equal in power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the great high
priest; the bread that came down from heaven, and saved our souls from ruin; who
gavest Thyself, a spotless Lamb, for the life of the world....We pray and
beseech Thee, O Lord, in Thy mercy, to let Thy presence rest upon this bread and
these chalices [4182] on the all-holy table, while angels, archangels, and Thy
holy priests stand round and minister for Thy glory and the renewing of our
souls, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten Son, through
whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee.And when the People say,And from
the Holy Spirit was He made flesh;The Priest makes the sign of the cross, [4183]
and says: -- And was crucified for us.The Priest makes the sign of the cross
again, [4184] and says: -- And to the Holy Spirit.III.XIII. [4185] In like
manner also, as after the Creed, [4186] he makes the sign of the cross upon the
People, and says aloud: -- The Lord be with all.The People.And with thy
spirit.The Priest.Let us lift up our hearts.The People.We lift them up to the
Lord.The Priest.Let us give thanks to the Lord.The People.It is meet and right.
[4187]The Priest begins the Anaphoral prayer.O Lord God, Sovereign and Almighty
Father, truly it is meet and right, holy and becoming, and good for our souls,
to praise, bless, and thank Thee; to make open confession to Thee by day and
night with voice, lips, and heart without ceasing;To Thee who hast made the
heaven, and all that is therein; the earth, and all that is therein; The sea,
fountains, rivers, lakes, and all that is therein;To Thee who, after Thine own
image and likeness, hast made man, upon whom Thou didst also bestow the joys of
Paradise;And when he trespassed against Thee, Thou didst neither neglect nor
forsake him, good Lord,But didst recall him by Thy law, instruct him by Thy
prophets, restore and renew him by this awful, life-giving, and heavenly
mystery.And all this Thou hast done by Thy Wisdom and the Light of truth, Thine
only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, Through whom,
thanking Thee with Him and the Holy Spirit,We offer this reasonable and
bloodless sacrifice, which all nations, from the rising to the setting of the
sun, from the north and the south, present to Thee, O Lord; for great is Thy
name among all peoples, and in all places are incense, sacrifice, and oblation
offered to Thy holy name. [4188]XIV. We pray and beseech Thee, O lover of men, O
good Lord, [4189] remember in Thy good mercy the Holy and only Catholic and
Apostolic Church throughout the whole world, and all Thy people, and all the
sheep of this fold. [4190] Vouchsafe to the hearts of all of us the peace of
heaven, but grant us also the peace of this life.Guide and direct in all peace
the king, [4191] army, magistrates, councils, [4192] peoples, and
neighbourhoods, and all our outgoings and incomings.O King of Peace, grant us
Thy peace in unity and love. May we be Thine, O Lord; for we know no other God
but Thee, and name no other name but Thine. Give life unto the souls of all of
us, and let no deadly sin prevail against us, or against all Thy people.Look
down in mercy and compassion, O Lord, and heal the sick among Thy people.
Deliver them and us, O Lord, from sickness and disease, and drive away the
spirit of weakness.Raise up those who have been long afflicted, and heal those
who are vexed with unclean spirits.Have mercy on all who are in prison, or in
mines, or on trial, or condemned, or in exile, or crushed by cruel bondage or
tribute. Deliver them, O Lord, for Thou art our God, who settest the captives
free; who raisest up the downtrodden; who givest hope to the hopeless, and help
to the helpless; who liftest up the fallen; who givest refuge to the
shipwrecked, and vengeance to the oppressed.Pity, relieve, and restore every
Christian soul that is afflicted or wandering.But do Thou, O Lord, the physician
of our souls and bodies, the guardian of all flesh, look down, and by Thy saving
power heal all the diseases of soul and body.Guide and prosper our brethren who
have gone or who are about to go abroad. Whether they travel by land, or river,
or lake, by public road, or in whatever way journeying, bring them everywhere to
a safe and tranquil haven. Be pleased to be with them by land and sea, and
restore them in health and joy to joyful and healthful homes. Ever defend, O
Lord, our journey through this life from trouble and storm.Send down rich and
copious showers on the dry and thirsty lands.Gladden and revive the face of the
earth, that it may spring forth and rejoice in the raindrops.Make the waters of
the river flow in full stream.Gladden and revive the face of the earth with the
swelling waters.Fill all the channels of the streams, and multiply the fruits of
the earth.Bless, O Lord, the fruits of the earth, and keep them safe and
unharmed. Fill them with seed, and make them ripe for the harvest.Bless even
now, O Lord, Thy yearly crown of blessing for the sake of the poor of Thy
people, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger, and for the sake of all of us
who have our hope in Thee and call upon Thy holy name; for the eyes of all are
upon Thee, and Thou givest them bread in due season.O Thou who givest food to
all flesh, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that at all times, having all
sufficiency, we may abound to every good work in Christ Jesus our Lord.O King of
kings and Lord of lords, defend the kingdom of Thy servant, our orthodox and
Christ-loving sovereign, [4193] whom Thou hast deemed worthy to reign over this
land in peace, courage, and justice.Subdue under him, O Lord, every enemy and
adversary, whether at home or abroad. Gird on Thy shield and armour, and rise to
his aid. Draw Thy sword, and help him to fight against them that persecute him.
Shield him in the day of battle, and grant that the fruit of his loins may sit
upon his throne.Be kind to him, O Lord, for the sake of Thy Holy and Apostolic
Church, and all Thy Christ-loving people, that we too in his peaceful reign may
live a calm and tranquil life, in all reverence and godliness.O Lord our God,
give peace to the souls of our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep in
Jesus, remembering our forefathers of old, our fathers, patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, martyrs, confessors, bishops, and the souls of all the holy and just
men who have died in the Lord.Especially remember those whose memory we this day
celebrate, and our holy father Mark, [4194] the apostle and evangelist, who has
shown us the way of salvation. [4195]The Deacon.Lord, bless us.The Priest.The
Lord will bless thee in His grace, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The Deacon
reads the record of the dead. [4196]The Priest bows and prays.XV. Give peace, O
Sovereign Lord our God, to the souls of all who dwell in the tabernacles of Thy
saints. Graciously bestow upon them in Thy kingdom Thy promised blessing, which
eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of
man what Thou, O God, hast prepared for those who love Thy holy name. Give peace
to their souls, and deem them worthy of the kingdom of heaven. [4197]Grant that
we may end our lives as Christians, acceptable unto Thee and without sin, and be
pleased to give us part and lot with all Thy saints.Accept, O God, by Thy
ministering archangels at Thy holy, heavenly, and reasonable altar in the
spacious heavens, the thank-offerings of those who offer sacrifice and oblation,
and of those who desire to offer much or little, in secret or openly, but have
it not to give.Accept the thank-offerings of those who have presented them this
day, as Thou didst accept the gifts of Thy righteous Abel:The Priest offers
incense, and says: [4198] -- As Thou didst accept the sacrifice of our father
Abraham, the incense of Zacharias, the alms of Cornelius, and the widow's two
mites, accept also the thank-offerings of these, and give them for the things of
time the things of eternity, and for the things of earth the things of heaven.
Defend, O Lord, our most holy and blessed Papas [4199] D, whom Thou hast
fore-ordained to rule over Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and our most
pious Bishop D, that they through many years of peace may, according to Thy holy
and blessed will, fulfil the sacred priesthood committed to their care, and
dispense aright the word of truth.Remember the orthodox bishops everywhere, the
elders, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, monks, [4200] virgins, widows,
and laity.Remember, O Lord, the holy city [4201] of our God, Jesus Christ; and
the imperial city; [4202] and this city of ours, and all cities and all lands,
and the peace and safety of those who dwell therein in the orthodox faith of
Christ.Be mindful, O Lord, of the return of the back-sliding, and of every
Christian soul that is afflicted and oppressed, and in need of Thy divine mercy
and help.Be mindful, O Lord, of our brethren in captivity. Grant that they may
find mercy and compassion with those who have led them captive.Be mindful also
of us, O Lord, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, and blot out our sins in Thy
goodness and mercy.Be mindful also of me, Thy lowly, sinful, and unworthy
servant, and in Thy mercy blot out my sins. Be with us, O Lord, who minister
unto Thy holy name.Bless our meetings, O Lord.Utterly uproot idolatry from the
world. [4203]Crush under our feet Satan, and all his wicked influence.Humble
now, as at all times, the enemies of Thy Church. Lay bare their pride.Speedily
show them their weakness.Bring to naught the wicked plots they contrive against
us.Arise, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered, and let all who hate Thy
holy name be put to flight.Do Thou bless a thousand times ten thousand Thy
faithful and orthodox people while they do Thy holy will.The Deacon.Let those
who are seated stand.The Priest says the following prayer: -- Deliver the
captive; rescue the distressed feed the hungry; comfort the faint-hearted,
convert the erring; enlighten the darkened; raise the fallen; confirm the
wavering; heal the sick; and guide them all, good Lord, into the way of
salvation, and into Thy sacred fold. Deliver us from our iniquities; protect and
defend us at all times.The Deacon.Turn to the east.The Priest bows and prays.For
Thou art far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come.
Round Thee stand ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of
holy angels and hosts of archangels; and Thy two most honoured creatures, the
many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim. With twain they cover their
faces, and with twain they cover their feet, and with twain they do fly; and
they cry one to another for ever with the voice of praise, and glorify Thee, O
Lord, singing aloud the triumphal and thrice-holy [4204] hymn to Thy great
glory: -- Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of
Thy glory.(Aloud.)Thou dost ever sanctify all men; but with all who glorify
Thee, receive also, O Sovereign Lord, our sanctification, who with them
celebrate Thy praise, and say: -- The People.Holy, holy, holy Lord.The Priest
makes the sign of the cross over the sacred mysteries.XVI. For truly heaven and
earth are full of Thy glory, through the manifestation of our Lord and God and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Fill, O God, this sacrifice with Thy blessing, through the
inspiration of Thy all-holy Spirit. For the Lord Himself, our God and universal
King, Christ Jesus, reclining at meat the same night on which He delivered
Himself up for our sins and died in the flesh for all, took bread in His holy,
pure, and immaculate hands, and lifting His eyes to His Father, our God, and the
God of all, gave thanks; and when He had blessed, hallowed, and broken the
bread, gave it to His holy and blessed disciples and apostles, saying: --
(Aloud.)Take, eat.The Deacon.Pray earnestly.The Priest (aloud).For this is my
body, which is broken for you, and divided for the remission of sins.The
People.Amen.The Priest prays.After the same manner also, when He had supped, He
took the cup of wine mingled with water, and lifting His eyes to Thee, His
Father, our God, and the God of all, gave thanks; and when He had blessed and
filled it with the Holy Spirit, gave it to His holy and blessed disciples and
apostles, saying: -- (Aloud.)Drink ye all of it.The Deacon.Pray earnestly
again.The Priest (aloud).For this is my blood of the new testament which is shed
for you and for many, and distributed among you for the remission of sins.The
People.Amen.The Priest prays thus: -- This do ye in remembrance of me; for as
often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show forth my death and
acknowledge my resurrection and ascension until I come. O Sovereign and Almighty
Lord, King of heaven, while we show forth [4205] the death of Thine
only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, and acknowledge His
blessed resurrection from the dead on the third day, we do also openly declare
His ascension into heaven, and His sitting on the right hand of Thee, God and
Father, and await His second terrible and dreadful coming, in which He will come
to judge righteously the quick and the dead, and to render to each man according
to his works.XVII. O Lord our God, we have placed before Thee what is Thine from
Thine own mercies. We pray and beseech Thee, O good and merciful God, to send
down from Thy holy heaven, from the mansion Thou hast prepared, and from Thine
infinite bosom, the Paraclete Himself, [4206] holy, powerful, and life-giving,
the Spirit of truth, who spoke in the law, the apostles, and prophets; who is
everywhere present, and filleth all things, freely working sanctification in
whom He will with Thy good pleasure; one in His nature; manifold in His working;
the fountain of divine blessing; of like substance [4207] with Thee, and
proceeding from Thee; sitting with Thee on the throne of Thy kingdom, and with
Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Send down
upon us also and upon this bread and upon these chalices Thy Holy Spirit, that
by His all-powerful and divine influence He may sanctify and consecrate them,
and make this bread the body. [4208]The People.Amen.The Priest (aloud).And this
cup the blood of the new testament, of the very Lord, and God, and Saviour, and
universal King Christ Jesus.The Deacon.Deacons, come down.The Priest
(aloud).That to all of us who partake thereof they may tend unto faith,
sobriety, healing, temperance, sanctification, the renewal of soul, body, and
spirit, participation in the blessedness of eternal life and immortality, the
glory of Thy most holy name, and the remission of sins, that Thy most holy,
precious, and glorious name may be praised and glorified in this as in all
things. The People.As it was and is.The Priest.XVIII. Peace be to all.The
Deacon.Pray.The Priest prays in secret.O God of light, Father of life, Author of
grace, Creator of worlds, Founder of knowledge, Giver of wisdom, Treasure of
holiness, Teacher of pure prayers, Benefactor of our souls, who givest to the
faint-hearted who put their trust in Thee those things into which the angels
desire to look: O Sovereign Lord, who hast brought us up from the depths of
darkness to light, who hast given us life from death, who hast graciously
bestowed upon us freedom from slavery, who hast scattered the darkness of sin
within us, through the presence of Thine only-begotten Son, do Thou now also,
through the visitation of Thy all-holy Spirit, enlighten the eyes of our
understanding, that we may partake without fear of condemnation of this heavenly
and immortal food, and sanctify us wholly in soul, body, and spirit, that with
Thy holy disciples and apostles we may say this prayer to Thee: Our Father who
art in heaven, etc.(Aloud.)And grant, O Sovereign Lord, in Thy mercy, that we
with freedom of speech, without fear of condemnation, with pure heart and
enlightened soul, with face that is not ashamed, and with hollowed lips, may
venture to call upon Thee, the holy God who art in heaven, as our Father, and
say: -- The People.Our Father who art in heaven, etc.The Priest prays: [4209] --
Verily, Lord, Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for
Thy abundant mercy showeth that we through our great infirmity are unable to
resist it. Grant that we may find a way whereby we may be able to withstand
temptation; for Thou hast given us power to tread upon serpents, and scorpions,
and all the power of the enemy.(Aloud.)For Thine is the kingdom and power.The
People.Amen.The Priest.XIX. Peace be to all.The Deacon.Bow your heads to Jesus.
[4210]The People.Thou, Lord.The Priest prays.O Sovereign and Almighty Lord,
[4211] who sittest upon the cherubim, and art glorified by the seraphim; who
hast made the heaven out of waters, and adorned it with choirs of stars; who
hast placed an unbodied host of angels in the highest heavens to sing Thy praise
for ever; before Thee have we bowed our souls and bodies in token of our
bondage. We beseech Thee to repel the dark assaults of sin from our
understanding, and to gladden our minds with the divine radiance of Thy Holy
Spirit, that, filled with the knowledge of Thee, we may worthily partake of the
mercies set before us, the pure body and precious blood of Thine only-begotten
Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Pardon all our sins in Thy
abundant and unsearchable goodness, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine
only-begotten Son: [4212](Aloud.)Through whom and with whom be glory and power
to Thee, with the all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit.The Priest.XX. Peace be
to all.The Deacon.With the fear of God.The Priest prays.O holy, highest,
awe-inspiring God, who dwellest among the saints, sanctify us by the word of Thy
grace and by the inspiration of Thy all-holy Spirit; for Thou hast said, O Lord
our God, Be ye holy; for I am holy. O Word of God, past finding out,
consubstantial [4213] and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and
sharer of their sovereignty, accept the pure song which cherubim and seraphim,
and the unworthy lips of Thy sinful and unworthy servant, sing aloud.The
People.Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.The Priest
(aloud).Holy things for the holy. [4214]The People.One Father holy, one Son
holy, one Spirit holy, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. [4215]The
Deacon.For salvation and help.The Priest makes the sign of the cross upon the
people, and saith in a loud voice: -- The Lord be with all.The Priest breaks the
bread, and saith: -- Praise ye God.The Priest divides it among those present,
and saith: -- The Lord will bless and help you through His great mercy.The
Priest says: -- Command.The Clergy say: -- The Holy Spirit commands and
sanctifies.The Priest.Lo, they are sanctified and consecrated.The Clergy.One
holy [4216] Father, etc. (thrice).The Priest says: -- The Lord be with all.The
Clergy.And with thy spirit.The Priest says: -- The Lord Himself hath blessed
it.The Priest partakes, and prays.According to Thy loving-kindness, [4217]
etc.Or,As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, [4218] etc.When he gives the
bread to the clergy, he says: -- The holy body.And when he gives the chalice, he
says: -- The precious blood of our Lord, and God, and Saviour.IV.After the
service is completed, the Deacon says: -- XXI. Stand for prayer. [4219]The
Priest.Peace be to all.The Deacon.Pray.The Priest says the prayer of
thanksgiving.O Sovereign Lord our God, we thank Thee that we have partaken of
Thy holy, pure, immortal, and heavenly mysteries, which Thou hast given for our
good, and for the sanctification and salvation of our souls and bodies. We pray
and beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant in Thy good mercy, that by partaking of the
holy body and precious blood of Thine only-begotten Son, we may have faith that
is not ashamed, love that is unfeigned, fulness of holiness, power to eschew
evil and keep Thy commandments, provision for eternal life, and an acceptable
defence before the awful tribunal of Thy Christ: In a loud voice.Through whom
and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with Thy all-holy, good, and
life-giving Spirit.The Priest then turns to the people, and says: -- XXII. O
mightiest King, co-eternal with the Father, who by Thy might hast vanquished
hell and trodden death under foot, who hast bound the strong man, and by Thy
miraculous power and the enlightening radiance of Thy unspeakable Godhead hast
raised Adam from the tomb, send forth Thy invisible right hand, which is full of
blessing, and bless us all.Pity us, O Lord, and strengthen us by Thy divine
power.Take away from us the sinful and wicked influence of carnal desire.Let the
light shine into our souls, and dispel the surrounding darkness of sin.Unite us
to the all-blessed assembly that is well-pleasing unto Thee; for through Thee
and with Thee, all praise, honour, power, adoration, and thanksgiving are due
unto the Father and the Holy Spirit, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The
Deacon.Depart in peace:The People.In the name of the Lord.The Priest
(aloud).XXIII. The love of God the Father; the grace of the Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ; the communion and gift of the All-holy Spirit, be with us all, now,
henceforth, and for evermore.The People.Amen. Blessed be the name of the
Lord.The Priest prays in the sacristy, and says: -- O Lord, Thou hast given us
sanctification by partaking of the all-holy body and precious blood of Thine
only-begotten Son; give us the grace and gift of the All-holy Spirit. Enable us
to lead blameless lives; and guide us unto the perfect redemption, and adoption,
and the everlasting joys of the world to come. For Thou art our sanctification,
and we ascribe glory unto Thee, the Father, and the Son, and the All-holy
Spirit, now, henceforth, and for evermore.The People.Amen.The Priest.Peace be to
all.The People.And to thy spirit.The Priest dismisses them, and says: -- May God
bless, who blesseth and sanctifieth, who defendeth and preserveth us all through
the partaking of His holy mysteries; and who is blessed for ever. Amen.


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 4: THE LITURGY OF THE BLESSED APOSTLES.
========================================================================

Composed by St. adæus and St. Maris, Teachers of the Easterns. [4220] I. [4221]
First: Glory to God in the highest, etc. Our Father which art in heaven. Prayer.
Strengthen, O our Lord and God, our weakness through Thy mercy, that we may
administer the holy mystery which has been given for the renovation and
salvation of our degraded nature, through the mercies of Thy beloved Son the
Lord of all. On common days. Adored, glorified, lauded, celebrated, exalted, and
blessed in heaven and on earth, be the adorable and glorious name of Thine
ever-glorious Trinity, O Lord of all. On common days they sing the Psalm (xv.),
Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle? entire with its canon, [4222] of the
mystery of the sacraments. (Aloud.) Who shall shout with joy? etc. Prayer. II.
Before the resplendent throne of Thy majesty, O Lord, and the exalted and
sublime throne of Thy glory, and on the awful seat of the strength of Thy love
and the propiatory altar which Thy will hath established, in the region of Thy
pasture, [4223] with thousands of cherubim praising Thee, and ten thousands of
seraphim sanctifying Thee, we draw near, adore, thank, and glorify Thee always,
O Lord of all. On commemorations and Fridays.Thy name, great and holy,
illustrious and blessed, the blessed and incomprehensible name of Thy glorious
Trinity, and Thy kindness to our race, we ought at all times to bless, adore,
and glorify, O Lord of all.Responsory [4224] at the chancel, as above.Who
commanded, etc.To the priest, etc.Prayer.How breathes in us, O our Lord and God,
the sweet fragrance of the sweetness of Thy love; illumined are our souls,
through the knowledge of Thy truth: may we be rendered worthy of receiving the
manifestation of Thy beloved from Thy holy heavens: there shall we render thanks
unto Thee, and, in the meantime, glorify Thee without ceasing in Thy Church,
crowned and filled with every aid and blessing, because Thou art Lord and
Father, Creator of all.III. Prayer of Incense.We shall repeat the hymn to Thy
glorious Trinity, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.On fast-days.And on account,
etc.At the commemoration of saints.Thou, O Lord, art truly the raiser up of our
bodies: Thou art the good Saviour of our souls, and the secure preserver of our
life; and we ought to thank Thee continually, to adore and glorify Thee, O Lord
of all.At the lessons. [4225]Holy art Thou, worthy of praise, mighty, immortal,
who dwellest in the holies, and Thy will resteth in them: have regard unto us, O
Lord; be merciful unto us, and pity us, as Thou art our helper in all
circumstances, O Lord of all.IV. At the apostle. [4226]Enlighten, O our Lord and
God, the movements of our meditations to hear and understand the sweet
listenings to Thy life-giving and divine commands; and grant unto us through Thy
grace and mercy to gather from them the assurance of love, and hope, and
salvation suitable to soul and body, and we shall sing to Thee everlasting glory
without ceasing and always, O Lord of all.On fast-days.To Thee, the wise
governor, etc.V. Descending, he shall salute the Gospel, saying this prayer
before the altar.Thee, the renowned seed of Thy Father, and the image of the
person of Thy Father, who wast revealed in the body of our humanity, and didst
arise to us in the light of Thy annunciation, Thee we thank, adore, etc.And
after the proclamation: [4227] -- Thee, O Lord God Almighty, we beseech and
entreat, perfect with us Thy grace, and pour out through our hands Thy gift, the
pity and compassion of Thy divinity. May they be to us for the propitiation of
the offences of Thy people, and for the forgiveness of the sins of the entire
flock of Thy pasture, through Thy grace and tender mercies, O good friend of
men, O Lord of all.VI. The Deacons say: -- Bow your heads.The Priest says this
secret prayer in the sanctuary: [4228] -- O Lord God Omnipotent, Thine is the
Holy Catholic Church, inasmuch as Thou, through the great passion of Thy Christ,
didst buy the sheep of Thy pasture; and from the grace of the Holy Spirit, who
is indeed of one nature with Thy glorious divinity, are granted the degrees of
the true priestly ordination; and through Thy clemency Thou didst vouchsafe, O
Lord, to make our weakness spiritual members in the great body of Thy Holy
Church, that we might administer spiritual aid to faithful souls. Now, O Lord,
perfect Thy grace with us, and pour out Thy gift through our hands: and may Thy
tender mercies and the clemency of Thy divinity be upon us, and upon the people
whom Thou hast chosen for Thyself.(Aloud.)And grant unto us, O Lord, through Thy
clemency, that we may all together, and equally every day of our life, please
Thy divinity, and be rendered worthy of the aid of Thy grace to offer Thee
praise, honour, thanksgiving, and adoration at all times, O Lord.VII. And the
Deacons ascend to the altar, and say: -- He who has not received baptism, etc.
[4229]And the Priest begins the responsory of the mysteries, [4230] and the
Sacristan and Deacon place the disk and the chalice upon the altar. The Priest
crosses his hands, and says: [4231] -- We offer praise to Thy glorious Trinity
at all times and for ever.And proceeds: -- May Christ, who was offered for our
salvation, and commanded us to commemorate His death and His resurrection,
Himself receive this sacrifice from the hands of our weakness, through His grace
and mercies for ever. Amen.And proceeds: -- Laid are the renowned holy and
life-giving mysteries upon the altar of the mighty Lord, even until His advent,
for ever. Amen.Praise, etc.Thy memory, etc.Our Father, etc.The apostles of the
Father, etc.Upon the holy altar, etc.They who have slept, etc.Matthew Mark,
Luke, etc. [4232]THE CREED. [4233]VIII. The Priest draws near to celebrate, and
thrice bows before the altar, the middle of which he kisses, then the right and
the left horn of the altar; and bows to the Gospel side, and says: -- Bless, O
Lord, etc.Pray for me, my fathers, brethren, and masters, that God may grant
unto me the capability and power to perform this service to which I have drawn
near, and that this oblation may be accepted from the hands of my weakness, for
myself, for you, and for the whole body of the Holy Catholic Church, through His
grace and mercies for ever. Amen. And they respond: -- May Christ listen to thy
prayers, and be pleased with thy sacrifice, receive thy oblation, and honour thy
priesthood, and grant unto us, through thy mediation, [4234] the pardon of our
offences, and the forgiveness of our sins, through His grace and mercies for
ever.Presently he bows at the other side, uttering the same words; and they
respond in the same manner: then he bows to the altar, and says: -- God, Lord of
all, be with us through His grace and mercies for ever. Amen.And bowing towards
the Deacon, who is on the left (Epistle side), he says: -- God, the Lord of all,
confirm thy words, and secure to thee peace, and accept this oblation from my
hands for me, for thee, for the whole body of the Holy Catholic Church, and for
the entire world, through His grace and mercies for ever.He kneels at the altar,
and says in secret: -- IX. O our Lord and God, look not on the multitude of our
sins, and let not Thy dignity be turned away on account of the heinousness of
our iniquities; but through Thine unspeakable grace sanctify this sacrifice of
Thine, and grant through it power and capability, so that Thou mayest forget our
many sins, and be merciful when Thou shalt appear at the end of time, in the man
whom Thou hast assumed from among us, and we may find before Thee grace and
mercy, and be rendered worthy to praise Thee with spiritual [4235] assemblies.He
rises, and says this prayer in secret: -- We thank Thee, O our Lord and God, for
the abundant riches of Thy grace to us:And he proceeds: -- Us who were sinful
and degraded, on account of the multitude of Thy clemency, Thou hast made worthy
to celebrate the holy mysteries of the body and blood of Thy Christ. We beg aid
from Thee for the strengthening of our souls, that in perfect love and true
faith we may administer Thy gift to us.Canon.And we shall ascribe to Thee
praise, glory, thanksgiving, and adoration, now, always, and for ever and
ever.He signs himself with the sign of the cross, and they respond: -- Amen.X.
And he proceeds: -- Peace be with you:They respond: -- With thee and with thy
spirit.And they give the (kiss of) peace to each other, and say: -- For all:
[4236]The Deacon says: -- Let us thank, entreat, and beseech.The Priest says
this prayer in secret: -- O Lord, mighty God, help my weakness through Thy
clemency and the aid of Thy grace; and make me worthy of offering before Thee
this oblation, as for the common aid of all, and to the praise of Thy Trinity, O
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.Another prayer. [4237]O our Lord and God, restrain
our thoughts, that they wander not amid the vanities of this world. O Lord our
God, grant that I may be united to the affection of Thy love, unworthy though I
be. Glory be to Thee, O Christ.Ascend into the chamber of Thy renowned light, O
Lord; sow in me the good seed of humility; and under the wings of Thy grace hide
me through Thy mercy. If Thou wert to mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
Because there is mercy with Thee.[The Priest says the following prayer in
secret: [4238] -- O mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, beseech for me the
only-begotten Son, who was born of thee, to forgive me my offences and my sins,
and to accept from my feeble and sinful hands this sacrifice which my weakness
offers upon this altar, through thy intercession for me, O holy mother.]XI. When
the Deacon shall say, With watchfulness and care, etc., immediately the Priest
rises up and uncovers the sacraments, taking away the veil with which they were
covered: he blesses the incense, and says a canon with a loud voice: -- The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the
communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, now, etc. [4239]He signs the
sacraments, and they respond: -- Amen.The Priest proceeds: -- Lift up your
minds:They respond: -- They are towards Thee, O God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Israel, O glorious King.The Priest.The oblation is offered to God, the Lord of
all.They respond: -- It is meet and right.The Deacon.Peace be with you.The
Priest puts on the incense, and says this prayer: -- O Lord, Lord, grant me an
open countenance before Thee, that with the confidence which is from Thee we may
fulfil this awful and divine sacrifice with consciences free from all iniquity
and bitterness. Sow in us, O Lord, affection, peace, and concord towards each
other, and toward every one.And standing, he says in secret: [4240] -- Worthy of
glory from every mouth, and of thanksgiving from all tongues, and of adoration
and exaltation from all creatures, is the adorable and glorious name of Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, who created the world through His grace, and its
inhabitants through His clemency, who saved men through His mercy, and showed
great favour towards mortals. Thy majesty, O Lord, thousands of thousands of
heavenly spirits, and ten thousand myriads of holy angels, hosts of spirits,
ministers of fire and spirit, bless and adore; with the holy cherubim and the
spiritual seraphim they sanctify and celebrate Thy name, crying and praising,
without ceasing crying unto each other.They say with a loud voice: -- Holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; full are the heavens and the earth of His
glory.The Priest in secret: -- Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O Lord God Almighty;
the heavens and the earth are full of His glory and the nature of His essence,
as they are glorious with the honour of His splendour; as it is written, The
heaven and the earth are full of me, saith the mighty Lord.Holy art Thou, O God
our Father, truly the only one, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is
named. Holy art Thou, Eternal Son, through whom all things were made. Holy art
Thou, Holy, Eternal Spirit, through whom all things are sanctified.Woe to me,
woe to me, who have been astonied, because I am a man of polluted lips, and
dwell among a people of polluted lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the
mighty Lord. How terrible to-day is this place! For this is none other than the
house of God and the gate of heaven; because Thou hast been seen eye to eye, O
Lord.Now, I pray, may Thy grace be with us, O Lord; purge away our impurities,
and sanctify our lips; unite the voices of our insignificance with the
sanctification of seraphim and archangels. Glory be to Thy tender mercies,
because Thou hast associated the earthly with the heavenly. [4241]And he
proceeds, saying in secret this prayer, in a bowing posture: -- XII. And with
those heavenly powers we give Thee thanks, even we, Thine insignificant,
pithless, and feeble servants; because Thou hast granted unto us Thy great grace
which cannot be repaid. For indeed Thou didst take upon Thee our human nature,
that Thou mightest bestow life on us through Thy divinity; Thou didst exalt our
low condition; Thou didst raise our ruined state; Thou didst rouse up our
mortality; Thou didst wash away our sins; Thou didst blot out the guilt of our
sins; Thou didst enlighten our intelligence, and Thou didst condemn our enemy, O
Lord our God; and Thou didst cause the insignificance of our pithless nature to
triumph.Here follow the words of institution, [4242] after which: -- Through the
tender mercies of Thy grace poured out, O clement One, pardon our offences and
sins; blot out my offences in the judgment. And on account of all Thy aids and
Thy favours to us, we shall ascribe unto Thee praise, [4243] honour,
thanksgiving, and adoration, now, always, and for ever and ever.The Priest signs
the sacraments. The response is made.Amen.The Deacon.In your minds. Pray for
peace with us.The Priest says this prayer [4244] bowing, and in a low voice: --
O Lord God Almighty, accept this oblation for the whole Holy Catholic Church,
and for all the pious and righteous fathers who have been pleasing to Thee, and
for all the prophets and apostles, and for all the martyrs and confessors, and
for all that mourn, that are in straits, and are sick, and for all that are
under difficulties and trials, and for all the weak and the oppressed, and for
all the dead that have gone from amongst us; then for all that ask a prayer from
our weakness, and for me, a degraded and feeble sinner. O Lord our God,
according to Thy mercies and the multitude of Thy favours, look upon Thy people,
and on me, a feeble man, not according to my sins and my follies, but that they
may become worthy of the forgiveness of their sins through this holy body, which
they receive with faith, through the grace of Thy mercy for ever and ever.
Amen.The Priest says this prayer of inclination in secret: -- XIII. Do Thou, O
Lord, through Thy many and ineffable mercies, make the memorial good and
acceptable with that of [4245] all the pious and righteous fathers who have been
pleading before Thee in the commemoration of the body and blood of Thy Christ,
which we offer to Thee upon Thy pure and holy altar, as Thou hast taught us; and
grant unto us Thy rest all the days of this life.He proceeds with the Great
Oblation: -- O Lord our God, bestow on us Thy rest and peace all the days of
this life, that all the inhabitants of the earth may know Thee, that Thou art
the only true God the Father, and Thou didst send our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son
and Thy beloved; and He Himself our Lord and God came and taught us all purity
and holiness. Make remembrance of prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors,
bishops, doctors, priests, deacons, and all the sons of the Holy Catholic Church
who have been signed with the sign of life, of holy baptism. We also, O Lord:He
proceeds: -- We, Thy degraded, weak, and feeble servants who are congregated in
Thy name, and now stand before Thee, and have received with joy the form which
is from Thee, praising, glorifying, and exalting, commemorate and celebrate this
great, awful, holy, and divine mystery of the passion, death, burial, and
resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.And may Thy Holy Spirit come,
O Lord, [4246] and rest upon this oblation of Thy servants which they offer, and
bless and sanctify it; and may it be unto us, O Lord, for the propitiation of
our offences and the forgiveness of our sins, and for a grand hope of
resurrection from the dead, and for a new life in the kingdom of the heavens,
with all who have been pleasing before Him. And on account of the whole of Thy
wonderful dispensation towards us, we shall render thanks unto Thee, and glorify
Thee without ceasing in Thy Church, redeemed by the precious blood of Thy
Christ, with open mouths and joyful countenances: Canon.Ascribing praise, [4247]
honour, thanksgiving, and adoration to Thy holy, loving, and life-giving name,
now, always, and for ever.The Priest signs the mysteries with the cross, and
they respond: -- Amen.The Priest bows himself and kisses the altar, first in the
middle, then at the two sides right and left, and says this prayer: [4248] --
Have mercy upon me, O God, down to the words, and sinners shall be converted
unto Thee: and unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, [4249] down to have mercy upon us,
O Lord, have mercy upon us. Also stretch forth Thy hand, and let Thy right hand
save me, O Lord; may Thy mercies remain upon me, O Lord, for ever, and despise
not the works of Thy hands. [4250]Then he says this prayer: -- XIV. O Christ,
peace of those in heaven and great rest of those below, [4251] grant that Thy
rest and peace may dwell in the four parts of the world, [4252] but especially
in Thy Holy Catholic Church; grant that the priesthood with the government may
have peace; cause wars to cease from the ends of the earth, and scatter the
nations that delight in wars, [4253] that we may enjoy the blessing of living in
tranquillity and peace, in all temperance and fear of God. Spare the offences
and sins of the dead, through Thy grace and mercies for ever.And to those who
are around the altar he says: -- Bless, O Lord. Bless, O Lord.And he puts on the
incense with which he fumes himself, and says: -- Sweeten, O Lord our God, the
unpleasing savour [4254] of our souls through the sweetness of Thy love, and
through it cleanse me from the stains of my sin, and forgive me my offences and
sins, whether known or unknown to me.A second time he takes the incense with
both hands, and censes the mysteries; presently he says: -- The clemency of Thy
grace, O our Lord and God, gives us access to these renowned, holy, life-giving,
and divine mysteries, unworthy though we be.The Priest repeats these words once
and again, and at each interval unites his hands over his breast in the form of
a cross. He kisses the altar in the middle, and receives with both hands the
upper oblation; and looking up, says: -- Praise be to Thy holy name, O Lord
Jesus Christ, and adoration to Thy majesty, always and for ever. Amen.For He is
the living and life-giving bread which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life
to the whole world, of which they who eat die not; and they who receive it are
saved by it, and do not see corruption, and live through it for ever; and Thou
art the antidote of our mortality, [4255] and the resurrection of our entire
frame. [4256]XV. [4257] * * *XVI. Praise to Thy holy name, O Lord. (As
above.)The Priest kisses the host [4258] in the form of a cross; in such a way,
however, that his lips do not touch it, but appear to kiss it; and he says: --
Glory to Thee, O Lord; glory to Thee, O Lord, on account of Thine unspeakable
gift to us, for ever.Then he draws nigh to the fraction of the host, [4259]
which he accomplishes with both his hands, saying: -- We draw nigh, O Lord, with
true faith, and break with thanksgiving and sign through Thy mercy the body and
blood of our Life-giver, Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost.And, naming the Trinity, he breaks the host, [4260] which he holds in his
hands, into two parts: and the one which is in his left hand he lays down on the
disk; with the other, which he holds in his right hand, he signs the chalice,
saying: -- The precious blood is signed with the holy body of our Lord Jesus
Christ. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost for ever.And
they respond: -- Amen.Then he dips it even to the middle in the chalice, and
signs with it the body which is in the paten, saying: -- The holy body is signed
with the propitiatory blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost for ever.And they respond: -- Amen.And he
unites the two parts, the one with the other, saying: -- Divided, sanctified,
completed, perfected, united, and commingled have been these renowned, holy,
life-giving, and divine mysteries, the one with the other, in the adorable and
glorious name of Thy glorious Trinity, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that they
may be to us, O Lord, for the propitiation of our offences and the forgiveness
of our sins; also for the grand hope of a resurrection from the dead, and of a
new life in the kingdom of the heavens, for us and for the Holy Church of Christ
our Lord, here and in every place whatsoever, now and always, and for ever.XVII.
In the meantime he signs the host [4261] with his right thumb in the form of a
cross from the lower part to the upper, and from the right to the left, and thus
forms a slight fissure in it where it has been dipped in the blood. He puts a
part of it into the chalice in the form of a cross: the lower part is placed
towards the priest, the upper towards the chalice, so that the place of the
fissure looks to the chalice. He bows, and rising, says: -- Glory be to Thee, O
Lord Jesus Christ, who hast made me, unworthy though I be, through Thy grace, a
minister and mediator of Thy renowed, holy, life-giving, and divine mysteries:
through the grace of Thy mercy, make me worthy of the pardon of my offences and
the forgiveness of my sins. He signs himself with the sign of the cross an his
forehead, and does the same to those standing round him. [4262]The Deacons
approach, and he signs each one of them on the forehead, saying: -- Christ
accept thy ministry: Christ cause thy face to shine: Christ save thy life:
Christ make thy youth to grow.And they respond: -- Christ accept thy
oblation.XVIII. All return to their own place; and the Priest, after bowing,
rises and says, in the tone of the Gospel: -- The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be
with us all.The Priest signs himself, and lifts up his hand over his head, so
that it should be in the air, and the people be partakers in the singing: -- The
Deacon says: -- We all with fear, etc.And at these words: -- He hath given to us
His mysteries:The Priest begins to break [4263] the body, and says: -- Be
merciful, O Lord, through Thy clemency to the sins and follies of Thy servants,
and sanctify our lips through Thy grace, that they may give the fruits of glory
and praise to Thy divinity, with all Thy saints in Thy kingdom.And, raising his
voice, he says: -- And make us worthy, O Lord our God, to stand before Thee
continually without stain, with pure heart, with open countenance, and with the
confidence which is from Thee, mercifully granted to us: and let us all with one
accord invoke Thee, and say thus: Our Father, etc.The People say: -- Our Father,
etc.The Priest. [4264]O Lord God Almighty, O Lord and our good God, who art full
of mercy, we beg Thee, O Lord our God, and beseech the clemency of Thy goodness;
lead us not into temptation, but deliver and save us from the evil one and his
hosts; because Thine is the kingdom, the power, the strength, the might, and the
dominion in heaven and on earth, now and always.He signs himself, and they
respond: -- Amen.XIX. And he proceeds: -- Peace be with you.They respond: --
With thee and with thy spirit.He proceeds: -- It is becoming that the holy
things should be to the holy in perfection.And they say: -- One holy Father: one
holy Son: one Holy Ghost. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen.The Deacon.Praise ye.And they say the
responsory. And when the Deacon comes to carry the chalice, he says: -- Let us
pray for peace with us.The Priest says: -- The grace of the Holy Ghost be with
thee, with us, and with those who receive Him. And he gives the chalice to the
Deacon.The Deacon says: -- Bless, O Lord.The Priest.The gift of the grace of our
Life-giver and Lord Jesus Christ be completed, in mercies, with all.And he signs
the people with the cross. In the meantime the responsories are said.Brethren,
receive the body of the Son, cries the Church, and drink ye His chalice with
faith in the house of His kingdom.On feast-days.Strengthen, O Lord, etc.On the
Lord's day.O Lord Jesus Christ, etc.Daily.The mysteries which we have received,
etc.The responsories being ended, the Deacon says: -- All therefore, etc.And
they respond: -- Glory be to Himself on account of His ineffable gift.The
Deacon.Let us pray for peace with us.The Priest at the middle of the altar says
this prayer: [4265] -- XX. It is meet, O Lord, just and right in all days,
times, and hours, to thank, adore, and praise the awful name of Thy majesty,
because Thou hast through Thy grace, O Lord, made us, mortal men possessing a
frail nature, worthy to sanctify Thy name with the heavenly [4266] beings, and
to become partakers of the mysteries of Thy gift, and to be delighted with the
sweetness of Thy oracles. And voices of glory and thanksgiving we ever offer up
to Thy sublime divinity, O Lord.Another.Christ, our God, Lord, King, Saviour,
and Life-giver, through His grace has made us worthy to receive His body and His
precious and all-sanctifying blood. May He grant unto us that we may be pleasing
unto Him in our words, works, thoughts, and deeds, so that that pledge which we
have received may be to us for the pardon of our offences, the forgiveness of
our sins, and the grand hope of a resurrection from the dead, and a new and true
life in the kingdom of the heavens, with all who have been pleasing before Him,
through His grace and His mercies for ever.On ordinary days.Praise, O Lord,
honour, blessing, and thanksgiving we ought to ascribe to Thy glorious Trinity
for the gift of Thy holy mysteries, which Thou hast given to us for the
propitiation of our offences, O Lord of all.Another.Blessed be Thy adorable
honour, from Thy glorious place, O Christ, the propitiator of our offences and
our sins, and who takest away our follies through Thy renowned, holy,
life-giving, and divine mysteries. Christ the hope of our nature always and for
ever. Amen.Obsignation or final benediction.May our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
we have ministered, and whom we have seen and honoured in His renowned, holy,
life-giving, and divine mysteries, Himself render us worthy of the splendid
glory of His kingdom, and of gladness with His holy angels, and for confidence
before Him, that we may stand at His right hand. And on our entire congregation
may His mercies and compassion be continually poured out, now and always, and
ever.On the Lord's day and on feast-days.May He Himself who blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in the heavens, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and prepared
us for His kingdom, and called us to the desirable good things which neither
cease nor perish, as He promised to us in His life-giving Gospel, and said to
the blessed congregation of His disciples -- Verily, verily I say unto you, that
every one who eateth my body and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him,
and I will raise him up at the last day; and he cometh not to judgment, but I
will make him pass from death to eternal life:May He Himself now bless this
congregation, and maintain our position, and render glorious our people who have
come and rejoiced in receiving His renowned, holy, life-giving, and divine
mysteries; and may ye be sealed and guarded by the holy sign of the Lord's cross
from all evils, secret and open, now and always.


========================================================================
  CHAPTER 5: ELUCIDATIONS.
========================================================================

I. (Disciple of the holy Peter, [352]p.551.) The early use of the originals of
this liturgy in the Alexandrian patriarchate accounts for its bearing the name
of St. Mark, -- "sister's son to Barnabas," as St. Paul calls him. [4267] That
he was St. Peter's pupil may be inferred from that Apostle's language, [4268] --
"Marcus, my son." See Clement's testimony concerning him (with Eusebius) in vol.
ii. [353]pp.579, 580, this series. That he founded the "Evangelical See," though
resting on great historic authority, [4269] seems to be doubted in our times by
some. II. (Our holy father Mark, [354]p.556.) While St. Mark could not have
written this, it may, of course, have been added at a very early date. [4270]
This most touching prayer bears marks of great antiquity, the reference to our
"Christ-loving sovereign" comporting better with the early enthusiasm inspired
by Constantine's conversion than with the disappointments incurred under his
Arianizing or apostate successors. Now, this commemoration of St. Mark would of
itself attach his name to the liturgy. But here is the place to note the
principles of these primitive prayers for saints departed. (1) They could only
be offered in behalf of the holy dead who had fallen asleep in full communion
with Christ and His Church; (2) They were not prayers for their deliverance out
of one place into another; (3) They recognised the repose (not yet the triumph)
of the faithful departed as incomplete, and hence (4) invoked for them a blessed
consummation of peace and joy in the resurrection. Now, all this is fatal to the
Roman dogmas and usages, because (1) they thus include St. Mark and the Blessed
Virgin in these commemorations; while Rome teaches, not only that these great
saints went immediately to the excellent glory, and there have reigned with
Christ ever since they died, but (2) that on this very ground, and that of their
supererogatory merits, the Pontiff holds a purse [4271] of their excessive
righteousness to dispense to meaner Christians. St. Augustine speaks of his dear
Nebridius as in Abraham's bosom, [4272] but finds comfort in commemorating him
and Monica his mother, "because it is so comfortable." This is his idea, in a
word: "Et credo jam feceris quod te rogo, sed (Ps. cxix.108) voluntaria oris
mei, approba, Domine." III. (Holy things for the holy, [355]p.559.) Bingham
[4273] has so fully elucidated this by quotations from Chrysostom (Hom. vii.)
and others, that one might think it useless to attach to it any other meaning
than that which Chrysostom understands in it; viz., "Holy things for holy
persons." It occurs just before the communicating of the faithful, and has
nothing whatever to do with the "elevation of the host," -- a Western ceremony
of the fourteenth century. [4274] Yet, in an otherwise (generally) useful manual
of liturgies, an attempt is made to give it this meaning; and the preceding
prayer of "Intense Adoration," addressed to the Great High Priest in the
heavens, is debased to eke out the weak idea. Nothing could be more averse to
the primitive principle of worship; [4275] but it is sufficient to note the fact
that the "elevation of the host" revolutionized the eucharistic worship of the
West as soon as it was established. (1) It abolished the Eucharist practically
as the synaxis, or communion of the faithful, and made it only a sacrifice for
them in their behalf; (2) not to be eaten and received, but to be gazed at; (3)
not for all the faithful at all times, excluding even catechumens from beholding
it, but to be displayed to all eyes in pompous ceremonials, carried through the
streets, and dispensed only in half-communion, once a year, to the individual
communicant. All these ancient liturgies, corrupted as they are in all the mss.
we possess, are yet liturgies for communicating the faithful, in their turns,
[4276] one and all; and, so far, they are true to the Scriptures and the
precepts of Christ and His Apostles. But well does the pious Hirscher exclaim,
with reference to the Mass, as he was obliged to celebrate it in his own
gorgeous cathedral at Freiburg in the Breisgau: "What would an Apostle think we
were doing, should he enter during our ceremonies?" Also, "I know all that can
be said in their favour. I know just as well that by them the spirit is turned
apart from internal godliness, and borne away; and that, with such appeals to
sense, withdrawal from things of sense becomes impossible....God is a Spirit: He
looks to be adored in spirit and in truth, and all ceremonial which dulls the
adoration [4277] of the spirit is odious to God. To glorify self, as His
minister, before the King of kings, before the majesty of the Creator, before
His Christ, naked and crucified, -- is it not an absurdity, a ceremony of
contradictions? The people no longer comprehend the ceremonial...to see them
satisfied by mere corporal attendance, is it not deplorable? They do not
understand Latin. Is it not melancholy that they take no real part in the
touching offices of the Holy Week? Is not a deplorable indifference the result;
in France, for example? Nay, at Rome also?" [4278]His remonstrances were vain;
he was cruelly censured, yet he died in the Papal communion. Dear Hirscher! The
venerable man kissed me when I parted from him in 1851, [4279] and gave me his
blessing with a primitive spirit of Christian charity. I gratefully quote him
here.In Germany a passing stranger often sees the pious peasantry at Mass,
singing with all their hearts their beautiful German hymns. It misleads,
however. They are not attending to the Mass, but consoling themselves by
spiritual songs, while it goes on without their assistance. The bell rings: they
adore the host, but that is all their relation to the worship of the Christian
liturgies. Hirscher loved their hymns, but bewailed the utter loss of their
liturgic communion, once common to the faithful. [4280]IV.(Teachers of the
Easterns, etc., [356]p.561.)The apostle Thaddeus is called Addai in Syriac.
Maris is said to have been one of the seventy disciples, but his name is not on
the list ascribed to Hippolytus. He was the first bishop of the people now
called "Nestorians," but whom Dr. Badger [4281] prefers to call "the Christians
of Assyria."We have this liturgy in another form in Dr. Badger's important work,
Nestorians and their Rituals. He selects that called "the Liturgy of Nestorius"
from three which are in use among the Assyrians, but criticises the translation
of Renaudot as not entirely faultless. It is selected by Dr. Badger because of
its reputed Nestorianism; while Hammond gives us what is here translated, in
Renaudot's Latin. [4282] We must bear in mind, that, since the Ephesine Council
(a.d.431), these Christians have been separated from the communion of Eastern
orthodoxy.The Malabar Liturgy should be carefully compared with this by the
student. A convenient translation of it is to be found in Neale and Littledale.
A most important fact, by the way, is noted in their translation; [4283] viz.,
that in this Malabar "the invocation of the Holy Ghost, contrary to the use of
every other Oriental liturgy, preceded the words of institution;" that is to
say, in the work of the Portuguese revisers, a work from which Dr. Neale and his
colleague feel justified in making "a considerable alteration" as to the order
of the prayers.The words of institution are found in the Malabar, and suggest
that they belong not less to this Liturgy of the Assyrians, though, ex summa
verecundia, [4284] they are omitted from the transcript, as the Lord's Prayer is
omitted in the Clementine. The normal form of this corrupted liturgy is credited
with extreme antiquity by Dr. Neale. To his learned and cogent reasoning on the
subject the student should by all means refer. [4285]V.(For all the prophets and
confessors, [357]p.565.)These commemorations of the dead, it will be noted, are
in behalf of the most glorious apostles and saints, and for martyrs who go
straight to glory. Obviously, as Usher has said, [4286] for whatever purpose,
then, the departed were commemorated, it was not to change their estate before
the resurrection, much less to relieve them from purgatorial penalties. This
comes out in the "Liturgy of St. Chrysostom" (so called), where it is said: "We
offer to Thee this reasonable service for those who have fallen asleep in
faith,...patriarchs, apostles, evangelists, martyrs,...and every just one made
perfect in the faith: especially our all-holy, undefiled, most blessed Lady,
Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary," etc. But she, they tell us, was assumed into
glory, like Christ Himself, and reigns with Him as "Queen of Angels," etc. See
Elucidation II. p.569.VI.(The propitiatory blood, etc., [358]p.566.)The peril of
confounding the early use of this idea of propitiation with the mediæval theory,
which is quite another, is well pointed out and enforced by Burbidge. [4287] The
primitive writers and the ancient liturgies "do not regard the Eucharist as
being itself a propitiatory offering," but it is the perpetual pleading of the
blood of propitiation once offered. Thus St. Chrysostom: "We do not offer
another sacrifice, but always the same." So far, his words might be quoted to
favour the Middle-Age doctrine; but he guards himself, and adds: [4288] "or,
rather, we make a memorial of the sacrifice."The rhetoric of the liturgies and
of the Fathers was unhappily made into the logic of the Schoolmen, and hence the
stupendous system of propitiatory Masses, with Masses for the dead, and that
traffic in Masses which so fearfully defiles the priesthood of Western Europe
and the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in America. In vain does the pious
Hirscher complain: [4289] "The rich, then, are the happy sinners in this
respect: they can buy innumerable Masses, and establish them in perpetuity;
their privileges have no limit, and their advantages over the poor extend
through all eternity." His book was put into the Index (Acts xvi.19, xix.27),
but it was never answered.VII.Let me now recur to Elucidation III. on
[359]p.507, to which I would here add the following from Bishop Williams, as
there quoted: -- "In both the Mozarabic and the Gallican Liturgies there was an
invocation as well as an oblation. Irenæus [4290] says (and he, writing at
Lyons, must have in mind the Gallican Liturgy), The bread which is of the earth,
having received the invocation of God, is no longer common bread, but the
Eucharist.' The word translated invocation' is epi'klesin; and it is worthy of
notice that Basil and Cyril of Jerusalem use the same word in evidently the same
technical sense (Harvey's Irenæus, vol. ii. pp.205-207 and notes). In another
passage Irenæus [4291] speaks even more distinctly: We offer to God the bread
and the cup of blessing, giving thanks to Him for that He hath commanded the
earth to bring forth these fruits for our nourishment; and, having finished the
offering, we invoke the Holy Spirit that He may exhibit (or declare, apophe'ne)
this sacrifice and bread the body of Christ, and the cup the blood of Christ,
that they who shall receive these antitypes may obtain remission of sins and
everlasting life' (Harvey's Irenæus, vol. ii. p.502). This passage is a
remarkable one. It proves beyond question, that, in the time of Irenæus (d.
a.d.202 or 208), the Liturgy of Gaul contained an invocation of the Holy Ghost
following the oblation of the bread and cup. Moreover, when we compare the words
of Irenæus with those of the Clementine Liturgy, their agreement is too clear
and precise to be explained as a mere chance-matter. The liturgy reads, Send
down Thy Holy Spirit on this sacrifice, the witness of the sufferings of the
Lord Jesus, that He may exhibit (apophe'ne) this bread, the body of Thy Christ,
and this cup, the blood of Thy Christ, that they who shall receive,' [4292] etc.
Irenæus says as above, using the same word (apophe'ne), a word which is found,
it is believed, in no liturgy but the Clementine."Now I humbly suggest that
Justin Martyr and Irenæus concur in giving us evidence that the Clementine
Liturgy is substantially that which was used in Rome and Gaul in their times.
The latter may have received it from Polycarp. The use of the Roman and the
Greek churches was uniform in his day, as may be inferred from the intercourse
of Polycarp and Victor. [4293]


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