PREPARATORY PRAYERS
FOR HOLY COMMUNION
In the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art
everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good gifts and Giver of
Life, come and abide in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls,
O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy
on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, wash away
our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for Thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of
the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the
ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (12 times).
O come let us worship God our King.
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God.
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our
God.
Then the following Psalms: 23, 24, 116: 10-19 (King
James text); 22, 23, 115 (Septuagint).
Psalm
22.
The Lord is my Shepherd, and will deny me nothing. He
has settled me in a green pasture, and nourished me beside refreshing water. He
has converted my soul, and led me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's
sake. For even though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff have comforted me. Thou
hast prepared a table before me in the face of those who trouble me. Thou hast
anointed my head with oil. And Thy chalice which inebriates me, how glorious it
is! And Thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in
the house of the Lord throughout the length of my days.
Psalm
23.
The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the
world and all who dwell in it He has set it on the seas, and prepared it on the
rivers. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord, or who will stand in His holy
place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not set his mind on
vanity or sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. He will receive a blessing from
the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour. These are the kind who seek the Lord,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, you princes, and be
lifted up, you eternal doors, and the King of Glory will enter. Who is this
King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up
your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, you eternal doors, and the King of
Glory will enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King
of Glory.
Psalm
115.
I believed and so I spoke; but I was deeply
humiliated. I said in my madness: every man is a liar. What shall I give in
return to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will receive the cup of
salvation and call on the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in
the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death
of His Saints.
O Lord, I am Thy slave; I am Thy slave and son of Thy
handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds asunder. I will offer Thee the sacrifice of
praise, and will pray in the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the
midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
Lord, have mercy (Thrice). And then the following prayers:
Overlook my faults, O Lord Who wast born of a Virgin,
and purify my heart, and make it a temple for Thy spotless Body and Blood. Let me
not be rejected from Thy presence, O Thou Who hast infinitely great mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit.
How can I who am unworthy dare to come to the
communion of Thy Holy Things? For even if I should dare to approach Thee with
those who are worthy, my garment betrays me, for it is not a festal robe, and I
shall cause the condemnation of my sinful soul. Cleanse, O Lord, the pollution
from my soul, and save me as the Lover of men.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Great is the multitude of my sins, O Mother of God. To
thee, O pure one, I flee and implore salvation. Visit my sick and feeble soul
and intercede with thy Son and our God, that He may grant me forgiveness for
the terrible things I have done, O thou who alone art blessed.
On Holy and Great Thursday the following is read:
When Thy glorious Disciples were enlightened at the
Supper by the feet-washing, then impious Judas was darkened with the disease of
avarice, and he delivered Thee, the Just Judge, to lawless judges. See, O lover
of money, this man through money came to hang himself. Flee the insatiable
desire which dared to do such things to the Master. O Lord, Who art good
towards all, glory to Thee.
Lord, have mercy. (40 times)
Prostrations as desired. Then these prayers:
First
Prayer of St. Basil the Great
O Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ our God, source of life
and immortality, Who art the Author of all creation, visible and invisible, the
equally everlasting and co-eternal Son of the eternal Father, Who through the
excess of Thy goodness didst in the last days assume our flesh and wast
crucified for us, ungrateful and ignorant as we were, and didst cause through
Thy own Blood the restoration of our nature which had been marred by sin: O
immortal King, accept the repentance even of me a sinner, and incline Thine ear
to me and hear my words. For I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against
heaven and before Thee, and I am not worthy to gaze on the height of Thy glory;
for I have provoked Thy goodness by transgressing Thy commandments and not
obeying Thy orders. But Thou, O Lord, in Thy forbearance, patience, and great
mercy, hast not given me up to be destroyed with my sins, but Thou awaitest my
complete conversion. For Thou, O Lover of men, hast said through Thy Prophet
that Thou desirest not the death of the sinner, but that he should return to
Thee and live. For Thou dost not will, O Lord, that the work of Thy hands
should be destroyed, neither dost Thou delight in the destruction of men, but
Thou desirest that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth.
Therefore, though I am unworthy both of heaven and earth, and even of this
transient life, since I have completely succumbed to sin and am a slave to
pleasure and have defaced Thy image, yet being Thy work and creation, wretch
that I am, even I do not despair of my salvation and dare to draw near to Thy
boundless compassion. So receive even me, O Christ Lover of men, as the harlot,
as the thief, as the publican, and as the prodigal; and take from me the heavy
burden of my sins, Thou Who takest away the sin of the world, Who healest men's
sicknesses, Who callest the weary and heavy laden to Thyself and givest them
rest; for Thou camest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. And
purify me from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Teach me to achieve perfect
holiness in the fear of Thee, that with the clear witness of my conscience I
may receive the portion of Thy holy Things and be united with Thy holy Body and
Blood, and have Thee dwelling and remaining in me with the Father and Thy Holy
Spirit. And, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not the communion of Thy
immaculate and life-giving Mysteries be to me for condemnation nor let it make
me sick in body or soul through my partaking of them unworthily; but grant me
till my last breath to receive without condemnation the portion of Thy holy
Things, for communion with the Holy Spirit, as a provision for eternal life,
and as an acceptable defense at Thy dread tribunal, so that I too with all Thy
elect may become a partaker of Thy pure joys which Thou hast prepared for those
who love Thee, O Lord, in whom Thou art glorified throughout the ages. Amen.
First
Prayer
of
St. John Chrysostom
O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy or sufficient
that Thou shouldest come under the roof of the house of my soul, for all is
desolate and fallen, and Thou hast not with me a place fit to lay Thy head. But
as from the highest heaven Thou didst humble Thyself for our sake, so now
conform Thyself to my humility. And as Thou didst consent to lie in a cave and
in a manger of dumb beasts, so also consent to lie in the manger of my
unspiritual soul and to enter my defiled body. And as Thou didst not disdain to
enter and dine with sinners in the house of Simon the Leper, so consent also to
enter the house of my humble soul which is leprous and sinful. And as Thou
didst not reject the woman, who was a harlot and a sinner like me, when she
approached and touched Thee, so also be compassionate with me, a sinner, as I
approach and touch Thee, and let the live coal of Thy most holy Body and
precious Blood be for the sanctification and enlightenment and strengthening of
my humble soul and body, for a relief from the burden of my many sins, for a
protection from all diabolical practices, for a restraint and a check on my
evil and wicked way of life, for the mortification of passions, for the keeping
of Thy commandments, for an increase of Thy divine grace, and for the
advancement of Thy Kingdom. For it is not insolently that I draw near to Thee,
O Christ my God, but as taking courage from Thy unspeakable goodness, and that
I may not by long abstaining from Thy communion become a prey to the spiritual
wolf. Therefore, I pray Thee, O Lord, Who alone art holy, sanctify my soul and
body, my mind and heart, my emotions and affections, and wholly renew me. Root
the fear of Thee in my members, and make Thy sanctification indelible in me. Be
also my helper and defender, guide my life in peace, and make me worthy to
stand on Thy right hand with Thy Saints: through the prayers and intercessions
of Thy immaculate Mother, of Thy ministering Angels, of the immaculate Powers
and of all the Saints who have ever been pleasing to Thee. Amen.
Prayer
of
St. Symeon the Translator
O only pure and sinless Lord, Who through the
ineffable compassion of Thy love for men didst assume our whole nature through
the pure and virgin blood of her who supernaturally conceived Thee by the
coming of the Divine Spirit and by the will of the Eternal Father; O Christ
Jesus, Wisdom and Peace and Power of God, Who in Thy assumption of our nature
didst suffer Thy life-giving and saving Passion - the Cross, the Nails, the
Spear, and Death - mortify all the deadly passions of my body. Thou Who in Thy
burial didst spoil the dominions of hell, bury with good thoughts my evil
schemes and scatter the spirits of wickedness. Thou Who by Thy life-giving
Resurrection on the third day didst raise up our fallen first Parent, raise me
up who am sunk in sin and suggest to me ways of repentance. Thou Who by Thy
glorious Ascension didst deify our nature which Thou hadst assumed and didst
honor it by Thy session at the right hand of the Father, make me worthy by
partaking of Thy holy Mysteries of a place at Thy right hand among those who
are saved. Thou Who by the descent of the Spirit, the Paraclete, didst make Thy
holy Disciples worthy vessels, make me also a recipient of His coming. Thou Who
art to come again to judge the World with justice, grant me also to meet Thee
on the clouds, my Maker and Creator, with all Thy Saints, that I may unendingly
glorify and praise Thee with Thy Eternal Father and Thy all-holy and good and
life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
First
Prayer
of
St. John Damascene
O Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who alone hast
authority to forgive men their sins, overlook in Thy goodness and love for men
all my offences whether committed with knowledge or in ignorance, and make me
worthy to receive without condemnation Thy divine, glorious, spotless, and
life-giving Mysteries, not for punishment, nor for an increase of sins, but for
purification and sanctification and as a pledge of the life and kingdom to
come, as a protection and help, and for the destruction of enemies, and for the
blotting out of my many transgressions. For Thou art a God of mercy and
compassion and love for men, and to Thee we send up the glory, with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Second
Prayer
of
St. Basil the Great
I know, O Lord, that I partake of Thy immaculate Body
and precious Blood unworthily, and that I am guilty, and eat and drink judgment
to myself by not discerning the Body and Blood of Thee my Christ and God. But
taking courage from Thy compassion I approach Thee, for Thou hast said:
"He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him."
Therefore have compassion, O Lord, and do not make an example of me, a sinner,
but deal with me according to Thy mercy; and let these Holy Things be for my
healing and purification and enlightenment and protection and salvation and
sanctification of body and soul, for the turning away of every phantasy and all
evil practice and diabolical activity working subconsciously in my members, for
confidence and love towards Thee, for reformation of life and security, for an
increase of virtue and perfection, for fulfillment of the commandments, for
communion with the Holy Spirit, as a provision for eternal life, and as an
acceptable defense at Thy dread Tribunal, not for judgment or for condemnation.
Prayer
of
St. Symeon the New Theologian
From sullied lips,
From an abominable heart,
From an unclean tongue,
Out of a polluted soul,
Receive my prayer, O my Christ.
Reject me not,
Nor my words, nor my ways,
Nor even my shamelessness,
But give me courage to say
What I desire, my Christ.
And even more, teach me
What to do and say.
I have sinned more than the harlot
Who, on learning where Thou wast lodging,
Bought myrrh,
And dared to come and anoint
Thy feet, my Christ,
My Lord and my God.
As Thou didst not repulse her
When she drew near from her heart,
Neither, O Word, abominate me,
But grant me Thy feet
To clasp and kiss,
And with a flood of tears
As with most precious myrrh
Dare to anoint them.
Wash me with my tears
And purify me with them, O Word.
Forgive my sins
And grant me pardon.
Thou knowest the multitude of my evil-doings,
Thou knowest also my wounds,
And Thou seest my bruises.
But also Thou knowest my faith,
And Thou beholdest my willingness,
And Thou hearest my sighs.
Nothing escapes Thee, my God,
My Maker, my Redeemer,
Not even a tear-drop,
Nor part of a drop.
Thine eyes know
What I have not achieved,
And in Thy book
Things not yet done
Are written by Thee.
See my depression,
See how great is my trouble,
And all my sins
Take from me, O God of all,
That with a clean heart,
Trembling mind
And contrite spirit
I may partake of Thy pure
And all-holy Mysteries
By which all who eat and drink Thee
With sincerity of heart
Are quickened and deified.
For Thou, my Lord, hast said:
"Whoever eats My Flesh
And drinks My Blood
Abides in Me
And I in Him."
Wholly true is the word
Of my Lord and God.
For whoever partakes of Thy divine
And deifying Gifts
Certainly is not alone,
But is with Thee, my Christ,
Light of the Triune Sun
Which illumines the world.
And that I may not remain alone
Without Thee, the Giver of Life,
My Breath, my Life,
My Joy,
The Salvation of the world,
Therefore I have drawn near to Thee
As Thou seest, with tears
And with a contrite spirit.
Ransom of my offences,
I beseech Thee to receive me,
And that I may partake without condemnation
Of Thy life-giving and perfect Mysteries,
That Thou mayest remain as Thou hast said
With me, thrice-wretched as I am,
Lest the tempter may find me
Without Thy grace
And craftily seize me,
And having deceived me, may seduce me,
From Thy deifying words.
Therefore I fall at Thy feet
And fervently cry to Thee:
As Thou receivedst the Prodigal
And the Harlot who drew near to Thee,
So have compassion and receive me,
The profligate and the prodigal,
As with contrite spirit
I now draw near to Thee.
I know, O Saviour, that no other
Has sinned against Thee as I,
Nor has done the deeds
That I have committed.
But this again I know
That not the greatness of my offences
Nor the multitude of my sins
Surpasses the great patience
Of my God,
And His extreme love for men.
But with the oil of compassion
Those who fervently repent
Thou dost purify and enlighten
And makest them children of the light,
Sharers of Thy Divine Nature.
And Thou dost act most generously,
For what is strange to Angels
And to the minds of men
Often Thou tellest to them
As to Thy true friends.
These things make me bold, my Christ,
These things give me wings,
And I take courage from the wealth
Of Thy goodness to us.
And rejoicing and trembling at once,
I who am straw partake of fire,
And, strange wonder!
I am ineffably bedewed,
Like the bush of old
Which burnt without being consumed.
Therefore with thankful mind,
And with thankful heart,
And with thankfulness in all the members
Of my soul and body,
I worship and magnify
And glorify Thee, my God,
For Thou art blessed,
Now and throughout the ages.
Second
Prayer
of
St. John Chrysostom
I am not worthy, O Lord and Master, that Thou
shouldest enter under the roof of my soul; but since Thou in Thy love for men
dost will to dwell in me, I take courage and approach. Thou commandest: I will
open wide the doors which Thou alone didst create, that Thou mayest enter with
love as is Thy nature, enter and enlighten my darkened thought. I believe that
Thou wilt do this, for Thou didst not banish the Harlot who approached Thee
with tears, nor didst Thou reject the Publican who repented, nor didst Thou
drive away the Thief who acknowledged Thy Kingdom, nor didst Thou leave the
repentant persecutor (Paul) to himself; but all who had been brought to Thee by
repentance Thou didst set in the company of Thy friends, O Thou Who alone art
blessed always, now and to endless ages. Amen.
Third
Prayer
of
St. John Chrysostom
Lord Jesus Christ my God, remit, forgive, absolve and
pardon the sins, offences and transgressions which I, Thy sinful, useless and
unworthy servant have committed from my youth, up to the present day and hour,
whether with knowledge or in ignorance, whether by words or deeds or intentions
or thoughts, and whether by habit or through any of my senses. And through the
intercession of her who conceived Thee without seed, the immaculate and
ever-virgin Mary Thy Mother, my only sure hope and protection and salvation,
make me worthy without condemnation to receive Thy pure, immortal, life-giving
and dread Mysteries, for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life, for sanctification
and enlightenment and strength and healing and health of soul and body, and for
the blotting out and complete destruction of my evil reasonings and intentions
and prejudices and nocturnal fantasies of dark evil spirits. For Thine is the
kingdom and the power and the glory and the honour and the worship, with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Second
Prayer
of
St. John Damascene
I stand before the doors of Thy sanctuary, yet I do
not put away my terrible thoughts. But O Christ our God, Who didst justify the
Publican, and have mercy on the Canaanite woman, and didst open the gates of
Paradise to the Thief, open to me the depths of Thy love for men, and as I
approach and touch Thee, receive me like the Harlot and the woman with an issue
of blood. For the one received healing easily by touching the hem of Thy
garment, and the other by clasping Thy sacred feet obtained release from her
sins. And I, in my pitiableness, dare to receive Thy whole Body. Let me not be
burnt, but receive me even as these; enlighten the senses of my soul, and burn
the stains of my sins: through the intercessions of her who bore Thee without
seed, and of the Heavenly Powers, for Thou art blessed to the ages of ages.
Amen.
Fourth
Prayer
of
St. John Chrysostom
I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly
the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am the chief. And I believe that this is Thy pure Body and Thy own
precious Blood. Therefore, I pray Thee, have mercy on me and forgive my
transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown.
And grant that I may partake of Thy Holy Mysteries without condemnation, for
the remission of sins and for life eternal. Amen.
Lines
of St. Symeon the Translator
Behold I approach for Divine Communion.
O Creator, let me not be burnt by communicating,
For Thou art Fire which burns the unworthy.
But purify me from every stain.
Then this Prayer:
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today
as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thy enemies; I will
not give Thee a kiss like Judas; but like the Thief do I confess Thee. Remember
me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
And again these lines:
Tremble, O man, when you see the deifying Blood,
For it is a coal that burns the unworthy.
The Body of God both deifies and nourishes;
It deifies the spirit and wondrously nourishes the mind.
And these Troparia:
Thou hast ravished me with longing, O Christ, and with
Thy divine love Thou hast changed me. But burn up with spiritual fire my sins
and make me worthy to be filled with delight in Thee, that I may leap for joy,
O gracious Lord, and magnify Thy two comings.
Into the splendor of Thy Saints how shall I who am
unworthy enter? For if I dare to enter the bridechamber, my vesture betrays me,
for it is not a wedding garment, and as a prisoner I shall be cast out by the
Angels. Cleanse my soul from pollution and save me, O Lord, in Thy love for
men.
And this Prayer:
Sovereign Lover of men, Lord Jesus my God, let not these Holy Things be to
me for judgment through my being unworthy, but for the purification and
sanctification of my soul and body, and as a pledge of the life and kingdom to
come. For it is good for me to cling to God and to place in the Lord my hope of
salvation.
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