THE DIVINE AND HOLY LITURGY
OF THE AMERICAN MELKITE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Liturgy of the Divine Feminine
(Note: The titles Holy Spirit and the Divine Feminine
are interchangeable in this special liturgy)
Prayer before the Altar
Priest and Deacon:
Priest and deacon face the altar and bow three times
saying while bowing each time:
(+ means sign of the cross)
+
Blessed
is our God at all times, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
All: (chant standing)
Holy
God, Holy Love, Holy Immortal One, we are your children. (Three times)
Glory
be to God, the Son and Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit), now and always and
forever and ever. Amen.
All
Holy Trinity look upon us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
(Three times)
Priest and Deacon
(address the icon of Jesus)
+
This
prayer we make in the name of our Mother (and or Father) God, whom Jesus
embodied as our primary model: in with and through whom we offer our praise,
this day and forever.
Deacon:
Glory
be to God, the Son and Divine Feminine (or The Holy Spirit).
Priest:
O
God, You are our hope and we are Your people, we are all the work of Your hands
and we constantly call upon Your name.
Deacon:
Now
and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Both kiss the icon of Christ. Then they go before the
icon of the Theotokos:
Priest: (addressing
the icon of the Theotokos)
Blessed Theotokos open the portal of
your deep love to us who put our trust in you, so that we may not be brought to
confusion, but through you may be delivered
from adversity.
Priest: (turning
to icon of Jesus)
Before Your most pure image we bow, O
Good One, because You chose of Your own free will to ascend upon the cross in
the flesh in order to deliver from the enemy’s yoke those created by the Divine
Will. For this reason we cry out to You in thanksgiving: “You, our Savior, have
filled all things with joy when You came to save the world.”
They make three metanies before the Holy Table. The
Priest kisses the Holy Gospel and the Holy Table.
+
Priest: (chants)
O Heavenly Mother (and/or Father),
Consoler, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, the
Treasury of blessings and the Giver of Life, come, O Good One, and dwell in us.
They bow three times saying:
+
Priest and Deacon:
Glory
to God, and on earth peace, good will to all. (Twice)
O
Feminine Divine,(or Holy Spirit) You shall open my lips and my mouth will
declare Your praise. (Once)
Deacon:
Give
the blessing, (NOC).
Lifting the Holy Gospel Book with both hands and
making with it the sign of the cross over the Antimension, the Priest
proclaims:
+
Blessed
is our God, the Son and Feminine Divine (or Holy Spirit) , now and always and
forever and ever.
The Deacon intones the Litany of Peace in a strong
voice while standing before the altar.
.
THE LITANY OF PEACE
Deacon:
In
peace let us pray.
All:
God,
hear us! (sit)
(To be repeated after each petition)
1.For peace from on high and the
salvation of our souls, let us pray.
2.For peace in the whole world, the well
being of the holy Churches of God and the union of all.
3. For this holy house and for those who
enter it with faith and reverence let us pray.
4. For our Bishop “Name” his/her
honorable presbyterate, the diaconate and for all the clergy and the people.
5. For the government and for the armed
forces, that they may be upheld in every good deed.
6. For this city for every city and
country place and the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray.
7. For favorable weather, an abundance
of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray.
8. For the travelers by sea, air and
land, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation.
9. For our deliverance from all
affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray.
10. Help us and protect us, O God, by
your grace.
11. Let us remember our all holy, spotless,
most highly blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever Virgin Mary, with
all the saints, and commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to
Christ God.
All:
To
You, O God
THE ORDER OF TROPARIA
PRIEST OR DEACON
OK John this is where your expertise comes in. There
usually are three troparia said or sung here by the deacon or the cantor.
Antiphons are prose or poetry extolling the Creator – Jesus – the Divine
Feminine and or the Feast or Remembrance of the day. Get creative!!!! At the
end the priests says:
Priest: (aloud
or silently)
O God whose power is without compare,
whose glory is incomprehensible, whose mercy is beyond measure and whose love for
us is beyond words: be pleased in the depth of Your compassion, to look on us
and on this holy place, and grant us and those praying with us the riches of
Your compassion and Your tender mercy.
Priest:
(aloud)
+
For
all glory, honor and worship, are Your due, Mother (and/or Father), Son, Divine
Feminine (or Holy Spirit)now and always and forever and ever.
All:
Amen
Deacon:
Again
and again in peace, let us pray.
All:
God
hear us!
+
Deacon:
Help
us, save us and protect
us,
O God, by Your grace.
+
Deacon:
Let
us remember our all holy, spotless, most highly blessed and glorious lady the
Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.
Priest:
O You who have granted us to pray
together in harmony, and who promised that when two or three are gathered to
call upon Your name, You will give what they ask, do You now fulfill what Your
children ask, so far as it is good, granting us in this world the knowledge of
Your truth, and in the world to come, eternal life. For You are good, O our
God, You love your children and we render glory to You, Mother (and/or Father),
Son, Feminine Divine (or Holy Spirit) now and always and forever and ever.
All:
Amen.
THE LITTLE ENTRANCE
The Priest takes the Holy Gospel Book in his hands and
passes it to the Deacon.
The Deacon kisses the Priest’s hand and the Gospel
Book, which he raises to the height
of his forehead, while placing the edge of his orarion
over the top of the Gospel Book.
They proceed behind the Holy Table, and up the aisle
to their right ending in the middle aisle before the altar preceded by the
candle---bearers, the Ripidia, the Cross and the Censer bearers. They all
proceed through the church until they reach the altar.
Priest and the Deacon
Let us pray , O God who have established
in Heaven the ranks and armies of angels and archangels to minister to Your
glory; at our entrance, ask the holy angels to enter also, to minister with us
and with us to glorify Your goodness. For all glory, honor and worship are Your
due, Creator, Son, Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit), now and always and forever
and ever. Amen.
Deacon
Bless
the holy entering, (NOC).
+
Priest:
Blessed
are Your Holy Places, at all times, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
The Deacon presents the Gospel Book to the Priest
Deacon:
Wisdom.
Let us stand!
(Stand)
Entrance Hymn:
On Sundays:
+
Priest:
Come
let us worship and Raise our hands before Christ.
All: (chant)
O
Son of God, who are risen from the dead we sing to You: Alleluia.
On ordinary weekdays:
Priest:
Come
let us worship and Raise our hands before Christ.
All: (chant)
O
Son of God, who are wonderful in Your saints, we sing to You: Alleluia
Kontakion for ordinary Sundays and Weekdays
All: (chant)
O
Never Failing Protectress of Christians and their ever present intercessor
before our God, in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with
confidence. Hasten, O Theotokos, to intercede for us, for you have always
protected those who honor you.
HERE AGAIN IS WHERE YOU SHINE JOHN. Add for us a
Kontakion or two extolling a theme of
your choosing
TRISAGION
The celebrants alternate in singing the Trisagion
Hymn: the choir sings it twice, then
the celebrants once. Each time, the celebrants and the
people bow, making the sign of the cross:
+
All: (chant)
Holy
God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, We Glorify You!
(Three times)
+
Deacon: (chant)
Glory
be to the Father (and/or Mother), the Son and the Divine Feminine (or the Holy
Spirit) now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
(once)
+
All: (chant)
Holy
Immortal One, we glorify You!
(once)
Deacon:
With
Greater Power!
+
All: (chant
louder)
Holy
God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, we glorify You!
THE EPISTLE
Deacon:
Let
us be attentive!
The Reader, standing in the middle of the central
aisle of the church facing the Altar, chants the verses of the Prokimenon
(preliminary Psalm):
JOHN, THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE FOR YOUR EXPERTISE
The Prokiminon is brief and to your chosing
The reading is one chosen by the celebrant
The Reader chants the refrain. The People repeat it.
The Reader chants the verse. The People repeat the refrain.
Deacon:
Wisdom!
(Sophia )
Turning to the People, the Reader proclaims the title
of the Epistle:
Reader:
A
reading from the Epistle of St. N to … (or from the Acts of the Apostles)
Deacon:
Let
us be attentive!
The Reader chants the Epistle in a liturgical melody,
with a calm and articulate voice, without dragging the chant.
Before the end of the Epistle, the Priest comes and
stands before the Holy Table. The Deacon, head uncovered, holding the edge of
his orarion, approaches the Priest and says quietly:
Deacon:
Bless,
(NOC) the herald of the Gospel according to the holy and glorious Apostle and
Evangelist N.
Priest:
Mother (and Father) God grant through
the prayers of the holy and glorious Apostle and Evangelist N. that you
proclaim the Good News with great power for the fulfillment of the Gospel of
The beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Deacon:
Amen.
At the conclusion of the
Epistle, the Reader turns to the Altar to be blessed by the Priest,
who says aloud:
Priest:
+
Peace
be to you, Reader.
The Deacon, standing before the altar takes the censer
from the server and censes the Holy Table, the Icons and then returns the
censer to the server.
The Priest hands the Deacon the Holy Gospel.
When the Alleluia verses are chanted, he raises it up,
with the candle holders on both sides.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
The Epistle Reader, turning again to the Altar, leads
the chanting of the Alleluia verses:
All: (chant)
Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Reader reads the first verse.
JOHN, THE VERSES BEFORE THE GOSPEL ARE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR EXPERTISE
All: (chant)
Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Reader reads the second verse.
All: (chant)
Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Prayer Before the Gospel
Priest:
Shine in our hearts Father and Mother of
us all, the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind
that we may understand the announcing of Your Good News; set in us the
understanding of Your blessed commandments, so that, we may live according to
the Spirit, both willing and doing everything that pleases You. For You are the
light of our souls and bodies and we render glory to You now and always and
forever and ever. Amen.
Then, turning to the people, the Deacon proclaims:
Deacon:
Wisdom.
Let us stand and listen to the Holy Gospel
Priest: (Blesses
people
+
Peace be to all.
All: (standing)
And
to your spirit.
Deacon: (chants)
A
reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint N. the Evangelist.
All:
Glory
to You, Our God, Glory to You.
Priest:
Let
us be attentive!
Deacon:
The Deacon chants the Gospel in a liturgical melody,
with a calm and articulate voice, without dragging the chant. At the end of the
Gospel we sing:
All:
Glory
to You, Our God, Glory to You.
The Deacon returns the Gospel Book to the Priest.
Priest:
Peace
be to you, herald of the Gospel.
+
Then he blesses the people with the Gospel Book and
places it on the Holy Table.
H OM I L Y
Following the homily, the Deacon stands before the
altar and recites the Ektene.
After each petition, we chant: Hear our Prayer
Deacon:
Let
us all say with our whole soul and our whole mind, let us all say:
1. Creator Divine, God of our ancestors,
we pray to You.
2. Have mercy on us, O God, in Your
great mercy, we pray to You.
General and specific
petitions made here out loud by priest and any one else followed by all saying:
Hear our prayer
3. We pray for our Friend and Bishop N.
4. We pray for the priests, the deacons,
the monks, the nuns, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
5. Again, we pray for love, life, peace,
health, salvation, protection, for the servants of God who live in this city
8. Again, we pray for the blessed and
ever to be remembered founders of this holy church and for our brethren who lie
asleep in the Lord.
(Names of deceased may be remembered here)
9. Again, we pray for those who bear
offerings, those who do good works in this
holy and most venerable church, those
who toil, those who sing and all the
people here present who offer You great and abundant love.
The Priest unfolds the Antimension.
Deacon:
Wisdom.
Again
and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
+
Priest:
WE NEED A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND PREPARATION
That being ever protected by Your power
we may render glory to You, Creator, Son, Divine Feminine (or Holy
Spirit) now and always and forever and ever.
All:
Amen
THE GREAT ENTRANCE
The Cherubic Hymn
All: (sing)
We
who mystically represent the Cherubim, and sing to the Life Giving Trinity the
thrice holy hymn, let us lay aside all earthly cares, and prepare to receive
our God. Invisibly escorted by angel hosts.
Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Then the Priest kisses the Antimension. Then he
blesses the censer and takes it from the Deacon. He censes the Table from its
four sides, while the Deacon proceeds opposite him with a lighted candle in his
hand. The deacon stands facing East, while the Priest censes the icons, the two
Choirs and the People
Saying quietly:
Priest:
We
have seen the Resurrection of Christ.
Deacon:
Lift
up, (NOC)
The Priest lifts up the outer veil from the oblations
and places it on the Deacon’s shoulders, saying quietly:
Priest:
Lift
up your hands to the Holy Places and bless our God.
The Priest takes the covered Diskos and reverently
hands it to the Deacon who holds
it at the level of his forehead with both hands and
walks ahead of the
Priest.
The Priest holds the holy Chalice with both hands and
raises it to the level of his
forehead. They both leave the altar to process again
as in the LITTLE ENTRANCE
preceded by the candle, fans (ripidia) and cross
bearers.
They process through the church
Deacon:
(while processing remembers out loud the celebrant and
any others that have requested remembrance)
May
our God remember N. all at all times, now and always and
forever
and ever.
All:
Amen
When they reach the altar the Deacon stands to the
right of the
table, holding the Diskos.
Priest: (facing
the people)
May
the Lord God remember us all at all times, now and always and forever and ever.
All:
Amen.
Invisibly
escorted by angel hosts.
Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Priest places the Chalice on the Holy Table, then
he takes the Diskos from the Deacon and places it on the left of the Chalice.
He picks up the outer veil from the
Deacon’s shoulders; the Deacon censes it; the Priest
covers the oblations with it saying
quietly:
Priest:
The noble Joseph, taking down Your
Spotless Body from the wood and wrapping it in a clean shroud with aromatic
spices, carefully laid it in a new tomb.
Taking the censer from the
Deacon, he censes the oblations three times, saying each
time:
Priest:
Then
shall they offer calves upon Your altar.
The Priest returns the censer and bows his head
towards the
East, saying to the deacon:
Priest:
Remember
me, my brother/sister and fellow celebrant.
Deacon:
May
our God remember your priesthood
Priest:
Pray
for me, my fellow celebrant.
Deacon:
The
Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit) will come upon you and the power of the Most
High will over shadow you.
Priest:
The
Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit) will celebrate with us all the days of our
lives.
Bowing his head and holding the edge of the orarion
with his fingers, the deacon
says:
Deacon:
Remember
me, holy (NOC)
Priest:
May
God remember you at all times, now and always and forever and ever.
Deacon:
Amen.
LITANY OF THE GIFTS
Deacon:
Let
us complete our prayer.
All:
God
hear our prayer.
(To be repeated after each petition)
Deacon:
1. For the precious gifts here offered,
let us pray.
2. For this holy house and those who
enter it with faith, reverence let us pray.
3. For our deliverance from all
affliction, wrath, danger and need, let us pray.
4. Help us, save us and protect us, O
God, by Your grace.
Priest:
God who alone are holy, who accept the
sacrifice of praise from those who call upon You with their whole heart, accept
also the prayer of your children here and bring us to Your Holy Altar. Make us
fit to offer You spiritual gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and the
faults of the people. Make us worthy to find grace in Your eyes, that our
sacrifice may become acceptable to You, and that the good Spirit of Your grace
may abide with us and with the gifts here laid out and with all Your people.
Through the mercies of Your Only
Begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your All Holy, Good and
Life Giving Divine Feminine, (or Spirit) now and always and forever and ever.
All:
Amen.
Turning to the people, the Priest blesses them,
saying:
+
Priest:
Peace
be to all.
All:
And
to your spirit.
Deacon:
Let
us love one another that with one mind we may confess:
All:
Creator,
Son, Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit); most Holy Trinity, one in essence and
undivided
Hymn of love may be sung here
The Priest and the Deacon make three metanies where
they stand saying each time:
+
Priest and deacon quietly:
I
love You God with all my strength; my God is my fortress, my refuge and my
deliverance.
The Priest kisses the veiled oblations, starting with
the Diskos, then the Chalice, then the
Holy Table. The Deacon kisses the cross on the edge of
the orarion.
Turning to the people, the Priest says:
Priest:
Christ
is among us.
All:
He
is and always will be.
THE KISS OF PEACE IS SHARED BY ALL
THE CREED
Deacon:
In
wisdom let us be attentive!
(chanted)
The whole people recite the Creed, while the Priest,
raising the outer veil, fans with it over the oblations.
When the passage “He rose again on the third day” is
reached, he/she kisses the veil, folds
it and puts it aside.
I believe in one God, Father (and/or
Mother) Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and
invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, begotten
of the Creator before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten,
not made, of one essence with the Creator, by whom all things were made. Who,
for us all and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of
the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified for us
under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. He rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures, ascended into Heaven, and is enthroned at
the right hand of the Creator. He will come again with glory to judge the
living and the dead and of His realm there shall be no end. And in the Holy Spirit,
the Feminine Divine, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Creator, who
together with the Creator and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke
through the prophets. And in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I
profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the
resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen
The Priest and the Deacon make three
metanies where they stand saying each time:
Priest and deacon quietly:
I
will love You, Lord, my strength; the Lord is my fortress, my refuge and my
deliverance.
The Priest kisses the veiled oblations, starting with
the Diskos, then the Chalice, then the
Holy Table. The Deacon kisses the cross on the edge of
the orarion.
Turning to the people, the Priest says:
Priest:
Christ
is among us.
All:
He
is and always will be.
THE ANAPHORA
Deacon:
Let
us stand well, let us stand in awe, let us be attentive to offer the holy
oblation in peace. (chanted)
All:
A
mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.
(chanted)
Priest:
(turning to people)
The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of our Creator God and the
communion of the Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit) be with you all.
If the celebrant is a Bishop he blesses the people
with the Trikirion.
All:
And
with your spirit.
The Priest raises his hands and proclaims:
Priest:
Let
us lift up our hearts.
All:
We
lift them up to the Lord.
Turning to the East, the Priest bows his head and
crosses his hands
Priest:
Let
us give thanks to the Lord.
All:
It
is fitting and right.
The Priest recites the following prayer aloud, while
the Deacon fans the gifts.
Priest:
It is fitting and right to sing to You,
to bless You, to praise You, to give thanks to You, to worship You in
every place of Your dominion; for You are God, beyond description, beyond
understanding, invisible, incomprehensible, always existing, always
the same, You and Your Only Begotten Son
and Your Holy Spirit. Out of nothing, You brought us into being, and when we
had fallen, raised us up again; and You have left nothing undone until You
brought us to Heaven and graciously gave us Your future realm. For all these
things, we thank You and Your Only Begotten Son and
Your Divine Feminine: for all these
blessings, known and unknown, manifest and hidden, that were lavished upon us.
We thank You also for this Liturgy which You are pleased to accept from our hands,
though there stand before You thousands of archangels and myriads of angels,
Cherubim and Seraphim, six---winged, many---eyed, soaring on their pinions,
The Priest proclaims with a mighty voice.
Priest:
Singing,
proclaiming, shouting the hymn of victory and saying:
The Deacon raises the Asterisk, forms with it the sign
of the cross over the Diskos, kisses it and puts it aside.
All:
Holy,
Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed
is He who comes in the name of our God. Hosanna in the highest.
The Priest continues aloud:
Priest:
With these blessed powers, O God who
loves us, we too cry out and say: Holy are You and all holy, You and Your Only
Begotten Son and Your Feminine Divine (or Holy Spirit). Holy are You and all
holy and magnificent is Your glory: who so loved Your world as to give Your
Only Begotten Son, that every one who believes in Him shall not perish but may
have eternal life. When He had come and fulfilled all that was appointed Him to
do for our sake, on the night on which He was delivered up, or rather delivered
Himself up for the life of the world, taking bread in His holy, spotless and
blameless hands, giving thanks and blessing, sanctifying and breaking it, gave
it to His holy Disciples and Apostles and said:
Here, the Priest bows his head, reverently points to
the Diskos and proclaims with a devout voice, while the Deacon also points with
the edge of his orarion to the Diskos:
Priest:
Take,
eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.
All:
Amen.
The Priest and the Deacon bow. The Deacon points to
the Chalice:
Priest:
Likewise
the Chalice after He had supped saying:
The Priest, his head bowed, reverently points to the
Chalice and proclaims:
Priest:
Drink
of this all of you, this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the remission of sins.
All:
Amen.
The Priest and Deacon bow. The Priest continues the
prayer aloud:
Priest:
Remembering, therefore, this precept of
salvation and everything that was done for our sake, the cross, the tomb, the
resurrection on the third day, the ascension into Heaven, the enthronement at
the right hand, the second and glorious coming again:
The Deacon, or the Priest if there is no Deacon, holds
the Diskos with his right hand and the Chalice with his left hand; crossing the
right hand over the left hand; he traces with the Diskos and the Chalice the
form of a cross over the Antimension,
raising them up high, as the Priest proclaims:
We
offer You Your own, from what is Your own, in all and for the sake of all.
All:
We
praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, O Lord, and we pray to You, O
our God.
The Priest continues to pray aloud:
Priest:
Moreover, we offer You this spiritual
and unbloody worship, and we ask and pray and entreat: send down Your Holy
Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here offered.
The Deacon points with the edge of the orarion to the
holy bread:
Deacon:
Bless
the holy bread, (NOC)
Priest:
And
make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ.
Deacon and People:
Amen.
The Deacon points at the Chalice with his orarion.
Deacon:
Bless
the holy Chalice, (NOC)
Priest:
And
that which is in this Chalice the precious Blood of Your Christ.
Deacon and People:
Amen.
The Deacon points to both the Chalice and the Diskos
with his orarion.
Deacon:
Bless
both, (NOC)
Priest:
Changing
them by Your Holy Spirit.
Deacon and People:
Amen.
Amen. Amen.
They both bow
Priest:
So that, to those who partake of them,
they may be for the cleansing of the soul, for the remission of sins, for the
communion of Your Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit), for the fullness of the Realm
of Heaven, for intimate confidence in You, and not for judgment or
condemnation.
The Deacon fans the gifts.
Priest:
Again, we offer You this spiritual
worship for those resting in the faith, the forefathers and foremothers,
fathers, mothers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists,
martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous soul who has run the
course in the faith.
Blessing the censer, he censes the Holy Table proclaiming:
Especially
for our all holy, spotless, most highly blessed and glorious Lady, the
Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.
He returns the censer to the deacon who censes the
Holy Table all around, remembering whomever he wishes of the living and the
deceased, while all
sing the following hymn:
H IR M O S
All:
(sing)
It is truly right to call you blessed, O
Theotokos. You are ever blessed and all blameless, and the Mother of our God.
Higher in honor than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the
Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in virginity. You are truly Theotokos,
you do we exalt.
During the singing of the Hirmos, the Priest
continues:
Priest:
For the holy prophet and forerunner John
the Baptist, for the holy glorious Apostles worthy of all praise, for holy N.
whose memory we honor today, and for all Your saints
at whose supplications visit us, O God.
And remember all those (he/she mentions whomever he/she wishes among the
deceased) who have fallen asleep before us in the hope of resurrection to
eternal life and give them rest where the light of Your face keeps
watch. Again, we pray You: remember,
God, all the Orthodox bishops rightly dispensing the word of Your truth, all
the presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and all the ranks of the clergy and
the monastics. Again, we offer You this spiritual worship for the whole world,
for the holy, catholic and apostolic Church; for those who lead pure and
honorable lives; for our civil authorities; for the government and the armed
forces. O God, grant them peaceful rule that we too in their tranquility may
lead a calm and quiet life in all virtue and honor (he/she mentions whomever he
wishes among the living.)
And grant that with one mouth and one
heart we may glorify and extol Your most noble and magnificent name, Mother and
Father, Son and Feminine Divine (or Holy Spirit), now and always and forever
and ever.
All:
Amen
P RE P A RA T I O N
F O R H OL Y C OM M U N I ON
Deacon
(People respond: Hear our prayer)
1. For the
precious gifts here offered and sanctified, let us pray.
2. That our
God who loves us all, having received these gifts on His holy and mystical
altar in Heaven as a sweet spiritual fragrance, may send down upon us in return
His divine grace and the gift of the Divine Feminine (or Holy Spirit), let us
pray.
3. For our
deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and need, let us pray.
4. Help us,
save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
5. That
this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin.
Deacon continues
(People respond: Grant this O God)
6. For an angel of peace, a faithful
guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask.
7. For the forgiveness and remission of
our sins and offenses, let us ask.
8. For what is good and profitable to
our souls and for peace in the world, let us ask.
9. That the rest of our life may be
spent in peace and repentance, let us ask.
10. That the end of our life may be
Christian, painless, unashamed and peaceful, and for a good defense before the
awesome Judgment Seat of Christ let us ask.
11. Let us ask for unity of faith and
the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and one another and
our whole life to Christ God.
All:
To
You, O Lord.
The Priest recites the following prayer:
Priest:
To You, God who loves us, we commend our
whole life and hope. We ask You, we pray You, we entreat You: make us worthy to
partake of Your heavenly and awesome mysteries of this sacred and spiritual
Table, with a pure conscience, for the remission of sins, for indulgence
towards failures, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, for the inheritance of
the Realm of Heaven and intimate confidence in You, and not for judgment or
condemnation.
He proclaims aloud:
And make us worthy, God, to dare with
confidence and without condemnation to call You Mother and Father, O God of
Heaven and to say:
“The Lord’s Prayer”
All:
O Cosmic Birther of all radiance and
vibration! Soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where
your presence can abide. Fill us with your creativity so that we may be
empowered to bear the fruit of your mission. Let each of our actions bear fruit
in accordance with your desire. Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share
what each being needs to grow and flourish. Untie the tangled threads of
destiny that binds us, as we release others from the entanglement of past
mistakes. Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true
purpose, but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment. For you are
the ground and faithful vision, the birth, power and fulfillment, as all is
gathered and made whole once again.
Priest:
Peace
be to all.
All:
And
to your spirit.
Deacon:
Bow
your heads to God.
All:
To
You, O God.
PRAYER OF INCLINATION
Priest:
We thank You, invisible God who
in Your measureless power have fashioned all things and in the abundance of
Your mercy have brought all things out of nothing into being. Creator Spirit,
look down from Heaven upon those who bow their heads to You, for they bow them
not to flesh and blood, but to You the awesome God. Be pleased, then to guide
our lives for our good, according to the need of each one. Sail with those who
sail; travel with those who travel, heal the sick, O Physician of our souls and
bodies. Through the grace and mercies and love of Your Only Begotten
Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your All Holy, Good and Life
Giving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
All:
Amen
Priest and Deacon bow three times from their places,
saying each time:
Priest and Deacon:
O
God, great and wonderful is our love for you.
ELEVATION AND COMMUNION
The Priest raises the Lamb
with both hands. When the Deacon sees this, he proclaims with a mighty voice:
Deacon:
Let
us be attentive.
Priest:
Holy
gifts for the holy.
All:
One
is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God . Amen.
All: (sing)
Praise
our God from the heavens! Praise God in the highest. Alleluia.
At this point, the Deacon stands on the right of the
priest who is holding the Lamb and says in a low voice:
Deacon:
(NOC)
break the Holy Bread.
The Priest breaks the Lamb in four pieces and
reverently places them on the Diskos in the
form of a cross:
Priest:
Broken
and distributed is the Lamb of God, broken and not dismembered, always eaten
and never consumed, but making holy those who receive it.
The Deacon points to the Holy Chalice and says:
Deacon:
(NOC),
fill the Holy Chalice.
Taking the upper part (IC) and making with it the sign
of the cross over the Chalice, he drops it into the Chalice saying:
Priest:
The
fullness of faith of the Holy Spirit.
Deacon:
Amen.
JOHN: A PROPER COMMUNION
MEDITATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED HERE FOR THE PEOPLE AFTER THEY RECEIVE OR WHILE
THEY AND WAITING
HOLY COMMUNION
The priest communicates him/herself and then the
deacon and then the faithful.
The bread is dipped into the wine and then placed into
the mouth of the recipient.
Priest:
Says to deacon and then the faithful receiving
communion
The
Precious and Holy Body of our God, and Savior Jesus Christ is given to you, the
N., for eternal life.
Deacon:
Holds chalice so priest can dip bread and says:
Approach
with faith and with love.
All:
Amen,
Amen. Blessed is He who comes in the name of our Creator.
During Communion, the Choir sing an appropriate hymn.
Following Communion, the Priest blesses the people
saying:
Priest:
O
God, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance.
All:
We
have seen the True Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found
the True Faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity who has saved us.
The Priest and the Deacon
carry the oblations back to the Altar. The Priest empties the remaining
portions into the Chalice and covers it. He places the folded Asterisk on the
Diskos and covers it. Then he censes the oblations three time saying:
Priest:
May
You be exalted above the heavens, O God, and Your glory above all the earth.
(Three times)
The priest/deacon takes the covered Chalice, turns the
people and says:
Priest/Deacon
Blessed
is our God at all times, now and always and forever and ever.
Then he carries it to the Prothesis, puts it down, and
returns to the Holy Table.
All:
Amen.
All: (sing)
Let our mouth be filled with Your
praise, O God, for You have counted us worthy to share Your holy, immortal, and
spotless Mysteries; keep us in sanctification that we may sing Your glory,
meditating on Your holiness all the day. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Deacon:
Let
us stand.
Now
that we have received the divine, holy, spotless, immortal, heavenly, life
giving, awesome Mysteries of Christ, let us give worthy thanks to
God.
All:
God, have mercy.
Let
us ask that this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, and
let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ God.
All:
To
You, O Lord.
The Priest folds the antimension and then turns to the
people.
JOHN an appropriate closing prayer can be inserted
here;
Priest blesses the people and announces closing hymn
and then exits led by the candle bearers, cross and deacon.
THE END
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