Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, the source of blessings and the giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times).
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and now (now), and ever (always), and forever and ever. Amen (truly so).
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins, Master, forgive our iniquities, Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy (three times). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto 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 today our daily (necessary) bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (the evil one is evil, the devil). For (because) Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
[A Psalm of David.] The LORD {is} my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. {green...: Heb. pastures of tender grass} {still...: Heb. waters of quietness}
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou {art} with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. {anointest: Heb. makest fat}
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. {for ever: Heb. to length of days}
[A Psalm of David.] The earth {is} the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. {He...: Heb. The clean of hands}
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This {is} the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. {O Jacob: or, O God of Jacob}
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who {is} this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift {them} up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he {is} the King of glory. Selah.
I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
I said in my haste, All men {are} liars.
What shall I render unto the LORD {for} all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD {is} the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I {am} thy servant; I {am} thy servant, {and} the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Lord, born of a virgin! Despise my iniquities, cleanse my heart and make it a church of Your most pure Body and Blood, and do not cast me away from Your face, O immeasurably merciful One!
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. How can I, unworthy, dare to partake of Your holy things? If I dare to approach You with those who are worthy, my clothes convict me, because they are unmarital, and I will deserve the condemnation of my many-sinful soul: cleanse, O Lord, the impurity of my soul and save me, because You love mankind.
And now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen. Our Lady is pure! I have many many sins. I ran to You, seeking salvation. The One Blessed One! Come to the aid of my weary soul and pray to Your Son and our God that He will forgive me for everything that I have done that is wicked.
On Holy Pentecost it is read:
When the glorious disciples were enlightened during the washing at the evening, then the wicked Judas, sick with the love of money, became darkened (in soul), and handed You, the righteous Judge, over to the lawless judges. Look, collector of estates, at the one who hanged himself because of them. Flee the insatiable soul that treated the Teacher so impudently. Lord, merciful to all, glory to You!
[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin {is} ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done {this} evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, {and} be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. {conceive...: Heb. warm me}
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden {part} thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; {that} the bones {which} thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. {right: or, constant}
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me {with thy} free spirit.
{Then} will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: {and} my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. {bloodguiltiness: Heb. bloods}
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give {it}: thou delightest not in burnt offering. {else...: or, that I should}
The sacrifices of God {are} a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Irmos: Come people, let us sing a song to Christ God, who divided the sea and led the people through it, whom He brought out of slavery in Egypt; for He is glorified.
(At each song of the canon, after the irmos (before the first troparion) one should say: “Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew the spirit of righteousness in my insides,” before the next troparion, “Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.” Before the Mother of God, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!”).
Merciful Lord! May Thy Holy Body be to me the bread of life that has no end, and may Thy holy Blood be a cure for various diseases.
Christ! Desecrated by vile deeds, I, pitiful, become unworthy of communion of Your most pure Body and Divine Blood; honor me with it.
Theotokos: Blessed Bride of God, beautiful land, which has grown without cultivation an ear of corn, saving the world, make me worthy of salvation, who partakes of it.
Irmos: You established me on the rock of faith, You opened my mouth against my enemies; for my spirit rejoiced in singing: there is none so holy as our God, and none is righteous except Thee, O Lord.
Lord Christ! Give me drops of tears that cleanse the impurity of my heart, so that, purified by my conscience, with faith and fear I begin to partake of Your Divine Gifts.
More humane! May Your Most Pure Body and Divine Blood serve me for the remission of sins, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, for eternal life and liberation from passions and sorrows.
Theotokos: Most Holy Table of living bread, which by His mercy came down from on high and gives new life to the world! Now deign me, unworthy, to taste it with fear in order to be alive.
Irmos: Not an intercessor, not an angel, but You Yourself, Lord, came from the Virgin, taking flesh from Her, and saved all of me, a man; Therefore I cry to You: glory to Your power, O Lord!
Most merciful! For our sake, having become incarnate, You wanted to be slain for the sins of people, like a sheep; Therefore, I humbly beg You: cleanse my sins.
God! Heal the wounds of my soul and sanctify everything. Master! Honor me, unfortunate one, to partake of You, Your mystical Divine Supper.
Theotokos: Lady! Have mercy on me, who was born of You, and keep me, Your servant, undefiled and blameless, so that, having accepted the pearl imagined in my mind, I may be sanctified.
Irmos: Lord, Giver of Light and Creator of Times! Guide us with the light of Your commandments; for we do not recognize any other God besides You.
Christ! What You yourself said before, let it be done to Your insignificant servant and, as you promised, abide in me; for behold, I eat Your Divine Body and drink Your Blood.
O Word of God (the Father) and God! May the coal of Your Body serve me, the darkened one, for enlightenment, and Your Blood for the cleansing of my desecrated soul.
Theotokos: Mary, Mother of God, precious receptacle of fragrance! Make me a chosen vessel through Your prayers, so that I may be a partaker of the sanctifications of Your Son.
Irmos: Having plunged into the abyss of sin, I call on the incomprehensible abyss of Your mercy. God, bring me out of destruction!
Savior! Sanctify my mind, soul, heart and body and deign, Master, to approach terrible mysteries without condemnation.
Christ! Through the communion of Your holy mysteries, may I be freed from passions and receive an increase in Your grace and strengthening of life.
Theotokos: God, Holy Word of God! Through the prayers of Your Holy Mother, sanctify me in all respects, as I now approach Your Divine mysteries.
Christ! Allow me to receive bread - Your Body, and do not deprive me, unfortunate Master, of the communion of Your Divine Blood - Your most pure and terrible secrets. Let communion not serve as a condemnation for me, but it will grant me eternal and immortal life.
Irmos: The wise youths did not serve the golden image, they themselves went into the flames and laughed at their gods; They cried out in the midst of the flames, and an angel sprinkled them with dew: the prayer of your lips was heard.
Christ! May the communion of Your immortal mysteries now be a source of blessings for me, light, life, victory over passions, and serve for the success and increase of Divine virtue, so that I may glorify You, the only merciful one.
Philanthropic! With trembling, love and reverence, now approaching You, Your immortal and Divine mysteries, may I get rid of passions, enemies, needs and all sorrow in order to sing to You: blessed are You, God of our fathers!
Theotokos: Filled with Divine grace, incomprehensibly giving birth to Christ the Savior! I beg You, Pure One, I, Your unclean servant, cleanse all of me from the impurity of flesh and spirit, who now wants to begin the most pure mysteries.
Irmos: Sing the creations of the Lord and extol to all ages God, Who descended to the Jewish youths into the fiery furnace and turned the flame into dew.
My Savior, Christ God! Honor me, who have lost all hope of salvation, to now be a partaker of the heavenly, terrible and holy mysteries and Your Divine Mystical Supper.
Merciful! Running under Your mercy, I call upon You with fear: Savior, as You Yourself said, abide in me and I in You! Trusting in this mercy, here I eat Your Body and drink Your Blood.
When I receive fire, I tremble lest I should be burned like wax and grass. O terrible mystery! O mercy of God! How can I, clay, partake of the Divine Body and Blood and remain unharmed?
Irmos: The Son of the Beginningless Father, God and Lord, incarnate from the Virgin, appeared among us to enlighten the darkened, to gather the scattered, therefore we magnify the glorious Mother of God.
Taste and see - this is Christ. The Lord, who for our sake became like us, who once sacrificed Himself to His Father, always slaughters himself, sanctifying those who receive communion.
Master, most merciful benefactor! Through communion of the sacred mysteries, may I be sanctified in soul and body, may I be enlightened, may I be saved; may I be Your house, having You within me, together with the Father and the Spirit.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. May Your Body and Most Honorable Blood, my Savior, be like fire and like light to me, burning up everything sinful in me and consuming the thorns of passions, and may they always enlighten me so that I can worship Your Divinity.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Lady! God became incarnate from Your pure blood; Therefore, every race and multitude of intelligent (creatures) glorify You, because they clearly know that he who has received human nature from You is the Lord of all.
It is truly worthy to glorify You, Mother of God, always blessed and immaculate, Mother of our God. You are more honorable (more honorable) than the cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the seraphim. We magnify You, who incorruptibly gave birth to God the Word.
Master Lord Jesus Christ, our God, the source of life and immortality, the Creator of all creation, visible and invisible, the Son of the beginningless Father, with Him eternal and beginningless, in the last days, out of excessive mercy, clothed in flesh, crucified and buried for us, ungrateful and insensitive, renewing with His blood our nature damaged by sin!
Immortal King Himself, accept repentance from me, a sinner, incline Your ear to me and hear what I will say: I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned before heaven and before You and I am not worthy to raise my eyes to the height of Your glory, for I have angered Your mercy by transgressing Your commandments and not listening to Your commands.
But You, Lord, gentle, long-suffering and abundantly merciful, did not leave me to perish with my iniquities, waiting in every possible way for my conversion. You, O Lover of Mankind, Yourself said through Your prophet: “I absolutely do not want the death of a sinner; but I want him to convert and live.” So You, Lord, do not want to destroy the creation of Your hands; You do not want the destruction of people. But you want everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, even though I am unworthy of heaven and earth and this fleeting life, having given myself entirely into slavery to sin and sensual pleasures, I have desecrated Your image. But I, unfortunate one - Your creation and creation - do not lose hope for my salvation and approach, hoping for Your immeasurable mercy.
And so, Lover of mankind, accept me as a harlot, as a thief, as a publican, as a prodigal son, and remove from me the heavy yoke of sin, You who take away the sins of the world, heal human infirmities, call to yourself the toiling and burdened and calm them, who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Cleanse me from all impurity of body and spirit. Teach me to perform a holy work with reverence for You, so that, with an impeccable testimony of conscience, accepting part of Your holy things, I may be united with Your holy Body and Blood and have You within me, living and abiding together with the Father and Your Holy Spirit.
Hey, Lord Jesus Christ my God! May the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries not serve as a condemnation for me, and may I not become weak in soul and body from unworthy communion of them. Grant me, Lord, until my last breath, to uncondemnably accept part of Your holy things into the communion of the Holy Spirit, as parting words of eternal life, as a favorable response to Your terrible judgment, so that with all Your chosen ones I can participate in Your incorruptible blessings, which You have prepared for those who love You and for which You are blessed forever. Amen.
Lord my God! I know that I am unworthy and unsuitable for You to come under the roof of the house of my soul, because it is empty and fallen, and you will not find in me a place worthy to lay your head. But You, from heavenly heights, appeared on earth for us in a humble form; descend also now to my misery.
And just as You deigned to lie down in the cave and in the manger of dumb beasts, enter also into the manger of my foolish soul and into my sinful body. Just as you did not disdain to enter and dine with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, deign also to enter the house of my wretched soul, leper and sinner. Just as You did not reject from Yourself a sinful harlot like me, who came and touched You, also have mercy on me, a sinner, who comes and touches You. And just as you did not disdain the uncleanness of her defiled lips that kissed You, do not also disdain my even more unclean and foul lips and my disgusting, unclean and defiled lips, and my even more unclean tongue.
But may the coal of Your most holy Body and Your honest Blood serve me in sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my wretched soul and body, in alleviating the burden of many of my sins, in preserving me from all influence of the devil, in removing and liberating me from my evil and evil habits, in mortifying passions, in preserving Your commandments, in multiplying Your Divine grace, in gaining Your Kingdoms. I approach You, Christ God, not with negligence, but with boldness in Your ineffable mercy, so that, avoiding communication with You for a long time, I would not be caught by a mental wolf, like a predatory beast.
Therefore, I pray to You: You, one holy Master, sanctify my soul and body, mind and heart, and all my insides, renew me entirely, root Your fear in my members, and make Your sanctification unchangeably be in me. And be my help and shield, ruling my life in silence, deign me to stand on the right side with Your Angels, through the prayers and intercession of Your Most Pure Mother, Your incorporeal servants and most pure powers and all the saints who have pleased You from the beginning of the world. Amen.
One pure and incorruptible Lord, through unspeakable compassion and love for mankind, who took upon Himself our entire complex nature from the pure and immaculate blood of the Virgin, who supernaturally gave birth to You by the Divine Spirit by the influx and favor of the eternal Father, Christ Jesus, the Wisdom of God, and peace, and power!
You, who have accepted life-giving and saving sufferings through Your flesh: the Cross, nails, spears, death, kill my bodily passions that are destructive to the soul.
By Your burial You have devastated the kingdom of hell, bury my bad intentions with good thoughts and scatter the spirits of evil.
By Your life-giving resurrection on the third day of the fallen forefather, raise up me too, who slipped through sin, offering me the means of repentance.
By Thy glorious ascension, having deified the flesh and given it the honor of sitting at the right hand of the Father, grant me the communion of Thy holy Mysteries to reach the right side of those being saved.
By the descent of the Comforter of the Spirit, having made Thy sacred disciples into precious vessels, show me also to be the receptacle of His coming.
He who is coming again to judge the universe righteously! Deign me too to meet You, my Creator and Creator, on the clouds with all Your saints, so that I endlessly glorify and sing Your praises, with Your beginningless Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Master Lord Jesus Christ, our God, merciful and humane, who alone has the power to forgive the sins of people, despise (forget), forgive all my sins, conscious and unconscious, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your divine, glorious, most pure and life-giving Mysteries, not as punishment, not as a multiplication of sins, but for cleansing, sanctification, as a pledge of future life and kingdom, into a strong stronghold, into protection, into the defeat of enemies, into the destruction of many of my sins. For You are the God of mercy and generosity, and love for mankind, and we glorify You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I know, Lord, that I unworthily partake of Your most pure Body and Your honorable Blood, and I am guilty, and I eat and drink condemnation for myself, not realizing that this is Your Body and Blood, Christ and my God. But, trusting in Your mercies, I come to You, who said: “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood, he abides in Me, and I in him.”
Have mercy, O Lord, and do not expose me as a sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy, and may this Shrine serve me for healing, cleansing, enlightenment, for the protection, salvation and sanctification of soul and body, for driving away all dreams and evil deeds, and attacks of the devil, acting through thoughts in me - for boldness and love for You, for correcting life and strengthening it, for multiplying virtues and perfection, in fulfillment of the commandments, in communion with the Holy Spirit, in guidance to eternal life, in a favorable response at Your Last Judgment - not in condemnation.
From foul lips, from a vile heart, from an unclean tongue, from a defiled soul, accept this prayer, my Christ, and without rejecting my words, my character, or my shamelessness, let me freely say what I want, my Christ, but better yet, teach me what I should do and say.
I have sinned more than the harlot, who, having learned where You are, having bought peace, dared to come to anoint Your feet, my Christ, my Lord and my God. Just as You did not reject her, who came from a pure heart, do not disdain me, Word! Allow me to hold and kiss Your feet, and boldly anoint them with a stream of tears like precious myrrh. Wash me with your tears, cleanse me with them, Word! Forgive my sins and grant me forgiveness.
You know many vices, you know my wounds, and you see my ulcers, but you also know my faith, and you see my zeal, and you hear my groans. Not a drop of tears, not a drop of a certain part is hidden from You, my God, my Creator, my Redeemer. Your eyes have noticed what I have not completed, but in Your book there is also what has not yet been written down by You.
Look at my humility, look at my suffering, and forgive me all my sins, O God of the universe, so that with a pure heart, a trembling thought and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your most pure and all-holy Mysteries, by which everyone who eats You and drinks with a sincere heart is revived and deified. After all, You, my Lord, said: “Whoever eats My Flesh, as well as drinks My Blood, abides in Me, and I am in him.”
In everything, the word of my Master and God is true: after all, partaking of the divine and deifying Gifts, I am truly not alone, but with You, my Christ, the Light, bright as three suns, enlightening the world. Therefore, so that I would not be left alone, without You, the Giver of my life, my breath, my life, my joy, the salvation of the world, I came to You, as You see, with tears and a contrite soul, begging that I might receive deliverance from my sins and receive Your life-giving and immaculate Sacraments, not in condemnation; so that You may remain, as You said, with me, who am thrice unhappy; so that the deceiver, finding me deprived of Your grace, does not steal me insidiously and, having deceived me, does not lead me away from Your deifying words. Therefore, I fall at Your feet and fervently cry out to You: just as You accepted the prodigal son and the harlot who came to You, so, O Merciful One, accept me, the prodigal and the vile, who now comes to You with a contrite soul.
I know, Savior, that no one else has sinned before You like I have, or done the deeds that I have done. But I also know that neither the severity of sins, nor the multitude of sins, does not exceed my God’s great patience and great love for mankind, but with merciful compassion You both cleanse and enlighten those who ardently repent, and introduce them to the light, generously making them partakers of Your Divinity; and - what is marvelous both to Angels and to human thoughts - You converse with them many times, as with Your true friends.
It gives me courage, it inspires me, my Christ! And, boldly trusting in Your rich benefits to us, rejoicing and trembling together, I, the grass, partake of the fire, and am - a wondrous miracle - inexplicably watered, like in ancient times a thorn bush that burned without being consumed. So, with a grateful thought and a grateful heart, with all my grateful feelings, my soul and body, I worship, and magnify, and glorify You, my God, as blessed both now and forever.
God! Let go, resolve, forgive my sins that I have committed in word, deed, thought, voluntarily or involuntarily, consciously or unconsciously, and, as a merciful and humane person, grant me forgiveness in everything. And through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, Your intelligent servants and holy powers (angels) and all the saints who have pleased You from the beginning of the world, deign me, without condemnation, to accept Your holy and most pure Body and honorable Blood for the healing of soul and body and for the purification of my evil thoughts. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Sovereign Lord! I am not worth it for You to enter under the roof of my soul, but since You, as a lover of mankind, want to live in me, I approach with boldness. You command that I open the doors created by You alone, and You should enter into them with Your characteristic love for mankind. You come in and enlighten my darkened thoughts.
I believe that You will do this, for You did not withdraw from the harlot who came to You with tears, did not reject the publican who brought repentance, did not drive away the thief who knew Your kingdom, and the persecutor who turned to You, did not leave what he was, but You placed everyone who turned to You through repentance among Your friends. You alone are blessed always, now and in endless ages. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God! Let go, allow, cleanse and forgive me, Your servant, sins, crimes, falls and everything that I have sinned from my youth until this day and hour - consciously or unconsciously, in words, deeds, intentions, thoughts, activities and in all my feelings - and through the prayers of the Most Pure Ever-Virgin Mary, Your Mother, the only undoubted one, who gave birth to You without seed (without a husband) hope, intercessor and salvation of my, vouchsafe me without condemnation to partake of Thy most pure, immortal, life-giving and terrible sacraments for the forgiveness of sins, for eternal life, for sanctification and enlightenment, strengthening, healing and health of soul and body, for the destruction and complete elimination of my unclean thoughts, thoughts, undertakings and night dreams, dark and evil spirits. For Thine is the kingdom, power, honor and worship, together with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
I am already standing before the doors of Your church, and unclean thoughts do not leave me. But You, Christ God, Who justified the publican, who had mercy on the Canaanite woman and opened (opened) the doors of paradise to the thief, open to me the doors of Your love for mankind and accept me, who comes and touches You, as a harlot and a bleeding woman. As soon as one touched the hem of Your garment, she immediately received healing; the other, grasping Your most pure feet, received remission of her sins.
I am the accursed one, who dares to accept Your whole body, so that I will not be scorched (burned). But accept me like those two, and enlighten the feelings of my soul, burning away sinful inclinations, through the prayers of She who immaculately gave birth to You and through the prayers of the heavenly powers. For You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
(read by the priest when removing the chalice)
I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is your most pure Body, and this is your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You: have mercy on me and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, which (I have committed) in words and deeds, consciously and unconsciously, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your most pure Sacraments for the remission of sins and eternal life. Amen.
Son of God! Honor me today to be a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal the sacraments to Your enemies, and I will not give You a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess You. Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom! May the communion of Your most pure Mysteries be not a condemnation for me, O Lord, but a healing of soul and body. Amen.
When you begin communion, say to yourself the following verses of Symeon Metaphrastus:
Here I begin to receive Divine Communion,
Do not burn me, Creator, with this sacrament,
Because You are the fire that burns the unworthy;
But cleanse me from all uncleanness.
Then: As a participant in Your mystical Supper/ this day, Son of God, accept me./ For I will not tell secrets to Your enemies,/ I will not give You a kiss like Judas./ But like a thief I confess You:/ “Remember me, O Lord, in Your Kingdom!”
And the verses: Shudder, O man, seeing the deifying Blood:/ for it is a burning coal, scorching the unworthy./ The Body of God both deifies me and nourishes me:/ deifies the spirit, but nourishes the mind incomprehensibly.
And the troparia: You attracted me with love, Christ, / and changed me with a divine desire for You. / But burn my sins with immaterial fire / and grant me the satisfaction of pleasure in You, / so that I, rejoicing, magnify / Your two comings, O Good One.
How will I, unworthy, enter into the bright host of Your saints?/ After all, if I dare to enter the bridal chamber with them,/ the clothes will expose me,/ for this is not what they wear to marriage,/ and, bound, I will be expelled by the Angels./ Cleanse, O Lord, the filth of my soul/ and save me, as a Lover of mankind.
And again: As a participant in Your mystical Supper/ this day, Son of God, accept me./ For I will not tell the secret to Your enemies,/ I will not give You a kiss like Judas./ But like a thief I confess You:/ “Remember me, O Lord, in Your Kingdom!”
I thank You, Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to be a participant in Your holy things. I thank You for making me, unworthy, worthy to partake of Your most pure and heavenly gifts.
But, O philanthropic Master, for our sake you died and rose again, and gave us these terrible and life-giving sacraments of Yours for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies! Give them to me for the healing of soul and body, for the reflection of every enemy, for the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, for the pacification of my spiritual strength, for unashamed faith, for unfeigned love, for the increase of wisdom, for the fulfillment of Your commandments, for the increase of Your grace and the assimilation of Your kingdom, so that I, protected by them in Your sanctification, always remember Your grace and live not for ourselves, but for You, our Lord and benefactor.
And so, having ended this present life with the hope of eternal life, he reached eternal rest, where the unceasing voice of those enjoying bliss and the endless joy of those contemplating the indescribable beauty of Your face is heard, for You, Christ our God, are the true pleasure and inexpressible joy of those who love You, and You are praised by all creation forever. Amen.
Lord Christ God, King of the ages and Creator of all! I thank You for all the benefits that You have given me in accepting Your most pure and life-giving sacraments. I beg You, merciful and humane, keep me under Your roof and in the shadow of Your wings and grant me, until my last breath, with a clear conscience, to worthily partake of Your holy things for the remission of sins and eternal life. For You are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of blessings, and we send up glory to You together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having given me Your flesh for food voluntarily, You are the fire that burns the unworthy! Do not burn me, my Creator, rather go into the members of my body, into all the joints, into the insides, into the heart, and burn up the thorns of all my sins.
Cleanse my soul, sanctify my thoughts, strengthen my knees and bones, enlighten the five main feelings, nail me all with fear of You. Always protect, protect and protect me from every deed and word harmful to the soul. Cleanse, wash and arrange me; decorate, admonish and enlighten me. Show me to be Your abode, the one Spirit, and no longer the abode of sin, so that after receiving Communion every evildoer and every passion will flee from me, as from Your house, as from fire.
As intercessors for myself, I present to You all the saints, the Chiefs of the disembodied armies, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and above them, Your immaculate, pure Mother. Accept their prayers, my merciful Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. For You, the only Good One, are the sanctification, as well as the radiance of our souls, and to You, as befits God and Master, we all send up glory every day.
Lord Jesus Christ, our God! May Your holy body be for me eternal life and Your holy blood for the remission of sins. May this (supper) thanksgiving be for me joy, health and joy. At Your terrible second coming, grant me, a sinner, to stand on the right side of Your glory through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints.
Most Holy Lady Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy! I thank You for deigning me, unworthy, to partake of the most pure Body and honorable Blood of Your Son. But, having given birth to the true light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart! Producing the source of immortality, revive me, killed by sin!
As the merciful Mother of the merciful God, have mercy on me and grant to my heart tenderness and contrition, to my thoughts modesty and liberation from the captivity of my thoughts. Vouchsafe me until my last breath to uncondemnably accept sanctification with the most pure sacraments for the healing of soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and confession, so that I can sing and glorify You all the days of my life; for You are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.
Now do You let Your servant go, O Lord, according to Your word, in peace; For mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel (Luke 2:29-32).