Priest (in a low voice): Together with these blessed powers, Master, Who loves mankind, we also exclaim and say: Holy are You and most holy, You and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit. Holy are You and most holy, and sublime is Your glory. You so loved Your world that You gave Your only-begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. When He had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and blessing, He hallowed and broke it, and gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying:
The Priest exclaims:
Take, eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins.
People: Amen.
The Priest then says in a low voice:
Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying,
The Priest again exclaims:
Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.
People: Amen.
Then the Priest says in a low voice:
Remembering, therefore, this saving commandment and all that has been done for our sake: the Cross, the tomb, the Resurrection on the third day, the Ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming again.
And he exclaims:
Your own of Your own we offer to You, in all and for all.
People: We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Lord our God.
Priest (in a low voice): Once again we offer to You this spiritual worship without the shedding of blood, and we beseech and pray and entreat You: Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon the gifts here presented,
The Deacon, gesturing with his orarion toward the holy Bread, says:
Bless, Master, the Holy Bread.
And the Priest blesses over the holy Bread and says:
And make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ.
The Deacon, gesturing with his orarion toward the holy Chalice, says:
Amen. Bless, Master, the holy Cup.
The Priest, blessing over the holy Chalice, says:
And that which is in this Cup, the precious Blood of Your Christ.
The Deacon, gesturing with his orarion toward both Holy Gifts, says:
Amen. Bless, Master, both the Holy Gifts.
The Priest, blessing both the Holy Bread and holy Chalice, says:
Changing them by Your Holy Spirit.
Deacon: Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Priest says in a low voice:
So that they may be for those who partake of them for vigilance of soul, remission of sins, communion of Your Holy Spirit, fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven, boldness before You, not for judgment or condemnation. Again, we offer You this spiritual worship for those who have reposed in the faith: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every righteous spirit made perfect in faith,
...
For the precious Gifts here presented and consecrated, let us pray to the Lord.
That our God Who loves mankind, having accepted them at His holy and celestial and mystical altar as an offering of spiritual fragrance, may in return send down upon us the divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
...
Priest (in a low voice): We entrust to You, loving Master, our whole life and hope, and we beseech, pray, and implore You: Grant us to partake of Your heavenly and awesome Mysteries from this sacred and spiritual table with a clear conscience for the remission of sins, the forgiveness of transgressions, the communion of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, and boldness before You, not unto judgment or condemnation
...
Priest (in a low voice): Hearken, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You Who are enthroned with the Father on high and are present among us invisibly here. And with Your mighty hand, grant Communion of Your most pure Body and precious Blood to us, and through us to all the people.
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
Priest: The Holy Gifts for the holy people of God.
People: One is Holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Then the Communion Hymn is chanted:
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Alleluia. (3)
After the Deacon exclaims Let us be attentive, he enters through the south door into the holy Altar. Standing to the right of the Priest, he addresses him, saying:
Apportion, Master, the Holy Bread.
The Priest, dividing the Holy Bread into four pieces, says:
The Lamb of God is apportioned and distributed; apportioned, but not divided; ever eaten, yet never consumed; but sanctifying those who partake.
And the Deacon, pointing toward the holy Chalice, says:
Fill, Master, the holy Cup.
The Priest, taking the ΙΣ piece, makes the Sign of the Cross above the holy Chalice, saying:
The fullness of the Holy Spirit.
He then places the ΙΣ piece in the holy Chalice.
Deacon: Amen.
The Deacon, taking the zeon, addresses the Priest:
Bless, Master, the zeon.
The Priest, blessing the zeon, says:
Blessed is the fervor of Your saints, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
The Deacon pours from the zeon the needed amount into the holy Chalice, saying:
The fervor of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
It is customary for the Priest and Deacon to offer the following prayers of Holy Communion.
I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, in knowledge or in ignorance. And make me worthy, without condemnation, to partake of Your pure Mysteries for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Amen.
Behold, I approach for Divine Communion.
O Maker, burn me not as I partake,
For You are fire consuming the unworthy.
But cleanse me from every stain.
O Son of God, receive me today as a partaker of Your mystical supper. For I will not speak of the mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas. But like the thief, I confess to You: Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom.
Tremble, O man, as you behold the divine Blood.
It is a burning coal that sears the unworthy.
The Body of God both deifies and nourishes me:
It deifies the Spirit and wondrously nourishes the mind.
You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and by Your divine eros You have changed me. But burn up with spiritual fire my sins, and grant me to be filled with delight in You, so that, leaping for joy, I may magnify, O Good One, Your two comings.
How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your saints? If I should dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my vesture will condemn me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I shall be cast out by the angels. Cleanse, O Lord, the filth of my soul, and save me, as You are the one Who loves mankind. In Your love, Lord, cleanse my soul, and save me.
Master Who loves mankind, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these Holy Gifts be to my judgment because I am unworthy, but rather for the purification and sanctification of both soul and body and the pledge of the life and Kingdom to come. It is good for me to cleave unto God and to place in Him the hope of my salvation.
O Son of God, receive me today as a partaker of Your mystical supper. For I will not speak of the mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss, as did Judas. But like the thief, I confess to You: Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom.
