Inexperience often prevents a person from properly preparing for repentance and communion. Preparation for rituals includes the mandatory reading of prayers. They provide an opportunity to plunge into an atmosphere of awe and feel it with all your soul.
There are several prayers for repentance and communion. Below are the original texts of each of them. Surely, some prayer will appeal to you. Here you just need to listen to yourself, feel your inner state.
Prayer of Simeon the New Theologian
Preparation for rituals includes the mandatory reading of prayers. They provide an opportunity to plunge into an atmosphere of awe and feel it with all your soul. Before confession, you can say the prayer of Simeon the New Theologian.
In Old Church Slavonic:
God and Lord of all, who has the power of every breath and soul, is the only one who can heal me! Hear the prayer of me, the accursed one, and the serpent nesting in me, consume by the influx of the All-Holy and Life-Giving Spirit. And grant me, poor and naked, all virtues, to fall at the feet of my holy (spiritual) father with tears, and draw his holy soul to mercy, to have mercy on me. And grant, Lord, in my heart humility and good thoughts, befitting a sinner who has agreed to repent to You; and may not completely abandon the one soul that united with You and confessed You, and instead of the world chose and preferred You. Be aware, Lord, that I want to be saved, even if my evil custom is an obstacle: but what is possible for You, O Lord, is all that is possible; what is impossible is from man. Amen.
In modern Russian:
God and Lord of all! He who alone has the power of every breath and soul can heal me, hear the prayer of the accursed me, and consume the serpent nesting in me through the influx of the All-Holy and Life-Giving Spirit, killing me. And to me, poor and naked of all virtues, vouchsafe to fall at the feet of my holy (spiritual) father with tears, and draw his holy soul to mercy, to have mercy on me. And grant, O Lord, in my heart humility and good thoughts, befitting a sinner who has agreed to repent to You, and may you not in the end abandon the one soul that united with You and confessed You, and chose and preferred You instead of the world: for we know, Lord, that I want to be saved, even if my evil custom is an obstacle: but it is possible for You, Master, the essence of everything, what is impossible is of man. Amen.
^ Prayer 7, St. John Chrysostom
God, weaken, forsake, forgive my sins, whether you have sinned, whether in word, whether in deed, whether in thought, willingly or unwillingly, by reason or foolishness, forgive me all. For He is good and Lover of mankind, and through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, Your intelligent servants and holy powers, and all the saints from the ages who have pleased You, without condemnation you have been pleased to accept Your holy and most pure Body and honorable Blood, for the healing of soul and body, and for the cleansing of the evil ones my thoughts. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
God, weaken, let go, forgive me my sins that I have sinned before You: either in word, or in deed, or in thought, voluntarily or involuntarily, consciously or out of ignorance, forgive me everything, as a good and Lover of mankind. And through the prayers of Your most pure Mother, Your immaterial servants and holy Powers and all the saints who have pleased You from the ages, deign me to accept, not for condemnation, Your holy and most pure Body and precious Blood, but for the healing of soul and body, and for the cleansing of my evil thoughts For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of Saint John of Damascus
You can read prayers for Holy Communion by starting with the prayer book of St. John of Damascus. It is quite short, but contains everything you need to mentally prepare for communion:
In Old Church Slavonic:
Lord, Lover of Mankind, will this grave really be my bed, or will you still enlighten my damned soul during the day? For seven the grave lies ahead, for seven the death awaits. I fear Your judgment, O Lord, and endless torment, but I do not stop doing evil: I always anger the Lord my God, and Your Most Pure Mother, and all the Heavenly powers, and my Holy Guardian Angel. We know, Lord, that I am unworthy of Your love for mankind, but I am worthy of all condemnation and torment. But, Lord, whether I want it or not, save me. Even if you save a righteous man, nothing great; and even if you have mercy on a pure person, nothing will be wondrous: you are worthy of the essence of Your mercy. But surprise me, a sinner, with Thy mercy: for this show Thy love for mankind, so that my malice may not overcome Thy unspeakable goodness and mercy: and as you wish, arrange a thing for me. Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, so that not when I fall asleep into death, and not when my enemy says: “Let us be strong against him.” Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: Be the protector of my soul, O God, as I walk in the midst of many snares; deliver me from them and save me, O Blessed One, as a Lover of Mankind. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
In modern Russian:
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 in punishment, not for the multiplication of sins, but for cleansing, sanctification, as a pledge of future life and kingdom, as a strong stronghold, for protection, and the defeat of enemies, for 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 forever and ever. Amen!
^ Prayer 3, Simeon Metaphrastos
The only pure and incorruptible Lord, for the ineffable mercy of our love for mankind, we have received all the mixture, from pure and virgin blood, more than the nature that gave birth to Thee, the Divine Spirit by invasion, and the good by the will of the ever-present Father, Christ Jesus, the wisdom of God, and peace, and power; By your perception of life-giving and saving suffering perceived, cross, nails, spear, death, put to death my soul-destroying bodily passions.
By Your burial, O captive kingdom of hell, bury my good thoughts, evil counsels, and destroy the wicked spirits. By Thy three-day and life-giving resurrection of the fallen forefather, raise up me by the sin that has crawled, offering me images of repentance. Through Your glorious ascension, the carnal perception of God, and through the graying of the Father’s gums, grant me, through the communion of Your holy Mysteries, to receive a portion of those saved.
Through the revelation of Your Comforter Spirit, the holy vessels of Your disciples have been made, friend and show me of That coming. Although you have come again to judge the universal truth, deign me also to place You on the clouds, my Judge and Creator, with all Your saints: may I endlessly glorify and glorify You, from beginning without beginning Your Holy Father, and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. 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 may 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.
Prayer to Saint Basil the Great
To repent of sins and ask for pardon for committed misdeeds, the fifth prayer of St. Basil the Great is read, which is included in the morning rule, which is mandatory for Orthodox believers.
In Old Church Slavonic:
Lord Almighty, God of hosts and all flesh, living in the highest and looking down on the humble, testing the hearts and wombs and innermost parts of men, the fore-foreseen One, the Beginningless and Ever-Everlasting Light, He has no application, or transformation, overshadowing; Himself, Immortal King, accept our prayers, even now, boldly for the multitude of Your bounties, from the bad lips we create towards You, and forgive us our sins, whether in deed, word, or thought, knowledge or ignorance, we have sinned; and cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant us with a cheerful heart and a sober thought to pass through the whole night of this present life, awaiting the coming of the bright and revealed day of Your Only Begotten Son, Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, when the Judge of all will come with glory, to whom he will give to each according to his deeds; May we not fall and become lazy, but be watchful and raised up for the work that is to come, and prepare for the joy and Divine palace of His glory, where those who celebrate the unceasing voice and the ineffable sweetness of those who behold Your face, the ineffable kindness. For You are the true Light, you enlighten and sanctify all things, and all creation sings to You forever and ever. Amen!
In modern Russian:
Lord Almighty, God of disembodied forces and all flesh, living on the heights of heaven and looking down upon the valleys of the earth, observing hearts and thoughts and clearly knowing the secrets of men, the Beginningless and Eternal Light, which has no changes in power and leaves no shadowed place on His path. You Yourself, Immortal King, accept our prayers, which we now, hoping for the abundance of Your compassion, bring to You from unclean lips; and forgive us our sins, committed by us in deed, word and thought, consciously or unconsciously, and cleanse us from all impurity of flesh and spirit. And grant us with a watchful heart and a sober thought to live the whole night of this earthly life, in anticipation of the coming of the bright and glorious day of the second coming of Your Only Begotten Son, the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, when the common Judge will come with glory to reward everyone according to his deeds. May He find us not lying down and sleepy, but awake and risen in the midst of the fulfillment of His commandments, and ready to enter with Him into the joy and Divine palace of His glory, where the unceasing voices of those who triumph and the inexpressible joy of those who see the inexpressible beauty of Your face. For You are the true Light, enlightening and sanctifying the whole world, and You are glorified by all creation forever and ever. Amen.
^ Prayer 6, Saint Simeon the New Theologian
From unclean lips, from a vile heart, from an unclean tongue, from a soul defiled, accept prayer, my Christ, and do not despise my words, below images, below lack of understanding. Let me boldly say what I want, my Christ, and teach me what it is right for me to do and say. Having sinned more than the harlot, even though I knew where you were, having bought the ointment, I came boldly to anoint Your nose, my God, my Master and my Christ.
Even though he did not reject you who came from your heart, abhor me below, the Word: Thy give to my nose, and hold and kiss, and with streams of tears, like a valuable world, this boldly anoint. Wash me with my tears, cleanse me with them, the Word. Forgive my sins and grant me forgiveness. Weigh many evils, weigh my scabs and see my wounds, but also weigh my faith, see my will, and hear my groaning.
It is not hidden to You, my God, my Creator, my Savior, below is a drop of tears, below the drop is a certain part. Thy eyes have seen my undone work, and in Thy book the essence of what has not yet been done is written to You. See my humility, see my labor, and forgive me all my sins, O God of all: that with a pure heart, a reverent thought, and a contrite soul, I may partake of Thy unfilthy ones and honor them. the Holy Mysteries, in which everyone who eats and drinks with a pure heart is revived and adored;
For you have said, my Lord: whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood, he abides in Me, and in Him I am. Truly is the word of all my Lord and God: partake of the divine and adoring graces, not for I am one, but with You, my Christ, the Trisunlar Light, enlightening the world. For I will not be alone except You, the Giver of Life, my breath, my belly, my joy, the salvation of the world.
For this reason, I come to You, as I have seen, with tears, and with a contrite soul, I ask you to accept the deliverance of my sins, and to partake of Your life-giving and immaculate Sacraments without condemnation, may I abide She, as you said, is with me, the three-repentant: may I find none but Thy grace, the deceiver will delight the flatterer, and deceiving will lead away those who idolize Your words.
For this reason I fall down to You and cry out to You warmly: just as You received the prodigal and the harlot who came, so receive the flesh of the prodigal and the filthy, Generous. With a contrite soul, now coming to You, O Savior, as another, like I, do not sin against You, below the deeds I committed. But we know this again, because it is not the greatness of sins, nor the multitude of sins that exceeds my God’s long-suffering, and extreme love for mankind;
but with the mercy of warmly repentant compassion, and purists, and luminaries, and creators of light, the participants, the commoners of Your Divinity, have done unenviably, and strange things with both the Angel and the human thought, the demon You treat them many times, like your true friend. This is the boldness they create for me, this is the one who trusts me, my Christ.
And daring in Thy rich kindness to us, rejoicing and trembling together, I partake of the fire and partake of the grass, and strangely, a miracle, we water it without burning, just as the bush of old did not burn without burning. . Now with a grateful thought, with a grateful heart, with grateful hands, my soul and my body, I worship and magnify and glorify Thee, my God, for blessed is the being, now and in the future eki.
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 and 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, O Word! Allow me to hold and kiss Your feet, and boldly anoint them with a stream of tears, like precious ointment. 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 sincerity is revived and deified. heart.
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 for deliverance for me. from my sins and Your life-giving and immaculate Sacraments, receiving communion does not lead to condemnation; so that You may remain, as You said, with me, who am thrice unhappy; so that the seducer, 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 exceeds 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 I 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.
Prayer to Saint John Chrysostom
Before performing the rite of repentance and communion, be sure to memorize and repeatedly repeat the second prayer of John Chrysostom, which is included in the Follow-up to Holy Communion. Observe all accents correctly:
In Old Church Slavonic:
Lord my God, we know that I am not worthy, below am pleased, but under the roof of the temple of my soul, all empty and fallen to eat, and there is no place in me worthy of even bowing my head: but as from the height of us For the sake of you you humbled yourself, humble yourself and now to my humility; and as you received in the den and in the wordless manger of those who reclined, let us also take in the wordless manger my soul, and bring it into my defiled body. And just as you were not deigned to enter and shine from the sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so deign to enter into the house of my humble soul, lepers and sinners; and even though you did not reject a harlot and a sinner like me, who came and touched You, you were also compassionate about me, a sinner, who came and touched You; And just as you did not abhor her foul lips and unclean ones who kiss You, below mine, abhor the foul lips and unclean ones, below my vile and unclean walls, and the foul and unclean My oldest language. But may the coal of Your Most Holy Body and Your honest Blood be for me, for the sanctification and enlightenment and health of my humble soul and body, for the relief of the severity of my many sins, in observance from all the devil's actions, to drive away and forbid my evil and evil custom, for the mortification of passions, for the supply of Your commandments, for the application of Your Divine grace, and the appropriation of Your Kingdom. I do not come to You despisingly, O Christ God, but because I am bold in Your ineffable goodness, and let me not withdraw from Your fellowship, from the mental wolf I will be hunted down. Moreover, I pray to You: for the only Holy One, Master, sanctify my soul and body, mind and heart, wombs and wombs, and renew all of me, and root Your fear in my lands, and Your sanctification create inseparably from me; and be my helper and intercessor, nourishing my life in peace, conferring upon me and at Your right hand to stand with Your saints, prayers and supplications of Your Most Pure Mother, Your immaterial ones servants and most pure powers, and all the saints who have pleased You from time immemorial. Amen!
In modern Russian:
Lord my God, I know that I am not worth it and am not worthy for You to enter under my roof, into the house of my soul, because it is all empty and collapsed, and there is no worthy place in me where I could lay my head. But just as You humbled Yourself for our sake, descending from on high, descend now to my insignificance. And just as You deigned to lie down in a cave in the manger of dumb animals, so deign to enter both the manger of my foolish soul and my defiled body. And just as You did not refuse to enter and eat supper with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so deign to enter into the house of my humble soul, leper and sinner. And just as You did not reject a harlot and sinner like me, who came and touched You, so have mercy on me, a sinner, who comes and touches You. And just as You did not disdain her vile and criminal lips that kissed You, so do not disdain my even more vile and criminal lips than hers, nor my vile and unclean lips, nor my vile and most vile tongue. But may the burning coal of Your all-holy Body and Your precious Blood be for me to sanctify, enlighten, and strengthen my humble soul and body, to alleviate the burden of many of my sins, to preserve me from all devilish influence, to eliminate and curb my evil and vicious habits , to mortify passions, to keep Your commandments, to increase Your divine grace and the acquisition of Your Kingdom. After all, I do not come to You negligently, O Christ God, but with bold hope in Your ineffable goodness, and in order not to be kidnapped by a spiritual wolf if I stray too far from communion with You. Therefore, I pray to You: as the only Holy One, sanctify, O Lord, my soul and body, mind and heart, and inner feelings, and renew all of me, and root the fear of You in all my members, and make Your sanctification indelible in me. And be my helper and protector, guiding my life peacefully like a helmsman, so that I may be honored to stand at Your right hand with Your saints through the prayers and intercessions of Your all-pure Mother, Your immaterial servants and the most pure Powers, and all the saints from the ages who have pleased You . Amen.
^ Prayer 1, Basil the Great
Master Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Source of life and immortality, all creation, visible and invisible, to the Creator, co-essential with the beginningless Father, co-essential with the Son and co-existent, unfailingly O God, for the sake of goodness in the last days, clothe yourself in flesh, and be crucified, and be buried for us, ungrateful and malicious, and Yours By renewing our nature, corrupted by sin, with blood,
Yourself, Immortal King, accept my sinful repentance, and incline Your ear to me, and hear my words. Swing, God, sin, not before and before the yoke, and the notes of the glory to the height of your glory: the bends of your blessings, you have done your halves, and not listening to your commandments. But You, Lord, are gentle, long-suffering and abundantly merciful, and did not let me perish with my iniquities, waiting for my conversion in every possible way.
For Thou art, O Lover of mankind, Thy prophet: for by will I do not desire the death of the sinner, but rather that he should turn and live. You do not want, Master, to destroy your creation by hand, and you are pleased with the destruction of mankind, but you want to save everyone, and come to the understanding of the truth. Moreover, I am, even though I am unworthy of heaven and earth, and have sowed temporary lives, having subjected myself to sin, and enslaved myself with sweets, and desecrated Your image; but Thy creation and creation have been, I do not despair of my salvation, the accursed one, but daring and coming to Your immeasurable kindness.
Accept me too, O Lord who loves mankind, as a harlot, as a thief, as a publican and as a prodigal, and take away my heavy burden of sins, take away the sin of the world and infirmities Healing men, calling and resting those who labor and are burdened to Himself, who did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And cleanse me from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and teach me to perform holiness in Thy passion: for with the clear knowledge of my conscience, having accepted part of Thy holy things, I will unite Thy holy Body and Blood, and I have You living and abiding in me, with the Father, and Your Holy Spirit.
Hey, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, and may the communion of your most pure and life-giving Mysteries not be a judgment upon me, nor may I be weak in soul and body, for I am therefore unworthy to receive communion everything, but let me, even until my final breath, accept it without judgment part of Thy holy things, in communion with the Holy Spirit, as a guide to the eternal life, and for a favorable answer at Thy Last Judgment: for yes, and I will be a fellow member of the incorruptible with all Thy chosen ones. all the blessings that you have prepared for those who love you, Lord, in the following you are glorified in eyelids. Amen.
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, also eternal and without beginning, because of the abundance of goodness in the last days he was clothed with flesh, and crucified, and buried, for us, the ungrateful. and the foolish, and with His own Blood, recreated our nature corrupted by sin!
You Yourself, immortal King, accept the repentance of me, a sinner, and incline Your ear to me and hear my words. For I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned against heaven and before You and am not worthy to look at the height of Your glory: after all, I have angered Your goodness by transgressing Your commandments and not listening to Your commands. But You, Lord, gentle, long-suffering and abundantly merciful, did not allow me to perish among my iniquities, patiently awaiting my conversion.
For You, O Lover of Mankind, said through Your prophet: “I do not at all desire the death of a sinner, but that he should turn and live.” After all, You do not want, O Lord, for the creation of Your hands to perish, and You do not find satisfaction in the death of people, but You want everyone to be saved and achieve the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, although I am unworthy of heaven and earth, and of this short-lived life, having subordinated myself entirely to sin, and enslaved myself to pleasures, and darkened Your image in myself, but, being Your creation and creation, I do not despair of my own salvation, unfortunate, and to I boldly come to Your immeasurable mercy.
Accept me, O Lord, Lover of mankind, as a harlot, as a thief, as a tax collector and as a prodigal son, and take away from me the heavy burden of sins, lifting up the sin of the world and the infirmities of men, healing, calling those who labor and are burdened to Himself and giving them peace, who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance - cleanse me too from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (and) teach me to lead a holy life in fear of You, so that I, with a clear testimony of my conscience, accepting part of Your holy things, unite with Your holy Body and Blood and had You dwelling and abiding in me, with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
So, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries not be a judgment against me, and may I not become weak in soul and body from their unworthy communion, but grant me, until my last breath, to accept part of it without condemnation Thy shrines - for communion with the Holy Spirit, for guidance into eternal life and for a favorable answer at Thy Last Judgment, so that I, along with all Thy chosen ones, may become a participant in Thy incorruptible blessings, which Thou hast prepared for those who love Thee, O Lord, in which Thou art glorified forever. Amen.
Psalms before Communion
To ensure that the communion procedure takes place in accordance with church canons and does not violate established regulations, three psalms are also read, numbered 22, 23 and 115. In the first psalm there is an appeal to the Lord, who gave life and guidance on the true path, the greatness of his will and all-embracing mercy are mentioned . The staff and rod of the Lord are mentioned as weapons of defense for the believer:
Psalm 22:
The Lord shepherds (leads) me and does not deprive me of anything. There, in a green place, He settled me and raised me by the still water. He converted my soul, directed me on the path of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even if I walk in the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff - they have comforted me. You have prepared a table for me in view of my oppressors, You have anointed my head with oil, and Your cup gives me drink as if it were excellent! And Your mercy follows me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord many days!
Psalm 23:
The Lord's earth and everything that fills it, the universe and all who live in it. He founded it on the seas and built it on the rivers. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who will stand in His holy place? The one who has blameless hands and a pure heart, who in his soul was not carried away by vanity and did not swear deceitfully to his neighbor. This one will receive a blessing from the Lord and mercy from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob! Princes, lift up your gates and stand up, everlasting gates! And the King of Glory will enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord is mighty and strong, the Lord is mighty in battle. Princes, lift up your gates and stand up, everlasting gates! 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 therefore said: I am very broken. I said in my frenzy: every man is a liar. What shall I render to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will accept the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people. The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord. God! I am Your servant. I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid. You have broken my bonds. I will offer you a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, among you, O Jerusalem!
How and by whom the penitential canon was created
The penitential discipline of Christians has been formed since ancient times. At the same time, corresponding prayers arose. Initially, they were performed during worship in the temple, and not privately. The canons in their current form are believed to have appeared around the 8th-9th centuries. Their authors were monks - St. Andrey Kritsky, Rev. John of Damascus, St. Cosma Maiyumsky and others. In Rus', the practice of reading canons spread only from the 14th century. Since that time, special liturgical books have been known - Canons.
Neither the time of creation nor the authorship of the canon of repentance to Jesus Christ is known exactly. Some attribute it to the famous commander and pious Christian, A.V. Suvorov. He allegedly created this text inspired by the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, which is read in churches during Lent.
Such a text by Suvorov actually exists, but it differs quite seriously from the Canon to Jesus Christ found in the prayer books.
In any case, there is no doubt about the antiquity of the penitential text, its impact on the soul, which many believers experienced.
^ Prayer 10, St. John of Damascus
I stand before the doors of Your temple, and I do not retreat from evil thoughts; but You, Christ God, justified the publican, and had mercy on the Canaanites, and opened the doors of paradise to the thief,
Open to me the wombs of Your love for mankind and receive me who comes and touches You, like a harlot and one who has a problem with blood: for when I touch the hem of Your robe, let me receive healing, O But Thy most pure ones restrained their noses and suffered the remission of sins.
And I, the accursed one, dare to perceive Your entire Body, so that I will not be scorched; but accept me as they do, and enlighten my spiritual feelings, burning away my sinful guilt, with the prayers of the seedless One who gave birth to You, and the Heavenly powers; For blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I stand before the gates of Your temple and do not abandon evil thoughts. But You, Christ God, have justified the publican, and had mercy on the Canaanite woman, and opened the gates of paradise to the thief,
Open to me Your humane heart and accept me, who comes and touches You, as a harlot and a bleeding woman: after all, having touched the hem of Your garment, I was easily healed; the other, having embraced Your most pure feet, acquired forgiveness of sins.
But I, unfortunate one, deciding to accept Your entire Body, may I not be burned, but accept me as you accepted those women, and enlighten the feelings of my soul, burning away my sinful offenses, - at the intercessions of the One who gave birth to You and the heavenly Powers without seed, - for You blessed forever and ever. Amen.
When you come to receive communion, mentally pronounce these verses of Metaphrast:
I now begin Divine Communion. To the creator, do not scorch me with communion: For you are fire, scorching the unworthy. But cleanse me from all filth.
Behold, I begin Divine Communion; Creator, do not burn me with communion! For You are a fire that burns the unworthy; but cleanse me from all filth.
Then:
Thy secret supper this day, O Son of God, receive me as a partaker; I will not tell your enemies a secret, nor give you a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess to you: remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.
Accept me as a participant in Your mystical Supper on this day, Son of God. 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 poems:
O man, it is in vain to be horrified at the idolizing Blood: For there is fire to burn the unworthy. The Divine Body both adores and nourishes me: It adores the spirit, but it strangely nourishes the mind.
Shudder, man, when you see the deifying Blood: for it is a burning coal, scorching the unworthy. The Body of God both deifies me and nourishes me: it deifies the spirit, but it nourishes the mind incomprehensibly.
Then the troparia:
You have sweetened me with love, O Christ, and you have changed me with Your Divine care; but my sins were caught in immaterial fire, and I may be satisfied with the pleasures of You: let me exultantly magnify, O Blessed One, Your two comings.
You attracted me with love, Christ, and changed me with divine desire for You. But burn my sins with immaterial fire and grant me to be satisfied with pleasure in You, so that I, rejoicing, may magnify Your two comings, O Good One.
In the light of Thy Saints, how is there an unworthy one? If I dare to go into the chamber, my clothes will convict me, as if I am not married, and I will be bound and cast out from the angels. Cleanse, Lord, the filth of my soul, and save me, as a Lover of Mankind.
How can I, unworthy, enter into the bright host of Your saints? After all, if I dare to enter the bridal chamber with them, my clothes will expose me, for this is not what they wear to marriage, and, bound, I will be expelled by the Angels. Cleanse, Lord, the filth of my soul and save me, as a Lover of mankind.
Also prayer:
Master, Lover of Mankind, Lord Jesus Christ my God, let this Holy One not come into judgment for me, for I am unworthy to be: but for the purification and sanctification of soul and body, and for the betrothal of the future life and kingdom. It is good for me, even if I cleave to God, to place the hope of my salvation in the Lord.
Master Lover of Mankind, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may this shrine not be a judgment against me for my unworthiness, but for the purification and sanctification of soul and body, and as a pledge of future life and the Kingdom. It is good for me to cleave to God, to place my hope in the Lord for my salvation.
And further:
Thy secret supper this day, O Son of God, receive me as a partaker; I will not tell your enemies a secret, nor give you a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess to you: remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.
In prayer books and liturgical books, some frequently used prayers are not given in full each time, but are indicated abbreviated.
So, “Glory, and now: (or: “Glory: And now:”) reads as “Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen".
“Glory:” - “Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
“And now:” - “And now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen".
“Alleluia” (Three times) - “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God.” (Thrice)
^ His, 9th
Lord Jesus Christ my God, weaken, forsake, cleanse and forgive me, your sinner, and unworthy, and unworthy servant, my sins, and trespasses, and my falls, the tree of Ti from my youth I, even to this day and hour, have sinned: even in my mind and in foolishness, and also in words or deeds, or thoughts and thoughts, and undertakings, and all my feelings.
And through the prayers of the seedless One who gave birth to Thee, the Most Pure and Ever-Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, the only shameless hope and intercession and salvation of my life, grant me the uncondemned communion of the most pure oh, immortal, life-giving and terrible Mysteries of Yours, for the remission of sins and eternal life:
for sanctification, and enlightenment, strength, healing, and health of soul and body, and for the consumption and complete destruction of my evil thoughts, and thoughts, and enterprises, and nightly dreams, dark and onions new spirits; For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and the honor, and the worship, with the Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God, weaken, let go, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner, and an unworthy and unworthy servant of Your mistakes, and sins, and my falls, with which I have sinned before You from my youth to this day and hour: whether consciously and through ignorance, or words, or deeds, or thoughts, or plans and habits, and all my feelings.
And through the intercession of the all-pure and ever-virgin Mary, Thy Mother, who gave birth to You without seed, my only firm hope, and protection, and salvation, grant me worthy to partake, not in condemnation, of Your most pure, eternal, life-giving and terrible Mysteries, in the forgiveness of sins and in eternal life,
to sanctification and enlightenment, and to strength, and to healing and health of both soul and body, and to the extermination and complete destruction of my evil plans, and thoughts, and intentions, and night visions of dark and evil spirits. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and the honor, and the worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
