Iconography: Gabriel, archangel Dates: XII century. Around 1200. Icon painting school or art center: Novgorod (?) Material: Wood, tempera. Dimensions of the icon: height 48 cm, width 39 cm. The icon comes from the main Deesis tier. Archangel Gabriel bows his head three-quarters to the left, towards the center of the composition. The archangel's hair is cut with a golden assist. Inv. No. DRZh-2115. © Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, 2011
Iconography: Gabriel, archangel
Dating: XII century. Around 1200.
Icon painting school or art center: Novgorod (?)
Material: Wood, tempera
Icon dimensions: height 48 cm, width 39 cm
The icon comes from the main Deesis rank. Archangel Gabriel bows his head three-quarters to the left, towards the center of the composition. The archangel's hair is cut with a golden assist.
Inv. No. DRZh-2115. © Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, 2011
Of the many liturgical songs, there is one - short, but understandable to everyone. In the chant one can hear the joy of communion with God, a petition for mercy, and hope for the best.
Origin of Prayer
The Trisagion occupies an important place among Christian prayers. Nowadays, these lines are known to every Christian. They are read during services and when turning to God independently. The Trisagion has been known since early Christianity, as mentioned by John Chrysostom. The story of how this prayer entered Orthodox worship is known from an ancient Byzantine tradition.
According to legend, in 438 or 439, during Lent, a terrible earthquake occurred in Constantinople. People came out of their houses into the streets and joined religious processions and processions. The priests at the head of the processions asked God to grant salvation to the townspeople and stop the shaking of the earth. Among the frightened people was a boy to whom the incredible happened.
Divine forces raised the child to heaven, where the wondrous voices of angels were heard singing the Trisagion. When the boy found himself on the ground, he hurried to inform the adults about what had happened. Information immediately reached the Byzantine patriarch, who ordered the praise the child heard to be sung in the streets so that God would have mercy. And a miracle happened: the earthquake stopped.
In gratitude to the Lord for saving the city, the powerful Empress Pulcheria ordered the reading of the Trisagion during divine services. Later, during the Ecumenical Council, this decree was consolidated.
There is another opinion about the origin of prayer. A certain monk Job explains the wording of the text by combining two quotes from the Holy Scriptures and a petition for mercy. It is implied that the appeal to the Trinity was known before the events described in the legend. One way or another, the sacred text entered the Orthodox and Catholic tradition.
Supporters of the heretical teachings of the Monophysites tried to distort the text. At some point, they managed to seize power in Byzantium and impose their order of worship. However, after a short time they were defeated, and the heretical rules were canceled. The Trisagion was originally written in Greek; the Russian Orthodox Church reads a literal translation.
When and why should you read the Trisagion?
Since this prayer is one of the opening prayers, it is often read in Orthodox services. For example, during the Liturgy, prayer service, funeral rites and before the start of any significant service.
“The Trisagion,” “The Most Holy Trinity,” and “Our Father” open the morning and evening prayer rules, akathists, canons, prayer services, and reading the psalter. Therefore, every Orthodox Christian must know this most important text.
On some days this prayer is not read. On Easter, during Bright Week, on Trinity and Christmas, instead of the Trisagion, holiday troparia are read. And on the days of the Cross of Christ (the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, the week of the veneration of the cross, the Origin of the honorable trees of the Life-giving Cross) the hymn of the cross is sung.
According to sources, the Trisagion does not serve any specific purpose. That is, it is impossible through this prayer to receive some kind of “amulet” or instantly cure diseases. “Trisagion” is the glorification of the Holy Trinity. The task here is to get closer to God, to tune in to spiritual improvement through a reminder of the greatness of the Lord.
Therefore, if this prayer resonates with a person’s heart, then, of course, it is useful to read it. But you shouldn’t reduce its meaning to your own expectations. You can use these words along with other introductory prayers, seeking God's blessing before important endeavors.
How to pray correctly
The prayer is always read three times, because in the Trisagion each line is dedicated to one of the faces of the Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. With each repetition, you are supposed to sign yourself with the sign of the cross and bow. You can do it on the ground, kneeling, or from the waist, depending on your physical condition and what period of the liturgical year is currently underway.
Despite the fact that you can pray anywhere and at any time, to turn to God on your own, it is better to choose a quiet place where no one will disturb or distract you. It’s good if there are icons, and especially if there is an image of the Holy Trinity. Otherwise, the rules are still the same: renounce worldly affairs and worries and direct your mind to Christ. The Lord will help and enlighten you not because of special prayers, but because of diligence, sincere faith and desire for goodness.
Body position during prayer
During prayer, different postures and gestures are used.
You can pray standing, you can kneel, you can pray with your hands in front of you, sometimes you bow. In general, it is very important that the person praying also uses the body. You can, of course, pray while lying down, but this is only if you are sick. Or while traveling, we sit and silently pray. But in ordinary life, you need to adhere to prayers while standing, and if you find yourself in a service in the Temple, then you need to comply with the parishioners. Accustom yourself to Prayer and your life will certainly improve. Be grateful for what you have.
Full text in Russian
Usually the Trisagion is read before the start of large services, in conjunction with other introductory prayers. Most often the following sequence occurs. After reading these prayers, they begin to move on to more important and larger service rules.
Text
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Comforter, Truth of the Soul, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls sha.
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
It is read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Three times). Glory, and now:
Following to Holy Communion
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and 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, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
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, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God.
(Bow)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.
(Bow) Psalm 22
The Lord shepherds me, and will deprive me of nothing.
In a green place, there they settled me, on the calm water they raised me. Convert my soul, guide me on the paths of righteousness, for Your name’s sake. Even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your club will comfort me. Thou hast prepared a table before me to resist those who are cold to me, Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup makes me drunken, like a mighty one. And Thy mercy will marry me all the days of my life, and make me dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of days. Psalm 23
The earth is the Lord's, and its fulfillment, the world, and all who live on it.
He founded food on the seas, and prepared food on the rivers. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who will stand in His holy place? He is innocent in his hands and pure in heart, who does not take his soul in vain, and does not swear by his sincere flattery. This one will receive blessings from the Lord, and alms from God, his Savior. This is the generation of those who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O princes, and lift up the everlasting gates; and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord is strong and strong, the Lord is strong in battle. Lift up your gates, O princes, and lift up the everlasting gates, and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory. Psalm 115
I believed, I also spoke, and I was greatly humbled. I died in my frenzy: every man is a lie. What shall I repay to the Lord for all that I have repaid? I will accept the cup of salvation, and I will call on the name of the Lord; I will offer my prayers to the Lord before all His people. The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord. O Lord, I am Your servant, I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid; You have torn apart my bonds. I will devour a sacrifice of praise for you, and in the name of the Lord I will call. I will offer my prayers to the Lord before all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, Jerusalem.
Glory, even now: Alleluia. (Three times with three bows)
Troparion, tone 8
Despise my iniquity, O Lord, be born of a Virgin, and cleanse my heart, creating a temple for Your most pure Body and Blood, lower me from Your face, having great mercy without number.
Glory: In the communion of Your holy things, how dare I [become], unworthy? Because I dare to approach You with the worthy, the robe denounces me as if it were not the evening, and I intercede for condemnation of my many-sinful soul. Cleanse, Lord, the filth of my soul, and save me, as a Lover of Mankind.
And now: My many and many sins, Mother of God, I have come running to You, O Pure One, demanding salvation: visit my weak soul, and pray to Your Son and our God to grant me forgiveness for the evil deeds, O Blessed One.
[On Holy Pentecost:
When the glorious disciple is enlightened at the thought of the supper, then the evil Judas, sickened by the love of money, becomes darkened, and betrays Your righteous Judge to the lawless judges.
See, the steward of the property, who used strangulation for these sakes: flee the unsatiated soul, such a daring Teacher. O Lord, who is good to all, glory to You.] Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity.
Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. To You alone have I sinned and done evil before You; for you may be justified in all of Your words, and you will always triumph over Your judgment. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, you have loved the truth; You have revealed to me the unknown and secret wisdom of Yours. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. My hearing brings joy and joy; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; My tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and humble heart. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; Then they will place the bullock on Your altar. Canon, voice 2 Song 1 Irmos:
Come, people, let us sing a song to Christ God, who divided the sea, and taught the people, even as he learned from the work of Egypt, for he was glorified,
Chorus:
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb.
May Thy Holy Body, O most gracious Lord, be the bread of the eternal life, and the Honest Blood, and healing of manifold ailments.
Chorus:
Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
The accursed one, defiled by unplaceable deeds, am unworthy, O Christ, of Your Most Pure Body and Divine Blood, to receive communion, which you have vouchsafed to me.
Chorus:
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos:
O good earth, blessed Bride of God, vegetating untouched and saving the world, grant me this food to be saved.
Song 3 Irmos:
Having established me on the rock of faith, you have enlarged my mouth against my enemies. For my spirit is glad, always singing: none is holy like our God, and none is righteous more than Thee, O Lord.
Give me tearful drops, O Christ, that cleanse the filth of my heart: for as I have been purified by a good conscience, I come by faith and fear, O Master, to partake of Thy Divine Gifts.
May Thy Most Pure Body and Divine Blood be with me for the remission of sins, the communion of the Holy Spirit, and into eternal life, Lover of mankind, and alienation from passions and sorrows.
Theotokos:
The Most Holy Bread of the Animals, from above the mercy of which came down, and gave peace to a new life, and now vouchsafe me, the unworthy, to taste this with fear, and live to be.
Song 4 Irmos:
You came from the Virgin, not an intercessor, nor an Angel, but Himself, Lord, incarnate, and you saved me as a whole man. Thus I call to Thee: glory to Thy power, O Lord.
Thou didst desire, for our sake, to be incarnated, O Omni-merciful One, to be slain like a sheep, sin for the sake of men: I also pray to Thee, and cleanse my sins.
Heal my ulcers, Lord, and sanctify everything: and grant, O Master, that I may partake of Your secret Divine Supper, the accursed one.
Theotokos:
Compassionate me also from Thy womb, O Lady, and keep me undefiled by Thy servant and undefiled, like the reception of clever beads, I will be sanctified.
Song 5 Irmos:
Light to the Giver and Creator of ages, O Lord, instruct us in the light of Your commandments; Don’t we know any other god for You?
As you foretold, O Christ, that it would be done to your evil servant, and abide in me, as you promised: for behold, Your Body is Divine, and I drink Your Blood.
Word of God and God, may the coal of Your Body be for me, who is darkened, into enlightenment, and the cleansing of my defiled soul may Your Blood.
Theotokos:
Mary, Mother of God, sweet-smelling village, make me a chosen vessel through Your prayers, so that I may partake of Your Son in sanctification.
Song 6 Irmos:
Lying in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unsearchable abyss of Thy mercy: lift me up from aphids, O God.
Sanctify my mind, soul and heart, O Savior, and my body, and grant me, without condemnation, O Lord, to approach the terrible Mysteries.
So that I may withdraw from passions, and have the application of Your grace, the affirmation of my life, through the communion of the Saints, Christ, of Your Mysteries.
Theotokos:
God, God, Holy Word, sanctify me entirely, now coming to Thy Divine Mysteries, Thy Holy Mother with prayers.
Kontakion, voice 2nd
Bread, O Christ, do not despise me, take Thy Body, and now Thy Divine Blood, most pure, O Lord, and Thy terrible Mysteries, partake of the accursed, may it not be for me in judgment, may it be for me in eternal life and immortal.
Song 7 Irmos:
The wise children did not serve the golden body, and they themselves went into the flames, and cursed their gods, and cried out in the midst of the flames, and I was an angel: the prayer of your lips has already been heard.
May the source of good things, communion, Christ, of Thy immortal Mysteries now be light, and life, and dispassion, and for the advancement and increase of the most Divine virtue, through intercession, the only Good One, for I glorify Thee.
May I be delivered from passions, and enemies, and needs, and all sorrows, with trembling and love with reverence, O Lover of mankind, approach now Your immortal and Divine Mysteries, and vouchsafe to You to sing: Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers.
Theotokos:
Who gave birth to the Savior of Christ more than the mind, O God-gracious One, I now pray to Thee, Thy pure and impure servant: who now wishes to approach the most pure Mysteries of me, cleanse all from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
Song 8 Irmos:
Who came down into the fiery furnace of the Jewish youth, and who turned God into flames into dew, sing the works of the Lord, and exalt them unto all ages.
Heavenly, and terrible, and Thy saints, Christ, now the Mysteries, and Thy Divine and Last Supper to be a fellow-companion and vouchsafe to me the desperate one, O God, my Savior.
Beneath Your compassion, O Good One, I call upon You with fear: abide in me, O Savior, and I, as you said, in You; Behold, daring in Thy mercy, I eat Thy Body and drink Thy Blood.
Chorus:
Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee.
Trinity:
I tremble, accepting the fire, lest I be scorched like wax and like grass;
Ole terrible sacrament! Ole of God's mercy! How do I partake of the Divine Body and Blood of clay and become incorruptible? Song 9 Irmos:
The Son, the God and the Lord, who was incarnated from the Virgin, appeared to us without beginning, the darkened one to enlighten, the squandered brother: with this we magnify the all-sung Mother of God.
Chorus:
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb.
Christ is, taste and see: the Lord for our sake, having been for us of old, brought Himself alone, as an offering to His Father, He is ever slain, sanctifying those who partake.
Chorus:
Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
May I be sanctified in soul and body, Master, may I be enlightened, may I be saved, may Thy house be a communion of the sacred Mysteries, having You living within me with the Father and the Spirit, O Most Merciful Benefactor.
Chorus:
Reward me with the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit.
Let me be like fire, and like light, Your Body and Blood, my most honorable Savior, scorching the sinful substance, burning the thorns of passions, and enlightening all of me, let me worship Your Divinity.
Chorus:
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokos:
God became incarnate from Your pure blood; In the same way, every race sings to Thee, the Lady, and the intelligent multitudes glorify, as through Thee they have clearly seen the Ruler of all, who existed among humanity.
It is worthy to eat... the Trisagion. Holy Trinity... Our Father...
Troparion of the day or holiday. If it is a week, the Sunday troparion according to the tone. If not, real troparia, tone 6:
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; Perplexed by any answer, we offer this prayer to You, as the Lord, sinners: have mercy on us.
Glory: Lord, have mercy on us, for we trust in You; Do not be angry with us, remember our iniquities, but look upon us now as if you are gracious, and deliver us from our enemies. For Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; all works are done by Thy hand, and we call upon Thy name.
And now: Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, so that we may not perish, but may be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
Lord have mercy. (40 times) Then bow as much as you want.
And the verses:
Although eat, O man, the Master’s Body, approach with fear, lest you be scorched: for there is fire.
Drinking the Divine Blood for communion, first reconciling those who have grieved you. Also daring, the mysterious food is delicious. Before communion of the terrible sacrifice, the Life-giving Body, the Master, prayed in this manner with trepidation: Prayer 1, Basil the Great
Master Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Source of life and immortality, of all creatures, visible and invisible, to the Creator, co-essential with the beginningless Father with the Son and co-originating with many For the sake of goodness in the last days, He clothed himself in flesh, and was crucified, and was buried for us, ungrateful and malicious, and with Your Blood, renewing our nature corrupted by sin, Himself, Immortal King, accept my sinful repentance, and incline Your ear to me, and hear my words .
For I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned in heaven and before You, and I am not worthy to look upon the height of Your glory: I have angered Your goodness, having transgressed Your commandments, and not listened to Your commands. But You, Lord, are kind, long-suffering and abundantly merciful, and did not give me up to perish with my iniquities, waiting for my conversion in every possible way. Thou art, O Lover of mankind, Thy prophet: for by will I do not want the death of a sinner, but the hedgehog will turn and live to be him. You do not want, Master, to destroy your creation by hand, and you are less than pleased with the destruction of mankind, but you want to save everyone and come into the mind of truth. Likewise, I, even though I am unworthy of heaven and earth, and sow temporary life, having subjected myself to sin, and enslaved myself with pleasure, and desecrated Your image; but having become Thy creation and creature, I do not despair of my salvation, the accursed one, but daring to receive Thy immeasurable compassion, I come. Accept me, 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 heal the infirmities of man, call those who labor and are burdened to Yourself and give rest to those who did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And cleanse me from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, and teach me to perform holiness in Thy Passion: for by the pure knowledge of my conscience, having received part of Thy holy things, I may unite with Thy holy Body and Blood, and have You living and abiding in me, with the Father, and Your Holy Spirit. To her, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may the communion of Thy most pure and life-giving Mysteries not be in judgment for me, nor may I be weak in soul and body, so that I am not worthy to receive communion, but grant me, even until my final breath, to accept without condemnation part of Thy holy things, in communion with the Holy Spirit, in the path of eternal life, and in a favorable answer at Thy Last Judgment: for I, too, with all Thy chosen ones, will be a partaker of Thy incorruptible blessings, which Thou hast prepared for those who love Thee, O Lord, in which Thou art glorified in eyelids. Amen. Prayer 2, of St. John Chrysostom,
Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy, I am content below, so that you may bring the temple of my soul under the roof, which is all empty and fallen, and there is no place in me worthy to bow my head: but as with For the sake of our heights you humbled yourself, humble yourself now to my humility;
and as you received it in the den and in the wordless manger, reclining, take it in the wordless manger of my soul, and bring it into my defiled body. And just as you did not fail to bring in and shine a light on the sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so deign to bring 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, have mercy on me, a sinner, who comes and touches You; and just as you did not abhor her foul and unclean lips kissing Thee, below mine, abhor those defiled and unclean lips, below my vile and unclean lips, and my foul and unclean tongue. But may the coal of Your most holy Body, and Your honorable Blood, be for me, for the sanctification and enlightenment and health of my humble soul and body, for the relief of the burdens of many of my sins, for the protection from every devilish action, for the driving away and prohibition of my evil and evil customs, for the mortification of passions, for the supply of Thy commandments, for the application of Thy Divine grace, and the appropriation of Thy Kingdom. It is not because I come to You, O Christ our God, that I despise You, but because I dare you in Your ineffable goodness, and let me not withdraw from Your fellowship in the depths, I will be hunted down by the mental wolf. In the same way I pray to You: as the only One who is Holy, Master, sanctify my soul and body, mind and heart, womb and womb, and renew all of me, and root Your fear in my hearts, and create Your sanctification inseparably from me; and be my helper and intercessor, feeding my belly in the world, making me worthy to stand at Your right hand with Your saints, the prayers and supplications of Your Most Pure Mother, Your immaterial servants and the Most Pure Powers, and all the saints who have pleased You from the ages. Amen Prayer 3, Simeon Metaphrast
One 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 nature, who gave birth to Thee, the Divine Spirit by invasion, and by the favor of the ever-present Father, Christ Jesus, the wisdom of God, and peace , and strength;
By your perception of the life-giving and saving suffering perceived, cross, nails, spear, death, mortify my soul-smothering bodily passions. By Your burial of the hellish kingdoms, bury my good thoughts, evil advice, and destroy the spirits of wickedness. By Thy three-day and life-giving resurrection of the fallen forefather, raise me up in the sin that crawled, offering me images of repentance. By Thy glorious ascension, the carnal perception of God, and honor this on the right hand of the Father, grant me the gift of receiving the communion of Thy holy Mysteries on the right hand of those who are being saved. By bringing forth the Comforter of Thy Spirit, Thy disciples have made honorable sacred vessels, friend and show me That coming. Although you would like to come again to judge the universe with righteousness, deign to seat You on the clouds, my Judge and Creator, with all Your saints: may I endlessly glorify and sing Your praises, with Your beginningless Father, and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen. Prayer 4, Saint John of Damascus
Master Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who alone has the power to forgive man’s sins, for as he is good and a lover of mankind, despise all my sins in knowledge and ignorance, and grant me the ability to partake without condemnation of the Divine, the most glorious, and the most pure , and Your life-giving Mysteries, not into heaviness, nor into torment, nor into the addition of sins, but for cleansing, and sanctification, and the betrothal of the future Life and kingdom, for the wall and help, and for the objection of those who resist, for the destruction of many of my sins.
For You are the God of mercy, and generosity, and love for mankind, and we send up glory to You, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Prayer 5, Saint Basil the Great
We know, Lord, that I unworthily partake of Your most pure Body and Your honorable Blood, and I am guilty, and I judge myself and drink, not judging the Body and Blood of You of Christ and my God, but daring in Your bounty I come to You who said: He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
Have mercy, O Lord, and do not expose me, a sinner, but do with me according to Your mercy; and may this saint be mine for healing, and purification, and enlightenment, and preservation, and salvation, and for the sanctification of soul and body; to drive away every dream, and evil deed, and the action of the devil, acting mentally in my lands, into boldness and love, even towards You; for the correction of life and affirmation, for the return of virtue and perfection; in fulfillment of the commandments, in communion with the Holy Spirit, in the guidance of the eternal life, in response to a favorable response at Thy Last Judgment: not in judgment or condemnation. Prayer 6 of Saint Simeon the New Theologian
From unclean lips, from a vile heart, from an unclean tongue, from a soul defiled, accept the prayer, my Christ, and do not despise my words, below images, below lack of study.
Grant me to boldly say what I want, my Christ, and even more so, teach me what I should do and say. Having sinned more than the harlot, even though I knew where you were, having bought myrrh, I came boldly to anoint Your nose, my God, my Lord and Christ. Just as you did not reject the one that came from your heart, abhor me below, the Word: Give yours to my nose, and hold and kiss, and boldly anoint this with streams of tears, like a valuable ointment. Wash me with my tears, cleanse me with them, O Word. Forgive my sins and grant me forgiveness. Weigh a multitude of evils, weigh my scabs, and see my ulcers, but also weigh my faith, and see my will, and hear my sighing. There is no hidden part of you, my God, my Creator, my Savior, below a drop of tears, below a drop of a certain part. Thy eyes have seen what I have not done, and in Thy book the essence of what has not yet been done is written to You. See my humility, see my great labor, and forgive me all my sins, O God of all: so that with a pure heart, a trembling thought, and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your undefiled and most holy Mysteries, by which everyone who eats poison and drinks with a pure heart is revived and adored; For you have said, my Lord: everyone who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood, he abides in Me, and in Him I Am. The word of all my Lord and God is true: for you partake of the divine and adoring graces, for I am not alone, but with You, my Christ, the Trisunlar Light, enlightening the world. May I not be alone besides You, the Life-Giver, my breath, my life, my joy, the salvation of the world. For this reason, I come to You, as if I saw you, 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 Mysteries without condemnation, so that You may remain, as You have promised, with me, the repentant one: may I not find Your grace except, the deceiver will delight me with 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: as You received the prodigal, and the harlot who came, so receive me, the prodigal and the defiled, Generously. With a contrite soul, now coming to You, we know, Savior, as another, like I, did not sin against You, lower than the deeds I did. But we know this again, because not the greatness of sins, nor the multitude of sins exceeds my God’s great patience and extreme love for mankind; but by the grace of compassion, warmly repentant, and purifying, and brightening, and creating light, you are partakers, associates of Your Divinity, doing unenviably, and strange things with both the Angel and human thought, conversing with them many times, as if with Your true friend. This is the bold thing they do to me, this is what they force me to do, O my Christ. And daring to show us Your rich kindness, rejoicing and trembling together, the grass partakes of the fire, and a strange miracle, we water it without burning, just as the bush of old burned 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 being blessed, now and forever. Prayer 7, Saint John Chrysostom,
God, weaken, forgive, forgive me my sins, even those who have sinned, whether in word, or in deed, or in thought, willingly or unwillingly, with reason or foolishness, forgive me all, as you are good and a lover of mankind, and with prayers Thy Most Pure Mother, Thy intelligent servants and holy powers, and all the saints from the ages who have pleased You, uncondemnably deign to receive Your holy and most pure Body and venerable Blood, 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 ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Him, 8th I am
pleased, Lord Lord, to bring me under the roof of my soul;
but since You, as a Lover of Mankind, want to live in me, I boldly approach; You command that I open the doors that You alone created, and with love for mankind, like You, you will see and enlighten my darkened thoughts. I believe that You have done this: You did not drive away the harlot who came to You with tears; You have rejected below the publican, having repented; below the thief, having come to know Your kingdom, You drove away; Thou hast left the repentant lower than the persecutor; but from repentance Thou hast brought all who have come to Thee, in the person of Thy friends Thou hast made the One blessed, always, now and unto endless ages. Amen. Him, 9th
Lord Jesus Christ my God, weaken, forsake, cleanse and forgive my sinful, and indecent, and unworthy servant, my trespasses, and transgressions, and my fall into sin, the great Thy from my youth, even to this day and those who have sinned: whether in reason or in foolishness, or 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 mine, grant me to uncondemnedly partake of Thy most pure, immortal, life-giving and terrible Mysteries, for the remission of sins and for eternal life: for sanctification and enlightenment , strength, healing, and health of soul and body, and in the consumption and complete destruction of my evil thoughts, and thoughts, and enterprises, and nightly dreams, dark and crafty spirits; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and the honor, and the worship, with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Prayer 10, St. John of Damascus
I stand before the doors of Your temple, and I do not retreat from fierce thoughts;
but You, Christ God, have justified the publican, and had mercy on the Canaanites, and opened the doors of paradise to the thief, open to me the womb of Your love for mankind, and accept me, coming and touching You, like a harlot who is bleeding: and having touched the hem of Your robe, make it easy to receive healing, Thy most pure ones restrained their noses and bore the remission of sins. But I, the accursed one, dare to perceive Your whole Body, so that I will not be scorched; but accept me as you do, and enlighten my spiritual feelings, burning away my sinful guilt, with the prayers of You who gave birth without seed, and the Heavenly powers; for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
I believe, O 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 most pure Blood. I pray to You: have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your most pure Sacraments, for the remission of sins and eternal life. Amen.
When you come to receive communion, mentally recite these verses of Metaphrast:
Here I begin to receive Divine Communion.
To the creator, do not scorch me with communion: For thou art a fire, unworthy of scorching. But cleanse me from all filth. Then:
Thy secret supper this day, O Son of God, accept me as a partaker;
I will not tell your enemies the secret, nor give you a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess to you: remember me, O Lord, in your kingdom. And the verses:
O man, fear the idolizing Blood in vain: For there is fire, burn the unworthy.
The Divine Body both adores and nourishes me: It adores the spirit, but it strangely nourishes the mind. Then the troparia:
You have sweetened me with love, O Christ, and you have changed me with Your Divine care; but my sins fell into immaterial fire, and I am vouchsafed to be filled with pleasure in You: let me rejoice, O Blessed One, magnify Your two comings.
In the light of Thy Saints, what is there who is unworthy?
Even if I dare to go into the palace, my clothes will expose me as not being for marriage, and I will be cast out from the Angels, bound and bound. Cleanse, Lord, the filth of my soul, and save me, as a Lover of Mankind. Also the prayer:
Master, Lover of Mankind, Lord Jesus Christ my God, let this Holy One not be in judgment against me, for being unworthy of me: 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, if I cleave to God, to place the hope of my salvation in the Lord. And one more thing:
Thy secret supper...
(See above)
Anyone who wishes to receive communion must prepare worthily for this holy sacrament. This preparation (in church practice it is called fasting) lasts several days and concerns both the physical and spiritual life of a person. The body is prescribed abstinence, i.e. bodily purity (abstinence from marital relations) and food restriction (fasting). On fasting days, food of animal origin is excluded - meat, milk, eggs and, during strict fasting, fish. Bread, vegetables, fruits are consumed in moderation. The mind should not be distracted by the trifles of everyday life and have fun.
On the days of fasting, one should attend services in church, if circumstances permit, and more diligently follow the household prayer rule: whoever usually does not read all morning and evening prayers, let him read everything in full; whoever does not read the canons, let him read at least one on these days canon. On the eve of communion, you must be at the evening service and read at home, in addition to the usual prayers for the future, the canon of repentance, the canon to the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel. The canons are read either one after the other in full, or combined in this way: the irmos of the first song of the penitential canon is read (“As Israel walked across the dry land, in the abyss with its feet, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out”) and the troparia, then the troparia of the first songs of the canon to the Theotokos (“I am overcome by many adversities, I resort to You, seeking salvation: O Mother of the Word and the Virgin, save me from the heavy and cruel”), omitting the irmos “The water has passed…”, and the troparia of the canon to the Guardian Angel, also without the irmos ( “Let us praise the Lord, who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone has been gloriously glorified.” The following songs are read in the same way. The troparia before the canon of the Theotokos and the Guardian Angel, as well as the stichera after the canon of the Theotokos, are omitted in this case.
The canon for communion is also read and, for those who wish, an akathist to the Sweetest Jesus. After midnight they no longer eat or drink, for it is customary to begin the Sacrament of Communion on an empty stomach. In the morning, the morning prayers and the entire sequence for Holy Communion are read, except for the canon read the day before.
Before communion, confession is necessary - either in the evening or in the morning, before the liturgy.
