Part 5
Help me, Mother of God, for I have great hope in you! Pray to your Son, that when He sits to judge the living and the dead, He may place me at His right hand, even though I am unworthy.
Canon to the Theotokos
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
O Virgin who bore Christ and wipes away every tear from every face: turn not away from my flowing tears.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
O Virgin who received the fullness of joy which destroyed the sorrow of sin: fill my heart with joy!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Be a haven and intercession, an indestructible wall, a refuge, protection and rejoicing for those who run to you, O Virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Enlighten with the rays of your light those who in the True Faith confess you to be the Theotokos, O Virgin, dispelling the darkness of ignorance.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Heal me, O Virgin, as I lie humbled on the place of misfortune, bringing me from illness to health.
Canon to the Guardian Angel
Lord Jesus Christ, my God, have mercy on me!
Have mercy on me, my only Savior, since Thou art merciful and compassionate, and join me to the choir of the Just.
Holy Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!
Grant that I may always think and do what is good and useful, O Angel of the Lord, and show me to be strong and spotless in weakness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Since you are bold before the Heavenly King, pray to Him with all the bodiless powers, that He may have mercy on me, a wretch.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
You have great boldness before the One Who took flesh from you, O Virgin. Remove me from my fetters and grant me freedom and salvation through your prayers.
CANON IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION
ODE 1 (Tone 2)
Irmos: Come, O People, let us sing a hymn to Christ God, Who divided the sea and guided the people Whom He led out of the bondage of Egypt, for He has glorified Himself.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
May Thy Holy Body and Precious Blood, O Lord, be my Bread of everlasting life, healing me of various afflictions.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Make me worthy to partake of Thy most pure Body and Divine Blood, O Christ, for I am unworthy and accursed, defiled by unseemly deeds.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
You are the good soil, blessed Bride of God, which bore the ear of grain, the Savior of the world, which sprang from your untilled field. Grant that I may be saved by eating it.
ODE 3
Irmos: Having established me on the rock of faith, Thou hast strengthened me against my enemies. My spirit rejoices when I sing: There is none holy as our God, and none more righteous than Thou, O Lord!
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Give me tears, O Christ, to cleanse the filth from my heart. Then, cleansed and with a good conscience, may I come with fear and faith to partake of Thy Divine Gifts, O Master.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
O Lover of mankind, may Thy most pure Body and Divine Blood be for the remission of my sins, the communion of the Holy Spirit, life everlasting, and estrangement from passions and sorrows.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most holy Table of the Heavenly Bread which mercifully came down from on high, giving new life to the world; grant that I, who am unworthy, may now taste of Him in fear and live!
ODE 4
Irmos: Thou didst not come as an emissary or an angel, Lord, but from a Virgin, taking flesh and saving the fulness of my humanity. I therefore call out to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Because of human sins, Thou didst will to be slaughtered like a lamb, Most Merciful One Who wast incarnate for us. I pray, therefore: cleanse my sins as well.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Heal the wounds of my soul, Lord, and fully sanctify me. Grant, Master, that I, who am wretched, may partake of Thy Divine Mystical Supper.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Incline towards me, O Lady, the One Who came from your womb. Keep me, your servant, undefiled and spotless, that I may be sanctified by receiving the spiritual pearl.
ODE 5
Irmos: Guide us in the light of Thy commandments, O Lord, the Giver of Light and Creator of the Universe. For we know no other God than Thee.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
As Thou didst foretell, O Christ, so may it be with Thine inadequate servant, and abide in me according to Thy promise: for behold, I eat Thy Flesh and drink Thy Blood.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
May the burning coal of Thy Body, O God and Word of God, be a light in my darkness, and may Thy Blood be the cleansing of my defiled soul.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Mary, Mother of God, precious Tabernacle of the divine Fragrance: make me a chosen vessel, by your prayers, that I may partake of the consecrated elements of your Son.
ODE 6
Irmos: Sunk in the depths of sin, I call on the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: Deliver me from destruction, O God!
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Sanctify my mind, soul, heart, and body, O Savior! Grant, Master, that I may draw near, uncondemned, to the dread Mysteries.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
By partaking of Thy Holy Mysteries, O Christ, may I be estranged from passions, joined to Thy Grace, and confirmed in life.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of Thy holy Mother, O God, the Holy Word of God, sanctify me wholly as I come to Thy divine Mysteries.
Lord, have mercy! (3 times)
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2:
Do not judge me unworthy to receive Thy Body and Divine Blood at this time. May the communion of Thy most pure and dread Mysteries not be to my condemnation, though I am wretched. Be it rather for eternal and everlasting life.
ODE 7
Irmos: The most wise youths would not serve the golden idol, but walked into the flames themselves, scorning the pagan gods. They sang amid the flames and an Angel bedewed them with the words: The prayer of your lips has been heard.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
May this communion of Thine immortal Mysteries, the fountain of good, O Christ, be my light, my life, and my dispassion. May it lead to progress and the increase of divine virtues, only Good One, that I may glorify Thee.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
As I draw near to Thine immortal and divine Mysteries with love and trembling, may I be delivered from passions, enemies, want, and every sorrow. Grant that I may sing to Thee: blessed art Thou, Lord God of our fathers.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
To you who are full of the Grace of God and bore Christ the Savior beyond understanding, I your servant pray--the impure praying to the Pure One: cleanse me, who now wish to draw near to the most pure Mysteries, from all defilement of flesh and spirit.
ODE 8
Irmos: God came down upon the Hebrew youths in the fiery furnace and changed the flames into dew. Praise the acts of the Lord, and exalt Him throughout all ages!
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
O God, my Savior, allow me in my present despair to be a partaker of Thy heavenly, awesome, and holy Mysteries and of Thy divine and mystical supper, O Christ.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Having run to Thy kindness, O Good One, I cry out to Thee in fear: be in me and I in Thee, as Thou didst say, O Savior! Behold: emboldened by Thy mercy, I eat Thy Flesh and drink Thy Blood.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Lord; now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
I tremble when I partake of fire, for fear that I might burn like wax or grass. O the awesome Mysteries! O the kind-heartedness of God! How can I, who am clay, commune of the Divine Body and Blood and become incorruptible?
ODE 9
Irmos: Our God and Lord, the Son of the Eternal Father, revealed Himself to us. He was incarnate of a Virgin that He might enlighten those in darkness and gather those who were scattered. We therefore magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Taste and see that this is Christ, the Lord Who of old became like us for us and Who, having once offered Himself as an offering to His Father, is forever immolated, sanctifying communicants.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
May I be sanctified in soul and body, Master! May I be enlightened! May I be saved! May I become Thy dwelling through communion of the Sacred Mysteries, having Thee living in me with the Father and the Spirit, O Most Merciful Benefactor!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
May Thy Body and Most Pure Blood, my Savior, be to me as fire and light. May they set flame to my sinful matter, burning the thorns of passions and fully enlightening me to worship Thy Divinity.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
God took flesh of your pure blood. Every race therefore hymns you, O Theotokos, and the intelligent multitudes glorify you, for through you we beheld the Ruler of all becoming substance in humanity.
PRAYERS IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
_A priest uses the following:_
Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth Who art everywhere and fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. _(3 times)_
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy! _(3 times)_
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to 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 this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
_(If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation)_
Lord, have mercy! _(12 times)_
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
_NOTE: When the Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion are read immediately after Morning Prayers, we begin the former at this point._
Come, let us worship God our King!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!
Psalm 22
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I 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 my enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, and most excellent is Thy Cup which brings me joy! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!
Psalm 115
I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted"; I said in my consternation, "Every man is a liar." What shall I render to the Lord for all His bounty to me? I will lift up the Cup of Salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to Thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God! _(3 times)_
_And the following TROPARIA, TONE 8:_
Disregard my iniquities, O Lord Who wast born of a Virgin! Cleanse my heart and make it a temple of Thy most pure Body and Blood. Turn me not away from Thy countenance, for Thy great mercy is immeasurable.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
How dare I partake of Thy Holiness in my unworthiness? Even if I dare to approach Thee with the worthy, my garment accuses me, for it is not a wedding-garment, and I secure the condemnation of my most sinful soul. Cleanse, O Lord, the defilement of my soul and save me, for Thou lovest mankind.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Great is the multitude of my sins, O Theotokos! I come to you, O Pure One, in need of salvation. Visit my ailing soul, O You who alone are blessed, and pray to your Son and our God that He absolve the evil I have done.
_NOTE: On Great and Holy Thursday, the following TROPARION is used, in TONE 8:_
When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed Thee, the Righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself. Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord Who art good towards all men, glory to Thee!
_If the Canon of Preparation for Holy Communion has not been read the preceding evening, it may be read here._
Lord, have mercy! _(40 times, with as many prostrations as desired)_
_Then, we read the following Verses of Instruction:_
When you intend, O man, to eat the Master's Body, Approach with fear, lest you be burned--for It is fire! Before drinking the Divine Blood in Communion, Make peace with those who have grieved you. Only then may you dare To eat the Mystical Food.
_We also add the following verses:_
Before partaking of the Dread Sacrifice, The life-giving Body of the Master, Pray, trembling, in this manner:
1st Prayer, of Saint Basil the Great.
O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, the Fountain of life and immortality, the Creator of everything visible and invisible, the eternal and everlasting Son of the eternal Father: Thou hast come in these latter days because of the abundance of Thy goodness. Thou hast put on our human flesh and wast crucified and buried for us thankless and graceless men, and through Thine own blood Thou hast renewed our human nature which is corrupted by sin. And now, O Immortal King, accept the repentance of me a sinner, and incline Thine ear to me and listen to my words:
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned before heaven and before Thy face, and I am not worthy to look upon the height of Thy Glory.
I have provoked Thy goodness, I have transgressed Thy commandments, I have not obeyed Thy statutes.
But, O Lord, since Thou dost not remember evil, but art long-suffering and of great mercy, Thou hast not given me over to destruction for my lawlessness, but hast ever awaited my conversion.
O Lover of mankind, Thou hast said by Thy prophets: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live."
For Thou dost not wish, O Master, that the work of Thy hands should perish, neither dost Thou take pleasure in the destruction of men, but Thou desirest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Therefore, although I am unworthy both of heaven and of earth and of this passing life, having wholly yielded myself to sin and defiled Thine image, yet being Thy creature and of Thy making, I do not despair of my salvation in my wickedness. But made bold by Thine infinite compassion, I draw near.
Receive me, O Christ Who lovest mankind, as Thou didst receive the prostitute, the thief, the tax-collector and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, for Thou takest away the sins of the world, Thou healest the infirmities of mankind, Thou callest to Thyself and givest rest to those who labor and are heavy laden.
Thou hast not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Cleanse me from every stain of flesh and spirit. Teach me to fulfill holiness in fear of Thee, that having the testimony of my own conscience clean, and having communion of Thy holy things, I may be united with Thy Body and Blood and may have Thee to dwell and abide in me, with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit.
O Lord Jesus Christ my God, may the communion of Thy most pure and life-creating mysteries not bring me into judgment, nor may I become weak in soul and body by partaking in an unworthy manner, but grant me to receive communion of Thy holy things without condemnation even to my very last breath, and by them to receive communion of the Holy Spirit, provision for the journey of eternal life, and an acceptable answer at Thy dread judgment seat; that I, together with all Thy chosen ones, may also be a partaker of the incorruptible blessings which Thou hast prepared for those who love thee, O Lord, in whom Thou art glorified forever. Amen.
2nd Prayer, of St. John Chrysostom
O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy nor sufficiently pleasing that Thou shouldst come under the roof of the house of my soul for it is entirely desolate and fallen in ruin, and Thou wilt not find in me a place worthy to lay Thy head. But as Thou didst humble Thyself from on high for our sake, so now humble Thyself to my lowliness.
As Thou didst deign to lie in a cavern, in a manger of dumb beasts, so now deign to enter into the manger of my beastly soul, and into my soiled body.
As Thou didst not disdain to enter and to eat with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so now be pleased to enter into the house of my soul, humble and leprous and sinful.
As Thou didst not cast away the sinful woman who came to touch Thee, so have compassion on me a sinner who comes to touch Thee.
As Thou didst not abhor the kiss of her sin-stained and unclean mouth, do not abhor my mouth, worse stained and more unclean than hers, nor my stained and shamed and unclean lips, nor my still more impure tongue.
But let the fiery coal of Thy most pure Body and Thy most precious Blood bring me sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my lowly soul and body, relief from the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every action of the devil, repulsion and victory over my wicked and evil habits, mortification of my passions, accomplishment of Thy commandments, increase of Thy divine grace, and inheritance of Thy Kingdom.
For I do not come to Thee in presumption, O Christ my God, but made bold by Thine inexpressible goodness, lest I stray far away from Thy flock, O Master, and become caught by the wolf of souls.
Therefore, I pray Thee, O Master, for Thou alone art holy: sanctify my soul and body, my mind and heart, my muscles and bones. Renew me entirely. Implant Thy fear in my fleshly members and let Thy sanctification never be removed from me.
Be my helper and defender, guide my life in peace and make me worthy to stand at Thy right hand with all Thy saints.
By the prayers and supplications of Thy most pure Mother, of Thy spiritual servants, the most pure angelic powers, and of all the saints who have been well-pleasing to Thee. Amen.
3rd Prayer, of St. Simeon Metaphrastes
O only pure and incorruptible Lord! Because of the inexpressible mercy of Thy love for mankind, Thou didst take to Thyself our entire human composition from the pure blood of the Virgin who gave birth to Thee beyond nature, by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the good-will of the ever-existing Father.
O Christ Jesus, Wisdom of God and Peace and Power, through the human nature which Thou didst take to Thyself, Thou didst suffer the life-creating and saving passion: the Cross, the nails, the spear--death itself. Put to death in me the soul-destroying passions of the body.
Through Thy burial Thou didst capture the kingdom of death. Bury in me the evil devices of the devil with good thoughts, and destroy the spirits of evil.
Through Thy life-bringing Resurrection Thou didst raise up the first father who had fallen. Raise me up who am sunk down in sin and give me the image of repentance.
Through Thy glorious Ascension Thou didst deify the flesh which Thou didst assume, and placed it on the throne at the Father's right hand. Grant me to receive a place at the right hand with the saved through communion of Thy holy mysteries.
Through the coming of Thy Spirit, the Comforter, Thou didst make Thy consecrated disciples to be honorable vessels. Show me also to be the receptacle of His coming.
Thou hast promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness. Grant that I may go to meet Thee in the clouds, my Judge and Creator, with all Thy saints; that I may glorify and praise Thee without end, together with Thy Father Who is without beginning, and Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
4th Prayer, of St. John of Damascus