Orthodox Daily Prayers Part 18

ODE 6

Irmos: Sunk in the depths of sin, I call on the unfathomable abyss of Thy compa.s.sion: Deliver me from destruction, O G.o.d!

Create in me a clean heart, O G.o.d, 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 pa.s.sions, 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 G.o.d, the Holy Word of G.o.d, 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 G.o.ds. 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 G.o.d, 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 dispa.s.sion. 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 pa.s.sions, enemies, want, and every sorrow. Grant that I may sing to Thee: blessed art Thou, Lord G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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: G.o.d 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 G.o.d, and put a new and right spirit within me.

O G.o.d, 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 gra.s.s. O the awesome Mysteries! O the kind-heartedness of G.o.d! How can I, who am clay, commune of the Divine Body and Blood and become incorruptible?

ODE 9

Irmos: Our G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 pa.s.sions and fully enlightening me to wors.h.i.+p Thy Divinity.

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

G.o.d took flesh of your pure blood. Every race therefore hymns you, O Theotokos, and the intelligent mult.i.tudes glorify you, for through you we beheld the Ruler of all becoming substance in humanity.

PRAYERS IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION