The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion XI

A Prayer of St. Simeon Metaphrastes (tenth century)

As though I stood at thy dread judgement-seat that hath no respect of persons, O Christ my God, awaiting judgement, and rendering an account of the evils committed by me: even so to-day before the appearing of the day of my condemnation, I stand before thy holy altar in thy sight and in the sight of thy dread and holy Angels, and, bowed down by my own conscience I offer up my wicked and lawless acts, triumphing over them and publishing them. Behold, O Lord, my misery, and remit, O Father, my sins. Behold, my iniquities have increased above the number of the hairs of my head. For what wickedness have I not done, what sin have I not committed, what evil have I not imagined in my soul? Already in my works I have practised fornication, adultery, arrogance, imposture, railing, blasphemy, foolish talking, drunkenness, gluttony, greediness, hate, envy, avarice, cupidity, graspingness, self-love, self-vaunting, robbery, injustice, covetousness, jealousy, slander, lawlessness; all my perception and every member have I polluted, corrupted, and disabled, and am become wholly the workshop of the devil. And I know, O Lord, that my iniquities have gone over my head: but immeasurable is the multitude of thy loving-kindness, and the mercy of thy goodness and forbearance beyond telling; and there is no sin that conquereth thy love toward all men. Wherefore, O King, all-marvelous, forbearing Lord, cause the wonder of thy mercy to lighten even me, a sinner; shew the power of thine excellence, manifest the strength of thy kindly condescension, and, as I return to thee, receive me, the sinner, receive me, as thou didst receive the Prodigal, the Thief, and the Harlot. Receive me who have sinned against thee exceedingly in word and in deed, in foolish desire, and in thought without reason. And as thou didst receive those that came at the eleventh hour and had done nothing worthy, so also receive me, a sinner. Much have I transgressed, and offended, and grieved thy Holy Spirit, and provoked thy loving-kindness toward all men, in deed and word, and thought, by night and by day, openly and secretly, wittingly and unwittingly: and I know that thou wilt set these my sins, which have been comitted by me, before me, and require an account from me of the sins which I have knowingly and unpardonably committed: but, O Lord, convict me not with exact judgement, neither chastise me in thine anger: have mercy upon me, O Lord, for not only am I weak, but also I am the work of thy hands. Thou, O Lord, hast laid thy fear upon me, but I have wrought evil in thy sight. Against thee only have I sinned, but I ask of thee, enter not into judgement with thy servant, for if thou, O Lord, wilt be extreme to mark iniquity, who shall abide it? For I am a sea of sin, and I am not worthy, neither sufficient, to behold and to gaze upon the height of heaven, for the multitude of my sins, of which there is no number. For every work or evil, and every guile, and craft of Satan, corruption, instability, effeminacy, seduction, remembrance of wrong, counsel toward sin, forced laughter, and a thousand other passions beside have I not put aside from me. For with what sins have I not been corrupted? In what evils have I not been occupied? Every sin have I practised, every prodigality have I set before my soul, I have become unprofitable both to thee, O my God, and to men: who will raise me up who am fallen into such evils and such transgressions? Upon thee, O Lord, have I hoped; O my God, if I have hope of salvation, if hty love toward all men conquereth the multitude of my lawlessnesses, be my Savior; and according to thy loving-kindness and thy mercies, remove, remit, and pardon all things wherein I have sinned; for my soul is filled with many evils, and in mere there is no hope of salvation. Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great mercy, and requite me not according to my deeds, but convert, uphold, and deliver my soul from the evils implanted in it, and from the dread projects. Save me for thy mercy’s sake, that where sin filled full measure, thy grace may also abound; and I will praise and glorify thee all the days of my life. For thou art the God of those that repent, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thy eternal Father, and with thy all-holy, and gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now, and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[From A Manual of Eastern Orthodox Prayers [Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1983]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion X

The Tenth Prayer, of Saint John Chrysostom

I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who camest into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Furthermore, I believe that This is indeed Thine immaculate Body, and that This is indeed Thy precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. And vouchsafe that, uncondemned, I may partake of Thine immaculate Mysteries unto the remission of sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion IX

The Ninth Prayer, of Saint John the Damascene

I stand before the doors of Thy temple, yet I do not put away my grievous thoughts. But do Thou, O Christ God, Who didst justify the publican, and have mercy on the Canaanitish woman, and open the gates of Paradise to the thief: open unto me the bowels of Thy love for man; and as I approach and touch Thee, receive me like the woman with an issue of blood and like the harlot. For the one, by touching the hem of Thy garment received healing readily, and the other, by clasping Thine immaculate feet obtained release from her sins. And I, deplorable though I be, dare to receive Thy whole Body; may I not be consumed, but receive me even as these. And do Thou enlighten the senses of my soul, and burn up the indictments of my sins, by the intercession of her that seedlessly bare Thee, and of the heavenly hosts, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion VIII

The Eighth Prayer, of Saint Symeon Metaphrastes

O Lord, Who alone art pure and incorrupt, Who through the ineffable compassion of Thy love for man didst assume our whole substance from the pure and virginal blood of her that, in a manner surpassing nature, conceived Thee by the coming of the Divine Spirit and by the good will of the Everlasting Father; O Christ Jesus, the Wisdom, Peace and Power of God; O Thou Who, in that nature taken upon Thyself, didst accept Thy life-creating and saving Passion, the Cross, the nails, the spear and death: do Thou mortify all the soul-corrupting passions of my body. Thou Who by Thy burial didst despoil the dominions of Hades: do Thou bury with good thoughts mine evil schemes and dispel the spirits of wickedness. Thou Who by Thy life-creating Resurrection on the third day didst raise up our fallen first parent: raise me up who have slipped down into sin, and set before me the ways of repentance. Thou Who by Thy glorious Ascension didst deify the flesh that Thou hadst taken upon Thyself and didst honour it by Thy session at the right hand of the Father: by my partaking of Thy holy Mysteries make me worthy of the portion of the saved at Thy right hand. Thou Who by the coming of the Comforter, Thy Spirit, didst make Thy sacred Disciples precious vessels: show me forth also as a receptacle of His coming. Thou Who art to come again to judge the world in righteousness: be it Thy good will that I also meet Thee in the clouds, O my Creator and Fashioner, with all Thy Saints, that without end I may glorify and hymn Thee, with Thy Father which is without beginning, and Thine All-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion VII

The Seventh Prayer, of Saint Symeon the New Theologian

From lips tainted and defiled,
From a heart unclean and loathsome,
From a tongue befouled and filthy
From a soul bestained and soiled,
O my Christ, receive my pleading.
Yea, disdain me not, nor shun me,
Nor my words, nor yet my manner,
Nor my shamelessness and boldness.
But with freedom let me tell Thee,
O my Christ, what I desire;
Rather, do Thou now instruct me
What I need to do and utter.
I have sinned more than the harlot
Who, on learning of Thy lodging,
Went and purchased myrrh most precious,
And with boldness she approached Thee,
To anoint Thy feet and lave them,
O my Christ, my God and Master.
Even as Thou didst not shun her
When she came with heartfelt fervour,
Thus, O Word, do not disdain me.
Nay, but rather do Thou grant me
To embrace Thy feet and kiss them,
And with streams of tears to wash them,
As with precious myrrh most costly,
With great boldness to anoint them.
Wash me with my tears, and thereby
Cleanse me, Word of God, and lave me.
Grant remission of my failings,
And bestow on me forgiveness.
All mine evil deeds Thou knowest,
And my wounds Thou knowest also,
And my bruises Thou beholdest.
But my faith Thou knowest likewise,
And mine eagerness Thou seest,
And my groans Thou hearest also.
There doth not escape Thy notice
Even one tear, O Redeemer,
Nor a fraction of a teardrop,
O my Lord God and Creator.
Yea, Thin eyes did see my being
While as yet it was unfashioned.
In Thy Book all thoughts and actions,
Even those not yet enacted,
Are inscribed for Thee already.
See my lowliness and toil!
Lo, the greatness of my suffering!
And, O god of all, forgive me
All the sins I have committed.
So that with a cleansed and pure heart,
And a mind with fear atremble,
And a soul contrite and lowly,
I may draw night to partake of
Thine all-pure and spotless Myst’ries,
Whereby all who eat and drink Thee
With a heart sincere and guileless
Are both deified and quickened.
For Thou sayest, O my Master:
He that eateth of My Flesh and
That doth drink of My Blood also
Doth abide in Me most truly,
And in him am I found also.
Wholly true is this word spoken
By my Lord and God and Master;
For whoever doth partake of
These divine and hallowed graces
Which impart deification
Is alone, in truth, no longer,
But is with Thee, Christ, Thou True Light
of the Hallowed, Triple Daystar,
Which illumineth the whole world.
Lest, then, I remain alone now
And apart from Thee, Life-giver,
O my Breath, my Life, my Gladness,
The entire world’s Salvation,
For this cause do I approach Thee
With a soul contrite and tearful.
O Thou Ransom of my failings,
I entreat Thee to receive me,
So that I may now partake of
Thy life-giving, blameless Myst’ries,
And not suffer condemnation;
That, as Thou didst say, Thou mightest
Dwell with me, who am thrice-wretched;
Lest that foul deceiver find me
All bereft of Thy divine grace,
And most guilefully seduce me,
And with scheming cunning lure me
From Thy words which make me Godlike,
Wherefore, I fall down before Thee,
And cry out to Thee with fervour:
As Thou didst receive and welcome
Both the prodigal and harlot
Who drew nigh to Thee, so likewise,
O Most Merciful, receive me,
The great profligate and sinner,
The most prodigal and vile one,
As I dare now to approach Thee
With a soul contrite and humbled.
Saviour, well I know that no one
Hath sinned as have I against Thee,
Nor hath wrought the deeds which I have.
Yet again, I know this also:
Neither greatness of transgressions,
Nor enormity in sinning,
Can surpass my God and Saviour’s
Great long-suffering and mercy
And exceeding love of mankind.
For with the oil of compassion
Thou dost cleanse and render shining
All those who repent with fervour;
And Thou makest them partakers
Of Thy light in all abundance,
And true sharers of Thy Godhood.
And—O marvel for the Angles
And for human understanding!–
Thou hast converse with them often
As with friend most true and trusted.
These things now give me daring,
These things give me wings, O Christ God;
Trusting, then, in the abundance
Of Thy benefactions toward us,
With rejoicing, yet with trembling,
I partake now of the Fire.
Though but grass—O awesome wonder!–
Yet bedewed am I past telling,
Like that bush of old on Sinai
Which was unconsumed, though burning,
Wherefore, with a mind most thankful,
And a heart most thankful also,
Thankful also in the members
Of my soul and of my body,
I adore and magnify Thee,
As One verily most blessed,
Now and ever, to all ages.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion VI

The Sixth Prayer, of Saint John Damascene

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who alone hast authority to forgive men their sins: since Thou art good and the Friend of man, overlook all mine offences, whether committed in knowledge or in ignorance, and account me worthy to receive without condemnation Thy divine, glorious, immaculate, and life-creating Mysteries, not unto punishment, nor unto an increase of sins, but unto purification and sanctification and as an earnest of the life and kingdom to come, as a rampart and help, and for the overturning of adversaries, and for the blotting out of my many transgressions. For Thou art a God of mercy and compassions and love for man, and to Thee do we send up glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion V

The Fifth Prayer, of Saint John Chrysostom

O Lord Jesus Christ my God, loose, remit, forgive, and pardon the failings, faults, and offences which I, Thy sinful, unprofitable, and unworthy servant, have committed from my youth, up to the present day and hour, whether in knowledge or in ignorance, whether in words or deeds or thoughts, or reasonings or pusuits, or in any of my senses. And by the intercession of her that conceived Thee without seed, the immaculate and ever-virgin Mary, Thy Mother, mine only hope that putteth not to shame, my defence and salvation, do Thou count me worthy without condemnation to partake of Thine immaculate, immortal, life-creating and dread Mysteries unto forgiveness of sins and life everlasting unto sanctification and enlightenment and strength and healing and health of both soul and body, and unto the blotting out and utter destruction of mine evil reasonings and thoughts and predispositions and nocturnal phantasies of the dark and evil spirits. For Thine is the kingdom, and they power, and the glory, and the honour, and the worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion IV

The Fourth Prayer, of Saint John Chyrsostom

I am not sufficient, O Master and Lord, that Thou shouldest enter under the roof of my soul; but since Thou, as the Friend of man, dost will to dwell in me, with trust I draw night. Thou commandest; I will open wide the gates which Thou alone hast fashioned, that Thou mayest enter and enlighten my darkened thought. I believe that Thou wilt do this, for Thou didst not shun the harlot who approached Thee with tears, nor didst Thou reject the publican who repented, nor didst Thou drive away the thief who acknowledged Thy Kingdom, nor didst Thou abandon the repentant persecutor as he was; but all who had been brought to Thee by repentance hast Thou established in the choir of Thy friends, O Thou Who alone art blessed, always, now and unto endless ages. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion III

The Third Prayer, of Saint John Chrysostom

O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy, nor sufficient, that Thou shouldest come under the roof of the house of my soul, for all is desolate and fallen, and Thou has not in me a place worthy to lay Thy head. But even as from on high Thou didst humble Thyself for our sake, so now conform Thyself to my lowliness. And even as Thou didst deign to life in a cave and in a manger of irrational beasts, so also deign to lie in the manger of mine irrational soul and to enter my defiled body. And even as Thou didst not disdain to enter and dine with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so consent also to enter the house of my lowly soul which is leprous and sinful. And even as thou didst not reject the woman, who was a harlot and a sinner like me, when she approached and touched Thee, so also be compassionate with me, the sinner, as I approach and touch Thee. And as Thou didst not abhor her defiled and polluted mouth which kissed Thee, neither do Thou abhor my mouth, yet more defiled and polluted than hers, nor my lips which are loathsome, impure, and unholy, nor my tongue, yet more unclean. But let the live coal of Thine all-holy Body and Thy precious Blood be unto sanctification and enlightenment and strengthening of my humble soul and body, unto alleviation of the burden of my many offences, unto defence against every operation of the devil, unto the averting and hindering of my vile and wicked habits, unto the mortification of the passions, unto the accomplishment of Thy commandments, unto the increase of Thy divine grace, and unto the attainment of Thy kingdom. For it is not as on presumptuous that I draw night to Thee, O Christ my God, but as one taking courage in Thine ineffable goodness, and that I may not, by long abstaining from Thy Communion, become a prey to the noetic wolf. Wherefore, I pray Thee Who alone art holy, O Master, sanctify my soul and body, my mind and heart, my reins and bowels, and wholly renew me. Root the fear of Thee in my members, and make Thy sanctification indelible within me. And be Thou my helper and defender, guide my life in peace, and make me worthy to stand at Thy right hand with Thy Saints, by the prayers and intercessions of Thine all-immaculate Mother, of Thine immaterial ministers and immaculate powers, and of all the Saints who, from ages past, have been well-pleasing unto Thee. Amen.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]

The Preparatory Prayers of Holy Communion II

The Second Prayer, of Saint Basil the Great

I know, O Lord, that I partake of Thine immaculate Body and precious Blood unworthily, and that I am guilty, and eat and drink judgment to myself, not discerning the Body and Blood of Thee, my Christ and God. But, trusting in Thy compassions, I take courage and approach Thee, Who didst say: He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him. Wherefore, have compassion, O Lord, and make not an example of me, the sinner, but deal with me according to Thy mercy; and let these holy Gifts be unto my healing, and purification, and enlightenment, and protection, and salvation, and sanctification of both soul and body, unto the averting of every phantasy and evil deed and diabolical operation working noetically in my members; unto confidence and love toward Thee, unto amendment of life and stability, unto an increase of virtue and perfection, unto fulfillment of the commandments, unto communion with the Holy Spirit, as a provision for life everlasting, and as an acceptable defence at Thy dread tribunal, not unto judgment, nor unto condemnation.

[From A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians [Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1995]