The Communion Prayers

Prayers Before Holy Communion

Prayers After Holy Communion

PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You!

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, who are present everywhere and fulfilling all things, the Treasury of blessings and Source of life, come abide in us, and cleanse us of all stain, 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 the ages of ages, Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, look down on us and heal our infirmities, to the glory of Your Name.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who are in the heavens, hallowed be your Name, Your kingdom come, Your 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.

For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

First Prayer of St. Basil 

Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, the source of life and of immortality, Creator of everything visible and invisible, Son of the eternal Father, who together with Him are eternal and without beginning, who in your goodness, in these latter days, bore flesh and were crucified, sacrificing yourself for us the ungrateful and unthankful ones, and have by your own blood renewed our nature corrupted by sin, O immortal king, also receive my repentance, for I am a sinner, and turn towards me, and hear my words. I have sinned, o Lord, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am not worthy to look upon the height of your glory. I have offended your goodness by trampling upon your precepts and ignoring your commandments. But, you Lord, who bear malice to none, who are long suffering and all merciful, you have not let me perish in my transgressions, but have ever awaited my con­version. Lover of mankind, you said through your prophet: “I do not desire the death of a sinner but rather that he turn and live”, O Master, you do not wish that the work of your hands should perish, nor do you await the fall of humankind, but desire that “everyone should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”. There­fore, although I am unworthy of heaven and earth and of this temporary life, having wholly subjected myself to sin, and become the slave of pleasure and have de­filed your image, yet being your creature and of your shaping, wretched as I am, I do not despair for my salvation. But I am em­boldened by your infinite compassion and I draw near: receive me, o Christ, you who love all people, as you received the harlot and the thief, the publican and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, you who take away the sin of the world and heal the infirmities of all people, who call to yourself the weary and burdened and give them rest, who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Do cleanse me from defilement of the soul and body, and teach me to fulfill holiness in your fear, that in the pure testimony of my conscience, I may partake of a share of your holy Mysteries, and be united to your holy Body and precious Blood, and have you dwell and remain within me with the Father and your Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus Christ, my God, grant that the communion of your holy and life giving Mysteries may not be to my condemnation, nor let me be afflicted in soul and body by partaking of them unworthily. But grant that, to the last breath of my life, I shall partake of my share of your holy Mysteries without condemnation, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, as food for eternal life and to a favorable response at your fearful judgment seat; that, together with your chosen ones, may I participate in your incorruptible goodness which you have prepared for those who love you and in whom, Lord, you are glorified to the ages of ages. Amen.

Second Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy nor prepared for you to come under the roof of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and in ruins, and you do not have a worthy place in me to lay your head. But as you bowed down and descended from the heights for our sake, so now also bow down to my humility. And as you condescended to lie in a manger of speechless animals, thus also condescend to enter the manger of my speechless soul and my defiled body. And as you did not refuse to enter and eat with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so also deign to enter into the house of my humble, leprous and sinful soul. And as you did not despise the harlot, a sinner like me, who came and touched you, so have compassion on me the sinner who now comes to touch you. And as you did not abhor the kiss of her sinful and unclean mouth, do not abhor my mouth, more stained and unclean than hers, nor my sordid and unclean and profane lips, nor my more unclean tongue. But let the fiery coal of your most pure Body and of your most precious Blood bring sanctifica­tion, illumination, and strengthening of my lowly soul and body, relief of the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every work of the devil, an averting and hindering of my mean and evil habits, mor­tification of my passions, fulfillment of your commandments, an increase of your divine grace, and inheritance of your kingdom. For I do not approach you carelessly, Christ God, but trusting your ineffable goodness, may I not, by abstaining for too long from your communion, become prey to Satan, the cunning wolf. Therefore, Lord, I pray to you who alone are holy that you sanctify my soul and body, my mind and my heart, to the depths of my being; renew me wholly, and implant in my members the fear of you, and make your holiness be permanent in me. Let it be for my help and assistance, guiding my life in peace. Make me worthy to rest at your right hand with your saints, through the prayers and intercessions of your most pure Mother, of your bodiless servants and of your pure angelic Powers, and of all the saints who from the ages have found favor in you. Amen.

Third Prayer of St. Symeon the Translator 

Only pure and spotless Lord, who in your ineffable mercy and love for mankind took on our whole nature from the pure and virgin blood of her who wondrously conceived you at the coming of the Holy Spirit and by the will of the eternal Father. Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom, peace and power of God, who bodily underwent the life giving and saving Passion: the cross, the nails, the spear and death, mortify in me the passions of the body that destroy my soul. As you destroyed the power of Hades by your burial, so bury my wicked intentions and scatter the evil spirits through pure thoughts. As you raised our fallen forefather by your third day life-giving resurrection, so also raise me who have fallen in sin and instill an image of repentance in me. By your glorious ascension you deified the assumed body and honored it at the right hand of the Father. Make me worthy, by partaking of your holy Mysteries, of a place at your right hand with the saved. As you made your holy disciples precious vessels by the coming of the Com­forter, the Spirit, so also present me as a vessel of his coming. And just as you promised to come again to judge the whole world in righteousness, grant that I shall also meet you, my Judge and Creator, in the clouds with all the saints, and that I may glorify you forever and praise you, with your eternal Father, and your good and all holy and life giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Fourth Prayer of St. Symeon the Translator

Just as I will stand one day before your fearful and un-treacherous judgment seat, Christ God, answering the questions regarding the evils I have committed; so I stand now, before the coming of my day of judgment, before you and your fearful and holy angels at your holy altar. My conscience impels me to lay forth my evil deeds and transgressions and to expose them openly. Lord, look upon my lowliness and forgive all my sins; you can see that my transgressions have multiplied more than the hairs on my head. What evil have I not committed? What sinful thing have I not done? What form of wickedness have I not imagined in my soul? You know that I have gone beyond the limits of depravity in my deeds and have been proud, arrogant, contemptuous, blasphemous, spoken idly, laughed uncontrollably, been drunken, gluttonous, eaten beyond measure, been malicious, envious, loved money and possessions, extorted others, loved myself, sought glory, been grasping, unjust, shameful, covetous, spoken evilly and transgressed. I have stained and defiled all my senses down to the depth of my being, and have done nothing worthwhile, thus becoming a haven for the devil. Lord, I know that my transgressions have mounted higher than my head, but the greatness of your compassion is incomparable and the mercy of your bounty is free of spite and indescribable. There is no sin which surpasses your love for mankind. Therefore, wondrous king and good Lord, show your great mercy to me a sinner; show me the power of your goodness; show me the strength of your long-suffering mercy and receive me a sinner as I turn to you. Receive me as you received the prodigal son, the thief, and the harlot. Receive me who have sinned against you immeasurably in word and in deed, with unrestrained appetite and unseemly behavior. Just as you received those who had done nothing worthy and came to you at the eleventh hour, so also receive me, a sinner; for I have sinned greatly and defiled myself. I have provoked your Holy Spirit and infuriated your mercy, O Lover of mankind, in deed, word and thought, at night and day, openly and secretly, willingly and unwillingly. I know that you will place my sins before me in the exact form in which I committed them, and you will ask me of those things in which I knowingly and unforgivably have sinned. But, Lord, do not pass your just judgment on me; do not reproach me in your anger nor punish me in your rage. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am not only weak, but I am also your creation. Lord, though you have instilled the fear of you in me, still I have done wrong in your sight. I have sinned against none other than you; but I beseech you: Do not put your servant on trial, for if you never overlooked our sins, Lord, Lord, who could survive? I have reached the very depths of sin and am not worthy or able to look and gaze upon the heights of heaven, because of the multitude of my innumerable sins. Every evil work, imagination, and diabolic scheme, all the wickedness of Hades which leads to sin, physical delights and other innumerable passions have all found a place in me. What form of sin has not defiled me? By what evil have I not been ensnared? I have committed every sin and have allowed all unforgivable pleasures to enter my soul. I have made myself worthless before God and before man. I have fallen to such a depth of evil sin. Who will raise me again? Lord, my God, I place my hope in you. If there still is hope of salvation for me, then let your love for mankind overcome the multitude of my transgressions. Be my Savior, and in your goodness and mercy loosen, forgive and remit all in which I have sinned against you; for my soul has been filled with many evils, and there is no hope for salvation in me. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness and do not punish me as my sins deserve, but turn to me, be my support, deliver my soul from the evils which have grown inside it and from all which has accumulated in it. Have mercy on me, in your goodness, for wherever sin has been multiplied, may there also be the abundance of your grace. Thus, I will praise and glorify you all the days of my life. For you are the God of those who sin and the Savior of those who do wrong, and to you is due glory, together with your eternal Father and your All-Holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Fifth Prayer of St. John of Damascus

Master Lord Jesus Christ our God, who alone have the authority to forgive humans their sins, for you are good and love everyone. Forgive all my transgressions com­mitted in knowledge or in ignorance. Make me worthy to receive without condemnation your divine, glorious, pure and life-giving Mysteries, incurring thereby neither punish­ment, nor an addition to my sins, but receiving cleansing, sanctification, and the life and the kingdom to come. Let them be for me a defense, help, overturning of my adversaries, and cleansing of my many transgressions. For you are the God of mercy, compassion, and the Lover of mankind, and to you is due all glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sixth Prayer of St. Basil

I know, Lord, that I partake unworthily of your pure Body and precious Blood, and that I am guilty as I eat and drink condemnation to myself for not properly discerning your Body and Blood, o Christ, my God. But encouraged by your compassion, I come to you, who said, “he, who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me and I dwell in him.” Therefore, take pity, o Lord, and do not punish me, a sinner, but deal with me mercifully. May these holy Mysteries be to me for healing and cleansing, enlightenment and protection, salvation and sanctification of soul and body; for dispersion of every fantasy, evil practice, and work of the devil directed against me; for confidence and love for you, correction and perseverance in life, increase of virtue and perfection, fulfillment of your commandments, communion with the Holy Spirit, provisions for the journey of eternal life, and for a good account at your dreadful judgment seat, and not for judgment nor condemnation. Amen.

Seventh Prayer of St. Symeon the New Theologian 

From defiled lips and profane heart, from unclean tongue and tainted soul, receive my prayer, O my Christ. Take not into account my words, my habits, or my shamelessness, but grant me boldness, my Christ, to say all that I wish; or rather teach me all that I should do and say. I have sinned more than the harlot who, when she found where you lived, purchased myrrh and daringly came forward to anoint your feet, O my Master, Christ and God. And as you did not reject her who came with eagerness of heart, so also do not turn aside from me, O Word, but let me touch and kiss your feet, daring to anoint them with streams of tears as with precious myrrh. Wash me in my tears and purify me in them, O Word. Forgive my trespasses and guide me on the right path. You know the multitude of my sins; you also know my sores and see my wounds. Yet you know my faith, you see my eagerness and hear my sighs. Nothing is hidden from you Lord, my God, my Creator and my Redeemer, neither a teardrop nor even part of a drop. Your eyes know even those things I have not yet committed, and the deeds I have not yet done are already written in your book. Behold my lowliness, behold how great my weariness is and forgive all my sins, o God of all. Thus, with a clean heart, fearful conscience and humble soul, I may partake of your most pure and most holy Mysteries that deify and give life to all who eat and drink of them with a pure heart. For you have said, Master, that “whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood, abides in me, and I in him.” True indeed is the word of my Master and my God that whoever shares in these divine and deifying Gifts is in no way alone, but is with you, my Christ, who came from the triple radiant light which illumines the world. But so that I may never be alone without you, O Giver of life, my breath, my life, my joy, and the world’s salvation, I have, as you see: with tears and a contrite soul, drawn near to you to ransom my errors and partake without condemnation of your life giving and pure Mysteries. Remain with me, the thrice wretched one, as you have said, so that I may not be found by the deceiver, without your grace, and be seized by deception and seducing me to lead me away from your life giving words. Therefore, I fall before you and fervently cry out to you: just as you received the prodigal son and the harlot when they came to you, so also receive me, who am sinful and defiled, o compassionate One, as I come to you now with a humble soul. I know, O Savior that no one has offended you as I have, nor committed the deeds that I have done. But I also know that the greatness of my sins and the multitude of my transgressions do not exceed my God’s great patience and his great love for mankind. But with mercy you cleanse and illumine those who fervently repent and unite them with your light, making them, without any sign of envy, partakers of your divinity. And you often speak to them as to your true friends of those things that are beyond reach to the minds of angels and of men. These things give me courage, they give me wings, my Christ, and placing my hope in your many blessings towards us, rejoicing and trembling, I partake of the fire, although I am just grass and – strange wonder! – I am refreshed without being burnt, as once was the bush that was in flames but not consumed. Therefore, thankful in mind, in heart, and in the depths of my body and soul, I bow before you and magnify and glorify you, my God, who are truly blessed now and in all ages. Amen.

Eight Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

Lord, loosen, remit, and forgive all the sins which I have committed against you in word, deed or thought, willingly or unwillingly, in knowledge or in ignorance; forgive them all, as you are good and love mankind. And through the intercessions of your Most Pure Mother, of your ministering angels, the holy Powers and all the saints, who have pleased you throughout the ages, grant that without condemnation, I may receive your most pure Body and precious Blood for the healing of soul and body and the cleansing of my evil thoughts. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Ninth Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

I am not worthy, o Lord and Master, for you to come under the roof of my soul; yet, because of your love for all people you wish to dwell in me, I boldly approach. Command me and I shall open the gates of my soul, which you alone have made, and enter with your eternal love for mankind, and enlighten my darkened mind. I believe that you will do this, for you did not send away the harlot who came to you with tears, nor cast out the repenting publican, nor reject the thief who acknowledged your kingdom, nor forsake the repentant Paul the persecutor. But you numbered among your friends all those who came to you in repentance, for you alone are blessed always, now and to the endless ages. Amen.

Tenth Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

Lord Jesus Christ my God, loose, remit, have mercy and forgive the failings, faults and offences which I, your sinful, unprofitable and unworthy servant, have committed from my youth up to the present day and hour, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in word or deed or thought or mind, by habit or with complete awareness, or in any of my senses. Through the intercessions of her who gave birth to you without blemish, the pure and Ever-Virgin Mary, your Mother, my only invincible hope and protection and deliverer; grant me to partake without condemnation of your immaculate, immortal, life-creating and fearful Mysteries, for the forgiveness of sins, for eternal life, for sanctification, illumination, fortification, curing and health of soul and body, and for erasing and riddance of all my thoughts, intentions, evil habits and nightmares of the dark and evil spirits. For yours is the kingdom, the power, glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Eleventh Prayer of John of Damascus 

I stand before the doors of your house, and I have not refrained yet from wicked thoughts. But you, Christ God, who justified the publican, and showed mercy to the Canaanite woman, and opened the gates of paradise to the thief, also open to me your great love for mankind, and receive me as I draw near and touch you, as did the harlot and the woman who suffered from hemorrhage. For the latter only touched the hem of your garment, and she immediately received healing, while the former, clinging to your pure feet, obtained forgiveness of her sins. But may I, the wretched one, who dare to receive your whole body, not be burned. Receive me as you received those who were penitent, and enlighten my spiritual senses, burning only the iniquity of my sins, through the intercession of her who gave birth to you without seed, and of the heavenly powers, for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.

Twelfth Prayer of John Chrysostom 

I believe, o Lord, and I confess that you are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am first. I also believe that this is your own pure Body and this is your own precious Blood. Therefore, I pray you: have mercy on me and forgive my voluntary and involuntary trespasses, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. Make me worthy, without condemnation, to partake of your most pure Mysteries for forgiveness of sins and for everlasting life. Amen.

When coming forward to receive communion, say these verses of St. Symeon the Translator:

Behold, I approach the Holy Com­munion. Do not burn me, Lord, as I partake, for you are fire which burns the unworthy, but cleanse me of all stain.

O, Son of God, accept me today as a communicant of your Mystic Supper, for I will not speak to your enemies of your Mystery, nor I will give you a kiss as Judas did. But I will confess you as did the thief: “Remember me, o Lord, in your kingdom.”

THANKSGIVING PRAYERS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION

When you have had your due and rightful part in these life giving and mysterious gifts, give immediate praise and great thanks to God, and say the following with fervent soul:

Glory to you, O God, glory to You! (3 times)

First Prayer of St. Basil 

I thank you, Lord, my God, that you have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to partake of your holy Mysteries. But, O Master, lover of mankind, who died and rose for our sake, and granted us these fearsome and life-creating Mysteries for the good and sanctification of our souls and bodies; let these gifts be for healing of my soul and body, for repelling of all evil, for illumination of the eyes of my heart, for peace of my spiritual powers, for unconquerable faith, for unfeigned love, for perfection of wisdom, for observing your commandments, for increase of your divine grace, and the attainment of your kingdom. For preserved by them in your holiness, may I ever remember your grace and no longer live for myself, but for you, our Master and Benefactor. Thus, passing through this life with the hope of eternal life, may I attain the everlasting rest, where the voice of those who praise you is unceasing, and the sweetness of those who behold the unspeakable beauty of your face is without end. For you are the true desire and the inexpressible joy of those who love you, o Christ our God, and all creation praises you forever. Amen.

Second Prayer of Saint Basil 

O Master, Christ our God, King of the ages and Creator of all, I thank you for all the good things you have given me, and for the communion of your most pure and life-creating Mysteries. I, therefore, pray to you, o Good one, Lover of mankind: preserve me under your shelter and under the shadow of your wings. Grant me, to my last breath, to worthily partake with a pure conscience of your Holy Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life. For you are the Bread of life, the Fountain of holiness, the Giver of all good things, and we offer glory to you, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Third Prayer of St. Symeon the Translator 

You who have voluntarily given me your Body for nourishment, who are a burning fire to the unworthy, do not consume me, my Creator, but rather, enter into my members and all my joints, my veins, my heart, and burn the thorns of all my sins. Cleanse my soul. Sanctify my mind and bones. Illumine my five senses. Fill me with the fear of you. Forever protect me, preserve me from every deed and word that corrupt the soul. Cleanse me, purify me, and guide me. Adorn me with wisdom and enlighten me. Because of your Holy Communion, show me to be only a dwelling of your Holy Spirit and not a shelter for sin.  May every evil work, all passion, flee from me as from fire. I offer you as intercessors all the saints, the leaders of the bodiless powers, your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and together with them, your Most Honorable and Pure Mother, whose prayers accept, my merciful Christ, and make me, your ser­vant, a child of light. For you are the sanctification and illumination of our souls, o Good One, and to you, as it is right, as God and Master, we offer glory day by day. Amen.

Fourth Prayer of St. Cyril of Alexandria 

May your holy Body be to me for eternal life, and your precious Blood for forgiveness of sins, O Lord Jesus Christ our God. May this Eucharist be to me for joy, health, and gladness, and at your second and awesome coming, count me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the right of your glory. Through the intercessions of your Most Pure Mother and of all your saints. Amen.

Prayer to the Birthgiver of God

Most Holy Lady, Birthgiver of God, light of my darkened soul, my hope, shelter, refuge, comfort and my joy, I thank you that you have counted me, the unworthy one, to be a partaker of the most pure Body and Precious blood of your Son. O, you who gave birth to the true Light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart. O, you who conceived the Fount of immortality, bring life to me who am dead because of sin. O lover of mercy, Mother of the compassionate God, have mercy on me and give me repentance and contrition of heart, humility in my thoughts and deliverance from the captivity of my reasoning. Count me worthy, to my last breath, to re­ceive the sanctifica­tion of the most pure Mysteries for heal­ing of soul and body. Give me, O Lady, tears of repentance and confession, that I may praise and glorify you all the days of my life. For you are blessed and greatly glorified forever. Amen.

The Song of Saint Symeon

Now Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised, because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have pre­pared for all nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.

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 the ages of ages. Amen.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, look down on us and heal our infirmities to the glory of your name.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your 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.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.