Prayers a priest may say before 

serving the Divine Liturgy





Defiled as I am by many sins, do not utterly reject me, Master, Lord,
our God. For see, I draw near to this divine and heavenly mystery, not
as though I were worthy, but, looking to Thy goodness, I raise my voice
to Thee, -God, be merciful to me, a sinner.' For I have sinned against
heaven and before Thee, and I am not worthy to lift up my eyes to this
Thy sacred and spiritual Table, on which Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ, is mystically set forth as a sacrifice by me, a sinner
stained by every defilement. Therefore I bring Thee this supplication,
that Thy Spirit, the Advocate, may be sent down to me, strengthening and
preparing me for this ministry. And grant that without condemnation the
word that has been declared by Thee may be proclaimed by me to the
people in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom Thou art blessed, together
with Thine all-holy, good, life-giving and consubstantial Spirit, now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.



Almighty God, Lord, whose name is great, who givest us entrance to the
Holy of Holies through the coming of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord and
God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we entreat and implore Thy goodness. Since
we are full of fear and trembling as we are about to stand before Thy
holy altar, send forth Thy good grace upon us, sanctify our souls,
bodies and spirits and change our thoughts to true devotion, so that,
with a pure conscience, we may offer Thee gifts, presents, fruits, for
the removal of our sins, for the forgiveness of all Thy people, by the
grace and love for humankind of Thine only-begotten Son, with whom Thou
art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit,
now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Master and Lord, who visits us in mercy and compassion and hast granted
us, humble sinners and Thy unworthy servants the grace to stand at Thy
holy Altar and to offer to Thee this dread sacrifice without shedding of
blood for our own sins and those committed in ignorance by the people,
look on me, Thy unprofitable servant and wipe away my transgressions
through Thy compassion and purify my lips and my heart from every
defilement of flesh and spirit, and banish from me every base and
unseemly thought, and enable me for this ministry by the power of Thy
all-holy Spirit, and accept me through Thy goodness as I approach Thy
holy altar, and be well pleased, Lord, for these gifts to be acceptable
that are offered through our hands, being gracious to my weaknesses, and
do not cast me away from Thy presence.



Do not despise my unworthiness, but have mercy on me, O God, in
accordance with Thy great mercy and according to the abundance of Thy
compassion disregard my offences, so that, coming into the presence of
Thy glory with condemnation, I may be found worthy of the protection of
Thy only-begotten Son and the illumination of Thy all-holy Spirit, but
as Thy servant may I find grace, mercy and forgiveness of sins both in
this present age and in the age to come. Yes, Master almighty and
all-powerful, listen to my supplication and grant me reprieve from my
evil deeds, for it is Thou who workest all in all, and in all things we
seek from Thee Thy help and assistance and that of Thy only-begotten Son
and Thy good, life-giving and consubstantial Spirit, now and for ever,
and to the ages of ages. Amen.



From the Liturgy of St James,
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ephrem/lit-james.htm





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