Page 70

Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

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The Communion of the Faithful

And then they open the doors of the holy altar. And the deacon,
bowing once, receiveth the holy chalice with reverence, and
approacheth the doors, and elevating the holy chalice, showeth it to
the people, saying:

Deacon:

With fear of God, and with faith and love, draw

nigh.

People: Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; God is the Lord and hath
appeared unto us.

The Priest saith the prayer 'I believe, O Lord and I confess ...' and the
rest (as he said himself before communing) with the people. Then
those that desire to partake draw nigh. And they come one by one,
and bow down with compunction and fear, having their arms folded
on their breasts. Then each one receiveth the Divine Mysteries. The
priest, as he communicateth each one saith:

Priest:

The servant (handmaid) of God

partaketh of the precious and

holy Body and Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, unto the
remission of sins and unto life everlasting. Behold, this hath touched thy
lips, and taketh away thine iniquities, and purgeth away thy sins.

And the deacon wipeth the communicant's lips with the cloth, and the
communicant kisseth the holy cup, and bowing, withdraweth. And in
this manner do all partake. Meanwhile the following hymn is repeated
until all have communicated:

People: Receive ye the Body of Christ; taste ye the Fountain of Immortality

And after the last hast communicated:

People: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

After communion, the priest entereth the holy altar and placeth the
Holy Things on the Holy Table. The deacon then holdeth the holy
diskos over the holy chalice, while emptying the remaining Holy
Bread into the chalice, saying these Resurrection Hymns:

Deacon:

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ,

let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the Only