The Prayers of Thanksgiving

The Prayers of Thanksgiving are from the ORTHODOX LITURGY by the Holy Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex.

When thou hast partaken of the life-giving and mystical gifts praise God straightway. Give much thanks and say with a fervent soul:

Glory be to Thee, O God. Glory be to Thee, O God. Glory be to Thee, O God.

And then these prayers of thanksgiving

I thank Thee, O Lord my God, for that Thou hast not rejected me, a sinner, but hast suffered me to be a partaker of Thy holy things. I thank Thee that unworthy as I am Thou hast enabled me to receive of Thy most pure and heavenly gifts. And yet more over I beseech Thee, O Lord and lover of mankind, who for our sakes didst die and rise again, and hast provided us these dread and life-giving mysteries unto the benefit and hallowing of our souls and bodies: Grant that these Thy gifts may be even unto me for the healing of soul and body, and the driving out of every adversary; for the enlightening of the eyes of my understanding, and peace for the powers of my soul; for faith unashamed, and love without dissimulation; for the fullness of wisdom, and the keeping of Thy commandments; for the increase of Thy divine grace, and an inheritance in the kingdom. That preserved by them in Thy holiness I may be ever mindful of Thy grace, and not henceforth live unto myself but unto Thee, our bountiful Lord.

And when I have departed this life in the hope of life everlasting, vouchsafe that I may enter unto eternal rest, where the voice of them that flourish is unceasing, and the delight of them that behold the unsearchable beauty of Thy countenance knoweth no bound: for Thou art the true desire and the ineffable joy of them that love Thee, O Christ our God, and all creation doth sing Thy praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

2. A PRAYER OF S. BASIL THE GREAT

Lord Christ our God, King of the ages and Maker of all things: I thank Thee for the blessings that Thou hast bestowed on me, and for the communion of Thy pure and life-giving mysteries. Wherefore I beseech Thee, gracious Lord and lover of mankind. Protect and hide me under the shadow of Thy wings; and grant me even unto my last breath to partake of Thy sacred gifts, worthily and with a clean conscience, foe the remission of sins and unto life everlasting. For Thou art the bread of life, the wellspring of holiness, the giver of all good; and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost; now and for ever: world without end. Amen.

3. A PRAYER OF S. SYMEON METAPHRATES

O Thou who didst gladly give me Thy flesh for nourishment; who art fire to consume the unworthy: Burn me not, O my Creator, but search out my members. Quicken my reins and my heart. Let Thy flames devour the thorns of all my transgressions. Purify my soul. Sanctify my thoughts. Knit firm my bones. Enlighten my senses. Piece me with Thy fear. Be Thou my continual shield. Watch over and preserve me from every word and deed that corrupt the soul. Purge me and wash me clean and adorn me. Order my ways, give me understanding and enlighten me. Make me the temple of Thy Holy Ghost, and no more the habitation of sin, that as from fire all evil, every passion, may flee from me, who through Holy Communion am become a place for Thy dwelling. I bring unto Thee all the saints to make intercession: The ranks of the heavenly hosts; Thy forerunner; the wise Apostles; and withal Thy pure and holy Mother. Their prayers receive, O merciful Christ, and make Thy servant a child of light. For Thou art our hallowing, Thou only art the brightness of our souls, O gracious Lord: And we rightly give glory to Thee, our Lord and our God, All the days of our life.

4. ANOTHER PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ our God, may Thy sacred body be for me unto life everlasting, and Thy precious blood unto remission of sins. May this Eucharist be for me unto joy, health and gladness. And at Thy dread second coming, account me, a sinner, worthy to stand on the right hand of Thy glory: By the prayers of thy most holy Mother, and of all Thy saints.

5. PRAYER TO THE MOTHER OF GOD

Most holy Mother of God, who art the light of my darkened soul; my hope, my refuge and shelter; my comfort and my joy: I give thee thanks for that thou hast suffered me, unworthy as I am, to be a partaker of the pure body and precious blood of thy Son. Do thou who didst bring forth the true light, enlighten the eyes of my understanding. Thou that gavest birth to the fountain of immortality, quicken me who am slain by sin. Thou who art all compassion, O Mother of the merciful God, have mercy upon me, and bestow on me the spirit of remorse and a contrite heart. Give me lowliness of mind. Loose my captive thoughts. And vouchsafe that even unto my last breath I may without condemnation receive the hallowing of the most pure sacrament unto the healing of soul and body. And grant me the grace of repentance and confession that I may praise and glorify thee all the days of my life.

For blessed art thou and all glorious for ever and ever. Amen. [3]

SONG OF SYMEON

PRIEST

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, world without end. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake.

Kyrie eleison. [3]

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.

Then after the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Troparion to St. John Chrysostom.

Grace shone forth from thy lips like a flame of fire to illumine the universe. Thou didst teach us to neglect the treasures of this world. Thou hast shewn unto us the height of divine humility. Thou whose words are for our admonition, O Father John Chrysostom, pray unto Christ the Word that our souls be saved.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

And the Kontakion

From on high didst thou receive grace divine, and the words of thy lips instruct all men to worship one God in the Holy Trinity. O blessed Saint John Chrysostom, we rightly praise thee, for thou art our guide who dost manifest things divine.

After the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

Troparion to St. Basil the Great

Thy voice is gone out into all the earth, all peoples have received thy word, wherewith thou didst teach fitly of God; wherewith thou didst expound the nature of all things; and didst adorn the manners of men. O holy father, royal priesthood, pray to Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

And the Kontakion

Rock-like foundation of the Church hast thou shewn thyself, dispensing unto all men dominion inviolate, sealed by thy testimony, O Basil proven by heaven most holy.

After the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

Troparion of St. Gregory Dialogos, Pope of Rome.

O blessed and glorious Gregory, endowed with divine grace from God on high, and strengthened by His might, thou didst choose to walk in the way of the Gospel. Wherefore hast thou received in Christ the reward of thy labours. Do thou intreat Him to save our souls.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

And the Kontakion

O Gregory out father, thou hast shewn thyself a shepherd like unto Christ the shepherd, leading companies of monks to the heavenly fold, and from there hast taught to his sheep the commandments of Christ. And now thou dost rejoice with exceeding great joy with them in the height of heaven.

Now and for ever: world without end. Amen.

O Lord, by the intercessions of the Mother of God and of all Thy saints, do Thou grant unto us Thy peace and have mercy upon us, for Thou alone art loving-kind.

Kyrie eleison [12], Glory… Now… More honourable than the cherubim…

Holy Father, give the blessing.

PRIEST

May [He who is risen from the dead], Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most holy Mother; of the holy and all-glorious Apostles; of [Name of the saint to whom the Church is dedicated]; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople [or if the Liturgy of St. Basil was celebrated then Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia]; and of all the saints, have mercy upon us, and save us, for He is good and loving-kind.

By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.

CHOIR: Amen.