Canons and prayers for preparation for the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. What prayers should be read before confession and communion?
(22 votes: 4.45 out of 5)(Translation from the Moscow Theological Academy.
Reprinted from a prayer book published in Moscow in 1874).
Prayers Before Communion
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, the source of blessings and the giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times).
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and now (now), and ever (always), and forever and ever. Amen (truly so).
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins, Master, forgive our iniquities, Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy (three times). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be it your name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily (necessary) bread today, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (the evil one is evil, the devil) For (because) Thine is the kingdom , and the power and glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Psalm 22
The Lord shepherds (leads) me and does not deprive me of anything. There, in a green place, He settled me and raised me by the still water. He converted my soul, directed me on the path of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even if I walk in the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff - they have comforted me. You have prepared a table for me in view of my oppressors, You have anointed my head with oil, and Your cup gives me drink as if it were excellent! And Your mercy follows me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord many days!
Psalm 23
The Lord's earth and everything that fills it, the universe and all who live in it. He founded it on the seas and built it on the rivers. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who will stand in His holy place? The one who has blameless hands and a pure heart, who in his soul was not carried away by vanity and did not swear deceitfully to his neighbor. This one will receive a blessing from the Lord and mercy from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob! Princes, lift up your gates and stand up, everlasting gates! And the King of Glory will enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord is mighty and strong, the Lord is mighty in battle. Princes, lift up your gates and stand up, everlasting gates! And the King of Glory will enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.
Psalm 115
I believed and therefore said: I am very broken. I said in my frenzy: every man is a liar. What shall I render to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will accept the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people. The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord. God! I am Your servant. I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid. You have broken my bonds. I will offer you a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, among you, O Jerusalem!
Tropari
Lord, born of a virgin! Despise my iniquities, cleanse my heart and make it a temple of Your most pure Body and Blood, and do not cast me away from Your face, O immeasurably merciful One!
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. How can I, unworthy, dare to partake of Your holy things? If I dare to approach You with those who are worthy, my clothes convict me, because they are not marital, and I will deserve condemnation for my sinful soul: cleanse, O Lord, the impurity of my soul and save me, because You love mankind.
And now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen. Our Lady is pure! I have many many sins. I ran to You, seeking salvation. The One Blessed One! Come to the aid of my weary soul and pray to Your Son and our God that He will forgive me for everything that I have done that is wicked.
On Holy Pentecost it is read:
When the glorious disciples were enlightened during the washing at the evening, then the wicked Judas, sick with the love of money, became darkened (in soul), and handed You over, the righteous Judge, to the lawless judges. Look, collector of estates, at the one who hanged himself because of them. Flee the insatiable soul that treated the Teacher so impudently. Lord, merciful to all, glory to You!
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Wash me often from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I am aware of my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. You alone have I sinned and done evil before You, so that You will be righteous in Your judgment and will be victorious when You judge. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. You loved the truth: You showed me the unknown and secret of Your wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop (an herb used in worship) and I will be cleansed, wash me and I will become whiter than snow.
Bring joy and gladness to my hearing, and humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Sovereign Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from (shedding) blood, O God, God of my salvation! And my tongue will joyfully praise Your righteousness. God! Open my mouth, and they will declare Your praise. If You wanted a sacrifice, I would give it, (but) You do not favor a burnt offering. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a contrite and humble heart.
Bless Zion, O Lord, according to Your good pleasure, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay bulls on Your altar.
K A N O N (2nd voice).
Song 1
Irmos: Come people, let us sing a hymn to Christ God, who divided the sea and led through it the people whom He brought out of slavery in Egypt; for He is glorified. (At each song of the canon, after the irmos (before the first troparion) one should say: “Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew the spirit of righteousness in my insides,” before the next troparion - “Do not cast me away from Thy presence and Thy Holy Spirit do not take it away from me.” Before the Mother of God - “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!”).
Merciful Lord! May Thy Holy Body be to me the bread of life that has no end, and may Thy holy Blood be a cure for various diseases.
Christ! Desecrated by vile deeds, I, pitiful, become unworthy of communion of Your most pure Body and Divine Blood; honor me with it.
Theotokos: Blessed Bride of God, beautiful land, which has grown without cultivation the Spear, saving the world, make me worthy of salvation, who partakes of it.
Song 3
Irmos: You who established me on the rock of faith, You have opened my mouth against my enemies; for my spirit rejoiced in singing: there is none so holy as our God, and none is righteous except Thee, O Lord.
Lord Christ! Give me drops of tears that cleanse the impurity of my heart, so that, purified by my conscience, with faith and fear I begin to partake of Your Divine Gifts.
More humane! May Your Most Pure Body and Divine Blood serve me for the remission of sins, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, in eternal life and liberation from passions and sorrows.
Theotokos: The most holy meal of living bread, which by His mercy came down from on high and gives to the world new life! Now deign me, unworthy, to taste it with fear in order to be alive.
Song 4
Irmos: Not an intercessor, not an angel, but You Yourself, Lord, came from the Virgin, taking flesh from Her, and saved all of me, a man; Therefore I cry to You: glory to Your power, O Lord!
Most merciful! For our sake, having become incarnate, You wanted to be slain for the sins of people, like a sheep; Therefore, I humbly beg You: cleanse my sins.
God! Heal the wounds of my soul and sanctify everything. Master! Honor me, the unfortunate one, to partake of You, Your mystical Divine Supper.
Theotokos: Lady! Be merciful to me, who was born of You, and keep me, Your servant, undefiled and immaculate, so that, having accepted the pearl imagined in my mind, I may be sanctified.
Song 5
Irmos: Lord, Giver of Light and Creator of Times! Guide us with the light of Your commandments; for we do not recognize any other God besides You.
Christ! What You yourself said before, let it be done to Your insignificant servant and, as you promised, abide in me; for behold, I eat Your Divine Body and drink Your Blood.
O Word of God (the Father) and God! May the coal of Your Body serve me, the darkened one, for enlightenment, and Your Blood for the cleansing of my desecrated soul.
Theotokos: Mary, Mother of God, precious receptacle of fragrance! Make me a chosen vessel of Your prayers, so that I may be a partaker of the sanctifications of Your Son.
Song 6
Irmos: Having plunged into the abyss of sin, I call upon the incomprehensible abyss of Your mercy. God, bring me out of destruction!
Savior! Sanctify my mind, soul, heart and body and deign, Master, to approach terrible mysteries without condemnation.
Christ! Through the communion of Your holy mysteries, may I be freed from passions and receive an increase in Your grace and strengthening of life.
Theotokos: God, Holy Word God! Through the prayers of Your Holy Mother, sanctify me in all respects, as I now approach Your Divine mysteries.
Kontakion
Christ! Allow me to receive bread - Your Body, and do not deprive me, unfortunate Master, of the communion of Your Divine Blood - Your most pure and terrible secrets. Let communion not serve as a condemnation for me, but it will grant me eternal and immortal life.
Song 7
Irmos: The wise youths did not serve the golden image, they themselves went into the flames and laughed at their gods; They cried out in the midst of the flames, and an angel sprinkled them with dew: the prayer of your lips was heard.
Christ! May the communion of Your immortal mysteries now be a source of blessings for me, light, life, victory over passions, and serve for the success and increase of Divine virtue, so that I may glorify You, the only merciful one.
Philanthropic! With trembling, love and reverence, now approaching You, Your immortal and Divine mysteries, may I get rid of passions, enemies, needs and all sorrow in order to sing to You: blessed are You, God of our fathers!
Theotokos: Filled with Divine grace, incomprehensibly giving birth to Christ the Savior! I beg You, Pure One, I, Your unclean servant, cleanse all of me from the impurity of flesh and spirit, who now wants to begin the most pure mysteries.
Song 8
Irmos: Sing the creations of the Lord and extol to all ages God, Who descended to the Jewish youths into the fiery furnace and turned the flame into dew.
My Savior, Christ God! Honor me, who have lost all hope of salvation, to now be a partaker of the heavenly, terrible and holy mysteries and Your Divine Mystical Supper.
Merciful! Running under Your mercy, I call upon You with fear: Savior, as You Yourself said, abide in me and I in You! Trusting in this mercy, here I eat Your Body and drink Your Blood.
When I receive fire, I tremble lest I should be burned like wax and grass. O terrible mystery! O mercy of God! How can I, clay, partake of the Divine Body and Blood and remain unharmed?
Song 9
Irmos: The Son of the Beginningless Father, God and Lord, incarnate from the Virgin, appeared among us to enlighten the darkened, to gather the scattered, therefore we magnify the glorious Mother of God.
Taste and see - this is Christ. The Lord, who for our sake became like us, who once sacrificed Himself to His Father, always slaughters himself, sanctifying those who receive communion.
Master, most merciful benefactor! Through communion of the sacred mysteries, may I be sanctified in soul and body, may I be enlightened, may I be saved; may I be Your house, having You within me, together with the Father and the Spirit.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. May Your Body and Most Honorable Blood, my Savior, be like fire and like light to me, burning up everything sinful in me and consuming the thorns of passions, and may they always enlighten me so that I can worship Your Divinity.
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Lady! God became incarnate from Your pure blood; therefore, every race and multitude of intelligent (creatures) glorify You, because they clearly know that he who has received human nature from You is the Lord of all.
It is truly worthy to glorify You, Mother of God, always blessed and immaculate, Mother of our God. You are more honorable (more honorable) than the cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the seraphim. We magnify You, who incorruptibly gave birth to God the Word.
Prayers Before Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, the source of life and immortality, the Creator of all creation, visible and invisible, the Son of the beginningless Father, with Him eternal and beginningless, in the last days, out of excessive mercy, clothed in flesh, crucified and buried for us, the ungrateful and insensitive Who renewed our nature, damaged by sin, with His blood! Immortal King Himself, accept repentance from me, a sinner, incline Your ear to me and hear what I will say: I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned before heaven and before You and I am not worthy to raise my eyes to the height of Your glory, for I have angered Your mercy by transgressing Your commandments and not listening to Your commands.
But You, Lord, gentle, long-suffering and abundantly merciful, did not leave me to perish with my iniquities, waiting in every possible way for my conversion. You, O Lover of Mankind, Yourself said through Your prophet: “I absolutely do not want the death of a sinner; but I want him to convert and live.” So You, Lord, do not want to destroy the creation of Your hands; You do not want the destruction of people. But you want everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, even though I am unworthy of heaven and earth and this fleeting life, having given myself entirely into slavery to sin and sensual pleasures, I have desecrated Your image. But I, unfortunate one - Your creation and creation - do not lose hope for my salvation and approach, hoping for Your immeasurable mercy. And so, Lover of mankind, accept me as a harlot, as a thief, as a publican, as a prodigal son, and remove from me the heavy yoke of sin, You who take away the sins of the world, heal human infirmities, call to yourself the toiling and burdened and calm them , who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Cleanse me from all impurity of body and spirit. Teach me to perform a holy work with reverence for You, so that I, with an impeccable testimony of conscience, accepting part of Your holy things, unite with Your holy Body and Blood and have You within me, living and abiding together with the Father and Your Holy Spirit.
Hey, Lord Jesus Christ my God! May the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries not serve as a condemnation for me, and may I not become weak in soul and body from unworthy communion of them. Grant me, Lord, until my last breath, to uncondemnably accept part of Your holy things into the communion of the Holy Spirit, as parting words of eternal life, as a favorable response to Your terrible judgment, so that with all Your chosen ones I can participate in Your incorruptible blessings that You have prepared for those who love You and for which You are blessed forever. Amen.
Oh my God! I know that I am unworthy and unsuitable for You to come under the roof of the house of my soul, because it is empty and fallen, and you will not find in me a place worthy to lay your head. But You, from heavenly heights, appeared on earth for us in a humble form; descend also now to my misery. And just as You deigned to lie down in the cave and in the manger of dumb beasts, enter also into the manger of my foolish soul and into my sinful body. Just as you did not disdain to enter and dine with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, deign also to enter the house of my wretched soul, leper and sinner. Just as You did not reject from Yourself a sinful harlot like me, who came and touched You, also have mercy on me, a sinner, who comes and touches You. And just as you did not disdain the uncleanness of her defiled lips that kissed You, do not also disdain my even more unclean and foul lips and my disgusting, unclean and defiled lips, and my even more unclean tongue.
But may the coal of Your most holy Body and Your honest Blood serve me in sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my wretched soul and body, in easing the burden of many of my sins, in preserving me from all devilish influence, in removing and liberating me from my evil and evil habit, to mortify passions, to preserve Your commandments, to increase Your Divine grace, to win Your Kingdom. I approach You, Christ God, not with negligence, but with boldness towards Your ineffable mercy, so that, turning aside for a long time from communicating with You, I was not caught by a mental wolf, like a predatory beast.
Therefore, I pray to You: You, one holy Master, sanctify my soul and body, mind and heart, and all my insides, renew me entirely, root Your fear in my members, and make Your sanctification unchangeably be in me. And be my help and shield, ruling my life in silence, deign me to stand on the right side with Your Angels, through the prayers and intercession of Your Most Pure Mother, Your incorporeal servants and most pure powers and all the saints who have pleased You from the beginning of the world. Amen.
One pure and incorruptible Lord, through unspeakable compassion and love for mankind, who took upon Himself our entire complex nature from the pure and immaculate blood of the Virgin, who supernaturally gave birth to You by the Divine Spirit by the influx and favor of the eternal Father, Christ Jesus, the Wisdom of God, and peace, and power! You, who have accepted life-giving and saving sufferings through Your flesh: the Cross, nails, spears, death, kill my bodily passions that are destructive to the soul. By Your burial You have devastated the kingdom of hell, bury my bad intentions with good thoughts and scatter the spirits of evil. By Your life-giving resurrection on the third day of the fallen forefather, raise up me too, who slipped through sin, offering me the means of repentance. By Your glorious Ascension, having deified the flesh and given it the honor of sitting at the right hand of the Father, honor me with the communion of Your holy Mysteries right side to reach those being saved. By the descent of the Comforter of the Spirit, having made Thy sacred disciples into precious vessels, show me also to be the receptacle of His coming. He who is coming again to judge the universe righteously! Deign me too to meet You, my Creator and Creator, on the clouds with all Your saints, so that I may endlessly glorify and sing Your praises, with Your beginningless Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Master Lord Jesus Christ, our God, merciful and humane, who alone has the power to forgive the sins of people, despise (forget), forgive all my sins, conscious and unconscious, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your divine, glorious, most pure and life-giving Mysteries not in punishment, not for the multiplication of sins, but for cleansing, sanctification, as a deposit future life and kingdoms, for a strong stronghold, for protection, for the defeat of enemies, for the destruction of many of my sins. For You are the God of mercy and generosity, and love for mankind, and we glorify You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I know, Lord, that I unworthily partake of Your most pure Body and Your honorable Blood, and I am guilty, and I eat and drink condemnation for myself, not realizing that this is Your Body and Blood, Christ and my God. But, trusting in Your mercies, I come to You, who said: “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood, he abides in Me, and I in him.” Have mercy, O Lord, and do not expose me as a sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy, and may this Holy Place serve me for healing, cleansing, enlightenment, for the protection, salvation and sanctification of soul and body, for driving away every dream and evil deed, and the attack of the devil, acting through thought in me - into boldness and love for You, into correcting life and strengthening it, into increasing virtue and perfection, into fulfilling the commandments, into communication with the Holy Spirit, into parting words into eternal life, into a favorable response at Your Last Judgment - not to condemnation.
From foul lips, from a vile heart, from an unclean tongue, from a defiled soul, accept this prayer, my Christ, and without rejecting my words, my character, or my shamelessness, let me freely say what I want, my Christ, but better and teach me what I should do and say. I have sinned more than the harlot, who, having learned where You are, having bought peace, dared to come to anoint Your feet, my Christ, my Lord and my God. Just as You did not reject her, who came from a pure heart, do not disdain me, O Word! Allow me to hold and kiss Your feet, and boldly anoint them with a stream of tears, like precious ointment. Wash me with your tears, cleanse me with them, Word! Forgive my sins and grant me forgiveness. You know many vices, you know my wounds, and you see my ulcers, but you also know my faith, and you see my zeal, and you hear my groans. Not a drop of tears, not a drop of a certain part is hidden from You, my God, my Creator, my Redeemer. Your eyes have noticed what I have not completed, but in Your book there is also what has not yet been written down by You. Look at my humility, look at my suffering, and forgive me all my sins, O God of the universe, so that with a pure heart, a trembling thought and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your most pure and all-holy Mysteries, by which everyone who eats You and drinks with sincerity is revived and deified. heart. After all, You, my Lord, said: “Whoever eats My Flesh, as well as drinks My Blood, abides in Me, and I am in him.” In everything, the word of my Master and God is true: after all, partaking of the divine and deifying Gifts, I am truly not alone, but with You, my Christ, the Light, bright as three suns, enlightening the world. Therefore, so that I would not be left alone, without You, the Giver of my life, my breath, my life, my joy, the salvation of the world, I came to You, as You see, with tears and a contrite soul, begging for deliverance for me. from my sins and Your life-giving and immaculate Sacraments, receiving communion does not lead to condemnation; so that You may remain, as You said, with me, who am thrice unhappy; so that the seducer, finding me deprived of Your grace, does not steal me insidiously and, having deceived me, does not lead me away from Your deifying words. Therefore, I fall at Your feet and fervently cry out to You: just as You accepted the prodigal son and the harlot who came to You, so, O Merciful One, accept me, the prodigal and the vile, who now comes to You with a contrite soul. I know, Savior, that no one else has sinned before You like I have, or done the deeds that I have done. But I also know that neither the severity of sins nor the multitude of sins exceeds my God’s great patience and great love for mankind, but with merciful compassion You cleanse and enlighten those who ardently repent, and introduce them to the light, generously making them partakers of Your Divinity; and - what is marvelous both to Angels and to human thoughts - You converse with them many times, as with Your true friends. It gives me courage, it inspires me, my Christ! And, boldly trusting in Your rich benefits to us, rejoicing and trembling together, I, the grass, partake of the fire, and I am - a wondrous miracle - inexplicably watered, like in ancient times a thorn bush burned without being consumed. So, with a grateful thought and a grateful heart, with all my grateful feelings, my soul and body, I worship, and magnify, and glorify You, my God, as blessed both now and forever.
God! Let go, resolve, forgive my sins that I have committed in word, deed, thought, voluntarily or involuntarily, consciously or unconsciously, and, as a merciful and philanthropic person, grant me forgiveness in everything. And through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, Your intelligent servants and holy powers (angels) and all the saints who have pleased You from the beginning of the world, deign me, without condemnation, to accept Your holy and most pure Body and honorable Blood for the healing of soul and body and for the purification of my evil thoughts . For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer is his
Sovereign Lord! I am not worth it for You to enter under the roof of my soul, but since You, as a lover of mankind, want to live in me, I approach with boldness. You command that I open the doors created by You alone, and You should enter into them with Your characteristic love for mankind. You come in and enlighten my darkened thoughts. I believe that You will do this, for You did not withdraw from the harlot who came to You with tears, did not reject the publican who brought repentance, did not drive away the thief who knew Your kingdom, and the persecutor who turned to You, did not leave what he was , but You placed all those who turned to You through repentance among Your friends. You alone are blessed always, now and in endless ages. Amen.
Prayer is his
Lord Jesus Christ, my God! Let go, resolve, cleanse and forgive me, Thy servant, sins, crimes, falls and everything that I have sinned from my youth to this day and hour - consciously or unconsciously, in words, deeds, intentions, thoughts, activities and in all my feelings - and through the prayers of the Most Pure Ever-Virgin Mary, who gave birth to You without seed (without a husband), Your Mother, the only undoubted hope, intercessor and salvation of my, grant me without condemnation to partake of Your most pure, immortal, life-giving, and terrible sacraments for the forgiveness of sins, in eternal life, sanctification and enlightenment, strengthening, healing and health of soul and body, destruction and complete elimination of my unclean thoughts, thoughts, undertakings and night dreams, dark and evil spirits. For Thine is the kingdom, power, honor and worship, together with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
I am already standing before the doors of Your temple, and unclean thoughts do not leave me. But You, Christ God, Who justified the publican, who had mercy on the Canaanite woman and who opened (opened) the doors of paradise to the thief, open to me the doors of Your love for mankind and accept me, who comes and touches You, as a harlot and a bleeding woman. As soon as one touched the hem of Your garment, she immediately received healing; the other, grasping Your most pure feet, received remission of her sins. I am the accursed one, who dares to accept Your whole body, so that I will not be scorched (burned). But accept me like those two, and enlighten the feelings of my soul, burning away sinful inclinations, through the prayers of the immaculate One who gave birth to You and through the prayers heavenly powers. For You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
(read by the priest when removing the chalice).
I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is your most pure Body, and this is your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You: have mercy on me and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, which (I have committed) in words and deeds, consciously and unconsciously, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your most pure Sacraments for the remission of sins and eternal life. Amen.
Son of God! Honor me today to be a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal the sacraments to Your enemies, and I will not give You a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess You. Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom! May the communion of Your most pure Mysteries be not a condemnation for me, O Lord, but a healing of soul and body. Amen
When you begin communion, say the following verses to yourself.
Here I begin to receive Divine Communion,
Do not burn me, Creator, with this sacrament,
Because You are the fire that burns the unworthy;
But cleanse me from all uncleanness.
Then:
And poems: Shudder, man, when you see the deifying Blood:/ for it is a burning coal, scorching the unworthy./ The Body of God both deifies me and nourishes me:/ deifies the spirit, but nourishes the mind incomprehensibly.
And troparia: You attracted me with love, Christ, / and changed me with a divine desire for You. / But burn my sins with immaterial fire / and grant me to be satisfied with pleasure in You, / so that I, rejoicing, magnify / Your two comings, O Good One.
How will I, unworthy, enter into the bright host of Your saints?/ After all, if I dare to enter the bridal chamber with them,/ my clothes will expose me,/ for this is not what they wear to marriage,/ and, bound, I will be expelled by the Angels./ Cleanse, Lord, defile my soul/ and save me, as a Lover of mankind.
And again: As a participant in Your mystical Supper/ this day, Son of God, accept me./ For I will not tell Your secrets to Your enemies,/ I will not give You a kiss like Judas./ But as a thief I confess You:/ “Remember me, O Lord, in Your kingdom!
Prayers After Communion
Glory to You, God! Glory to You, God! Glory to You, God!
First prayer
I thank You, Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to be a participant in Your holy things. I thank You for making me, unworthy, worthy to partake of Your most pure and heavenly gifts. But, O philanthropic Master, for our sake you died and rose again, and gave us these terrible and life-giving sacraments of Yours for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies! Give them to me for the healing of soul and body, for the reflection of every enemy, for the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, for the pacification of my spiritual strength, for unashamed faith, for unfeigned love, for the increase of wisdom, for the fulfillment of Your commandments, for the increase of Your grace and the assimilation of Your kingdoms, so that I, protected by them in Your sanctification, always remember Your grace and live not for myself, but for You, our Lord and benefactor. And so, having ended this present life with the hope of eternal life, he reached eternal peace, where the unceasing voice of those enjoying bliss and the endless joy of those contemplating the indescribable beauty of Your face is heard, for You, Christ our God, are the true pleasure and inexpressible joy of those who love You, and You praise all creation forever. Amen.
Prayer of St. Basil the Great
Lord Christ God, King of the ages and Creator of all! I thank You for all the benefits that You have given me in accepting Your most pure and life-giving sacraments. I beg You, merciful and humane, keep me under Your roof and in the shadow of Your wings and grant me, until my last breath, with a clear conscience, to worthily partake of Your holy things for the remission of sins and eternal life. For You are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of blessings, and we send up glory to You together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having given me Your flesh for food voluntarily, You are the fire that burns the unworthy! Do not burn me, my Creator, rather go into the members of my body, into all the joints, into the insides, into the heart, and burn up the thorns of all my sins. Cleanse my soul, sanctify my thoughts, strengthen my knees and bones, enlighten the five main feelings, nail me all with fear of You. Always protect, protect and protect me from every deed and word harmful to the soul. Cleanse, wash and arrange me; decorate, admonish and enlighten me. Show me to be Your abode, the one Spirit, and no longer the abode of sin, so that after receiving Communion every evildoer, every passion will flee from me, as from Your house, as from fire. As intercessors for myself, I present to You all the saints, the Commanders of the disembodied armies, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and above them, Your immaculate, pure Mother. Accept their prayers, my merciful Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. For You, the only Good One, are the sanctification, as well as the radiance of our souls, and to You, as befits God and Master, we all send up glory every day.
Prayer Four
Lord Jesus Christ, our God! May Your holy body be for me eternal life and Your holy blood for the remission of sins. May this (supper) thanksgiving be for me joy, health and joy. At Your terrible second coming, grant me, a sinner, to stand on the right side of Your glory through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Most Holy Lady Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy! I thank You for deigning me, unworthy, to partake of the most pure Body and precious Blood of Your Son. But, who gave birth true light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart! Producing the source of immortality, revive me, killed by sin! As the merciful Mother of the merciful God, have mercy on me and grant to my heart tenderness and contrition, to my thoughts modesty and liberation from the captivity of my thoughts. Grant me, until my last breath, to uncondemnably accept sanctification with the most pure sacraments for the healing of soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and confession, so that I can sing and glorify You all the days of my life; for You are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.
Now do You let Your servant go, O Lord, according to Your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people, a light for the enlightenment of the pagans and the glory of Your people Israel ().
General Confession
(sins against God,
sins against one's neighbor,
sins against oneself)
(Matt. 10:33; Mark 8:38).
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
(for example, on maps).
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
(starved them, beat them).
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
General Confession
(sins against God,
sins against one's neighbor,
sins against oneself)
I confess to the Lord God, in Holy Trinity glorified, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, all my sins from my youth to the present time, committed by me in deed, word, thought and all my feelings, voluntarily or involuntarily. I consider myself unworthy of forgiveness from God, but I do not give in to despair, I place all my hope in God’s mercy and sincerely wish to correct my life.
I sinned by lack of faith, by doubting what the faith of Christ teaches us. I sinned by indifference to faith, unwillingness to understand it and be convinced of it. He sinned with blasphemy - frivolously ridiculing the truths of faith, words of prayer and the Gospel, church rituals, as well as the shepherds of the Church and pious people, calling their zeal for prayer, fasting and alms hypocrisy.
I sinned even more: with contemptuous and impudent judgments about faith, about the laws and institutions of the church, for example about fasting and worship, about the veneration of holy icons and relics, about miraculous manifestations of God’s mercy or God’s wrath.
He sinned by deviating from the Church, considering it unnecessary for himself, considering himself capable of good life, to achieve salvation without the help of the Church, but one must go to God not alone, but with brothers and sisters in faith, in a union of love, in the Church and with the Church: only where there is love, there is God; To whom the Church is not a Mother, God is not a Father.
I sinned by renouncing faith or hiding faith out of fear, out of profit or out of shame in front of people, I did not heed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: Whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Heavenly Father; Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy Angels (Matt. 10:33; Mark 8:38).
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I sinned by not relying on God, relying more on myself or on other people, and sometimes on untruth, deception, cunning, deceit.
In happiness I sinned by ingratitude to God, the giver of happiness, and in misfortune by despondency, cowardice, murmuring against God, anger towards him, blasphemous and impudent thoughts about the Providence of God, despair, the desire for death for myself and my loved ones.
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I sinned by loving earthly goods more than the Creator, Whom I should love most of all - with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my mind.
I sinned by forgetting God and not feeling the fear of God; I forgot that God sees and knows everything, not only deeds and words, but also our secret thoughts, feelings and desires, and that God will judge us by death and at His Last Judgment; That’s why I sinned uncontrollably and boldly, as if for me there would be no death, no Judgment, no righteous punishment from God. I sinned with superstition, unreasonable trust in dreams, omens, and fortune telling. (for example, on maps).
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I sinned in prayer through laziness and incompetence; I skipped morning and evening prayers, before and after eating food, at the beginning and end of any task.
I sinned in prayer by haste, absent-mindedness, coldness and callousness, hypocrisy, I tried to seem to people more pious than I really was.
I sinned by having an unpeaceful mood during prayer; I prayed in a state of irritation, anger, ill-will, condemnation, murmuring, and disobedience to God’s Providence.
Sinned by carelessly and incorrectly performing the sign of the cross - from haste and inattention or from bad habit.
I sinned by not attending divine services on holidays and Sundays, inattention to what is read, sung and performed in the church during the service, failure to perform or reluctant performance church ceremonies(bows, veneration, kissing the cross, Gospel, icons).
He sinned by irreverent, indecent behavior in the temple - worldly and loud conversations, laughter, arguments, quarrels, cursing, pushing and oppressing other pilgrims.
I sinned by frivolously mentioning the name of God in conversations - by swearing and swearing without extreme necessity or even in a lie, as well as by not fulfilling what I promised to do good to someone with an oath.
I sinned by carelessly handling sacred objects - the cross, the Gospel, icons, holy water, prosphora.
I sinned by not observing holidays, fasting and fast days, non-observance of fasting, that is, he did not try to free himself from his shortcomings, bad and idle habits, did not try to correct his character, did not force himself to diligently fulfill the commandments of God.
Countless are my sins against the Lord God and His Holy Church!
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
My sins are countless, both against my neighbors and in relation to my duties towards myself. Instead of love for others, selfishness with all its destructive fruits prevails in my life.
I sinned with pride, conceit, considering myself better than others, vanity - love for praise and honor, self-praise, lust for power, arrogance, disrespect, rude treatment of people, ingratitude towards those who do me good.
I sinned by condemning, ridiculing the sins, shortcomings and mistakes of my neighbors, slander, gossip, and with them brought discord among my neighbors.
He sinned with slander - he unfairly spoke about people that was bad and harmful and dangerous for them.
I sinned with impatience, irritability, anger, intransigence, stubbornness, grumpiness, insolence, disobedience.
I sinned with resentment, malice, hatred, rancor, and vindictiveness.
I sinned with envy, ill-will, gloating, I sinned with abuse, foul language, quarrels, curses like others (maybe even your children), and yourself.
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I sinned by not honoring my elders, especially my parents, by not wanting to take care of my parents and to rest them in their old age; I sinned by judging and ridiculing them, by treating them rudely and impudently; I sinned by failing to remember them and my other loved ones in prayer - living and dead.
I sinned not through mercy, ruthlessness towards the poor, sick, grieving people, merciless cruelty in words and deeds, I was not afraid to humiliate, insult, upset my neighbors, sometimes, perhaps, I drove a person to despair.
He sinned through stinginess, avoidance of helping those in need, greed, love of profit, and was not afraid to take advantage of other people’s misfortunes and social disasters.
I sinned with addiction, attachment to things, I sinned with regret about good deeds done, I sinned with merciless treatment of animals (starved them, beat them).
He sinned by appropriating someone else's property - theft, concealing what was found, buying and selling stolen property.
He sinned by not doing or carelessly doing his work - his household and official affairs.
I sinned with lies, pretense, double-mindedness, insincerity in dealing with people, flattery, and people-pleasing.
I sinned by eavesdropping, spying, reading other people's letters, divulging trusted secrets, cunning, and all kinds of dishonesty.
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I sinned by laziness, love of idle spending time, idle talk, daydreaming.
I sinned not by being thrifty with my own and other people’s property.
He sinned through intemperance in food and drink, polyeating, secret eating, drunkenness, and smoking.
He sinned by being whimsical in his clothes, being excessively concerned about his appearance, and wanting to be liked, especially by people of the opposite sex.
He sinned by immodesty, impurity, voluptuousness in thoughts, feelings and desires, in words and conversations, in reading, in looks, in addressing persons of the other sex, as well as intemperance in marital relations, violation marital fidelity, prodigal falls, marital cohabitation without church blessing, unnatural satisfaction of lust.
Those who performed abortions on themselves or others, or incited someone to this great sin - infanticide, sinned gravely.
Lord, have mercy and forgive us sinners!
I sinned in that with my words and actions I tempted other people to sin, and I myself succumbed to the temptation to sin from other people, instead of fighting it.
He sinned by bad upbringing of children and even spoiling them with his bad example, excessive severity or, conversely, weakness, impunity; did not teach children to pray, obedience, truthfulness, hard work, frugality, helpfulness, and did not monitor the purity of their behavior.
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I sinned by being careless about my salvation, about pleasing God, not feeling my sins and my irresponsible guilt before God.
I sinned through regret and laziness in the fight against sin, constant delay of true repentance and correction.
I sinned by carelessly preparing for confession and communion, forgetting my sins, inability and unwillingness to remember them in order to feel my sinfulness and condemn myself before God.
I sinned in that I approached confession and communion very rarely.
I sinned by not fulfilling the penances imposed on me.
He sinned by justifying himself in sins; instead of condemnation in confession - downplaying one’s sins.
I sinned in that during confession I accused and condemned my neighbors, pointing out the sins of others instead of my own.
He sinned if during confession he deliberately hid his sins out of fear or shame.
I sinned if I approached confession and communion without making peace with those I had offended or who had offended me.
Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner!
I know and feel, Lord, that I am unworthy of forgiveness, I am irresponsible before You and Your holy Truth, but I appeal to Your boundless mercy: accept my wretched repentance, forgive my countless sins, cleanse, renew and strengthen my soul and body, so that I can steadily walk I'm on the path to salvation.
interpretation
Understanding the high significance of the sacrament of Repentance, many church rectors strive to begin confession in the evening and use the time before Divine Liturgy. However, the time and physical strength of priests are limited. That is why we have to conduct a general confession, since on Sundays and holidays there are many people who receive communion. In such cases, usually the priest, after prayers, reads a detailed list of sins and calls on everyone who comes to confession to repent. There should be no doubt that the merciful Lord will accept such a confession, caused by special circumstances, and forgive sins. If there were no mortal sins, then there is no need to repent again.
Communion is one of the main sacraments of the church, designed to reunite a person with the Savior and to endow a Christian with spiritual powers. Before communion, thorough internal preparation is required in order to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ with a pure soul and an open heart.
Preparation for Communion
In order to cleanse your soul and body, several days before communion must be spent in fasting, repentance and intense prayer. It is best to start preparing for the sacrament a week before the event, but if circumstances do not allow, three days.
During fasting, you must abstain from food of animal origin: meat, milk and eggs. If the sacrament falls during a period of strict fasting, then you should also give up fish and vegetable oil. On the eve of communion, from midnight, you should fast - that is, not eat food and water until you receive the consecrated bread and wine.
During the period of preparation for communion, it is necessary to show not only physical, but also spiritual abstinence. You should avoid attending entertainment events and active pastimes. It is necessary to spend more time in solitude, concentrate on spiritual life, and turn to reading the Holy Scriptures.
Before joining the sacrament, you need to closely control your actions and thoughts. To cleanse yourself spiritually, avoid disputes and conflicts, do not allow yourself to become angry and despondent. If you are in a quarrel with someone, be sure to make peace with this person - and do it not for show, but from the most sincere motives.
You should spend some time analyzing your behavior and thoughts. Communion is preceded by confession - repentance of sins in the presence of a priest. Before the procedure, think carefully about what you will say, so that during confession you do not miss a single thing. important moment and be completely cleansed of sins.
On the day before communion, attend the evening service in the temple. And before going to bed, read a special prayer that will help you tune in to communion with the Body and Blood of the Savior.
Prayer before communion
Master Christ God, who healed my sufferings with your sufferings and cured my ailments with your ulcers, grant me, a sinner, tears of tenderness; sent down to my body from the sense of smell Life-giving Cross Yours, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow. Raise my mind to you, which has fallen down, and lift me up from the disastrous abyss: for if I do not have repentance, then I do not have tenderness, I do not have comforting tears that raise a child to his inheritance. Having darkened my mind in worldly passions, I cannot turn to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears that are caused by love for You. Master Lord Jesus Christ, treasure of the good, grant me complete repentance and a hardworking heart, so that I can come to You, give me Your grace and renew Your image in me. Do not leave me, come to my request, lead me to your flock and number me among the sheep of Your chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Your Divine Sacraments through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Do good deeds, turn to the holy powers more often, and you will prepare to receive the sacrament of communion. Pray for yourself and your loved ones, and do not forget to press the buttons and
One should prepare for the Sacrament of the Eucharist both by repentance and prayers for communion. The preparation should not only be the fulfillment of prescribed instructions, but also a change in one’s entire life, which includes following the principles of the Gospel. It is required to observe internal discipline, which will help a believer to desire fellowship with Christ.
Prayer for communion and confession can be at home or in church. Those who strive to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ need to prayerfully prepare for this significant event: offer prayer to God more often and more diligently at home, and go to services.
On the eve of communion, you are supposed to attend an evening church service. For spiritual preparation in the evening at the service you need to read orthodox prayers before communion and confession. The order for communion can be found in every Orthodox prayer book.
There is a pious custom of reading 3 canons and an akathist. Canons are small prayers of a petitionary nature, which contain the rationale for requests and the petitions themselves. An akathist for communion is a laudatory, hymnographic and spiritual work. Both canons and akathists were compiled by saints or pious people. To the canons before The sacrament of Communion includes the following texts:
- repentant to the Lord Jesus;
- prayer service to the Most Holy Mother of God;
- to the Guardian Angel.
In the first week after Easter (also called Happy Week) instead of prayers for confession and communion, Orthodox Christians traditionally read the Easter canon.
Features of abstinence
Reading prayers before confession and communion is not the only condition for preparing for the Sacrament of the Eucharist: the day before it is necessary to perform a liturgical fast. For neophytes (beginners), as well as those who did not observe the fasting abstinence established by the Church, the clergyman can determine an additional period of abstinence for 3-7 days - before receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Fasting, in addition to restrictions in some food products, is to eat and consume liquids less than usual, and also to refuse to attend entertainment events, watch entertaining films and television shows. It is necessary to maintain physical and spiritual purity. Married people should refrain from intimate contact the day before and after communion.
Before the reception of the Mysteries of Christ, midnight begins strict fast- absolute abstinence from drinking and eating. Those who suffer from tobacco addiction should stop smoking cigarettes. The same applies to alcohol addicts and drug users.
A priest's blessing must be obtained for communion. Life-saving medications are not food and can be taken after midnight.
Preparing for confession and communion
He who is preparing for the Sacrament of the Eucharist must make peace with everyone and protect his soul from anger and irritability. It is important to restrain yourself from condemnation and any bad thoughts, staying, as far as possible, alone, reading the Gospel, the works of the holy fathers and other spiritual books. Before accepting the Holy Mysteries, you need to set yourself up correctly in order to cleanse your spirit in the Sacrament of Confession:
Before receiving the Holy Mysteries, some churches confess to children and the sick. Going to confession when the morning service is already underway is extreme negligence and a disdainful attitude towards the Sacrament.
Children under the age of 7 receive communion without confession (in the future, they will have the opportunity to go to confession not before every Eucharist, but having received the blessing of the priest for this).
Proper Communion
The Holy Gifts are taken out from the altar, proclaiming that the sacrament must be approached with fear and faith. It is necessary to receive the Sacrament after monks, children, elderly and sick parishioners. When approaching the Holy Chalice, you must first fold your hands on your chest in a special way.(right on top, left on bottom).
Before the Chalice itself, you should not make the sign of the cross: otherwise, you can unwittingly catch it and push it. When approaching the priest, you need to clearly state the name that was given on the day of Baptism - in full, without abbreviating it. Then open your mouth wide and reverently, accept the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and immediately swallow.
After this, without making the sign of the cross, you should kiss the edge of the Chalice and go to a special table to taste the liturgical bread and wash it down warm water. The last actions are necessary in order for Communion in the best possible way went inside.
What to do after the Eucharist
At the end of the service, the priest invites the parishioners to kiss the throne cross. Before this reverent action, which is called “dismissal,” it is not appropriate to leave the temple. If in the parish after the Eucharist it is customary to read thanksgiving prayers, after dismissal, it is necessary to stand closer to the reader and listen to them to the end. If prayers are not read, you need to read them at home yourself.
On this day, it is necessary to reverently keep within oneself “Christ accepted” and behave decently in order to heal one’s soul and body.
How often should you take communion?
Ancient Christians partook of the Sacraments every Day of Christ (i.e., every Sunday), and in the 4th century, Saint Basil the Great wrote: “We (that is, he and his monastic community) receive communion 4 times every 7 days.”
All the holy fathers of the Church speak about the frequent acceptance of Christ. The Sacrament itself contains the words recorded in the Gospel: “When they were eating food, Jesus took bread and, blessing it, broke it and, dividing it among the disciples, said: take, eat: this is My Body. After this, taking the cup, he thanked the Heavenly Father and said to them: Drink from it, all of you, because this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26). Evangelist Luke adds: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (chapter 22).
This call of the Savior to the communion of the Holy Mysteries lives in the heart of every Christian and calls him to the main sacred action in the life of a believer. Maximus the Confessor, saint and priest, testifies that no church sacrament can become perfect without the Eucharist. Therefore, Communion is called the “sacrament of the sacraments,” believing that it is in it that life of grace lies.
It is the Eucharist that makes the Church a true community, united by the Holy Spirit of God. Those events in history in which the Eucharistic life in the Christian circle begins to weaken illustrate that this has a fatal effect on people, and those years become very difficult for the destinies of the believers.
Of course, in the history of the Church there were times when it was very rare to partake of the Holy Mysteries. For example, the monks of the first times of Christianity, who became hermits in Egyptian desert, often did not have the opportunity to receive communion. This was partly due to the fact that there was no place to serve the Liturgy in the desert. In addition, in those days priestly and monastic services were rarely combined, so the monks could not perform the Liturgy themselves.
Later, the monasteries began to grow, and large monasteries arose. They began to ordain monks there for worship and the celebration of the Eucharist. This is how monastic priests appeared - hieromonks.
In modern monastic rules there is a note: a monk who does not take communion for 2 weeks is not a monk.
Canonical Precepts
From the point of view of the canons, which were established according to the recommendations and records of the saints and teachers of the Church, the practice of preparing for the reception of the Savior is established by the following instructions:
According to the resolutions of the Ecumenical Councils held in Carthage and Trulla, it is allowed to partake of the Body and Blood of the Savior only on an empty stomach. Saint Nikephoros teaches that a priest can give communion to a Christian lying on his deathbed, even if he has eaten food or taken medicine. Saint Timothy of Alexandria establishes the need for spouses to abstain from intimate contact the night before participating in the Eucharist.
Central place in life Orthodox Christian takes part in common prayer and communion. It is performed at every Liturgy. But it is customary to partake of the sacrament several times a year - after serious preparation. Prayers read before Communion are an important part of the process.
What is Communion
This is a Sacrament that is recognized by all traditional churches, and not just a pious rite. Celebrated during the Eucharist. Communion is an opportunity for a person to unite with Christ Himself. Every Christian soul strives for this.
What dictates the need for communion for believers?
- This is the wish of Jesus Christ, given by Him before His crucifixion, during the Last Supper.
- During the sacrament, a merging of man and God occurs in an incomprehensible way that can only be known by faith.
- Any sins for which repentance is brought are forgiven and cleansed.
- Children also need Communion, but the preparation for them is more gentle.
Prayers before Communion are read during the entire preparation, which takes from three days to a week. The time limit is set by the priest, depending on how ready (or poorly prepared) he finds the believer. Usually, if a parishioner rarely appears at services and does not consider it necessary to adhere to fasts, he is blessed to fast for a week.
In church terms this period is called “fasting”. This concept includes not only bodily abstinence from certain types of food, but also spiritual struggle with sins.
What to do before communion
You need to delve into your inner state. Take control of your emotions so that your lips do not utter angry and condemning words. Read Scripture, dissect it. It is advisable to stop watching TV, visiting entertainment sites, and generally spending any idle time.
Those who constantly live church life have problems of a different order. Everything is done out of habit - prayers are read before confession and communion, spiritual preparation can become something mechanical, without the participation of the soul. Wise shepherds advise such people to open more often Holy Bible. In the first centuries of the Church, Christians devoted much more time to its study than is customary now. During Great Lent, the book of the prophet Isaiah is read in churches; this will be a very useful reading during fasting.
During Lent, there is no need to look for sins in those who live under the same roof with you, or demand that they follow church rules. Fasting should not become a reason for pride. If a person boasts about his abstinence, this is not what pleases the Lord. What can you do to receive a blessing?
- Feed the hungry.
- Give shelter to a traveler.
- Dress someone who needs it.
Of course, this also includes any other possible help that a Christian can provide to others. For example, today at different temples and monasteries there are volunteer programs that you can join. The Lord will definitely accept the prayers read before communion by such a person, because he will do the will of God.
Many people make the mistake of focusing on what foods they should not eat. They bring themselves to a state of powerlessness, lash out at their family and colleagues - these are already extremes that should be avoided. Such fasting will not do any good; it only multiplies sins.
What prayers to read
What prayers should you read before communion? This question is asked by many newbies. To avoid confusion, it is better to buy a special book with the necessary texts. It can be found in any church shop. Since fasting includes obligatory participation in church services, you can carry it with you and read it when you have time. Usually, in line for confession, many people read the canons.
The most important stage is repentance. If a priest can take into account bodily weakness and “count” a fast that was not performed according to all the rules, then without confession in any church they will not be allowed to the Chalice. The exception is infants and people who have been baptized the day before (but this only happens once).
Communion is a visible sign of invisible spiritual life, communion with God, into which a member of the Church enters. Without the desire for improvement, awareness of one's sins, such communication is impossible. The Lord expects us to actively participate in our own salvation. He had already done everything he could. Orthodox Christians must only read prayers before Communion, fast for several days and go to confession.
Prayers read before communion
Psalm 22
The Lord shepherds me and deprives me of nothing. In a green place, there they settled me, on the water they brought me up in peace. Convert my soul, guide me on the path of righteousness, for Your name’s sake. Even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your club, that will comfort me. Thou hast prepared a table before me against those who were cold to me, Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup makes me drunken, like a mighty power. And Thy mercy will marry me all the days of my life, and make me dwell in the house of the Lord for many days.
Psalm 23
The earth is the Lord, and its fullness, the universe, and all who live on it. He founded food on the seas, and prepared food on the rivers. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who will stand in the place of His saints? He is innocent in his hand and pure in heart, who does not accept his soul in vain, and does not swear by his sincere flattery. This one will receive blessings from the Lord, and alms from God, his Savior. This is the race of those who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up the gates, your princes, and lift up the eternal gates; and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord is strong and strong, the Lord is strong in battle. Lift up the gates, your princes, and lift up the eternal gates; and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.
Psalm 115
I believed, I also exclaimed, and I was greatly humbled. I said in my frenzy: every man is a lie. What shall I render to the Lord for all that we have rendered? I will accept the cup of salvation, and I will call on the name of the Lord; I will offer my prayers to the Lord before all His people. The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord. O Lord, I am Your servant, I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid; You have torn my bonds to pieces. I will devour a sacrifice of praise for you, and in the name of the Lord I will call. I will offer my prayers to the Lord before all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, Jerusalem.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Hallelujah. (Three times with three bows)
Real repentance
Before the ritual of repentance for sins, there are special prayers. But you don’t need to read them specifically. The priest will do this before starting individual confession. You should listen to her carefully when the priest says - say your name out loud. Then everyone approaches the lectern (the stand where the cross and the Gospel lie). The Holy Scriptures and the Crucifixion should remind the sinner that he is before the face of Christ Himself.
Many are overcome by understandable embarrassment, a reluctance to admit their sins to stranger. It should be overcome, call your mistakes briefly, indicating not the details, but the very essence. A priest is needed for several reasons:
- He is a witness of your repentance, but Christ accepts confession.
People often tend to minimize their guilt and denigrate others. An experienced priest will not let this happen, denouncing the person, leading to the awareness of his own, and not someone else’s, mistakes. Otherwise, the sacrament turns into another sin.
- The confessor also testifies that the Lord accepted repentance.
After the end of confession, the priest covers the Christian’s bowed head with an epitrachelion (part of the vestment) and reads a prayer of permission. He also has the right to deny access to the sacrament if there are very serious sins - debauchery, murder (including abortion), blasphemy against God and parents. This is done so that a person does not receive communion to his own detriment, and not for the sake of punishment. Penance is given as a spiritual medicine - bitter, but necessary for recovery.
The salvation of the soul is the goal that every believer should desire. Achieving it is not easy, but it is possible. The means of salvation are available to everyone - prayer, participation in worship, repentance and Communion. Christ save you!
Prayer before confession (Reverend Simeon the New Theologian)
God and Lord of all! You who have the power of every breath and soul, who alone is able to heal me, hear the prayer of me, the accursed one, and the serpent nesting in me by the influx of the All-Holy and Life-Giving Spirit, slaying: and for me, poverty and nakedness, all the virtues that exist, at the feet of my holy (spiritual) father with tears grant him the honor, and his holy soul, to be merciful, so that you may be merciful to me. And grant, Lord, in my heart humility and good thoughts, befitting a sinner who has agreed to repent to You, and may you not completely abandon the one soul that united with You and confessed You, and instead of the whole world chose and preferred You: weigh for, Lord, as I want to be saved, even if my evil custom is an obstacle: but it is possible for You, Master, the essence of everything, what is impossible is of man. Amen.