Liturgy Ethiopian Church

Marcos Daoud, Daoud

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9781136216473
• Subtopic: Regional Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

First published in 2005. Originally, the Ethiopian Church received fourteen Anaphora's from the Church of Egypt, yet at the time of publication, only three of them could be accounted for- that of St. Cyril, St. Gregory and St. Basil. Marcos Daoud has therefore devoted this work to the English translation of the remaining three.

CHAPTER II.

Preparatory service for the Liturgy.

1. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.

Preparatory service for the liturgy, showing the duties of the priest, the deacon and all the people and all the things that are fitting each on its occasion, as was arranged by our Egyptian fathers. First, at the time of the Eucharist a priest or deacon shall read these words, and let all those who will partake of the holy sacrament listen attentively. And he shall say:

2. O my brother, think of thy sins, and ask forgiveness so that thou mayest obtain mercy before going out of the church where the pure sacrifice is offered on their own behalf and thine.

3. Do not separate thyself from the priest who prays and offers (the sacrifice) on thy behalf in order that thou mayest not go out with the unbaptized whom they send out, but abide within the church, and listen to the word of the priest, and listen to him. who asks forgiveness on behalf of thee and all sinners, that their God may grant pardon to them.

4. O man, if thou desirest to receive forgiveness of thy sins, why dost thou go out from the church while another is bowing and asking for mercy on thy behalf?

5. And why art thou idle? At that time you let your mind wander from place to place, you who are sealed with the seal of the heavenly bridegroom, even Christ.

6. But the church will dismiss thee and shut her doors against thee so that thou wilt never enter, because no stranger will be found in her.

7. When her Bridegroom cometh she shall open to him her doors, and his bride feedeth the Bridegroom. But the stranger shall not eat because it is not given to him.

8. Who hath seen a bridegroom that, at his marriage, sacrifices his body and is fed on for ever?

9. The Son of God hath done a new deed in the world which no one, except for him, hath done like him since the creation of the world. At his marriage he hath ordained on the table, before his guests, his holy body and his precious blood as a banquet, so that they may eat thereof, and so that he who believes in him may live for ever.

10. The meat and drink is our Lord Jesus Christ at his marriage. Blessed be our God who hath given us his holy body and preciousblood for the forgiveness of sins that we may live thereby for ever. Glory be to him, world without end. Amen.

11. When the priest enters the church he shall, before all else, say “The Prayer of Penitence”, and the following Psalms:

Psalm	24	(25)	Before thee, O Lord….
„	60	(61)	Hear my cry, O God….
„	101	(102)	Hear my prayer, O Lord….
„	102	(103)	Bless the Lord, O my soul….
„	129	(130)	Out of the depths have I cried unto thee….
„	130	(131)	Lord, my heart is not haughty….

And afterwards he shall say this:

12. O Lord our God, thou alone art holy, who hast bestowed thy holy things on all of us by thy invisible power.

13. Yea Lord, we pray thee and beseech thee to send the Holy Spirit upon this church and upon this ark and upon all the holy vessels whereon thy precious mystery will be celebrated.

14. And now, bless them, sanctify them, purify them from all uncleanness and stain through the forgiveness of the second birth that they may be free for ever from the least remembrance of defilement and uncleanness.

15. And make this church and this ark vessels chosen and clean and pure, refined seven times from all spot and stain and uncleanness of transgressors like the cleansing of silver from earth, refined and purified and tested.

16. And grant that on them when they are clean and holy be performed the Sacrament of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and world without end. Amen.

Prayer of Gregory
Before entering within the Veil.

17. O Lord our God, who knoweth all the thoughts of man, and trieth the heart and reins: because thou hast called me to serve thec in this thy holy place, though I am unworthy,

18. Reject me not nor turn thy face from me, but take away my sins, and cleanse me from the uncleanness of my soul and my body.

19. And now I pray thee and beseech thee to blot out my wickedness and the iniquity of thy people, and lead me not into temptation.

20. Yea, Lord, cast me not away, nor let me be put to shame in my hope, but rather send down upon me the grace of the Holy Spirit, and make me worthy to stand in thy sanctuary, and to offer unto thee a pure sacrifice with simple heart for the forgiveness of my sins and trespasses,

21. and remember not the iniquity of thy people; and grant rest unto our fathers, our brothers and our sisters who have fallen asleep.

22. Keep and strengthen thy people by thy power, for thine is the glory-with thy only-begotten Son, world without end. Amen.

Then the priest shall enter into the sanctuary, and prostrate himself once in front of the veil, and say the prayer of Basil over the cupb-oards¹ while he opens them.

23. O Lord our God and oar creator, who didst make all through thy word, who hast permitted us to enter into this mystery, who didst form man through thy wisdom and make him prince over all creatures to rule them in righteousness and truth:

24. Grant us the wisdom which dwelleth in thy treasuries, create in us a clean heart, O Lord; forgive us our sins, hallow our souls and our bodies, make us meet to approach thy sanctuary that we may offer unto thee a sacrifice and a spiritual sweet incense for the forgiveness of thy people's sins.

25. O our Lord and our God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hast raised us from the earth and lifted us up from the dust to set us with thy angels and with the princes of thy people:

26. Make us worthy to serve the word of thy holy Gospel through thy love and the multitude of thy tender mercies, and strengthen us to fulfil thy will at this hour. We offer to thee a sacrifice of a sweet savour, and the spiritual fruit which pleaseth thy goodness.

27. Grant us thy forgiveness and thy mercy; and accept this spotless sacrifice; and send thy Holy Spirit upon us and upon our offering to glorify it.

28. O thou only-begotten Son our Lord, our God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, glory be to thee, world without end. Amen.

Then he shall enter and prostrate himself three times in front of the ark¹ and say the Prayer of John².

29. Lord our God who art higher than angels and archangels, the dominions and authorities, cherubim and seraphim, who was...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Prayer at the consecration of the New Vessels
• Preparatory Service
• The Anaphora of the Apostles
• The Anaphora of the Lord
• The Anaphora of John, Son of Thunder
• The Anaphora of St. Mary
• The Anaphora of The Three Hundred
• The Anaphora of St. Athanasius
• The Anaphora of St. Basil
• The Anaphora of St. Gregory
• The Anaphora of St. Epiphanius
• The Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom
• The Anaphora of St. Cyril
• The Anaphora of St. Jacob of Serough
• The Anaphora of St. Dioscorus
• The Anaphora of St. Gregory II
• Appendix - Prayer of the Covenant