Pre-Communion Service1. Prefatory Prayers 2. Entrance into the SanctuaryThe Celebrant enters the Sanctuary with the prayers (Ps 43:4), bows his head before the Altar with penitence, and kisses the four corners of the Altar --- starting from the right --- with praise and thanksgiving (Ps 118:27, 28).Vesting After the preliminary prayers and preparations, the Celebrant washes his hands and puts on his vestments --- 7 pieces for the Priest and 12 for the Bishop. The vestment represents ‘the glory and the beauty’ of God (Exodus 28:2)..3.Secret Prayers (Thuyobo) (a) Preparation of the Altar The Priest first kneels down before the Altar and offers silent prayers of penitence and self -offering. Thereafter he kisses the Altar, ascends the steps of the Altar and removes the cover of the Mysteries by reciting special prayers. Then the Priest begins the Intercession with the Paten and the Chalice held in hands crossed against each other. The Intercession of Saints and St Mary is followed by Special Prayers for the sick, for the penitents, and for the departed souls (to be remembered during the Holy Qurbana). The list for Special Prayers must reach the Priest before the commencement of the preparatory service. The Priest now places the Mysteries on the Altar and covers it with ‘Shushafo’ which is the spread. (b) The Censing The Priests perform the Intercession with the incense. He places the incense in the censer with prayers and intercedes for the living and the departed. The Priest concludes this inaudible service of Intercession with incense, which symbolises the offering of Aaron and his sons (Levi. 8:16) with Trisagion, the Lord’s Prayer and Nicene Creed.4.The Old Testament Lessons and Hymn before the Holy LiturgyNow comes Readings from the Old Testament and Psalms prescribed in the Church calendar.
Anaphora of the Faithful - Chapter 1
Chapter II
Chapter III
a) St James The brother of Our Lord and the first Bishop of Jerusalem, who presided over the Synod of Jerusalem in AD 50. He was a strict vegetarian and wrote the epistle named after him in AD 61. He was stoned to death by the Jews in AD 63.
b) St Ignatius The third Bishop of Antioch, he organised the orderly conduct of the liturgical services. He also established the Episcopal administration of the Church, During emperor Trajan’s persecution, he was martyred in AD 108 by being thrown to the lions.
c) Mar Clemis The third Bishop of Rome, Mar Clemis published a number of encyclicals defending faith and edifying the Church. He died in AD 101
d) Mar Dionysus A great scholar, he taught in the Alexandria theological institute for 17 years and became a Bishop in AD 241. He died in AD 266.
e) Mar Athanasius Making his debut at the first ecumenical synod of Nicea as Deacon, he became the Bishop of Alexandria in 386 and a staunch defender of the Orthodox faith for which he was exiled five times. His voice, eloquence and erudition virtually drowned the Arian hersy. He died in 373.
f) Mar Yulios Bishop of Rome (337-352 AD).and a friend of Mar Athanasius, he attended the provincial council of Sardica in 347. He died in 352 AD.
g) Mar Baselius Mar Baselius --- the title of our Catholicose --- is inspired by the life of the saintly scholar St Basil the Great, who died on 379.
h) Mar Gregorios The Bishop of Lasema in Capadocia in 372 and the Patriarch of Constantinople in 379,.he presided over one session of the Second Ecumenical Synod of Constantinople. He is the well-known author of many hymns and sermons.
i) Mar Dioscoros The Bishop of Alexandria in 444, he fiercely opposed the heresy of the two–nature theory of Our Lord in the Chalcedon Synod of 451. He was killed by his own bodyguards in 457 AD.
j) Mar Thimotheous He succeeded Mar Dioscorus as the Patriarch of Alexandria (457-477.A D). He fought the Chalcedonians and Eutchinas.
k) Mar Philaxinos A great theologian and leader, he was the Bishop of Maboog (485-519.A D) and published the new Syriac translation of the Holy Bible in 508. He fiercely contested the Calcedonians but his enemies smoked him to death in 519.
l) Mar Anthimos With Emperor Theodara’s support, he became the Patriarch of Constantinople in 535 A D. He accomplished many things for the prosperity of the Church.m) Mar Ivanios (St John Chrysostum – 347-410 A D) Born in Antioch, he embraced the monastic order at the age of 13. The Greek title ‘Chrysostum’ means the golden-tongued, which was conferred on him for his eloquent preaching, He became the Patriarch of Constantinople in 398. He spoke against the immorality of the empress, who exiled him. He was the author of a Liturgy and a number of letters of moral and ascetic treatises, including one on priesthood comprising 600 homilies and commentaries, and festal and panegyric orations.
n) Mar Coorilos Patriarch of Alexandria (429 to 449 A D), he was a great theologian who fought Nestorius..
o) Mar Severious: Patriarch of Antioch (512-219 A D), he was called the Crown of the Syrians. He was an author and a theologian, and died in Egypt at the ripe old age of 81.
p) Mar Jacob Bardessus.(490 –577 A D) A monk, he was consecrated the Bishop of Uraha in 541 by three Patriarchs in prison. It was a time when the Priestly succession was endangered because most of the prelates were imprisoned as part of the persecution. So the newly ordained Bishop went around on an ordination spree, clandestinely though. He ordained two Patriarchs, 89 Bishops and a lakh clergies. Also, he composed a communion order of service. His opponents nicknamed his followers Jacobites.
q) Mar Aphrem An all-time Deacon, he was a poet and a teacher.
r) Mar Jacob: He became a Bishop at the age of 67 (519 A D), and wrote many hymns for Communion and Baptism service.
s) Mar Issac: (365-466) A great monk, Bishop, poet and author of many books.
t) Mar Balai An author, Archpriest and poet.
u) Bar Sauma A great monk, Bishop and a teacher. He died in 457 A D.
v) Mar Simon: (397-459) A great monk who spent 18 years in prayer atop a pillar.
w) Mar Abhai He revolutionised the monastic order in the 5th Century.
x) Mar Gregorius & Mar Dionesius The Malankara Metropolitans and the canonized saints of our church.
vi) For all the faithful departed In the sixth one, all the faithful departed are remembered with special remembrance of those whose names are given for the day. All of these intercessory prayers are like the ones on the high priestly prayers of Our Lord (St Jn: 17:1 ) Prayer based on Exo : 28;11,12,28.The second benediction in the name of our Lord follows the intercession prayers. Then there follows a period of His Passion
(b) Catholic Hymn / Fraction The curtain of the Sanctuary falls, reminding us of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsamane, his sweat turning blood red in agony and praying all alone (St Mt 26:36.ff). The veil also shows the darkness at the time of Crucifixion (Lk 23:44). The Priest performs fraction and co-mixture, representing the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord. During this solemn occasion, the congregation led by the Altar boys, sing a penitential hymn.
The most popular hymn during the occasion is: “O God of love, kindly listen to the sound of your humble servant who knocks at your door. Your devotees are in great need of your help. So do not reject the prayers of your servants. When punishing, be always kind, remove your anger and protect us O Lord please, open your door so that we may be rewarded by your hearing of our prayers. O Lord listen when we call you. We are weak, we want your help O good God, kindly answer our prayers and grant us our needs O lord by your mercy show compassion upon your servant O God of grace, you know everything, do not remember faults." Another popular hymn begins: Isaiah saw the Seraphs … (Isaiah 6:1) During this time, the entire congregation stands meditating. (C) Catholic Litany A General Supplication
(a) Adoration The curtain goes up, symbolizing the Post-Resurrection appearances of Our Lord, revealing himself to his disciplines. It also represents the rending of the veil of the Holy of Holies at the temple of Jerusalem when Jesus cried, “It is finished. .. Unto thy hands I commend my spirit”.
(b) The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-23). The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that we are born again through the sacrifice of Our Lord and the consequent sending down of the Holy Sprit to the children who are worthy to call God “Our Father” (Jn 3:3-5 Gal 4:6 1 Pet 1: 3-5).After the Lords Prayer comes a prayer for grace to receive the Sacrament, and then the salutation,. “Peace be unto your”, repeated twice followed by benediction in the name of the Holy Trinity. This refers to the blessing of Our Lord with uplifted hands, at the time of Ascension (Lk 24:50-51).
Chapter IV
(c) The lifting of the Paten and the Chalice. The Priest raises the Holy Mysteries in adoration, signifying the Ascension of Our Lord. The solemnity of the occasion is marked by the ringing of bells and lighted candles, and the announcement of the Deacon to “stand in fear and trembling”. Our Lord ascended and entered into the veil to offer intercession for us (Heb 9:7).
(d) Communion of Saints The Priest descends from the Altar step to honour Blessed Virgin Mary and Saints and to commemorate the departed clergy and the faithful. We pray in the company of the faithful departed ones. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every thing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us “ (Heb 12;1). The accompanying songs describe the Church as the Bride. They also describe in ornate and magnificent language the Mother of God. (Eph; 5:26,27, Rev: 19: 6-8, 21: 1-5,9 Hos: 2:20).In the Communion of the Saints, we implore them to pray for us. Though departed from this world, they are alive and active in spirit (Lk. 20:38). When we honour the Saints, we honour Our Lord whose spirit lives in them. Anyone who receives a Prophet because he is a Prophet will receive a Prophet’s reward and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward” (Mt 10:41). Death is only the flight of the soul from the body.Chapter IV
e) Commemoration of the Departed The Church worships God in the great company of Saints --- especially the Mother of God --- and the Clergies.
Chapter V
(f) Communion of the Holy Mysteries The Priest turns to the congregation and requests for their prayers. The curtain of the Sanctuary falls and the Priest kneels down to offer Special Prayers. Then the Priest and the Altar boys receive the Holy Communion. The Second Coming of Our Lord is signified by the loud ringing of bells and the brightly-lit candles, admits Special Prayers when the Holy Mysteries are brought down to the isle.The Holy Communion should be taken after special prayers and fasting (in the morning) because the Lord’s meal should be the first meal on the Lord’s day.Then the Priest mixes the bread and the wine transforming the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord --- called `fraction and co-mixture’. The Priest says, “Thus we believe, and thus we confer, and thus we confirm, that this flesh is of this Blood and that this blood of this Flesh”. Since mixed, they don’t have to be given separately.
(g) Procession Facing westwards and facing the congregation, the Priest walks towards the sanctuary steps, with the Chalice and the Paten in hand, accompanied by the Altar boys in two rows holding lighted candles. This moment signifies the Second Coming of Our Lord with mighty power, heralded by the trumpet of Archangel, to judge the living and the departed. That is mankind’s most awesome moment for which every faithful Christian should look forward to. The bells and the fan the Altar boys carry proclaim symbolically the trumpet of the Archangel (1Cor 15:22, I Thes 4:16, Mt 24:30,31, Dan 7:13, Isa 27:1 Zech 9:14).
Chapter VI
(a) Thanksgiving and Dispersal The Mysteries are taken back to the Altar. Then the Priest offers Special Prayers and Thanksgiving. After this he dismisses the congregation with the final benediction. In response the congregation spends a little time in prayer. Meanwhile, the Priest kneels down and offers Special Prayer for himself, his family and the whole congregation, especially for those whose names are remembered in the Holy Qurbana. The Priest concludes with a short the post-Communion service.
Please wait