minasoliman
posted on Sep 25, 2008 - 10:20 PM
So I found the part used by Fr. Stephanous Rizk in the beginning not included in the Ethiopian document, the following also attributed to St. John the Apostle and Beloved:
Priest: O Prince of Life and King of Ages, God unto whom every knee bows, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those under the earth; to whom everything is subject and in the bond of servitude, bowing their heads to the sceptre of Thy kingdom: Unto whom the armies of angels give glory together with the heavenly hosts, and all logical natures, with an unsilenced voice that utters Your divinity. And as You have taken pleasure in us, the poor inhabitants of the earth, that we should service to You, not because of the purity of our hands, for we have not done good upon the earth; but You are willing to grant us, the unfortunate and unworthy, of Your purity: accept us unto You O Good [God] and Lover of Mankind, as we approach Your holy altar according to the multitude of Your mercies. And make us worthy of the heavenly peace that suits Your divinity and is full of salvation that we may give it to one another in perfect love and that we may greet one another with a holy kiss.
Deacon: Pray for the perfect peace, love, and the holy apostolic kisses.
Priest: Not with spiteful thoughts, but with thoughts given to Your fear, free from guile and from the wickedness of the traitor so that our conscience is not at one with evil but with the gladness of our souls and joy of our hearts; for we have the great and perfect token of the love of Your Only-Begotten Son. Cast us not away, Your servants, because of the defilement of our sins, for You know, as our Creator, that no one born of a woman shall be justified before You. Therefore, make us worthy O our Master, with a pure heart and a soul full of Your grace, to stand and offer before You this holy, rational and bloodless sacrifice; for the forgiveness of our trespasses and the remission of the ignorances of Your people, for You are a compassionate and merciful God.
And You are to whom we send up the glory, the honor, the majesty and the worship [O God] the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and at all times and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
Deacon: Greet one another with a holy kiss. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Yes, Lord, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hear us and have mercy upon us. Offer, offer, offer in order. Stand with trembling. Look towards the east. Let us attend.
source: http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/litu ... _cyril.pdf
The rest can be found in that document that Meghalo05 (thank you for that wonderful gem
) provided for us.
The fraction that he uses is the fraction of the Virgin Mary and the Angels.
I must say, this was indeed a beautiful liturgy. One can only wonder why have it removed (other than perhaps that it might be a bit too long)?
God bless.
Joined: May 22, 2003 | Posts: 1755