In the life of every Orthodox person there are events that go far beyond the scope of everyday joys and sorrows. These are the days when the sacrament of Holy Communion is performed over him. They lie on a completely different plane of life. They bring joy, but this joy is of a special kind, not commensurate with the joy that earthly life gives us. These are the days of our union with God.
What is the meaning of Holy Communion for us?
The great sacrament of communion with the body and blood of the Lord makes our human nature akin to God. His body and blood become part of us, organically become part of our soul and body. As a person inherits from his biological parents, of which he became a part by virtue of kinship by blood, certain qualities inherent in them, so having taken the body and blood of the Lord into ourselves, we become the heirs of his qualities.
The Lord in His earthly life, bringing the atoning sacrifice, died, and then resurrected in a completely different flesh. This flesh was endowed with properties not available ordinary person. But Holy Communion makes us - the creations of his hands - heirs of both this flesh and this immortality. In addition, Jesus Christ, incarnated from the Virgin Mary, took everything except sinfulness. The Lord is sinless.
Reading the prayers included in the Follow-up to Holy Communion, we ask God to deliver us from the slavery of sin that has been weighing on us since the day of the fall of the first people - Adam and Eve. And our prayers are justified. After all, becoming partakers of the Divine body and blood, we must get rid of sinful captivity. For the great joy of spiritual renewal and gaining immortality, we thank the Lord God, offering him prayers of thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
Where and how are these prayers read?
Communion of the Holy Mysteries of the body and blood of Christ is performed in the temple during the liturgy. At the end, on behalf of all those who were honored on this day of the holy sacrament, a prayer of thanksgiving is read after Communion. Usually it is read by a psalmist. But sometimes parishioners, returning home from the temple, open the prayer book and read it themselves.
He wrote many theological works that have come down to us. thanksgiving prayer after Communion, written by St. Basil the Great, is full of deep and sincere feeling. He begins it with words of gratitude for all the blessings given to him by God. The saint asks the Lord to always keep him with grace and divine power. In conclusion, he prays that the Lord would vouchsafe him to keep his conscience spotless and always approach the holy sacraments with the consciousness of his spiritual purity.
Prayer three
Its author is St. Simeon Metaphrastus, who lived in Greece at the turn of the 9th-10th centuries. He entered as an outstanding theologian and historian. He created the most extensive collection of the lives of the saints, edited and provided with comments. The prayer of thanksgiving written by him after Communion is read third in a row. Starting it, he likens the Lord to burning all the unworthy. The monk prays, saving his life, burn the sinful thorns nesting in him, and make him the abode of the Holy Spirit. The monk surrenders himself to God's providence and trusts in its protection.
Very short, the fourth prayer
This small prayer is filled with a very deep meaning. It contains an appeal to God with a request to grant eternal life - the main and longed-for goal of every Christian. Then the words of the prayer appeal to the Lord to send down mercy at the Last Judgment, which will follow the second coming.
The Most Holy Theotokos enjoys special love and reverence among all Christians. She has a very special relationship with her. With its purity and holiness, it surpasses the angelic hosts. Not even cherubim and seraphim can compare with her. Therefore, the prayer addressed to her begins with words full of sincere love. “The light of a darkened soul, cover, refuge, consolation and joy” - these are the epithets with which the gratitude brought to her begins for the fact that she made us partake of the blood and body of her Son.
In prayer, we, recognizing ourselves mortified by sin, ask the Most Pure One to revive us. For her, who gave birth to the source of immortality, nothing is impossible. We ask you to direct our thoughts to good deeds and fill our hearts Divine love. And like all previous prayers, the thanksgiving prayer to the Theotokos ends with a request to grant us the opportunity to receive the shrine of the most pure mysteries until the end of our lives.
An excerpt from the gospel text and subsequent troparia
At the end of the prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, a short biblical text is read, which includes the words of the holy venerable Simeon the God-bearer, uttered by him when he saw the incarnate God in the infant Jesus brought to the temple by the Holy Spirit. His "Now you let go ..." ends after communion, the description of which is given above.
But our thanksgiving doesn't end there. Next, troparia and kontakia are read, and which ones depend on which saint’s liturgy was performed. It could be the liturgy of St. Basil the Great, or it could be - In addition, if the liturgy of the Presanctified gifts was served, then the troparion to St. Gregory the Dialogist and the corresponding kontakion are read. The prayer of thanksgiving to the guardian angel is not included in this list of prayers, but it is quite clear that we cannot but thank the guardian of our soul and body, do not give him credit for everything we owe him, including for the grace of Holy Communion. There are many prayers to our guardian angel. You can read any of them. The main thing is that it comes from a pure heart. Preparing for Holy Communion, everyone reads a large number of prayers prescribed by the church charter. Among them is the canon to the guardian angel. It is very good to reread it even after the performance of the holy sacrament.
Our day after Holy Communion
But prayers of thanksgiving after Communion do not complete the range of our duties related to this most important sacrament. The Holy Church strongly recommends devoting this day to the study of the word of God, contemplation and concern for the preservation of spiritual purity. It is better on this day to get rid of everything idle and devoid of spirituality. It is recommended to refrain from all kinds of entertainment. Even those of them that are not condemned by the church on ordinary days may be inappropriate on the day of Communion. Marriage and smoking are also prohibited. The lips that have received the body and blood of the Lord must not be defiled by anything. Therefore, the use of swear words is completely unacceptable.
The Lord has given us a powerful and reliable means ― Orthodox prayers. Thanksgiving, pleading and repentant - they elevate our souls and hearts. Regardless of whether we are talking about church prayer read in the temple, or about home prayer, they become grace-filled only on the condition of our deepest faith and sincerity with which we pronounce them. And each time, starting them, we must remember what we are doing in this moment great sacrament of communion with God.
Prayers after Communion
Glory to Thee, God! Glory to Thee, God! Glory to Thee, God!
Prayer 1
I thank You, Lord my God, that You did not reject me a sinner, but made me worthy to be a participant in Your holy things. I thank You for vouchsafed me, unworthy, to partake of Your most pure and heavenly gifts. But, O philanthropic Master, who died and rose again for us, and who bestowed upon us these terrible and life-giving Thy Sacraments 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 appeasement of my spiritual strength, for shameless 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, guarded by them in Your holiness, always remember Your grace and live not for myself, but for You, our Lord and benefactor. And so, after finishing real life with the hope of eternal life, reached eternal rest, where the unceasing singing of those who enjoy bliss and the endless joy of those who contemplate the inexpressible beauty of Your face, for You, Christ our God, are the true delight and inexpressible joy of those who love You, and You are praised by all creatures forever. Amen.
Prayer 2, St. Basil the Great
Lord Christ God, King of the ages and Creator of all! I thank You for all the blessings that You bestowed upon me in receiving Your most pure and life-giving Sacraments. I beg you, merciful and philanthropic, keep me under your shelter and in the shade of your wings and grant me until my last breath with with a clear conscience it is worthy to partake of Your holy things for the remission of sins and for eternal life. For You are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of blessings, and we give glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer 3, St. Simeon Metaphrastus.
Lord, who voluntarily gave me Your flesh as food, You are the fire that burns the unworthy! Do not burn me, my Creator! But pass into the members of my body, into all the joints, into the insides, into the heart, and the thorns of all my sins fell. Purify the soul, sanctify the thoughts, strengthen the joints and bones, enlighten the five main senses, nail me all with fear of You. Always protect, protect, protect me from every deed and word harmful to the soul. Cleanse, wash, adorn me; understand and enlighten me. Make me Your temple of the one Spirit and no longer a dwelling place of sin, so that after Communion every villain, every passion fled from me, as from Your house, as from fire. As intercessors for myself, I present to You all the saints, the rulers disembodied Forces Your Forerunner, the most wise Apostles, and together with them Your immaculate, most pure Mother. Accept their prayers, my merciful Christ, and make Thy servant a son of light. For You, the Merciful, alone are the sanctification and illumination of our souls. And to You, as befits a God and Master, we all send glory every day.
Prayer 4
Lord Jesus Christ our God! May Thy holy body be to me for everlasting life, and Thy precious blood for the remission of sins. May this Thanksgiving Supper be to me joyful, healthy, and joyful. In 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 5, to the Most Holy Theotokos
Most Holy Lady Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy! I thank You for deigning me, the unworthy, to partake of the most pure Body and the precious Blood of Your Son. You who gave birth to the true light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart! Producing the source of immortality, revive me, mortified by sin! As the merciful Mother of a merciful God, give me contrition in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and a call to good thoughts when my mind is captivated. And make me worthy until my last breath to accept without condemnation the sanctuary of the most pure Mysteries for the healing of soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and confession to sing and glorify You all the days of my life, for You are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.
Now you release your servant, Lord, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all men, a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel (Luke 2:29-32).
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice with a bow)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Lord, 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 always and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven! May your name be hallowed; let your kingdom come; May Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread for this day; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Troparion of St. John Chrysostom
The grace that shone like a torch of fire from your lips enlightened the universe; you have collected a treasure for the world of non-acquisition, you have shown us the height of humility. Instructing us with your words, Father John Chrysostom, pray the Word, Christ God, for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion
Glory: You received divine grace from heaven and with Your mouth you teach everyone to worship the one God in the Trinity, John Chrysostom, all-blessed, reverend, we praise you with dignity: for you are our mentor, explaining the divine.
And now: Protection of Christians is shameless, Intercession to the Creator is unchanging! Do not despise the prayerful voices of sinners, but soon come, as a Good One, to help us, who cry out to You with faith: “Hurry to intercede and speed up prayer, Mother of God, always protecting those who honor You!”
If the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great was performed, readtroparion to Basil the Great:
Your voice has passed through all the earth, for it has received your word: to them you have set forth the truths of faith worthy of God, explained the nature of everything that exists, adorned human customs, royal priest, reverend father, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion
Glory: You appeared as the unshakable foundation of the Church, endowing all people with an inalienable treasure and sealing it with your teachings, reverend Basil revealed from heaven.
And now: Protecting Christians...
If the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, readtroparion to Saint Gregory the Dialogist:
Having received divine grace from above from God, glorious Gregory, and strengthened by His power, you desired to walk the path of the Gospel; therefore, all-blessed, you received the reward for your labors from Christ, pray to Him that He save our souls.
Kontakion
Glory: You, Father Gregory, appeared as an imitator of the Head of the shepherds Christ, directing the hosts of monks to the heavenly fence, and taught the sheep of Christ His commandments. Now you rejoice with them and rejoice in the abodes of heaven.
And now: Protecting Christians...
Lord have mercy (12 times). Glory, and now.
Most honorable of the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious of the Seraphim, who gave birth to the Word of God without blemish, we magnify Thee, true Mother of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (Three times)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints have mercy on us. Amen.
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Thanksgiving prayer to the guardian angel
Prayer of thanksgiving, St. John of Kronstadt, read after healing from an illness
Thanksgiving Prayers for Holy Communion
Thanksgiving for every good deed of God
It is advisable to read prayers of thanksgiving prayers every day. Thank the Lord for every day you live, for the blessings sent to you, for the great gift - health, for the happiness of children. For everything that you have at the moment, even if, from your point of view, this is not so much.
Saint Gregory the Theologian wrote: “The Lord is thirsty to be thirsty, and He fills those who want to drink; He accepts it as a blessing if they ask Him for a blessing. He is available and generously gives great gifts, gives with more joy than others accept themselves. Only without finding yourself a low soul, asking for what is unimportant and unworthy of the Giver.
Great Glory:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we cry, we glorify Thee, we thank Thee, great for the sake of Thy glory. Lord the King of heaven, God the Father Almighty. Lord Son, Only Begotten Jesus Christ, and Holy Soul. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, take away the sins of the world, accept our prayer. Sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. As you are the only Holy One, You are the only Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever and ever.
Grant, O Lord, that on this day we shall be preserved without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name forever. Amen.
Wake, Lord, Thy mercy on us, as if we were relying on Thee.
Blessed be Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy justification (this is repeated three times).
Lord, Thou hast been a refuge for us forever and ever. Az reh: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against You. Lord, I have resorted to You, teach me to do Your will, as You are my God, as You have a source of life, in Your light we will see sowing. Prove Your mercy to those who guide You.
Song to the Lord Jesus Christ:
The only-begotten Son and Word of God, immortal, and deigning our salvation for the sake of being incarnated from the Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, immutably incarnated, crucified Christ God, righting death by death, one of the Holy Trinity, glorified by the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
Remember us in Your Kingdom, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for those are the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are the weeping ones, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed be merciful, for they will have mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are the exiles for the sake of righteousness, for those are the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you, when they reproach you, and they will spit and say all kinds of evil words, against you lying to me for my sake.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is many in heaven.
Psalm 22
The Lord shepherds me, and will deprive me of nothing. In the place of zlachne, there they instilled me, on the water calmly raised me. Turn my soul, guide me on the paths of truth, for Your name's sake. If I go in the midst of the canopy of death, I will not fear evil, for you are with me: your rod and your club, that consoles me. Thou hast prepared a meal before me against those who are aching for me: Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup makes me drunk, as if it were sovereign. And Your mercy will marry me all the days of my life, and let us dwell in the house of the Lord for the length of days.
Thanksgiving prayer to the guardian angel.
Having thanked and glorified my Lord, the One God of the Orthodox Jesus Christ for His benevolence, I appeal to you, holy angel of Christ, Divine warrior. I cry out with a prayer of thanksgiving, I thank you for your mercy to me and for your intercession for me before the face of the Lord. Glory be in the Lord, angel!
A short version of the prayer of thanksgiving to the guardian angel.
Having glorified the Lord, I pay tribute to you, my guardian angel. Glorious be thou in the Lord! Amen.
Prayer of thanksgiving, St. John of Kronstadt, read after healing from illness.
Glory to Thee, Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Fatherless Father, heal every disease and every ailment in people, as if you had mercy on me a sinner and delivered me from my illness, not allowing it to develop and kill me for my sins. Grant me from now on, Lord, the strength to firmly do Your will for the salvation of my wretched soul and for Your glory with Your Father without Beginning and Your Consubstantial Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving prayers for Holy Communion.
Glory to Thee, God. Glory to Thee, God. Glory to Thee, God.
Thanksgiving Prayer, 1st
I thank you, Lord, my God, as if you did not reject me as a sinner, but you made me worthy of being a companion of Your holy things. I thank Thee, as if I were unworthy to partake of Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts, thou hast vouchsafed me. But the Lord, Lover of mankind, for our sake died and rose again, and granted us this terrible and life-giving Sacraments for the good deed and sanctification of our souls and bodies, let me be this and me for the healing of the soul and body, for driving away every opposing one, for enlightening the eyes of my heart , in the world of my spiritual strength, in shameless faith, in love without hypocrisy, in fulfillment of wisdom, in keeping Thy commandments, in the application of Thy Divine grace and appropriation of Thy Kingdom; yes, in Thy sanctuary we preserve them, I always remember Thy grace, and I do not live for myself, but for Thee, our Lord and Benefactor; and tacos of this life have come about the hope of the eternal belly, I will reach eternal peace, where the unceasing voice of celebrating, and endless sweetness, beholding Your face, kindness indescribable. You are the true desire, and the inexpressible joy of those who love You, Christ our God, and all creation sings to You forever. Amen.
Prayer 2, Saint Basil the Great
Lord Christ God, King of the ages, and Creator of all, I thank Thee for all who gave me the good, and for the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Sacraments. I pray to Thee, O Better and Lover of mankind: keep me under Thy shelter, and in the canopy of Thy wings; and grant me with a pure conscience, even until my last breath, worthy to partake of Your holy things, for the remission of sins, and for eternal life. You are the bread of animals, the source of the holy, the Giver of the good, and we send glory to You, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer 3, Simeon Metaphrastus
Giving food to me the flesh of Your will, this fire and scorching the unworthy, but do not scorch me, my mate; rather, go into my heart, into all the compositions, into the womb, into the heart. The thorns of all my sins fell. Purify the soul, sanctify the thoughts. Approve the compositions with the bones together. Feelings enlighten a simple five. Nail me all to Your fear. Always cover, keep, and save me from every deed and word of the soul. Cleanse and wash, and adorn me; fertilize, enlighten, and enlighten me. Show me Your village of one Spirit, and not to anyone the village of sin. Yes, like your house, the entrance of communion, like fire, every villain, every passion runs to me. I bring prayer books to You all the saints, the officials of the incorporeal, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, to these Your undefiled pure Mother, accept their prayers graciously, my Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. Thou art the sanctification and one of ours, Blessed, souls and lordship; and it is beautiful to Thee, as to God and the Master, we send up all the glory for every day.
Prayer 4th
Thy Holy Body, Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, may it be with us in eternal life, and Thy Honorable Blood for the remission of sins: be this thanksgiving to me in joy, health and gladness; in your terrible and second coming, vouchsafe me a sinful statue at the right hand of your glory, with the prayers of your Most Pure Mother, and all the saints.
Prayer 5, to the Most Holy Theotokos
Most Holy Lady Theotokos, the light of my darkened soul, hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy, I thank Thee, as you have vouchsafed me to be unworthy, a partaker of being the Most Pure Body and Honest Blood of Your Son. But giving birth to the true Light, enlighten my intelligent eyes of the heart; Even the Source of immortality gave birth, revive me, mortified by sin; Even the merciful God, the compassionate Mother, have mercy on me, and give me tenderness and contrition in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and an appeal in the captivity of my thoughts; and vouchsafe me to the last breath, uncondemnedly accept the most pure Mysteries, sanctification, for the healing of the soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and confession, in a hedgehog and glorify Thee all the days of my belly, as if you are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.
Now let your servant go, Lord, according to your word, in peace: as my eyes have seen your salvation, if you have prepared before the face of all people, the light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of your people, Israel.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (thrice).
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, 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 forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily 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.
Troparion of St. John Chrysostom, tone 8
Your mouth, like the lordship of fire, having shone grace, enlighten the universe: not the love of money of the world, the treasures of the world, the height of our humility of wisdom, but punishing us with your words, Father John Chrysostom, pray the Word of Christ God to be saved to our souls.
Kontakion, tone 6
Glory: Thou hast received Divine grace from heaven, and with thy mouth teaches all to bow in the Trinity to the one God, John Chrysostom, all-blessed, reverend, worthy of praise to you: thou art a mentor, as if divine.
If the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great was performed, read
troparion to Basil the Great, tone 1:
Your broadcast has gone out into the whole earth, as if you had received your word, and thou hast taught it divinely, thou hast clarified the nature of beings, thou hast adorned human customs, royal sanctity, reverend father, pray to Christ God, save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 4
Glory: Thou hast appeared as an unshakable foundation to the church, giving all unstolen dominion by man, imprinting with your commands, unrevealed St. Basil.
And now: The intercession of Christians is shameless, an immutable intercession to the Creator, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if Good, to the aid of us, faithfully calling Ty: hasten to prayer, and rush to supplication, intercession ever, Theotokos, honoring Thee.
If the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, read the troparion to Saint Gregory the Dialogist Basil
Great, voice 4:
Even from God from above we perceive divine grace, glorious Gregory, and we strengthen Him by strength, deigned to march like the gospel, from there, from Christ, you received the retribution of labors all-blessed: God pray that save our souls.
Kontakion, voice 3
Glory: Thou didst appear to the Chief as the shepherd of Christ, the monks of the line, Father Gregory, instructing the heavenly fence, and from there taught the flock of Christ by His commandment: now rejoice with them, and rejoice in heavenly blood.
And now: The intercession of Christians is shameless, an immutable intercession to the Creator, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if Good, to the aid of us, faithfully calling Ty: hasten to prayer, and rush to supplication, intercession ever, Theotokos, honoring Thee.
Lord have mercy (12 times). Glory: And now:
The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, without the corruption of God the Word, who gave birth to the real Mother of God, we magnify You.
Thank you for every good deed of God.
Troparion, tone 4
Give thanks to Thy unworthy servants, O Lord, about Thy great good deeds on us who have been, glorifying Thee, we praise, bless, thank, sing and magnify Thy goodness, and slavishly with love we cry out to Thee: Our benefactor Savior, glory to Thee.
Kontakion, voice 3
Your good deeds and gifts to the tuna, like a slave to indecent, having become worthy, Master, diligently flowing to You, we bring thanksgiving according to strength, and glorifying You as a Benefactor and Creator, we cry out: glory to You, God the All-Merciful.
Glory now: Bogorodichen
Theotokos, Christian Helper, Thy intercession has been acquired by Thy servants, we cry out thankfully to Thee: Rejoice, Most Pure Theotokos Virgin, and always deliver us from all troubles with Thy prayers, One who soon intercedes.
Song of Praise, St. Ambrose, Ep. Mediolan
We praise God to you, we confess the Lord to you, all the earth magnifies to you the eternal Father. To you all the angels, to you the heavens and all the powers, to you the cherubim and seraphim with unceasing voices cry out: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory. To you the glorious apostolic face, to you a prophetic laudatory number, to you the bright martyr army praises, to you throughout the whole universe the Holy Church confesses, the Father of incomprehensible majesty, worshiped
Your true and only begotten Son, and Holy Comforter of the Spirit. You are the King of glory Christ, You are the ever-present Son of the Father: You, accepting man for deliverance, did not abhor the Virgin's womb. Having overcome the sting of death, you opened the Kingdom of Heaven to the believers. You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father, Judges come and believe. We ask you: help your servants, whom you have redeemed with honest blood. Vouchsafe to reign with Your saints in Your eternal glory. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance, I amend and exalt them forever: we will bless Thee all the days, and we will praise Thy name forever and ever. Grant, O Lord, on this day, without sin, be preserved for us. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us: be Thy mercy, Lord, on us, as if we put our trust in Thee: in Thee, Lord, let us put our trust in you forever. Amen.
Complete collection and description: thanksgiving prayer after communion for the spiritual life of a believer.
Glory to Thee, God. Glory to Thee, God. Glory to Thee, God.
Thanksgiving Prayer, 1st
I thank Thee, O Lord, my God, for Thou hast not rejected me a sinner, but Thou hast made me a companion of Thy holy things. Thank You, for I am unworthy to partake of Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts. But O Lord, Lover of mankind, for the sake of us he died and rose again, and gave us this terrible and life-giving Sacraments for the good deed and sanctification of our souls and bodies, grant that I also be this for the healing of soul and body, for driving away all that resists, for the enlightenment of my soul , into the world of my spiritual strength, in faith without shame, in love without hypocrisy, in the fulfillment of wisdom, in keeping Thy commandments, in the application of Thy Divine grace and appropriation of Thy Kingdom; Yes, in Thy holiness we preserve, Thy grace I always remember, and I do not live for myself, but for Thee, our Lord and Benefactor; And so this life, having gone out of the hope of the eternal belly, I will reach eternal peace, even though the voice of the celebrants is unceasing, and endless sweetness, seeing Your face, kindness inexpressible. Thou art the true desire, and the unspeakable joy of those who love Thee, O Christ our God, and all creation sings to Thee forever. Amen.Lord Christ God, King of the ages, and Creator of all, thank you for everyone who gave me the good, and for the communion of your most pure and life-giving Sacraments. I pray to Thee, O Good and Lover of mankind: keep me under Thy shelter, and in the canopy of Thy wings; and grant me with a clear conscience, even until my last breath, worthy to partake of Your holy things, for the remission of sins, and into eternal life. Thou art the bread of animals, the source of holiness, the Giver of the good, and we send glory to Thee, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Giving food to me the flesh of Your will, this fire and scorching the unworthy, but do not scorch me, my maker; rather, go into my pores, into all my body, into the womb, into the heart. The thorns of all my sins have fallen. Cleanse your soul, sanctify your thoughts. Confirm the compositions with the bones together. Enlighten the feelings of a simple five. Just nail me to Your fear. Always cover, keep, and keep me from every deed and word of the soul. Cleanse and wash, and adorn me; fertilize, enlighten, and enlighten me. Show me Your village of the one Spirit, and not to anyone the village of sin. Yes, like your house, the entrance of communion, like fire, every villain, every passion flees me. I bring you prayer books all the saints, but the officials of the incorporeal, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, to these also Your undefiled pure Mother, and even their prayers Kindly accept, my Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. You are the sanctification and the One of ours, Blessed, souls and lightness; and it is beautiful like Thee, as God and the Master, we send up all the glory all day long.
Thy Holy Body, Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, may it be with us in eternal life, and Thy Honorable Blood for the remission of sins: wake me this thanksgiving in joy, health and gladness; at your terrible and second coming, grant me, a sinner, to the right hand of your glory, by the prayers of your Most Pure Mother, and all the saints.
Most Holy Lady Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy, I thank Thee, as you have vouchsafed me unworthy, a partaker of being the Most Pure Body and Honest Blood of Your Son. But giving birth to the true Light, enlighten my clever eyes of the heart; I gave birth to the Source of immortality, revive me, mortified by sin; I am the merciful God, loving-hearted Mother, have mercy on me, and give me tenderness and contrition in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and an appeal in the captivity of my thoughts; and grant me until my last breath, accept without condemnation the most pure Mysteries of sanctification, for the healing of soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and confession, in the hedgehog and praise Thee all the days of my belly, as if you are blessed and glorified forever and ever. Amen.
Now let Thy servant go, Master, according to Thy word, in peace: as my eyes have seen Thy salvation, Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of Thy people, Israel.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
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)
Our Father, Thou art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily 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.
Your lips, like the brightness of fire, having shone grace, enlighten the universe: not the love of money, the treasure of the world, showing us the height of humility, but punishing us with your words, Father John Chrysostom, pray the Words of Christ God to save our souls.
Thou hast received Divine grace from heaven, and with thy mouth teach all to bow in the Trinity to the one God, John Chrysostom, all-blessed reverend, worthy of praise to thee: Thou art a mentor, as if divine.
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Bogorodichen:
Thanksgiving prayers after Communion (if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great was performed):
Your broadcasting has gone out into all the earth, as if it had received your word, and you taught it divinely;
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Thou hast appeared as an unshakable foundation to the Church, giving all the inescapable dominion of man, imprinting with your commandments, unappeared reverend Basil.
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Bogorodichen: The intercession of Christians is shameless, intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if Good, to the help of us, who faithfully call on Ty: hasten to prayer, and strive for supplication, intercession ever, honoring Theotokos.
Thanksgiving prayers after Communion (if the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was performed):
Troparion to Saint Gregory the Dialogist, tone 4:
And we receive divine grace from above from God, glorious Gregory, and we strengthen Him with power, Thou hast deigned to march evangelically, from Christ the reward of labors Thou hast received all-blessed: Pray him, that He may save our souls.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The podobochnik appeared to the Head as the shepherd of Christ, the monks of the succession, Father Gregory, instructing the heavens, and from there you taught the flock of Christ by His commandment: now you rejoice with them, and rejoice in the blood of heaven.
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Bogorodichen: The intercession of Christians is shameless, intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, as if Good, to the help of us, who faithfully call on Ty: hasten to prayer, and strive for supplication, intercession ever, honoring Theotokos.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
The most honorable Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, without corruption of the God of the Word, who gave birth to the present Mother of God, we magnify Thee.
Thanksgiving Prayers for Holy Communion
Thanksgiving Prayer, 1st
I thank Thee, O Lord, my God, for thou hast not rejected me a sinner, but thou hast vouchsafed me to be a companion of Thy holy things. I thank Thee, as if I were unworthy to partake of Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts, thou hast vouchsafed me. But the Lord, Lover of mankind, for our sake died and rose again, and granted us this terrible and life-giving Sacraments for the good deed and sanctification of our souls and bodies, let me be this and me for the healing of the soul and body, for driving away every opposing one, for enlightening the eyes of my heart , in the world of my spiritual strength, in shameless faith, in love without hypocrisy, in fulfillment of wisdom, in keeping Thy commandments, in the application of Thy Divine grace and appropriation of Thy Kingdom; yes, in Thy sanctuary we preserve them, I always remember Thy grace, and I do not live for myself, but for Thee, our Lord and Benefactor; and tacos of this life have come about the hope of the eternal belly, I will reach eternal peace, where the unceasing voice of celebrating, and endless sweetness, beholding Your face, kindness indescribable. You are the true desire, and the inexpressible joy of those who love You, Christ our God, and all creation sings to You forever. Amen.
Prayer 2, Saint Basil the Great
Prayer 3, Simeon Metaphrastus
Prayer 4th
Prayer 5, to the Most Holy Theotokos
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily 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.
Troparion of St. John Chrysostom, tone 8:
Kontakion, tone 6:
Thou hast received Divine grace from heaven, and with thy mouth teaches all to bow in the Trinity to the one God, John Chrysostom, all-blessed reverend, worthy of praise to you: thou art a mentor, as if divine.
Bogorodichen:
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
troparion to Basil the Great, tone 1:
Kontakion, tone 4:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Bogorodichen:
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, like the Good, to help us, faithfully calling Ty: hasten to prayer, and rush to supplication, intercession ever, Theotokos, honoring Thee.
If the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was served, read troparion to St. Gregory the Dialogist, tone 4:
Kontakion, voice 3:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Bogorodichen:
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, like the Good, to help us, faithfully calling Ty: hasten to prayer, and rush to supplication, intercession ever, Theotokos, honoring Thee.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, without the corruption of God the Word, who gave birth to the real Mother of God, we magnify Thee.
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Thanksgiving prayers for Holy Communion (prayers after Communion)
Glory to Thee, God. Glory to Thee, God. Glory to Thee, God.
Thanksgiving Prayer, 1st
I thank you, Lord, my God, as if you did not reject me as a sinner, but you made me worthy of being a companion of Your holy things. I thank Thee, as if I were unworthy to partake of Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts, thou hast vouchsafed me. But the Lord, Lover of mankind, for our sake died and rose again, and granted us this terrible and life-giving Sacraments for the good deed and sanctification of our souls and bodies, let me be this and me for the healing of the soul and body, for driving away every opposing one, for enlightening the eyes of my heart , in the world of my spiritual strength, in shameless faith, in love without hypocrisy, in fulfillment of wisdom, in keeping Thy commandments, in the application of Thy Divine grace and appropriation of Thy Kingdom; yes, in Thy sanctuary we preserve them, I always remember Thy grace, and I do not live for myself, but for Thee, our Lord and Benefactor; and tacos of this life have come about the hope of the eternal belly, I will reach eternal peace, where the unceasing voice of celebrating, and endless sweetness, beholding Your face, kindness indescribable. You are the true desire, and the inexpressible joy of those who love You, Christ our God, and all creation sings to You forever. Amen.
Prayer 2, Saint Basil the Great
Lord Christ God, King of the ages, and Creator of all, I thank Thee for all who gave me the good, and for the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Sacraments. I pray to Thee, O Better and Lover of mankind: keep me under Thy shelter, and in the canopy of Thy wings; and grant me with a pure conscience, even until my last breath, worthy to partake of Your holy things, for the remission of sins, and for eternal life. You are the bread of animals, the source of the holy, the Giver of the good, and we send glory to You, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer 3, Simeon Metaphrastus
Giving food to me the flesh of Your will, this fire and scorching the unworthy, but do not scorch me, my mate; rather, go into my heart, into all the compositions, into the womb, into the heart. The thorns of all my sins fell. Purify the soul, sanctify the thoughts. Approve the compositions with the bones together. Feelings enlighten a simple five. Nail me all to Your fear. Always cover, keep, and save me from every deed and word of the soul. Cleanse and wash, and adorn me; fertilize, enlighten, and enlighten me. Show me Your village of one Spirit, and not to anyone the village of sin. Yes, like your house, the entrance of communion, like fire, every villain, every passion runs to me. I bring prayer books to You all the saints, the officials of the incorporeal, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, to these Your undefiled pure Mother, accept their prayers graciously, my Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. Thou art the sanctification and one of ours, Blessed, souls and lordship; and it is beautiful to Thee, as to God and the Master, we send up all the glory for every day.
Thy Holy Body, Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, may it be with us in eternal life, and Thy Honorable Blood for the remission of sins: be this thanksgiving to me in joy, health and gladness; in your terrible and second coming, vouchsafe me a sinful statue at the right hand of your glory, with the prayers of your Most Pure Mother, and all the saints.
Prayer 5, to the Most Holy Theotokos
Most Holy Lady Theotokos, the light of my darkened soul, hope, protection, refuge, consolation, my joy, I thank Thee, as you have vouchsafed me to be unworthy, a partaker of being the Most Pure Body and Honest Blood of Your Son. But giving birth to the true Light, enlighten my intelligent eyes of the heart; Even the Source of immortality gave birth, revive me, mortified by sin; Even the merciful God, the compassionate Mother, have mercy on me, and give me tenderness and contrition in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and an appeal in the captivity of my thoughts; and vouchsafe me to the last breath, uncondemnedly accept the most pure Mysteries, sanctification, for the healing of the soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and confession, in a hedgehog and glorify Thee all the days of my belly, as if you are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.
Now let your servant go, Master, according to your word, in peace: as my eyes have seen your salvation, if you have prepared before the face of all people, the light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of your people, Israel.
Trisagion. Holy Trinity. Our Father.
Troparion of St. John Chrysostom, tone 8
Your mouth, like the lordship of fire, having shone grace, enlighten the universe: not the love of money of the world, the treasures of the world, the height of our humility of wisdom, but punishing us with your words, Father John Chrysostom, pray the Word of Christ God to be saved to our souls.
Glory: Thou hast received Divine grace from heaven, and with thy mouth teaches all to bow in the Trinity to the one God, John Chrysostom, all-blessed, reverend, worthy of praise to you: you are a mentor, as if divine.
And now: The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, like the Good, to help us, faithfully calling Ty: hasten to prayer, and rush to supplication, intercession ever, Theotokos, honoring Thee.
If the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great was performed, read troparion to Basil the Great, tone 1:
Your broadcast has gone out into the whole earth, as if you had received your word, and thou hast taught it divinely, thou hast clarified the nature of beings, thou hast adorned human customs, royal sanctity, reverend father, pray to Christ God, save our souls.
Glory: Thou hast appeared as an unshakable foundation to the church, giving all unstolen dominion by man, imprinting with your commands, unrevealed Basil the Monk. And now: Representation of Christians.
If the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, read the troparion to St. Gregory the Dialogist Basil the Great, tone 4: Even from God from above we perceive divine grace, glorious Gregory, and we strengthen Him by strength, deigned to march like the gospel, from there, from Christ, you received the retribution of labors all-blessed: God pray that save our souls. Kontakion, voice 3
Glory: The leader appeared to the Chief as the shepherd of Christ, the monks of the series, Father Gregory, instructing the heavenly fence, and from there taught the flock of Christ by His commandment: now rejoice with them, and rejoice in heavenly blood.
And now: Representation of Christians.
Lord have mercy. (12 times) Glory, and now.
The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, without the corruption of God the Word, who gave birth to the real Mother of God, we magnify You.
After Communion, let everyone remain in purity, abstinence, and laconic speech, in order to worthily preserve in himself the accepted Christ.
In the life of every Orthodox person there are events that go far beyond the scope of everyday joys and sorrows. These are the days when the sacrament of Holy Communion is performed over him. They lie on a completely different plane of life. They bring joy, but this joy is of a special kind, not commensurate with the joy that earthly life gives us. These are the days of our union with God.
What is the meaning of Holy Communion for us?
The great sacrament of communion with the body and blood of the Lord makes our human nature akin to God. His body and blood become part of us, organically become part of our soul and body. As a person inherits from his biological parents, of which he became a part by virtue of kinship by blood, certain qualities inherent in them, so having taken the body and blood of the Lord into ourselves, we become the heirs of his qualities.
The Lord in His earthly life, bringing the atoning sacrifice, died, and then resurrected in a completely different flesh. This flesh was endowed with properties inaccessible to an ordinary person. But Holy Communion makes us, the creations of his hands, heirs of both this flesh and this immortality. In addition, Jesus Christ, incarnated from the Virgin Mary, took on all human qualities, except for sinfulness. The Lord is sinless.
Reading the prayers included in the Follow-up to Holy Communion, we ask God to deliver us from the slavery of sin that has been weighing on us since the day of the fall of the first people - Adam and Eve. And our prayers are justified. After all, becoming partakers of the Divine body and blood, we must get rid of sinful captivity. For the great joy of spiritual renewal and gaining immortality, we thank the Lord God, offering him prayers of thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
Where and how are these prayers read?
Communion of the Holy Mysteries of the body and blood of Christ is performed in the temple during the liturgy. At the end, on behalf of all those who were honored on this day of the holy sacrament, a prayer of thanksgiving is read after Communion. Usually it is read by a psalmist. But sometimes parishioners, returning home from the temple, open the prayer book and read it themselves.
The text that makes up the thanksgiving prayers for Holy Communion includes five independent prayers. Followed by famous words the holy venerable Simeon the God-Receiver: “Now you let go ...” - and then the texts of the troparia and kontakions are read, depending on which saint’s liturgy was performed on that day. All this prayers serve one purpose - to worthily sing and thank the Lord God for granting us great mercy. It is not for nothing that the thanksgiving prayers for Holy Communion are preceded by words calling for them to be read fervently and from the heart.
Prayer one
This prayer begins with words of gratitude to God for the fact that, despite all our sinfulness, he did not reject us and revealed us as partakers of his holy mysteries. This is followed by a request that his body and blood serve for spiritual healing and bodily health. So that they help repel any enemy, visible and invisible, enlighten with the knowledge of the Divine Mysteries to strengthen faith and give strength to keep the holy commandments of the Lord. This first prayer of thanksgiving after Communion ends with words expressing the desire to continue to devote one's life to the service of God, and a request for grace-filled help along this path. This is followed by a prayer written in the 4th century by St. Basil the Great.
Prayer of Saint Basil the Great
First of all, it is necessary to say a few words about this saint. Basil the Great was born in Caesarea in 303. Having received an excellent education in childhood, he continued it in Athens. Here he met another pillar of Christianity - Gregory the Theologian. Their friendship lasted a lifetime. In Athens, Saint Basil embarked on the path of asceticism and knowledge of Christian teaching. Soon he took the holy orders. The saint traveled a lot. Having gathered a circle of like-minded people, he became their spiritual mentor.
He wrote many theological works that have come down to us. The thanksgiving prayer after Communion, written by St. Basil the Great, is full of deep and sincere feeling. He begins it with words of gratitude for all the blessings given to him by God. The saint asks the Lord to always keep him with grace and divine power. In conclusion, he prays that the Lord would vouchsafe him to keep his conscience spotless and always approach the holy sacraments with the consciousness of his spiritual purity.
Prayer three
Its author is St. Simeon Metaphrastus, who lived in Greece at the turn of the 9th-10th centuries. He entered the history of Christianity as an outstanding theologian and historian. He created the most extensive collection of the lives of the saints, edited and provided with comments. The prayer of thanksgiving written by him after Communion is read third in a row. Starting it, he likens the Lord God to fire, burning all the unworthy. The monk prays, saving his life, burn the sinful thorns nesting in him, and make him the abode of the Holy Spirit. The monk surrenders himself to God's providence and trusts in its protection.
Very short, the fourth prayer
This small prayer is filled with a very deep meaning. It contains an appeal to God with a request to grant eternal life - the main and longed-for goal of every Christian. Then the words of the prayer appeal to the Lord to send down mercy at the Last Judgment, which will follow the second coming.
The Most Holy Theotokos enjoys special love and reverence among all Christians. She has a very special relationship with her. With its purity and holiness, it surpasses the angelic hosts. Not even cherubim and seraphim can compare with her. Therefore, the prayer addressed to her begins with words full of sincere love. “The light of a darkened soul, cover, refuge, consolation and joy” - these are the epithets with which the gratitude brought to her begins for the fact that she made us partake of the blood and body of her Son.
In prayer, we, recognizing ourselves mortified by sin, ask the Most Pure One to revive us. For her, who gave birth to the source of immortality, nothing is impossible. We ask you to direct your thoughts to good deeds and fill your hearts with Divine love. And like all previous prayers, the thanksgiving prayer to the Theotokos ends with a request to grant us the opportunity to receive the shrine of the most pure mysteries until the end of our lives.
An excerpt from the gospel text and subsequent troparia
At the end of the prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, a short biblical text is read, which includes the words of the holy venerable Simeon the God-bearer, uttered by him when he saw the incarnate God in the infant Jesus brought to the temple by the Holy Spirit. His “Now you let go…” concludes the prayers of thanksgiving after communion described above.
But our thanksgiving doesn't end there. Next, troparia and kontakia are read, and which ones depend on which saint’s liturgy was performed. It could be the liturgy of St. Basil the Great, or it could be John Chrysostom. In addition, if the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was served, then the troparion to St. Gregory the Dialogist and the corresponding kontakion are read. The prayer of thanksgiving to the guardian angel is not included in this list of prayers, but it is quite clear that we cannot but thank the guardian of our soul and body, do not give him credit for everything we owe him, including for the grace of Holy Communion. There are many prayers to our guardian angel. You can read any of them. The main thing is that it comes from a pure heart. Preparing for Holy Communion, everyone reads a large number of prayers prescribed by the church charter. Among them is the canon to the guardian angel. It is very good to reread it even after the performance of the holy sacrament.
Our day after Holy Communion
But prayers of thanksgiving after Communion do not complete the range of our duties related to this most important sacrament. The Holy Church strongly recommends devoting this day to the study of the word of God, contemplation and concern for the preservation of spiritual purity. It is better on this day to get rid of everything idle and devoid of spirituality. It is recommended to refrain from all kinds of entertainment. Even those of them that are not condemned by the church on ordinary days may be inappropriate on the day of Communion. Marriage and smoking are also prohibited. The lips that have received the body and blood of the Lord must not be defiled by anything. Therefore, the use of swear words is completely unacceptable.
The Lord has given us a powerful and reliable means of communication with him - Orthodox prayers. Thanksgiving, pleading and repentant - they elevate our souls and hearts. Regardless of whether we are talking about church prayer read in the temple, or about home prayer, they become grace-filled only on the condition of our deepest faith and sincerity with which we pronounce them. And each time, approaching them, we must remember that we are currently performing a great sacrament of communion with God.
