Canon of Preparation for Communion
May be said during Compline the night before communion.
Song 1 (Tone 2).
Eirmos: Come, people, let us sing a hymn to Christ our God, Who divided the sea, and made a way for the nation whom He led out of bondage in Egypt: He is glorious.
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
May your holy body be the bread of eternal life for me, O gracious Lord, and may your precious blood be a remedy for my many forms of sickness.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
I am unworthy to partake of your immaculate Body and divine Blood: I am wretched and defiled by misguided deeds. Christ, make me worthy of your gifts.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O blessed Bride of God, O good and unturned land which produced the corn which saves the world, grant that I may be saved by eating it.
Song 3.
Eirmos: By establishing me on the rock of faith, you give me power over my enemies, and my spirit rejoices when I sing: There is none holy as our God, and no one is righteous but you, O Lord.
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
Give me tears, my Christ, to wash the filth from my heart. Then purified, O Lord, I will come with a good conscience, with awe and trust to partake of your divine gifts,
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
Lover of us all, may your most pure Body and divine Blood be the forgiveness of my transgressions, estrangement from my passions and the end of sorrows, communion with the Holy Spirit and the gift of Eternal Life.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-holy Lady you are the Altar of the Bread of Life coming down from heaven in great mercy giving new life to the world; grant that I who am unworthy may partake of that bread and live!
Song 4.
Eirmos: From a Virgin you came forth, neither a mere Prophet, nor only an Angel: you are the Lord himself, incarnate to save my whole person, body and soul, flesh and spirit. Therefore I cry to you: Glory to you power, O Lord!
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
O most merciful One, incarnate for us, it was your will to be slain as a Sheep for the sins of men; therefore I implore you to blot out my offenses.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
Lord, wretched as I am, heal the wounds of my soul and wholly sanctify me. Make me worthy to partake of your divine and mystical Supper.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lady pray for for me to he whom you bore. Keep me pure and blameless that I may be sanctified by obtaining the spiritual pearl.
Song 5.
Eirmos: Giver of light and Sovereign Creator of the worlds, guide us in the light of your commandments, for we know no other God than you.
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
Christ, let it be to your wicked servant according to your word. I am eating of your Body and drinking of your Blood. Dwell in me as you promised.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
O Word of God, and God, may the live coal of your Body be the enlightenment in my darkness. May your Blood be the cleansing of my sinful soul.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Mary, Theotokos and holy tabernacle of the scent of Heaven, pray for me and make me a chosen vessel, that I may partake of the Mystery of your Son.
Song 6.
Eirmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of your compassion: Raise me up from corruption, O God.
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
O Saviour, sanctify my mind, soul, heart and body, and let me approach without condemnation, your fearful Mysteries, O Lord.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
By this communion of your Holy Mysteries, O Christ, grant me estrangement from passions, the assistance of your grace, and assurance of life.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Holy Word of God and God, through the prayers of your most holy mother, sanctify the whole of me as I now approach your divine Mysteries.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion: Do not turn me away, O my Christ, and let me now receive the Bread which is your Body and the Wine that is your divine Blood. Wretched as I am, Lord, let me partake of your most pure and awesome Mysteries, not for judgment against me but rather for eternal life.
Song 7.
Eirmos: The wise children did not adore the golden idol: they defied the Pagan idols by walking freely into the flames. They prayed in the midst of the flame, and an Angel bedewed them: The prayer of your lips has been heard.
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
O Christ, may the communion of your immortal Mysteries, the source of all goodness, be to me light and life and dispassion and the means of progress and proficiency in divine virtue, that I may glorify you, the Only Good One.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
That I may be redeemed from passions, enemies, wants, and every sorrow, I now draw near with trembling, love and reverence, O Lover of All, to your immortal and divine Mysteries, singing: Blessed art you, O God of our fathers.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Pure one, full of Grace, who gave birth to the Saviour Christ in the Holy Mystery of the Incarnation, unclean as I am, I beg you: I seek to approach the immaculate Mysteries, cleanse your servant from all defilement of body and spirit.
Song 8.
Eirmos: Sing of the acts of God Who descended into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children, and changed the flame into dew, and exalt Him as Lord throughout all ages.
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
O Christ, grant me in my desperation participation in the heavenly, dread and holy Mysteries of your divine Mystical Supper, O my Saviour and God.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
I fly to your compassion, O Good One, seeking refuge. In fear I cry to you: Abide in me, O Saviour, and I in you as you promised! Confiding in your mercy, I eat you Body and drink you Blood.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Partaking of Divine Fire, I tremble, for I should burn as wax and hay. O dread Mystery! O Holy Love! That I who am clay may partake of the divine Body and Blood and become like you!
Song 9.
Eirmos: The Son of the Eternal Father, our God and and Lord, came to us incarnate of a Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness, and to gather the dispersed; therefore we offer hymns to the glory of the Theotokos!
O God, create in me a pure heart, in my belly, a new and constant spirit.
Troparia:
O taste and see, the Lord is good! Of old He became one of us for us, and offered Himself for the life of the World, sanctifying those who share his human nature.
Do not banish me from your presence; do not deprive me of your holy spirit.
May I be sanctified in body and soul, O Lord; may I be enlightened and saved; O most merciful Benefactor, by this communion of your Holy Mysteries may I become your dwelling, together with the Father and the Spirit, the Holy Trinity living with in me
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
My Saviour, may your most precious Body and Blood be both fire and light in me: burning the thorns of my passions thus consuming the fuel of sin and enlightening the whole of me to adore your Divinity.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
God took flesh of your flesh, bone of your bone. Therefore, all generations sing hymns to you, O Lady, and throngs of heavenly minds glorify you. For through your womb we have clearly seen He Who is Lord of all united with us in fully human nature.
Continue Compline with the hymn “How truly right it is…“
