Library › St Sarapion of Thmuis › Prayer-Book (Euchologion)
Prayer-Book (Euchologion)
St Sarapion of Thmuis, tr. Wordsworth, 1899
Chapter 27
[Prayer and fixed diptych on behalf of those who make offerings.]
27. Prayer on behalf of (the) people.
A. We may make full confession to thee, O God who lovest man, and throw before thee our weaknesses, and beseech thee that strength may be imparted to us. Pardon our foregone sins and remit all (our) faults that have passed by and make (us) new men. Render (δεῖξον) us all servants of thine own (γνησίους) and clean. To thee we dedicate ourselves; receive us, O God of truth.
[Fixed Diptych.1]
B. Receive this people, grant that it may be entirely thine own. Grant it entirely to walk unblameably and cleanly. Let them be joined in symmetry (συμμετρηθήτωσαν) with the heavenly ones; let them be numbered together with the angels; let them become entirely elect and holy.
We beseech thee on behalf of those who have believed and have come to full knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ; let them be confirmed in the faith, and in the knowledge and in the doctrine.
We pray thee on behalf of all this people, be reconciled to all, make thyself known (γνώρισον ἑαυτόν). Reveal thy bright light; let all know thee the uncreated Father and thy only-begotten Son Jesus Christ.
We pray for all Rulers, may they have a peaceable life.2
(We pray) for the rest of the Catholic Church.3
We pray thee, O God of compassions, for freemen and slaves, males and women, old men and children, poor and rich; display to all thine own special good, and stretch forth on all thine own special loving-kindness; have compassion on all and grant to all to turn to thee.
We beseech thee for those who are travelling from home (ἀποδημούντων),4 grant them an angel of peace as their fellow-traveller, that they may receive no hurt from any one, that they may finish (διανύσωσιν) their voyage and their travels (ἀποδημίας) in much cheerfulness.
We beseech thee for those who are afflicted and in bonds and in poverty; give rest to each, free (them) from bonds, bringing (them) out of poverty; comfort all, thou who art the comforter and consoler.
We pray for the sick, grant (them) health and raise (them) up from their sickness, and make them to have perfect health of body and soul: for thou art the Saviour and benefactor, thou art the Lord and King of all.
We have besought thee on behalf of all through thy only-begotten Jesus Christ, through whom to thee (is) the glory and the strength in holy Spirit both now and to all the ages of the ages. Amen.
[The Offertory doubtless followed here.]
Notes
- I have adopted this sub-title on a suggestion of Mr. Brightman’s.
- On the bearing of this petition on the date, see Int., § 2, p. 13.
- ὑπὲρ ἀναπαύσεως τῆς καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας. This may be connected with what precedes, “for the sake of the rest of the Catholic Church.” But I prefer to take it, as in the text, as a separate petition, beginning as usual with ὑπέρ.
- ἀποδημεῖν not only means “to be absent from home,” but ἀπό in this group of words often implies motion, like ἐπί in ἐπιδημεῖν. Cp. Aristophanes Ranae, 48, ποῖ γῆς ἀπεδήμεις;