Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 2.djvu/267

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LITURGY OF NESTORIUS.
239
Whilst the people are communicating, the deacons shall chant an anthem;40 and after all have communicated, the Priest shall put the table of the sacraments [the paten] back into its place, and the deacon shall say:

Let us all who through the gift of the grace of the Holy Ghost have drawn nigh, and were made meet to partake in the communion of these glorious, holy, life-giving, and divine sacraments, unitedly give thanks, and praise unto God Who gave them.

R. Praise be unto Him for His unspeakable gift.

Priest. [Audibly.] It is meet, O Lord, that we should every day, [Repeat,] it is fit that we should at all times, it is right that we should every hour, thank, worship, and praise, the awful name of Thy majesty, because in Thy grace Thou hast vouchsafed unto the frail and mortal nature of man, that he should glorify Thy Name with all the spiritual essences, be partaker in the sacraments of Thy gift, take delight in Thy gracious words, and send up the voice of praise and thanksgiving to Thy great Majesty at all times, O Lord of all, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

R. Amen. Give Thy blessing, O Lord.

Priest. Christ, our God and Lord, our King, and Saviour, and Quickener, who in His grace has made us meet to take of His precious and all-sanctifying body and blood, may He vouchsafe to make us please Him in all our words, actions, and thoughts. And may this pledge, O Lord, which we have received, and which we are yet to receive, be effectual in us for the forgiveness of our sins, for the pardon of our iniquities, for the great hope of the resurrection from the dead, and for newness of life in the kingdom of heaven, with all those who approved themselves before Him, through His grace and mercy, for ever and ever. Amen.

As the priest is saying this one of the deacons shall draw the veil of the bema, and the priests shall salute each other, and shall chant together Ps. cxlviii. and cl. and the Lord's Prayer. Then the Priest shall go beyond the screen, and shall stand on the right side of the door of the bema, and shall bless the people in an audible voice, saying:

O Thou Who hast blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places through Christ Jesus our Lord, Who hath called us unto His kingdom and glory, and hath advanced us to