While it is impossible to know that the following liturgy was developed by the author of the Book of James in Scripture, it is found in the Apostolic Constitutions as just that. This work is tentatively dated to the mid-300’s or so. As such it does have great antiquity, but it also demonstrates a significant amount of development of the structure of the local church which seems to put it much later. Another aspect of later influence is the significant amount of honor given to Mary who is called the Ever Virgin. We can read this as a way to visualize worship in the mid-300’s. One item to notice is the use of many words in the prayers. As a professor of mine once quipped regarding liturgies such as this, “Why use one word when you can you three or four!?”

I will not include all of it here. If you would like to read the entire liturgy, please see http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.xii.ii.html


THE DIVINE LITURGY OF JAMES THE HOLY APOSTLE AND BROTHER OF THE LORD.

 

The Priest.

 O Sovereign Lord our God, contemn me not, defiled with a multitude of sins: for, behold, I have come to this Thy divine and heavenly mystery, not as being worthy; but looking only to Thy goodness, I direct my voice to Thee: God be merciful to me, a sinner; I have sinned against Heaven, and before Thee, and am unworthy to come into the presence of this Thy holy and spiritual table, upon which Thy only-begotten Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ, is mystically set forth as a sacrifice for me, a sinner, and stained with every spot. Wherefore I present to Thee this supplication and thanksgiving, that Thy Spirit the Comforter may be sent down upon me, strengthening and fitting me for this service; and count me worthy to make known without condemnation the word, delivered from Thee by me to the people, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening, and consubstantial4088 Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

Prayer of the standing beside the altar. 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the triune light of the Godhead, which is unity subsisting in trinity, divided, yet indivisible: for the Trinity is the one God Almighty, whose glory the heavens declare, and the earth His dominion, and the sea His might, and every sentient and intellectual creature at all times proclaims His majesty: for all glory becomes Him, and honor and might, greatness and magnificence, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

Prayer of the incense at the beginning. 

Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, O Word of God, who didst freely offer Thyself a blameless sacrifice upon the cross to God even the Father, the coal of double nature, that didst touch the lips of the prophet with the tongs, and didst take away his sins, touch also the hearts of us sinners, and purify us from every stain, and present us holy beside Thy holy altar, that we may offer Thee a sacrifice of praise: and accept from us, Thy unprofitable servants, this incense as an odor of a sweet smell, and make fragrant the evil odor of our soul and body, and purify us with the sanctifying power of Thy all-holy Spirit: for Thou alone art holy, who sanctifies, and art communicated to the faithful; and glory becomes Thee, with Thy eternal Father, and Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

Prayer of the commencement. 

 O beneficent King eternal, and Creator of the universe, receive Thy Church, coming unto Thee through Thy Christ: fulfil to each what is profitable; lead all to perfection, and make us perfectly worthy of the grace of Thy sanctification, gathering us together within Thy holy Church, which Thou hast purchased by the precious blood of Thy only-begotten Son, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with whom Thou art blessed and glorified, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

The Deacon. 

 Let us again pray to the Lord. 

The Priest, prayer of the incense at the entrance of the congregation. 

God, who didst accept the gifts of Abel, the sacrifice of Noah and of Abram, the incense of Aaron and of Zacharias, accept also from the hand of us sinners this incense for an odor of a sweet smell, and for remission of our sins, and those of all Thy people; for blessed art Thou, and glory becomes Thee, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. 

The Deacon. 

Sir, pronounce the blessing.

The Priest prays. 

Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, who through exceeding goodness and love not to be restrained wast crucified, and didst not refuse to be pierced by the spear and nails; who didst provide this mysterious and awful service as an everlasting memorial for us perpetually: bless Thy ministry in Christ the God, and bless our entrance, and fully complete the presentation of this our service by Thy unutterable compassion, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

The responsive prayer from the Deacon. 

 The Lord bless us, and make us worthy seraphically to offer gifts, and to sing the oft-sung hymn of the divine Trisagion, by the fullness and exceeding abundance of all the perfection of holiness, now and ever. 

Then the Deacon begins to sing in the entrance.

Thou who art the only-begotten Son and Word of God, immortal; who didst submit for our salvation to become flesh of the holy God-mother, and ever-virgin Mary; who didst immutably become man and wast crucified, O Christ our God, and didst by Thy death tread death underfoot; who art one of the Holy Trinity glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us. 

The Priest says this prayer from the gates to the altar. 

God Almighty, Lord great in glory, who hast given to us an entrance into the Holy of Holies, through the sojourning among men of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord, and God, and Savior Jesus Christ, we supplicate and invoke Thy goodness, since we are fearful and trembling when about to stand at Thy holy altar; send forth upon us, O God, Thy good grace, and sanctify our souls, and bodies, and spirits, and turn our thoughts to piety, in order that with a pure conscience we may bring unto Thee gifts, offerings, and fruits for the remission of our transgressions, and for the propitiation of all Thy people, by the grace and mercies and loving-kindness of Thy only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed to all eternity. Amen. 

After the approach to the altar, the Priest says:— 

 Peace be to all. 

The People. 

And to thy spirit. 

The Priest. 

The Lord bless us all, and sanctify us for the entrance and celebration of the divine and pure mysteries, giving rest to the blessed souls among the good and just, by His grace and loving-kindness, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

Then the Deacon says the bidding prayer. 

 In peace let us beseech the Lord. 

For the peace that is from above, and for God’s love to man, and for the salvation of our souls, let us beseech the Lord. 

For the peace of the whole world, for the unity of all the holy churches of God, let us beseech the Lord. 

For the remission of our sins, and forgiveness of our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and distress, and from the uprising of our enemies, let us beseech the Lord. 

Then the Singers sing the Trisagion Hymn. 

Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, have mercy upon us. 

Then the Priest prays, bowing. 

 O compassionate and merciful, long-suffering, and very gracious and true God, look from Thy prepared dwelling-place, and hear us Thy suppliants, and deliver us from every temptation of the devil and of man; withhold not Thy aid from us, nor bring on us chastisements too heavy for our strength: for we are unable to overcome what is opposed to us; but Thou art able, Lord, to save us from everything that is against us. Save us, O God, from the difficulties of this world, according to Thy goodness, in order that, having drawn nigh with a pure conscience to Thy holy altar, we may send up to Thee without condemnation the blessed hymn Trisagion, together with the heavenly powers, and that, having performed the service, well pleasing to Thee and divine, we may be counted worthy of eternal life. 

(Aloud.) 

Because Thou art holy, Lord our God, and dwellest and abidest in holy places, we send up the praise and the hymn Trisagion to Thee, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity.

 

The People. 

Amen. 

The Priest. 

 Peace be to all. 

The People. 

And to thy spirit. 

The Singers. 

Alleluia. 

Then there are read in order the holy oracles of the Old Testament, and of the prophets; and the incarnation of the Son of God is set forth, and His sufferings and resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His second appearing with glory; and this takes place daily in the holy and divine service. 

After the reading and instruction the Deacon says:— 

 Let us all say, Lord, be merciful 

Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers; 

We beseech Thee, hear us. 

For the peace which is from above, and for the salvation of our souls; 

Let us beseech the Lord. 

For the peace of the whole world, and the unity of all the holy churches of God; 

Let us beseech the Lord. 

For the salvation and help of all the Christ-loving people; 

We beseech Thee, hear us. 

For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, distress, from captivity, bitter death, and from our iniquities; 

We beseech Thee, hear us. 

For the people standing round, and waiting for the rich and plenteous mercy that is from Thee; 

We beseech Thee, be merciful and gracious. 

Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance. 

Visit Thy world in mercy and compassion. 

Exalt the horn of Christians by the power of the precious and quickening cross. 

We beseech Thee, most merciful Lord, hear us praying to Thee, and have mercy upon us. 

The People (thrice). 

Lord, have mercy upon us. 

The Deacon. 

For the remission of our sins, and forgiveness of our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and distress, let us beseech the Lord. 

Let us all entreat from the Lord, that we may pass the whole day, perfect, holy, peaceful, and without sin. 

Let us entreat from the Lord a messenger of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies. 

Let us entreat from the Lord forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions. 

Let us entreat from the Lord the things which are good and proper for our souls, and peace for the world. 

Let us entreat from the Lord, that we may spend the remaining period of our life in peace and health. 

Let us entreat that the close of our lives may be Christian, without pain and without shame, and a good plea at the dread and awful judgment-seat of Christ. 

The Priest. 

For Thou art the gospel and the light, Savior and keeper of our souls and bodies, God, and Thy only-begotten Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and ever. 

The People. 

Amen.

The Priest 

God, who hast taught us Thy divine and saving oracles, enlighten the souls of us sinners for the comprehension of the things which have been before spoken, so that we may not only be seen to be hearers of spiritual things, but also doers of good deeds, striving after guileless faith, blameless life, and pure conversation. 

(Aloud.) 

In Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, good, and quickening Spirit, now and always, and for ever. 

The People. 

Amen. 

The Priest.  . Peace be to all.

 

The People. 

And to Thy spirit. 

The Deacon. 

Let us bow our heads to the Lord. 

The People. 

To Thee, Lord. 

The Priest prays, saying:— 

O Sovereign giver of life, and provider of good things, who didst give to mankind the blessed hope of eternal life, our Lord Jesus Christ, count us worthy in holiness, and perfect this Thy divine service to the enjoyment of future blessedness. 

(Aloud.) 

So that, guarded by Thy power at all times, and led into the light of truth, we may send up the praise and the thanksgiving to Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. 

The People. 

Amen. 

The Deacon. 

Let none remain of the catechumens, none of the unbaptized, none of those who are unable to join with us in prayer. Look at one another.  The door. 

All erect: let us again pray to the Lord. 

 

The Priest says the prayer of incense. 

Sovereign Almighty, King of Glory, who knowest all things before their creation, manifest Thyself to us calling upon Thee at this holy hour, and redeem us from the shame of our transgressions; cleanse our mind and our thoughts from impure desires, from worldly deceit, from all influence of the devil; and accept from the hands of us sinners this incense, as Thou didst accept the offering of Abel, and Noah, and Aaron, and Samuel, and of all Thy saints, guarding us from everything evil, and preserving us for continually pleasing, and worshipping, and glorifying Thee, the Father, and Thy only-begotten Son, and Thy all-holy Spirit, now and always, and for ever. 

And the Readers begin the Cherubic Hymn. 

Let all mortal flesh be silent, and stand with fear and trembling, and meditate nothing earthly within itself:— 

For the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ our God, comes forward to be sacrificed, and to be given for food to the faithful; and the bands of angels go before Him with every power and dominion, the many-eyed cherubim, and the six-winged seraphim, covering their faces, and crying aloud the hymn, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. 

The Priest, bringing in the holy gifts, says this prayer:— 

 O God, our God, who didst send forth the heavenly bread, the food of the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be a Savior, and Redeemer, and Benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us, do Thou Thyself bless this offering, and graciously receive it to Thy altar above the skies: 

Remember in Thy goodness and love those who have brought it, and those for whom they have brought it, and preserve us without condemnation in the service of Thy divine mysteries: for hollowed and glorified is Thy all-honored and great name, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. 

The Priest. 

Peace be to all. 

The Deacon. 

Sir, pronounce the blessing. 

The Priest. 

Blessed be God, who blesses and sanctifies us all at the presentation of the divine and pure mysteries, and gives rest to the blessed souls among the holy and just, now and always, and to all eternity. 

The Deacon. 

Let us attend in wisdom. 

The Priest begins. 

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God: and the rest of the Creed. 

Then he prays, bowing his neck. 

 God and Sovereign of all, make us, who are unworthy, worthy of this hour, lover of mankind; that being pure from all deceit and all hypocrisy, we may be united with one another by the bond of peace and love, being confirmed by the sanctification of Thy divine knowledge through Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy all-holy, and good, and quickening Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. Amen. 

The Deacon. 

 Let us stand well, let us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with compunction of heart. In peace let us pray to the Lord. 

The Priest. 

For God of peace, mercy, love, compassion, and loving-kindness art Thou, and Thine only-begotten Son, and Thine all-holy Spirit, now and ever. 

………

The liturgy continues for many pages beyond this.

Modifié le: jeudi 9 août 2018, 13:11