Liturgy of Saint Basil

The Prayer of Preparation

The priest clears up his thoughts and emotions so that he will be ready for the service. He should make sure that he is clean from inside out. He signs his service vestments and those of the deacons three times with the sign of the cross. He puts them on and recites psalms twenty nine and ninety two. He greets the other priests, steps up to the sanctuary and starts to arrange the altar. It must be noted the priest should always step up to the sanctuary with his right foot and steps down with his left foot. Meanwhile, the deacon should lighten two candles fixed to chandeliers to be put on the altar and stands in front of the priest. Then the priest says the prayer of preparation inaudibly

Lord, who knows the hearts of all, who is Holy, and who rests amid the saints.

~P_ vhetcwoun `nni\ht `nte ouon niben> vh`eqouab ouo\ eqmoten `mmof 'en nh`eqouab `ntaf.

أيها الرب العارف قلب كل أحد، القدوس المستريح فى قديسيه.

Who alone is without sin, and who is mighty to forgive sins.

Vhetoi `naqnobi `mmauatf> ouo\ `ete ouon `]jom `mmof `exanobi `ebol.

الذى بلا خطية وحده. القادر على مغفرة الخطايا.

Thou, O Lord, knowest my unworthiness, my unfitness, and my unmeetness, unto this, Thine holy service.

~Nqok `vnhb etcwoun `ntametatem`p]a> nem tametatcob;> nem tametat\ikanoc> `e'oun `epai]em]i `eqouab `ntak vai.

أنت يا سيد تعلم أنى غير مستحق ولا مستعد ولا مستوجب لهذه الخدمة المقدسة التى لك.

And I have no boldness that I should draw near and open my mouth before Thine holy glory.

Ouo\ `mmon \o `mmoi `e'wnt `e'oun> ouo\ `e`aouwn `nrwi `mpe`mqo `mpek`wou `eqouab.

وليس لى وجه أن أقترب وأفتح فاى أمام مجدك المقدس.

But according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, pardon me a sinner.

Alla kata `p`a]ai `nte nekmet]en\ht> xw nhi `ebol `anok 'a pirefernobi.

بل ككثرة رأفاتك اغفر لى أنا الخاطئ.

And grant unto me that I may find grace and mercy at this hour.

Ouo\ mhic nhi eqrjimi `nou`\mot> nem ounai 'en taiounou qai.

وامنحنى أن أجد نعمة ورحمة فى هذه الساعة.

And send me straight from high.

Ouo\ ouwrp nhi `e`'rhi `noujom `ebol'en `psici.

وارسل لى قوة من العلاء.

The priest cleanses the paten, chalice and spoon and arranges them on the altar. He also arranges the altar corporals. Meanwhile, he continues the prayer of preparation and says inaudibly

That I may begin, and may be made fit, and may finish Thine holy service according to Thy pleasure, according to the good pleasure of Thy will, and for a sweet Saviour of incense.

Eqrier\htc ouo\ `ntacob; ouo\ `ntajwk `ebol> kata peqranak `mpek]em]i `eqouab> kata `p;ma; `mpekouw] `eou`cqoi `n`cqoinoufi.

لكى أبتدئ وأهيئ وأكمل كما يرضيك خدمتك والمقدسة. كمسرة إرادتك رائحة بخور.

Even so, O our Lord; be with us, take part with us in this; bless us.

Ce pennhb ]wpi neman> `ari`]vhr `ner\wb neman> `cmou `eron.

نعم يا سيدنا كن معنا. اشترك فى العمل معنا. باركنا.

For Thou art the forgiveness of our sins, the light of our souls, our life, and our strength and our confidence.

~Nqok gar pe `pxw `nte nennobi> `vouwini `nte nenyuxh> penwn' nem tenjom nem tenparrhci`a.

لأنك أنت هو عفران خطايانا وضياء انفسنا وحياتنا وقوتنا ودالتنا.

And Thou art He unto whom we ascribe the glory, the honour and the worship, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Ouo\ `nqok petenouwrp nak `e`p]wi> `mpi`wou nem pitai`o nem ;`prockunhcic> ~Viwt nem ~P]hri nem Pi`pneuma `eqouab.

وأنت الذى نرسل لك إلى فوق المجد والإكرام والسجود. أيها الآب والابن والروح القدس.

Now, and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

:nou nem `nchou niben> nem ]a `ene\ `nte ni`ene\ throu `amhn.

الآن وكل أوان وإلى دهر الدهور. آمين.

The priest starts by cleansing the paten and putting it its place. Then he cleanses the When the priest finishes the preparation of the altar, he says inaudibly

Thou, O Lord, hast taught us this great mystery of salvation.

~Nqok ~P_ ak`tcabon `enai ni]; `mmucthrion `nte pioujai.

أنت يا رب علمتنا هذا السر العظيم الذى للخلاص.

Thou hast called us, Thy lowly and unworthy servants, to be servants of Thine holy altar.

~Nqok akqa\men 'a nhetqebi`hout ouo\ `natem`p]a `n`ebiaik `ntak> eqren]wpi `nref]em]i `mpekquciac thrion `eqouab.

أنت دعوتنا نحن الأذلاء غير المستحقين عبيدك. لنكون خداما لمذبحك المقدس.

O Thou, our Lord, make us meet, in the power of Thine Holy Spirit, to finish this service.

~Nqok pennhb `ariten `n\ikanoc> 'en ;jom `nte Pekp/n/a/ e/q/u/> `ejwk `ebol `ntaidi`akoni`a qai.

أنت يا سيدنا اجعلنا مستوجبين بقوة روحك القدوس أن نكمل هذه الخدمة.

So that, without falling into condemnation before Thy great Glory, we may offer up unto Thee a sacrifice of praise, glory, and great beauty, in Thy sanctuary.

|ina 'en oumetat\iten`e`p\ap `mpe`mqo `mpekni]; `n`wou> `nten`ini nak `e'oun `nouquci`a `n`cmou> ou`wou nem ouni]; `mmetcai`e 'en nheqouab `ntak.

لكى بغير وقوع فى دينونة أمام مجدك العظيم نقدم لك صعيدة البركة. مجدا وعظم بهاء فى قدسك.

O God, who gives grace, who sends forth salvation, who works all in all.

V; vhet; `nou`\mot> vheqouwrp `noucw;> vh`eter`energin `n\wb niben 'en ouon niben.

اللهم معطى النعمة مرسل الخلاص. الذى يفعل كل شئ فى كل أحد.

Grant, O Lord, that our sacrifice may be accepted before Thee for my sins, and for the ignorance of Thy people.

Mhic ~P_ eqrec]wpi ec]hp `moek`mqo `nje tenquci`a> `e`\rhi `ejen nh`ete nou`i `nnobi> nem nimetat`emi `nte peklaoc.

أعط يا رب أن تكون مقبولة أمامك دبيحتنا عن خطاياى وجهالات شعبك.

For, behold it is holy, according to the gift of Thine Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ouo\ je `ctoubhout> kata ;dwre`a `nte pek`pneuma `eqouab> 'en Pi`xrictoc Ihcouc Pen_.

ولأنها طاهرة كموهبة روحك القدوس. بالمسيح يسوع ربنا.

Through Whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the adoration are due to Thee, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of One Essence with Thee.

Vai `ete `ebol\itotf `ere pi`wou nem pitai`o nem pi`ama\i nem ;`prockunhcic> er`prepi nak nemaf> nem Pipneuma `eqouab `nreftan'o ouo\ `n`omooucioc nemak.

هذا الذى من قبله المجد والكرامة والعز والسجود تليق بك معه ومع الروح القدس المحيى المساوى لك.

Now, and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

:nou nem `nchou niben nem ]a `ene\ `nte ni`ene\ throu> `amhn.

الآن وكل أوان وإلى دهر الدهور. آمين.

The priest worships before the entrance of the sanctuary and stands on its right side. Then he starts the praying the psalms. The congregation says psalms, gospel and passages of the third and sixth hours in all days. In the days of a lent, Wednesdays and Fridays, they say the psalms, gospel and passages of the third hour followed by those of the sixth and ninth hour. During the great lent and the lent of Nineveh, they say the prayers of up to the twelfth hour, each one with its psalms, gospel and passages. In the event of the great feasts, the psalms are not recited because they would have already been said in the service of the eve of the feast. When the congregation starts the conclusion of the hourly prayers, the priest proceeds to wash his hands three times. In the first time, he says

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash and I shall be whiter than snow.

Ek`enouj' `ejwi `mpek]en\ucwpon ei`etoubo> ek`era't ei`eouba] `e\ote ouxiwn.

تنضح على بزوفاك فأطهر. تغسلنى فأبيض أكثر من الثلج.

In the second time, he says

Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which are broken may rejoice.

Ek`e`qricwtem `eouqelhl nem ouounof> eu`eqelhl `mmwou `nje nikac etqebi`hout.

تسمعنى سرورا وفرحا فتبتهج العظام المتواضعة.

In the third time, he says

I will wash my hands in innocence, and go about Thy Alter, O Lord, to hear the voice of Thy praises. Alleluia.

:naia tot `ebol 'en peqouab> ouo\ `ntakw; `epekma`ner]wou]i ~P_> `e`pjintacwtem `e`p`'rwou `nte pek`cmou> allhlouia.

أغسل يدى بالنقاوة وأطوف بمذبحك يا رب لكيما أسمع صوت تسبيحك. هللويا.

In other versions of the euchologion, in the second time, the priest says

Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Matacqo `mpek\o cabol `nnanobi> ouo\ na`anomi`a throu ek`ecoljou.

اصرف وجهك عن خطاياى. وامح كل آثامى.

In the third time, he says

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Ou\ht `efouab ek`econtf `n'ht V;> ou`pneuma efcoutwn `aritf `mberi 'en nhetca'oun `mmoi.

قلبا نقيا اخلقه فى يا الله. وروحا مستقيما جدده فى أحشائى.