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.

Ⲡ̀ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲥⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̀ⲛⲓϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ: ⲫⲏⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲑⲙⲟⲧⲉⲛ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁϥ.

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

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

Ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲟⲓ ⲛ̀ⲁⲑⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲙ̀ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉ̀ⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ϣ̀ϫⲟⲙ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟϥ ⲉ̀ⲭⲁⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ.

الذى بلا خطية وحده. القادر على مغفرة الخطايا.

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

Ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲫ̀ⲛⲏⲃ ⲉⲧⲥⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲙⲉⲧⲁⲧⲉⲙⲡ̀ϣⲁ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲁⲙⲉⲧⲁⲧⲥⲟⲃϯ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲁⲙⲉⲧⲁⲧϩⲓⲕⲁⲛⲟⲥ: ⲉ̀ϧⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ̀ⲡⲁⲓϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲕ ⲫⲁⲓ.

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.

Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲛ ϩⲟ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲓ ⲉ̀ϧⲱⲛⲧ ⲉ̀ϧⲟⲩⲛ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉ̀ⲁ̀ⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̀ⲣⲱⲓ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲙ̀ⲑⲟ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ.

وليس لى وجه أن أقترب وأفتح فاى أمام مجدك المقدس.

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

Ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡ̀ⲁ̀ϣⲁⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲙⲉⲧϣⲉⲛϩⲏⲧ: ⲭⲱ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ⲁ̀ⲛⲟⲕ ϧⲁ ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲛⲟⲃⲓ.

بل ككثرة رأفاتك اغفر لى أنا الخاطئ.

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

Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲙⲏⲓⲥ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲉⲑⲣϫⲓⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩϩ̀ⲙⲟⲧ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲛⲁⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲁⲓⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲑⲁⲓ.

وامنحنى أن أجد نعمة ورحمة فى هذه الساعة.

And send me straight from high.

Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲟⲩⲱⲣⲡ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲉ̀ϧ̀ⲣⲏⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩϫⲟⲙ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗϧⲉⲛ ⲡ̀ϭⲓⲥⲓ.

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.

Ⲉⲑⲣⲓⲉⲣϩⲏⲧⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲥⲟⲃϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁϫⲱⲕ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ: ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲑⲣⲁⲛⲁⲕ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡ̀ϯⲙⲁϯ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ̀ⲟⲩⲥ̀ⲑⲟⲓ ⲛ̀ⲥ̀ⲑⲟⲓⲛⲟⲩϥⲓ.

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.

Ⲥⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲏⲃ ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲛ: ⲁ̀ⲣⲓϣ̀ⲫⲏⲣ ⲛ̀ⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲛ: ⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲛ.

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.

Ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉ ⲡ̀ⲭⲱ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ: ⲫ̀ⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ: ⲡⲉⲛⲱⲛϧ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲧⲉⲛⲡⲁⲣⲣⲏⲥⲓⲁ̀.

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.

Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱⲣⲡ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϣⲱⲓ: ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲧⲁⲓⲟ̀ ⲛⲉⲙ ϯⲡ̀ⲣⲟⲥⲕⲩⲛⲏⲥⲓⲥ: Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ.

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.

Ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛ̀ⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ: ⲛⲉⲙ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.

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.

Ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ Ⲡ̀ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ ⲁⲕⲧ̀ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲛ ⲉ̀ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲓϣϯ ⲙ̀ⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ.

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.

Ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲁⲕⲑⲁϩⲙⲉⲛ ϧⲁ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲑⲉⲃⲓⲏ̀ⲟⲩⲧ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲁⲧⲉⲙⲡ̀ϣⲁ ⲛ̀ⲉ̀ⲃⲓⲁⲓⲕ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲕ: ⲉⲑⲣⲉⲛϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉϥϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ.

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.

Ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲏⲃ ⲁ̀ⲣⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛ̀ϩⲓⲕⲁⲛⲟⲥ: ϧⲉⲛ ϯϫⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ⲡⲉⲕⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉ̅ⲑ̅ⲩ̅: ⲉ̀ϫⲱⲕ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲓⲇⲓⲁ̀ⲕⲟⲛⲓⲁ̀ ⲑⲁⲓ.

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.

Ϩⲓⲛⲁ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲁⲧϩⲓⲧⲉⲛⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϩⲁⲡ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲙ̀ⲑⲟ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲛⲓϣϯ ⲛ̀ⲱ̀ⲟⲩ: ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛⲓ̀ⲛⲓ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉ̀ϧⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ̀ ⲛ̀ⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ: ⲟⲩⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲙ̀ⲙⲉⲧⲥⲁⲓⲉ̀ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲕ.

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.

Ⲫϯ ⲫⲏⲉⲧϯ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩϩ̀ⲙⲟⲧ: ⲫⲏⲉⲑⲟⲩⲱⲣⲡ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲥⲱϯ: ⲫⲏⲉ̀ⲧⲉⲣⲉ̀ⲛⲉⲣⲅⲓⲛ ⲛ̀ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ.

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.

Ⲙⲏⲓⲥ Ⲡ̀ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ ⲉⲑⲣⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲥϣⲏⲡ ⲙ̀ⲟⲉⲕⲙ̀ⲑⲟ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ̀: ⲉ̀ϩ̀ⲣⲏⲓ ⲉ̀ϫⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲓ̀ ⲛ̀ⲛⲟⲃⲓ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓⲙⲉⲧⲁⲧⲉ̀ⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲗⲁⲟⲥ.

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.

Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϫⲉ ⲥ̀ⲧⲟⲩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲧ: ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ϯⲇⲱⲣⲉⲁ̀ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ϧⲉⲛ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲉⲛⲟ̅ⲥ̅.

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.

Ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉ̀ⲧⲉ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗϩⲓⲧⲟⲧϥ ⲉ̀ⲣⲉ ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲧⲁⲓⲟ̀ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲙⲁϩⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ ϯⲡ̀ⲣⲟⲥⲕⲩⲛⲏⲥⲓⲥ: ⲉⲣⲡ̀ⲣⲉⲡⲓ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛⲉⲙⲁϥ: ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉ̀ⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉϥⲧⲁⲛϧⲟ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲟ̀ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲕ.

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.

Ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛ̀ⲥⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲙ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ: ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.

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.

Ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲛⲟⲩϫϧ ⲉ̀ϫⲱⲓ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕϣⲉⲛϩⲩⲥⲱⲡⲟⲛ ⲉⲓⲉ̀ⲧⲟⲩⲃⲟ: ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲣⲁϧⲧ ⲉⲓⲉ̀ⲟⲩⲃⲁϣ ⲉ̀ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲭⲓⲱⲛ.

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.

Ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲑ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲉ̀ⲟⲩⲑⲉⲗⲏⲗ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲛⲟϥ: ⲉⲩⲉ̀ⲑⲉⲗⲏⲗ ⲙ̀ⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲧⲑⲉⲃⲓⲏ̀ⲟⲩⲧ.

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.

Ϯⲛⲁⲓⲁ ⲧⲟⲧ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲕⲱϯ ⲉ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲙⲁⲛ̀ⲉⲣϣⲱⲟⲩϣⲓ Ⲡ̀ⲟ̅ⲥ̅: ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϫⲓⲛⲧⲁⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϧ̀ⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ: ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ.

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.

Ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲥⲑⲟ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕϩⲟ ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲃⲓ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛⲁⲁ̀ⲛⲟⲙⲓⲁ̀ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲥⲟⲗϫⲟⲩ.

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.

Ⲟⲩϩⲏⲧ ⲉ̀ϥⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲥⲟⲛⲧϥ ⲛ̀ϧⲏⲧ Ⲫϯ: ⲟⲩⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉϥⲥⲟⲩⲧⲱⲛ ⲁ̀ⲣⲓⲧϥ ⲙ̀ⲃⲉⲣⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲥⲁϧⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲓ.

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