The Prayers of Bishop Sarapion

The Prayers of Bishop Sarapion
 350 AD


Prayer for consecrating the host

O God of truth, let thy holy Word come upon this bread that the bread may become body of the Word, and upon this cup that the cup may become blood of the Truth; and make all who communicate to receive a medicine of life for the healing of every sickness and for the strengthening of all advancement and virtue, not for condemnation, O God of truth, and not for censure and reproach. For we have invoked thee, the uncreated, through the only-begotten in holy Spirit.

 

Prayer for consecrating Baptismal waters

King and Lord of all things and Artificer of the world, who gavest salvation freely to all created nature by the descent of thy only- begotten Jesus Christ, thou who didst redeem the creation that thou didst create by the coming of thy ineffable Word: see now from heaven and look upon these waters and fill them with holy Spirit. Let thine ineffable Word come to be in them and transform their energy and cause them to be generative (as) being filled with thy grace, in order that the mystery which is now being celebrated may not be found in vain in those that are being regenerated, but may fill all those that descend (into them) and are baptized (herein) with the divine grace. O loving benefactor spare thy own handiwork, save the creature that has been the toil of thy right hand. Form all that are being regenerated (after) thy divine and ineffable form, in order that having been formed and regenerated they may be able to be saved and counted worthy of thy kingdom. And as thy only-begotten Word coming down upon the waters of the Jordan rendered them holy, so now also may he descend on these and make them holy and spiritual, to the end that those who are being baptized may be no longer flesh and blood, but spiritual and able to worship thee the uncreated father through Jesus Christ in holy Spirit, through whom to thee (is) the glory and the strength both now and to all the ages of the ages. Amen.

 

Prayer in regard to oil of the sick or for bread or for water

We invoke thee who hast all authority and power, the Saviour of all men, father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and pray thee to send healing power of the only-begotten from heaven upon this oil, that it may become to those who are being anointed, or are partaking of these thy creatures, for a throwing off of every sickness and every infirmity (Matt iv. 23), for a charm against every demon, for a separation of every unclean spirit, for an expulsion of every evil spirit, for a driving out of all fever and ague and every infirmity, for good grace and remission of sins, for a medicine of life and salvation, for health and soundness of soul, body, spirit, for perfect strengthening. O Master, let every Satanic energy, every demon, every device of the adversary, every plague, every scourge, every pain, every labour or stroke or shaking or evil shadowing, fear thy holy name which we have now invoked and the name of the only-begotten ; and let them depart from the inward [and] the outward parts of these thy servants, that his name may be glorified who for us was crucified and rose again, who took up our sicknesses and our infirmities, (even) Jesus Christ (cp. Matt. viii. 17), and who is coming to judge quick and dead. Because through him to thee (is) the glory and the strength in holy Spirit both now and to all the ages of the ages. Amen.

 

Prayer for fruitfulness

Artificer of heaven and earth, thou who hast crowned the heaven through the choir of the stars, and made it brilliant through the Luminaries, who hast honoured earth with its fruits for the profit of men, thou f who hast freely given to the race that has been created by thyself, + from above to enjoy the ray and the light of the Luminaries, and from below to be nourished from off the fruits of the earth. We pray thee grant (us) the rains most full and most fertilizing.- Cause the earth also to bear fruit and to produce in great abundance on account of thy loving-kindness and goodness. Remember those who invoke thee: honour thy holy and only catholic Church and hear our supplications and prayers, and bless all the earth, 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.


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