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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Ceremony of Preparation of the Oblations or Prothesis before the Divine Liturgy - Particles for the Angels, Prophets, Apostles, Pontiffs and Doctors, Martyrs, Fathers, Wonderworkers, and Saints, and the Saint whose Liturgy is being Celebrated

The first part of the Divine Liturgy is the Prothesis or Ceremony of Preparation of the Oblations. During the Ceremony, the priest/abouna prays and cuts the Qurban based on the nine squares on the large side of the Holy Seal or (IC|XC NIKA Stamp) impression.
The Prothesis is performed by the priest and deacon without the direct participation of the people on the "proskomide" or "table of oblation" or "Altar of Preparation" which stands in the altar area to left of the altar table.

During the Ceremony of Preparation , the priest prays and cuts the Qurban (bread) based on the nine squares on the large side of the Holy Seal or (IC|XC NIKA Stamp) impression.

Nine Small Triangles for the Angels, Prophets, Apostles, Pontiffs and Doctors, Martyrs, Fathers, Wonderworkers, and Saints, and the Saint whose Liturgy is being Celebrated

The nine small triangles for the angels, apostles, pontiffs and doctors, martyrs, fathers, wonderworkers, The Ancester of Christ, Ann, The Ancester of Christ, Joachim and saints, and the saint whose Liturgy is being celebrated are in the square to the left of the Center Square with the IC|XC NIKA impression on the Holy Seal and to the right of the Center Square with the IC|XC NIKA Impression on the Qurban.

Ceremony of Preparation of the Oblations or Prothesis

The priest removes the first particle while he says:

"In honor and memory of the great captains of the angelic armies, Michael and Gabriel, and of all the heavenly bodiless powers."

The priest places this particle to the left of "The Lamb" ("The Lamb" is facing the priest so the priest puts the particle to the right of "The Lamb") and close to It. This particle is the first particle in the first row of three rows of three particles to the left of "The Lamb".

The priest removes the second particle while he says:

"Of the honorable and glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist. Of the holy glorious Prophets Moses and Aaron, Elias ana Eliseus, David son of Jesse; of the Three Holy Youths and the prophet Daniel, and of all the holy prophets."

The priest places this particle just below the first particle.

The priest removes the third particle while he says:

"Of the holy, glorious and illustrious apostles Peter and Paul and of all the holy apostles."

The priest places this particle just below the second particle. The first row is completed.

The priest removes the fourth particle while he says:

"Of Our fathers among the saints the great pontiffs and universal doctors Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; Athanasios and Kyrollos, Nicholas of Myra, ... and of all holy pontiffs."

The priest places this particle to the left of first particle. This particle is the first particle in the second row of three rows of three particles to the left of "The Lamb".

The priest removes the fifth particle while he says:

"Of the holy first martyr and archdeacon Stephen; of the holy great martyrs Demetius, George and Theodore of Tyre, and of all holy martyrs. Of the holy women martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Cyriaca, Euphemia, Parasceva and Catherine, and of all holy women martyrs."

The priest places this particle just below the fourth particle.

The priest removes the sixth particle while he says:

"Of our saintly fathers the God-bearers Anthony, Euthymius, Sabbas, Onuphrius, Athanasius of Athos, Anthony and Theodore of the Caves, Sergius of Radonetz and Barlaam of Khutinsk and of all the saintly fathers. Of our venerable mothers in God Pelagia, Theodosia, Anastasia, Eupraxia, Febronia, Theodulia, Euphrosyne, Mary of Egypt and of all holy and venerable mothers."

The priest places this particle just below the fifth particle. The second row is completed.

The priest removes the seventh particle while he says:

"Of the holy wonderworkers laboring without pay Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Pantaleimon and Hermolaus, and of all the holy ones laboring without pay."

The priest places this particle to the left to the fourth particle. This particle is the first particle in the third row of three rows of three particles to the left of "The Lamb".

The priest removes the eigth particle while he says:

"Of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anne, (of the patron saint of the church or monastery, and of the saint of the day) ... and of all the saints, through whose prayers visit us, O God."

The priest places this particle just below the seven particle.

The priest removes the nineth particle while he says:

"Of our father among the saintsJohn Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (if his liturgy is being celebrated. If it is that of Basil the Great, the priest remembers him. Of our father among the saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia)."

The priest places this particle just below the eigth particle. The third row is completed.

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Thursday, September 08, 2005, 00:00:06, PDT
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