--- title: "Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions" author: "Various Church Fathers" translator: "A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)" languages: [en] shelf: "Church Fathers" section: 124 of 148 url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/124/ cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions, section 124. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/124/" --- # Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions *Various Church Fathers, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)* Lactantius, the Didache, the Apostolic Constitutions and early liturgies. ## 124. The Divine Liturgy of James the Holy Apostle and Brother of the Lord · 3 of 11 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/124/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/124/#p-N [¶0] And to Thy spirit. [¶1] The Deacon. [¶2] Let us bow our heads to the Lord. [¶3] The People. [¶4] To Thee, Lord. [¶5] The Priest prays, saying:— [¶6] 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. [¶7] (Aloud.) [¶8] 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. [¶9] The People. [¶10] Amen. [¶11] The Deacon. [¶12] XVI. 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. [¶13] All erect: let us again pray to the Lord. [¶14] The Priest says the prayer of incense. [¶15] 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. [¶16] And the Readers begin the Cherubic Hymn. [¶17] Let all mortal flesh be silent, and stand with fear and trembling, and meditate nothing earthly within itself:— [¶18] 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. [¶19] The Priest, bringing in the holy gifts, says this prayer:— [¶20] XVII. O God, our God, who didst send forth the heavenly bread, the food of the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be a Saviour, and Redeemer, and Benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us, do Thou Thyself bless this offering, and graciously receive it to Thy altar above the skies: [¶21] 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-honoured and great name, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to all eternity. [¶22] The Priest. [¶23] Peace be to all. [¶24] The Deacon. [¶25] Sir, pronounce the blessing. [¶26] The Priest. [¶27] Blessed be God, who blesseth and sanctifieth us all at the presentation of the divine and pure mysteries, and giveth rest to the blessed souls among the holy and just, now and always, and to all eternity. [¶28] The Deacon. [¶29] XVIII Let us attend in wisdom. [¶30] The Priest begins. [¶31] 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. [¶32] Then he prays, bowing his neck. [¶33] XIX. 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 Saviour 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. [¶34] The Deacon. [¶35] XX. 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. [¶36] The Priest. [¶37] 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. [¶38] The People. [¶39] Amen. [¶40] The Priest. [¶41] Peace be to all. [¶42] The People. [¶43] And to thy spirit. [¶44] The Deacon.