--- 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: 135 of 148 url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/135/ cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions, section 135. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/135/" --- # 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. ## 135. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, The Disciple of the Holy Peter · 3 of 9 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/135/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/135/#p-N [¶0] VII. The Deacon, when he is about to read the Gospel, says:— [¶1] Lord, bless us. [¶2] The Priest. [¶3] May the Lord, who is the blessed God, bless and strengthen us, and make us hearers of His holy Gospel, now, henceforth, and for evermore. Amen. [¶4] The Deacon. [¶5] Stand and let us hear the holy Gospel. [¶6] The Priest. [¶7] Peace be to all. [¶8] The People. [¶9] And to thy spirit. [¶10] VIII. The Deacon reads the Gospel, and the Priest says the prayer of the Collect. [¶11] Look down in mercy and compassion, O Lord, and heal the sick among Thy people. [¶12] May all our brethren who have gone or who are about to go abroad, safely reach their destination in due season. [¶13] Send down the gracious rain upon the thirsty lands, and make the rivers flow in full stream, according to Thy grace. [¶14] The fruits of the land do Thou, O Lord, fill with seed and make ripe for the harvest. [¶15] In peace, courage, justice, and tranquillity preserve the kingdom of Thy servant, whom Thou hast deemed worthy to reign over this land. [¶16] From evil days, from famine and pestilence, from the assault of barbarians, defend, O Lord, this Christ-loving city, lowly and worthy of Thy compassion, as Thou didst spare Nineveh of old. [¶17] For Thou art full of mercy and compassion, and rememberest not the iniquities of men against them. [¶18] Thou hast said through Thy prophet Isaiah,—I will defend this city, to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. [¶19] Wherefore we pray and beseech Thee to defend in Thy good mercy this city, for the sake of the martyr and evangelist Mark, who has shown us the way of salvation through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten Son. [¶20] (Aloud.) [¶21] Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with Thy all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit. [¶22] The Deacon. [¶23] IX. Begin. [¶24] Then they say the verse. The Deacon says—The three. [¶25] The Priest. [¶26] O Sovereign and Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray and beseech Thee to fill our hearts with the peace of heaven, and to bestow moreover the peace of this life. Preserve for us through many years our most holy and blessed Papas Δ, and our most pious Bishop Δ, while they, according to Thy holy and blessed will, peacefully fulfil the holy priesthood committed to their care, and dispense aright the word of truth, with all the orthodox bishops, elders, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, with the entire body of the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Bless our meetings, O Lord. Grant that we may hold them without let or hindrance, according to Thy holy will. Be pleased to give to us, and Thy servants after us for ever, houses of praise and prayer. Rise, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered. Let all who hate Thy holy name be put to flight. Bless Thy faithful and orthodox people. Multiply them by thousands and tens of thousands. Let no deadly sin prevail against them, or against Thy holy people, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten Son. [¶27] (Aloud.) [¶28] Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with Thy all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit. [¶29] The People. [¶30] Amen. [¶31] The Priest. [¶32] Peace be to all. [¶33] The People. [¶34] And to thy spirit. [¶35] The Deacon. [¶36] Take care that none of the catechumens— ### II [¶38] Then they sing the Cherubic hymn. [¶39] X. The Priest offers incense at the entrance, and prays:— [¶40] O Lord our God, who lackest nothing, accept this incense offered by an unworthy hand, and deem us all worthy of Thy blessing, for Thou art our sanctification, and we ascribe glory to Thee. [¶41] The holy things are carried to the altar, and the Priest prays thus:— [¶42] O holy, highest, awe-inspiring God, who dwellest among the saints, sanctify us, and deem us worthy of Thy reverend priesthood. Bring us to Thy precious altar with a good conscience, and cleanse our hearts from all pollution. Drive away from us all unholy thoughts, and sanctify our souls and minds. Grant that, with reverence of Thee, we may perform the service of our holy fathers, and propitiate Thy presence through all time; for Thou art He who blesseth and sanctifieth all things, and to Thee we ascribe glory and thanks. [¶43] The Deacon. [¶44] XI. Salute one another.