First Communion

Date: 23 December 2005 04:05:51

When we reached the time for Communion I had the great honour of being first to receive, with my sponsor following. Being fed the Body and Blood of Christ, the fountain of immortality, seemed to take longer than I'm sure it did -- it may sound odd (but most who know me know I'm completely mad anyway!) but time did seem to stop for an instant. And partaking of Christ's Body and Blood was a true blessing: emotions welled up within me and, as I collected some antidoron for my family, the altar boy holding it asked me, "How was it?" "More blessed and awesome than I could ever have imagined," was my reply. May, in the words of one of the post-communion prayers, "... Your Holy Body be unto me for life eternal, and Your Precious Blood for the remission of sins," in each of my partakings of Eucharist.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, there was a Memorial Service for the handmaiden of God Dolly [may her memory be eternal!] It was very moving to be welcomed in as we commemorated the completing of the race of a faithful servant of God. And thus also a very full service for my friends and family visiting: they participated in a Divine Liturgy, a Chrismation service and a Memorial Service!

After the Memorial Service I had the great honour of reading the three post-communion prayers:

I thank You, O Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have vouchsafed me to be a communicant of Your holy Things. I thank You that You have vouchsafed me, the unworthy, to partake of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts. But, O Master, Lover of mankind, Who for our sake did die and rise again and did bestow upon us these awesome and life-creating Mysteries for the well-being and sanctification of our souls and bodies, grant that these may be even unto me for the healing of both soul and body, for the averting of everything hostile, for the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, for the peace of the powers of my soul, for faith unashamed, for love unfeigned, for the fullness of wisdom, for the keeping of Your commandments, for an increase of Your divine grace, and for the attainment of Your Kingdom; that being preserved by Them in Your holiness, I may remember Your grace always, and no longer live for myself, but for You, our Master and Benefactor; and thus when I have departed this life in hope of life eternal, I may attain unto everlasting rest, where the sound of them that feast is unceasing and the delight is endless of them that behold the ineffable beauty of Your countenance. For You are the true desire and the unutterable gladness of them that love You, O Christ our God, and all creation does hymn You unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Master Christ our God, King of the ages and Creator of all things, I thank You for all the good things You have bestowed upon me and for the communion of Your most pure and life-creating Mysteries. I pray You, therefore, O Good One and Lover of mankind: Keep me under Your protection and in the shadow of Your wings and grant me, even unto my last breath, to partake worthily, with a pure conscience, of Your holy Things unto the remission of sins and life eternal. For You are the Bread of Life, the Source of Holiness, the Giver of good things, and unto You do we send up glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, may Your Holy Body be unto me for life eternal, and Your Precious Blood for the remission of sins; and may this Eucharist be unto me for joy, health, and gladness. And at Your awesome Second Coming, vouchsafe me, a sinner, to stand at the right hand of Your glory, through the intercessions of Your most pure Mother and of all the saints. Amen.

before we all chanted the Song of St Symeon ["Lord, now let your servant depart in peace..."]