The Preparation
Liturgy of the Word
The Antimens
Great Entrance
Kiss of Peace
The Creed
Eucharistic Prayer
Hymn to Theotokos
The Our Father
The Communion
Thanksgiving

Hymn to the Theotokos

"for those fallen asleep in the Faith"

Priest: So that for those who partake of them they may be for awakening of the soul, for forgiveness of sins, for communion with your Holy Spirit, for fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven, for confidence towards you but neither to judgment nor to condemnation.

Priest: Again we offer you this spiritual sacrifice for those fallen asleep in the Faith: forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics and every righteous spirit fallen asleep in the Faith. Especially for our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.

People: It is truly right to call you blessed, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure and Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim; who, without loss of virginity, gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we praise you.

In the Orthodox Church we do not offer the Eucharist for the departed. This prayer and the accompanying hymn to the Theotokos should not be misunderstood in this way. There is no need for us to offer this sacrifice for the sake of those fallen asleep in faith because the Church is not divided. There is no “heavenly” Church separated by death from the “earthly.” Understood more simply in the context of our presence in the Kingdom of God this prayer and hymn acknowledge those who stand before us in the presence of God. It is the whole Church with the Theotokos at her head that is now assembled, united together, to celebrate the Eucharist and give thanks to God. This is what is achieved by the Eucharist: the manifestation of the whole Church united in a new age.