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THE SYRIAN LITURGY OF ST. JAMES.

We have already observed that the full service of the Syrian churches consists of two parts; the second of which is accessible only to the baptized. Nor has this order of things, resulting from the circumstances of the church in the primitive ages, become improper among the Christian communities of the East, who have still to maintain their confession in juxta-position with Heathenism or Mahomedanism; in fact, it subsists in most churches at the present day.

We shall, first, give an abstract or breviary of the

-or Common Order of the public wor ܪܬܒ ܠܩܕܐܣ

ship; and, then, a free translation of the Anaphora, or Formulary for the Eucharist.

PUBLIC OR PREPARATORY SERVICE.

1. THE priest lays aside his ordinary habit, laves his hands, invests himself with the dress to be worn at the altar, prays for remission of sins and purification of heart for the solemnity on which he is entering, and requests the intercession of the people.

2. He ascends to the altar, saying, "I will come unto the altar of Aloho, unto Aloho, who maketh glad my youth: * behold me, O Lord, before thy throne, and pardon all my sins." He salutes the altar on the right, left, and middle, saying, "Bind our festal oblations + with cords unto the horns of the altar."

3. The deacon, uncovering his head, lights a candle on the right of the altar, saying, "In thy light shall we see light;" and, on kindling the other, offers brief exhortations to lift up the mind for celestial illumination.

*Syr. vers. of Psalm xliii. 4.

+ Or "our festivities," Psalm cxviii. 27,

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While the priest puts incense into the censer, the congregation prays that it may be acceptable to the Holy Trinity. The priest then uncovers the gifts; and the deacon, taking the bread, presents it to the priest, who signs it with the cross, and prays that God would accept this offering of the faithful. Then placing it on the altar, and covering it with a veil, he repeats the words of Isaiah, "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter," &c. Receiving the cup, he says, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord; and, pouring into it the wine, "This wine is the type of the blood drawn from the side of thy Son Jeshumeschicha our Lord; I pour it into this cup in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ;" and, mingling it with a little water, "Let this be mixed as a type of the water which flowed from the side of Jeshumeschicha." [The Jacobites add here, "Unite, O Lord, this water with this wine, even as thy Divinity is united with the humanity."]

4. INCENSE AND PRAISE. "O come let us sing unto the Lord, &c. Kyrie, eleëson.* Our Father. Glory be

to the Father," &c.

5. PRAYER for all believers, for all estates, for all the necessities of the living and the dead; concluding with an acclamation from the people, of, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will to the sons of men."

6. The sedro or HYMN; generally a composition of St. Ephrem, or of St. James of Nisebin.

7. The deacon recites an INSTRUCTION on the nature of the sacrament. He then reads THE EPISTLE for the day, and a portion of the Psalms, followed by an acclamation of praise.

* "Lord, have mercy." This Greek formula is retained by the Syrians without translation.

After which is read THE GOSPEL in Syriac; an underdeacon reading it in the vernacular Arabic. The deacon then exhorts the people to retain the good seed of the word of God, and prays that all who have heard may obey it.

The general congregation is now dismissed; the deacon saying, "Go in peace, hearers; go in peace.* Draw nigh, ye baptized, in peace. Let the doors be closed." After which follows the versicle, "The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty. Alleluia!" with other brief ejaculations of praise, prayer for the faithful, both living and dead, and the recital of the Creed. The priest again laves his hands, and requests the intercessions of the people.

* Zelu be shalmo, Shomuee; like the Ite, missa est of the West

erns.

ANAPHORA* OF THE HOLY APOSTLE, MAR JACOB, THE BROTHER OF OUR LORD.

FIRST PRAYER BEFORE THE SALUTATION.

OUR God and our Lord, Lover of mankind! make us, and these, who are so unworthy, to be meet for this salvation; that, being cleansed from all guile and hypocrisy, we may salute one another with the kiss of sanctity and godliness, as united in the bond of peace and of love, through our Lord God and Redeemer Jeshumeshicha, thy only Son, by whom, and with whom, unto thyself be ascribed glory and honour and strength, and with thy Spirit.

PEOPLE.-Amen.

The Deacon then delivers an exhortation to prayer and thanksgiving.

PRIEST. THOU who alone art the merciful Lord, upon these who bow their necks before thy holy altar, send forth thy blessing. THOU who dwellest on high, and hast regard unto the humble, bless them, through the grace, benignity, and love of Meshicha, thy onlybegotten Son, by whom, and with whom, with thyself, be glory.

PEOPLE.-Amen.

PRIEST.-O God the Father, who in thy great and unspeakable love to mankind didst send thy Son into the world, that the sheep which had wandered might be restored; turn not away thy face from us while we observe this solemn and unbloody sacrifice. For not in our own righteousness do we trust, but in thy mercy. We therefore supplicate and implore thy grace, that this mystery which hath been appointed for our salvation, may not be

* Vide Missale Chaldaicum, pag. ↑

σπι

unto the condemnation of thy people; but unto the blotting out of sins, the forgiveness of transgressions, and the receiving of thy bounty through the grace and tender mercy of thy only-begotten Son; by whom, and with whom, with thyself, be glory.

PEOPLE.-Amen.

DEACON.-Let every one salute his [or her] neighbour in charity and faith, which are acceptable to God. Let us stand reverently, praying with fear and trembling, with humiliation and devoutness; for, behold, the oblation is brought nigh, and the glory arises. The gates of heaven are opened, and the Holy Spirit descends upon these mysteries to overspread them. Stand we in the dreadful place, with cherubim and seraphim surrounded! Brethren and companions are we made in the watches and services of angels and of spirits, who are as flames of fire! Moreover, no one is bound who may dare to approach the mystery, because the veil is lifted up, and grace sent forth, and mercy over-poured, on every one who prays with pure heart and good conscience.

The Priest lifts up the veil, and signs the people thrice with the cross, saying,-The love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the communication of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

PEOPLE.-Amen.

PRIEST.-Lift up your hearts.
PEOPLE. They are lifted up.

PRIEST.-Let us give thanks unto the Lord Our

God.

PEOPLE. It is worthy and right.

PRIEST, bowing down.-Truly it is worthy and just and meet and our bounden duty thee to glorify, thee to bless, thee to celebrate, thee to worship, thee to praise! Unto Him, the Maker of every creature, visible and invisible; to Him, whom heaven and the heaven of

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