Prayer Before Holy Communion
I believe, O Lord, and I confess, that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. I believe also that this is truly Thine own immaculate Body, and that this is truly Thine own precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance. And make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Thine immaculate Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.
About This Prayer
This prayer is part of the Prayers Before Holy Communion read by Orthodox Christians in preparation for receiving the Eucharist. It is a confession of faith in Christ's real presence in the Eucharist and a cry for mercy before approaching the chalice.
Related Prayers
Explore this topic cluster
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Daily rhythms, the Jesus Prayer, and the inner life of Orthodox ascetic tradition.
Pillar page
Orthodox Prayers & Devotions →Related in this cluster
- TheosisTopic
Theosis (deification) is the Orthodox Christian understanding of salvation — the process by which a human person participates in the divine nature and is united with God. St. Athanasius expressed it: 'God became man so that man might become god.'
- Jesus PrayerTopic
The Jesus Prayer is a short, ancient prayer central to Orthodox spirituality: 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' It is rooted in the hesychast tradition and practiced as a means of unceasing prayer in the spirit of 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
- MonasticismTopic
Orthodox monasticism is the way of life in which men and women leave the world to devote themselves entirely to God through prayer, fasting, and ascetic struggle. Monastics are considered the vanguard of the Church, interceding for the whole world.
- The Lord's PrayerPrayer
Universal
- The TrisagionPrayer
Byzantine
- The Jesus PrayerPrayer
Hesychast
Supporting pillars