Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
For a merciful and man-loving God....
_Priest, the prayer._
O God, great and most high, who art worshipped by all creation, thou
true fountain of wisdom, and impenetrable depth of goodness, and
boundless ocean of benignity; do thou thyself, O man-loving Master, O
God of things eternal and wonderful, whom none among men by thinking can
comprehend, look upon us, and hearken unto us, thine unworthy servants,
and wheresoever in thy great name we bring this oil, do thou send down
thy gift of healing, and the remission of sins, and heal him in the
plentitude of thy mercy. Yea, O Lord, thou good physician, thou sole
merciful one and lover of mankind, who repentest thee concerning our
ills, who knowest that the intention of man inclineth unto evil from his
youth up, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should
return and live, who for the salvation of sinners, being God, becamest
man, and for thy creature wast thyself created: thou art he that hath
said, I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance: thou
art he that hath sought the lost sheep: thou art he that hath diligently
sought the lost drachma, and found it: thou art he that hath said, He
that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out: thou art he that did not
loathe the sinful woman, who watered thy revered feet with tears: thou
art he that hath said, As often as thou fallest, arise, and be saved:
thou art he that hath said, There is joy in heaven over, one sinner that
repenteth: do thou thyself, O benign Master, look down from the height
of thy sanctuary, visiting us, thy sinful and unworthy servants, at this
hour, with the grace of thy Holy Ghost, and be present with thy servant,
_name_, who acknowledgeth his iniquities, and in faith draweth nigh unto
thee; and, accepting him in thine own love to man, in whatsoever he hath
offended, by word, or deed, or intention, making remission, do thou
cleanse him, and make him pure from every sin, and, being ever present
with him, keep the remaining time of his life, that walking in thy
statutes, he may never become a derision to the devil, so that in him may
be glorified thy most holy name.
_Exclamation._
For it is thine to have mercy, and to save us, O Christ God, and to thee
we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy,
and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
Amen.
_And after the prayer the second priest straightway taketh a second twig,
and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the
prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_And the deacon._ Let us attend.
_The third priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone iii._
The Lord is my light, and my Saviour, whom shall I fear?
_Verse._ The Lord is the defence of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.
_The epistle to the Corinthians, section cliii._
Brethren, ye are the body of Christ.... _ending_, Charity never
faileth.[19]
_The third priest._ Peace to thee.
_Deacon._ Wisdom. _Alleluia, tone ii._
_Verse._ In thee, O Lord, have I trusted, let me never be confounded.
_The third priest readeth._
_The gospel from Matthew, section xxxiv. from the paragraph,_