How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Pope Kirillos Scientific Family

spirit of Abba Shenouti. All his essays and letters to the
monasteries included a speech or a teaching of his late
spiritual father St. Shenouti. We can learn from Abba Besa
his love of the spiritual life and teachings, for by them we are
guided as if by a bright lamp.
While these are the names always mentioned in the Synaxis,
or the Commemoration of Saints, there are, of course, many
more, but are not usually mentioned.
The priest concludes the Synaxis with this wonderful prayer :
"And all the host of Your saints through whose prayers
and supplications, have mercy upon us and save us for the
sake of Your Holy Name which is called upon us." The
priest here asks for mercy and deliverance and providence
from God, for himself and the congregation, through the
supplications and prayers of all the saints whose names were
mentioned, even though they are but a few from a vast
number of saints whose names were not mentioned.
He truly asks for all this in the worthiness of the great and
holy name of Christ, which is called upon us. As we are
called Christians we carry His name. So the priest guarantees
the acceptance and response to his prayers according to the
Lord's promise: “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will
do” (John 14:13,14). In the Old Testament God also
promised, “If My people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn
from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and
forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be
open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place”
(2 Chronicles 7:14-15).
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