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

Then the deacon says to the congregation kneeling down
before God, "Let us attend in fear of God." This is the
second time the deacon tells the congregation to listen in the
fear of God. As a while ago, and specifically before reading
the absolution, he said: "Let us attend in the fear of God."
He repeated it at the end of the absolution, due to the
importance and significance of the situation, which obliges us
to be silent and revering, bowing our heads before the Lord
and the divine Mysteries, in order that we may find mercy
and acceptance before God.
The congregation begs the rich mercy of God saying, "Lord
have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy." Seeking
God's mercy is necessary, as despite our struggle in
repentance, we are found worthy to partake of these divine
Mysteries, because of God's great mercy. For this reason we
beg in persistence, seeking God's mercy not once but thrice,
signifying the completeness of the Holy Trinity.
Beat your chest my beloved and seek God's mercy for your
salvation, and for the partaking of the Holy Communion.
Signs Before The Confession
The celebrant priest takes the Espadikon (centre of the Bread
which symbolises the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ)
between the tips of the fingers of his right hand, and carefully
lifts it up, while bowing his head, saying, "The Holies are
for those who are Holy." Then he makes the sign of the
cross over the Chalice with the Espadikon. He then dips it
into the Honoured Blood and carefully lifts it again and
makes the sign of the Cross on the Holy Body present on the
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