When we reject the laughable and sophomoric notion that defining God "Puts God in a Box" we make it possible for our worship of the One True God to take on rich hues with glorious depth and structure. Here is just one example from the liturgy of our ancient forebears, fellow saints and believers who have proceeded us.
Notice the depth of the doctrinal and theological content. Notice that this worship affirms, exalts, confesses and glorifies the One True God clearly and with clean lines of truth drawn directly from the scriptures. This is no airy fairy, fluffy, vague, spiritually vapid, 7/11 praise song. This is an example of rich, deep worship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This snippet from the ancient liturgy can be prayed and or used to guide our thoughts, meditation and worship of the One True God. It is a beautiful treasure that our ancient brothers and sisters have willed to us as an inheritance. And it's truth transcends fleeting cultural fads and capricious fashions.
May the Immortal, Invisible, Immutable God Have Mercy Upon Us
The Introit
Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. We confess to Him who has done with us according to His mercy. We bless the Father and the Son together with the Holy Spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever.
To God the Father
KYRIE, You font of goodness, unbegotten Father, from whom all good things do proceed, have mercy.
KYRIE, You who sent Him who was born to suffer for the sin of the world, in order that You might save it, have mercy.
KYRIE, You who bestow the seven-fold gifts of the Spirit by whom heaven and earth are filled, have mercy.
To God the Son
KRISTE HAGIE, You who share heaven, who are a participant in royal glory, to whom the highest of the angels standing at Your command continually do sing, have mercy.
KRISTE, Only-begotten of God the Father, who the holy prophets miraculously predicted would be born into the world through the Virgin, have mercy.
KRISTE, hearken from heaven to our prayers, to our prostrate minds, You whom we devoutly worship here on earth, We cry to You, dear Jesus, have mercy.
To God the Holy Spirit
KYRIE, bountiful Spirit, united with the Father and the Son in a subsistence of one substance, proceeding from both the Father and the Son, have mercy.
KYRIE, who, when Christ was baptized in the waves of the Jordan, appeared in Your glory in the form of a dove, have mercy.
KYRIE, kindle our hearts with divine fire so that we are made worthy to praise You forever, have mercy.
Just a few questions...what does "HAGIE" mean, and can I get more info on the source of this wonderful Invocation/Kyrie/Confession of Faith.
Posted by: Aaron | April 29, 2009 at 06:05 AM
Unless my Greek has totally slipped, the entire phrase means "O Holy Christ."
Posted by: St. Blogwen | May 31, 2010 at 01:06 AM