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].