The Liturgy of the Faithful
Prayer of the Veil
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, the Priest stands before the door of the sanctuary and says inaudibly this Prayer of the Veil. He entreats the Lord that this Sacrament may not be unto condemnation to us, but unto “washing away of our sins and forgiveness of our negligence”.
Priest (Inaudible)· St Basil
O God, Who in Your ineffable love toward mankind sent Your Only-begotten Son into the world that He might return the lost sheep to You; we ask You, O our Lord, not to turn us away when we offer this awesome and bloodless sacrifice. For we put no trust in our righteousness, but in Your mercy, by which You have granted us life.
We ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind, that this mystery which You have established for us for salvation may not be for condemnation to us or to any of Your people, but for washing away of our sins and forgiveness of our negligence, and for the glory and honour of Your holy name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In the Gregorian Prayer of the Veil, the Priest asks the Lord to make him worthy of performing this holy Sacrament without falling into condemnation.
Priest (Inaudible)· St Gregory
O Lord God, the Pantocrator, Who knows the thoughts of everyone and searches the hearts and minds: You have called me, unworthy as I am, to this Your holy service.
Do not reject me, nor turn Your face away from me, but wipe away all my transgressions, and wash away the filth of my body and the defilements of my soul; and purify me completely, so that while entreating Your goodness to grant forgiveness of sins to others, I myself may not be found unworthy.
Indeed, O Lord, do not turn me away, dejected and ashamed, but send upon me the grace of Your Holy Spirit, and make me worthy to stand before Your holy altar without falling into condemnation; that I might offer to You this rational and bloodless sacrifice with a pure conscience, for the forgiveness of my sins and transgressions, and for the forgiveness of the sins of your people committed in ignorance; for the rest and refreshment of our fathers and our brethren who have already slept in the Orthodox faith; for the edification of all Your people; and for glorifying You, together with Your Only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, Who is coessential with You; both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In the Cyrillian Prayer of the Veil, the Priest asks the Lord to grant him purity to perform this holy Sacrament through the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Priest (Inaudible)· St Cyril
O Creator of all creation, visible and invisible, and Whose providence is over all things, for they are Yours, O Lord, the Lover of souls.
I beseech You, O Lord, Who has power over all things, I the weak, inadequate and unprofitable as I am among all Your servants, as I approach Your Holy of Holies to handle this holy and hidden mystery, grant me, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit, the immaterial and incomprehensible fire, Who consumes every weakness and burns up evil inventions.
May He put to death the members of the flesh which are upon the earth. May He bridle the wanderings of the mind that are led into secret imaginations full of passion, and as befits priests, make me to rise above every dead thought. May He put within me the consecrating words to perfect this oblation that is set forth, which is the Mystery of mysteries, in the fellowship and the communion of Your Christ; O You to Whom is due the glory, with Him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, Who is coessential with You, both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest (Inaudible)· St Cyril
O Lord God of hosts, the King of glory, Who alone does wonders, the good One; Who is gentle to all that call upon You in truth: be attentive to our supplications, and give us power for this awesome service of the great heavenly mystery of this bloodless and rational sacrifice set forth, that Your will may be for the salvation of those who come forward to these holy Mysteries.
You also, O Lord, Who has mercy on everyone, having had compassion on my weakness, put off from me the old man with his evil deeds and lusts. Cast behind me every sin that I have committed, whether willingly or unwillingly, and make me worthy, with a pure heart and undefiled lips, to bring unto You this awesome sacrifice.
Do not cast me away from Your servants as a servant of sin, but I entreat You, according to Your compassion, grant that I may serve Your holy and honoured name without ceasing, that I may gain the wage of the wise and faithful steward on the Day of Your just recompense. May Your people have a share in the eternal good things which You have promised those who love You.
The Priest stands before the iconostasis, called “the veil”, bowing his head to the East as a sign of submission and humility before God. He offers a deep prayer filled with the meanings of repentance and seeks divine assistance to complete the service of the liturgy before entering the sanctuary to celebrate the liturgy of the faithful, as if the priest is seeking God's permission to enter the sanctuary and prayer.
The priest humbly stands before God, seeking permission to carry out the service, doing so many times throughout the liturgy. The Holy Church teaches us the sacrament of humility and submission God.
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
— Luke 18:13
But as for me, in the fullness of Your mercy I will come into Your house;
— Psalm 5:8
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
He asks God, that He may not reject his service before Him because of his many sins and weaknesses. We rely on mercy because, in terms of righteousness, we know that we have not been good on earth. We rely on the righteousness of Christ.