The Offertory
Absolution of the Servants
Absolution of the Servants
Priest
May Your servants, the ministers of this day, the hegumen(s), the priest(s), the deacon(s), the clergy, the congregation, and my weak self, be absolved from the mouth of the All-holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And from the mouth of the one, only, holy, catholic and apostolic Church; from the mouths of the twelve apostles; from the mouth of the beholder-of-God and evangelist, Saint Mark, the holy apostle and martyr; The patriarch, Saint Severus; our teacher, Dioscorus; Saint Athanasius the Apostolic; Saint Peter, the priest-martyr and high priest; Saint John Chrysostom; Saint Cyril; Saint Basil; and Saint Gregory. And from the mouths of the three hundred and eighteen assembled at Nicaea, the one hundred and fifty at Constantinople, and the two hundred at Ephesus. And from the mouth of our honoured father, the high priest, Abba (...), and from the mouth of our honoured father the metropolitan/bishop, Abba (...), and from the mouth of myself, the least of them all. For blessed and full of glory is Your holy name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit; both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Congregation
Saved. Amen. And with your spirit.
Commentary
We take absolution from the Holy Trinity; from the universal Church, whose members we are through baptism; from the mouths of the Apostolic Fathers; from St Mark the Apostle, who brought the light of faith to the Egyptian land; and from the Fathers who defended Orthodox doctrine at the three Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, and Ephesus.
“to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”— Jude 1:3
The names of the saints mentioned are fathers who hold a rank of priesthood. We mention them in the absolution to affirm our Orthodoxy and our submission to the Orthodox Fathers, committing to their path in preserving the faith.
In this absolution, the People are considered among the servants of the liturgy — actively participating in the sanctification of the mysteries rather than being mere observers. As the Church celebrates the Eucharist, the one Body of Christ is realised: the attendance of the service together with the departed saints is counted as one in Jesus Christ.