The Offertory
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.
The highest ranking Priest prays the absolution, while making the sign of the cross eastward on the serving priests; eastward on the deacons; turning northward, on the rest of the servants; turning westward, on the entire congregation; turning to the east, on himself.
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.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
— Colossians 1:17
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.
The names of female saints are not mentioned as there is no priesthood for women. Likewise, the names of the great martyrs are not mentioned as they were not priests.
The fathers mentioned in this absolution are the champions of Orthodoxy who excommunicated the heretics and expelled them from the company of the Church due to their doctrinal deviations. We mention them in the absolution of the servants to affirm our Orthodoxy, our submissions to the Orthodox fathers, and our commitment to their path in preserving the faith, adhering to it, and not deviating from it.
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. We received this faith accurately and did not neglect to preserve it based on their holy command.
These fathers do not give absolution except to those who believe in the same faith they defended vigorously. Whoever attends the liturgy and seeks absolution from the mouths of the fathers of these councils declares that they do not agree with the heretical opinions of these evildoers.
We also seek absolution from the mouth of His Holiness the Pope, and the bishops of the diocese. This declares that the priest and the entire people, as well as all the clergy, submit to the fatherhood and leadership of the Pope of the Church and her bishops.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
— Ephesians 2:20
[…] to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
— Jude 1:3
Congregation
Saved. Amen. And with your spirit.
All rise. The Priest goes into the sanctuary and kisses the altar; the other altar servants also go into the sanctuary.