The Offertory
Prayer of Preparation and Preparing the Altar
All of the beautiful rituals associated with the presentation of the offering stir the heart to be ready for prayer and the Eucharist.
The sanctuary represents the Upper Room in Zion, concerning which the Lord said:
Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”
— Mark 14:15
The Priest offers repentance and a prepared heart, acknowledging his unworthiness before God, so that God may grant him the eligibility to serve the liturgy. As the Priest prepares the altar, we ought to prepare our inner souls to receive Christ through His Body and Blood.
Priest
O Lord, Who knows the hearts of everyone, Who is holy, and Who rests in Your saints; Who alone is without sin, and Who has power to forgive sin; You, O Lord, Who knows my unworthiness, my unpreparedness and my insufficiency for this, Your holy service.
I have no boldness to draw near and open my mouth before Your holy glory, but according to the abundance of Your compassion, pardon me, a sinner, and grant that I may find grace and mercy at this hour.
The Priest unties the knots of the cloth containing the altar vessels while praying the blessing of the Holy Trinity.
Priest
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; One God. Blessed be God the Father, the Pantocrator. Blessed be His Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
Glory and honour, honour and glory, to the All-holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
These are consecrated by a bishop and used only for the Eucharist: the cup (for the wine that will become the Holy Blood), the paten (for the bread that will become the Holy Body), the spoon (for serving the Blood), and the dome (to hold the napkins above the paten).
He then wipes them and arranges them, after covering the altar with small napkins. The cup will go inside the wooden ark — also known as the Mercy Seat — at the centre of the altar. One napkin is placed around the cup, another is placed on top of the cup. The spoon is placed at the top of the Mercy Seat, besides the cup. And the paten goes on the altar in front of the Mercy Seat. One napkin is placed under the paten, another is folded backward over half of its top.
Priest
Send me strength from on high, so that I may begin, be made ready, and accomplish Your holy service, according to Your pleasure, according to the good pleasure of Your will, and as fragrant incense.
Indeed, our Lord, be with us; take part with us; bless us, for You are the forgiveness of our sins, the light of our souls, our life, our strength and our confidence.
Unto You we send up the glory, honour and worship, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit; both now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.