Prayers at mealtime

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

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	Prayers at mealtime

PRAYERS BEFORE BREAKFAST OR THE NOON MEAL

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on us. Amen. [bow]

Our Father, who art in the heavens, hallowed be they name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. [bow]

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord, bless. [bow]

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen. [bow]

PRAYER AFTER BREAKFAST OR THE NOON MEAL

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us Amen. [bow]

It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify. [bow]

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. [bow]

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord, bless. [bow]

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.[bow]

Another prayer after the meal:
We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thine earthly gifts; deprive us not of Thy heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gavest them peace, come to us and save us.

[And twelve bows, saying the Jesus Prayer. Then, having thanked those who prepared the meal, say:

God be merciful to me, a sinner. [bow]
Thou hast created me; Lord, have mercy on me. [bow]
I have sinned immeasurably; Lord, have mercy and forgive me a sinner. [bow]

PRAYERS BEFORE THE EVENING MEAL

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. [bow]

The poor shall eat and be filled, and they that seek the Lord shall praise him; their hearts shall live for ever and ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. [bow]

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord, bless. [bow]

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen. [bow]

PRAYERS AFTER THE EVENING MEAL

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. [bow]

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord, bless. [without bows]

Thy womb is become an holy table, bearing Christ the heavenly bread. All that eat from it shall not die, as hath said the Nourisher of all, O Mother of God.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify. [bow]

Thou hast gladdened me, O Lord, by Thy deeds, and in the works of Thy hands will I rejoice. The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us. Thou hast given gladness to my heart. From the fruit of their wheat, wine and oil are they multiplied. In peace in the same place shall I lay me down and sleep. For Thou alone, O Lord, hast made me to dwell in hope.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. [bow]

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord bless. [bow]

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen. [bow]

And twelve bows, saying the Jesus Prayer. Then, having thanked those who prepared the meal, say:

God be merciful to me, a sinner. [bow]
Thou hast created me; Lord, have mercy on me. [bow]
I have sinned immeasurably; Lord, have mercy and forgive me a sinner. [bow]

A reprint from www.orthodox.net

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