I thank thee, O Lord my God,
that thou hast not rejected me, a sinner,
but hast made me worthy to be a partaker
of thy holy Mysteries.
I thank thee that thou hast made me worthy
to receive thy most pure and heavenly Gifts.
But, O Master, Lover of mankind,
who didst die for our sake and didst rise again
and didst grant us these thy dread and life-creating Mysteries
for the well-being and sanctification of our souls and bodies,
grant that these may be unto me
for healing of soul and body,
for the averting of everything hostile,
for the enlightening of the eyes of my heart,
for peace of my spiritual powers,
for a faith unashamed,
for a love unfeigned,
for the fullness of wisdom,
for the keeping of thy commandments,
for an increase of thy divine grace
and for the attainment of thy kingdom.
Amen.
Prayer After Holy Communion
Also known as Orthodox Post-Communion Prayer ยท Thanksgiving After Communion
About this prayer
Following the reception of Holy Communion, Orthodox Christians say a set of thanksgiving prayers. These prayers give thanks for the reception of the Eucharist and ask that the Body and Blood of Christ received may bring spiritual fruit in the life of the communicant. The post-Communion rule typically includes a thanksgiving canon and several individual prayers. The prayer given here is the principal thanksgiving prayer, expressing gratitude and asking that Communion not be received to judgment but to healing and life. The post-Communion prayers are said before leaving the church, either privately or, in some traditions, read aloud by the priest for the congregation.
When it's said
This prayer is said after receiving Communion, before leaving the church. In practice it is often said privately, though some parishes read the post-Communion prayers aloud. The full post-Communion rule includes this prayer and additional prayers of thanksgiving.
Notes on the text
The phrase 'thy dread and life-creating Mysteries' reflects the Orthodox understanding of the Eucharist as awesome and fearful in the sense of inspiring reverence, not terror. 'Life-creating' is a standard Orthodox term for the Holy Spirit and for the Eucharist, emphasizing that the sacrament communicates divine life.
Traditional Orthodox post-Communion prayers, formalized by 9th-10th century AD. English text from the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox Church, compiled by Isabel F. Hapgood, 1906. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.