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Offices of the Holy Eastern Church
tr. Littledale, 1863
16. Reopening of a Church Desecrated by Heathens
O Lord our God, who hast indicated this Temple as Thy dwelling place, by the visitation of Thy Life giving Spirit in the precious Anointing which hallowed the Prophets and Apostles; and afterwards hast suffered it to be desecrated because of our sins, and Thy undefiled Altar to be polluted by ungodly heathen, to whom the name of Thy hymned and majestic glory is unknown, do Thou, receiving us again with merciful eyes, who approach Thee with faith unfeigned, confessing our sins in acknowledgement and repentance, and desiring to offer upon it to Thee pure and unbloody sacrifices, purge it of the stain which has fallen on it and make it full of its former purity, as Thou alone art absolute purity, and essential Holiness, and alone able to sanctify those who turn in heart to Thee and to cleanse us perfectly from an evil conscience and from all doubt and uncertainty. For Thou art our sanctification and to Thee we ascribe glory, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
This prayer is also said at the opening of a church insulted by heretics, the Bishop merely changing from the words “polluted by &c.”, and saying thus:
By those who disturb and rend the Church, in neglect and contempt of the undefiled Gospel, and of the Apostolical, Patristic, and Canonical Traditions, and proceeds with: Do Thou, receiving &c. (36)