Prayers at Meals #
He who sincerely gives thanks to God in prayer both at the beginning and at the end of a meal will not fall into drunkenness or disorder, will never suffer the consequences of gluttony, but, restraining his thoughts with the expectation of prayer as with a bridle, will partake of all that is offered in due measure—and thus bring great benefit to both soul and body.
A table that begins and ends with prayer will never lack, but will bring forth every blessing more abundantly than a fountain. Let us not neglect such benefit!
—St. John Chrysostom
Prayers Before Noon Meal #
Standing before the holy icons, after preparing the meal, say:
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
Our Father, which art in the heavens, hallowed may thy name be. May thy kingdom come. May thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our essential bread. And forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Bow)
Glory. (Bow) Now and ever. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)
Through the prayers of thy most-pure Mother and all thy saints, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
O God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)
O Lord who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)
I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)
Sit at the table with reverence. Before beginning the meal, the eldest should say the Jesus Prayer aloud, and those present should respond: “Amen.”
Then should be said by those present: “Bless us to eat.” The eldest replies: “God will bless.” And they eat in silence and with prayer, to the glory of God. If it happens that a fellow Christian enters the room during the meal, he should say: “An angel is at the table.”
Those at the table respond: “He standeth invisibly.”
Prayers After the Noon Meal #
At the end of the meal, make the sign of the Cross and leave the table; standing before the holy icons, say:
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
It is worthy, for in truth to bless thee, O God-bearer, ever blessed and most unblemished, and the mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and truly more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption, having borne God the Word; who art the God-bearer, thee do we magnify. (Bow)
Glory. (Bow) Now and ever. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)
Through the prayers of thy most-pure Mother and all thy saints, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
And 12 bows with the Jesus Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Next, pray for the health and salvation of those who show mercy and provide for us, saying the following three times with bows:
O merciful Lord, save and have mercy on thy servant(s), who show mercy, and give nourishment (Name them and bow).
Deliver them (him/her) from every affliction, wrath, and necessity. (Bow)
From every sickness of soul and body. (Bow)
And forgive them (him/her) every sin, voluntary and involuntary. (Bow)
And grant what is beneficial unto our souls. (Bow)
Then three bows with the prayer of the Publican:
God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)
O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)
I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)
After this, give thanks for the meal and say: “May Christ save you and preserve you for many years!”
In some places, there is a custom: after the prayer “For the health and salvation,” they sing three times “And preserve them for many years,” and then make three bows with the prayer of the publican, and give thanks for the meal.
Prayers Before the Evening Meal #
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and them that seek after the Lord shall praise him, their hearts shall live unto the ages of ages.
Glory. (Bow) Now and ever. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)
Through the prayers of thy most-pure Mother and all thy saints, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
O God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)
O Lord who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)
I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)
Prayers After the Evening Meal #
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
Glory. Now and ever. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Without bows)
Thy womb became a holy table, bearing Christ the heavenly Bread; all that eateth from him dieth not, as spake the Sustainer of all things, O God-bearer. More honourable than the Cherubim, and truly more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption, having borne God the Word; who art the God-bearer, thee do we magnify. (Bow)
Thou hast gladdened me, O Lord, in thy creation, and in the works of thy hand, I shall rejoice. The light of thy face, O Lord, hath been signed upon us; thou hast put gladness in my heart. From the fruit of their wheat, wine, and oil, are they increased. In peace I shall both lay me down and sleep. For thou, O Lord, alone hast made me dwell in hope.
Glory. (Bow) Now and ever. (Bow) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord, bless. (Bow)
Through the prayers of thy most-pure Mother and all thy saints, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen. (Bow)
And 12 bows with the Jesus Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Next, pray for the health and salvation of those who show mercy and provide for us, saying the following three times with bows:
O merciful Lord, save and have mercy on thy servant(s), who show mercy, and give nourishment (Name them and bow).
Deliver them (him/her) from every affliction, wrath, and necessity. (Bow)
From every sickness of soul and body. (Bow)
And forgive them (him/her) every sin, voluntary and involuntary. (Bow)
And grant what is beneficial unto our souls. (Bow)
Then three bows with the prayer of the Publican:
God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow)
O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow)
I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow)
What the Prayer “The Poor Shall Eat” Reminds Us Of
The words of the prayer recall one of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
It is they who shall glorify the Lord, for they will have found what they sought. Likewise, it is fitting for us to seek not only bodily nourishment, but spiritual as well.
What the Words “Thy Womb Became” in the Prayer Mean
The Greek word trapeza can be translated as table. The womb of the God-bearer became a holy table which bore the heavenly Bread — Christ. From Him (that is, from Christ), whoever eats shall not die, as the Giver of all sustenance, Christ Himself, has said.
The Most Holy God-bearer, in bearing the Incarnate Word of God, became the vessel of the Life-giving Bread — of which the One born of her, our Lord Jesus Christ, said: “This is the Bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die… He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:50, 54).
Thus, in this prayer we give thanks to God for the nourishment of our bodies and at the same time recall the nourishment of the soul — which is the partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Mystery of Communion.