When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed Thee, the Righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself. Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord Who art good towards all men, glory to Thee! _If the Canon of Preparation for Holy Communion has not been read the preceding evening, it may be read here._ Lord, have mercy! _(40 times, with as many prostrations as desired)_ _Then, we read the following Verses of Instruction:_ When you intend, O man, to eat the Master's Body, Approach with fear, lest you be burned--for It is fire! Before drinking the Divine Blood in Communion, Make peace with those who have grieved you. Only then may you dare To eat the Mystical Food. _We also add the following verses:_ Before partaking of the Dread Sacrifice, The life-giving Body of the Master, Pray, trembling, in this manner: 1st Prayer, of Saint Basil the Great. O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, the Fountain of life and immortality, the Creator of everything visible and invisible, the eternal and everlasting Son of the eternal Father: Thou hast come in these latter days because of the abundance of Thy goodness. Thou hast put on our human flesh and wast crucified and buried for us thankless and graceless men, and through Thine own blood Thou hast renewed our human nature which is corrupted by sin. And now, O Immortal King, accept the repentance of me a sinner, and incline Thine ear to me and listen to my words: I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned before heaven and before Thy face, and I am not worthy to look upon the height of Thy Glory. I have provoked Thy goodness, I have transgressed Thy commandments, I have not obeyed Thy statutes. But, O Lord, since Thou dost not remember evil, but art long-suffering and of great mercy, Thou hast not given me over to destruction for my lawlessness, but hast ever awaited my conversion. O Lover of mankind, Thou hast said by Thy prophets: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." For Thou dost not wish, O Master, that the work of Thy hands should perish, neither dost Thou take pleasure in the destruction of men, but Thou desirest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, although I am unworthy both of heaven and of earth and of this passing life, having wholly yielded myself to sin and defiled Thine image, yet being Thy creature and of Thy making, I do not despair of my salvation in my wickedness. But made bold by Thine infinite compassion, I draw near.