The second prayer of preparation for the Holy Communion is the 'Prayer at the Bowing of Heads', which is read in gratification and thanksgiving to God. Through His Sacrifice by crucifixion Christ made humans 'His friends' (this is His exact words to the disciples), so the faithful at this point bow their heads in reply to this privilege they have. The priest asks God to 'individualize' the benefits that the participation to Holy Communion gives the faithful ('Do Thou, therefore, O Master, administer these Offerings to all of us for our benefit according to the individual need of each'), underlining in this way that the partaking of the Sacrament is not connected with human body in a vague way, it is rather connected with the specific needs and problems of each and every one of the members of the Church (some of these are mentioned in the prayer). In this prayer of thanksgiving the faithful rejoice at the Lord's death, the death of each and every one of them and the pledge of eternal life.

29 from Αθωνική Ψηφιακή Κιβωτός on Vimeo.

The aforementioned prayer has a great symbolic significance: through its wording it indicates that the participation of the faithful in the Resurrection can be individualized, i.e. it can be made different to suit the needs of a particular person according to his or her own personality. This participation is an inner, personal, conscious sacrifice. It is not a hindrance to plans, hopes and life but an approval, an encouragement, a blessing.

Shortly before the Holy Communion a last prayer of preparation underlines the mystery of the presence of Christ during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy: God is in His 'holy dwelling place', on His 'throne', but at the same time He is invisibly present with us. He is the one that will administer the Holy Communion to the priests, who subsequently will administer it to the faithful in continuation of His work.