Prayers

PRAYERS FOR THE TAKING OF THEOPHANY WATER Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen! — O Heavenly King — Holy God (Trisagion) Glory... both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen! — Our Father Lord, have mercy (12 times) O come, let us worship God our King! O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God! O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God. Psalm 50 Troparion: O compassionate and only merciful Lord, Who hast an inexhaustible cup of gifts, grant unto me who thirst, to draw water for the forgiveness of sins. Glory to the Father... unto the ages of ages. Amen! O pure Virgin, palace of Christ, I pray thee to make my soul, weakened by sin, a dwelling place of the Most Holy Spirit through the water of the life-giving spring, that I may glorify thee with gratitude. LORD, HAVE MERCY (30 times) Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who art one with Thy beginningless and immortal Father, and Who art ever together with Thy beginningless and eternal Holy Spirit, and Who by Thy most pure and Holy Baptism didst sanctify this water, now also sanctify us, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, who call upon Thee. Do Thou Thyself, O Lord, grant now that this Holy water, sanctified by the presence and grace of Thy Holy Spirit, may be for me, Thy servant who drinks of it, unto the enlightenment of the soul, the sanctification of the body, the mortification of the passions, the rejection of cunning thoughts, and the rejection and preservation from every satanic assault, unto the correction of life and the strengthening in the keeping of Thy commandments, and unto every salvific benefit. That by the grace of this Holy water I may be sheltered from every satanic attack, and remain unharmed, to the glory of Thy most good and most holy Name. Through the prayers of our most Holy and glorious Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all Thy Saints. Amen! Troparion: At Thy Baptism in the Jordan, O Christ, worship of the Trinity was made manifest, for the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truth of His words. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee! Glory... unto the ages of ages. Amen! Kontakion: Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and Thy light has been signed upon us, who with understanding sing to Thee: Thou hast come and revealed Thyself, O Light Unapproachable! The water is now drunk, in three sips. First sip: In the name of the Father; Second: And of the Son; Third sip: And of the Holy Spirit! IN THE MORNING, ON AN EMPTY STOMACH! Glory to Thine ineffable and unsearchable goodness, glory to Thine immeasurable and gentle long-suffering, glory to Thy mercy, that Thou hast now made even me, a sinful and unworthy servant of Thine, worthy to drink of this sanctified and Holy water. Therefore strengthen my life, keep me unharmed, let not my enemies deceive me, and let me not be taken captive by unclean thoughts. But direct me, renewed, according to Thy will, and strengthen me for good deeds. Grant me to partake without condemnation of Thy holy, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries, unto the forgiveness of sins and unto life everlasting. For Thou art the joy of our souls, and unto Thee we send up glory, with Thy beginningless Father and Thy most holy and good Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages. Amen! — It is truly meet — Glory to the Father... unto the ages of ages. Amen! — Lord, have mercy (3 times) DISMISSAL: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, and of all the Saints, save me, a sinner. Amen! PRAYER OF THE PENITENT ST. SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN Lord, Thou seest all, and there is nothing that is hidden from Thee. Though I am the work of Thy hands, I have not done deeds worthy of Thy commandments, but through my great folly have done every evil, without considering that Thou, my Creator and God, art as much good as Thou art just. And now, remembering this, fear takes hold of me, and I know not what to do. I feel Thy judgment, and find no words of excuse in my mouth. I have no virtue and have performed no deed of repentance which might be worth even one idle word of my mouth being forgiven for its sake. Moreover, even one who has every virtue and does every kind of good deed does so as a servant and debtor; in all this he will find no ransom for his sin: only Thy mercy can supply that. Sin is death, and who of those who have died through it can raise himself? Truly no one. Thou alone hast died and risen, for Thou didst not commit sin, and no deceit was found in Thy mouth. And so, Lord, Master of all, having committed many evil deeds, I repent. But repentance alone is powerless to justify me. Repentance is the acknowledgment of one's sins, but it is Thy mercy that takes them away. Thou seest, Master and Lord, that now I have nothing but my body; yet there is no benefit for me in having given up all wealth. I am wholly one wound; in me there remains no hope of salvation, and hell is ready to swallow me alive. Thou alone canst save me and heal the sufferings of my heart. Thy hand is able to do all things; it reaches even to the depths of the abyss, and all is done at Thy word. I dare not say: have mercy on me, Lord! For I am unworthy of Thy mercy, as one who justly deserves every punishment. But do Thou, O Lord, who knowest all, act toward me according as Thy love for mankind knows, unworthy even of life itself. Let Thy holy will be done in all things. Amen.