Prayers

PRAYER TO GOD THE FATHER Almighty Master, most wise and all-good Lord, beginningless Begetter of the light-originating Son, and eternal and unchanging Sender-forth of Thy life-giving Spirit; Thy greatness is immeasurable, Thy glory ineffable, and Thy mercy without measure; we thank Thee for calling us out of non-being and honouring us with Thy precious image, for granting to us, the unworthy, not only to know and love Thee, but, what is sweetest of all, to call Thee our Father as well. We thank Thee, God of mercy and goodness, for not abandoning us, who transgressed Thy commandment, in the midst of sin and the snare of death, but wast well pleased to send to earth, for our salvation, Thine Only-begotten Son, through Whom also the ages were made, that through His incarnation and dread sufferings we might be freed from the violence of the devil and the corruption of death. We thank Thee, God of love and might, that after the ascension into heaven of our most sweet Saviour, entreated by His Cross, Thou didst send down Thy Spirit upon His chosen disciples and apostles, that they, by the power of their divinely inspired preaching, might illumine the whole world with the immortal light of the Gospel of Christ. Therefore, O loving Master, hear now the humble prayer of Thy unworthy children, that as Thou didst create us solely by Thy goodness, and redeem us solely by Thy compassion, so also Thou wouldst save us solely by Thine unparalleled mercy: for by our own deeds we have no portion of salvation, but only await righteous retribution and rejection from Thy most holy face. For when on the Day of Judgment every idle word shall be examined and searched out, what answer then shall we, wretched ones, give for the countless iniquities wherewith we have sinned against Thee? Therefore, without any hope of justification by our own deeds, we take refuge solely in Thy goodness, which surpasses every mind and every word; and holding it as a firm foundation of our hope, we beseech Thee: we have sinned, O Lord, cleanse us! We have transgressed the law, O Master, forgive us! We have provoked Thee, O Long-suffering One, be not angry with us, and keep our mind, conscience and heart from the defilements of the world! Deliver us and save us from the dangerous storm of passions and falls, voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown, and guide us into the calm haven of faith, love and hope unto life eternal! Remember us, O Lord, in Thy mercy, grant us all that we ask for our salvation, and especially a pure and sinless life; make us worthy to love Thee and to fear Thee with all our heart, and in all things to do Thy holy will, through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos, and of all Thy Saints, for Thou art a good and loving God, and unto Thee we send up glory and thanksgiving and worship, together with Thine Only-begotten Son, and Thy Most Holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto all the ages, Amen. PRAYER TO GOD THE SON Only-begotten Son and Word of God, Thou wast pleased to become incarnate and to suffer death for our salvation; and now, seated with Thy most pure body together with the Father upon the throne in the heavens, ruling the whole world, forget not in Thy mercy us here below on earth, tempted by many trials and misfortunes; and though we are wholly impure and unworthy, yet we believe in Thee, our Saviour and Lord, and know no other mediator and no other hope of salvation. Grant us, O all-gracious Redeemer, ever to remember how many sufferings of soul and body Thou didst endure for our salvation, and how, with Thy most pure soul, Thou didst descend from the Cross even unto hades, to free us from the power and violence of hades; and remembering this, grant us to guard ourselves from the passions and sins that were the cause of Thy bitter sufferings and death, and to love righteousness and virtue, which is more pleasing to Thee in us than any gift. As One tried in all things, Thou Thyself knowest, O all-gracious One, how great is the weakness of our spirit and body, while our enemy is mighty and cunning, for as a roaring lion he walks about seeking whom he may devour. Therefore withhold not from us Thine almighty help, and be ever with us, keeping and sheltering us, guiding and strengthening us, gladdening and rejoicing our spirit. And we, casting ourselves into the embrace of Thy love and mercy, entrust to Thee, our Master, Redeemer and Lord, all our temporal and eternal life, praying from the depths of our soul that, however Thou knowest best, Thou wouldst grant us to pass safely through the dark valley of this earthly life, and to arrive at Thy God-adorned mansions, which Thou hast promised to prepare for all who believe in Thy name and follow Thy divine footsteps. Amen. PRAYER TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT O Heavenly King, all-gracious Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who ever proceedest from the Father and abidest ever in the Son. Independent Source of divine gifts, which Thou distributest to each as Thou wilt, by which we too, unworthy, were sanctified and sealed in the day of our baptism — look upon the prayer of Thy servants; come to us, dwell in us, and cleanse our souls, that we may be made ready to be a dwelling place of the Most Holy Trinity. O All-gracious One, be not disgusted by our impurity and the wounds of sin, but heal them with Thine all-healing anointing: enlighten our mind, that we may know the vanity of the world and of what is in the world; quicken our conscience, that it may unceasingly tell us what to do and what to reject; correct and renew our heart, that it may not pour forth evil thoughts and unseemly desires day and night; tame our flesh and, with Thy dew-bearing breath, quench the flame of passion by which the precious image of God in us is darkened; drive from us the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power and idle talk, and grant us the spirit of love and patience, the spirit of meekness and humility, the spirit of purity and righteousness, that having straightened our weakened hearts and knees, we may diligently hasten along the path of the holy commandments, and thus, avoiding every sin and fulfilling all righteousness, be made worthy to attain a peaceful and unashamed end, to enter the heavenly Jerusalem, and there to worship Thee, together with the Father and the Son, singing throughout all the ages: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee! PRAYER TO THE MOST HOLY TRINITY Most Holy Trinity, one in essence and power, cause of all good things, how shall we repay Thee for all that Thou hast given to us sinners and unworthy ones before we ever came into the world; for all that Thou givest each of us every day, and for what Thou hast prepared for us all in the life to come! We ought therefore to thank Thee for such great benefits and goodness, not only in words but especially in deeds, by keeping and fulfilling Thy commandments; but we, carried away by our passions and evil habits, have plunged from our youth into countless sins and iniquities. Therefore we, impure and defiled, were not worthy even to appear before Thy thrice-holy face, nor even to utter Thy most holy name, hadst Thou not Thyself, for our encouragement, been pleased to reveal that, loving the pure and the righteous, Thou dost mercifully have compassion also on sinners who repent and dost receive them with compassion. O all-divine Trinity, look down from the height of Thy holy glory upon us, greatly sinful, and accept our good will in place of good deeds, and grant us the spirit of true repentance, that, hating every sin, we may live in purity and righteousness to the end of our days, doing Thy most holy will, and glorifying, with pure thoughts and good deeds, Thy most sweet and majestic Name. Amen.