Canon for the sick: full text in Russian and how to read it correctly

The history of the appearance of the Orthodox canon

The canon refers to a type of church hymnography. The first such hymns were composed in the 7th century by Orthodox monks who studied theology and had a poetic gift: Andrew of Crete, John of Damascus, Cosmas of Kayum.

The purpose of the chants is to glorify a Christian holiday or saint. The structure can have from 7 to 9 parts. A complete anthem consists of 9 songs. As a genre, the canon was formed from the merging of sermons in poetic form (kontakia) with ikos. Kontakion denotes the topic of prayer in a condensed form. Ikos reveals it in a more meaningful form.

In melodic and rhythmic structure, the prayer chant imitates the choir of angels in Heaven (as the early Christians imagined it). Canons are the highest musical form of worship created during the Byzantine period. They are based on biblical dogmas, presented in song form.

The genre of Orthodox hymnography is included in the rules of worship:

morning;
evening;
Sunday midnight;
funeral service;
funeral services;
Unction.

An important point was the participation of believers in the divine service, so choruses and troparia appeared in the hymns, which were/are sung along by everyone present at the service in the church.

Is it worth praying for another person?

When a person himself is sick, it is not as difficult for him to go through the test as to watch his loved one suffer. Sometimes, due to one’s own powerlessness, an oppressive feeling of despair appears, from which only a prayer for healing or another way of turning to God can get rid of it.

In the history of Christianity, miracles associated with unexpected healing constantly occur. Therefore, a believer can only pray for the sick person.

Before reading a canon or akathist, you should receive a blessing from the priest in the church and consult with him which prayer rule is best to apply here. The clergy also support a person who is forced to look at the suffering of his neighbor, so an appeal will not be superfluous.

While reading the canon for a sick person, a person turns to God, begging him for help. Therefore, all words should be spoken sincerely. Despite the fact that the Lord himself knows when and what is best to give to a person, prayer for healing still helps to quickly cope with the misfortune. Usually it is more needed by the Christian himself, since after uttering the words, faith is strengthened and the novice feels the presence of God in his life.

Full text in Russian

Katavasia means the final irmos, performed in the center of the temple by church choirs.

“Irmos: The sea, cut crosswise by a rod, in ancient times Israel passed through a desert land and clearly laid paths in it. Therefore we sing praises to our wonderful God, for He is glorified.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

On the day of sorrow that has come upon us, we fall to You, Christ the Savior, and ask for Your mercy. Ease the illness of Your servant, say to us, as to the centurion: “Go, behold, your servant is well!”

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

With prayers and supplications we cry out to You with groaning: “Son of God, have mercy on us!” With a word, raise up from the bed the one lying on it, just as you raised up the paralytic, saying: “Take up your bed, your sins are forgiven you!”

Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We bow to the image of Your face, O Christ, with faith we kiss it, and we ask for health to the sick, imitating the bleeding one, who touched the hem of Your vestments and received healing from an illness.

And now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Most Pure Lady Theotokos, well-known Helper, do not despise us who fall before You, pray as good as Your Son and our Lord to give health to the sick, so that he may glorify You with us.

Katavasia: Save from grief, from illness, from serious illness, Your (name of the rivers) sick servant, Merciful. How earnestly we resort to you, to the Gracious Savior and Master of all, the Lord Jesus (bow).

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 3

Irmos: He brought everything from non-existence, created by the Word and completed by the Spirit! Almighty Master, strengthen me in Your love.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Prostrated to the ground by serious illnesses, he cries out to You, Christ, with us; Grant him physical health, as Hezekiah prayed to You with tears.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Look, O Lord, on our humility, and do not remember our iniquities, but for the sake of the faith of the sick one, as with a word to a leper, heal his illness, so that Your name, Christ God, may be glorified.

Glory: Do not allow the Church that You sanctified, Christ, in which we pray to You, to be reproached, but raise up invisibly the one lying in sickness on his bed, so that the unbelievers do not say: “Where is their God?”

And now: To Your most pure image, Mother of God, stretching out our hands, we cry: “Hear the prayer of Your servants and save the one lying in illness, so that, having risen from illness, he will pay You the vows that his lips uttered in sorrow.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Sedalen, voice 8

Lying on the bed of sin and wounded by passions, just as You raised up Peter’s mother-in-law and saved the paralytic on the bed of the sick, so now visit me in illness, O Merciful One, who bore the ailments of our family. We know You, the One, as the long-suffering and merciful, merciful physician of souls and bodies, Christ our God, sending illnesses and healing them again, giving forgiveness to those who repent of sins, the One merciful and merciful.

Glory: I, a sinner, cry, lying on my bed: grant me forgiveness, O Christ God, and raise me up from this illness, and grant me freedom from the sins that I committed in my youth through the prayers of the Mother of God.

And now: Have mercy and save me, raise me from the bed of illness, for my strength within me has been exhausted and I am completely overcome with despair. Most Pure Mother of God, heal the seriously ill, for You are the helper of Christians.

Song 4

Irmos: You showed strong love for us, Father, for you gave your only begotten Son to death for us. Therefore, we gratefully cry out to You: “Glory to Your power, Lord!”

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Already in despair in a serious illness and approaching death, return to life, Christ, and grant consolation to those who cry, so that we all glorify Your holy miracles.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Before You, Creator, we repent of our sins, for You do not want the sinner to die. Revive and grant health to the sick, so that he may arise and serve You, confessing Your goodness with us.

Glory: The tears of Manasseh, the repentance of the Ninevites, and the confession of David[59], You quickly saved them; and now accept our prayers, give health to the sick person for whom we pray to You.

And now: Give us Your mercy, Most Pure One, who always trust in You, ask for health for the sick, Your healing hands, Mother of God, stretching out with the Forerunner to the Lord God.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 5

Irmos: On earth You, invisible, appeared and voluntarily communicated with mortals, incomprehensible; therefore, striving for You from dawn, we sing of You, O Lover of Mankind.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Thou didst revive the daughter of Jairus, who had already died, as God, and now, O Christ God, raise the sick from the gates of death, for Thou art the way and life for all.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Savior, who revived the widow’s son and changed her tears to joy! Save Your servant who is perishing from illness, so that our sorrow and torment may be transformed into joy.

Glory: He healed Peter’s mother-in-law’s fiery illness with His touch[60]! And now raise up Your sick servant, so that he, too, may arise, as she did, serve You.

And now: Sorrowful, humble, sinners, who do not have boldness before You, we cry, Most Pure Mother of God: implore Your Son, Christ, to give bodily health to the sick.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 6

Irmos: The deepest abyss of sins has enveloped me, and my spirit is exhausted; but You, Master, stretching out Your strong hand, like Peter, Save me.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Having an abyss of compassion and mercy, O Christ God, hear the prayers of Your servants! For You, through the prayer of Peter, raised up Tabitha, and now You have raised him up in sickness, having heard the Church praying to You.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Physician of our souls and bodies, O Christ, who bore the ailments of the whole world, and resurrected Eutychus through the hands of Paul, You healed the now sick man with the prayers of the holy apostles.

Glory: Turn, O Christ, into joy the mourning of a sorrowing person, so that he, having received Your mercy, may enter Your house with votive gifts, glorifying You, the One God in the Trinity.

And now: Come, O friends, let us worship and pray for the sick Mother of God. For She has the power to heal the sick, together with those without money, anointing them with invisibly spiritual oil.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Glory to this day.

Kontakion, tone 3

O Lord, my soul, severely weakened from all kinds of sins and from undue deeds, raise up my soul through Your divine care, just as You once raised up the paralytic, so that I, saved, cry out to You: “Glory, O Merciful Christ, to Your power!”

Ikos: Holding the world in your folded hands, Jesus, Lord, like the beginningless Father, and together with the Holy Spirit ruling over all, You appeared in the flesh, healing ailments; and drove away passions; He gave the blind to see the light, and raised up the paralytic with a divine word, suddenly commanding him to walk and lift the bed that carried him onto his shoulders. Therefore, we all sing with him and cry out: “Glory to Thy might, O Merciful Christ!”

Song 7

Irmos: Before the golden image, the Persian idol, the three youths did not bow, and sang in the middle of the oven: “God of the fathers, blessed are You!”

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Oh, Most Holy Cross of Christ, sacred Tree of Life! Thanks to You, death perished and the dead were resurrected. And now heal and revive the sick one, just like the dead maiden under Queen Helena.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Job’s long and severe illness, when he prayed on the puss and in the worms, You healed with one word, Lord. And now in church we pray to You for the sick: as a good one, heal him invisibly through the prayers of Your saints.

Glory: We all know that we have to die, for God pleases You so; but for a short time, O Merciful One, we ask for health to the sick: guide him from death to life, grant consolation to the grieving!

And now: Assist and help our orphanhood, Mother of God, for You know the time and hour when to pray to Your Son and our Lord to give the sick person health and forgiveness of all sins.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 8

Irmos: For serving the Living God, the youths in Babylon endured threats, did not listen to the musical instruments, but, standing in the middle of the flames, sang a song appropriate to God, exclaiming: “Bless the Lord, all the creatures of the Lord!”

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Show mercy to Your servant in illness, Master, and heal him quickly, O merciful Christ God, and do not yet hand him over to the condemnation of death, so that repentance will reward You. For You Yourself said: “I do not want the death of a sinner.”

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Merciful Lord, may Your glorious miracles now reach us too: drive away demons, destroy ailments, heal wounds, heal illnesses, and deliver us from witchcraft and sorcery and every ulcer!

Glory: Having forbidden the sea winds, O Christ, and changed the fear of the disciples into joy, and now forbid the serious illnesses that depress Thy servant, so that we may all rejoice, praising You forever.

And now: Deliver us, Mother of God, from the sorrows that surround us, from various ailments, poison and sorcery, and demonic dreams, and from the slander of evil people, and from death, we pray to You.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 9

Irmos: On Mount Sinai, Moses saw in a thorn bush, You, the fire of the Divinity, conceived in the womb without being scorched; Daniel saw You as an uncut mountain, a rod that grew, as Isaiah cried, from the root of David.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Source of life, giver of mercy, Christ, do not turn Your face away from us. Ease the illness of one exhausted by illness, and raise him up, like Abgar, through the ministry of Thaddeus, so that he may always glorify You with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Chorus: Gracious Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You. (Bow)

Believing the word of the Gospel, we seek what You promised, O Christ: for You said: “Ask and it will be given to you.” That’s why we stand now, praying to You: raise him healthy from his bed who has been overcome by a serious illness, so that he may magnify You with us.

Glory: Tormented by illness, internal wounds invisible, with us to You, Christ, he cries out: not for us, Lord, not for our sake - for we are all filled with sins - but through the prayers of Your Mother and Forerunner, grant healing to the sick, so that we all magnify You .

And now: Most Pure Mother of God! With all the saints we call on You: with the Angels and Archangels, with the prophets and patriarchs, with the Apostles, with the saints and righteous, pray to Christ our God for the granting of health to the sick, so that we all magnify You.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Prayer

Mighty God, who by His mercy arranges everything for the salvation of the human race, visit Your servant (name), calling on the name of Thy Christ, forgive him his sins and heal him from every illness of body and soul. And remove all sinful temptations, and every attack and all the machinations of the enemy from Your servant, and raise him from the bed of illness, and give him to Your Holy Church with a healthy soul and body, and glorifying the name of Your Christ with all people through good deeds. We send glory to You with Your Only Begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen".

Song 1

Irmos: To whom the sea was divided by the rod of old, Israel walked as through the desert, as the Cross made the image of the path, for this reason let us sing in praise to our wonderful God, as it passed hanging.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

On the day of sorrow that has come upon us, to You, Christ the Savior, falling, we ask Your mercy, ease the illness of Thy (her) father, the Izorians, like us and the centurion: go, behold, the youth is healthy yours.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Prayers and supplications, with sighs we cry to You, Son of God, have mercy on us, raise us from our lying bed, as if we were weakened by the word: take up your bed, the verb, your sins are forgiven.

Glory: Whoever worships the likeness of Christ (bow), we kiss him in faith, and we ask for good health to those who are sick, imitating the bleeding one, even if I touch Ti’s robe, and the healing of the illness is received.

And now: Most Pure Lady Theotokos, well-known Helper, do not despise us who fall to You, pray for the Good, Your Son and our God, grant health to the sick one, and glorify You with us No.

Catavasia: Save from sorrow, from illness, from serious illness, His (name of the rivers) ailing slave ( the rivers ) of the Merciful, as we diligently resort to You, to the Merciful Deliverer and the Lord of all, God to the Lord Jesus (bow ) .

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Prayer

Mighty God, build all things by mercy, for the salvation of the human race, visit His ra(bu)ba (this) (name of the rivers), calling the name of Thy Christ, heal him from all What ailment, carnal and spiritual, and let go of sin, and sinful temptations, and every adversity, and every hostile invasion, create far from Thy servant, and raise him up from the bed of sin, and arrange him in Thy holiness Church, healthy in soul and body, and with good deeds we glorify the name of Thy Christ with all people, for we ascribe glory to Thee, with the beginningless Son and with the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen (bow to the earth noah).

Song 9

Irmos: On Mount Sinasteya I saw You in the bush, Moses did not burn, the fire of the Divine was conceived in the womb; Daniel saw Thee, an uncut mountain; the vegetative rod, Isaiah cried, from the root of David.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Source of life, giver of mercy, Christ, do not turn your face away from us, ease the pain of those who are troubled by illness, and raise up Abgar as Thaddeus, so that He may ever glorify You, with the Father and the Holy One. by the Spirit.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Believing the voice of the Gospel, we seek Your promise Christ, ask for the word, and it will be given to you; Therefore, now we pray to Thee: rise from your health bed, overcome by a fierce illness, so that You may be magnified together with us.

Glory: Tormented by illness, inside with invisible wounds, Christ, we cry with us; Not for our sake, Lord, not for our sake, for we are all full of sins, but with Your Mother’s and Forefather’s prayers grant healing to the sick, so that we may magnify You all.

And now: Most Pure Mother of God, with all the saints we call upon Thee, with the angels and archangels, with the prophets and patriarchs, with the apostles and saints, with the saints and righteous, pray to Christ our God and I wish you good health, may we all magnify You.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 7

Irmos: The youths did not worship the golden image, the Persian veneration, but three sang in the middle of the cave: Fathers, God, blessed are you.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

To the Cross: O most holy Cross of Christ, honorable living tree, by you you destroyed death, and raised the dead, and now heal and revive the sick one, like the dead maiden under Helen.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Jobl’s long and fierce illness was caused by pus and worms; he who prayed with a word you healed, O Lord; Now in church we pray to Thee for those who are sick: for Thou art Good, heal invisibly through the prayers of Thy saints.

Glory: All the world, as we are about to die, O You God, so I will; but for a short time, Mercy, we ask for health to those who are sick, change from death to life, give the mourners comfort.

And now: Help and help our orphanhood, Mother of God, for You weigh the time and hour when to beg Your Son and our God to give the sick person health and forgiveness from all sins.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 5

Irmos: The Invisible Ones appeared on earth, and the Incomprehensible Ones lived with the earthly will; and to You in the morning, we sing praises to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

I am already dead, the daughter of Jair, for God has given you life; and now, O Christ God, lift up the sick from the gates of death, for You are the way and life for all.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

The Savior revived the widow’s son, and turned his tears into joy; save the smoldering ago of ra(bu)ba si from illness, and our sorrow and illness will turn into joy.

Glory: I healed the fiery illness of Petrova’s mother-in-law with Your touch; Now rise up the sick ra(bu)ba Ti, so that having risen, like she, she will serve Ti.

And now: In sorrow, in humility, in sinners who have no boldness, to You, Most Pure Mother of God, we cry: beg Your Son Christ to grant him health in his body.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 4

Irmos: Lay firm love for us, O Lord, for Thy only begotten Son, for Thou hast sent us away to death, and we cry out to Thee, praising: Glory to Thy power.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Already in despair with a severe illness, and approaching death, return, Christ, to life and give joy to those who cry, and let us all glorify Your holy miracles.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

To You, Creator, we repent of our sins, for we sinners do not want death; revive, heal the sick one, and rise up and serve You, confessing Your goodness with us.

Glory: Tears of Manasseh, repentance of the Ninevites, acceptance of David’s confession, you soon saved; and accept our prayers now, grant health to the sick person, for the same we pray to You.

And now: Give us Your mercy, Lady, always trusting in You, seek health for the sick person, Thy healing hand with the Mother of God, stretching out to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).

Song 8

Irmos: To serve the Living God, in Babylon the youth endured neglect of the Musikian organs, and standing in the midst of the flames, sang a divine song, saying: bless all the works of the Lord God ode.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Show mercy, Vladyka, to the illness of Thy ra(bu)ba, and heal him soon, O merciful Christ God, and do not yet suffer death, so that You may reward repentance; You yourself said: I don’t want death, sinners.

Chorus: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants praying to You (bow).

Lord, Merciful, Your glorious miracles will reach us today; destroy demons, destroy ailments, heal wounds, heal diseases, perform works of magic, and get rid of all kinds of diseases.

Glory: He who forbade Christ with the sea wind, and turned the disciple’s fear into joy; Forbid even now the serious illness that toils Your ra(bu)ba, so that we may all rejoice, praising You forever.

And now: Deliver the Mother of God from the sorrows that have befallen us, troubles and sorrows, and all various ailments, poison and sorcery, and demonic dreams, and from the lesson of evil people, and vain deaths, we pray.

Lord, have mercy (three times, with bows).