Is it moral to ask the Almighty to release a person from prison? Will the Lord hear the prayer for the prisoner? Are they asking for the release of prisoners in any special way or not? These and many other questions inevitably arise for those whose relatives and friends are serving prison sentences.
There is nothing shameful or reprehensible in praying for the speedy release of a prisoner, regardless of what exactly that person has done. The Church in no way limits such prayers or distinguishes them from others.
Where are such prayers read?
A prayer for a prisoner, for his release or pardon, can be read both in church and at home. The church does not impose any restrictions on how one should turn to the saints and the Almighty for help.
However, it is better to pray for the liberation of a person in the temple. Turning to the Almighty and the saints requires pure thoughts, hope and sincerity. You should free your mind from all daytime worries and vain thoughts, and completely concentrate on prayer. It is very difficult. In church halls there is a special, as people say, “prayerful” atmosphere. The atmosphere of the temple encourages a person to turn to the Lord with all his soul, forgetting about worries and sorrows.
And, of course, while in church, you need to light a candle in front of the image and add the name of a person dear to your heart to the “for health” list.
How to pray to Jesus and the Virgin Mary?
Probably everyone knows the story that the Lord took a repentant criminal with him to heaven, forgiving him of his sins. Of course, no one living today has the right to say whether this actually happened or not. However, this story is very instructive. It tells that every person can be forgiven and accepted by God if there is sincere repentance, humility and deep faith.
A prayer addressed to the Lord for the release of a prisoner from prison may be as follows:
“Lord Jesus, our Savior, who comforts the sorrowful and gives food to the hungry and shelter to the needy! I pray to You with humility in my heart and without evil intent, for the slave (name of the prisoner). Have mercy, Lord! Send him consolation, ease his torment, endow his body with health! Forgive and have mercy, Lord, the slave (name of the prisoner)! Allow him to set foot in his native home, deliver him from his ordeals, Lord! Forgive him his sins, bring him to reason and cleanse the soul of the slave (name of the prisoner). Allow the time to pass not according to human rumor, but according to your will, Lord. Save, preserve and have mercy on the slave (name of the prisoner)! Amen"
Since ancient times, the prayer read for a prisoner, for liberation, for the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God has been considered very powerful. The original miraculous image is kept in the lands of Western Ukraine, in the Ternopil region, in the Pochaev Lavra. However, many Russian churches have a copy of this icon, in front of which you can pray.
Example text:
“Most Holy Virgin, Lady of Heaven! There is no person who would not resort to you, the Comforter, in grief and sorrow. There is no person whose need you, Most Holy Mother of God, would not care for. There is no one under heaven who would not find help and protection in your troubles. I pray to you, Lady of Heaven, for mercy to the slave (name of the prisoner). Provide for his needs, do not leave him without help. I pray you, Mother of God, intercede for him before the Lord, obtain forgiveness and great mercy. Help, Most Holy Theotokos, return the slave (name of the prisoner) to his native home from the government prison. Have mercy, O Most Holy Virgin, on him, a sinner, preserve and bless his soul! Amen"
Prayer for protection from prison of the Pochaev Mother of God
Tradition claims that this miraculous image was brought to the monastery of the city of Pochaev by a noblewoman, A. Goyskaya. She received it as a gift from the Patriarch of Constantinople. Then the heirs took the icon, and it remained with them for two decades. Then the image returned to the Pochaev monastery, where it remains to this day. The image is known in many European countries.
- The composition is somewhat unusual. Refers to the iconographic type “Tenderness”.
- The Mother of God holds Christ in her arms. Jesus rests his left hand on Mary's shoulder, and with his right hand he makes the sign of the cross over the believers.
- There are crowns on the heads of the Mother and the Baby.
- At the bottom of the composition is the footprint of the Virgin Mary. This is in memory of her miraculous appearance to the monks from the Pochaev Monastery.
They pray to the Mother of God for the release of prisoners. She is able to give comfort to everyone who has already despaired of receiving support. When a person is deprived of his natural right to freedom, everyone endures it in their own way. Many seek consolation from higher powers and emerge as transformed people.
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To You, O Mother of God, we, sinners, prayerfully flow to You, Your miracles in the Holy Lavra of Pochaev, revealed in remembrance and lamentation of our sins. We, Lady, we know, as it is not fitting for us sinners to ask anything, except for the righteous Judge of our iniquities to leave us. All that we have endured in life, sorrows, needs, and illnesses, like the fruits of our falls, have languished for us, and I allow this to God for our correction. Moreover, the Lord brought all this truth and judgment to His sinful servants, who in their sorrows came to Your intercession, the Most Pure One, and in the tenderness of their hearts they cry out to You: Our sins and iniquities, O Good One, do not remember, but more than Your all-honorable hand Having risen up, stand before Your Son and God, so that the evil we have done may be forgiven us, and for our many unfulfilled promises, He will not turn His face away from His servants, and He will not take His grace, which contributes to our salvation, from our souls. To her, Lady, be an intercessor for our salvation and, not disdaining our cowardice, look upon our groans, even in our troubles and sorrows we lift up before Your miraculous image. Enlighten our minds with tender thoughts, strengthen our faith, confirm our hope, grant us the sweetest gift of love to accept us. By these gifts, Most Pure One, and not by illnesses and sorrows, may our belly be elevated to salvation, but protect our souls from despondency and despair, deliver us who are weak from the troubles and needs that come upon us, and human slander and unbearable diseases. Grant peace and prosperity to the Christian life through Your intercession, Lady, establish the Orthodox faith in our country, throughout the world, do not betray the Apostolic and Catholic Church to disparagement, preserve the statutes of the saints forever, unshakable, save all who come to You from the perishing ditch. Also, bring the heresy of our deceived brethren or the saving faith of those who have been destroyed by sinful passions to true faith and repentance, so that together with us those who worship Your miraculous image will confess Your intercession. Vouchsafe us, O Most Pure Lady Theotokos, even in this belly the victory of truth by Your intercession to behold, vouchsafe us grace-filled joy before the end of our perception, just as the ancient inhabitants of ancient times were shown by Your appearance to the victors and enlighteners of the Hagarians, so that we all have a grateful heart, together with the angels, and prophets, and apostles, and with all the saints, glorifying Your mercy, let us give glory, honor and worship in the Trinity to the sung God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
How to pray to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker?
From time immemorial people have been drawn to this saint with all their sorrows, needs and troubles. People come to his image for healing from illnesses, getting rid of the evil eye, with requests for improved material and living conditions, and with many other problems. Of course, they also ask him to return people to their homes from prison.
A prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for the release of a prisoner could be like this:
“Nicholas the Wonderworker, Pleasant of God! Our protector and great helper! I pray for mercy and a miracle for the servant of God (name of the prisoner). Help, Nicholas the Wonderworker, free him from his damp prison, return the light to his father's house under the sun! I come to you with hope, without any evil intent, without any resentment in my heart. Amen"
Strict compliance with the rules
Now prayer from prison can only work if all other conditions are strictly observed. Of course, during the investigation and trial it is necessary to look for an alibi and lawyers. However, it will not be superfluous to pray so that they do not go to prison. Additionally, there are several signs that work very effectively:
- You cannot take things out of the house.
- Do not lend, do not give away bread from home.
- Try not to look in the mirror, at least for too long.
- Items received must be baptized before being brought into the house.
- Before the court decision at dawn, you need to drink 7 sips of spring water with a spoon of honey.
- You must fast until the evening.
- The performer of spells and conspiracies must be in the courtroom.
It is imperative to take into account that widowed spouses can only inflict a longer sentence and severe punishment by their actions; it is better to delegate this task to other relatives. Additionally, prayer in prison helps; the convicted person himself can take care of his fate by turning to higher powers. You can protect yourself with a shield by saying conspiracies in front of a candle alone: “ The Orthodox world has always been on trial. There were both princes and boyars in court. And I, the Servant of God, (my name) came here to sue. Unjustly spoken of, I hold the holy truth in my hand. What I tell fair judges, they will believe. My thoughts and deeds are right. No one will be able to put me in jail. Amen
" True, this method does not work with those guilty of serious crimes; his words are intended for the innocent.
How to pray to Matrona of Moscow and Anastasia the Pattern Maker?
Saint Anastasia patronizes people forced to serve prison sentences and those facing such a threat.
A prayer for a prisoner, for his release from captivity and return home, could be like this:
“Earthly sufferer, heavenly comforter, helper and intercessor to all prisoners, Most Holy Anastasia! I pray you, with humility and without malice in your heart, without grumbling and resentment, intercede for the slave (name of the prisoner) before the Lord! Beg him for great mercy, gain freedom and return the slave (name of the prisoner) to his father’s roof. Help him in hardships, give him warmth and food, do not allow his soul to become hardened, give him strong faith and hope, humility and patience. Amen"
Matrona of Moscow helps people in all their troubles. They also pray to her for the release of those languishing in prison. You can contact the saint like this:
“Matronushka-mother! How in heaven you know everything about human affairs, as if you walk on earth amidst sorrows! Help, mother, in this difficult hour, send your blessing to the slave (name of the prisoner), languishing in prison without the light of God, without food and water as needed. Pray, holy mother, to the Lord for mercy for him, ask for release. Enlighten the slave (name of the prisoner), protect him from sin, direct him to the righteous path. Amen"
To be released from prison
You can turn to the Heavenly Forces yourself, or you can also turn to the Heavenly Forces for your loved one. There is colossal power in the petitions of the prisoner’s relatives for his freedom.
- The request from the prisoner must be read to the Lord, the Mother of God and the guardian angel.
- Requests for speedy release are most often made in front of the Pochaev Icon.
- The prayer from prison to Anastasia the Pattern Maker is also considered strong.
It helps strengthen the morale of the prisoner and also gives hope for a speedy release. Even during her lifetime, this saint helped people in prison. She constantly brought them water and food. I tried to console them and encourage them.
This woman herself was a prisoner in her husband's house. He held her like a slave, tormented her, tortured her. Anastasia often turned to the Lord with prayers for deliverance from imprisonment, and they were heard.
Brothers and sisters in Christ. We run our own community on VKontakte https://vk.com/molitvuikonu called Prayers for Every Day, where we try to post Orthodox prayers and news. If you have your own VK page, subscribe to us.
Petition to Saint Anastasia for those imprisoned:
“O long-suffering and wise great martyr of Christ Anastasia! You stand with your soul in heaven at the Throne of the Lord, and on earth, by the grace given to you, you perform various healings: look mercifully at the people who are coming and praying before your relics, asking for your help: extend your holy prayers to the Lord for us, and ask us for forgiveness our sins, healing for the sick, quick help for the grieving and needy: pray to the Lord to give us all a Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, so that we may be worthy to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit with you forever and ever. Amen".
