An Orthodox person always and everywhere tries to act under God's intercession. That is why in Christian circles it is customary to ask for the blessing of confessors for all serious matters. There is also a tradition of praying to certain saints on different occasions in life.
Thus, it is generally accepted to pray to St. Nicholas for those traveling, and the prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the road is included in most prayer books.
Let's find out more about the life of this amazing saint of God!
The meaning of special prayers before the road
In the Orthodox tradition, there are special prayers for various areas of our lives and “special occasions.” This is due to the desire to “purely” (“especially”) turn to the Lord, the Mother of God, and the saints, asking for help in a specific situation. Thus, in the modern world, prayers for drivers have appeared. For example, a prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker on the road. There's nothing wrong with that. But prayer should not be considered some kind of talisman for a good road. Reading these texts does not guarantee that nothing bad will happen along the way. Orthodox prayer is a way of spiritual communication between a Christian and God.
Icons of the Savior, Mother of God and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the car interior
“The Lord accepts all human petitions, no matter how small and insignificant they may be, if the human heart rejoices and trembles, standing before the Face of the Lord. Everything small is perfected in this coming. Everything imperfect becomes great. Do not be embarrassed by the magnitude or insignificance of your requests, but seek, first of all, not what you want to ask, but Him whom you want to ask. The only requests that are unworthy are those who love the Lord less than the thing or deed for which they ask. If you love the Lord most of all, then blessed is every request you have, both great and small, and every request you have will be fulfilled, and the one that is not fulfilled will bring greater good than the one that is fulfilled” (Archbishop John Shakhovsky, 1902-1989 ).
Therefore, the driver’s prayer before the road in a car, addressed to the Lord, His Mother, or a saint (for example, Nicholas the Wonderworker) does not guarantee a trip without trouble. But we must not forget that God will arrange everything for Christians in the best possible way.
“Believe God, trust His always good will for us, accept everything in life, joy, joylessness, prosperity, and evil, as the mercy and truth of the ways of the Lord, and fear nothing in life, only sin” (Archimandrite John Krestyankin , 1910-2006).
What icons are significant for travelers these days?
The Mother of God Hodegetria is the one who shows the way or “guide”. The icon depicts the Mother of God with a baby, in whose hands is a scroll, and whose gaze is directed upward in anticipation of a blessing. In Russia there are many different variations called Hodegetria: Blachernae Icon, Hodegetria of Voronin, Tikhvin Icon, Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Any of these icons is a frequent companion of the traveler. The Mother of God shows the right path and helps to avoid danger.
On sea and foreign trips, believers take an icon with the image of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called . Everyone who goes to sea on a ship turns to him with prayer. Whether it’s fishing, vacation or a business trip, the icon of St. Andrew the Apostle is always in demand. For the reason that it was Apostle Andrew who told Jesus where to get fish and bread in order to feed 5 thousand people, travelers take his icon with them on campaigns and ask that they have enough strength to overcome all obstacles and always have enough food for everyone.
If there was competition among the saints now, perhaps St. Nicholas the Wonderworker would eclipse everyone with his popularity. He is known throughout the planet as a saint who helped not only sea travelers, but the slandered, the sick, the expelled, the impoverished, and all people in times of need. But during his lifetime, the Bishop of Myra began to show miracles of salvation precisely during the sea voyage. Repeatedly he calmed sea storms, saved sailors and answered people's prayers asking him to help a drowning man. That is why he is also considered the patron saint of travelers and sailors.
The saint responds to the sincere requests of any person. Therefore, on the road it is good to have an icon with his face with you. You can buy an icon of St. Nicholas the Pleasant for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones. She will become an excellent guide in those moments when you need to avoid danger.
In almost every car there are three icons depicting Christ, the Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker . Before starting the journey, believers read a prayer in front of the images with sincere faith that the patrons will provide assistance and protect them from misfortunes and road accidents. You can take the same icons with you on the plane.
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles is better known in the West. While living in the Nivelles Monastery, she organized everything so that travelers came to the open gates of the holy monastery, everyone was allowed to stay and get enough food. Gertrude helps the traveler find accommodation for the night and provides patronage for a good journey.
Sometimes it is worth remembering that icons for travelers exist not only for requests for protection from difficult situations. After all, travel is often joyful and without any difficulties. Upon returning from a long journey, thank your patron with joy for the happy moments during your journey!
An excellent option for traveling would be icons made using wood carving - they are durable, high quality, and reliable. They do not fade, do not tear, do not wrinkle. Special workshops produce such icons in a variety of sizes, including compact pocket versions.
Source of the article: https://earth-chronicles.ru/news/2018-01-31-112374
Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker on the road
In the Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (3rd-4th century) is considered one of the especially revered saints. His numerous assistance to believers in various everyday situations earned him the glory of the Great Wonderworker.
“He not only cared about the spiritual; he cared for every human need, the most humble human needs. He knew how to rejoice with those who rejoice, he knew how to cry with those who weep, he knew how to console and support those who needed comfort and support. And this is why the people, the Mirlikian flock loved him so much, and why the entire Christian people honors him so much: there is nothing too insignificant that he would not pay attention to with his creative love. There is nothing on earth that would seem unworthy of his prayers and unworthy of his works: illness, and poverty, and deprivation, and disgrace, and fear, and sin, and joy, and hope, and love - everything found a living response in his deep heart. human heart" (Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, 1914-2003).
So it is quite natural for car drivers to want to turn to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker before the road. After all, the driver is responsible for the lives of other people he is driving. Therefore, Christians in their prayers ask for protection not only from danger on the road. They pray to the saint so that through inattention and negligence they do not become the cause of the death of other people.
Also important is the prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the road from passengers traveling by car. According to the established Russian tradition, people turn to Saint Nicholas before setting off on a journey.
Turning to the Lord before leaving home
I deny you, Satan, your pride and service to you, and I unite with you, Christ, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This prayer for the journey is read to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker . It is better if there is complete silence in the room so that you can fully concentrate on the text. After finishing the prayer, kneel down and cross yourself three times.
Miracles according to prayers to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
In 2010, Olga's family traveled by car around Italy. Hotels for overnight stays were pre-booked. As they approached the city of Verona at night, they lost their way. Having prayed to St. Nicholas the Pleasant, we drove straight at random and stopped in front of some hotel. Olga's husband knew only French. He went to find out how to get to his hotel. Although there was no hope that he would be understood and that he would understand another language. “By chance” the hotel receptionist knew French and explained how to get there.
In the summer of 2013, Elena’s family from Moscow went on vacation to the sea by car. Before the road, they prayed to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and took the icon with them. Elena's husband was driving. 100 kilometers from the capital, two cars collided in front of them. As the man later said, he had a feeling of time slowing down. Due to this, he was able to dodge colliding cars at speed.
On the night of August 9, 2015, Tatyana, a resident of Barnaul (Altai Territory), was returning home by bus. Before the road, as usual, she prayed to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The bus in which Tatyana was traveling was delayed on the way for half an hour. That night there was a serious accident on the highway with casualties. If the bus had followed the schedule, it would have ended up in the very center of the accident.
The prayer for travelers must be said correctly and from the heart
Most believers remember that it is important to properly prepare for reading a prayer. Initially, it is recommended to have a clean body (swim, put on clean clothes), and you can also wash the floors in the house (if the person is not on the road). Purity must also be in thoughts - foul language, envy or blasphemy are not allowed. Only goodness, bright thoughts and desires should remain in the soul. Then you need to retire, close your eyes and imagine that you are standing before God. As soon as your thoughts calm down and all your worries subside, you need to begin prayer, slowly pronouncing each word. At the same time, it is necessary to make the sign of the cross.
In addition, it is recommended to light a lamp if there is permission from the priest. Relatives and friends are allowed to ask for the protection of a traveler. The main thing is to sincerely believe in the power of the saints. If it was not possible to learn the text by heart, then it is allowed to address the patrons in your own words.
Driver's prayer to the Lord
God, the All-Good and All-Merciful, protecting everyone with His mercy and love for mankind, I humbly pray to Thee, through the intercession of the Mother of God and all the saints, save me, a sinner, and the people entrusted to me from sudden death and all misfortunes, and help me to deliver unharmed to each according to his needs. Dear God! Deliver me from the evil spirit of recklessness, the evil spirit of drunkenness, which causes misfortune and sudden death without repentance. Grant me, Lord, with a clear conscience to live to a ripe old age without the burden of people killed and maimed due to my negligence, and may Your Holy Name be glorified, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Short message
These words are also intended for St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The prayer is quite short and concise. This will allow you to remember it faster and pronounce it at every opportunity.
“Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (Nicholas in our case), as I diligently resort to you, your quick helper and prayer book for my soul.”
In addition to prayers on the road, the driver should take with him the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This will protect you from troubles, failures and accidents.
Prayer to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
Oh, great intercessor, to the bishop of God, the Most Blessed Nicholas, who shone with sunflower miracles, appearing as a quick hearer to those who call upon you, who always precede them and save them, and deliver them, and take them away from all sorts of troubles, from these God-given miracles and gifts of grace! Hear me, unworthy, calling you with faith and bringing you prayer songs; I offer you an intercessor to plead with Christ.
Oh, renowned for miracles, saint of heights! as if you have the boldness, soon stand before the Lady, and reverently stretch out your hands in prayer to Him for me, a sinner, and grant me the bounty of goodness from Him, and accept me into your intercession, and deliver me from all troubles and evils, from the invasion of enemies visible and invisible freeing, and destroying all those slander and malice, and reflecting those who fight me throughout my life; for my sins, ask for forgiveness, and present me saved to Christ and be worthy to receive the Kingdom of Heaven for the abundance of that love for mankind, to which belongs all glory, honor and worship, with his beginningless Father, and with the Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages centuries. Amen.
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Who can you pray to for a safe journey?
Irrational fear of a long journey is common to many. There is no need to be shy or ashamed of it: our brain is designed in such a way that everything new is perceived with caution, and this is one of the foundations of the instinct of self-preservation. Another question is, if anxiety interferes with your life, personal and professional, then it’s time to take action.
If the situation is advanced, it is necessary to consult a psychologist and take special medications (sedatives, drugs for motion sickness and nausea, etc.). But often a simple prayer is enough to calm the panic and get into a positive mood before getting ready to go. A prayer for travelers can be read to many saints, but usually requests are made to:
- God;
- Saint Nicholas;
- St. Cyril and Mary;
- 40 Martyrs of Sebaste.
By reciting religious and mystical texts, you will find balance in your soul and have more faith that the trip will go well.
Nicholas the Wonderworker
Saint Nicholas is one of the first people to whom prayer should be offered for a safe trip. His mission as the protector of all travelers has long been famous in the Orthodox world. Nicholas patronizes, first of all, sailors . There is a known case of Nicholas’s miraculous rescue of a young sailor who was killed when he fell from the mast of the ship on which the saint was sailing. The Wonderworker's fervent prayer addressed to the Lord was heard: the sailor was resurrected. This does not mean at all that only sailors can contact Nikolai. Land travelers also often ask him for help with the following prayer:
“Oh, all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper! Help me, a sinner and sad person in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, in all my life, in deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me the accursed, beg the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from airy ordeals and eternal torment: may I always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"
If you are expecting a long and difficult journey by car, ask the saint for assistance with consoling prayers. You can pronounce it in case of severe fear, as well as in the presence of kinetosis (a condition in which motion sickness occurs). The following is a prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the road by car:
“Oh Saint Nicholas of Christ! Hear us, sinful servants of God (names), praying to you, and pray for us, unworthy, our Creator and Master, make our God merciful to us in this life and in the future, May he not reward us according to our deeds, but according to his own He will reward us with goodness. Deliver us, saints of Christ, from the evils that come upon us, and tame the waves, passions and troubles that rise against us, so that for the sake of your holy prayers the attack will not overwhelm us and we will not wallow in the abyss of sin and in the mud of our passions. Pray to Saint Nicholas, Christ our God, that he may grant us a peaceful life and remission of sins, and salvation and great mercy for our souls, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen!"
Lord
We are all living people with our own fears and prejudices. Therefore, it is quite natural to worry before setting off on a long journey. It is impossible to predict what obstacles you will encounter on the road: flight delays, problems at the border, harsh customs control, bad weather... The list of potential troubles could go on for a long time, but getting rid of the anxiety associated with them is enough by turning to the One Creator for consolation and protection. A prayer to the Lord for travelers can be read for any occasion; it is universal and has no conventions:
“Lord Jesus Christ our God, the true and living way, you willed to travel with your imaginary father Joseph and the Most Pure Virgin Mother to Egypt, and Luca and Cleopas to Emmaus! And now we humbly pray to Thee, Most Holy Master, and travel with Thy servant by Thy grace. And like Thy servant Tobiah, send a guardian angel and mentor, preserving and delivering them from every evil situation of visible and invisible enemies, and instructing them in the fulfillment of Thy commandments, peacefully and safely and healthily, and returning them safely and serenely; and grant them all their good intentions to please You safely and fulfill them for Your glory. It is Yours to have mercy and save us, and we send up glory to You with Your Beginning Father and with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"
Turning to the Lord, ask for help for yourself and your loved ones. You can pray for a steady hand for the pilot or bus driver if you are traveling by road. God will hear and give you what you want if your thoughts are pure.
Venerable Cyril and Mary
The holy parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh were known as a pious, God-fearing couple, whose whole life was devoted to raising the great ascetic of Rus'. They strictly observed church canons and statutes, especially honoring the commandment of the Apostle Paul, which speaks of Hospitality. This meant a gracious welcome for any wanderer who knocked on the door of the house and asked for help . Not to refuse a wanderer and to help him in any need on his way - the Monks Cyril and Maria lived with this covenant, so travelers pray to them directly. You can ask the saints for help by saying the following:
“Oh servants of God, Schema-monk Kirill and Schema-nun Mary! Hear our humble prayer. Even though your temporary life has naturally ended, you do not depart from us in spirit, always following the commandments of the Lord, teaching us and patiently bearing your cross, helping us. Therefore, together with our reverend and God-bearing father Sergius, your beloved son, we naturally acquired boldness towards Christ God and His Most Pure Mother. Even now, be prayer books and intercessors for us, unworthy servants of God (names). Be our intercessors of strength, so that by living faith, by your intercession, we may remain unharmed from demons and evil men, glorifying the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"
Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
The suffering of the Sebaste martyrs is revered throughout the Christian world. The Roman warriors who met a terrible death in the icy lake of the city of Sebastia, refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods, are perceived as an example of the highest masculinity, allowing them to endure a severe test. A journey, if it is expected to be difficult, is also a kind of test , so the prayer to the forty martyrs is completely justified and logical. In Church Slavonic it sounds like this:
“O passion-bearers of Christ, who courageously suffered in the city of Sevastia, we earnestly resort to you, as our prayer books, and ask: ask the All-Bountiful God for forgiveness of our sins and correction of our lives, so that in repentance and unfeigned love for each other, having lived longer, we will boldly face the terrible the judgment seat of Christ and through your intercession we will stand at the right hand of the Righteous Judge. To her, pleasers of God, awaken us, the servants of God (names), protectors from all enemies, visible and invisible, so that under the shelter of your holy prayers we will get rid of all troubles, evils and misfortunes until the last day of our life, and thus glorify the Great and Worshipful Name of the Almighty Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"
Image of Saint Christopher
An ancient legend tells that Saint Christopher, not knowing who the Infant Christ really was, carried Him across the river. Therefore, he is considered the patron saint of travelers. A distinctive feature of the Orthodox icons dedicated to him is that they depict the saint with the head of a dog.
Text of the prayer:
Saint Christopher, patron saint of drivers, envelop me in your tutelage when I get behind the wheel. Ask the Good God to protect drivers from bravura and accidents, so that they are responsible, sober, restrained and friendly on the road. Amen.
Conspiracy for a successful journey
The following plot for the road is very easy to remember:
“The burden is heavy, but the path is easy. Amen"
This option is suitable if you are carrying heavy bags.
When your luggage is small, these words will do:
“As my burden is light, so is my path. Amen"
After you say the spell, don’t turn around. Follow exactly the intended path. Do not pay attention to extraneous sounds or shouts of passers-by. If you do not fulfill this condition, you will not receive magical support, and luck will leave you.
Prayer for traveling by road
Prayer for those traveling by car is now more widespread, because... traveling lovers often choose this type of travel. It is necessary to take into account the fact that traveling by car is the most dangerous. Even if you drive carefully and at low speed, you can still get hurt by other reckless racers who abuse the rules of the road. And even no traffic regulations can insure you against accidents. For this reason, the most significant prayer is for those traveling by car. Nowadays, the purchase of a car is often accompanied by a church lighting ceremony; this tradition has completely become common practice among most families. In many cars you can see a small icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. With such an arsenal, you can safely organize a trip over long distances without worrying about troubles.
Prayer before the icon of the “Smolensk Hodegetria” or “Guide” is also encouraged before getting ready for a trip. After all, being on a foreign land, everyone wants to feel confident. In such cases, this prayer will add peace of mind and relieve all sorts of worries.
Prayer of the “Smolensk Hodegetria”
O Most Wonderful and Above All Creatures Queen Theotokos, Mother of the Heavenly King Christ our God, Most Pure Hodegetria Mary! Hear us sinners and unworthy at this hour, praying and falling before Your Most Pure Image with tears and tenderly saying: lead us out of the pit of passions, Most Blessed Lady, deliver us from all sorrow and sorrow, protect us from all misfortune and evil slander, and from the unrighteous and fierce slander of the enemy. You may, O Our Blessed Mother, save Your people from all evil and provide and save You with every good deed; Do You need other Representatives in troubles and circumstances, and warm Intercessors for us sinners, not imams? Pray, O Most Holy Lady, Thy Son Christ our God, that He will make us worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven; For this reason, we always glorify Thee, as the Author of our salvation, and extol the holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified and worshiped God in the Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.
Petition to Jesus Christ before traveling
These words are read thoughtfully and clearly. Simply “drumming” a memorized text will not bring the desired result. It would be useful if prayers for the journey were copied manually by a close and beloved person (daughter, wife, son, mother). If it is quite difficult to memorize the text, then purchase a prayer book from the church. If you don’t have one at hand, don’t worry, just turn to God in your own words. The main thing is that it is sincere.
The words of the proposed prayer help those traveling by train, plane, car, etc.
How to charge
When the amulet is ready, you need to activate it. There are two main ways to charge, depending on the type of talisman.
By prayer
A universal way to charge a protector for a car, but remember that it is not advisable to use this option for Slavic signs.
You need to start the ritual before you start making it. It is necessary to light a church candle and place it in front of you so that it does not interfere with your work. Before the ceremony, it is advisable to visit the church, pray there and ask for protection from God and the Saints. If you are an atheist, then simply wish happiness to all living beings.
When you're done, visit the church again, or wish everyone happiness. Be sure to thank the Universe and higher powers for protection and help, thank your amulet. Now you can hide it in a secluded place in the car.
If a dangerous situation arises on the road and is resolved successfully, be sure to thank your defender for this.
With the help of the elements
This method is ideal for Slavic runes, for the activation of which, as already mentioned, it is better not to use Christian prayers.
First, find yourself a quiet, peaceful place in nature, preferably near a pond. No one should distract you from the action, so take care of this in advance.
Place the product in front of you and try to find inner peace. When your mind is as relaxed as possible, ask the forces of nature for help:
- When calling on the element of water to help, dip the talisman in water or simply sprinkle it on it.
- Now light a candle and carefully pass the product over it several times, asking for help from the element of Fire.
- Light an incense stick or aromatic herb and fumigate the talisman, asking for energy from the Wind.
- Finally, sprinkle salt or sand on the magical object, invoking the element of Earth.
Don't forget to thank the forces of nature for the help and support provided.
Image of St. Arseny Konevsky
Believers consider this icon a powerful amulet for all travelers. The life of the saint tells us that he himself repeatedly visited Mount Athos and the islands of Lake Ladoga and became famous for his righteousness and hermitage. Patronizes everyone who is on the road; it protects especially powerfully while swimming.
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A simple spell for the road
If you are going to leave the house, take your time. Perform a small ritual that will attract good luck to you. Take a little consecrated water into a glass and say the Lord’s Prayer right over it, and then a spell for the road:
“Let this water flow, let it run like a clean stream, while I, the servant of God (name), am on my way, you, water, turn away all troubles and misfortunes from me, protect me from loss and grief. I close my words with a golden key and throw it into a fast stream. The water will carry the key into the deep sea, where no one can find it, my words cannot dissuade it. Word. Key. Lock. Language. Amen"
After the ritual, slowly drink all the water - and go about your business without any fear.
