Modern medicine today uses high-tech equipment and innovative technologies to perform operations. This significantly speeds up the recovery process and makes operations so easy that a person is able to get back on his feet within a few hours after surgery.
But despite this, any operation is a very exciting event, therefore, in order to calm down and get into the right mood, believers always read special prayers before any, even the simplest from a medical point of view, surgical intervention.
Why is prayer necessary before surgery?
A prayer before surgery addressed to God fills the soul with peace and hope and works miracles.
Prayer for the sick
“We are not omnipotent, pray,” say the doctors. This is correct: the human body is so complex that any accident can put you on the line between life and death.
Often the patient turns to God for the first time, fearing the unknown outcome of the medical procedure, and general anesthesia is perceived as temporary death.
The saints do not help a person through their own strength, but through prayers to God, who gives what they ask for for the sake of their holiness.
Prayer to Saint Luke (written by Archpriest Georgy Severin, Simferopol)
O all-blessed confessor, holy saint, our Father Luke, great servant of Christ. With tenderness we bow the knee of our hearts, and falling before the race of your honest and multi-healing relics, like the children of our father, we pray to you with all diligence: hear us sinners and bring our prayer to the Merciful and Humane-loving God. To whom you stand now in the joy of the saints and with the faces of an angel. We believe that you love us with the same love with which you loved all your neighbors while you were on earth. Ask Christ our God, may He strengthen His children in the spirit of right faith and piety: may He give holy zeal and care for the salvation of the people entrusted to them to the shepherds: to observe the right of believers, to strengthen the weak and infirm in the faith, to instruct the ignorant, and to reprove those who oppose. Give us all a gift that is useful to everyone, and everything that is useful for temporary life and eternal salvation. Strengthening our cities, fruitful lands, deliverance from famine and destruction. Comfort for the grieving, healing for the ailing, return to the path of truth for those who have lost their way, blessing for the parents, education and teaching for the children in the fear of the Lord, help and intercession for the orphaned and needy. Grant us all your archpastoral blessing, so that if we have such prayerful intercession, we will get rid of the wiles of the evil one and avoid all enmity and disorder, heresies and schisms. Guide us on the path that leads to the villages of the righteous, and pray to the omnipotent God for us, so that in eternal life we will be worthy with you to constantly glorify the Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Archpriest Roman Batsman, rector of the Churches of the Life-Giving Trinity and the Resurrection of Christ at the Research Institute named after. Sklifosovsky, the house church of St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery named after. A. N. Bakuleva, Moscow
You can turn to the saint whenever you have the desire or opportunity. need. They pray to the saint because they love him, they want to cooperate with him in the spiritual field, and not just to receive something from him. Of course, if at some point his help is needed, then they ask for help. In particular, when a person gets sick or difficulties await him or his family and friends.
It is easier to pray to that saint who during his lifetime had a gift, was close to what is important to you now, and was engaged in exactly this matter. For example, Peter and Fevronia are addressed when they pray for married life. And Saint Luke was not only an archbishop, but also a doctor, a professional and a specialist of such a level that, despite years of persecution, he was awarded the Stalin Prize.
Our home church of St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of the Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery named after. A. N. Bakulev has been open since June 11, 2001, I have been serving there for almost 18 years. Healings occur periodically, people come and tell the required sisters, who are constantly on duty here, about what happened to them.
On May 6, 2007, the accountant of the cardio center, Vera Tikhonovna, came to pray at the church and read akathists to the priest confessor Luke and the great martyr and healer Panteleimon. She prayed for her daughter Tatyana, who was taken away for childbirth. Tatyana later told the following story about a difficult birth. Half-forgotten, she saw a clergyman in a black cassock. He approached her and, taking her hand, began to console her that everything would be fine: he was from the Bakulevsky center and he would help. Tatyana, without hesitation, answered him: “Of course from Bakulevsky - my mother works there!” There was another young man standing nearby holding something. Of course, no one was allowed into the maternity block and Tatyana later realized this. The family thanks the priest Luke and the healer Panteleimon for their help.
A lot of parents of babies come to pray to St. Luke. Periodically, they come for repeat operations or additional examinations and with gratitude come first here, to the temple, because they already know where it is, and then they go up to the department. The temple is open to not only employees, patients and their relatives who come to visit. If you really wish, you can pray in the temple every day during the hours when it is open: every day from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7 pm, on Saturday from 7.30, since the service begins at 8, and until 16, on Sunday from 10 am until 17 pm. It is clear that there is a strict access system on the territory of the hospital, but you can apply for a pass at the bureau by first calling the temple so that we can confirm it.
Some time ago there was an incident that I consider miraculous. When I came to the department where children aged 5 years and older are treated, Muslim parents asked me to bless their son. He was lying in the ward closer to the entrance, already an adult, 15 years old. And many times when I came to Christian families to give communion and confession, they asked me to come into their room and bless their son. They were really looking forward to the decision on the operation. This went on for several weeks. Finally they decided to carry out the operation, it turned out to be successful and safe. And after her, the family came to the temple with a request to baptize their son, and the parents themselves were going to be baptized when they arrived home in Dushanbe.
Unfortunately, not everyone is healed; sometimes babies die. But one cannot help but consider it a miracle when parents, after spending several months in the hospital, having used all possibilities for treatment, medical and spiritual, come with gratitude to the temple after the death of their child. One family who lost a baby ordered an icon of St. Stylian, a Greek saint and patron of infants, so that this icon would be in our church. They sometimes come and we serve a memorial service for the deceased baby. We can say that it is a miracle when people thank God and do not despair, despite such a difficult situation.
On Fridays, at 15.00, we always read an akathist to St. Luke, after which we read a prayer with the addition of the words that we fall not only to the icon of the saint, but also to his relics, because our icon contains a piece of the relics. On other days, people come and take from special pockets near the icon a biography of St. Luke and a prayer, which they read themselves. I see this all the time when I come to church, when I go to receive communion and confession in the wards and when I return. At any time there are people in the temple who pray to St. Luke.
Prayers on the day of surgery
Before the start of the operation, petitions from “Prayers for future sleep” are appropriate, because anesthesia is the same dream with an unknown outcome.
icon of the Mother of God
You can mentally read “Prayer before surgery.” Until the anesthesia takes effect, they say short prayers to themselves: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner,” “Most Holy Theotokos, save me.”
Prayer before surgery
Master Almighty, Holy King, punish and do not kill, strengthen those who fall, and raise up those who have been cast down, correct the afflictions of human beings, we pray to You, our God, visit Your weak servant (name) with Your mercy, forgive him (her) every sin, voluntary and involuntary. To her, Lord, Thy healing power was sent down from Heaven to direct the mind and hand of Thy servant the doctor (name of the doctor) so that he would perform the necessary surgery safely, as if the bodily ailment of Thy free Servant (name) was completely healed, and every hostile invasion would be driven far away from him. Raise him from the bed of the Sick and grant him health in soul and body, pleasing Thy Church. Thou art the merciful God, and to Thee we send Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayers of loved ones
“Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of them,” says Christ in the Gospel. This means that when a loved one is in the hospital, relatives and friends should add their voice to his prayer, then it will be more likely to be heard by God.
During the operation, prayer is said for the patient in church. The priest will not refuse a request to serve a special prayer service “Before a surgical operation,” which is located in the Serbian Breviary. It consists of the usual sequence “On the Sick” and a special prayer.
Not every church can have a Serbian Breviary. This will be an occasion to donate a book to the temple or make other efforts to organize a prayer service, which is also accepted by God.
There is a custom to order magpies in forty churches. This is done whenever possible.
Placed candles and Sorokousts have power only if they are accompanied by the prayer of the sick person and his loved ones.
How to contact Luka Krymsky
The prayer to Saint Luke for healing from cancer cannot be read once. Only diligent petition and regular appeal to the saint will help cope with the disease. It is better if the prayer takes place in the church in front of the icon of the archbishop, or in front of his relics.
Relatives and friends of the sick person can read the prayer. If the patient is of sound mind, then it is better to do it yourself. The posture does not matter, the main thing is faith and attentiveness.
To ensure your request is heard, you should purchase an icon and a candle from the church. A lit candle always creates an atmosphere of peace. Therefore, there will be more chances to fully concentrate on prayer.
You need to read in a separate room, where there are no children, animals or working equipment. Nothing and no one should distract from prayer.
You need to pronounce the text with special attention. as if this is the last time this happens. Each word should be passed through the heart and soul, lived through. Only in this case can you achieve results.
You need to pray for someone who is baptized in the Orthodox Church. It is very important.
It is worth noting that the words of the prayer to Luke are difficult for an inexperienced person to understand. Therefore, they are very difficult to remember. Therefore, it is recommended to write them on a piece of paper and always carry them with you, so that when you have free time you can read them.
There should be no doubt about help. Let us repeat once again: the main thing in this matter is faith.
Don't forget about going to church. You should definitely go to confession and undergo the sacrament of Communion more often. This can be done both by the patient and by the person who is praying for him.
In addition, prayer to Luke of Crimea not only helps to heal from this terrible disease, but also puts you in the right mood, takes you away from bad thoughts, despair, and dispels doubts, fears and worries.
It is very good if, before turning to the saint, you order a prayer service for health. This can be done in several temples. In each one, it is also necessary to light candles for health on all the kandils present. It is imperative to turn to the Mother of God and Jesus Christ with a request for healing.
If an operation is to be performed to remove a malignant tumor, the worshiper must fast for several days and keep the body clean, that is, not indulge in intimacy.
During surgery, instead of crying, it is better to pray all the time. This will distract you from bad thoughts and will definitely lead to a positive outcome.
And further. It is good if the prayer is read many times. In general, the more, the better.
Prayers after surgery
The worst is over and the person wakes up in intensive care, surrounded by caring nurses. As soon as consciousness clears up, the first prayer after the operation is said: “Glory to Thee, God!”, “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice!” Then you need to remember all the saints whose prayers were asked the day before and thank them.
Upon returning to the ward, a prayer after surgery or recovery, compiled by St. John of Kronstadt, is appropriate.
Icon of John of Kronstadt
Prayer of thanksgiving by John of Kronstadt
Glory to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Beginning Father, the One who heals every ailment and every illness among people, for You have had mercy on me as a sinner and delivered me from my illness, not allowing it to develop and kill me according to my sins. Grant me from now on, Master, the strength to firmly do Thy will for the salvation of my damned soul and for Thy glory with Thy Beginningless Father and Thy Consubstantial Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
They pray for a speedy recovery at the “Three-Handed” icon of the Mother of God, remembering the miracle that happened to St. John of Damascus (7th century).
During persecution from heretics, John suffered a terrible punishment: his hand was cut off for composing church hymns. Having applied the severed hand to the wound, the saint prayed until the morning before the icon of the Mother of God and the next morning he found his hand completely healthy.
Briefly about the life of Luke of Crimea
Luka Krymsky was born into the family of a doctor Valentin Voino-Yasnetsky. The son also followed in the footsteps of his parent. He graduated from a medical university with a degree in surgery. Immediately after this, he was sent to the war to help wounded soldiers. Then he began working as the head of one of the hospital departments.
There he met a sister of mercy and married her. When he was ordained a priest, at the request of Patriarch Sergei and Tikhon, he did not give up his medical practice.
During the Great Patriotic War, he worked as a surgeon and saved the lives of wounded soldiers. At the same time, he was consecrated to the rank of Archbishop of Michurinsk and Tambov, and after 3 years of the Crimea and Simferopol.
In 1956, Luka went blind, and in 1961 he died. This happened on June 11 - All Saints Day.
After the end of the war, he received an award for his book “Essays on Purulent Surgery,” which is a reference book for many surgeons.
Meaning of the image
The divine image of the Most Pure Virgin “All-Tsarina” also has another name “Pantanassa”, which translated from Greek means “Omnipotent”, “All-Mistress”. This miraculous face fully corresponds to its name and hides within itself great significance for all true believing Orthodox people.
Over the entire period of his fame, he created a considerable number of miraculous cures, which is why the presented divine image is one of the most powerful and is capable of sending help:
- in the fight against various diseases, especially those that are difficult to cure (for example, cancer);
- to change the worldview of lost people (quite a large number of black sorcerers and magicians stopped their activities under the influence of the image);
- prayer to the Mother of God for the healing of an illness is also capable of guiding the true path and strengthening the beliefs of the Orthodox;
- receiving consolation;
- to gain vitality;
- getting rid of harmful addictions such as alcohol and drug addiction, and both their parents and their loved ones can offer prayers for such people;
- return and strengthening of health of parents, children, spouses;
- eliminate negative influences sent from outside, for example, the evil eye or damage;
- Moreover, such a face can come to the aid of women who have been unable to conceive a child for a long time.
