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- 13-09-2018
- Author: Mysekret Team
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Abortion is a terrible sin that cannot be atone for. However, you can try to plead with him before the Lord, and also put in a word for the soul of the unborn child. A suffering woman who understands the gravity of her own sin will be helped by special prayers that should be read in accordance with church instructions. More information about who should be contacted in such cases, which prayers to choose and how to read prayers correctly can be found in the article.
Abortion of children is a grave sin
According to statistics, only every third pregnancy ends in childbirth. Often young girls are not ready to have a child due to life circumstances - they are not married, they do not have their own home, money, or a career is in the foreground.
In modern times, abortion has become a standard medical service. In past centuries, termination of pregnancy was treated differently throughout the world.
Historical reference
In Ancient Greece and Rome, abortion was legal and not prosecuted unless instigated to harm the family. Women have terminated pregnancies using plant extracts that cause spasms and miscarriage.
Under Emperor Augustus, the demographic situation in the Roman Empire worsened. The country needed warriors. Therefore, restrictions were introduced for single citizens and a ban on abortion.
With the spread of Christian teaching, a negative attitude towards the deliberate removal of a fetus developed under the influence of morality, and not from the point of view of benefit to society. In the Middle Ages, abortion began to be considered a crime. In Europe, the murder of an unborn child was punishable by death, but then the sentence was commuted to hard labor and prison. Doctors and patients were threatened with punishment.
Consequences
Abortion deals a heavy blow to a woman’s body and psyche:
- the menstrual cycle is disrupted, “unscheduled” bleeding occurs more often;
- the risk of developing diseases of the reproductive system and ectopic pregnancies increases;
- Immunity decreases and hormonal balance is disrupted, which leads to depression.
Termination of pregnancy always has consequences, even several years after the operation. The most common is the inability to get pregnant again. It is this “side effect” that becomes retribution for the sins of youth, forcing us to remember that children are a gift from God.
Priest's opinion
The immutable truths that debunk prejudices and false speculations are the first commandment, “Be fruitful and multiply,” and the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” The life of a child begins from the moment of fertilization.
A new soul must come into the world according to the law established by God. But man goes against His Will and destroys the vessel prepared for the new soul.
The rise of material goods over spiritual ones and the cultivation of a consumerist attitude towards life led to the fact that people began to benefit from abortions. In past centuries, peasants had to work hard to feed a large family. Abortion allows you to escape responsibility and continue to live in vice.
There are situations when pregnancy threatens a woman’s health or it ends in a premature involuntary miscarriage. Some priests oppose abortion even in this case. In other parishes, it is practiced to assign a penitential prayer rule without excommunication from the Eucharist. But this is how things stand if a woman is a church member and has consulted with her confessor.
The decision to have an abortion seems simple and logical to a person far from religious and social debates. This possibility is even associated with the progress of science and technology. But after the procedure, it is not relief that comes, but emptiness and a feeling of guilt.
The surging depression can be attributed to those same physiological consequences, hormonal imbalance. But it is so difficult to fight it that even non-believing women go to church and confess.
What nuns pray and cry about
Abbess Vitalia.
Photo courtesy of the monastery “What do the sisters pray for in front of this icon?” - I ask the abbess. “The monk prays and cries for the whole world,” mother answers. – Not only young and innocent girls come to the monastery, but also middle-aged women who have lived their lives and were married.
Some of them, to great sorrow, did not escape this sin and, realizing the severity of the committed infanticide, pray for their forgiveness and the admonition of others, those who are in the dark. And those who have not had abortions themselves pray that there will be less of this sin in the world, so that babies will not be killed. We ask the Mother of God to somehow enlighten people.
This includes grief for children who were not born, and worries for women who did not become mothers.
They also pray that the Lord will have mercy, forgive and alleviate the suffering of those women who have come now and repent. But we especially ask for women who do not yet understand what they have done. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them in the world.”
The monastery admits: starting the prayer services, everyone realized that this topic was delicate, and it was necessary to show maximum empathy to those who decided to take even a timid step towards repentance.
The sisters say that at first some pilgrims are embarrassed to even approach the icon, or, when approaching, they immediately run away, barely making out its name.
“Women come to us and tell us that we have already confessed, repented and realized everything, but it’s still hard, what should we do?”
Many people in the shop, buying this image or asking to be given a booklet with a prayer sequence, immediately hasten to assure: this is not for me, for my acquaintances.
“We always try to explain: this icon appeared with us not to reproach or shame someone, but so that people could see that the Mother of God grieves and cries with us, and we can ask for Her intercession before God.
Women come to us and tell us that we have already confessed, repented and realized everything, but it’s still hard, what should we do? It is precisely for such people that these prayer services are held: so that they have the opportunity to somehow pour out their pain,” the sisters explain.
Mother Vitaly also consoles the repentant. Often after prayers there is a line of people wanting to talk to her, and the abbess pays attention to everyone.
Many women find it easier to talk about their experiences not to a male priest, but to a nun; this brings relief.
“Of course, I feel sorry for the people. If a person sincerely repents, one always feels very sorry for him,” says Mother. – You know, those who have committed this sin often fall into despair, which is completely hopeless and very scary. This happens especially often to those who were previously completely unaware of the spiritual consequences of their action. And here we definitely need to console, remind that the only sin that the Lord does not forgive is unrepentant sin.”
The Need for Prayer
The feeling of wrongness and unnaturalness of the act committed haunts us years later, after several successful births. When looking at born children, women are visited by thoughts of unborn children, which would also please them. But fear of poverty, condemnation or motherhood pushed them to a cowardly act.
Prayer in this case is not an attempt to beg for forgiveness and a warm place at the Throne of the Lord. This is a vital necessity, a need for cleansing for the sake of cleansing. Otherwise, the soul is filled with a feeling of dirt, especially when looking at the icons of the Most Pure Virgin with the Eternal Child in her arms.
In the modern age, the need for prayer, like abortion, is determined by the needs and desires of the woman. Believers do not think about terminating a pregnancy, even for medical reasons, relying on the help of the Lord.
For unchurched women, an indicator or signal that they need prayer will be repentance and the search for an answer on how to make amends. But not before the Almighty. Women often feel guilty about their unborn children.
In psychology, the painful condition in women after termination of pregnancy is called post-abortion syndrome. Feelings of guilt can supposedly be overcome in a few sessions. At the same time, it is believed that religion aggravates its course.
But it is prayer that helps the emotional expression of broken maternal feelings, and not the search for excuses in the therapist’s office. A repentant and mature soul is ready to bear the punishment for sins.
Why is prayer necessary after an abortion?
Most women, after having an abortion, begin to regret what they did. They suffer and are tormented by feelings of guilt, unable to accept their own weakness and mistake. In these cases, many turn to faith in order to find a way to atone for their offense and get rid of the bitterness of an act displeasing to the Lord.
Prayer after an abortion is an important part of a woman’s cleansing after sin. She helps:
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- cleanse yourself from the filth of sin;
- calm the soul and mind;
- return life to its previous course;
- get rid of guilt;
- rest in peace the soul of a murdered child;
- prepare the body for the birth of a child in the future;
- accept your offense and not commit it again.
Without proper atonement, the severity of the sin of abortion can significantly affect a woman’s future life, and not for the better. Lack of repentance leads to:
- various diseases;
- mental disorders;
- the appearance of insomnia and visions;
- failures in business and work;
- lack of personal life;
- inability to find love and start a family;
- loss of the ability to bear and give birth to a child;
- renunciation of heaven.
The longer you delay in carrying out repentance, the more difficult it will be to atone for sin. Therefore, clergy recommend turning to the church and heavenly powers for help as soon as possible.
Texts of strong Orthodox prayers in Russian
There are six texts that are included in the prayer rule after abortion and involuntary loss of pregnancy.
Believing mother for stillborn and unbaptized babies
The prayer is read after a long-term miscarriage or after the death of a child during childbirth. According to Holy Scripture, an unbaptized child will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The souls of unborn babies fall “from darkness to darkness,” as St. Macarius the Great wrote, that is, to Hell. They will not be tormented like sinners, but they will not experience grace either.
Women need to pray for the souls of unbaptized children. They find consolation in communication through prayer:
“Remember, O Lord of mankind, the souls of Your departed servants, the infants who died in the womb of Orthodox mothers accidentally from accidental actions from a difficult birth, or from some carelessness, or who were deliberately ruined and therefore did not receive Holy Baptism. Baptize them, O Lord, in the sea of Thy bounties and save them with Thy ineffable grace, and forgive me, a sinner (name), who committed the murder of babies in my womb and do not deprive Thy mercy. Amen. God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (bow to the ground) Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb, for my faith and tears, for the sake of Your mercy, Lord, do not deprive them of Your Divine Light.”
Grieving for the babies in the wombs of the slain
The icon of the same name is kept in the Makarievsky Church in Kyiv. The image was painted for a religious procession against the murder of children in the womb, based on a sketch by a parishioner: the Mother of God holds with her left hand an angel with a swaddled baby, and with her right hand the young Savior, who stretches out his hands to the angel and the child. The baby symbolizes all lost children.
Women who have lost a child in the early stages and after a frozen pregnancy turn to the icon with prayer for consolation:
“Oh, Master, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God! Much of Your goodness, for our sake and for our salvation, man was clothed in flesh, and crucified, and buried, and with Your Blood renewing our corrupted nature, accept my repentance for sins and hear my words: I have sinned, O Lord, in Heaven and before You, in a word , deed, soul and body, and thoughts of my mind. I transgressed Your commandments, did not listen to Your commandment, angered Your goodness, my God, but as Your creation exists, I do not despair of salvation, but boldly come to Your immeasurable Compassion and pray to You: Lord! in repentance, give me a contrite heart and accept me as I pray and give me a good thought, give me tears of tenderness, Lord, let me, by Thy grace, make a good beginning. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me who has fallen, and remember me, Thy sinful servant, in Thy Kingdom, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
Repentant
The prayer is supposed to be read by women after a deliberate termination of pregnancy due to health problems or other circumstances.
Not only the soul of the mother, but also the doctor who performed the abortion strives for repentance. Therefore, doctors can turn to the Lord with this prayer:
“Lord, have mercy on me for my children killed in the womb.
Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb, for my faith and my tears, for the sake of Your mercy, Lord, do not deprive them of Your Divine Light.
O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God!
Much of Thy goodness, for our sake and for our salvation, man clothed himself in flesh, and was crucified, and was buried, and through Thy Blood renewed our corrupted nature, accept my repentance for sins and hear my words:
I have sinned, O Lord, in heaven and before You, in word, in deed, in soul and body, and in the thoughts of my mind.
I transgressed Your commandments, did not listen to Your commandment, angered Your goodness, my God, but as Your creation exists, I do not despair of salvation, but boldly come to Your immeasurable Compassion and pray to You:
God! in repentance, give me a contrite heart and accept me as I pray and give me a good thought, give me tears of conscience, Lord, let me, by Thy grace, make a good beginning.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me who has fallen, and remember me, Thy sinful servant, in Thy Kingdom, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
Matrona of Moscow
Blessed Mother Matrona is an intercessor before the Lord in all life’s troubles. The old woman is one of the saints who pleased God with a righteous life and received the right to intercede with Him for the salvation of the souls of those praying.
The following prayer is read to Matrona of Moscow:
“O blessed one, Mati Matrono, hear and accept us now, sinners, praying to you, who have learned throughout your entire life to receive and listen to all those who suffer and mourn, with faith and hope for your intercession and help of those who resort to quick help and miraculous healing, giving everyone; May your mercy not fail now for us, unworthy, restless in this busy world and nowhere finding consolation and compassion in spiritual sorrows and help in physical illnesses; heal our illnesses. Deliver us from the temptations and torment of the devil, who passionately fights, help us carry our everyday Cross, endure all the hardships of life and not lose the image of God in it, preserve the Orthodox faith until the end of our days, have strong trust and hope in God and unfeigned love for our neighbors; help us, after departing from this life, to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven with all those who please God, glorifying the mercy and goodness of the Heavenly Father, glorified in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.”
Virgin Mary
The Mother of God intercedes before the Lord for all sinners. Before asking for help, they turn to Her with a short prayer:
“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with Thee;
Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.”
Nun Antonia's prayer rule
Schema-nun Antonia is a well-known confessor and ascetic among Orthodox Christians. She lived a secular life, was married, and survived imprisonment in political prison camps. But in her soul, Mother Antonia maintained an unshakable faith in God. In her declining years, the woman became a monk.
Antonia suffered a miscarriage when she was young and took the loss hard. She fervently prayed to the Mother of God in church. One day an unknown woman in a rector's vestment appeared to her. She said that only blasphemy, suicide and pride are not forgiven people. The stranger revealed to Antonia the rule of how to pray for murdered children:
- call on four saints to baptize the child - John the Baptist, Saint Barbara, Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess;
- bow 40 times and read four prayers 48 times: “To the Heavenly King,” “Our Father,” “Jesus Prayer,” and “Door of Mercy”;
- repeat the rule as many times as there were abortions, and read it for the rest of your life.
You also need to buy a baptismal kit for each child and donate it to the church for the baptism of orphans.
In the church environment, nun Antonia’s prayer is viewed with skepticism, since it contains contradictions: the absence of words about repentance, the naming of a child of unknown gender.
Bowing and repeating words a certain number of times, a one-time donation is a formality and a ransom. The rule is more reminiscent of a ritual rather than a prayer of repentance.
Rule text:
“In the name of the Father. Amen, And the Son. Amen, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Elitsy was baptized into Christ, put on Christ. Hallelujah (3 times) The baby killed in the womb is named (you call the name - the child must be given any male name from the names of the holy saints of God) Saint John the Baptist, baptize my baby (name) in the womb languishing, sitting in prison. Holy Great Martyr Barbara, commune my baby (name) who is languishing in the womb, sitting in prison. Saint Simeon, God-Receiver, as you took Christ into your arms, accept my baby (name), languishing in the womb, sitting in prison. Holy Anna Prophetess, accept my baby (name) as a mother godmother, who is languishing in the womb, sitting in prison.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed One, our souls (48 times and 40 prostrations to the ground)
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (48 times and 40 prostrations)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (48 times and 40 prostrations)
Open the doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, so that we may not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race. (48 times and 40 prostrations)
It is worthy to eat, as you truly bless Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy. (3 times) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your most pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen!"
After that, every day, until death, read:
“Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of Your mercy for my faith and tears, baptize them in the sea of Your bounties and do not deprive them of Your Divine Light” (3 times during the day).
What to do if you had an abortion, which saints to turn to.
Which saints should you turn to to be forgiven for the sin of killing a child? After all, abortion is considered murder in many world religions. In Christianity, it is customary to turn to the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, and Jesus Christ.
Repentance occurs in confession with a priest. Before confession, a woman who had an abortion reads prayers of repentance. Confession always takes place one on one with a priest, but privacy is not possible everywhere. There are separate booths for confession in churches. Often a woman simply bends over the lectern and covers herself with the stole.
The prayer of a mother who has had an abortion can be offered in the temple itself. Sometimes special brochures are printed with examples of prayer after an abortion.
A woman who has an abortion must do good deeds. You can come to orphanages and play with children. You can give gifts to orphans. Charity in children's ladies will be a reassurance for the mother.
What else is needed to atone for a terrible sin?
In addition to prayer, a woman can receive forgiveness through good deeds:
- do charity work, help children in orphanages and young mothers who find themselves without money and housing;
- participate in volunteer programs to disseminate information about the dangers of abortion;
- become a helpline consultant and provide moral support;
- pray every day for all women who have had or are planning to have an abortion;
- raise children born in piety in order to protect them from mistakes.
The sin of abortion divides life into two parts and often entails loneliness and difficulties in communicating with family and others. Prayer and participation in the life of the church parish will help overcome despondency and grief and come to the rescue if a woman or girl with a similar problem appears among the parishioners. Attentiveness, goodwill and timely advice will save not one, but two lives - the child’s and the mother’s.
How to read prayers correctly after an abortion?
It is not easy to pray for such a sin as abortion, so you should prepare for a long repentance.
Atonement for the sin of abortion consists of several stages:
- Conversion to the church.
- Offering prayers of retribution.
- Closing prayers.
Before you start praying, you need to visit a church or temple in order to confess to a clergyman (priest, for example) and receive communion. Only after completing these actions is it possible to turn to the Lord. As a result of the conversation, based on the reasons for the action, the physical well-being, as well as the moral and spiritual state of the woman, the priest prescribes an individual penance, which includes the necessary prayers. The duration of reading prayers depends on the degree of repentance and sincerity of the sinner.
Then comes the prayer itself. There is a prayer sequence generally accepted by all churches and temples in accordance with the canons about the sin of killing children in the womb, which consists of:
- the main prayer to the Lord in His Three Persons;
- troparion, tone 6;
- Psalm 50;
- the canon of those guilty of child murder, read by both wives and their husbands, including two songs (1 and 3);
- sedalena, voice 6;
- songs from 4 to 9 inclusive;
- kontakion, tone 6, and ikos;
- final prayer service.
This prayer is said once directly in the church itself. It is permissible to read it both by a woman who has committed a sin and by a married couple, regardless of whether the husband participated in the decision to commit suicide or not. It will be a big plus if the husband takes part in the prayer service in order to give his wife strength. You can download the full version of the sequence with repentance for abortion in Russian using the link.
The following are usually used as closing prayers:
- prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord and Saints;
- prayer for the repose of the soul of an unborn child;
- canon to the holy martyrs of 14,000 infants.
Most often, the first two options are read, the third is used during church services. Among other things, the church strongly recommends, in the process of atonement for sins, not to skimp on good deeds: helping those in need, bringing gifts to orphanages, feeding stray animals.
Akathist text
The Akathist of the Repentant Wives who killed their babies in the womb is an alternative to the lifelong reading of the rule of nun Antonia. The prayers are compiled for repentant women and are intended only for home reading.
Kontakion 1
Lamb of God, take away the sins of the world, hear my groaning and take in the sorrows of my heart, take my heavy burden of sin, bear our infirmities, accept in repentance I fall to You, praying and crying from the depths of my soul:
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Ikos 1
God and Lord! Yours is a creation, but alas for me, Adam’s sin committed in paradise lives in me and in my body, and like a slave I always work diligently for him, but now I pray to You:
Have mercy on me, Creator of the heavenly world; have mercy on me, Creator of the earthly nature.
Have mercy on me, Lord of the Heavenly Powers; Have mercy on me, Ruler of bodily creatures.
Have mercy on me, Provider of all; Have mercy on me, bringing my tears for my sins to You.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 2
All-Merciful Master, how dare such a vile sinner come to You with my prayer, who has transgressed Your commandment, which You commanded me through Your prophet Moses: Thou shalt not kill, for I am a murderer, and alas, a hundred times crueller, of a serpentine disposition, who, although for a short time she allows her children to see the light, then she devours them, but she, the accursed one, mercilessly deprived her children of not only the sensual, but especially the true Light, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Sacrament of Baptism, illuminating; and for the sake of temporary bodily peace, avoiding many children, she killed while still in her womb. And therefore, I, darkened by these and many countless sins, hope only for the mercy of Your mercy, and with boldness I call to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
I have despised the words of Your life, O Lord, and walked according to the will of my heart, from my very youth even to this day, but now in repentance I call upon You, my All-Bountiful Savior:
Have mercy on me, who was conceived in iniquity; have mercy on me, born in sins.
Have mercy on me, who have not kept Your commandments; Have mercy on me, who have lost Your grace.
Have mercy on me, who does not care about my salvation; have mercy on me, who have caught me in the net of passions.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 3
It is good and beautiful for brethren to live together and to love each other, as You commanded, our Savior, as if he is angry with his brother, he is a murderer, and with his anger he surpassed all those born from the ages, especially murderers, whose victims were for various reasons, lives and ages in time, I, the accursed one, took the lives of those who had only received time to live from You, the Giver of life for their existence, but in my madness I mercilessly took it away even in my womb, without the Fear of God, rejecting Your will and blessed The gift of childbearing is yours. I willfully snatched my innocent children from Your creative hands and, before Your eyes, I killed them without shame. But their fate is in Your right hand, O Lord, and I will take away my sin before me. I repent to You alone, and I pray to You, O Blessed One, to direct my feet on the path of repentance, so that with all the repentant sinners I will sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Alone, knowing human weakness, weigh all my sins, do not remember the sins of my youth, and cleanse me from my secrets, calling to You:
Have mercy on me, a great sinner; have mercy on me, a transgressor of God's law.
Have mercy on me, the breaker of Your covenant; have mercy on me, as You, my Master, have repaid the reward of evil.
Have mercy on me, who came to You in repentance at the tenth hour; have mercy on me, accursed child killer.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, fallen.
Kontakion 4
Giver of Life, Heavenly King, come and dwell in me, defiled by sins, and cleanse me from all filth, and save, O Blessed One, my soul, so that I may call to You, the one who is being saved: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
I have gone astray, like a lost sheep, seek me, Thy servant, my God, who has wandered away from Thy commandments into the impenetrable wilderness of passions and self-will, save me, unworthy, groaning warmly to Thee, praying and crying out:
Have mercy on me, aggravated by willful sins; have mercy on me, darkened by passions.
Have mercy on me, delighted with pride; have mercy on me, consumed by envy.
Have mercy on me, filled with unrighteousness; have mercy on me, you who do not want the death of a sinner.
Have mercy on me, the deliberate killer of my children.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 5
Wherever you want, my Almighty God, there the order of nature is overcome, conquer my living, sinful nature and its forces that attract me to sin, for You are the Creator of all things and the Creator of nature, by Your Divine grace renew the spirit of rights in my womb, not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit away from me, and erase the death seal of the child killer that is worthily placed on my soul, imposed by Thy justice according to the sixth commandment of Thy law, “Thou shalt not kill,” and restore again Thy eternal covenant to us, broken by my sins. , Lord, and restore my former virtues, lost through sin, so that I may sing to You without restraint: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Who has ever sinned as I have sinned, the accursed one, which sin I have not committed, which evil I have not imagined in my soul, but with a repentant heart and with tears I come to You, All-Bountiful Lord, crying out:
Have mercy on me, Thy unfaithful servant; have mercy on me, petrified of sins.
Have mercy on me, who hates my neighbor; have mercy on me, who offends me in word and deed.
Have mercy on me, foul in soul and body; have mercy on me, my conscience is seared.
Have mercy on me, a child killer, like Herod.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 6
With the rays of Your grace, O Lord, enlighten the robe of my soul, Light-Giver, and save me, so that, rejoicing, I will sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Many are my many sins, O Christ, and like the dark night of all my life, but not despairing of Thy mercy, my Savior, like David, I cry out to Thee:
Have mercy on me, who spent my entire life in laziness; Have mercy on me, about prayer for my sins.
Have mercy on me, ungrateful for Your good suggestions of repentance; Have mercy on me, who did not honor Your law and did not keep Your commandments.
Have mercy on me, as I have loved the world and have loved everything in the world; have mercy on me, who spent the days of my age in the vanity of the world.
Have mercy on me, for, imitating the laws of this age and disdaining the childbearing blessed by You, I committed infanticide.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 7
I lift my eyes to heaven to You, the Word of God, but my mortal nature draws me down, my Savior. O Creator of heaven and earth and everything in them! Raise me to the things above with the way I think and act, so that I may always sing victoriously with my heart and lips: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The imam has an evil eye and is filled with all kinds of impurity, I am seduced by the charms of this world, I also pray to Thee, O All-Blessed One, turn away my eyes from seeing my vanity, and I pray to Thee:
Have mercy on me, who longs to serve You faithfully; have mercy on me, who desires to worship You in spirit and truth.
Have mercy on me, tears of my repentance, like a sacrifice for my sins brought to You; Have mercy on me, asking You for forgiveness for the murder of my children.
Have mercy on me, who awaits deliverance from my passions from You; have mercy on me, who weep bitterly for my grave and mortal sins.
Have mercy on me, a murderer, guilty of divine and human judgment.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 8
Have mercy on me, Lord, my Savior, who came into the world to save sinners, from whom I am the most vile of all, but I pray to Thee, my All-merciful God, bow to the mercy of Thy compassion, hear my heartfelt sighs, accept the sources of my tears, warm spiritual prayers, yes I will sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Robbery evil thoughts attacked me, my sleeping conscience, alas for me, the bright clothes given to me at my Baptism, for the vileness of my sins, I lost them, that’s why I committed childicide, I still remain naked in virtue, with the same greatness I strive to lift up my grief, down to those who have fallen for the multitude cruel things done before You, O Lord, and thus I cry to You:
Have mercy on me, who have committed a mortal sin; have mercy on me, hitherto stuck in sins.
Have mercy on me, full of all abomination; have mercy on me, tainted by unnatural vices.
Have mercy on me, who did not preserve the purity of my virginity; have mercy on me, for I have deprived myself of pious motherhood.
Have mercy on me, from the womb of my child who spewed forth without time.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 9
Grant me tears, O my God, that I may weep for my sin, and so, rejoicing, I cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
She has defiled my body with vile secrets, she has darkened my soul with my placeless deeds, my body is weak, my soul is also weak. Falling down to You, the One Unmemorable, Merciful Judge and my God, I pray:
Have mercy on me, the murderer, for the memory of the fate of my expelled children brings me into awe and horror and unspeakable surprise: how, O Merciful Lord and Most Righteous Judge, bear with and do good to me, a prisoner of hell, even to this day and hour, awaiting my repentance in every possible way; have mercy on me, who repeatedly promised to reform, and again returned to sins, like a dog to its vomit.
Have mercy on me, who has committed many murders; have mercy on me, as without the fear of God and maternal love for my children, but with the ferocity of a wild beast, I tore my children to pieces.
Have mercy on me, for I have committed my sins by my own will; have mercy on me, who have defiled my spirit with vile thoughts.
Have mercy on me, as I continue to lead my sinful life to this day.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 10
I was wounded by the charms of this world and bowed my knees before it, choosing the disastrous path of its vile law, forgetting my promises, given by me at Baptism, and, committing my crimes one after another, which only the world suggested to me, I finally reached the very pinnacle of mortal sins - murder of children, but embraces, Father, open to me, my God, struggling, until at the end of my life I bring the sacrifice of praise to Thee, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Predators, murderers, thieves and all unrepentant sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God. But I have defiled my body and soul with all unrighteousness and all sorts of vile sins; for this reason, for the sake of my spiritual distress, falling down, I call to You:
Have mercy on me, born in the New Testament of Your blessed Kingdom; have mercy on me, in the Church created by You, in the Church.
Have mercy on me, sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; Have mercy on me, nourished by Your Most Pure Body and Life-Giving Blood.
Have mercy on me, baptized in Christ, clothed in Christ; have mercy on me, who have rejected all these good deeds and chosen a vicious life.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 11
Grant me the spirit of chastity, Lord and Master of my life, since from my very youth I have been deprived of virtue, I have enslaved myself entirely to passion, I have desecrated my spirit and soul and corrupted my body. God of bounty and mercy! Do not disdain to cleanse me, such a vile sinner, Thy creation I am, have mercy on me, and cleanse me from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and make me worthy to boldly sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Do not reject the aspirations of my heart, which trusts in You, O Lord, and do not disgrace me before angels and men at Your righteous and Last Judgment. Do not then judge me according to my deeds, but by Your mercy forgive all my sins, crying out to You:
Have mercy on me, who have an unclean heart; have mercy on me, caught in demonic captivity.
Have mercy on me, born in sins, washed by Baptism and fallen like a pig into iniquity; have mercy on me, the wounds of the fall of my soul stink.
Have mercy on me, because of my grave mortal sins I have fallen into despondency and despair; have mercy on me, who have committed every sin and am worthy of every punishment.
Have mercy on me, my Creator, and in repentance accept me, the fallen one.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 12
With the breadth of Your love, my God, cover all the sins of my iniquity, accept my repentance, so that in love for You I always call: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
My youth passed in my madness, my entire life was spent in sins, in laziness and negligence to repentance, but my old age, with the horror of death of Your inevitable Judgment, brought me to repentance. Do not reject me, my Savior, who at the tenth hour came into Your Father’s embrace and called in repentance:
Have mercy on me, as the blood of my innocent children cries out to You, testifying to my murder of them; have mercy on me, my God, by the Triune nature.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, with wonderful mercy; Have mercy on me, Master, long-suffering for our sins.
Have mercy on me, Holy King, who heals infirmities; have mercy on me, O Thou of Love, and Who warmeth desperate sinners with Thy love.
Have mercy on me, O Almighty, who bore our infirmities.
My Lord, Lord, my joy, have mercy on me, the fallen one.
Kontakion 13
To appear as the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven on that terrible day and the second Coming of the Judge alive and dead, the Son of God, the Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. Oh, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Judge and King of all! Give me tears of repentance before this day, so that I may weep in the warmth of my evil and destructive deeds, for I have detested my soul and Thy Most Pure Blood of Thy Testament to the mountaineer! Yes, then with the angels and with all the saints and righteous I sing to You: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos: “God and Lord!..” and the 1st kontakion: “Lamb of God...”).
Prayer for unborn children during miscarriage
In case of miscarriage, abortion or death during childbirth, the following prayers are read:
Prayer of Hieromonk Arseny of Athos
Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb!
For my faith and tears, for the sake of Thy mercy, Lord, do not deprive them of Thy Divine light!
Prayer of Metropolitan Gregory of Novgorod and St. Petersburg
Remember, O Lord who loves mankind, the souls of Your departed servants - the babies who in the womb of their Orthodox mothers died accidentally from unknown actions, or from a difficult birth, or from some carelessness, and therefore did not receive the Holy Sacrament of Baptism!
Baptize them, O Lord, in the sea of Your bounties and save them with Your ineffable grace. Amen.
Mother's prayer (home) of Arseny Afonsky for stillborn and unbaptized children
Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb!
For my faith and tears for the sake of Thy mercy, Lord, do not deprive them of Thy Divine light!
Prayer for unborn children of the family
Prayer to the Mother of God for unborn children
First prayer
O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your shelter my children, willingly or unwillingly from the womb of those expelled.
We know that their fate in eternity is hidden from us, but I dare to ask You in repentance: cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, for they have not sinned, but because of my sins they have not seen the earthly light.
Mother of God, I entrust my child entirely to my Lord Jesus Christ and to Your, Most Pure, Motherly gaze, as You are the Divine Cover of Your servant. Amen.
Second Prayer for Unborn Children
Open the doors of mercy to us, Blessed Mother of God, who hope in You, so that we may not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You, for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
Rejoice, One Most Pure Mother of the One Creator, Lord, God and Savior of ours, Jesus Christ!
Be my Intercessor on the day of the terrible trial, when I appear before the Throne of the Unfeigned Judge, so that I may be delivered from the fiery punishment of torment through Your prayers, O Blessed One.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Canon of repentance, privately read for husbands and wives guilty of the sin of child murder, tone 6
Song 1
Irmos: As Israel walked across the dry land,/ with footsteps across the abyss,/ seeing the persecutor Pharaoh/ being drowned,/ we sing a victorious song to God, crying out.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I, a sinner and burdened with the sin of infanticide, have come to You, my Master and God; / I do not dare to look at heaven, only I pray, saying: / give me, Lord, mind, / that I may weep for my deeds bitterly.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Oh, woe to me, a sinner!/ I am the most damned man of all,/ there is no repentance in me;/ give me, Lord, tears,/ let me weep bitterly for my deeds. Glory: Foolish, wretched man, / in negligence about repentance, you waste time; / think about your life, and turn to the Lord God, / and weep bitterly about your deeds.
And now: Most Pure Mother of God,/ look at me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snare of the devil,/ and guide me on the path of repentance,/ let me weep bitterly for my deeds.
Song 3
Irmos: There is no one holy, / like You, O Lord my God, / who lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, / and established us on the rocks / of Your confession.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
When thrones are set at the Last Judgment, / then the deeds of all people will be exposed; / there will be woe to the sinner (her), who is sent to torment; / and then, my soul, repent from your evil deeds.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The righteous will rejoice, and the sinners will weep; / then no one will be able to help us, / but our deeds will condemn us; / therefore, before the end, repent of your evil deeds.
Glory: Alas for me, the great sinner(s),/ having been defiled by deeds and thoughts,/ I have not a drop of tears from hard-heartedness;/ now arise from the earth, my soul,/ and repent of your evil deeds.
And now: Behold, O Lady, Thy Son calls us, and teaches us to do good, / but I, a sinner, always run from good; / but You, Most Merciful, have mercy on me, / that I may repent from my evil deeds.
Sedalen, voice 6
I think about the terrible day and weep for the deeds of my evil ones: / how I answer the Immortal King, / or with what boldness I look at the Judge, the prodigal one / Compassionate Father, Only Begotten Son and Holy Soul, have mercy on me.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
Bound now by many captives of sins/ and held captive by fierce passions and troubles,/ I resort to You, my salvation, and cry out:/ help me, O Virgin, Mother of God.
Song 4
Irmos: Christ is my strength,/ God and Lord,/ the honest Church/ sings magnificently, crying out/ pure in meaning, celebrating in the Lord.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The path here is wide and pleasing to create sweetness, / but it will be bitter on the last day, / when the soul will be separated from the body; / beware of this, man, from the Kingdom for the sake of God.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why do you foolishly commit lust and fornication,/ are captivated by the sweets of this world,/ trample on your parent’s love/ and kill your defenseless child/ Repent then, my soul, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Glory: Oh, foolish man, / how long have you scoured like a bee, gathering your wealth / Soon you will perish like dust and ashes; / but seek more the Kingdom of God.
And now: Theotokos: Mother of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,/ and strengthen me in virtue,/ and keep me, so that insolent death does not snatch me away, unprepared,/ and bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.
Song 5
Irmos: With God's light, O Blessed One,/ Illumine the souls of You in the morning with love, I pray,/ Lead You, the Word of God,/ the true God,/ calling out from the darkness of sin.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Remember your sins, accursed man, / how selfishness, love of money, hard-heartedness and lust have made you a child killer. / My sinful soul, did you want this? Chorus: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I tremble, for I have committed guilt with all: / with your eyes you see, with your ears you hear, / with an evil tongue, / you betray everything to yourself to hell; / my sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
Glory: Thou hast received the fornicator and the repentant thief, O Savior, / but I am the only one burdened with sinful laziness / and enslaved by evil deeds; / my sinful soul, is this what you desired And now: Wonderful and quick Helper to all mankind, Mother of God, / help me, who is unworthy, / for my sinful soul desires it.
Song 6
Irmos: The sea of life/ raised up in vain by misfortunes by the storm,/ flowed to Thy quiet refuge, crying out to Thee:/ lift up my belly from aphids,/ O thou of much mercy.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
I lived fornication on earth and gave my soul into darkness, / now I pray to You, Merciful Master: / free me from the work of the murderer of the devil / and give me the mind to do Your will.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
To whom have you become like, my soul/ Cain the accursed first murderer and Herod the lawless child killer./ But You, Lord, pluck me from this sin/ and give me the heart to do Your commandments.
Glory: Arise, accursed man, to God, remembering your sins, / falling to the Creator, crying and groaning; / He, who is merciful, will give you the mind to know His will.
And now: Virgin Mother of God,/ save me from visible and invisible evil, O Most Pure One,/ and accept my prayers, and convey them to Thy Son,/ may He give me the mind to do His will.
Lord have mercy. Three times.
Glory, and now:
Kontakion, tone 6
My soul, because you are rich in sins,/ because you do the will of the devil,/ in which you place your hope/ Stop from these and turn to God with tears, calling:/ Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Ikos
Think, my soul, the bitter hour of death/ and the Last Judgment of your Creator and God:/ For the threatening angels will understand you, O soul,/ and lead you into eternal fire:/ for before death repent, crying:/ Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. .
Song 7
Irmos: The angel/ made the furnace/ the venerable youth,/ the burning/ command of God exhorted the Chaldeans to exhort the tormentor to cry out:/ Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in perishable wealth and in unrighteous gatherings, / for you will not leave all this to anyone, but cry out: / have mercy on me, O Christ God, for the murder of children.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in bodily health and in fleeting beauty, / for you see how the strong and the young die; but cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, the foul child-killer.
Glory: Remember, my soul, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the saints,/ and the total darkness and the wrath of God for the evil ones, and cry:/ have mercy on me, O Christ God, who have sinned gravely.
And now: Come, my soul, to the Mother of God and pray to her, / for she is a quick Helper to those who repent, / she will pray to the Son of Christ God, / and she will have mercy on me who brings repentance.
Song 8
Irmos: From the flames of the saints you poured out dew/ and you burned the righteous sacrifice with water:/ for you did everything, O Christ, only as you willed./ We extol you to all ages.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
How can I not cry when I think about what I have done, / because my evils are many, this child killer (beings). / What I suffer and what I hope for / Just grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Oh, Lord, Giver of life!/ For Your many benefits, I have repaid You with evil, the accursed one,/ I have rejected the heavenly gift of life/ and I have destroyed the children You gave me,/ but in humility I pray:/ grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance.
Glory: I believe that you will come to judge the living and the dead,/ and all will stand in their rank,/ old and young, rulers and princes, virgins and priestesses;/ where I will be found/ For this reason I cry:/ grant me, O Lord, before the end, repentance .
And now: Most Pure Mother of God,/ accept my unworthy prayer,/ and save me from insolent death,/ and grant me repentance before the end.
Song 9
Irmos: It is impossible to see God/ as a human being,/ the angels do not dare to look upon the Unworthy;/ By You, O All-Pure One, having appeared as a man/ the Word incarnate, Who is magnified,/ with the Heavenly howls we please You.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I come running to you, Angels, Archangels and all the Heavenly Powers standing at the Throne of God, / pray to your Creator, / that he may deliver my soul from eternal torment.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I cry to you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets,/ apostles and saints and all the chosen ones of Christ:/ help me at the Judgment,/ may he save my soul from the power of the enemy.
Glory: Now I lift up my hand to you, holy martyrs, / hermits, virgins, righteous women and all the saints, / praying to the Lord for the whole world, / that he may have mercy on me at the hour of my death.
And now: Mother of God, help me, who trusts most strongly in You, / beg Your Son to cleanse me from the grave sin of infanticide / and for the sake of my repentance, grant forgiveness / when the judge of the living and the dead sits. Amen.
It is worthy to eat as truly to bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God.
We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. Bow.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Three times.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy, three times.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
And the troparion, tone 1
I strive to open the Father’s embrace, / I have spent my life in fornication, / I look at the unexpected riches of Your bounties, O Savior: / Do not despise my heart that is now impoverished. / For, O Lord, I call to You with tenderness: / Those who have sinned, to Heaven and before You.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
The hope of Christians, O Most Holy Virgin, / Whom You gave birth to, God more than mind and word, / pray unceasingly with the powers on high, / to grant forgiveness of sins to us all, / and correction of life, through faith and love, to those who ever revere Thee.
Prayer to the holy martyr Huar
It is known about Saint War that he appeared to Cleopatra in a dream after she lost her unborn son. The saint gave her the news that all her child’s sins had been forgiven. They pray to him for babies who did not have time to receive Holy Baptism.
Oh, holy, venerable martyr Uare!
We kindle with zeal for the Lord Christ, you confessed the Heavenly King before the tormentor, and you suffered zealously for Him, and now the Church honors you, as one who is glorified by the Lord Christ with the glory of Heaven, Who has given you the grace of great boldness towards Him, and now you stand before Him with the Angels, and in the Highest you rejoice, and see the Holy Trinity clearly, and enjoy the light of the Beginning Radiance.
Remember also our relatives in languor, who died in wickedness, accept our petition, and just as Cleopatrin freed the unfaithful family from eternal torment with your prayers, so remember the people who were buried against God, who died unbaptized, trying to ask for deliverance from eternal darkness, so that all with one mouth and one Let us praise the Most Merciful Creator with our hearts forever and ever.
