There are situations in every person's life that are difficult for him to cope with alone. In such cases, believers call on the Lord and saints for help. Their intercession helps to overcome obstacles along the way, preserve love in the heart and faith.
The Lord said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you; For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). In order to connect with God, Orthodox Christians attend divine services, participate in church sacraments, observe fasts and offer prayers to God. Today you can submit requests online to pray in remote churches.
The Essence of Prayer
For Orthodox Christians, prayer is communication with God. This is an opportunity to turn to the Creator and be heard by him. Whether it is a prayer for help, gratitude, praise - all these are forms of dialogue between man and God.
The essence of prayer is shown at the very beginning of the Gospel of Matthew. When the star indicating the predicted birth of the Great King appeared in the sky, the Magi (wise men) from the East set off. But where did the Magi get the idea to go, and who prompted them to do so?
Prayer for help
Saint John Chrysostom (347-407) notes “that this was not the work of one star; but God himself moved their hearts to worship the born Great King. Having found the born Christ in a manger in Bethlehem, they knelt down. The Magi bowed and presented the gifts they had prepared for him: incense, gold and myrrh. Gold is a gift to the Child as a king, indicating that Jesus was born to be a King. Frankincense is a gift to Him as God. Myrrh (fragrant resin) is a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, a gift to one who must die.
This is how they expressed prayer in its perfection, which consisted of contemplation and reverent worship. According to the teachings of the Holy Fathers, Christians in prayer should also bring a gift to God. This gift is your love for Him.
“The basis of Christianity is not the sum of some abstract knowledge, but the living experience of communication with God as the Heavenly Father. Prayer establishes precisely this relationship. Therefore, it is impossible to imagine a Christian who does not pray. It is prayer that allows us to feel the joy of God's presence in our lives. For a praying person, God is not an abstract idea. He is a familiar and beloved person who walks with a person through life” (priest Konstantin Parkhomenko).
What types of prayers are there?
There are several types of prayer appeals to the Creator: praise, thanksgiving and petition.
In prayer, Orthodox Christians glorify and thank the Giver of all good things.
“If anyone does anything, he must remember the Creator of the thing before him; that is, if you see the light, do not forget about the One who gave it to you; if you see heaven and earth, the sea and everything that exists, be amazed and glorify the Creator; If you put on clothes, recognize whose gift they are, and sing praises to the One who Provides for your life. And simply: let every movement be a reason for you to the glory of God, and behold, you pray unceasingly. From all this the soul rejoices, according to the word of the Apostle (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17), for the remembrance of God makes it glad” (martyr Peter of Damascus, 12th century).
Petitionary prayers are widespread. In them, believers express their plight, fears, suffering and problems before the Lord. There is a request for the forgiveness of sins, for the granting of mercy, consolation, for the healing of the sick and the reconciliation of those at war. A conversation with the Creator, a prayer to God becomes a call for help.
“Prayer can really change a lot in human life. When we ask the Lord for something, we understand: what we are asking is very important to us, we need it. But such a prayer of petition is always based on our faith. And if there is no faith, how can you ask? The prayer of petition is always connected with a person’s faith, and the stronger the faith, the stronger and stronger the prayer, which contains a plea to the Almighty” (Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill).
Prayer service - a special request to the Lord
In special cases, you can order a prayer service, calling on the Lord, the Mother of God or the holy saints of God for help. A prayer service is a short service at the request of believers, during which the priest addresses his prayers for the people noted in the note. You can submit requests online with different requests:
- about health or healing from illness;
- about repose;
- about conceiving a child and a successful pregnancy;
- about a successful marriage;
- about the arrangement of children's destinies;
- on the successful resolution of litigation;
- about material well-being or when looking for a job;
- about the successful outcome of a real estate transaction;
- on eliminating conflict situations;
- about travelers;
- before starting a good deed;
- gratitude to the Lord for His mercy;
- in other life situations.
The Monk Ambrose of Optina said that a prayer service is the need to pray about something “briefly, but fervently.”
Prayer to the Lord for help
In Orthodoxy there are various canonical prayer petitions. They contain prayers for the healing of the sick, for the end of epidemics, for the end of natural disasters, and the like. Daily morning and evening prayers include prayers of supplication with a spiritual focus. Including forgiveness of sins, correction of life, admonition, help in every good deed.
But not every human need has a “special” prayer or church service. In this case, the Monk Arseny of Cappadocia (1840-1924) advised reading the psalms. They compiled a list of which psalm should be read for which needs and needs. So, for example, the monk advised reading Psalm 1 when planting trees and grapes. Psalm 12 - for liver diseases. Psalm 15 - to find lost keys.
But a prayer for help is not a magic spell for immediate fulfillment of the request. The Lord does not always provide help quickly.
“At times it seems to us that the effect of prayer is too slow: disproportionate to the brevity of our existence; and a cry escapes from the chest: “Hurry up!” He does not always immediately respond to our call. Like some fruit on a tree, He leaves our soul to be scorched by the sun, to endure the blows of cold and burning winds, to languish with thirst or endure torrents of rain. But if we do not let go of the hem of His robe from our hands, we will see a good result” (Archimandrite Sophrony Sakharov, 1896-1993).
How to Pray for a Spouse
Archpriest Dionisy Svechnikov for “The ABCs of Marriage”
“I’m... years old and have no luck with women (men). I pray, but God does not send a person. Why is this happening? God doesn’t hear me?” “Who should I pray to in order to meet a good husband (wife)?” “I can’t meet my life partner. Does God want me to be alone?” “Who should I pray to to get married?”
Priests often hear such questions. They are all united by disappointment, despondency, and sometimes even despair. A person sincerely wants to get married, have children, but never meets a person with whom he would like to connect his life. He begins to pray, sometimes fervently, travels to holy places, tries to live according to God’s commandments. But nothing. And sometimes there is even resentment towards God. What's the matter? Does God really not hear or want to help? The question is serious and for some people more than pressing. Let's try to answer it.
Often in conversations with those who claim that they do not come across normal gentlemen (young ladies), it is revealed that the requirements for the “normality” of potential life partners are, to put it mildly, too high. Girls often want to see a prince on a white horse in their grooms. And such that “he doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, and always gives flowers.” Alas, the number of princes in the world is very limited, and the overwhelming majority of them enter into class, dynastic marriages. As the famous song says, no king can marry for love. This applies not only to real princes, but also to those who fall under the definition of wealthy people. Children of wealthy people or themselves, as a rule, marry others like themselves. This is due to many reasons, which we will generally call material. There are, of course, exceptions, but what is the likelihood that a prince will suddenly appear on the path of life? Minimal. The wait for the prince can be very long.
But this is only one side of the coin. The desire to “sell yourself in marriage at a higher price” does not at all fit with the Christian understanding of marriage. This desire even has a definition - to get married successfully. Accordingly, those who were not lucky enough to arrange their life through marriage are losers. Someone will object - throughout history, people have entered into both class marriages and arranged marriages, what has changed now? Nothing has changed, people throughout history want to live better and want to do it at the expense of other people. But is this what Christians should do? Marriage in Christianity is, first of all, the spiritual unity of spouses in Christ. But does it exist in the case when one of the spouses “sells” himself and the other “buys”? Doubtful. Therefore, such consumer psychology is unlikely to be a good basis for turning to God with prayer for marriage.
The expectation of a prince may not be connected with the desire for material wealth. Sometimes romantically minded girls expect complete romance in their relationships from potential suitors, and when it doesn’t happen, they are disappointed and cross the young man off the list of “princes.” By definition, a prince must be a romantic, and since Vasya the tractor driver is not a romantic, then he is not a prince.
A similar logic applies to young people. Very often, young people want to see in their future wife someone who has never looked up at anyone or walked with anyone by the hand. There is no question of fornication here; it is unacceptable for Christians. But if a girl has never looked up at anyone, then why should she suddenly look up at someone who is looking for just such a person? Is it really written on Kolya’s manager’s forehead that he is her only and God-sent husband? No. Is it then worth looking for one that doesn’t exist? And again the answer is no.
With age, the requirements for potential spouses may become simpler, and the bar may lower. But the internal attitude still does not make it possible to adequately assess the situation. The painted image of a future spouse does not allow us to see real candidates in real people. The result is unfulfilled hopes and futile prayers. A man prays, but there is no point. But it is not God who is to blame for this, but man himself, because he is looking either for profit or for some ideal that does not exist. And at this time, worthy people pass by in life, who could very well become good and loving spouses.
Often, a seemingly suitable person nevertheless meets along the way. And not even alone. But all attempts to build a harmonious relationship after meeting each other end in nothing, leaving the same feeling that the Lord will never send a suitable spouse. But if this kind of overkill happens all the time, it’s worth thinking about your own contribution to the relationship. Perhaps a man or woman expects that the other will adapt, adjust himself according to them: humble his ambitions, give up his desires in order to build harmonious relationships. At the same time, they themselves do not make any effort to correct their character or soften the requirements for their chosen one.
Sometimes the desire of a man or woman is directed towards a specific person. Prayers like “Lord, make Vasya (Dasha) become my husband (wife)” are said in all seriousness. Such prayer requests are unlikely to be fulfilled, since God does not force anyone and does not go against a person’s free will. If Vasya does not see Dasha as his wife, or Dasha does not want to marry Vasya, then asking God for the opposite simply does not make sense. The consent of both spouses to the marriage is asked both at the registry office and at the wedding; this should not be forgotten during the prayer for the gift of a spouse.
Many people mistakenly believe that God is a matchmaker, and it is He who must send a wonderful spouse who must meet all the requirements of the “customer.” At the same time, the personal qualities of the “customer” and those of the opposite sex with whom he is trying to build relationships do not matter at all. That’s why God is needed, to arrange everything; He knows best from above. He must take Vanya and Masha by the ears and push their foreheads together, so that they immediately go down the aisle. And Vanya and Masha, so be it, will light a candle in the church later.
Of course, God is not a matchmaker. And He doesn't owe anyone anything. He cannot be forced to do something according to our wishes. But He, as a loving Father, can really help. And here it is important to understand what exactly a man or woman wants from God - for Him to send spouses or for the spouses to be exactly what the petitioners want. If the first thing, which is undoubtedly Christian, then you need to completely rely on God and trust Him. Trust His choice. Trust unconditionally. Yes, that’s exactly it and no other way. Otherwise, it will be an “order” - Lord give me the kind of spouse I want. But doesn’t God know better what kind of spouse you need? If so, then you need to trust. When reading the Lord’s Prayer, we say the words: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” thereby inviting God to take an active part in our lives and to manifest His will. What is the will of God? It is that a person lives according to the Gospel. And only life according to the Gospel can be the basis for God to clearly demonstrate His participation in a person’s life. And this applies not only to marriage issues, but is relevant in all areas of life. Thus, it is not enough to simply pray for your spouse; you also need to confirm your trust in God in this matter with your life. God is unlikely to fulfill “orders” and will not be a pimp who supplies brides and grooms to choose from.
It is also necessary to realize that God does not give what we want, but what He considers necessary. If God does not send a husband (wife), then perhaps the person is praying for the wrong thing, asking for the wrong thing, while the Lord gives something else, not what is desired, but what is needed. Maybe a person simply refuses to notice and accept the one whom the Lord sends because he wants to satisfy his own desire.
It happens that a person is given a situation of celibacy so that he understands himself and his faith, and realizes that the main thing in life, after all, is not the presence of a husband or wife (or child), but the salvation of the soul. It is wonderful if you can share your spiritual life with your husband or wife, helping each other in this difficult matter of salvation. But sometimes he needs the ability to come to terms with the fact that there is no husband or wife. And as long as a person is tormented by a thirst to get what he wants and does not stop despairing or grumbling without receiving satisfaction, everything will continue like this.
A Christian man or woman should pray for the gift of a Christian spouse who would fully share the gospel way of life. This important condition is the key to correct prayer for the gift of a spouse and strengthens the faith that God will answer it. The last thing I would like to remind you is “trust in God, but don’t make a mistake yourself.” Even with the obviously correct approach to prayer, no one canceled the courtship, the candy-bouquet period and other pleasant moments of preparation for one of the most important matters in the life of a man and a woman - Christian marriage.
Who to contact
A prayer for help can also be heard from the First Helper of believers, the Most Holy Theotokos. There are many testimonies about receiving from Her what is asked for in prayers. For example, the gifts of believers on Her miraculous icons.
“From the very beginning of its historical life, Orthodox Rus' has felt the protection of the Mother of God over itself. The Queen of Heaven chose our homeland as Her inheritance and throughout the thousand-year journey of life has shown and to this day shows an innumerable number of miracles of Her care for it. Each generation living in faith knows from its own personal experience the love, strength and power of His Heavenly Mother” (Archimandrite John Krestyankin, 1910-2006).
There is an Orthodox tradition of asking saints for intercession before God in various needs. Each believer independently chooses according to his own heart whom to turn to. There are no strict and mandatory instructions on which saints to pray to in which situations.
“The saints in the Holy Spirit see our lives and our deeds. They know our sorrows and hear our fervent prayers... The saints do not forget us and pray for us... They also see the suffering of people on earth. The Lord gave them such great grace that they embrace the whole world with love. They see and know how exhausted we are from sorrows, how our souls have dried up, how despondency has shackled them, and, without ceasing, they intercede for us before God” (Rev. Silouan of Athos, 1866-1938).
Ambulance through prayers to St. Nicholas
Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle worker!
On May 22, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, one of the most revered Christian saints. On this day, we remember the transfer of his holy relics to the Italian city of Bari, where they remain to this day.
In the Orthodox world it is difficult to find a second saint as revered as Nicholas the Wonderworker. Everyone turns to him with reverence and fear: simpletons and scientists, believers and non-believers, even many who are alien to Christianity, Muslims and Buddhists. The reason for such large-scale veneration is simple - immediate, almost instantaneous help from God, sent through the prayers of this greatest saint. People who have turned to him at least once with a prayer of faith and hope certainly know this.
The life of Nicholas the Saint is very modest and, in fact, we know very little about his earthly life. We know that he was a most pious presbyter, and later bishop of the Lycian city of Myra, we know that he fearlessly stood up for those innocently condemned to death, we know that with secret but generous alms he saved three poor girls from dishonor and shame. We also know that at the first Ecumenical Council, in a tough debate, the zealous saint strangled, and according to modern times, he slapped the wicked, but skillful in disputes, heretic Arius. The fact in itself does not fit with Christian love and humility, but this is only at first glance. However, this is not what we are talking about now.
And so, against the backdrop of a life so sparse in facts, we see evidence that cannot be contained in many volumes about countless and great miracles performed after the death of St. Nicholas, right up to this day. Here it is necessary to remember that the Lord himself commanded us to hide our good deeds from human eyes and ears. This commandment, of course, was followed by St. Nicholas, and only thanks to the happy oversight of the Saint and the ingenuity of the father of the three sisters mentioned above, we now know how, under the cover of darkness, hiding, as it is said in the life, the holy saint threw bags with gold through the window to poor girls, thereby ensuring their blameless future.
Not having the courage to retell to you the miracles that have been described more than once, known and documented in literature, I want to tell you about a miracle that happened to my family, through the prayers of St. Nicholas, as quick and bright as all the miracles he performed. Some people close to me know about this miracle, and last winter I spoke about it on the day of remembrance of the saint at a sermon in the Church of the Three Saints, dear to my heart, in Kulishki. I hope you will read about it with interest and benefit.
This happened in 1993. A difficult and impoverished time of never-reformed perestroika and unaccelerated acceleration. My wife and I rented a dacha in Ilyinka. For the fall-winter it was much cheaper than even the most shabby housing in Moscow. I was not yet a priest and served as a sexton and reader in one of the newly opened monasteries. We lived more than modestly, and pollock, the breadwinner, was our exquisite holiday meal. Our second child was born, we were desperately short of money, and we didn’t want to return to secular work or leave the temple. Once during confession I complained to my confessor about life, and he told me:
– Pray to Saint Nicholas, read the akathist, everything will be fine.
I came home and told my wife about this, and we began to read the akathist.
On literally the third day, an old friend calls me and says:
- Dimitri, listen, are you still working in the church?
“In church,” I say.
“And, of course, you don’t have money.”
- Of course not.
- Listen, here’s the thing, a friend, the chief accountant of the bank, was balancing the balance, and somehow she had 40 thousand hanging on her. Neither here nor here - they seem to be extra, won’t you take them? She wanted to donate to one of the believers so that they could pray.
“I’ll take it,” I say, “of course, I’ll take it with great joy.”
And took. Brought it home. Forty thousand rubles was a lot of money at that time. My wife and I were shocked. Incredible, unthinkable! Saint Nicholas of Christ, great saint of God, glory to you, kind and quick helper. We decided to give half of the money to help one St. Nicholas Monastery in the Kaluga region, and with the other half we lived comfortably for, I don’t remember how long, but for a long time. However, money tends to run out, and we are again depressed. But we decided to take up the akathist again. And now, on the second day, my friend calls again:
- Dimitri, how is it, still in church?
- In the church.
- Listen, it’s the same story again, only this time it’s 50 thousand, will you take it?
I probably won’t be able to write about my experiences and feelings with my wife. You need to think about this for a long time, like poetry. We again halved the money in the same areas, and lived comfortably for another significant period of time. And then I became a deacon, a priest, and life took a completely different turn. But to this day and, I hope, until death, my mother and I will treat the great and most holy name of Nicholas the Wonderworker with love, fear, trepidation and delight. Through his prayers and to you all, on the day of his holy memory and all days - salvation and help from God, intercession and consolation in all sorrows, sorrows and adversities. I believe that the great saint will wipe away with his omophorion every tear you shed, will support with his right hand everyone who has raised their foot over the perilous abyss, will warm with the fire of his heart our sinful, weak, but faithful souls who have caught a cold in the cold winds of this century.
Prayer for Help: Evidence of an Answer
In 1950, a resident of Moscow, M., developed a serious liver disease. Several times a year she began to have severe attacks. The woman had difficulty going to work. When a woman was visiting her mother in the village in the summer of 1953, a general inflammation of the liver began. Being very weak herself, M. could only hardly serve her sick mother. One day, lying in bed and re-reading “The Life of the Venerable Father Seraphim of Sarov,” the patient prayed for help. At that moment, the monk appeared to her and placed his iron cross on her liver. Finally, Saint Seraphim of Sarov ordered to drink water from his source. When she woke up, the woman thought that everything she saw was a figment of her imagination. But the words of the saint did not give her peace. The next day, acquaintances “accidentally” handed over a bottle of water from Sarov. Having drunk it with faith, the woman was healed.
In 2015, Tatyana from Blagoveshchensk (Amur Region) inherited part of a house in the village. Leaving a house unattended in a village was risky. Tatyana did not have anyone who could constantly guard the house. The woman purchased the “Burning Bush” icon of the Mother of God and left it in the house. And she herself daily asked for help from the Lord and His Mother in preserving her property. As a result, Tatyana sold the house only two years later. During all this time, the house remained untouched by anyone.
The new owners were not immediately able to move to the village. They asked Tatyana to look after the housing. One day a woman was told that she had a fire. When Tatyana approached the house, she saw a real miracle. The fire burned only dry grass, without touching either the house or the barn.
In 2022, a 22-year-old young man was admitted to the hospital in Kavala (Greece). Diagnosis: clinical death. The young man’s parents had only one hope: God and the prayerful help of the saints. The skufa of St. Paisius the Holy Mountain (1924-1994) was brought to the hospital. After placing it on the young man’s head and the fervent prayer of his family, the young man was completely healed.
How to order a prayer service
A prayer service can be ordered in any Orthodox church by submitting a note to the saint with a petition in the church shop. During the service, it is advisable to be present in the temple and offer prayers together with the priest. Or pray at home in silence before the faces of the saints. “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
But if it is not possible to attend the service, due to poor health, because of work, because the church is remote, or if you want to ask for help from several saints, then you can order the services online. To do this, you need to fill out a special form on the website, indicating the name of the saint for whom the service will be served, as well as the names of people baptized in Orthodoxy for whom prayers are offered.
When submitting your prayers online, you can serve services at miraculous icons or at the relics of saints in remote churches and monasteries. This is strong prayer help in any endeavor.
Thanks to the Internet, you can order your needs online without leaving your home. But you yourself need to constantly pray and believe. “According to your faith, be it unto you,” says Christ, igniting in the hearts of people a tremulous fire and a desire to live according to His commandments and follow the prepared path.
It is important to remember that you need not only to ask in prayers, but also to thank the Lord for His benefits and mercy. You can give notes to various saints, and a thanksgiving prayer service is served to the Lord, because all good deeds are done according to His will.
Prayer of Saint Macarius the Great from the morning prayer rule
To You, Lord, the Lover of Mankind, I come running from sleep, and I strive for Your works with Your mercy, and I pray to You: help me at all times, in all things, and deliver me from all worldly evils these things and the devil's haste, and save me, and bring us into Your eternal Kingdom. For You are my Creator and the Provider and Giver of all good, in You is all my hope, and I send glory to You, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Psalm 30
Audio:
2:38
In You, Lord, have I trusted, that I may never be ashamed: by Your righteousness deliver me and redeem me. Incline Your ear to me, hasten to take me away: make me a protector in God and a house of refuge, even to save me. For You are my power and my refuge: and for Your name’s sake guide me and nourish me. Deliver me from the net of sowing, and hide me: for thou art my protector, O Lord. In Your hand I will offer my spirit: You, the Lord God of truth, have delivered me. You have hated those who keep vanities in vain: but I have trusted in the Lord. I will rejoice and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have looked upon my humility, You have saved my soul from want and carried me, You have shut me up in the hands of the enemy, You have placed me in space. ze moi. Have mercy on me, Lord, as I grieve: my eye, my soul and my womb are troubled by rage. As if my life had disappeared in illness, and my years were in sighing: my strength was weakened by poverty, and my bones were crushed. From all my enemies there was reproach, and from my neighbors great, and fear from those who knew me: those who saw me fled from me. He was forgotten as if he were dead from the heart: he was like a destroyed vessel. For I have heard the reproach of many who live around me: sometimes they will come together to me and receive my soul together. And I trust in You, Lord, reh: You are my God. My lots are in Your hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. Make Thy face shine upon Thy servant: save me by Thy mercy. Lord, let me not be ashamed, as I called Thee: let them be ashamed of wickedness and go down to hell. Let there be mute flattering lips, speaking against the righteous with iniquity, pride and humiliation. Since the great abundance of Your goodness, O Lord, You have hidden from those who fear You, You have made them to trust in You, before the sons of men: You have hidden them in the secret of Your face from human rebellion, cover them with blood from quarreling tongues. Blessed is the Lord, for you have surprised your mercy in the city of enclosure. And I said in my frenzy: I am rejected from before Thy sight: for this reason Thou heardest the voice of my prayer, and at some time I cried out to Thee. Love the Lord, all you who are like him: for the Lord seeks the truth and rewards those who are excessively proud. Take courage, and let your heart be strong, all you who trust in the Lord.
Translation: In You, O Lord, have I put my trust, that I may never be ashamed; according to Thy righteousness deliver me; incline Your ear to me, hasten to deliver me. Be to me a rocky stronghold, a house of refuge to save me, for You are my rocky mountain and my fence; for Thy name's sake lead me and rule over me. Lead me out of the snare that they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. I commend my spirit into Your hand; You have delivered me, O Lord, God of truth. I hate worshipers of vain idols, but I trust in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad about Your mercy, because You looked upon my misfortune, recognized the sorrow of my soul and did not deliver me into the hands of the enemy; set my feet in a spacious place. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress; My eye, my soul and my womb are withered from grief. My life was spent in sorrow and my years in lamentation; My strength has failed because of my sins, and my bones have dried up. From all my enemies I have become a reproach even among my neighbors and a terror to my acquaintances; Those who see me on the street run away from me. I am forgotten in hearts, as if dead; I am like a broken vessel, for I hear the slander of many; There is horror everywhere as they conspire against me and plot to tear out my soul. And I trust in You, Lord; I say: You are my God. My days are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors. Show Thy bright face to Thy servant; save me by Your mercy. God! Let me not be ashamed that I cry to You; Let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in hell. Let the lying lips become numb, which speak evil against the righteous with pride and contempt. How many good things You have, which You have stored up for those who fear You and which You have prepared for those who trust in You before the sons of men! You shelter them under the cover of Your face from human rebellions, you hide them in the shadow from the bickering of tongues. Blessed be the Lord for showing me His wondrous mercy in the fortified city! In my confusion I thought: “I am rejected from Thy eyes”; but You heard the voice of my prayer when I cried to You. Love the Lord, all ye His righteous; The Lord protects the faithful and rewards those who act arrogantly in abundance. Take courage, and let your hearts be strengthened, all you who hope in the Lord!
Prayer from the evening prayer rule
Forgive those who hate and offend us, O Lord, the Lover of Mankind. Do good to those who do charity. Grant to our brothers and relatives the same petition for salvation and eternal life. Visit those who are infirm and grant healing. Manage the sea too. For those who travel, travel. Grant forgiveness of sins to those who serve and have mercy on us. Have mercy on those who commanded us unworthy to pray for them according to the greatness of Your mercy.
Remember, Lord, first of all our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep and give them rest, where the light of Your countenance shines. Remember, Lord, our captive brothers and deliver me from every situation. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Your holy churches, and give them also petitions for salvation and eternal life. Remember, Lord, us, humble and sinful and unworthy Thy servants, and enlighten our minds with the light of Thy understanding, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Bogoro Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary and all Your saints: for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages . Amen.
Prayer to the Lord for the sick
Master, Almighty, Holy King, punish and do not kill, strengthen those who fall and raise up those who have been cast down, correct people’s bodily afflictions, we pray to Thee, our God, to visit Thy servant (name) without mercy by Thy mercy, forgive him every sin, voluntary and involuntary. Hey, Lord, send down Your healing power from heaven, touch the body, extinguish the fire, tame passion and all lurking infirmities, be the physician of Your servant (name), raise him from the sick bed and from the bed of bitterness, whole and all-perfect, grant him to Your Church, pleasing and doing Your will. It is Yours to have mercy and save us, our God, and we send glory to You. To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer during the spread of a harmful epidemic
Lord our God, do not bring Your servants into judgment, and protect us from the destructive pestilence that comes upon us. Spare us, Your humble and unworthy servants, in repentance with warm faith and contrition of heart towards You, our merciful and gracious God, who fall and trust in Your mercy. For it is Yours to have mercy and save us, O our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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