HOW TO PRAY IN FRONT OF AN ICON

The traditional way of blessing an icon is to leave it in the Sanctuary (Vema, or Altar area behind the iconostasion) of a temple for forty days; but a priest can bless icons at the Blessing of Houses; or an isolated individual can sprinkle holy water on one's icons.

You are recommended to read Jim Forest, How to pray with icons (Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997). There are many other volumes on icons available from Orthodox booksellers. SEE HERE FOR THE RATIONALE OF ICONS IN ORTHODOXY. Many of the better-known volumes on icons are quite expensive.

In what follows, one should distinguish a ceremony (something done, an action) from a rite (what is said, the form of a service, the rubrics for performing a ceremony).

Having lighted a blessed candle if possible, we first cross ourselves twice (with the first three right-hand figers held together, touching the forehead, then our right [sic] shoulder, then our left shoulder, and then our lower abdomen--an act that is accompanied with a bow from the waist, but in this instance should, outside of Lordsdays and the time of Pentecost (the fifty days of Pascha), be followed by a prostration or greater metania (metánoia "reverence, obeisance"--sometimes called proskýnesis). Note that on Lordsdays and during the period of no kneeling from Pascha to Pentecost, we substitute the lesser metania for the greater metania; we make the lesser metania by touching the backs (non-palm side) of the fingers of our right hand to the floor after crossing ourselves. We then kiss the holy Icon--here, the icon of our Lord GOD and Savior, Jesus Christ; if it is too distant to kiss, we may kiss the same three fingers and touch the icon with them. (We kiss our Savior's feet and the hand of a Saint.) Then we cross ourselves a third time, as before, and [except on Lordsdays and in the Pentecost season] kneel to the floor and put our foreheads on the floor; but on Lordsdays and during Pentecost, we siimply touch our hand to the floor . Standing and facing East, we raise our extended arms with palms up (and apart) and, with eyes gazing on the icon,, we pray. We can pray any appropriate prayer, including the following prayer to the Giver of Life and Paraclete--the All-Holy Spirit--thus:

Holy Paraclete, Giver of Life, eternal GOD: Mercifully bestow on us the Grace of the Life-giving Energies of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ; and let us live as faithful children of the Light so that we--finally beholding the unfading beauty of the Vision of the uncreated Light, becoming partakers by Grace of the divine Nature, and being transformed into the glorious Likeness of our Creator--may on the awesome Day of Judgment be reckoned among the august company of His Mother, our Lady and Queen, and all others in whom the love of GOD has been perfected, and worship and bask forever in the refulgence of the true glory. Ameen.

Christ our GOD, You Who are worshipped at all times and at every hour both in Heaven and on earth; You Who are of great patience, mercy, and compassion; You Who You love the righteous and show mercy to sinners; You Who call all to salvation through the promise of future Blessings: Lord, receive our prayers at this hour and direct our lives according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, order our minds, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from all distress, affliction, and grief. Encompass us with Your Holy Angels that we, guarded and guided by their company, may attain to the unity of the Faith and the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory. For You are blessed throughout the ages. Ameen.

One does not kiss an icon with lipstick on the lips; one does not kiss the face of the Savior or a Saint portrayed on an icon.

NOTE: The reader can download and print out the icons on this page with a color-printed and laminate them. Icons are blessed by leaving them in the Sanctuary (the Altar area) of an Orthodox temple; or one may bless them with holy water obtained from a priest. The icon shelf, corner, or niche should be on the east side of a room, if possible; one icon is usually found in the dining room. Icons of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ are hung on the right side; those of the most holy Theotókos ("Mother of God"; see Luke 1:43), on the left; those of other Saints interspered with the foregoing. Icon shelves (including those that fit in a corner) can be purchased from some Orthodox bookstores; for which CLICK HERE.)

The liberating value of using the prayers of the Church--instead of inventing your own--lies in the way they free you from having to worry about how to pray (non-heretically and otherwise) correctly in order that you may concentrate wholly on meaning what you pray, once you have selected the appropriate prayers to pray. In the unlikely event that you should come up with something that almost twenty centuries of Christians have not found occasion to pray for, you are free to insert relevant clauses in other prayers related to the subject in question. But you should make sure that your petition is Orthodox. This petition can be inserted as necessary in an appropriate litany:

For help to all who are beset by catastrophe--through fire, wind, flood, earthquake, lava, or disease--or through terror, oppression, or any privation, let us entreat the Lord.

CLICK HERE FOR VAROUS DEVOTIONAL SERVICES

ABOUT SERVICES IN THE ABSENCE OF A PRIEST

See We praise, bless and worship: Daily Prayer for Orthodox Christians (available from St. Ignatius of Antioch Press, Columbus, Ohio, ed. Jan V. Bear, 1994). This small spiral-bound paperback volume includes daily Vespers, daily Compline, daily Matins, and the Noon Office.

CLICK HERE FOR VARIOUS ONLINE
ORTHODOX PRAYERS

CYBERPSALTIRI

CLICK HERE FOR SLAVONIC MUSIC FOR MP3

ABOUT SERVICES FOR CERTAIN MYSTERIES

ANASTASIS LITURGICAL TEXTS

The Divine Liturgy of the most holy Eucharist is the main service of the Church, celebrated wherever there is a priest on Lordsdays and important holy days--daily in large temples and in monasteries where possible. The official daily services of the Church include the Hours. There are also less formal prayer services called Akathists, Mol(i)ébens, etc., of which Mol(i)ébens can be led by the head of a household for the whole family or by anyone for oneself.

Orthodox daily prayers, private or communal, begin with the following hymns, suffrages, short litany, and Lord's Prayer; this is called the TRISÁYION or TRISÁGION, though the prayer, "Heavenly King," is replaced by other prayers at Blessings and so on. We begin by kissing the icon (of Jesus, on the feet it they are portrayed; of a Saint, on the hands, if they are portrayed) and saying. These prayers are usual at the beginning and ending of each day.

         In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.    Ameen.

     Glory + to You, our God, Glory to You!    --or--
     Blessed + is our God now and forevermore. Ameen.

Then we pray the daily prayer to the Holy Paraclete--the Holy Spirit; this prayer is replaced by another at trisagions for those fallen asleep and omitted at various Blessings (at mealtime, of homes, etc.):

     At the editor's request, the following information has been pro- vided by a layperson very knowledgeable of these (and other) matters:
     "Heavenly King..." is omitted from private and corporate prayers for the entire Paschal/Pentecostal period and is resumed in the Vespers of [i.e. on the evening before the Day of] Pentecost as the major Vesperal hymn (called in Greek doxastikon), which is chanted at the end of the series of stichira and preceded by "Glory to the Father...").
     So the descent of the Holy Spirit is introduced by chanting the prayer in a major kind of way in Byzantine practice.

Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of truth, everywhere present, filling all things, Treasury of Blessings, and bountiful Giver of Life: Come and dwell in us, gracious Lord; cleanse us of every blemish, and save our souls.

Holy + God, Holy + Mighty, Holy + Immortal One:
     Have mercy on us.   (X 3)
Holy Immortal God:
     Have mercy on us.
Holy + God, Holy + Mighty, Holy + Immortal One:
     Have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the + Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

All-holy Trinity, + have mercy on us.
Lord [Father], be gracious toward our sins.
Master [Son], pardon our transgressions.
All-holy [Spirit], heed and heal our frailties, for your name's sake.

Glory to the Father and to the + Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Our Father + in Heaven: May Your name be reverenced; may Your reign come to pass; may Your will be fulfilled on earth the way it is in Heaven. Give us this day our life-sustaining bread; and for what we owe forgive us, just as we forgive others for what they owe us. And do not let us be put to the test, but free us from the evil one.
For the kingship, power, and Glory are Yours─Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit--both now and ever and throughout the eons. Ameen.

On the Lord's Prayer, note that scholars of Aramaic (CLICK HERE) have observed that, in the version of the Our Father found in Luke 11:2-4), the Evangelist Luke, "demonstrating his bilingualism, knew that the DEBT/SIN metaphor" of Aramaic got "lost in Greek; therefore he . . . us[ed] the Aramaic metaphorical sense of HOBIN/SIN in the 1st half" of verse 4 (where Greek has "and forgive us our sins") and return[ed] to the Greek participial form of DEBT in the 2nd half." St. John of Damaskos's understanding of "life-sustaining bread" is adopted here.

Except from the Birthday of Jesus till the day before the Theophany and from holy Great Pascha through Pentecost Lordsday, some of the faithful prostrate ourselves at the ecphonesis of the "Our Father," i.e. beginning at the words, "For the kinship, power, and Glory," etc.

Bless the Lord, my soul! You are very great, Lord my God.
Blessëd are You, Lord: Bless the Lord, my soul!
You are arrayed with honor and majesty: may the Lord's glory endure
     forever!
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while
     I have my being.
Alleluïa, alleluïa, alleluïa! To You, God, Glory!

[Note that Greek e is English "ee" (as in creed). Greek al-lee-loo-ee-ah has five syllables.]

At the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus our God, have mercy on + us and save us. Ameen.

There is a special Blessing service for those undertaking an important or arduous journey.

This service can be served to commemorate an important national or private occasion. It is very similar to the prayers sung before the divine Liturgy. It contents are as follows:

The two anthems (Kondakion, Apolytikon) of the Day or otherwise appropriate to the occasions are sung in turn.

    Glory to You Who have exhibited the Light. Glory in the highest to God and on earth may peace prevail--goodwill in the human race
     We hymn You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You through because of Your great Glory.
     Lord, King, God in Heaven, Father almighty; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and Holy Spirit!
     Accept our prayer, You Who are seated at the Father's right, and have mercy on us.
     For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, + Jesus Christ, in the Glory of God the Father. Ameen.

Holy + God, Holy + Mighty, Holy + Immortal One: Have mercy on us. (X 3)
Holy Immortal God: Have mercy on us.
Holy + God, Holy + Mighty, Holy + Immortal One: Have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the + Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

All-holy Trinity, + have mercy on us.
Lord [Father], be gracious toward our sins.
Master [Son], pardon our transgressions.
All-holy [Spirit], heed and heal our frailties, for your name's sake..

Glory to the Father and to the + Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Our Father + in Heaven: May Your name be reverenced; may Your reign come to pass; may Your will be fulfilled on earth the way it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily sustenance; and for what we owe forgive us, just as we forgive others for what they owe us. And do not let us be put to the test, but free us from the evil one.
For the kingship, power, and Glory are Yours--Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit--both now and ever and throughout the eons. Ameen.

For the sake of the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, God, be merciful and save us. Aneen.

Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, and undivided Trinity, both now and ever and throughout the ages.
R: Ameen.

Holy + God, Holy + Mighty, Holy + Immortal One: Have mercy on us. (X 3)
Holy Immortal God: Have mercy on us.
Holy + God, Holy + Mighty, Holy + Immortal One: Have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father and to the + Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

All-holy Trinity, + have mercy on us.
Lord [Father], be gracious toward our sins.
Master [Son], pardon our transgressions.
All-holy [Spirit], heed and heal our frailties, for your name's sake.

Glory to the Father and to the + Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Our Father + in Heaven: May Your name be reverenced; may Your reign come to pass; may Your will be fulfilled on earth the way it is in Heaven. Give us this day our life-sustaining bread; and for our sins forgive us, just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And do not let us be put to the test, but free us from the evil one.
For the kingship, power, and Glory are Yours--Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit--both now and ever and throughout the eons. Ameen.

Come, let us worship God our King. Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Him.

Grateful for Your great benefits that You have showered on us, Lord, in glorifying You we praise, bless, give thanks, sing, and magnify Your loving-kindness and lovingly cry out to You in humble submissiveness: Our Benefactor and our Savior: Glory to You!
Glory to the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit.

You, Master, Who have freely accorded Your benefits and gifts to Your unprofitable servants, we, zealously resorting to You, Lord, offer You thanks according to our strength; and glorifying You as our Benefactor and Creator, we cry aloud: Glory to You, God most bountiful!
Both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Theotókos, the Helper of Christians, we your servants, having received your protection, gratefully cry out to you: Hail, all-pure Virgin Mother of God! From all calamities deliver us ever through Your prayers--you who by yourself are a ready helper in trouble.

There follow the usual responses before the singing of the Apostle; the prokeimenon is:

I will sing praises to the Lord because He has dealt so lovingly with me; yes, I will praise the name of the Lord most high.
Response: My heart will rejoice in Your Salvation.

To the King of all time--unwaning, invisible, in Himself God--honor and Glory throughout the ages. Ameen. [1 Timothy 1:17]

      Have mercy on us God, according to Your great mercy, we beseech You; give ear and show mercy.
Response: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
     Returning thanks with fear and trembling to Your loving-kindness, Lord, our Savior and Master for Your benefits that You have poured out abundantly on Your servants, unprofitable servants, we fall down in Worship and offer You praise as God and fervently cry out to You: Deliver Your servants from all calamities, and out of Your mercy fulfill the desires of all of us always in ways expedient for us, we diligently entreat You.   Give ear and have mercy.
Response: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
     Inasmuch as You have mercifully heeded Your servants' supplications, Lord, and have bestowed on us the tender compassion of Your love for the human race, so also in time to come. without overlooking us, for the increase of Your Glory fulfill all good desires of Your faithful people and reveal to us the entirety of Your rich mercy, ignoring all of our iniquities, we beseech You. Give ear and have mercy.
Response: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
     And may this our thanksgiving serve as fragrant incense, as a whole burnt-offering, before the Majesty of Your Glory, all-gracious Master. And out of your beneficence constantly send down on Your servants Your rich mercies and bounties; and deliver Your holy Church and this place from all assaults of enemies--both visible and invisible. And grant to all of Your people length of days to remain sinless and in good health, we beseech You, along with growth in every virtue, bountiful King. Mercifully give ear, and show mercy without delay.
Response: Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Priest: Hear us God our Savior, the hope of all of the ends of the earth and of those who are far away on the sea; and show mercy, Master, have mercy, on us sinners, and be merciful toward us.
For You are a merciful God, Who cherish the human race; and to You we ascribe Glory--to the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit--both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Making three reverences before the holy Table, the Deacon sings:
Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir and people: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercies and bounties, Whose mercy is without measure and Whose love for the human race is unfathomable: We unprofitable servants, falling down in adoration before Your Majesty with fear and trembling, now humbly render thanks to Your loving-kindness for Your benefits bestowed on Your servant(s), [name(s)]. We glorify You, we praise You, we hymn You, and we magnify You as our Lord, Master, and Benefactor. And falling down anew before You, we humbly give thanks to You, supplicating Your boundless and inexpressible mercy. And following from Your gracious condescension in accepting the petitions of Your servants and fulfilling them, grant in addition that Your holy Church and this place may be delivered from every hostile assault and be given peace and tranquility; and that all of Your faithful people, increasing in true love of You and in all virtues, may receive all of Your benefits and ever offer thanks to You, together with Your Father Who is eternal and Your all-holy, good, and Life-giving Spirit--God glorified in one Essence. And grant that we may utter what is good and sing:

Then the choir stands in the midst of the temple and sings "Glory to God in the highest" (see the foregoing Office) or St. Ambrose's Hymn (Te Deum, laudamus), which follows:

We praise You, God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord. The whole earth worships You, the Father everlasting. To You all Angels cry out with all of the Powers in Heaven. To You the Cherubim and Seraphim continually utter, "Holy, Holy , Holy, Lord God of hosts; Heaven and earth are filled with the Majesty of Your Glory." The glorious throng of the Apostles praises You. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praises You. The noble army of Martyrs praises You. The holy Church throughout the whole world acknowledges You--the Father of an infinite Majesty; Your adored, genuine, and only Son; also the Holy Spirit, the Strengthener. You are the King of Glory, Christ, You are the eternal Son of the Father. When you assumed the task of delivering the human race, You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin. When You had overcome the sting of death, You opened the Reign of Heaven to all believers. You sit on the right hand of God the Father in His glory. We believe that You are to come to be our Judge. We therefore pray You: Help Your servants, the ones that You have purchased with Your precious Blood. Have them be numbered with Your Saints in Glory everlasting. Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day, we magnify You, and we worship Your name, ever throughout the ages. Deign, Lord, to preserve us this day without sin. Lord have mercy on us, have mercy on us. Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as our trust is in You. Lord, in You I have trusted; let me never be confounded.

More honorable than the Cherubim, without comparison more glorious than the Seraphim--you, who without stain have borne God the LOGOS, true Theotókos: We magnify you.

Glory to the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit; both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his all-holy Mother, of St. [name of the Saint of the day], and of all of the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and cherishes the human race.
May the Blessing + of the Lord, through His Grace, bounties, and love for the human race, be on you all both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

     On weekdays during the Great Fast--but not on Lordsdays and other days when prostrations are not made--we say at the end of each Hour service [before the dismissal at Orthros (Daybreak office) and Vespers; at the end of the other Hour offices], ST. EFREM'S [EPHRAIM'S] PRAYER with three prostrations (or great metánias) accompanied by crossing ourself:

     Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power, or idle talk.
[prostration]
     But give me, Your servant, a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love.
[prostration]
     Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother or sister; for You are blessed throughout the ages.
[prostration]

Note to Western Christians: While the Orthodox use prayer ropes, they do not have "Rosary" services, special services of Benediction by "the blessëd Sacrament," or Holy Hours in the Latin fashion. The Orthodox do not have Novenas, and "the holy Name" or the "sacred Heart" (of either our Savior or the Theotokos) are absent in Eastern Christianity, along with the festivals so named and a number of others like Corpus Christi. The Transfiguration is more important in Orthodoxy than many other festivals, though the Repose of the m.h. Theotokos on Aug. 15 is very important and is preceded by fasting period of two weeks. The Way of the Cross is made by the Orthodox in procession only in Jerusalem--on holy Great Friday. The Orthodox have a prayer or anthem similar to the Latin Angelus but somewhat longer. CLICK HERE FOR PRAYERS TO THE ALL-PURE THEOTOKOS and look at the third prayer. Instead of having the Angelus for daily prayers, the Orthodox say the Trisáyion.
It can also be noted that Russian bells have an oval or ellipse form and sound very different from Western round bells. Wooden clappers are used to call monastics to the services of the Hours, of which there are seven plus the midnight office; they are grouped together at different times of the day, as when the sixth and ninth hours are sung before and after lunch (or both after lunch time; there is no lunch in monasteries on the first three days of Lent and on holy Great Friday).

Holy Athanasios, Maximos, John of Damaskos, Gregory PalamAs, and Mark of Ephesos, whose steadfastness mightily helped to preserve the purity of the holy Catholic, Apostolic, and Orthodox Faith: Support my prayers with your holy supplications, that the Holy Spirit may grant me the Grace of enlightening my thoughts, in order that I may avoid spiritual blindness, presumption, and the errors that ensue from them; that I may lead no one into error; and that my thoughts may be such as promote the truth. Beseech our eternal and most merciful Savior, Christ our GOD, whose member I am, that at the last I may be granted to behold the uncreated Light of GOD and through the unspeakable Grace of that Vision become a partaker of the divine Nature and the true glory, abiding in everlasting joy with His most blessëd Mother, with you holy ones, and with the entire company of Saints in heaven. Ameen.

THE JESUS PRAYER (MEDITATION)
"The Prayer of the Heart"

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me (a sinner).

This prayer may be repeated over and over, with or without a prayer rope, at any idle moment during the day. Orthodox monastics repeat it continually when not engaged in the services of the Church. At moments of temptation, repeating this prayer will distract the mind from tempting thoughts and help it concentrate on OLGS Jesus Christ.

CLICK HERE FOR TABLE GRACES

Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely on Your holy will. At every hour of the day, reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat everything that comes to me throughout this day with peace of soul and a firm conviction that Your will governs everything. In all of my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that they are all sent by You. Teach me to act firmly and wisely without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it is to bring. Direct my will; teach me to pray; pray in me Yourself. Ameen.

That we may not be betrayed or treated contemptuously by those we trust,
let us implore the Lord.

My most merciful and all-compassionate God, Lord Jesus Christ: Out of Your great love, You came down and became flesh in order to save us all. Again, I beseech You, save me through Your Grace! If You were to save me for my deeds, it would be no gift but merely a duty. In truth, You abound in graciousness and are ineffably merciful; You, my Christ, have said, "Whoever believes in me will live and never see death." If faith in You saves the desperate, take note: I believe. Save me, for You are my God and my Creator. May my faith replace my deeds, my God. For You will find no deeds to make me righteous; let my faith suffice for everything: May it answer for me; may it make me righteous; may it make me a partaker of Your eternal Glory; and may satan not apprehend me, LOGOS, or boast that he has ripped me from Your hand and fold. Christ my Savior, save me whether I will it or not. Come speedily; hasten, for I perish. You are my God from my mother's womb. Grant, Lord, that I may now love You as I once loved sin, and that I may labor for Your without laziness, as once I labored for satan the deceiver. Even more will I labor for You, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Majesty in Heaven, GOD the Son Who from the dead arose, before Whose dread as well as gentle Presence human creatures falter, awed and in amazement overcome; to Whom sincere and humble Worship will exceed, outweigh, and overpass the weakness human prayers may muster; and to Whom one head prostrate in loving adoration to Your Glory overshadows all self-seeking for our own Salvation: Grant that we may center every thought and hope and aim on You and not in our own selves; and graciously disclose to us how all we do may help promote the realization of our end in You—our body’s resurrection and our spirit’s joyful, endless praise, beholding You and being ever smitten by the dazzling beauty of Your uncreated Light—so that through Grace we may obtain the blessëd fruition of Your glory as partakers of the Nature, Energies, and Life of GOD; not doubting that there is nothing in this life apart from sin that is divorced from You, and that this little time on earth most rightly ought to serve the ever greater praise and glory of the Father having no beginning; and of You, + Creator and Redeemer of the faithful, co-equal with the Father, Bringer of the greatest mercies; and also of the Holy Spirit, Giver of eternal Life; both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

We have beheld the Resurrection of Christ. Let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, Who alone is without sin. We venerate Your Cross, Christ; and we praise and glorify Your holy Resurrection. For You are our God; we know of no other besides You; we invoke Your name. Come, all of you faithful, let us adore the holy Resurrection of Christ: for look, through the Cross joy has fallen on the entire cosmos. Always blessing the Lord, we sing the praises of His Resurrection; for He endured the Cross on our behalf and has destroyed death by death!

My most merciful, my all-merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ: In Your great love, You came down and became flesh in order to save all. As before, I beseech you You: Save me by Grace. If You were to save me by virtue of my deeds, it would not be a gift, but merely an obligation. You truly overflow in graciousness and are unspeakably compassionate. You have said, my Christ: "Whoever believes in me will live and never see death." If faith in You saves the desperate, look, I believe: Save me; for You are my God and my Maker. Let my faith take the place of my deeds, my God; for You will find no deeds to justify me. Let my faith be sufficient for all; let it answer for me; let it justify me, let it make me become a partaker of Your eternal glory; and do not let Satan take hold of me, Logos [or Reason], and boast that He has torn me out of Your hand and fold. Christ my Savior, save me whether I so will or not. Come with haste at once, for I perish. You have been my God from my mother's womb. Grant, Lord, that I may now love You as I once loved sin; and that I may work for You without laziness as once I worked for Satan the deceiver: Even more will I labor for You, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life--now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Remember us in Your reign, Lord, when You come to Your Kingdom.
1. Blessëd + are the down-trodden; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 2. Blessëd are the disconsolate; for they will be comforted. 3. Blessëd are the meek; for they will inherit the earth. 4. Blessëd are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they will be filled. 5. Blessëd are the merciful; for they will obtain mercy. 6. Blessëd are the pure in heart; for they will SEE GOD. 7. Blessëd are the peace-makers; for they will be called the children of GOD. 8. Blessëd are you when people revile you, persecute you, and on account of Me falsely speak every kind of evil against you. 9. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.

Remember, Lord, all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and of everlasting life--our parents and brothers and sisters, Orthodox Christians who repose both here and elsewhere on the earth. And locate them among Your Saints, where the Light of Your Countenance shines forth. And have mercy on us; for You are gracious and cherish the human race. Ameen.

The chorus of Saints has found the Fount of Life. We pray for the Salvation + of GOD’s dearly belovëd servant(s), CHRISTIAN NAME(S). Forgive him/her/them every voluntary and involuntary transgression. For we have been fashioned in Your Image.

You, Christ our Lord, are the Resurrection + and the Life and the respite of Your servant(s)—CHRISTIAN NAME(S). To You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father Who has always existed and to Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Sweetest Lord Jesus, save us.
Most holy Mother of GOD, help us.
Holy Father/Mother, St. NAME, pray to GOD for us.

Glory to the Father, and + to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
Both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

Rest, + Lord, grant to the souls and a joyful resurrection to the bodies of Your servant(s), NAME(S), and all of the faithful who have fallen asleep in the Faith; establish them in Paradise with Your Saints, where there is neither sickness nor sorrow nor grieving but only Life everlasting. Ameen.

Rest, + rest, grant to Your servant(s) who have fallen asleep, (especially NAME[S],) and establish her/him/them in Paradise, where the choirs of the Saints and righteous shines like the stars in the firmament. To Your servant(s) now fallen asleep, give rest +,taking no heed of their transgressions.

Give + rest among your Saints, Christ, to the souls of Your servants, (especially NAME[S],) where there is neither sickness nor sorrow nor sighing but life everlasting.

[We pray] that the end of our life may be Christian; that it may be without torment, blameless, and peaceful; and that we may have a good defence before the dread Judgment Seat of Christ.

Into Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ, I commend my spirit and body: Bless + me, save me, and grant me everlasting Life. Ameen.

Master, Lord Almighty, accept my spirit in peace, and from Your all-holy glory send an Angel of peace to guide me to the thrice-illumined Godhead, that my ascent may not be hindered by the prince of darkness. Do not put me to shame before Your Angels, but reckon me among the chorus of the elect. For You are blessed throughout the ages. Ameen.

Holy Paraclete, Giver of Life, eternal GOD: Mercifully bestow on us the Grace of the Life-giving Energies of our GOD and Savior, Jesus Christ; let us live as faithful children of the Light so that—finally beholding the unfading beauty of the Vision of the uncreated Light, becoming partakers by Grace of the divine Nature, and being assimilated to the glorious Likeness of our Creator—we may on the awesome Day of Judgment be reckoned among the august company of Your Mother, our Lady and Queen, and the entire company in whom the love of GOD has been perfected and worship and bask forever in the refulgence of the true glory.

Holy Spirit, Sanctifier, Advocate, Bestower of Grace and eternal Life: Fill us with the Life-giving Energies of the One Who rose from the dead, that we may praise and worship our most glorious and undivided triune GOD, inspired and energized by Grace to please You as members of our Savior’s Body, clinging always to the divine Majesty with our whole being, taking heed of the divine bidding to love others like ourselves, secure in our knowledge that the Life that we partake of and live by is the Life of Christ that You bestow, and acknowledging that He is our only hope for a resurrection consummated with the love and Worship of the Father (the Font of all Being and Love) and of the Son and of You—beyond time and the ages in the everlasting peace and joy of Paradise.

We begin by standing, bowing to the icon in the eastern corner or on the eastern wall, and crossing ourselves. We say the following versicles from the Psalms before the table Grace: We begin by standing, bowing to the icon in the eastern corner or on the eastern wall, and crossing ourselves. We say the following versicles from the Psalms before the table Grace:After the evening meal: Blessed + be GOD, Who is always merciful to us and nourishes us with the plenitude of His gifts, especially Grace and compassion; both now and ever and throughout the ages. Ameen.

In the Slavic tradition, we purchase one or more prosphoras (breads that look like ordinary American biscuits) on entering the Temple; we accompany each of these with a list of those to be prayed for--a list for the living, a list for those fallen asleep, and perhaps a list of our own needs. These are taken to the Sanctuary. A slice of each is used for the most holy Mysteries, and the remainder is returned to us to take home, carry on a trip, take to one shut in or hospitalized, etc. These are not the Body and Blood of our Savior, but are to be treated reverently nevertheless. The coming together of our various prosphoras in the service symbolizes our unity (with the congregation and the Saints and all of the faithful departed ) in the communion of Saints.

With faith and love, let me come to Your holy Mysteries, Lord GOD and Savior, + Jesus Christ; and inasmuch as You have taken my sins on Your own Self and I am made clean in and by You, may I not unworthily partake of Your most holy and true Body and Blood—Manna from Heaven, Bread of Life. Let me be filled with forgiveness for others, as You have forgiven me. Bless me, for You have renewed the creation in Your marvelous Birth by Your most holy Mother, the ever-blessed virgin Mary; You cleansed it with the precious Blood shed in Your Passion and Death on the Life-giving Cross; and You fulfilled its destiny in offering it up in the triumph of Your glorious Rising from the dead. Be then my deliverance from sin and eternal death; live in me and renew my faith with steadfastness; to the end that I may share in Your Life and may love You unceasingly till I see the blessed Vision of Your uncreated Light and glory. Ameen.

Having fasted from midnight, we line up to receive the most holy Mysteries of Christ's Body and Blood with our arms crossed over our breast (right arm on top of the left arm). Crossing ourselves before standing to close to the sacred Chalice, we then reverently received the holy Gifts standing, and afterwards in some traditions kiss the Chalice. We then kiss the priest's hand; we do so again as we in turn receive the blessed bread (antídoron)--and in the Slavic tradition, a little warm wine--to break our fast and especially to ensure that no particle of the most holy Gifts remain in our mouth--after which we return to where we had been standing during the divine Liturgy.

I believe, Lord, and I confess that You are truly Christ, the Son of God, Who came to the world to save sinners--of whom I am the first. And I believe that This really is Your own spotless Body, and that This really is Your own precious Blood. I therefore entreat You, have mercy on me and forgive my sins both voluntary and involuntary--of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance. And make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your immaculate Mysteries for the remission of sins and for Life everlasting.

Of Your mystical supper, Son of God, accept me this day as a communicant. For I will not speak of Your Mystery to Your enemies; neither will I give You a kiss the way Judas did, But like the thief, I will confess You. Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom. Remember me, Master, in Your Kingdom. Remember me, Holy One, in Your Kingdom.

Behold, I approach the immortal King, our GOd. Impart to me, Lord, the precious Body and BLood of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ.

To You, Holy One, + Who enable Your faithful members to partake of Your most holy Body and Blood and even to become partakers of the divine Nature; to You Who have cleansed and renewed Your unworthy servant and filled me with heavenly joy through this most holy Mystery, I return devout, humble, and joyful thanks; and I pray, Lord and all-compassionate Savior, that the most holy Eucharist may heal, save, and protect my body, mind, heart, and soul; let me depart illumined with faith and hope and with love inflamed by Your Self-Offering for my Salvation, uplifted and exalted by having partaken of You; and may I have greater resolve and ability to glorify Your Majesty and to follow the way that You lay our for Your faithful members to go in: You Who dwell in Light inaccessible, and Who are the way, the truth, the Resurrection, and the Life, the true joy and gladness of the faithful, the genuine, unfading Light of the world. Ameen.

A BISHOP'S ADVICE FOR CHILDREN'S PRAYERS
on arising from sleep

   Instruct the children: On arising in the morning, before anything else, direct your heart and mind towards God, and face your icons, or face East and with compunction, and without haste, make four bows, or better, four prostrations (except on Lordsdays and major holy days). Do this with hope in God, and the sure belief that He will receive your prayer, as He received the widow's two mites, and protect you during the day, even if you fall into inattention and these prayers are the last you will say for the entire day.
    Making the sign of the cross, with a bow or prostration during each prayer say:
        1. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner.
        2. Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
        3. Holy Saint [name of your patron saint], pray to God for me.
        4. Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.
    After these prayers, it is best to continue with your morning prayers, and then turn your attentions to the cares of the day. Even if the weakness of the flesh compels us to abandon our prayer and rush into our day, perhaps not to return to our morning prayer, at least we have begun the by giving our "first fruits" to God. Let us do these "few things"--four short prayers that take under a minute--so that in time, our heart will become aflame with the love of God, and our Lord will say to us: "Well done, good and faithful servant: You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things: Come into the joy of your Lord." [Mat 25:21]

Christ our GOD, Lamb of GOD, Whose precious Blood was shed for us on the holy and Life-giving Cross, and Who in rising from the dead have saved all who believe in You, partake of You, and become members of Your risen Body: We implore You, acting in Your members to perform works acceptable to You, to grant us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the end that we may have boldness at the hour of Judgment to shed all doubt that we are to be partakers of the divine Nature and the glory to be revealed, so that we may not appear ashamed at Your dread judgment seat but will join the redeemed in beholding the ineffable Vision of Your uncreated Light, singing and crying aloud the glory of the all-compassionate Trinity and sharing with Your most blessed Mother and all of the Saints in Your glorious Resurrection and the abundant Life and bliss of Your everlasting reign.

GOD our Savior, Whose Life-giving Grace dwells in the faithful members of Your risen Body through the energizing of the Holy and Life-giving Spirit: May that same Spirit shed the divine Love in our hearts and enhance our faith in the Salvation wrought for believers by You, to the end that we may not lose this Grace by failing to persevere in obedience to You. May our supplications be heard at Your Throne of Grace, furthered by the holy prayers of Your all-pure Virgin Mother, who is called blessed throughout all generations as the holy portal of Your Entry into the world of flesh and blood that You created and then saved through Your holy Birth, Your sacred Death, and Your triumphant Resurrection.

Merciful Savior, eternal GOD, compassionate Lord, Whose love is an everlasting love; Who made the holy Angels to be ornaments of Your unfading splendor and the animals to embellish creation and to serve us in simplicity, but human beings to serve You with the love of our hearts and with the reason and intelligence of our minds: Give us the joy of the redeemed in the Communion of Saints, the citizens of Heaven, that we may pass the days of this earthly pilgrimage with our gaze firmly fixed on the Jerusalem that is above and at the last awaken from death in Your Likeness to be admitted among the heirs of the true glory with Your blessed Mother, the Queen of the cosmos, amid the great throng of Martyrs and other Saints, as all of the members of Your Body forever praise Your Rising from the dead with hymns of gladness and love.

Risen Christ, King of the Seraphim and Cherubim, Lord of the Angels, Glory of the Martyrs and Confessors, hope of all: In You the faithful live, partaking of Your Life and love, glorifying Your mercy and majesty, and made new in Your Likeness through Your most glorious and radiant Light.

In Christ, Salvation has come to the world. Let us sing praises to the very One That has risen from the grave and is the Author of Life, the Font of Love; for in defeating death by dying, He has overcome death, giving us victory and the great Mercy.

Heaven and earth join in glorifying GOD the Father and His Only-Begotten Son, our great GOD and Savior, the Lord + Jesus Christ, Who renewed the creation in His marvelous Birth by the most holy Virgin Mother of GOD, cleansed it with His precious Blood in His sacred Suffering and Death, fulfilled its destiny in offering it up in His Rising from the dead, and then sent the Holy Paraclete to bring to those who believe and trust in Him the love and Life of the divine Trinity and the serenity of the eternal and glorious Godhead--Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit.

For those who are beset by war, terror, oppression, sickness, disaster, or privation, let us entreat the Lord.

For more missionaries to bring the holy Gospel to all who have not heard it or who have not understood it according to the teachings of holy Orthodoxy, and for their success.

BEDTIME PETITIONS FROM THE SUPPLICATORY CANON TO
ONE'S GUARDIAN ANGEL by the Monk John Mavropous

     Divine Angel of God almighty, I hymn you, the unsleeping Guardian of my soul, protector of my life, guide given me from God.
     My defender, beseech with great boldness the granting of pardon for my many evil deeds, seeing that you stand before the throne of the Almighty, and take part in the choirs in attendance on the King of creation.
     Day by day, never cease guarding and accompanying me, restraining the demons' rage and repelling their frightful assaults on me, my guardian, for I have you as an avid helper.
     Pure and bodiless, standing immaterially in the presence of the pure and immaterial One and having the freest approach and closeness with Him, earnestly beseech Him to grant me my soul's Salvation.
      Give me tears to flow endlessly from my eyelids, a profuse outpouring to wash me all over from head to toe--so that, wearing a garment of repentance made whiter than snow, I may enter into the divine bridal chamber in acclaiming you as my defender.
      My guide and guardian, my protector and deliverer, overseer of my desperate soul, when the trumpet's dread sound raises us on earth to judgment, stand beside me with gladness and grace, warding off from me fear with the hope of Salvation.
     Intercede with the Lord on my behalf that He may strengthen me in His fear and make me a worthy servant of His goodness. Ameen.