Various Orthodox Prayers

from A pocket prayer book for Orthodox Christians
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Pray before the icon of Christ

 

We reverence Your spotless icon, O gracious Lord, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God: for of Your own good will You was pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that You might deliver from bondage to the enemy those whom You have fashioned. Wherefore, we cry aloud unto You: You have filled all things with joy, O our Saviour, for You come to save the world.


The Jesus Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.


Hymn to the Theotokos

from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

 

It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, who are ever blessed and all-blameless, and the mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you who without stain barest God the Word, and are truly Theotokos: we magnify you.


A prayer to the All-Holy Trinity

The Father is my hope; the Son is my refuge; the Holy Spirit is my protector. O All-holy Trinity, glory to You.


A prayer to your Patron Saint

Pray unto God for me, O Holy Saint (Name), well-pleasing to God: for I turn unto you, who are the speedy helper and intercessor for my soul.


A Prayer to your Guardian Angel

O Angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything wherein I have offended you every day of my life, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. May l nevermore anger God by any sin. Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, and of the Most Blessed Theotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.


Prayers at the table

Before Meals

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Then

O Christ our God, bless the food and drink of Your servants, for You are Holy always;

now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

After Meals

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Then

Blessed is God, who is merciful unto us and nourishes us from His bounteous gifts by His grace and compassion, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


A prayer of repentance

O Lord our God, good and merciful, I acknowledge all my sins which I have committed every day of my life, in thought, word and deed; in body and soul alike. I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended you, and I sincerely repent; with tears I humbly pray to You, O Lord: of Your mercy forgive me all my past transgressions and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace, to amend my way of life and to sin no more; that I may walk in the way of the righteous and offer praise and glory to the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.


A prayer in time of trouble

O God, our help and assistance, who art just and merciful, and who hears the supplications of Your people; look down upon me. a miserable sinner, have mercy upon me, and deliver me from this trouble that besets me, for which, I know, I am deservedly suffering. I acknowledge and believe, O Lord, that all trials of this life are given by You for our chastisement, when we drift away from You and disobey Your commandments; deal not with me after my sins, but according to Your bountiful mercies, for I am the work of Your hands, and You know my weakness. Grant me, I beseech You, Your divine helping grace, and endow me with patience and strength to endure my tribulations with complete submission to Your Will. You know my misery and suffering and to You, my only hope and refuge, I flee for relief and comfort; trusting to Your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when You know best, You will deliver me from this trouble, and turn my distress into comfort, when I shall rejoice in Your mercy, and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Thanksgiving after deliverance from trouble

Almighty and merciful God, I most humbly and heartily thank Your divine majesty for Your loving kindness and tender mercies, that You have heard my humble prayer, and graciously vouchsafed to deliver me from my trouble and misery. Grant me, I beseech You, Your helping grace, that I may obediently walk in Your holy commandments, and lead a sober, righteous and godly life, ever remembering Your mercies, and the blessings You have undeservedly bestowed upon me, that I may continually offer to You the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.


A prayer of a sick person

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Physician of souls and bodies, who become man and suffer death on the Cross for our salvation, and through Your tender love and compassion did heal all manner of sickness and affliction; visit me O Lord in my suffering, and grant me grace and strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with Christian patience and submission to Your will, trusting in Your loving kindness and tender mercy. Bless, I pray to You, the means used for my recovery, and those who administer them. I know O Lord, that I justly deserve any punishment You might inflict upon me for. I have so often offended You and sinned against You, in thought, word and deed. Therefore, I humbly pray to You, look upon my weakness, and deal not with me after my sins, but according to the multitude of Your mercies. Have compassion on me, and let mercy and justice meet; and deliver me from this sickness and suffering I am undergoing. Grant that my sickness may be the means of my true repentance and amendment of my life according to Your will, that I may spend the rest of my days in Your love and fear: that my soul, being helped by Your grace and sanctified by Your Holy Mysteries, may be prepared for its passage to the Eternal Life, and there, in the company of Your blessed Saints, may praise and glorify You with Your Eternal Father and Life-giving Spirit. Amen.


Thanksgiving after recovery from sickness

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Source of life and Fountain of all good things, I bless Your Holy Name, and offer to You most hearty thanks for having delivered me from my sickness and restored me to health. Grant me Your continuing grace, I pray to You, that I may keep my good resolutions and correct the errors of my past life, and improve in virtue, and live a new life in dutiful fear of You, doing Your will in all things, and devoting this new life which You have given me to Your service: that thus living for You, I may be found ready when it pleases You to call me to You, O heavenly Father, to whom with Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Your all-holy and Life-giving Spirit, is due all honor, praise, glory, and thanksgiving: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


A prayer for the sick

O holy Father, heavenly Physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to heal all our ailments and deliver us from death: visit and heal Your servant N., granting him/her release from pain and restoration to health and vigor, that he/she may give thanks unto You and bless Your Holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Trisagion Memorial Prayer for the departed

"O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who has trampled down Death and overthrown the Devil, and given life unto Your world, give, we beseech You, eternal rest to the soul of Your departed servant, in a place of brightness, in a place of verdure, in a place of repose, from whence all pain, sorrow, and sighing, have fled away.

Pardon, we beseech You, every transgression which may have been committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For there is no man who lives and does not commit a sin. You only are without sin, Your righteousness is everlasting, and Your word is the Truth.

For You are the Resurrection, and the Life, and the repose of Your departed servant, O Christ our God, and unto You we ascribe glory, together with eternal the Father, and Your Most Holy, and Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever, and for ages to come." Amen

"May our gracious and merciful Lord, who rose from the dead, Christ, our True God, through the intercessions of His Holy Mother and of all the Saints, establish the soul of His departed servant in the mansions of the righteous; give rest in the bosom of Abraham, and number his soul among the just, and have mercy upon us and save us".

Eternal be Your memory.

These prayers are customarily read for 40 days after the falling asleep of the servant of God.


The Penitential prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. Instead, give to me, Your servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother, for You are Blessed from all ages to all ages.” Amen.

This prayer should be read DAILY throughout Great Lent by all Orthodox Christians. Fasting from all meats, fish, eggs and dairy products is also required throughout Great Lent.


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