Prayers for Needs

Thou who alone art a speedy succour, O Christ, manifest thy speedy visitation from on high upon thy sick servant; deliver him (her) from his (her) infirmities, and cruel pain; and raise him (her) up again to sing praises unto thee, and without ceasing to glorify thee: through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

O holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, who didst send thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which healeth every infirmity and delivereth from death: Heal thou, also, thy servant, N., from the ills of body and soul which do hinder him (her), and quicken him (her), by the grace of thy Christ; through the prayers of our most holy Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary; through the intercession of the holy Bodiless Powers of Heaven; through the might of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honourable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our reverend and God-bearing fathers; of the holy and healing Unmercenaries, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus, Samson and Diomedes, Photius and Anicetas; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints.

For thou art the Fountain of healing, O our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thy Spirit, one in essence, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Deliver from distress thy servants, O Birth-giver of God; for unto thee in God we have recourse, as to a Wall Impregnable, and to thy intercession. Look with benignity, O all-hymned Birth-giver of God, upon my dire bodily suffering, and heal thou the sickness of my soul.

Deliver from distress thy servants, O greatly-merciful One; for we have diligent recourse unto thee, the merciful Deliverer of all men, O Lord Jesus Christ.

O God of spirits, and of all flesh, who hast trampled down Death, and overthrown the Devil, and given life unto thy world: Do thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of thy departed servants, NN., in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away. Pardon every transgression which they have committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought. For thou art a good God and lovest mankind; because there is no man who liveth and sinneth not: for thou only art without sin, and thy righteousness is to all eternity, and thy word is true. Amen.

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of thy servants, where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

With the souls of the righteous dead, give rest, O Saviour, to the souls of thy servants, preserving them unto the life of blessedness which is with thee, O thou who lovest mankind.

In the place of thy rest, O Lord, where all thy Saints repose, give rest also to the souls of thy servants: For thou only lovest mankind.

Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of thy servants, and establish them in Paradise, where the choirs of the Saints, O Lord, and of the Just, shine like the stars of heaven. Give rest to thy servants who have fallen asleep, regarding not all their transgressions.

Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of thy servants departed this life.

Give rest eternal, in blessed falling-asleep, O Lord, to the souls of thy servants, NN., departed this life; and make their memory to be eternal.

Memory eternal! Memory eternal! Memory eternal!

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the true and living Way, who didst deign to journey with thine ostensible father Joseph, and thine All-pure Virgin Mother, into Egypt, and didst accompany Luke and Cleopas on their way to Emmaus: We now humbly entreat thee, O all-holy Master, accompany now with thy grace us thy servants. And send unto us, as unto thy servant Tobias, an angel guardian and guide, preserving and delivering us from every evil assault of enemies both visible and invisible; and directing us unto the fulfilment of thy commandments; and prospering us in peace, happiness and health; and bringing us back again in safety and tranquillity. And grant that we may fulfil all our good purpose unto thy good pleasure, and favourably to thy glory. For thine it is to show mercy and to save us, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thy Father who hath no beginning, and thine all-holy, and blessed, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Christ, who art the Way and the Truth, send now thine Angel as a fellow-traveller to us thy servants, preserving us like Tobias of old, and guarding us unharmed of every evil thing, and in all prosperity, unto thy glory: through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O Saviour, who didst accompany Luke and Cleopas unto Emmaus, accompany thou now also us thy servants who are minded to travel, delivering us from every evil assault: For thou canst do all things whatsoever thou wilt, in that thou lovest mankind.

I lifted up mine eyes to the mountains, whence my help shall come.
My help shall come from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth.
Let not thy foot be moved; and let not thy keeper slumber.
Behold, he that keeps Israel shall not slumber nor sleep.
The Lord shall keep thee: the Lord is thy shelter upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not burn thee by day, neither the moon by night.
May the Lord preserve thee from all evil: the Lord shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall keep thy coming in, and thy going out, from henceforth and even for ever.

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their food in due season.
Thou openest thine hands, and fillest every living thing with pleasure.

And look upon thy servants, and upon thy works; and guide their children.
And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and do thou direct for us the works of our hands.

O Lord our God and Creator, who hast honoured us men with thine own image; who hast taught thine elect, so that wonderful are they who give heed to thy teaching; who revealest wisdom unto babes; who hast imparted thy teaching unto Solomon and unto all who have sought thy wisdom: Open thou the hearts, the minds, and the lips of these thy servants, that they may receive the power of thy law, and successfully apprehend the useful precepts which shall be taught them, to the glory of thine all-holy Name, to the profit and building up of thy holy Church, and that they may understand thy good and perfect will. Deliver them from every hostile oppression; preserve them in Orthodoxy and the faith, and in all uprightness and purity all the days of their life, that they may advance in wisdom, and in the fulfilling of thy commandments: that, being thus prepared, they may glorify thine all-holy Name, and become heirs of thy kingdom. For thou art God mighty in mercy, and gracious in strength; and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed fishers most wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and thereby catching the universe as in a net. O Christ our God, who lovest mankind, glory to thee.

Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thine ordinances.
Unveil thou mine eyes, and I shall perceive wondrous things out of thy law.
Instruct me in the way of thine ordinances; and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.
Instruct me, and I will search out thy law, and will keep it with my whole heart.
Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me: instruct me, that I may learn thy commandments.

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord; who walk in his ways.
Thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine on the sides of thy house: thy children as young olive-plants round about thy table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless thee out of Sion; and mayest thou see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
And mayest thou see thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

O eternal God, who hast brought into unity those who were sundered, and hast ordained for them an indissoluble bond of love; who didst bless Isaac and Rebecca, and didst make them heirs of thy promise: Bless also these thy servants, N. and N., guiding them unto every good work. For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Forgive, O Lord who lovest man, those who hate us, and those who have wronged us. Do well unto those who do well. Grant unto our brethren and our kin those petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. Visit the sick, and grant them healing. Guide thou those who sail upon the sea. Journey with those who journey. Succour thou our Sovereign. Unto those who have served us and have been kind to us, grant forgiveness of their sins. Upon those who have enjoined us, unworthy though we be, to pray for them, have mercy, according to thy great goodness. Have in remembrance, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep, and give them rest where the light of thy countenance shall visit them. Remember, O Lord, our brethren who are in captivity, and release them from all the difficulties which beset them. Remember, O Lord, those who bring gifts, and the benefactors of thy holy churches, and grant them those petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. Remember, also, O Lord, us, thy humble, and sinful, and unworthy servants, and illumine our minds with the light of thy wisdom, and guide us in the way of thy commandments. Through the prayers of our all-pure Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, and of all thy Saints: For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling.

But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

He that dwells in the help of the Highest, shall sojourn under the shelter of the God of heaven.
He shall say to the Lord, Thou art my helper and my refuge: my God; I will hope in him.
For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters, from every troublesome matter.
He shall overshadow thee with his shoulders, and thou shalt trust under his wings: his truth shall cover thee with a shield.
Thou shalt not be afraid of terror by night; nor of the arrow flying by day;
nor of the evil thing that walks in darkness; nor of calamity, and the evil spirit at noon-day.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou observe and see the reward of sinners.
For thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou, my soul, hast made the Most High thy refuge.
No evils shall come upon thee, and no scourge shall draw nigh to thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up on their hands, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread on the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample on the lion and dragon.
For he has hoped in me, and I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he has known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will hearken to him: I am with him in affliction; and I will deliver him, and glorify him.
I will satisfy him with length of days, and shew him my salvation.

The Lord tends me as a shepherd, and I shall want nothing.
In a place of green grass, there he has made me dwell: he has nourished me by the water of rest.
He has restored my soul: he has guided me into the paths of righteousness, for his name's sake.
Yea, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of evils: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, these have comforted me.
Thou hast prepared a table before me in presence of them that afflict me: thou hast thoroughly anointed my head with oil; and thy cup cheers me like the best wine.
Thy mercy also shall follow me all the days of my life: and my dwelling shall be in the house of the Lord for a very long time.

O Protection of Christians that maketh not ashamed, O Mediatrix never-failing with the Creator: Despise not the sinners' voice of supplication; but in that thou art good, come speedily to the aid of us who faithfully call upon thee; make haste to our petition and further our prayer, O Birth-giver of God, who ever protectest them that do thee honour.

Open unto us the door of thy loving-kindness, O blessed Birth-giver of God. In that we set our hope on thee, may we not fail, but through thee may we be delivered from all adversities; for thou art the salvation of all Christian people.

For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God's holy Churches, and for the union of them all: Lord, have mercy.

For our Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N.; for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the clergy and the laity: Lord, have mercy.

For this city, for this holy Temple, and for every city and land, and for those who with faith dwell therein: Lord, have mercy.

For healthful seasons; for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times: Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel by sea or by land; for the sick and the suffering; for those who are in captivity, and for their salvation: Lord, have mercy.

That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace: Lord, have mercy.

Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea; and show mercy, show mercy, O Master, upon us sinners, and be merciful unto us. For thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercies and bounties, whose mercy is immeasurable, and whose love for mankind is an unfathomable deep: falling down in adoration before thy majesty, with fear and trembling, as unprofitable servants, and now humbly rendering thanks unto thy loving-kindness for thy benefits bestowed upon us thy servants, we glorify thee, we praise thee, we sing thee, and we magnify thee as our Lord, and Master, and Benefactor; and again falling down before thee, and we humbly thank thee, supplicating thy boundless and inexpressible mercy. And in that thou hast now graciously vouchsafed to accept the petitions of thy servants and to fulfil them, so also henceforth grant that thy holy Church and this city may be delivered from every hostile assault, and may be vouchsafed peace and tranquillity, and that increasing in true love of thee, and of all virtues, all thy faithful people may receive all thy benefits; and that we may ever offer thanksgiving unto thee, together with thy Father who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit; and that we may say exceeding good things, and sing: Glory to thee, O God our Benefactor, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his praises:
who forgives all thy transgressions, who heals all thy diseases;
who redeems thy life from corruption; who crowns thee with mercy and compassion;
who satisfies thy desire with good things: so that thy youth shall be renewed like that of the eagle.

Lighten mine eyes, O Christ my God, that I sleep not unto death; lest mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Be thou the defender of my soul, O God, for I walk amid a multitude of snares. Deliver me from them and save me, O Good One: for thou lovest mankind.

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

And since, through our manifold iniquities, we have no boldness, do thou, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, make fervent entreaty unto him who was born of thee: for the prayer of a mother availeth much unto the benignity of the Master. Despise not the petitions of sinners, O All-Pure One; for gracious and mighty to save is he who deigned to suffer for us.

Thou knowest, O Lord my Creator, the sleepless vigilance of mine invisible enemies, and the frailty of my miserable flesh. Into thy hands, therefore, will I commit my spirit. Cover me with the wings of thy goodness, that I sleep not unto death; and enlighten the eyes of my spiritual understanding, that I may delight in thy divine words: and make me, in a time, acceptable unto thee, to glorify thee in praise, as the only Good One, who loveth mankind.

And grant unto us, O Master, as we lay us down to sleep, repose both of body and of soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal sensuality. Calm thou the impulses of carnal desires: quench the fiery darts of the Evil One which are craftily directed against us. Assuage the rebellions of our flesh. Still our every earthly and material anxiety; and vouchsafe unto us, O God, a watchful mind, a chaste reason, a sober heart, sleep gentle and free from every vision of the Devil; and raise us up again at the hour of prayer, strengthened in thy precepts, and holding steadfastly within us the memory of thy commandments. Grant that all the night long we may sing praises unto thee, and that we may hymn, and bless, and glorify thine all-honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Father is my hope; the Son is my refuge; the Holy Spirit is my protector. O Holy Trinity, glory to thee.