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St.
Stephen
Јanuary, 09
Family Saint for: Milasi, Cetnici
St. Nicholas
December, 19
Family Saint for: Vranjesi
St Arhangel Mihailo
November, 21
Family Saint for: Preocanin
St Georgije
May, 06
Family Saint for: Medici, Gargente
St. Jovan
January 20
Family
Saint for: Batice, Barisici, Marijani, Djukici,
Knezevici,Kurobase
St. Cosmas and Damian
November, 14
Family saint for: Vukovcici
Slava
The most important Serbian tradition is the yearly observance of
Krsna Slava, the Patron Saint's Day. This uniquely Serbian
religious holiday, reminiscent of the prehistoric harvest
festivals, is celebrated once a year in commemoration of the
family's conversion to Christianity, when each family chose its
patron saint, which derived from the custom of worshipping
protective spirits. Passing from father to son, this joyous
holiday is observed with friends and family enjoying sumptuous
foods, often with music and dancing as well.
The central elements which enhance the solemnity of Krsna Slava
are: slavska sveca, a long candle which must burn all day; the
votive light lit in front of the icon representing the picture
of the family patron saint; and incense burning. Two foods are
specially prepared: koljivo, or sometimes called zito, made with
boiled wheat, sugar, and ground nuts; and krsni kolač, which is
a ritual round bread baked solely for this occasion. It is
decorated with dough replicas of birds, wheat, grapes, barrels
of wine, or whatever else an inspired mother of the family can
think of, aside from the obligatory religious seal representing
the cross and the symbolic four S's: Samo Sloga Srbina Spasava,
"Only Unity Will Save the Serbs." The priest visits the homes
and conducts a ceremony in which the kolač is raised three times
symbolizing the Holy Trinity. He and the head of the family cut
a cross on the bottom of the kolač into which a little wine is
poured to symbolize the blood of Christ.
Aspects of Slava Celebrations
The eucharistic branch has not alone grown into the family and
that is why there are not only family Slavas but also other
forms of this ritual. Firstly, we have seen that the family
Slava grew out of a church rite. In addition to a church Slava,
there are also town and village Slavas which we call the
covenant Slava and which signifies the day and ritual of a
covenant. The customary part, that is, its external aspect,
differs de-pending on the place and time; but its ritual aspect
is the same.
In old Dubrovnik there were brotherhoods and their Slavas. In
emulation of this and relying on the covenant and church Slavas,
the home Slava developed into one or several forms of this
holiday. Thus, for example, it is known that St. Sava was
inaugurated as a school Slava by Prince Milos back in 1841. It
is also known that in the previous century, on St. Sava's Day,
schoolchildren were given a "recreational day off".
In the above-mentioned Slavas, the ritual is the same as in the
family or church ones. The litany mentions the names of the
family members, that is, of those who are the Slava hosts for
that year and those who have accepted to be the hosts of the
Slava the next year, and there is general mention of all the
participants in the ritual. The old host surrenders the Slava to
his successor of the following year, by giving him a half,
sometimes a quarter, of the Slava cake.
In the same way, the father surrenders the Slava to his son and
this occurs when the son takes up his own household, either
because he goes to live in another town or will be living
elsewhere but in the same locality. It is mistaken practice,
which has become current in some places since the end of the
second World War, for sons not to celebrate the Slava while
their fathers are still living or else for the eldest son to
take up the Slava. It is the duty of the father to give his son
the Slava, so that he, too, should celebrate it. If the father
does not wish to do so, for whatever reason, it is necessary for
him to consult his official priest and decide with him about
passing the Slava on. In that case, the son has not com-mitted
an offence against his father and the Slava.
When the Austro-Hungarian Empire occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina
in 1878, the use of the Cyrillic alphabet, singing to the
accompaniment of the "gusle" (a one-stringed instrument), and
even celebrating the Slava was prohibited. As the Serbs refused
to give up their Slavas, the then government issued a decree
allowing the Slava celebration on condition that a permit had to
be obtained beforehand and this meant paying a tax on the Slava.
The permit read as follows: "So-and-so is allowed to celebrate
St. Ivan's Day for 24 hours". By St. Ivan was meant St. John the
Baptist's Day.
A community usually begins celebrating the Slava, the year it is
founded and sometimes later. A church begins this celebration
when the construction work is finished and the church
consecrated. But there is also a different practice where by the
Slava of a newly - built church is celebrated while the building
work is still in progress. The church of St. Sava in Belgrade,
for instance celebrates its Slava although the building itself
is not yet completed.
The Baptismal Slava, regarded from the viewpoint of its internal
qualities, is a phenomenon manifesting the fact that Ser-bian
Orthodoxy has deeply understood the meaning and being of the
Church and has most adequately expressed its perception and
ex-perience of the Church as an eternal, incommensurable
community of God and men.
In this way, at the time of the Slava celebration, the home and
family become a miniature image of the Church, one filled with
genuine life. Its material presence in given space is evi-dent
and it is but a symbol of the spiritual reality that endows it
with meaning. 'This is what constitutes the soul of the whole
ritual of the Slava.
After the second World War, everything was done to abolish
prohibit and root out the Slava. But when this did not succeed,
the tendency was to lessen and to profane it as much as
possible. It was urged that the cake, wheat and candle were not
necessary, but that a more sumptuous dinner was called for.
Likewise, no attention was paid to fasting days.
There are also other examples as when it is explained to the
host what the Slava means, he tries to defend himself by saying:
" I inherited it this way and I'm told it isn't good to change
the custom used so far." This attitude was encountered also by
the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of the year 325 in
Nicaea, so that they decreed in the 15th Canon: " Any custom
against the Apostolic rules that has taken root in certain
places should be abolished..." St. Sava has left to the Serbian
people the rules for celebrating the Slava. That is why it is
our duty on the grounds of the above-cited Canon to uproot ugly,
unchristian and hypocritical customs that have become habitual
and deleterious to the Church. Have we asked ourselves are the
God's Saints, of whom many were anchorites, satisfied with the
way we celebrate their names? Will they be for us, such as we
are, our protectors before God or not? The Slava is not just
food and drink. It was as far back as in the day of St. Petar of
Cetinje, the miracle-worker, who cursed everyone in Montenegro
who celebrated the Slava for more than one day. The reason for
this was to save food for the poor because even in those days
many had turned the Slava into an orgy of food and drink.
Another even more mistaken practice has become habitual in some
places. It may happen that the member of a family dies or is
killed in the course of a year. The priest comes to the family
to bless the water and then the host tells him: "This year I
shall not celebrate my Slava because there has been a death in
the family. Come next year." This is a paradox. When King
Alexander was shot in Marseilles in 1934, many people called off
their Slavas as a sign of mourning. For this reason, the Sacred
Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church issued a proclamation which
we must remember and act in accordance with it. The Slava is
never to be interrupted. Worshippers were called upon at that
time to double their prayers for the peace of the soul of the
deceased with a special appeal for help to be extended to those
at Slava time if they need it. Instead of rich feasts, the
people were asked to prepare modest ones and the money thus
saved to be given to the poor. This is the Christian concept of
the Slava. In some Serbian areas, if someone in the family has
died, the cake is not decorated but only a cross is made in the
middle of the cake. This is a sign to the priest and all those
present in the church that someone has died in the family that
year.
Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Our
Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come;
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one
The Nicene Creed
I
believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in
one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of
the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, by Whom all
things were made.
Who
for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was
incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.
And
was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was
buried;
And
rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures;
And
ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;
And He
shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead: Whose
kingdom shall have no end.
And in
the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from
the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped
and glorified, Who spake by the prophets.
And in
One, Holy, Universal, and Apostolic Church;
I
acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
I look
for the resurrection of the dead;
And
the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O
Heavenly King, the comfortor, the spirit of Truth, Who art present
everywhere and fillest all things;
Treasury of Blessings and Giver
of Life;
come and abide in us and cleanse us from every stain, and
save our souls, O Gracious One.
Prayers to the Mother of God
Rejoice Mary, Mother of God, Virgin, full of grace, the Lord is
with Thee: blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the Fruit
of Thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. Meet
it is in truth, to glorify thee, O Birth-giver of God, ever
blessed, and all undefiled, the Mother of our God. More
honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious
than the Seraphim, thou who without stain didst bear God the
word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify Thee.
O
gracious Mother of the gracious God, O most pure and blessed
Mary, the Mother of God, pour the mercy of Thy Son and our God
upon my impassionate soul, and with Thine intercessions set me
unto good deeds, that I may pass the rest of my life without
blemish and, with thine aid, attain heaven. O Virgin mother of
God, the only one who art pure and blessed. O Queen of the
Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls: being delivered from evil,
as thy servants, O Mother of God, we offer unto Thee the hymns
of thanks and victory; but as thou hast power invincible,
deliver us from all calamity, that we may cry unto thee:
Rejoice, O ever-Virgin Bride!
O
Virgin, spotless, undefiled, unstained, all-chaste and Pure
Lady, Bride of God, who by the glorious birth-giving hast united
God the Word with Man and linked our fallen nature with Heavenly
Things; who art the hope of the hopeless, the helper of the
oppressed, the ready protection of those who haste unto Thee,
and the refuge of Christians; despise me not, who am defiled and
sinful, who by my wicked thoughts, words and deeds, have become
an unworthy servant, and by my slothfulness have turned into a
slave to evil affections. O Mother of the God of Love, have
mercy and compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal. Accept
this prayer which is offered to Thee from my impure lips; and
putting forward Thy maternal influence with thy Son, my Lord and
Master, beseech Him to open unto me the lovingkindness of His
grace; beseech Him to overlook my countless transgressions, to
give me true repentance and to make me to be a zealous doer of
His commandments. And Thou, being gracious and compassionate and
tender-hearted, be Thou ever present with me in this life as my
defender and helper, so that I may turn aside the assault of my
enemies, and guide me into salvation; help my poor soul at the
hour of my death, and drive far from it all the dark forms of
the evil ones. And in the dreadful Judgement Day, deliver me
from everlasting punishment, and present me as an inheritor of
the ineffable glory of the son, our God.
O
that I may obtain this, most-holy Lady and Birth-giver of God,
through Thine intercessions and mediations, by the grace and
exceedingly great love of Thine Only-Begotten son, my Lord and
God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due, with the eternal
Father and the All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, all honor
and glory and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
O
most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God, accept
our prayers and present them to Thy Son and our God, that He
may, for Thy sake, enlighten and save our souls.
Prayer of St John Chrysostome
According to the hours of day and night
1. O
Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings;
2. O
Lord, deliver me from eternal torment;
3. O
Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive
me.
4. O
Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from
pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;
5. O
Lord, deliver me from every temptation;
6. O
Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desires;
7. O
Lord, I, being a human being, have sinned; do Thou, being God,
forgive me in Thy lovingkindness, for Thou knowest the weakness of
my soul.
8. O
Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy holy
Name;
9. O
Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the Book of Life,
and grant me a blessed end;
10. O
Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet
grant me, according to Thy grace, that I may make a start in doing
good.
11. O
Lord, sprinkle on my heart the dew of Thy grace;
12. O
Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold of
heart and impure, in Thy Kingdom.
13. O
Lord, receive me in repentance;
14. O
Lord, leave me not;
15. O
Lord, save me from temptation;
16. O
Lord, grant me pure thoughts;
17. O
Lord, grant me tears of repentance, remembrance of death, and the
sense of peace;
18. O
Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins;
19. O
Lord, grant me humility, charity, and obedience;
20. O
Lord, grant me tolerance, magnanimity, and gentleness;
21. O
Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings: the fear of Thee in
my heart;
22. O
Lord, vouchsafe that I may love Thee with all my heart and soul, and
that I may obey in all things Thy will;
23. O
Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all
other lawless matters;
24. O
Lord, Who knowest Thy creation and that which Thou hast willed for
it; may Thy will also be fulfilled in me, a sinner, for Thou art
blessed forevermore. Amen.
PRAYERS AT MEALTIMES
Before Breakfast
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!
Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions!
Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
After Breakfast
It
is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and
all-blameless, and Mother of our God. More honourable than the
Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who
without defilement gave birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos,
Thee do we magnify.
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! (3 times)
God is with us, through His Grace and
love for mankind, always now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Before Lunch
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
After Lunch
We thank Thee, Christ our God, for
Thou hast satisfied us with Thine earthly gifts. Deprive us not of
Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest among Thy disciples, O
Savior, giving them peace, so come to us and save us!
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! (3 times)
Blessed is God, Who has had mercy on
us and fed us from His rich gifts, through His Grace and love for
mankind, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Before
Supper
The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the Lord shall praise Him; their hearts shall
live forever!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
After Supper
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Your womb became a Heavenly Table,
bearing the Heavenly Bread - Christ our God. Whoever eats of Him
shall not die, O Birth-giver of God, according to the word of the
Nourisher of all.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and
more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement
you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.
Thou, O Lord, hast made us glad by Thy works; in the works of Thy
hands shall we rejoice. Lift up the Light of Thy countenance upon
us, O Lord! Thou hast put joy in my heart. With the fruit of wheat,
wine and oil have we been satisfied. In peace I will both lie down
and sleep; for Thou alone, O Lord, makest me to dwell in hope.
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! (3 times)
God is with us, through His Grace and
love for mankind, always now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for the living
O Lord
Jesus Christ, our God, in Thy mercies and lovingkindness Thou
regardest the humble prayers of all who call upon Thee with their
whole heart; incline Thine ear and hear now my prayer, offered to
Thee in humility:
Be
Mindful, O Lord, of Thy Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church;
confirm and strengthen her, increase her and keep her in peace, and
preserve her unconquerable forever.
Be
mindful, O Lord, of our bishop, (your bishop's name), and of
every bishop of the Orthodox Church; the priests and deacons, and
all the clergy of the Church, which Thou hast established to feed
the flock of Thy word; and by their prayers have mercy upon me and
save me, a sinner.
Be
mindful, O Lord, of all civil authorities, of our armed forces, of
this city in which we reside, and of every city and the countryside;
grant them peaceful times, that we, in their tranquility, may lead a
calm and peaceful life in all godliness and sanctity.
Be
mindful, O Lord, of my parents, (their names), of my brothers
and sisters, (their names), of relatives, (their names),
and of my friends, (their names); grant that they may have
mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, pardon and
remission of their sins; that they may ever praise and glorify Thy
Holy Name.
Be
mindful, O Lord, of those who travel by land, by sea, and by air; of
the old and young, the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing, the
afflicted, the captives, the needy and the poor; and upon them all
send forth Thy mercies, for Thou art the Giver of all good things.
Be
mindful, O Lord, of me, Thy humble servant; grant me Thy grace, that
I may be diligent and faithful, avoiding evil company and influence,
resisting temptation; that I may lead a godly and righteous life,
blameless and peaceful, ever serving Thee; that I may be accounted
worthy of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen
Prayer of the
Married
My bountiful God, I
beseech Thee, listen to my humble prayer, that I may ever feel that
the married state is holy and that I must keep it holy.
Grant Thy
grace that I may never sin against the faithfulness and love of this
marriage.
Foster between us the spirit of understanding and of
peace, that no strife, quarrel or misunderstanding, may arise
between us. Grant us health and our daily bread, whereby we may
serve Thee more. Amen.
Prayer of a woman with child
O Most Glorious Mother of God, have mercy on me, Thy handmaid, and intercede
for me in times of my illnesses and dangers with which all wretched daughters
of Eve are beset at the time of child-bearing.
Remember, Thou Blessed among women, the joy and love with which Thou went into
the hill country with haste, to greet Thy kinswoman Elisabeth who was with
child, and the wonderous impact Thy grace-filled visit had on her and the
child in her womb.
By Thine inexhaustible Mercy help me, the lowliest of Thy handmaidens, to
complete my days in good health, bestow me with grace that the child, which
now rests beneath my heart, may bow before the Lord and Savior, Who, by His
boundless love towards us sinners, was pleased to become a Child Himself, as
soon as it stirs with life within my womb, with joyful leaping, as did the
holy child John. Let the unspeakable joy which filled Thy virgin heart when
Thou didst gaze upon Thy newborn Son and Lord, make lighter the pain which
awaits me during the affliction of child-bearing.
Intercede for me that the Life of the World, my Savior, to Whom Thou dist give
birth, may deliver me from the death which often cuts short the lives of
mothers at the hour of their birth-giving, and that He may count the fruit of
my womb among His chosen.
Hear, O Most Holy Heavenly Queen, my humble prayer, and take me, an unworthy
sinner, into Thy embrace, the centre of Thy Grace; put not to shame my hope in
Thee and Thy great mercy. O Helper of Christians, healer of illnesses, deem me
worthy to experience that Thou art the Mother of mercy that I may ever glorify
Thy grace, which hath never despised the prayers of the meek and lowly, and
which hath ever delivered those who have called upon Thee in times of sorrow
and illness. Amen
A mother's prayer for her
children
O God, Creator of all things!
Adding mercy upon mercy, Thou hast deemed me worthy of being a
mother; Thy
goodness hath endowed me with children so that I may say: these are
Thy
children! For Thou hast given them life, breathed an immortal soul
into them,
given them a new birth in a life that is according to Thy will, Thou
hast
adopted them and received them into the bosom of Thy Church.
O Lord, preserve them in Thy grace, and until the end of their lives
deem them
worthy of receiving the Holy Mysteries of Thy covenant.
Illumine them with Thy truth.
Let Thy Name be holy in them and through them.
Help me by Thy grace to rear them for the glory of Thy Name and for
the
benefit of their neighbor.
Give me strength and patience to do this, O Lord, and guide me.
Teach me to plant in their hearts the root of true wisdom - Thy
fear.
Endow them with the light of Thy wisdom which governs all things.
Let them learn to love Thee with all their souls and all their
thoughts.
Let them cleave unto Thee with all their heart and fear Thy words
for as long
as they live.
Endow me with the reason to implant in them the conviction that true
life
consists of respecting Thy commandments, that labor fortified with
piety
offers all that is needed in this life and unutterable blessedness
in
eternity.
Reveal to them the understanding of Thy law.
Unto the end of their days let them labor feeling Thy omnipresence
at all
times.
Embed in their hearts hatred towards all unlawfulness.
Let them be faultless in Thy ways.
Let them always know that Thou, o All-Merciful God, are zealous in
Thy laws
and justice.
Preserve them in chastity and trembling before Thy Name, that they
may not
shame Thy Church by their behavior, but that they should live
according to Her
commandments.
Give them zeal in their desire for useful learning and enable them
to do every
good deed.
Let them acquire a proper understanding of things needed for their
everyday
life, illumine them with the knowledge of things beneficial for the
human
race.
O Lord, teach me to implant with a permanent seal in their hearts
and minds
the wisdom to flee from friendship with those who live not in fear
of Thee,
wisdom to decisively turn away from every relationship with the
lawless.
That they may not listen to evil talk.
That they heed not imprudent people.
That, led by evil examples, they stray not from Thy path.
That they not be discouraged in that sometimes, in this world, the
way of
the lawless is crowned with success.
O Heavenly Father!
Help me by Thy grace to be watchful at all times that I may not
scandalize my
children with my actions, but that I may, ever bearing in mind their
behavior,
dissuade them from misconceptions, correct their errors, restrain
their
stubbornness and self-will.
That they may not gravitate toward pride and reckless deeds.
That they may not be carried away by mindless thoughts.
That they do not follow their desires.
That pride does not infect their thoughts.
That they not forget Thee and Thy law.
That lawlessness does not destroy their minds and health.
That sins do not make feeble their spiritual and bodily strength.
O righteous Judge, Thou who chastiseth offspring unto the third and
fourth
generation for the sins of their fathers, avert such vengeance from
my
children, punish them not for my sins, but sprinkle them with the
dew of Thy
grace, that they may advance in virtue and holiness, that they may
grow in Thy
benevolence and in the love of pious men.
O Father, plentious in mercy!
According to my motherly feelings I would that my children enjoy an
abundance
of earthly treasures, I desire that they be blessed by the dew in
the heavens
and by the good things of the earth, still, let Thy holy will be
with them!
Administer their destiny according as Thou pleasest.
Deprive them not of their daily bread.
Endow them with time sufficient for the acquisition of blessed
eternity.
Be merciful unto them, when they sin before Thee.
Judge them not for the sins of youth and ignorance.
Make contrite their hearts should they oppose the leading hand of
Thy
goodness.
Chastise them and caress them, direct them on the path that is
pleasing to
Thee, but turn not Thy face away from them.
Accept with gracious mind their prayers, and grant them success in
every good
deed.
Turn not away from them in times of sadness, lest they be beset by
temptations
that surpass their strength .
Let the shadow of thy Grace fall upon them, let Thy angel walk with
them and
keep them from all calamities and evil ways.
O All-merciful God!
Make me a mother who rejoices in her children, let them be my
happiness in all
the days of my life and my support in my old age.
Deem me worthy to stand with them before Thee on the day of Thy
dread
judgement and with unworthy courage say: "Here I am and my children
which Thou
hast given me, O Lord!"
That together with my children I may glorify Thy unspeakable
goodness and Thy
eternal love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Prayer for parents
O merciful Lord God, Thou hast commanded and enjoined
me to honor my father and mother, and Thou Thyself hast shown even
until death humble obedience to Thy Father. From the depth of my
soul I fervently beseech Thee, O gracious Jesus Christ, my God, hear
my prayer and have mercy upon my parents, who have given birth to me
and are bringing me up in Thy grace and love. Protect them from all
evil, harm and sickness; grant them health, and mercifully pour
forth Thy bountiful blessings upon them. Bless their efforts and
deeds; have mercy on them according to Thy great mercy, that
faithfully serving Thee, through them I also may be worthy to praise
and serve Thee. Amen.
Our
Father, Who art in heaven, bless my father and mother, my guardians,
and those who are in authority over me, for their love and tender
care for me, and the benefits I receive at their hands. Help me, I
pray Thee, to be respectful and obedient to them in all matters
according to Thy will; and give me Thy grace to perform all my
duties carefully and faithfully, to avoid undesirable company and
influence, and resist all temptation that may come my way; that I
may live a sober, righteous and godly life, ever praising Thee and
glorifying Thy Holy Name. Amen.
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
O
Angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, enlighten
me this day, and save me from all evil. Instruct me in doing good
deeds, and set me on the path of salvation. Amen.
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 I never again anger God by my sins. Pray for me to the
Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-Holy
Trinity, and of the blessed Mother of God, and of all the saints.
Amen
Prayer at
Daybreak - Archimandrite Sophronios
O Lord
Eternal and Creator of all things,
Who of Thy inscrutable goodness called me to this life;
Who bestowed on me the grace of Baptism
and the Seal of the Holy Spirit;
Who imbued me with the desire to seek Thee,
the one true God: hear my prayer.
I have no life, no light, no joy or wisdom;
no strength except in Thee, O God.
Because of my unrighteousness I dare not raise my eyes to Thee.
But Thou said to Thy disciples,
'Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.'
and 'Whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do.'
Wherefore I dare to invoke Thee.
Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit.
Teach me to pray aright.
Bless this day which Thee give unto me, Thy unworthy servant.
By the power of Thy blessing enable me at all times to speak
and act to Thy glory with a pure spirit, with humility, patience,
love, gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom:
aware always of Thy presence.
Of Thy immense goodness, O Lord God, show me the path of Thy will,
and grant me to walk in Thy sight without sin.
O Lord, unto Whom all hearts be open,
Thee know what things I have need of.
Thee are acquainted with my blindness and my ignorance,
Thee know my infirmity and my soul's corruption;
but neither are my pain and anguish hid from Thee.
Wherefore I beseech Thee, hear my prayer and by Thy Holy Spirit
teach me the way wherein I should walk;
and when my perverted will would lead me down other paths
spare me not O Lord, but force me back to Thee.
By the power of Thy love, grant me to hold fast to that which is
good.
Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul;
from every impulse unpleasing in Thy sight and hurtful to my
brother-man.
Teach me what I should say and how I should speak.
If it be Thy will that I make no answer,
inspire me to keep silent in a spirit of peace
that causes neither sorrow nor hurt to my fellow man.
Establish me in the path of Thy commandments
and to my last breath let me not stray from the light of Thy
ordinances,
that Thy commandments may become the sole law
of my being on this earth and all eternity.
Yea, Lord, I pray to Thee, have pity on me.
Spare me in my affliction and my misery
and hide not the way of salvation from me.
In my foolishness, O God, I plead with Thee for many and great
things.
Yet am I ever mindful of my wickedness, my baseness, my vileness.
Have mercy upon me.
Cast me not away from your presence because of my presumption.
Do Thee rather increase in me this presumption,
and grant unto me, the worst of men,
to love Thee as Thee have commanded, with all my heart, and with all
my soul,
and with all my mind, and with all my strength.
Prayer for enemies
Lord
Jesus Christ, Who didst command us to love our enemies, and those
who defame and injure us, and to pray for them and forgive them; Who
Thyself didst pray for Thine enemies, who crucified Thee: grant us,
we pray, the spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, that
we may heartily forgive every injury and be reconciled with our
enemies. Grant us to overcome the malevolence and offences of people
with Christian meekness and true love of our neighbor. We further
beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant to our enemies true peace and
forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life
without true faith and sincere conversion. And help us repay evil
with goodness, and to remain safe from the temptations of the devil
and from all the perils which threaten us, in the form of visible
and invisible enemies. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE
SERBIAN PEOPLE
O,
Lord, save Thy people and save me.
If
Thou savest not Thy people and mine, if Thou savest only me, I shall
be like a stranger in Heaven.
Hear,
O Lord, the supplication of Thy righteous ones, Sava and Nemanja,
and save Thy sinful people, sinful though they may be.
As
Thou didst save Jerusalem from the godless and the blasphemers, save
also Belgrade from the faithless, that salvation may be made known
to all as proceeding from Thee, not from men.
Thy
people are weakened by waiting, test not their endurance to the end,
o Lord. O Lord, weakened are thy people by waiting.
All
the Earth is covered with the bodies of thy faithful, we cannot till
the soil without the pick sounding against the bones of our kinsmen
and echoing painfully in our souls.
There
is not a field which is not a cemetery, not a tree which is not a
tombstone. All of the Serbian land is a graveyard.
Have
mercy, o Lord and save Thy people, with or without me.
Bishop
Nikolai Velimirovic
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