Rugăciune către Sfântul Alexis Toth (în limba engleză)

General Prayer Service (Molieben) to the St. Alexis (Toth) \n \nPriest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \n \nPeople: Amen. \n O Heavenly King, \n the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth \n Who art everywhere and fillest all things. \n Treasury of Blessings, \n and Giver of Life. \n Come and abide in us, \n and cleanse us from every impurity, \n and save our souls, O Good One! \n \nReader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x) \n \n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \n O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our \ntransgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake. \n Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \n Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, \non earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as \nwe forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from \nthe evil One. \n \nPriest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of \nthe Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \n \nChoir: Amen. \nGod Is the Lord \n \nDeacon: In the 4th tone: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us: Blessed is He that comes in \nthe name of the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever. \nChoir: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the \nLord. \nDeacon: All nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I destroyed them. \n\n \n \nChoir: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the \nLord. \nDeacon: I shall not die but live and recount the works of the Lord. \nChoir: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the \nLord. \nDeacon: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing, \nand it is wonderful in our eyes. \nChoir: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the \nLord. \n \nTroparion to St. Alexis - Tone 4 \n \nChoir: O righteous father Alexis, \nour heavenly intercessor and teacher, \ndivine adornment of the Church of Christ, \nentreat the Master of all \nto strengthen the Orthodox Faith in America, \nto grant peace to the world // \nand to our souls great mercy. (twice) \n \nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nThe mystery of all eternity, \nunknown even by Angels, \nthrough you, O Theotokos, is revealed to those on earth: \nGod incarnate by union without confusion. \nHe voluntarily accepted the Cross for us, \nby which He resurrected the first-created man,// \nsaving our souls from death. \n \nThe Canon – Tone 6 \n \nOde 1 \nHeirmos: When Israel passed on foot over the deep as if it were dry land, and beheld their pursuer \nPharaoh drowning in the sea, they cried aloud: Let us sing to God a song of victory! \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nCome, all ye who love the saints, let us rejoice and keep festival with the angels. Let us sing \npraises to Saint Alexis, the unshakable pillar of the Faith, the divinely wise teacher of the \nChurch, the all-virtuous shepherd of the flock of Christ, the boast of priests and the joy of \nNorth America. \n\n \n \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nO radiant beacon of piety shining forth in America, thou didst enlighten us with thy teachings \nand encourage us by thins example. Through thy prayers, O holy father, deliver us from the \ndarkness of sin and the gloom of ignorance. \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nLeaving thy native land, thou didst pass over the sea to the New World. There, by the grace \nof God, thou wast led to the Orthodox Faith and didst proclaim its saving teachings to all. We \ncelebrate today thy memory and cry aloud: This is the faith of our fathers which hath \nestablished the universe! \n \nOde 3 \nHeirmos: There is none as holy as Thou, O Lord my God, Who hast exalted the power of Thy faithful, O \nBlessèd One, and hast established us upon the rock of Thy confession. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nThou didst exult in the Lord, O father, and in turn He blessed thee and multiplied the talents \ngiven thee. He sent thee forth among the people to nourish them with spiritual food, and \nthey received it and were filled. We celebrate today thy feast with joy and we sing praises to \nGod Who glorified thee. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nChrist gave thee the strength to defend His Church and the wisdom to refute false teachings \nso that His flock might not be led astray. Entreat thou Him to preserve us steadfast in our \nconfession of the Orthodox Faith and grant our souls great mercy. \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nThou didst meet with the Bishop Vladimir to tell him of thine earnest desire to join with the \nOrthodox Church with thy flock, and coming to Minneapolis he gathered in a harvest, a \nmultitude of souls, the first-fruits of thine apostolic labors. \n \nOde 4 \nHeirmos: Christ is my strength, my God and my Lord, the sacred Church sings in a manner befitting \nGod, with a pure mind, keeping festival unto the Lord. \n \n\n \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nPlacing thy trust in God, thou didst go forth among the people, tending to thy flock in a \nmanner well pleasing unto God. In thy humility, thou didst conceal thy virtues from the eyes \nof others, but Christ hath openly rewarded thy labors, O righteous father. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nIn thy love for God and neighbor, thou didst fulfill the chief part of the Law and the Prophets, \nand being endowed with power from on-high, though didst traverse the land sowing seeds \nof piety. Therefore the Lord said unto thee: Well done, good and faithful servant! \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nMany have attained salvation without uttering prophecy or working miracles, but none may \nenter into the heavenly bridal chamber without humility. O holy father Alexis, pray that we \ntoo may acquire humility, the foundation of all virtues. \n \nOde 5 \nHeirmos: With Thy divine light, O Good One, illumine, I ask Thee, the souls of those who in love keep \nvigil that they may know Thee, O Word of God as the true God Who recalls them from the \ndarkness of sin. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \n“Come, O children, and hear me!” thou didst cry out to thy flock, “and I will teach you the \nfear of the Lord.” They heard thy voice and they followed thee as the true shepherd, leading \nthem to the pasture of Christ. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nThou didst act as the swift guardian of thy flock when it fell under the attack of wolves, O \nfather. Thou didst defend them with the shield of thy ministry and repelled all foes in the \nname of the Lord. \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nFear and trembling fell upon thine enemies, O victorious champion of Christ, when they \nheard thee proclaim the Orthodox Faith and expose their false teaching. O thou defender of \nOrthodoxy in America, entreat the Lover of mankind to preserve His Church from every \nassault of the enemy. \n\n \n \n \nOde 6 \nHeirmos: Beholding the sea of life surging high with the storm of temptations, I have fled to Thy \ntranquil haven and cry out unto Thee: Raise up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful \nOne! \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nTossed about by the storms of life thou didst hasten to the calm havens of Christ’s Holy \nChurch. Thou didst accomplish great things, O Father, yet refrained from vainglorious \nboasting, saying, “Whatever I have achieved, has been done with the help of God.” \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nInspiring thy flock with thy love for Christ and His Church, O God-pleasing Alexis, thine \nenemies were alarmed by thy courage and zeal. For through thine orations and thy writings \nthe vanities and lies of the impious were revealed, and True Faith and Godliness were \nconfirmed. \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nWhen the prophet Jonah was sent to Nineveh, his preaching led a multitude of people to \nrepentance. Thy teachings, O righteous father, brought thousands back to the Orthodox \nChurch. They embraced their ancestral faith with joy and glorified God for His great mercy. \n \nKontakion – Tone 5 \nChoir: Let us, the faithful, praise the priest Alexis \na bright beacon of Orthodoxy in America, \na model of patience and humility, \na worthy shepherd of the flock of Christ. \nHe called back the sheep who had been led astray \nand brought them by his preaching // \nto the heavenly Kingdom. \n \nIkos: What worthy praise or thanks can we offer thee, O most holy father Alexis? While laboring \nhere in the West thou didst turn to the Orthodox East, bringing thyself and thy entire flock \nas an offering to Christ. Through trials and tribulations thou didst trod on the narrow path, \nproclaiming thy fear of God alone and not the threats of men. Therefore in love we cry with \njoyful voices: Rejoice, O Alexis, boast and glory of the Orthodox faithful in America, for \nthrough thy preaching we have been brought to the heavenly Kingdom. \n \n \n\n \n \nOde 7 \nHeirmos: An angel made the furnace moist with dew for the godly children and the command of God \nconsuming the Chaldeans made the tyrant cry out: Blessèd art Thou, O God of our fathers! \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nUninstructed souls were led astray, O holy father, but through thee were brought back to the \ntrue Faith. Thou wast a leader of your brethren and the pride of thy people, for through thy \nlabors they were taught to sing: Blessèd art Thou, O God of our fathers! \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nThou didst become a teacher of many by revealing through thy writings and thy sermons all \nthe treasures of the Orthodox Faith. Now thou dost ceaselessly intercede for those who with \nfaith honor thee and cry out to the Lord: Blessèd art Thou, O God of our fathers! \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nThe supporters of a false union led thy people astray, O holy one of God, but didst free them \nform an oppressive yoke, leading them to the True Faith and teaching them to cry aloud: \nBlessèd art Thou, O God of our fathers! \n \nOde 8 \nHeirmos: Out of the flames Thou didst drop dew on the godly ones, and with water didst kindle the \nsacrifice of the righteous one, for Thou doest all things as Thou willest, O Christ; we exalt thee \nthroughout all ages! \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nConsecrating thyself to God thou didst instruct thy people. As Josiah abolished the delusion \nof idolatry and proclaimed the newly found Law, so thou didst bring an end to erroneous \nbelief, instructing thy flock in the true faith and piety. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nO holy Alexis, zealot of piety adorning churches with holy icons! Through thy spiritual \ncounsels and fatherly love, thou didst teach thy flock to glorify God in an Orthodox manner. \n \nRefrain: Let us bless the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. \n \nThough falsely accused of converting for material gain, thou didst live in poverty, “having \nnothing, yet possessing all things.” Relieving the sufferings of others, thou thyself endured \n\n \n \nexhaustion, hunger and thirst. Being faithful to the Lord, thou didst earn the reward of \neverlasting life. \n \nOde 9 \nHeirmos: It is not possible for men to see God upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze, but \nthrough thee, O All-pure One, was the Word incarnate revealed unto men, Whom magnifying \ntogether with the heavenly hosts, we call thee blessèd! \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nNo one can draw near to God except one who separates himself from the world. Thou didst \nreject the fleeting joys of this world and endure the the sorrows of the earth with heavenly \njoy. Thou didst regard insults as praise; disrespect as honor. Therefore Christ hath given thee \nthat joy which cannot ever be taken away. \n \nRefrain: O holy father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nO most blessèd father Alexis, thou didst show thyself as a vigilant shepherd of Christ’s flock \nrather than a hireling who flees from danger. Thou didst drive away the voracious wolves \nfrom the sheepfold of the Church and refute their soul-destroying heresies. Intercede for \nthose who celebrate thy feast with joy and beseech the Lord to save our souls. \n \nRefrain: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \nThough we are unable to praise thee worthily, we celebrate thy joyous festival with love. O \nunshakeable pillar of the Church and invincible bastion of the faithful, intercede with our \nmerciful God for the salvation of our souls. \n \nProkeimenon \n \nDeacon: Let us attend. The Prokeimenon in the 7th Tone: Let the faithful exult in glory, let them sing \nfor joy on their couches. \n \nChoir: Let the faithful exult in glory, let them sing for joy on their couches. \n \nDeacon: Sing to the Lord a new song; His praise in the assembly of the faithful. \n \nChoir: Let the faithful exult in glory, let them sing for joy on their couches. \n \nDeacon: Let the faithful exult in glory… \n \nChoir: ….let them sing for joy on their couches. \n\n \n \n \nDeacon: Let us pray to the Lord. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. \n \nPriest: For holy art Thou, O our God, Who restest in the Saints, and unto Thee do we send up glory: \nto the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. \n \nChoir: Amen. \n \nDeacon: Let every breath praise the Lord. \n \nChoir: Let every breath praise the Lord. \n \nDeacon: Praise God in His sanctuary, praise Him in His mighty firmament. \n \nChoir: Let every breath praise the Lord. \n \nDeacon: Let every breath: \n \nChoir: Praise the Lord. \n \nDeacon: And that we may be accounted worthy of hearing the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord \nGod. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nDeacon: Wisdom. Let us attend. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. \n \nPriest: Peace be unto all. \n \nChoir: And to your spirit. \n \nPriest: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke. (Pericope 64—Luke 12:8–12) \n \nChoir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee. \n \nDeacon: Let us attend. \n \nPriest: Jesus said: “And I tell you, every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also \nwill acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies me before men will be denied \nbefore the angels of God. And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be \nforgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they \n\n \n \nbring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how \nor what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that \nvery hour what you ought to say.” \n \nChoir: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. \n \nChoir: It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most-pure and the Mother of our \nGod. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious, beyond compare, than the \nSeraphim: Without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify \nyou. \n \nReader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x) \n \n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \n O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our \ntransgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake. \n \n Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \n Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of \nages. Amen. \n \n Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, \non earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as \nwe forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from \nthe evil One. \n \nPriest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of \nthe Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \n \nChoir: Amen. \nTroparion – Tone 4 \nChoir: O righteous father Alexis, \nour heavenly intercessor and teacher, \ndivine adornment of the Church of Christ, \nentreat the Master of all \nto strengthen the Orthodox Faith in America, \nto grant peace to the world // \nand to our souls great mercy. \n \n\n \n \nDeacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have \nmercy. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nDeacon: Again we pray for our Metropolitan (N.); for our Bishop [or Archbishop] (N.); and for all our \nbrethren in Christ. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nDeacon: Again we pray for the President of our country, for all civil authorities, and for the armed \nforces. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nDeacon: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and good \nhastening for the servant(s) of God, N. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nAnd these are added: \nDeacon: Again we pray unto Thee, O Lord, our God, that Thou mayest hearken unto the voice of our \nsupplication and prayer, and be merciful unto Thy servant(s), N., through Thy grace and \ncompassions, and that Thou wilt fulfil all of his (her, their) petitions, and forgive all his (her, \ntheir) transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary. And may his (her, their) prayers and \nalms be acceptable before Thy holy throne, O Master. And do Thou shelter him (her, them) \nfrom enemies, both visible and invisible; and deliver him (her, them) from every disaster, \nmisfortune and affliction, and from every sickness. And grant him (her, them) health and \nlength of days, we all pray, O Lord, hearken and have mercy. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nDeacon: Look down with merciful eyes, O Master and Lover of Mankind, upon Thy servant(s), N., and \nhearken unto our supplication which we bring unto Thee in faith, for Thou Thyself hast said, \n“Whatsoever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and it shall be \nyours” (Mark 11:24), and again, “Ask, and it shall be given you” (Matt. 7:7). Therefore, we \nalso, although unworthy, yet hoping in Thy mercy, ask: Do Thou grant Thy goodness unto Thy \nservant(s), N., and fulfil his (her, their) good desire(s), and preserve him (her, them), \npeacefully and quietly, in health and length of days, we all pray, quickly hearken and \nmercifully have mercy. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \n\n \n \nDeacon: Again we pray that this city [if a monastery: this habitation; or this town; or this village] and \nevery city and land from famine, epidemic, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion \nof [enemies], and civil war; that our Good God Who lovest mankind will be merciful and \ncondescending, that He will turn away every wrath that takes hold of us, that He deliver us \nfrom His righteous threatening laid upon us, and have mercy on us. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nDeacon: Again we pray that the Lord God will hearken unto the voice of supplication of us sinners and \nhave mercy on us. \n \nChoir: Lord, have mercy. (3x) \n \nPriest: Hearken unto us, O God our Savior, Thou hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that \nbe far off at sea; and be merciful, be merciful, O Master, regarding our sins, and have mercy \non us; for Thou art a merciful God, and the Lover of Mankind, and unto Thee do we send up \nglory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages \nof ages. \n \nChoir: Amen. \n \nDeacon: Let us pray to our Holy Father Alexis! \n \nChoir: O Holy Father Alexis, pray to God for us! \n \nPriest: O Holy Father Alexis, Pillar of Orthodoxy and Chosen Vessel of the Truth of Christ, we come \nto you as one who received special grace from God. You put to shame the tyrant’s deceits by \nyour wisdom and trampled demons underfoot by your virtuous life. Entreat God that we also \nmay be granted the same wisdom and love of virtue. By your intercession, illumine our \ndarkened souls that we may receive the light of Truth, and may remain steadfast in the Faith. \nAs you once proved foolish the wisdom of this world, so now incline our hearts to the fear of \nGod that we may begin to learn True Wisdom. As you once dispelled impiety with the \nexample of your blameless life and refused to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, so now \nteach us to live piously and to walk in the way of the Lord; as you once returned to the bosom \nof the Orthodox Church, and partook of the Fountain of life, so now help us to guide those \ngone astray and give drink to those in this land thirsting for the Water of life. O Holy Confessor \nAlexis, beseech the Lord that He will look down with mercy on our Orthodox faithful and \nwater with His grace the seed that you planted, that it may continue to flower and bring forth \nfruit hundredfold. May we, having been counted worthy of blessings in this life, be \nvouchsafed the blessings of heaven, both now and ever and done to ages of ages. \n \nChoir: Amen. \nDeacon: Wisdom. \n\n \n \nPriest: Most-holy Theotokos, save us. \nChoir: More honorable than the Cherubim and, more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim. \nWithout defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you. \nPriest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our Hope, glory to Thee. \nChoir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages \nof ages. Amen. \n Lord, have mercy. (3x) \nFather, bless. \n \nPriest: May Christ our True God, through the prayers of His Most-pure Mother, of Saint Alexis of \nMinneapolis and Wilkes-Barre, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America, and of all \nthe Saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and the Lover of Mankind. \nChoir: Amen.