Prayer of St Dimitri of Rostov \nBefore Communion \nOpen, O doors and bolts of my heart, \nthat Christ the King of Glory may \nenter! \nEnter, O my Light, and enlighten my \ndarkness; enter, O my Life, and \nresurrect my deadness; \nEnter, O my Physician, and heal my \nwounds; enter, O Divine Fire, and burn \nup the thorns of my sins; ignite my \ninward parts and my heart with the \nflame of Thy love; \nEnter, O my King, and destroy in me \nthe kingdom of sin; sit on the throne of \nmy heart and reign in me alone, O \nThou, my King and Lord.\nTo pray for someone more \ndiligently: \nSave, O Lord, and have mercy on \nThy servant(s), [bow] \nDeliver him (her, them) from \nevery tribulation, wrath and need \n[bow], \nFrom every sickness of soul and \nbody, [bow] \nForgive him (her, them) every \ntransgression, voluntary and \ninvoluntary, [bow] \nAnd do whatever is profitable for \nour souls. [bow]. \nA Prayer of Thanksgiving \nattributed to St John \nChrysostom\nWhat praise, of what hymn, or what \nthanksgiving, or what recompense shall we \noffer unto Thee, the Only God, Who lovest \nmankind? For when we were condemned to \ndestruction and immersed in our sins, Thou \ndidst bestow freedom upon us, and hast given \nus the immortal and heavenly nourishment of \nthe Body and Blood of Thy Christ. \nTherefore we pray Thee: Deliver us from \njudgment, together with Thy servants who \nminister unto Thee. →\nA Prayer of Thanksgiving by \nSt Basil The Great\nO Existing One, Master Lord, God, almighty and \nadorable Father: It is truly meet and right and befitting \nthe majesty of Thy holiness that we should praise \nThee, hymn Thee, bless Thee, worship Thee, give \nthanks unto Thee and glorify Thee, the only truly \nexisting God, and offer unto Thee with contrite heart \nand spirit of humility this our rational worship; for \nThou art He that hath graciously bestowed upon us the \nknowledge of Thy truth. \nAnd who is sufficient to speak of Thy mighty acts, to \nmake all Thy praises to be heard, or to tell of all Thy \nwonders at every season? \nO Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all \ncreation both visible and invisible, Who sittest upon \nthe throne of glory and beholdest the depths, Who art \nunoriginate, invisible, immutable, the Father of our \nLord: the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, our \nHope, Who is the Image of Thy goodness, the Seal of \nequal type, in Himself showing forth Thee, the Father, \nthe living Word, the true God, the Wisdom before all \nages, →\n\nTo pray for someone more \ndiligently: \nSave, O Lord, and have mercy on \nThy servant(s), [bow] \nDeliver him (her, them) from \nevery tribulation, wrath and need \n[bow], \nFrom every sickness of soul and \nbody, [bow] \nForgive him (her, them) every \ntransgression, voluntary and \ninvoluntary, [bow] \nAnd do whatever is profitable for \nour souls. [bow]. \nPrayer of St Dimitri of Rostov \nBefore Communion \nOpen, O doors and bolts of my heart, \nthat Christ the King of Glory may \nenter! \nEnter, O my Light, and enlighten my \ndarkness; enter, O my Life, and \nresurrect my deadness; \nEnter, O my Physician, and heal my \nwounds; enter, O Divine Fire, and burn \nup the thorns of my sins; ignite my \ninward parts and my heart with the \nflame of Thy love; \nEnter, O my King, and destroy in me \nthe kingdom of sin; sit on the throne of \nmy heart and reign in me alone, O \nThou, my King and Lord.\nA Prayer of Thanksgiving by St Basil The Great continued\n↓\nthe Life, Sanctification, Power, the true Light, through \nWhom the Holy Spirit was manifested: the Spirit of \ntruth, the Gift of adoption, the Pledge of the \ninheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal good \nthings, the life-giving Power, the Fountain of \nsanctification, by Whom enabled every rational and \nintelligent creature doth serve Thee and ascribe to \nThee perpetual praise, for all things are Thy servants. \nFilled thus with great awe at Thine immeasurable \nmercies and love, do Thou receive the unfeigned \npraise and thanksgiving of our unworthy hearts for all \nthat Thou hast provided for us in this world and the \nnext, and enable us to walk before Thee in holiness \nand purity all the days of our life in fitting gratitude \nfor Thy loving-kindness to us; \nFor blessed art Thou O Holy Father together with Thy \nSon, our Lord Jesus Christ to Whom, with Thee and \nthe Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory and worship, \nnow and every and unto ages of ages. Amen. \nA Prayer of Thanksgiving \nattributed to St John \nChrysostom\nWhat praise, of what hymn, or what \nthanksgiving, or what recompense shall we \noffer unto Thee, the Only God, Who lovest \nmankind? For when we were condemned to \ndestruction and immersed in our sins, Thou \ndidst bestow freedom upon us, and hast given \nus the immortal and heavenly nourishment of \nthe Body and Blood of Thy Christ. \nTherefore we pray Thee: Deliver us from \njudgment, together with Thy servants who \nminister unto Thee. →\n\nThe Daily Prayer of \nHieroschemamonk Parthenios\n Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, do not permit vanity, self-\nlove, sensuality, carelessness, anger to rule over me and steal \nme from Thy love, O my Lord and Creator, all my hope! Do \nnot leave me without a portion of the blessed eternity. \nGrant also that I may follow Thy Holy example.. that I may \nsubmit to the authorities placed over me. Grant me the clean \nsoul, the simplicity of heart; which makes us worthy of Thy \nlove. \nTo Thee, my God, I lift up my soul and heart; do not allow \nThy creation to perish, but free me from the single and \ngreatest enemy ... sin. \nGrant, Lord, that I may endure anxiety and sorrows of the soul \nwith the same patience as the joy with which I receive \nsatisfaction of heart. If Thou desirest, Lord, Thou canst \ncleanse me and sanctify me. \nHere I commit myself to Thy mercy... begging Thee to \ndestroy within me all that is offensive to Thee, and to unite me \nto the assembly of Thy chosen. \nLord, take from me: idleness of spirit, which destroys time; \nvanity of thoughts, which hinders Thy presence and distracts \nmy attention to prayer. If, while in prayer, I turn away from \nThee in my thoughts, help me; so that this distraction may not \nbe willful, and that - averting my mind - I may not avert my \nheart from Thee. →\nPrayer of St. Philaret, \nMetropolitan of Moscow\nMy Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of \nThee. Thou and Thou alone knowest my \nneeds. Thou lovest me more than I am able to \nlove Thee. \nO Father, grant unto me, They servant, all \nwhich I cannot ask. For a cross I dare not ask, \nnor for consolation; I dare only to stand in \nThy presence. \nMy heart is open to Thee. Thou seest my \nneeds of which I myself am unaware. Behold \nand lift me up! In Thy presence I stand, awed \nand silenced by Thy will and Thy judgments, \ninto which my mind cannot penetrate. \nTo Thee I offer myself as a sacrifice. No other \ndesire is mine but to fulfill Thy will. Teach \nme how to pray. Do Thyself pray within me. \nAmen. \nPRAYER FOR THE\nGRANTING OF PRAYER\nSt. John of Kronstadt, “My Life in Christ"\nO All-merciful Lord! Grant me the \ndivine gift of holy prayer, flowing from \nthe depth of my heart. Gather together \nthe dispersed thoughts of my mind, that \nit may always strive towards its Creator \nand Savior. Destroy the burning arrows \nof the evil one, which tear me away \nfrom Thee. Quench the flame of the \npassionate thoughts that devour me \nduring prayer. Cover me with the grace \nof Thy Most-holy Spirit, that to the very \nend of my sinful life I may love Thee \nalone with all my heart, all my soul and \nmind, and all my strength, and in the \nhour when my soul takes leave of my \nmortal body, O Sweetest Jesus, take into \nThy hands my spirit when Thou comest \ninto Thy Kingdom. Amen.\nA Hymn by St. Gregory \nNazianzus\nO all-transcendent God what other name \ndescribes Thee? What words can sing Thy \npraises? No word at all denotes Thee. \nWhat mind can probe Thy secret? \nNo mind at all can grasp Thee. Alone \nbeyond the power of speech, all men can \nspeak of springs from Thee. Alone beyond \nthe power of thought, all men can think of \nstems from Thee. \nAll things proclaim Thee - things that can \nspeak, things that cannot. All things revere \nThee - things that have reason, things that \nhave none. The whole world's longing and \npain mingle about Thee. \n→\n\nPrayer of St. Philaret, \nMetropolitan of Moscow\nMy Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of \nThee. Thou and Thou alone knowest my \nneeds. Thou lovest me more than I am able to \nlove Thee. \nO Father, grant unto me, They servant, all \nwhich I cannot ask. For a cross I dare not ask, \nnor for consolation; I dare only to stand in \nThy presence. \nMy heart is open to Thee. Thou seest my \nneeds of which I myself am unaware. Behold \nand lift me up! In Thy presence I stand, awed \nand silenced by Thy will and Thy judgments, \ninto which my mind cannot penetrate. \nTo Thee I offer myself as a sacrifice. No other \ndesire is mine but to fulfill Thy will. Teach \nme how to pray. Do Thyself pray within me. \nAmen. \nThe Daily Prayer of Hieroschemamonk Parthenios continued↓\nI confess to Thee, my Lord God, all the sins of my wickedness \ncommitted before Thee, now and in the past. Forgive me for \nthem, for the sake of Thy Holy Name, and save my soul, \nwhich thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood. I entrust \nmyself to Thy mercy. I submit to Thy will. Do with me \naccording to Thy mercy and not according to my evil and \nwickedness. Teach me Lord, to dispose my deeds so that they \nwill serve in glorifying Thy Holy Name. \nTake pity, O Lord, on all Christians. Hear the desires of all \nwho cry out to Thee, and deliver them from evil. Save Thy \nservants [ insert names ] . Send them comfort, consolation in \nsorrows, and Thy holy mercy. Lord, I especially pray for those \nwho have in anyway insulted, abused and grieved me. Do not \npunish them for the sake of me, a sinner; but pour Thy mercy \nupon them. Lord, I pray to thee especially for all those whom \nI, a sinner, insulted or tempted in word, deed, thought, \nknowingly and unknowingly. Lord God, forgive us our sins \nand mutual offenses. Dispel from our hearts, O Lord, all \nindignation, suspicion, anger, remembrance of evil, quarrels, \nand all that might hinder and lessen brotherly love. \nBe merciful Lord, to those who have entrusted me, an \nunworthy sinner, to pray for them. Be merciful Lord, to all \nwho ask Thy help. Lord, make this day a day of Thy mercy; \ngive to each according to their petition. Be the Shepherd of the \nlost, the Guide of Light of unbelievers, the Teacher of the \nunwise, the Father of orphans, the Helper of the oppressed, the \nHealer of the sick, the Comforter of the dying, and lead us all \nto the desired end... to Thee, our refuge and blessed repose. \nAmen. \nA Hymn by St. Gregory Nazianzus continued\n↓\nAll things breathe Thee a prayer, a silent \nhymn of Thy own composing. All that \nexists Thee uphold, all things in concert \nmove to Thy orders. \nThou art the end of all that is, Thou art \none, Thou art all; Thou art none of the \nthings that are, Thou art not a part and not \nthe whole. \nAll names are at Thy disposal; how shall I \nname Thee, the only unnamable? What \nmind's affinities with heaven can pierce the \nveils above the clouds? \nMercy, all-transcendent God, what other \nname describes Thee? \nEarliest Christian Hymns, edited by F. Forrester Church & Terrence J. \nMulry, Macmillan Publishing Co. '88\nPRAYER FOR THE\nGRANTING OF PRAYER\nSt. John of Kronstadt, “My Life in Christ"\nO All-merciful Lord! Grant me the \ndivine gift of holy prayer, flowing from \nthe depth of my heart. Gather together \nthe dispersed thoughts of my mind, that \nit may always strive towards its Creator \nand Savior. Destroy the burning arrows \nof the evil one, which tear me away \nfrom Thee. Quench the flame of the \npassionate thoughts that devour me \nduring prayer. Cover me with the grace \nof Thy Most-holy Spirit, that to the very \nend of my sinful life I may love Thee \nalone with all my heart, all my soul and \nmind, and all my strength, and in the \nhour when my soul takes leave of my \nmortal body, O Sweetest Jesus, take into \nThy hands my spirit when Thou comest \ninto Thy Kingdom. Amen.\n\nThe Prayer of the Optina Elders\nМолитва последних оптинских старцев\nGrant unto me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I \nmay face all that this new day is to bring. Grant \nunto me to dedicate myself completely to Thy \nHoly Will. For every hour of this day, instruct and \nsupport me in all things. Whatsoever tidings I may \nreceive during the day, do Thou teach me to accept \ntranquilly, in the firm conviction that all \neventualities fulfill Thy Holy Will.\nGovern Thou my thoughts and feelings in all I do \nand say. When things unforeseen occur , let me not \nforget that all cometh down from Thee.\nTeach me to behave sincerely and rationally \ntoward every member of my family, that I may \nbring confusion and sorrow to none. Bestow upon \nme, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the \nday, and to bear my part in all its passing events.\nGuide Thou my will and teach me to pray, to \nbelieve, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love. \nAmen\nМолитва последних оптинских \nстарцев\nThe Prayer of the Optina Elders\nГосподи, дай мне с душевным спокойствием \nвстретить все, что принесет мне настоящий \nдень. Дай ме всецело предаться Воле Твоей \nСвятой. На всякий час сего дня во всем наставь и \nподдержи меня.\nКакие бы я ни получил известия в течение дня, \nнаучи принять их со спокойной душой и твердым \nубеждением, что на все Святая Воля Твоя!\nВо всех моих делах и словах руководи моими \nмыслями и чуствами! Во всех непредвиденных \nслучаях не дай мне забыть, что все ниспослано \nТобой!\nНаучи меня прямо и разумно действовать с \nкаждым членом семьи моей, никого ни огорчая, \nникого ни смущая!\n \nГосподи, дай мне силу перенести утомление \nнаступающего дня и все события в течение его!\nРуководи моею волею и научи меня молиться, \nнадеяться, верить, любить, терпеть ипрощать!\nАминь.\nA prayer to the Most Holy \nTheotokos, by St Peter of \nDamascus\nBlessed Queen of the universe, thou knowest that we \nsinners have no intimacy with God whom thou hast \nborne. \nBut, putting our trust in thee, through thy mediation we \nthy servants prostrate ourselves before the Lord:\nfor thou canst freely approach Him since He is thy son \nand our God. \nThus I, too, unworthy believer that I am, entreat thee, \nholy Queen, that I may be allowed to perceive the gifts \nof grace bestowed on thee and on the other saints, \nand to understand how thou dost display so many \nvirtues.\nSimply thy giving birth to the Son of God shows that \nthou excellest all other beings. For He Who, as creator \nof all, knows all things before they come into existence, \nfound thy womb worthy of His indwelling. \nFrom St. Peter of Damascus (Book 1 : A Treasury of Divine \nKnowledge, The Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, \nSherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pgs. 129-130) \n\nМолитва последних оптинских старцев\nThe Prayer of the Optina Elders\nГосподи, дай мне с душевным спокойствием \nвстретить все, что принесет мне настоящий \nдень. Дай ме всецело предаться Воле Твоей \nСвятой. На всякий час сего дня во всем наставь и \nподдержи меня.\nКакие бы я ни получил известия в течение дня, \nнаучи принять их со спокойной душой и твердым \nубеждением, что на все Святая Воля Твоя!\nВо всех моих делах и словах руководи моими \nмыслями и чуствами! Во всех непредвиденных \nслучаях не дай мне забыть, что все ниспослано \nТобой!\nНаучи меня прямо и разумно действовать с \nкаждым членом семьи моей, никого ни огорчая, \nникого ни смущая!\n \nГосподи, дай мне силу перенести утомление \nнаступающего дня и все события в течение его!\nРуководи моею волею и научи меня молиться, \nнадеяться, верить, любить, терпеть ипрощать!\nАминь.\nThe Prayer of the Optina Elders\nМолитва последних оптинских старцев\nGrant unto me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I \nmay face all that this new day is to bring. Grant \nunto me to dedicate myself completely to Thy \nHoly Will. For every hour of this day, instruct and \nsupport me in all things. Whatsoever tidings I may \nreceive during the day, do Thou teach me to accept \ntranquilly, in the firm conviction that all \neventualities fulfill Thy Holy Will.\nGovern Thou my thoughts and feelings in all I do \nand say. When things unforeseen occur , let me not \nforget that all cometh down from Thee.\nTeach me to behave sincerely and rationally \ntoward every member of my family, that I may \nbring confusion and sorrow to none. Bestow upon \nme, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the \nday, and to bear my part in all its passing events.\nGuide Thou my will and teach me to pray, to \nbelieve, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love. \nAmen\nA prayer to the Most Holy \nTheotokos, by St Peter of \nDamascus\nBlessed Queen of the universe, thou knowest that we \nsinners have no intimacy with God whom thou hast \nborne. \nBut, putting our trust in thee, through thy mediation we \nthy servants prostrate ourselves before the Lord:\nfor thou canst freely approach Him since He is thy son \nand our God. \nThus I, too, unworthy believer that I am, entreat thee, \nholy Queen, that I may be allowed to perceive the gifts \nof grace bestowed on thee and on the other saints, \nand to understand how thou dost display so many \nvirtues.\nSimply thy giving birth to the Son of God shows that \nthou excellest all other beings. For He Who, as creator \nof all, knows all things before they come into existence, \nfound thy womb worthy of His indwelling. \nFrom St. Peter of Damascus (Book 1 : A Treasury of Divine \nKnowledge, The Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, \nSherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pgs. 129-130)