Tag: eastern orthodox church

O Lord, how lovely it is to be your guest:
the breezes are  full of scents;
the mountains reach to the skies;
the waters like boundless mirrors
and the floating clouds
reflect the sun’s golden rays.
All nature murmurs mysteriously,
breathing the depth of tenderness.
Birds and beasts of the forest
bear the imprint of your love.

You have blessed our home, the earth,
in its changing loveliness,
which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last forever,
in the land where beauty never grows old,
and the cry rings out:
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

You have brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise.
We have seen the sky like a dome of deepest blue,
where the birds sing in the heights.
We have listened to the rustling leaves of the forest
and the bubbling music of the streams.
We have tasted the freshest fruit
and the sweetest honey.
We can live very well on your earth.
It is a pleasure to be your guest!

Glory to you for each day of life;
glory to you for the perfume of lilies and roses.

Glory to you for each different taste of berry and fruit;
glory to you for the sparkling silver of early morning dew.

Glory to you for the joy of dawn’s awakening;
glory to you for the new life each day brings.

Glory to you, O God, forever and ever!
Glory to you, O God, forever and ever!

Source: Akathist Hymn, Kontakion 2, Antiochian Orthodox

Source of this version: Modified from http://ww1.antiochian.org/orthodox-prayers/akathist-of-thanksgiving

The paragraph, “You have blessed our home, the earth…” was changed because the original read as if it were a prayer to “Mother Earth.”

O Lord Jesus Christ our God,
in your mercy and loving kindness
you regard the prayers of all who call on you with their whole heart.
Hear my prayer, now humbly offered to you:

Remember, O Lord, your church.
Confirm and strengthen it,
increase it and keep it in peace,
and preserve it forever.

Remember, O Lord, our bishops,
our pastors and teachers,
and all servants in your church
which you established to feed the flock with your Word.
Hear their prayers,
have mercy on me,
and save me, a sinner.

Remember, O Lord,
all civil authorities,
our armed forces,
this city in which we dwell,
and every city and land.
Grant us peaceful times,
that we may lead a calm and tranquil life
in all godliness and holiness.

Remember, O Lord,
my parents,
my brothers and sisters,
my relatives and friends,
and all who are near and dear to me, [especially…]
and grant them mercy, life, peace,
health, salvation and visitation,
pardon and forgiveness of sins,
that they may forever praise and glorify your holy name.

Remember, O Lord,
those who travel by land, and sea, and air,
the young and the old,
orphans and widows,
the sick and the suffering,
the sorrowing and the afflicted,
all captives,
and the poor and needy.
On all these, pour out your mercy,
for you are the giver of all good things.

Remember, O Lord,
me, your humble servant.
Grant me your grace,
that I may be diligent and faithful,
that I may avoid evil company and influence,
and resist all temptation;
that I may lead a godly and righteous life,
blameless and peaceful,
always serving you.

I remember, O Lord,
all those who have fallen asleep
in the hope of resurrection to life eternal,
whom you shelter
in a place of brightness and heavenly rest,
where all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away,
and where the sight of your face gladdens all your saints.
Bring me, at last, with all your saints
to glory everlasting.

O Lord, hear my prayer,
for you are merciful and compassionate,
and you love mankind,
and to you are due all glory, honor, and worship,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

Source: Antiochan Orthodox Church

Source of this version: Freely modified and adapted from http://ww1.antiochian.org/orthodox-prayers/occasional-prayers

Petition “I remember, O Lord, all those who have fallen asleep…” is rendered here as a remembrance of the dead. In the original is a prayer for the dead:

Be mindful, O Lord, of all those who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, especially N., NN.; pardon all their transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or deed, or thought. Shelter them in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away, and where the sight of thy countenance rejoiceth all thy Saints from all the ages. Grant them thy heavenly Kingdom, and a portion in thine ineffable and eternal blessings, and the enjoyment of thine unending Life.

Arranged as a Litany

O Lord Jesus Christ our God,
in your mercy and loving kindness
regard the prayers of all who call on you with their whole heart.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

Remember, O Lord, your church.
Confirm and strengthen it,
increase it and keep it in peace,
and preserve it forever.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

Remember, O Lord, our bishops,
our pastors and teachers,
and all servants in your church
which you established to feed the flock with your Word.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

Remember, O Lord,
all civil authorities,
our armed forces,
this city in which we dwell,
and every city and land.
Grant us peaceful times,
that we may lead a calm and tranquil life
in all godliness and holiness.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

Remember, O Lord,
our parents,
our brothers and sisters,
our relatives and friends,
and all who are near and dear to us, [especially…]
and grant them mercy, life, peace,
health, salvation and visitation,
pardon and forgiveness of sins,
that they may forever praise and glorify your holy name.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

Remember, O Lord,
those who travel by land, and sea, and air,
the young and the old,
orphans and widows,
the sick and the suffering,
the sorrowing and the afflicted,
all captives,
and the poor and needy.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

O Lord,
remember us, your humble servants.
Grant us your grace,
that we may be diligent and faithful,
that we may avoid evil company and influence,
and resist all temptation;
that we may lead a godly and righteous lives,
blameless and peaceful,
always serving you.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

We remember, O Lord,
all those who have fallen asleep
in the hope of resurrection to life eternal,
whom you shelter
in a place of brightness and heavenly rest,
where all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away,
and where the sight of your face gladdens all your saints.
Bring us, at last, with all your saints
to glory everlasting.
O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cries for help come to you.

O Lord, hear our prayer,
for you are merciful and compassionate,
and you love mankind,
and to you are due all glory, honor, and worship,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

Response is taken from Psalm 102:1 (EHV)