Monks & Nuns of New Manjava
MORNING PRAYERS
Morning Prayer of St. Basil the Great to the Most Holy Trinity
As I rise from sleep I thank You, O Holy Trinity, for through Your great goodness and patience You were not angered with me, an idler and sinner, nor have You destroyed me in my sins, but have shown Your usual love for mankind. When I was prostrate in despair, You raised me to keep the morning watch and glorify Your power. Now enlighten my mind's eye and open my mouth to study Your words and understand Your commandments and do Your will and sing to You in heartfelt adoration and praise Your Most Holy Name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Come let us worship God our King.
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and our God.
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
Prayer to the Mother of God
Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Mary full of grace; the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Saviour of our souls.
Under your tender compassion we run, O Mother of God, reject not our prayer in our trouble, but deliver us from harm, only pure, only blessed one.
Most glorious Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ our God, present our prayer to thy Son and our God and pray that through you He may save our souls.
Prayer for Our Monastery Brotherhood
Remember, O Lord, also all Abbots, Fathers and Sisters and members of our Solus Christi Sketes and all monastics who have departed in sleep with the hope of resurrection and eternal life, and all Orthodox Christians who lie here and in all the world, and with Your Saints give them repose where the light of Your Face shines, and have mercy on us, for You are good and the Lover of mankind. Amen.
At the end, say three times:
Grant, O Lord, remission of all sins to our Fathers, Brothers and Sisters departed in the faith and hope of resurrection, and grant them memory eternal.
Prayer of Remembrance for Parents Departed in Sleep
Remember, O Lord, the souls of Your servants who have departed in sleep, my parents (names), and all my relatives according to the flesh; forgive them every transgression, voluntary and involuntary; grant them the Kingdom and a part in Your eternal joys, and the delight of Your blessed and everlasting life.
Prayer to Michael the Archangel
Oh, Master, Great God, Immortal King, send Your Archangel Michael to help Your servant (N.). Withdraw from me all my enemies, seen and unseen! Oh, Blessed Michael the Archangel, pour forth the oil of well-being on your servant (N.). Oh, Blessed Michael the Archangel, you who shatter demons, protect me against all the enemies that fight against me. Turn them out into sheep and shatter them like ashes in the face of the wind. Oh, Blessed Michael the Archangel, six-winged first Grand Duke and leader of the heavenly forces, the Cherubim and Seraphim! Oh, miraculous Michael the Archangel, be my help in everything, in my hurts, griefs and sorrows. Be my quiet shelter on cross-roads, deserts, rivers and seas. Save me, Great Michael the Archangel, from every temptation of the Evil One. Always hear me, your sinful servant (N.), praying to you and calling upon your name, and quickly help me, and hear my prayer to you. Defeat all that is opposing me with the power of the invigorating Cross of Jesus Christ, with the prayers of the holy Mother of God and the holy Apostles, and blessed Nicolas the Miracle-Worker, blessed Andrew, God’s fool, and the holy prophet Illya, and the holy martyrs Nikita and Evstaphy, the most reverend fathers, blesseds and martyrs, and all the holy powers of heaven. Amen.
Commemoration of the Living and Departed
Remember, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Thy mercies and bounties which are from all eternity, and through which Thou didst become man and didst will to suffer crucifixion and death for the salvation of those who rightly believe in Thee, and having risen from the dead didst ascend into heaven, and sittest at the right hand of God the Father and regardest the humble entreaties of those who call upon Thee with all their heart: incline Thy ear, and hear the humble prayer of me, Thy worthless servant, as the fragrance of spiritual incense, which I offer to Thee for all people. And first remember Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which Thou hast provided through Thy Precious Blood. Confirm, strengthen, extend, and increase her, and keep her in peace, and for ever proof against the power of hell. Calm the dissensions of the Churches, and foil the plans of the powers of darkness, dispel the prejudice of the nations, and quickly ruin and root out the risings of heresy, and frustrate them by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on our president and all in authority throughout the world, commanders-in-chief of armies and navies and airfleets, governors of provinces and cities, and all the Christ-loving navies, armies and police; protect their power with peace, and subdue under their feet every enemy and foe, and speak peace and blessing in their hearts for Thy Holy Church, and for all Thy people, and grant that in their calm we too may lead a quiet and peaceful life in true belief, in all piety and honesty.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Orthodox Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Archbishops and Bishops, the Priests and Deacons, and all who serve in the Church, and whom Thou hast ordained to feed Thy spiritual flock; and by their prayers, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on our Father Abbot (name), with all his brethren in Christ, and by their prayers have mercy on me, wretch that I am.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my Spiritual Father (name) and by his prayers forgive me my sins.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on all workers in our monastic communities, our brethren and all manual workers, and lay-workers, and all Christians.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my parents (names), my brothers and sisters and all my relatives, and the neighbors of my family, and friends - and grant them Thy worldly and spiritual goods.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy according to the multitude of Thy bounties, on all priests, monks and nuns, and on all living in virginity, devotion and fasting, in monasteries, in deserts, in caves, on mountains, on pillars, in hermitages, in the clefts of rocks, and right faith in every place of Thy dominion, and devoutly serving Thee, and praying to Thee. Lighten their burden, console them in their afflictions, and grant them strength, power and perseverance in their struggle, and by their prayers grant me remission of sins.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the old and the young, the poor, the homeless and destitute, the orphans and widows, the leper colonies, epileptics, and those in sickness and sorrow, misfortune and tribulation, captives and exiles, in mines and prisons and reformatories, and especially on those of Thy servants suffering persecution for Thy sake and for the Orthodox Faith from godless peoples, apostates and heretics. Visit, strengthen, comfort, and heal them, and by Thy power quickly grant them relief, freedom and deliverance.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on our benefactors, who have mercy on us and feed us, and relieve us of anxiety by giving us alms, and entrust us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them; and give them Thy grace, and grant them all their requests which conduce to salvation, and the attainment of eternal joy.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the Fathers and Sisters, and our Monastic Brotherhood, and on all Orthodox Christians who are messengers and missionaries in Your service and who are traveling.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on those whom I have offended or scandalized by my madness or inadvertence, and whom I have turned from the way of salvation, and whom I have led into evil and harmful deeds. By Your divine providence restore them again to the way of salvation.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on those who hate and offend me and do me harm, and let them not perish through me, a sinner.
Illumine with the light of grace all apostates from the Orthodox Faith, and those blinded by heresy, and draw them to Yourself, and unite them to Your Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.
PRAYER BEFORE READING HOLY SCRIPTURE
Illumine our hearts, O Master Who love mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing to You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father, Who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYERS OF CONTRITION
I confess to You, my Lord, God and Creator, to the One glorified and worshipped in Holy Trinity, to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all my sins which I have committed all the days of my life, at every hour, in the present and in the past, day and night, in thought, word and deed; by gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talking, despondency, indolence, contradiction, neglect, aggressiveness, self love, hoarding, stealing, lying, dishonesty, curiosity, jealousy, envy, anger, resentment, and remembering wrongs, hatred, mercenariness; and by all my senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch; and all other sins, spiritual and bodily, through which I have angered You, my God and Creator, and caused injustice to my neighbors. Sorrowing for this, but determined to repent, I stand guilty before You, my God. Only help me, my Lord and God, I humbly pray You with tears. Forgive my past sins by Your mercy, and absolve me from all I have confessed in Your presence, for You are good and love all mankind. Amen. Lord, absolve, remit, and pardon my voluntary and involuntary sins, in word and deed, known and unknown, by day and by night, in mind and thought; forgive me all, in Your goodness and love for mankind.
Lord our God, good and merciful, I acknowledge all my sins which I have committed every day of my life, in thought, word and deed; in body and soul alike. I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended You, and I sincerely repent; with tears I humbly pray You, O Lord: of thy mercy forgive me all my past transgressions and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace, to amend my way of life and to sin no more; that I may walk in the way of the righteous and offer praise and glory to the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have compassion and mercy on your sinful servant and pardon my unworthiness, and forgive me all the sins that I committed today in my humanity and my inhumanity – behaving worse than a beast! Forgive my voluntary and involuntary sins, known and unknown, from my youth and from evil suggestions, and from my brazenness, and from boredom. If I have sworn by your Name or blasphemed it in thought, blamed or reproached anyone, or in my anger have detracted or slandered anyone, or grieved anyone, or if I have been angry about anything, or have told a lie, if I have slept unnecessarily, or if a beggar has come to me and I despised or neglected him, or if I have troubled or quarreled with anyone, or if I have condemned anyone, or have boasted, or have been proud, or lost my temper with anyone, or if when standing in prayer my mind has been distracted by the glamour of this world, or if I have had depraved thoughts or have overeaten, or have drunk excessively, or have laughed frivolously, or have thought evil, or have seen the beauty of someone and been wounded by it in my heart, or said indecent things, or made fun of another’s sin when my own faults are countless, or been neglectful of prayer, or have done some other wrong that I cannot remember – for I have done all this and much more – have mercy, my Lord and Creator, on your wretched and unworthy servant, and absolve and forgive and deliver me in your goodness and love for us, so that, lustful, sinful and wretched as I am, I may lie down and sleep and rest in peace. And I shall worship, praise and glorify your most honorable Name, with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever, and for all ages. Amen.
I, confess to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, all of my evil acts which I have done, said or thought from baptism to this present day.
I have not kept the vows of my baptism and have made myself unwanted before the face of God.
I have sinned before the Lord by lack of faith and by doubts concerning the Orthodox Faith and the Holy Church; by ungratefulness for all of God's great and unceasing gifts; His long-suffering and His providence for me, a sinner; by lack of love for the Lord, as well as fear, through not fulfilling the Holy Commandments of God and the canons and rules of the Church.
I have not preserved a love for God and for my neighbor nor have I made enough efforts, because of laziness and lack of care, to observe the Commandments of God, the Beatitudes and the precepts of the Holy Fathers.
I have sinned by not praying in the morning and in the evening and in the course of the day; by not attending the services or by coming to Church only half-heartedly, lazily and carelessly; by conversing during the services, by not paying attention and by letting my mind wander.
I have sinned by not respecting the feasts, breaking the fasts, and by immoderation in food and drink.
I have sinned by self-importance, disobedience, willfulness, self-righteousness, and the seeking of approval and praise.
I have sinned by unbelief, lack of faith, doubts, despair, despondency, abusive thoughts, blasphemy and swearing.
I have sinned by pride, a high opinion of my self, narcissism, vanity, conceit, envy, love of praise and love of honors.
I have sinned by judging, malicious gossip, anger, remembering offenses done to me, hatred and returning evil for evil; by slander, reproaches, lies, slyness, deception and hypocrisy; by prejudices, arguments, stubbornness, and an unwillingness to give way to my neighbor; by gloating, spitefulness, taunting, insults and mocking; by speaking too much and by empty speech.
I have sinned by unnecessary and excessive laughter, by reviling and dwelling upon my previous sins, by arrogant behavior, insolence and lack of respect.
I have sinned by not keeping my physical and spiritual passions in check, by my enjoyment of impure thoughts, licentiousness and unchastity in thoughts, words and deeds.
I have sinned by lack of endurance towards my illnesses and sorrows and a devotion to the comforts of life
I have sinned by hardening my heart, having a weak will and by not forcing myself to do good.
I have sinned by miserliness, a love of money, the acquisition of unnecessary things and immoderate attachment to things.
I have sinned by self-justification, a disregard for the admonitions of my conscience and failing to confess my sins through negligence or false pride.
I have sinned many times by my Confession: belittling, justifying and keeping silent about sins.
I have sinned against the Most-holy and Life-creating Mysteries of the Body and Blood of our Lord by coming to Holy Communion without humility or the fear of God.
I have sinned in deed, word and thought, knowingly and unknowingly, willingly and unwillingly, thoughtfully and thoughtlessly, and it is impossible to enumerate all of my sins because of their multitude. But I truly repent of these and all others not mentioned by me because of my forgetfulness and I ask that they be forgiven through the abundance of the Mercy of God.
PRAYER IN TIMES OF ILLNESS
Prayer of a Person Who Is Ill
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You healed people of sickness and affliction through Your love and compassion. Visit me, Lord and grant me strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. I pray that You will bless the means used for my recovery and those who administer them. Grant that my sickness may be to my spiritual benefit and that I may live the rest of my life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You I give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers for an Individual Who Is Ill
Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, Who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal also Your servant (name) from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant him (her) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray, heal Your servant (name) and grant to him (her) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Lord our God, Who by a word alone did heal all diseases, Who did cure the kinswoman of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; Who are able to put aside every sickness and infirmity, do You Yourself, the same Lord, grant aid to Your servant (name) and cure him (her) of every sickness of which he (she) is grieved; and send down upon him (her) Your great mercy, and if it be Your will, give to him (her) health and a complete recovery; for You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up Glory: to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Both now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Thanksgiving after Recovery
Almighty God and heavenly Father, You are the fountain of life and healing. I bless Your holy name and offer to You thanks for having delivered me from sickness and restored me to health. Grant me Your eternal grace, I pray, that I may live a new life in true obedience to You. Guide me to do Your will in all things devoting my life to Your service. Thus living for You may I be found worthy of Your kingdom, where You dwell in glory with Your Son and Your Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
O Lord God Jesus Christ, the Life and strength of all that put their hope in You, Whose mercies are numberless, and the treasury goodness that is infinite, we give thanks to You for the blessings which You have bestowed., and we humbly beseech You to continue Your goodness toward us. As You have been well pleased to restore us to our bodily health, so do imbue our souls with all the heavenly graces, perseverance in good works, and prepare us by Your blessings in this life for the enjoyment of eternal happiness in the Life to come. For to You are due all glory, honor, and worship, as also to Your Eternal Father and Your All-holy Good and Life-creating Spirit, both now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for the Terminally Ill
Lord, Jesus Christ, Who suffered and died for our sins that we may live, if during our life we have sinned in word, deed or thought forgive us in Your goodness and love. All our hope we put in You; protect your servant (name) from all evil. We submit to Your will and into Your hands we commend our souls and bodies. For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good account before the awesome judgment seat of Christ, we pray to you O Lord. Bless us, be merciful to us and grant us life eternal. Amen.
NIGHT PRAYERS
Daily Confession of Sins
I confess to You, my Lord, God and Creator, to the One glorified and worshipped in Holy Trinity, to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all my sins which I have committed all the days of my life, at every hour, in the present and in the past, day and night, in thought, word and deed; by gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talking, despondency, indolence, contradiction, neglect, aggressiveness, self love, hoarding, stealing, lying, dishonesty, curiosity, jealousy, envy, anger, resentment, and remembering wrongs, hatred, mercenariness; and by all my senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch; and all other sins, spiritual and bodily, through which I have angered You, my God and Creator, and caused injustice to my neighbors. Sorrowing for this, but determined to repent, I stand guilty before You, my God. Only help me, my Lord and God, I humbly pray to You with tears. Forgive my past sins in Your mercy, and absolve me from all I have confessed in Your presence, for You are good and love mankind. Amen.
Prayer of St. Macarius the Great to God the Father
O Eternal God and King of all creation, Who has granted me to arrive at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have committed today in thought, word and deed, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me, O Lord, to pass the sleep of this night in peace, that when I rise from my bed I may please Your most holy Name all the days of my life and conquer my flesh and the fleshless foes that war with me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain and frivolous thoughts, and from evil desires which defile me. For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of St. John of Damascus before Retiring for the Night
Lord, Lover of mankind, is this bed to be my coffin, or wilt You enlighten my wretched soul with another day? Here the coffin lies before me, and here death confronts me. I fear, O Lord, Your Judgment and the endless torments, yet I cease not to do evil. My Lord God, I continually anger You, and Your all-pure Mother, and all the Heavenly Powers, and my holy Guardian Angel. I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of Your love, but deserve condemnation and every torment. Whether I want it or not, save me, O Lord. For to save a good man is no great thing, and to have mercy on the pure is nothing wonderful, for they are worthy of Your mercy. But show the wonder of Your mercy on me, a sinner. In this reveal Your love for mankind, lest my wickedness prevail over Your unutterable goodness and mercy. And order my life as You will.
With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Be my soul's Defender, O God, for I step over many snares. Deliver me from them and save me, O Good One, in Your love for mankind.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us not silently hymn the most glorious Mother of God, holiest of holy Angels, but confess her with heart and mouth to be the Mother of God, for she truly bore God incarnate for us, and prays without ceasing for our souls. Amen.
Into Your hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I surrender my spirit and body; bless me, save me, and grant me eternal life. Amen.
Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant.
O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed arte You, unto ages of ages. Amen.
MEAL PRAYERS
Before Breakfast
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name’s sake.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3X)
Christ God, bless the food and drink of your servants, for You are holy, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
After Breakfast
It is meet and right to bless You, the ever-blessed and all-pure Virgin and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, you who in virginity did bear God the Word, thee, true Mother of God, we magnify.
Before the Noon Meal
Our Father . . .
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3X)
Christ God, bless the food and drink of your servants, for You are holy, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
After the Noon Meal
We thank You, 0 Christ our God, that You have satisfied us with Your earthly gifts; deprive us not of Your heavenly kingdom, but as You earned among Thy disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, come to us and save us.
Lord, have mercy. (3X)
Glory . . . now . . .
Before the Evening Meal
The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise Him; their hearts shall live for ever.
Glory . . . now . . .
Lord, have mercy. (3X)
Christ God, bless the food and drink of your servants, for You are holy, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.
After the Evening Meal
Glory . . . now . . .
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
God is with us by His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and the ages of ages. Amen.
Solus Christi Skete
Monks of New Manjava
Milwaukee, WI