Dormition Fast For Peace August 1-17, 2014

The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15 each year. The Feast commemorates the repose or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of Christ, our Lord. The Feast also commemorates the translation or assumption into heaven of the body of the Theotokos.

We are in the midst of unprecedented violence, racism, hatred and intolerance. As we prepare for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos we are given the opportunity to fast and pray for ‘peace in the world’. The Theotokos, our Mother Mary, helps us focus in a special way on the troubled world we are living in. She connects as mother to the children who are international refugees or victims of bombings. She connects to her people’s suffering in the Middle East as a Middle Eastern woman. She connects to the Christians who venerate her in and as the and Virgin of Pochajev. Let us bring before the Theotokos our prayers and fasting that God may ransom his children and preserve them in safety through the prayers of the Mother of God.

“Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior save us!” I. Intentions and Petitions

INTENTIONS

-The Christians of Mosul, Iraq and the Christians facing persecution and death under the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS).

-The child refugees leaving their homes to come to the United States facing kidnapping, extortion, slavery and death as they journey towards an uncertain future in the United States.

-The civilian victims, especially the children, of the conflict in the Holy Land and in Gaza, caught between the bombs of Israel and the missiles of Hamas.

-The civilian victims of the nationalistic violence in Ukraine, between Christian Ukrainian forces and Christian Russian separatists, especially the passengers of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17.

-The victims of Islamist violence in Africa and the kidnapped Christian girls of Nigeria, taken by Boku Haram Islamist militants, for their families and those who are under threat of other terrorist actions by Boku Haram.

Petitions

- Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy. -(Lord have mercy 3x)

Again we pray, O Lord our God, hear our supplication and on account of your merciful lovingkindness - grant peace to our world. Quickly put down the upsurges of violence and bring to nothing the power of the cruel and the unjust. Establish peace and justice throughout the world so that the poor and innocent may flourish and so that the wicked may be brought to repentance and turn to love. Let us all say: O Lord, hear and have mercy. - (Lord have mercy 3x)

Loving Lord, visit us in your love and mercy and bring peace in our time, especially in Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Syria, Egypt, Ukraine, Nigeria, and those places ravaged by violence in Central America. Provide for the needs of those driven from their homes by injustice and the power of the sword. Calm their terror and grant them, swiftly, your peace and loving-kindness. Let us all say: O Lord, hear and graciously have mercy. - (Lord have mercy 3x)

Again we pray, O Lord and only Lover of us all, visit the lowly and deliver them from their distress. Protect our Christian brothers and sisters, especially in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Nigeria, from the persecution and terror that they face. Yes, O Lord, deliver all religious minorities from fear and oppression. Give quick aid and relief to the refugee children on our border, fleeing from violence and poverty. Deliver all, O Lord, who call upon you in the hour of distress. Let us all say: O Lord, hear and have mercy. - (Lord have mercy 3x)

Again we pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant mercy, for those who show us mercy, and for all Christians of the true faith. - (Lord have mercy 3x) For you are a merciful and loving God and we give glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever, Amen.