A Book of Prayers 1 2 A Book of Prayers 3 Memory Eternal! Mr. Louis “Lou” Kopcha (March 21, 1917 – April 26, 2013) Protodeacon Simeon “Sam” Kopcha (May 3, 1927 – April 30, 2010) 4 Dedication This Book of Prayers, published by Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church, Terryville, Connecticut, is produced and distributed in loving memory of two brothers, Protodeacon Simeon “Sam” Kopcha and Louis “Lou” Kopcha, who are tremendously influential in the history of the parish. Both of these good men were persons of great personal piety—men who prayed regularly, even constantly. Louis, the elder brother by a decade, is known for having completely worn out several prayer books in his lifetime, through tireless use. Protodeacon Simeon, the younger brother, was particularly devoted to the Church’s liturgical prayer, serving for decades as a choir director and also as an ordained deacon of the Church. The two brothers spoke almost every day, encouraging one another in every good endeavor, including, one must suppose, prayer. May the example of these two pious men inspire us to heed the directive of the Holy Apostle Paul, first given to the Christians of Thessalonica almost two thousand years ago: “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Memory Eternal! Вечная память! Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη! May their souls dwell with the blessed! 5 Table of Contents A Rule of Prayer Opening Blessing………10 Glorification of God………10 Invocation of the Holy Spirit………10 Trisagion (Thrice Holy) Prayers………10 The Lord’s Prayer………11 Lord Have Mercy………11 Call to Worship………12 A Psalm of Repentance (Psalm 50/51) ………12 The Creed: The Symbol of Faith………14 The Jesus Prayer………15 Hymn to the Theotokos………15 Dismissal (Closing Prayer) ………15 Prayers for Different Times of Day A Morning Prayer………16 The Morning Prayer of the Optina Elders………16 A Prayer for any Hour of the Day………17 An Evening Prayer……… 17 A Night Prayer, Preparing for Sleep………18 Prayers Just Before Going to Sleep……… 18 Prayers of Intercession Brief Prayers of Intercession………19 A Longer Prayer of Intercession………19 Prayers for Others A Prayer for the Sick………21 Another Prayer for the Sick………21 A Prayer for the Terminally Ill………21 A Prayer for the Departed………22 6 Another Prayer for the Departed………22 A Prayer of Parents for Their Children………23 A Prayer of Children for Their Parents………24 A Prayer for Enemies………24 Prayers for Various Occasions The Prayer of Saint Ioannikios………26 A Prayer of Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, Asking God to Meet Our Needs………26 A Prayer for the Acceptance of God’s Will………26 A Prayer asking God to Help Us be Obedient to His Holy Will………27 A Prayer of Repentance………27 A Prayer for Love of God………28 Prayer Before Meals………28 Prayer After Meals………29 A Prayer Before any Work………29 A Prayer After any Work………30 A Prayer Before Reading the Holy Scriptures………30 A Prayer Before Lessons or Study………30 A Prayer of Married Persons………31 A Prayer of a Widow or Widower………31 A Prayer of a Person seeking to Live Purely and Chastely………31 A Prayer Against Demonic Influence………32 A Prayer Against the Misuse of Visual Media………33 A Prayer When Facing the Unknown………33 A Prayer in Time of Need or Trouble………34 A Prayer Before Traveling………34 The Prayer of Saint Macarius the Egyptian……………35 7 Prayers and Hymns for Various Seasons of the Year The Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephrem………36 The Paschal Troparion………36 The Christmas Kontakion………36 Prayers to the Mother of God, Various Saints and to the Holy Angels To the Mother of God, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary………37 A Prayer to Saint John the Baptist………37 A Prayer to Saint Nicholas………39 A Prayer to Saint Herman of Alaska………41 A Prayer to Saint Innocent, Enlightener of Alaska………42 A Prayer to the Guardian Angel………44 Another Prayer to the Guardian Angel………44 Prayers of Preparation Before Holy Communion A Prayer of Saint Basil the Great………45 Another Prayer of Saint Basil the Great………47 A Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom………48 A Prayer of Saint John of Damascus………50 Another Prayer of Saint John of Damascus………51 A Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom………51 Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion A Prayer of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion……53 A Prayer of Saint Basil the Great………54 A Prayer of Saint Simeon Metaphrastes………54 Another Prayer………55 A Prayer to the Theotokos………56 8 Abba Macarius was asked, “How should one pray?” The old man said, “There is no need at all to make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out one’s hands and say, ‘Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.’ And if the conflict grows fiercer say, ‘Lord, help!’ He knows very well what we need, and he shows us his mercy.” – From “The Sayings of the Desert Fathers” in the section about Saint Macarius the Great. 9 A Rule of Prayer (A “Rule of Prayer” is a collection of prayers intended to be said together as a group, at least every morning and evening. The following rule is based upon a traditional rule called “The Rule of Saint Pachomius,” which is often suggested for memorization. When we memorize our rule we always have our prayers with us.) Opening Blessing In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glorification of God Glory to You, our God, glory to You! Invocation of the Holy Spirit O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things; Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life, come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One. Trisagion (Thrice Holy) Prayers Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. 10 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done; on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Lord Have Mercy Lord, have mercy. (12 times) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. 11 Call to Worship 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! A Psalm of Repentance (Psalm 50/51) Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and blameless in Your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward being; therefore, teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 12 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You have no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, You would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Do good to Zion in Your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then will You delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar. 13 The Creed: The Symbol of Faith I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.