Breakfast:

“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou

givest them their meat in due season. Thou
openest thine hand, and satisfiest the
desire of every living thing.”

Lunch (or main meal of the day):

“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 the bread we so need, and forgive
us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and
lead us not to trial, but deliver us from the
evil one.”

Supper:
“The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and
those who seek the Lord shall praise Him;
their hearts shall live forever!”
Or (from the blessing of loaves):
The rich have become poor and gone
hungry
But those who seek the Lord
Will not be deprived of any good

Common part
“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto
ages of ages. Amen. [bow] Lord, have
mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy.”

Occasional Prayers
Prayer for the Acceptance of God’s Will
by Saint Philaret of Moscow

O Lord, I know not what to ask of thee.

Thou alone knowest what my true needs
are. Thou lovest me more than I myself
know how to love. Help me to see my real
needs which are concealed from me. I dare
not ask for either a cross or a consolation. I
can only wait on thee. My heart is open to
thee. Visit and help me for thy great mercy’s
sake. Strike me and heal me, cast me down
and raise me up. I worship in silence thy
holy will and thine inscrutable ways. I offer
myself as a sacrifice to thee. I put all my
trust in thee. I have no other desire than to
fulfill thy will. Teach me how to pray. Pray
thou thyself within me. Amen.
At the Commencement of Any Task

Almighty God, our Help and Refuge,

Fountain of wisdom and Tower of strength,
who knowest that I can do nothing without
thy guidance and help; assist me, I pray
thee, and grant me divine wisdom and
power, that I may accomplish this task, and
whatever I may undertake to do, faithfully
and diligently, according to thy will, so that it
may be profitable to myself and others and
may be to the glory of thy holy name. For
thine is the kingdom and the power and the
glory, of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer for Success in Studies

O Lord our God, who hast honored man

with thine image divine and endowed him
with reason, and who givest wisdom to
those who ask: Do thou thyself now look
down upon me, thy servant, and enlighten
my mind and establish my heart to receive
instruction, to be diligent in study and to
achieve good success, with the aid of thy
divine grace. Grant that I may employ my
learning unto every good work and follow
thy holy and perfect will, favorably unto thy
good pleasure. For thou art our God, and to
thee do we offer up glory, to the Father and
to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer upon Entering a Church

In the multitude of thy mercy I shall go into

thy house; I will worship toward thy holy
temple in fear of thee. O Lord, guide me in
the way of thy righteousness; because of
mine enemies, make straight my way
before thee, that with a clear mind I may
glorify thee forever, One Godhead
worshipped in three Persons: Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer Before the Icon of Christ

We venerate thine immaculate icon, O good

One, and ask forgiveness of our
transgressions, O Christ our God; for of
thine own good will thou wast pleased to
ascend the cross in the flesh, that thou
mightest deliver those whom thou hast
fashioned from bondage to the enemy.
Wherefore, we cry aloud unto thee with
thanksgiving: Thou hast filled all things with
joy, O our Saviour, for thou didst come to
save the world.
Prayer Before the Icon of the Theotokos

Forasmuch as thou art a fountain of

tenderness, O Theotokos, make us worthy
of compassion; look upon a sinful people;
manifest thy power as ever, for hoping on
thee we cry aloud unto thee, Rejoice. as
once did Gabriel, chief captain of the
bodiless powers.

Prayer upon Leaving a Church

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in

peace, according to thy word. For mine
eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou
hast prepared before the face of all people,
a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory
of thy people Israel.
Prayer Before a Journey (If no priest is
present to bless the traveler.)

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the true and

living way, be thou, O Master, my
companion, guide and guardian during my
journey; deliver and protect me from all
danger, misfortune and temptation, that,
being so defended by thy divine power, I
may have a peaceful and successful
journey and arrive safely at my destination.
For in thee I put my trust and hope, and to
thee, together with thine eternal Father and
thine all-holy Spirit, I ascribe all praise,
honor and glory, now and ever, and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer of Husband and Wife

O merciful God, we beseech thee ever to

remind us that the married state is holy and
that we must keep it so. Grant us thy grace,
that we may continue in faithfulness and
love. Increase in us the spirit of mutual
understanding, forgiveness, patience and
trust, that no quarrel or strife may come
between us. Grant us thy blessings, that we
may serve thee in holiness and gladness of
heart all the days of our lives. And finally, by
thy mercy, account us worthy of everlasting
life. For thine it is to save us, O our God,
and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the
Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.
A Prayer of Parents for Children (Also for
relatives and friends)

O God, our heavenly Father, who lovest

mankind, and art most merciful and
compassionate, have mercy upon thy
servants, NN. [children, relatives], for whom
I humbly pray, and whom I commend to thy
gracious care and protection. Be thou, O
God, their guide and guardian in all their
endeavors, lead them in the path of thy
truth, and draw them near to thee, that they
may lead a godly and righteous life in thy
love and fear, ever doing thy will in all
things. Give them grace that they may be
temperate, industrious, devout and
charitable. Defend them against the
assaults of the enemy, and grant them
wisdom and strength to resist all the
temptations and corruption of this life, and
direct them in the way of salvation, through
the grace and love toward mankind of thine
only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, and by the intercessions of
the most holy Theotokos, and all thy saints.
Amen.

A Prayer of Children for Parents

O God, our heavenly Father, bless my
father and mother, my guardians, and those
who are in authority over me, for their love
and tender care for me and the benefits I
receive at their hands. Help me, I pray thee,
to be respectful and obedient to them in all
things, according to thy will. Give me the
grace to perform all my duties carefully and
faithfully, to avoid undesirable company and
influence and to resist all temptation that
may come my way, that I may live a sober,
righteous and godly life, ever praising and
glorifying thee, together with thine
only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.

A Prayer of Single Persons

O Lord, who hast set forth for us an
example of perfect purity, strengthen me, I
beseech thee, when temptation doth beset
me, and when strong passions seek to
overwhelm me, that I may remain constant
in virtue and innocent in thought, word, and
deed, doing only such things as are
well-pleasing to thee. Grant me growth in
wisdom and understanding, that I may
serve thee in holiness all the days of my
life, through the intercessions of thine
all-immaculate Mother and of all thy saints,
especially my patron saint N. Amen.
A Prayer to Find a Spouse

All-good and merciful Lord, I know that any

enduring happiness in my life dependeth
upon my wholehearted love for thee and
upon keeping thy commandments and
obeying thy holy will in all things.
Wherefore, direct my steps, O God, and fill
my heart with thy grace. I seek to please
thee alone, for thou art my Creator and my
God. Preserve me from pride and self-love.
Let reason, modesty and chastity adorn me.
Deliver me from idleness which is hateful
unto thee and breedeth vice; grant me to be
diligent and fruitful in labor, and bless thou
my work. Thy law commandeth that
husband and wife live in chaste matrimonial
union. Wherefore lead me, Holy Father, to
this blessed calling not for the satisfaction
of passions but unto the fulfillment of thy
commandment; for thou hast said that it is
not good that man should be alone and,
having created woman as his companion,
thou didst bless them to be fruitful and
multiply that they may fill the earth. Hear my
humble prayer which ascendeth unto thee
from the depths of my heart: Grant unto me
an honest and pious spouse that, through
our love and harmony, we may together
serve and praise thee, our compassionate
God, and do thy will and bless thine all-holy
name, of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

A Prayer in Time of Trouble

O God, the help and aid of all, who art

righteous and merciful and who heareth the
supplications of thy people, look down upon
me, a miserable sinner, and have mercy on
me, and deliver me from this trouble that
doth beset me, for which, I know, I am
deservedly suffering. I acknowledge and
believe, O Lord, that all trials of this life are
given by thee for our correction when we
drift away from thee and disobey thy
commandments. Deal with me not
according to my sins but according to thy
compassionate mercy, for I am the work of
thy hands and thou knowest my weakness.
Grant me, I beseech thee, the help of thy
divine grace, and endow me with patience
and strength to endure my tribulations with
complete submission to thy holy will. Thou
knowest my misery and suffering. To thee,
my only hope and refuge, I flee for relief
and comfort, trusting thine infinite love and
compassion that, in due time, when thou
knowest best, thou wilt deliver me from this
trouble and turn my distress into comfort,
when I shall rejoice in thy mercy and exalt
and praise thy holy name, of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

A Prayer After Deliverance from Trouble

Almighty and merciful God, I humbly and

heartily thank thee for thy loving-kindness
and tender mercies, that thou hast heard
my humble prayer and graciously
vouchsafed to deliver me from my trouble
and misery. Grant me, I beseech thee, thy
helping grace, that I may obediently walk in
thy holy commandments and lead a sober,
righteous and godly way of life and ever
remember thy mercies and the blessings
which thou hast bestowed upon me the
unworthy, that I may continually offer the
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to thee,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Prayer during a Time of Sickness

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, the

Physician of our souls and bodies, who
didst become man and suffer death on the
cross for our salvation and, through thy
tender love and compassion, didst heal all
manner of sickness and affliction: Do thou
thyself, O Lord, visit me in my suffering and
grant me grace and strength to bear this
sickness with which I am afflicted, with
Christian patience and submission to thy
will, trusting in thy loving-kindness and
tender mercy. Bless, I pray thee, the means
used for my recovery and those who
administer them. I know, O Lord, that I justly
deserve any punishment thou mayest inflict
upon me, for I have so often offended and
sinned against thee in thought, word and
deed. Therefore, I humbly pray thee, look
favorably upon my weakness and deal with
me not according to my sins but according
to the multitude of thy mercies. Have
compassion on me and let mercy and
judgment meet and deliver me from the
sickness and suffering which I am
undergoing. Grant that my sickness may be
the means of true repentance and
amendment of life according to thy will, that
I may spend the rest of my days in the love
and fear of thee, that my soul, being helped
by thy grace and sanctified by thy holy
Mysteries, may be prepared for its passage
into everlasting life and there, in the
company of thy blessed saints, may praise
and glorify thee with thine unoriginate
Father and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
Thanksgiving After Recovery from Sickness

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Source

of life and Fountain of all good things, I
bless thy holy name and offer to thee
heartfelt thanks for having delivered me
from my sickness and restored me to
health. Grant me thy continuing grace, I
pray thee, that I may keep my good
resolutions and correct the errors of my
former way of life, and that I may improve in
virtue and live a new way of life in dutiful
fear of thee, doing thy will in all things and
devoting this new life which thou has given
me to thy service, that thus living for thee, I
may be found ready when it pleaseth thee
to call me to thee, O heavenly Father, to
whom, with thine ony-begotten Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ, and thine all-holy and
life-giving Spirit, is due all honor, praise,
glory and thanksgiving, now and ever, and
unto ages of ages. Amen.

A Prayer for others who are Sick

O holy Father, heavenly Physician of our

souls and bodies, who hast sent thine
only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
to heal all our infirmities and deliver us from
death: Do thou thyself visit and heal thy
servant(s), NN., granting him (her) release
from pain and restoration to health and
vigor, that he (she) may give thanks to thee
and do thy will and bless thy holy name, of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
A Prayer for Purity

O Master, Lord my God, in whose hands

are my lots, help me according to thy mercy
and do not allow me to be destroyed by
mine iniquities, nor permit me by my will to
follow the desires of my flesh against my
spirit. I was fashioned by thee, do not
forsake the works of thy hands. Turn not thy
face away from me, have pity and do not
despise me, neither forsake me, O Lord, for
I am weak and it is to thee, my protecting
God, that I have fled for refuge. Heal my
soul, for I have sinned against thee. Save
me for the sake of thy mercy, for upon thee
have I cast myself from my very youth. May
those who war against me be put to shame,
and may those who seek to separate me
from thee through immodest acts, unseemly
thoughts and unprofitable recollections be
turned back. Chase far from me every
impurity, that foul effluence of evil. For thou
alone art holy, thou alone art mighty, thou
alone art immortal, having unfathomable
power against all things, and it is through
thee that every power is given against the
devil and his might. For unto thee are due
all glory, honor and worship, to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

A Prayer of Repentance

O Lord our God, good and merciful, I

acknowledge all the 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 thee
and I sincerely repent. With tears I humbly
pray thee, O Lord: Of thy mercy forgive me
all my past transgressions and absolve me
from them. I firmly resolve, with the help of
thy 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
thy name, of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer for Those Struggling with Addiction

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who

hast said, “Without me, ye can do nothing”:
Help me according to thy mercy, and leave
me not to perish in my transgressions, nor
allow me to follow the desires of the flesh
over those of the spirit. I am thy creature
and servant; disdain not the work of thy
hands. Turn not away, be compassionate
and merciful, neither scorn me, O Lord, as I
am weak. Unto thee, my strength, my firm
foundation, my refuge and my deliverer,
have I now fled. Save me for thy mercy’s
sake, and drive away from me every evil,
filthy and wanton desire. For thou alone art
holy, and thou alone art mighty and able to
grant victory over every evil to those who
call upon thy name and persevere to the
end, and to thee do we ascribe glory,
together with thine unoriginate Father and
thy life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto
ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for Those Struggling with

Depression

O greatly-merciful Master, Lord Jesus

Christ my God, have mercy on me and
cleanse me from all defilement of body and
soul. Drive away from me every spiritually
crushing and demonic sorrow. Restore in
me the joy of thy salvation, for thou art the
true joy and the hope of all the ends of the
earth and of them that be far off at sea;
therefore, be merciful unto me, O Master,
and set aright my mind and strengthen my
heart. Take from me the heavy burden of
sin and despair. Drive far away from me the
spirit of depression, fear, anxiety,
listlessness, cowardice and every
disturbance of mind. Confirm me in thy
love, in unassailable hope and unshakable
faith in thee, through the intercessions of
thine immaculate Mother and all thy saints.
Amen.
A Prayer for Soldiers
O holy Master, Father almighty, who alone
hast authority over all things: We entreat
thee with compunction that, as thou didst
grant unto thy servant David the power to
defeat Goliath and protection against his
adversaries, so in like manner, now also
thou wouldst grant protection to thy
servants against every evil circumstance,
calamity and foe, by thy right hand
omnipotent. Through thy heavenly mercy,
preserve them in righteousness, faith, truth
and the fear of thee, that thereby they may
serve honorably and justly. Send thy
protecting angels, that they may return
home again in peace and safety. For thou
art our God, and to thee do we offer up
glory, to the Father and to the Son and to
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto
ages of ages. Amen.
We may also say:

The Apolytikion of the Cross

O Lord, save thy people and bless thine

inheritance, granting to thy people victory
over all their enemies, and by the power of
thy cross preserving thy commonwealth.

A Prayer for Priests

O Lord Jesus Christ, enkindle the hearts of

all thy priests with the fire of zealous love
for thee, that they may ever seek thy glory;
give them strength that they may labor
unceasingly in thine earthly vineyard for the
salvation of our souls and for the glory of
thine all-honorable and majestic name, of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
A Prayer for the Departed

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend the

souls of thy servants, NN., and beseech
thee to grant them rest with thy saints,
where the light of thy countenance shineth
forever. I beseech thee also to grant that
our present lives may be godly, sober and
blameless, that we also may be made
worthy to enter into thy heavenly kingdom
with those we love who have gone to their
rest before us. For thou art the Resurrection
and the Life and the Repose of thy
departed servants, O Christ our God, and
unto thee do we ascribe glory, with the
Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.