Prayers of Spiritual Fathers for Penitents
The following prayers are read by spiritual fathers at appropriate times:
Prayer for Those Being Loosed from Penance
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Penitent: Lord, have mercy.
O Merciful Lord, Who lovest man, Who through Thy mercies hast sent Thine Only-begotten Son into the world that He might destroy the handwriting of the transgressions that is against us and loose the bonds of those who are bound in sin and preach remission to the captives: Do Thou, O Master in Thy goodness, free Thy servant, N., from the bond which is upon him her, and grant him her without sin to draw near to Thy majesty in every time and place, and with boldness and a pure conscience to ask for Thy rich mercy. For Thou art a merciful God Who lovest man, and to Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Penitent: Amen.
Prayer for Those under Penance and for Those Who Have Bound Themselves under a Vow
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Penitent: Lord, have mercy.
O Master, Lord our God, the Only-begotten Son and Word of the Father, Who through Thy Passion hast rent asunder every bond of our sins, and didst breathe into the faces of Thine Apostles, saying: "Receive ye the Holy Spirit; whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained;" Thou, O Master, hast granted, through Thy Holy Apostles, to those who minister in Thy Holy Church the power to forgive sins on earth, and to bind and loose every bond of unrighteousness. We beseech Thee now for our brother sister, N., who standeth before Thee. Pour out Thy mercy upon his her sins, whether he she hath spoken in ignorance or by heedlessness, or hath done aught through lack of courage, for Thou knowest human weakness, and, O Good Master, as a Lover of mankind, do Thou forgive him her all his her sins, voluntary or involuntary; for it is Thou Who loosest those who are cast down, Thou, the Help of the despairing, the Resurrection of the fallen. Free this Thy servant from the bonds of sins. For Thine all-holy name is magnified: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Penitent: Amen.
Prayer for One Assailed by the Warfare of Lust
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Penitent: Lord, have mercy.
O God of powers, Who healest every infirmity and every wound in Thy people, cleanse Thy servant and grant that the demons not have communion with this man woman. Interdict the unclean spirits, crush Satan under the feet of Thy servant, and renew him her by Thy Holy Spirit, joining him her to Thy Holy Church, delivering him her from all action of the adversaries. Present him her to Thy Holy Table of Oblation, and grant him her Thy heavenly and life-creating Mysteries. For Thou art our God, the God of those who repent, and to Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Penitent: Amen.
Prayer for One Who Has Cursed Boldly
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Penitent: Lord, have mercy.
O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who knowest how easily seized and feeble is human nature, Who clearly knowest beforehand our thoughts which we think out of audacity: Forgive him her who is held captive by curses and grant him her to see Him Who is meek, for Thou knowest the secrets of our hearts, Grant Thine ineffable grace to him her for the sake of our petition. For blessed is Thy Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Penitent: Amen.
Prayer of Interdiction of St. Basil the Great over One Suffering from Demons
Prayer of Exorcism (to be used only by priests skilled as exorcists)
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Penitent: Lord, have mercy.
O God of gods and Lord of lords, Creator of the fiery ranks and Fashioner of the fleshless powers, the Artisan of heavenly things and those under the heavens, Whom no man hath seen, nor is able to see, Whom all creation feareth: Into the dark depths of hell Thou didst hurl the commander who had become proud, and who, because of his disobedient service was cast down from the heights to the earth, as well as the angels that fell away with him, all having become evil demons. Grant that this, my exorcism, being performed in Thine awesome Name, be terrible to the master of evil and to all his minions who had fallen with him from the heights of brightness. Drive him into banishment, commanding him to depart hence, so that no harm might be worked against Thy sealed image. And, as Thou hast commanded, let those who are sealed receive the strength to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy. For magnified, hymned, and glorified with fear by everything that hath breath is Thy most holy name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Penitent: Amen.
Prayer for the Pacification of Animosity
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Persons: Lord, have mercy.
We thank Thee, O Master, Lover of mankind, King of the ages and Bestower of good things, Who didst destroy the middle wall of enmity and grant peace to the human race, and Who now hast granted peace to Thy servants. Instill in them the fear of Thee and confirm in them love, one for the other. Extinguish every dispute and banish all temptation to disagreement. For Thou art our Peace, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Persons: Amen.
Prayer at the Nativity of Christ for Spiritual Children
This prayer may be read before the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ (i.e., either just before the Divine Liturgy or at the Vigil the evening before), for those who are about to receive the Holy Mysteries. (According to His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly of blessed memory, it should also be used by the spiritual father when he visits the homes of his spiritual children during the Nativity Fast.)
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Spiritual Children: Lord, have mercy.
O Almighty Master, Lord our God: when Thou wast born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judaea, creation was enlightened with trembling and the world rejoiced at Thy nativity. O Thou Who didst create man according to Thine image and Thy likeness, and gavest him baptism unto repentance, Who hast brought Thy servants unto these all-honorable days, unto abstinence from the passions and hope of resurrection, guiding them to the truth of Thy divinity: open their hearts and minds, that they may know Thee to be the Son of God Who takest away the sins of the whole world. O Master, Who lovest mankind, receive Thy servants NN., as Thou didst receive Peter when he was drowning in the sea, who also denied Thee thrice, yet wept bitterly, and was again received by Thee; and do Thou now accept also, O Master, the tears, sighs and repentance of Thy servants, as Thou didst the sighing of the publican, and the harlot who wept, and bathed Thy feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. O Thou Who in Thy mercy didst take with Thyself to paradise the thief who cried out to Thee on the Cross: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy kingdom! to whom Thou didst say: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise! we have heard a voice speaking, when the magi brought gifts to do Thee homage, while shepherds piped and angels chanted: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will among men; though Herod was troubled that God had appeared in the flesh for the salvation of the race of man. Thee, O Master, Who lovest mankind, doth all creation now hymn, saying: Christ is born, give ye glory! Christ is on earth, be ye exalted! The assemblies of the angels now rejoice, and the choirs of the martyrs are filled with gladness, beholding Thy glorious and honored nativity, that we may all praise Thee with heart and lips as is meet. And now, O good Lord, Who lovest mankind, receive these Thy servants NN., who repent of their sins, voluntary and involuntary; and in Thy wonted love for mankind accept the bending of their knees and the fasting of Thy servants NN., that, having kept Thy commandments and attained now unto Thy holy and honorable nativity, they may be pure and blameless partakers of Thine all-pure Body and Thy precious Blood. For unto Thee is due glory, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Spiritual Children: Amen.
Prayers at the Beginning of the Holy
Forty-day Fast
(Which the priest reads over His own parishioners in the first week of the Holy Great Fast)
Putting on his epitrachelion, the priest reads these prayers with great compunction.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Spiritual Children: Lord, have mercy.
O God, Hope of all the ends of the earth and of those who are far off upon the sea, Who didst foretell these holy days of fasting in the Law, the Prophets, and the Evangelists, grant that all of us may proceed in purity along the course of the Fast, to keep the Faith undivided and to preserve Thy commandments all the days of our lives. Command an angel of peace to preserve our comings-in and goings-out for all good works, being obedient together and serving together for perfect communion in Thy most pure Mysteries. Accept, O Master, the bending of the knees and the fasting of Thy servants, granting to them and to all of us, spiritual blessings: In Christ our Lord, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Spiritual Children: Amen.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Spiritual Children: Lord, have mercy.
Thou art blessed, O Lord Almighty, God of our Fathers, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Who didst make heaven and earth, the sea and all that is therein, Who didst appoint repentance to men for salvation and Who dost overlook their transgressions, Who didst accept the tears of Thy servant David the Prophet and give to him who repented remission of sins, Who didst accept the prayer of Manasseh, bound with iron fetters, who with repentance confessed to Thee, and Thou didst forgive his sins, Who didst save the harlot knowing Thy mercy, for, having received the spies, she let them go in peace. Now hear the petition of me, Thine unworthy servant and overlook all the sins of these Thy servants who have recourse to Thee in repentance, and grant heartfelt contrition to those who are in sickness on account of sins, having risen up against Thee, their own Creator, Who art able to cleanse them from sins.
Grant them Thy grace, that being fortified and roused by it, they may bring to remembrance their own evil deeds, with all fear, to their own spiritual father who hath been established by Thee as judge, and that they may truly confess, and through us call to remembrance that for which they are guilty with a contrite and humble heart, repent and desire complete forgiveness for themselves. Grant, according to Thy lovingkindness, absolution from these [evil deeds] through their spiritual father, as Thy judge. For Thou didst say: "Whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, accept Thy servants who are repenting of their sins, known or unknown, voluntary or involuntary, and who have, according to Thy command, confessed them. Mercifully receive them, and by Thy power and grace strengthen them that they not turn back to sins and to evil and unacceptable deeds, for they have fallen into them many times. Lift them up and keep them from the snares of devils and from all hostile snares, that without hindrance they may serve Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives.
For Thou art our God and Thou didst come into the world, not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Thou didst command that the transgressions of those who have fallen into sins be remitted even seventy times seven. And when the woman caught in adultery was led to Thee by the pharisees to tempt Thee, Thou didst not judge her, but mercifully didst say: "Go, and from henceforth sin no more." For according to Thy love for man Thou didst not judge her but hadst mercy [on her]. And like as to the other harlot who wept and with tears washed Thy feet and wiped them with her own hair, Thou wast merciful for the sake of Thine own mercy; grant to these Thy servants unhindered and warm tears of true repentance.
Confirm their minds and hearts to know Thee, the only true Son of God Who didst take away the sins of the world. Accept them as Thou didst accept Peter who denied Thee and who with repentance and bitter tears returned again. Stretch forth Thy right hand and receive them, as Thou didst receive him who was drowning in the sea, and strengthen them against the agitation of demons. Cleanse their souls and bodies from all filth. For Thou, the same gracious Lord didst say, not to request a physician for the healthy, but for the sick, and Thou didst come, not to save those already saved, but those who are perishing.
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, grant that these Thy servants complete without blemish the beginning of this Holy Fast and in it fulfill Thy commandments and remain in prayer, and with all good deeds please Thee all the days of their lives, that uncondemned and with a pure conscience they may be granted to be communicants of Thy divine Body and life-creating Blood spilled out to the whole world for the remission of sins, and that they may defeat and shame the devils in their warmongering. For Thou, O God, art the God of those who repent, not desiring the death of a sinner, but that he turn from his way and live. Thou dost not desire, O Master, to destroy the works of Thy hands, neither dost Thou wish the destruction of man, but rather Thou desirest that all be saved and come to knowledge of the truth.
Therefore, now, O Master, do not turn away Thy face from these Thy servants, but rather grant them true conversion to Thee from their sins, as well as deliverance from all evil deeds. Grant that all of us may attain in peace the fulfillment of good deeds and fall down in worship before Thy saving Passion and holy Resurrection, and at the end of our lives receive eternal joy, together with all those who have pleased Thee, having lived in Thee our God and Savior.
For Thou art a God of mercy and compassion and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Spiritual Children: Amen.
Then the priest blesses them with his right hand saying:
The blessing of the Lord be upon you through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Spiritual Children: Amen.