Subject: printable **PENTECOST PRAYERS-for those unable to attend Church Services or understand Slavonic**
Sunday of Pentecost
The Vespers Prayers
After
the Proemial psalm, the Great Litany and the singing of "Lord, I have
cried" the following prayers are read. The priest and the whole
congregation kneel.
Prayer 1
O
pure and blameless Lord, Who art without beginning, invisible and
incomprehensible, unchangeable, immeasurable, and unbounded, Who art
without evil and alone immortal, who dwellest in the unapproachable
light, Maker of heaven and earth and the seas and all that was created
therein, Who grantest to all their petitions before asking, to Thee we
pray and of Thee we ask, O philanthropic Master, the Father of our Lord
and God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the
ever-virgin Mary, the noble Theotokos; Who first didst teach by word,
and then gave testimony in deed while bearing the saving Passion,
teaching us Thine unworthy, sinful, and miserable servants, to offer
Thee our supplications with bent head and knee, for our sins and human
ignorance.
Wherefore, O most merciful and philanthropic Lord, hear us on whatever day we call upon Thee, and especially on this day of Pentecost,
whereon, after our Lord Jesus Christ had ascended into heaven and sat
on Thy right hand, O God and Father, He sent down the Holy Spirit to his
Disciples, the holy Apostles, Who alighted on each of them and filled
them all with His inexhaustible and divine grace; and they did speak in
strange tongues, prophesying Thy great deeds. Hear us who beseech Thee,
and remember us, wretched and condemned. Deliver us from the (sinful)
captivity of our souls by Thy loving intercession. Accept us, who kneel
down before Thee and cry out: we have sinned. From birth, from the womb
of our mother - we are Thine, O Lord - Thou art our God. But as our life
passes in vanity, we have therefore been stripped of thine aid, and
have become silent. Yet do we trust in Thy compassion and cry unto Thee.
Remember not the sins of our youth and ignorance; cleanse us of our
secret sins. Reject us not in our old age, and forsake us not when our
strength fails. Before we return to the earth, prepare us to return to
Thee. Measure our lawlessness with a measure of Thy generosity, and
erect against our many transgressions a bottomless abyss of these
generosities.
Look
down from the height of Thy holiness upon Thy people who stand and
await from Thee abundant mercy. Visit us with Thy goodness and deliver
us from the force of Satan and preserve our life with Thy holy and
solemn laws. Commit Thy people unto a faithful guardian angel. Gather us
all unto Thy kingdom. Forgive those who put their trust in Thee,
relinquish us and them from sin. Purify us by the operation of Thy Holy
Spirit and remove from us the wiles of the adversary.
Additional prayer:
Blessed art Thou, Lord, Almighty Master, who illuminest the day with
the light of the sun and the night with the glow of the moon, Who hast
made us worthy to pass the course of the day and draw near to the onset
of the night; hear our petitions and those of all Thy people. Forgive us
all our sins, both voluntary and involuntary, and accept our evening
supplications and send down the multitude of Thy mercies and compassions
upon Thy people. Protect us with Thy holy angels. Arm us with the
weapons of Thy truth. Envelop us with Thy righteousness. Preserve us by
Thy power, and deliver us from every oppression and from every
conspiracy of the cunning one. Grant us that this evening and the
approaching night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy,
peaceful, sinless, without doubt and vain imaginings, by the
intercessions of the holy Theotokos and all the saints who have done Thy
will from the beginning of time.
Prayer 2
O
Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who residest with us in this life, and Who
gavest mankind the world, and in Thine inalienable rule dost give to the
true the gift of the Holy Spirit, this blessing Thou hast sent down
more fully to Thy pupils and Apostles and dispensed into their mouths
the fire of tongues, so that through them all mankind would receive
knowledge of God and be enlightened by the light of the Spirit, being
emancipated from seduction as from darkness and by their supernatural
action learning to believe in the Son of God and to praise Him with the
Father and the Holy Spirit as one Godhead, Power and Authority.
Wherefore,
O Splendor of the Father, the Likeness of his Essence, His immutable
and unchangeable Nature, Thou art the fountain of salvation and grace.
Open my lips, sinner that I am, and teach me how and for what I should
pray; for Thou dost know the multitude of my sins, but Thine unbounded
compassion doth overcome the enormity thereof. Behold, I come and stand
before Thee in fear and dismay, casting my soul's despair into the depth
of Thy mercy. Ordain my life, O Thou Who rulest the whole creation with
ineffable wisdom. O tranquil Haven to those who are caught in the rages
of winter, make known to me the way in which I should walk. Grant to my
thoughts the spirit of Thy wisdom, and bestow upon my ignorance the
spirit of Thy understanding. Overshadow mine acts with the spirit of Thy
fear; a just spirit renew Thou within me, and by Thy Sovereign Spirit
strengthen Thou mine unstable mind, that I may be worthy each day to do
Thy commandments, being guided by Thy righteous Spirit into that which
is profitable, ever mindful of Thy glorified (second) Coming, when we
shall all be obliged to give an answer for our deeds. Let me not be led
astray by the corrupting pleasures of this world, but strengthen me to
delight in the treasures to come. For Thou, O Master, didst say,
"Whatever ye ask in My Name ye shall receive" from God the Father
co-eternal with Thee.
Therefore,
I a sinner, implore Thy goodness on the day of the descent of Thy Holy
Spirit. Grant Thou my request for salvation: yea, good Lord, Who
grantest all riches and benevolence; for Thou art He, the merciful and
pitying, Who givest us more than we ask, Who hast become a Partaker with
us in the flesh without sin. Thou art He Who, for his love for mankind,
dost have compassion for those who bend the knee to Thee, having become
an offering for our sins. Grant, Lord, Thy compassion to Thy people,
and incline Thine ear to us from Thy Holy heaven; sanctify us by the
saving might of Thy right hand. Cover us with the shelter of Thy wings
and turn not away from the product of Thy hands. Against Thee only do we
sin, yet Thee only do we serve. We know not how to bow to a strange
god, nor how to reach out to a different god. Pardon our iniquities, O
Master, and accepting our requests on bended knee, extend to us all a
helping hand, and accept the prayers of all as fragrant incense
acceptable to Thy most righteous Kingdom.
Additional prayer:
Lord, Lord, Thou Who hast delivered us from every arrow (obstacle) that
comes by day, save us from everything that walketh in darkness, and
accept the lifting up of our hands as an evening offering. Consider us
worthy to pass the night blamelessly and experience no evil. Deliver us
from Satan. Free us from all confusion and fear. Grant our souls
rapture, and our thoughts concern over our accountability at Thy just
and terrible judgment. Transfix our flesh with Thy fear, and mitigate
our members who are on earth, that in the tranquillity of sleep we may
be enlightened by the meditation of Thy precepts. Drive from us every
evil fancy and lasciviousness. Elevate us during our prayers,
strengthened in faith and enriched by Thy commandments.
Prayer 3
O
Christ our God, the ever-flowing Spring, life-giving, illuminating,
creative Power, co-eternal with the Father, Who didst divinely achieve
the deed of saving mankind, and didst tear apart the indestructible
bonds of death, break asunder the bolts of Hades, and tread down the
multitude of evil spirits, offering Thyself as a blameless Sacrifice and
offering us Thy pure, spotless and sinless body: Who, by this fearsome,
inscrutable divine service didst grant us life everlasting, O Thou Who
didst descend into Hades, and demolish the eternal bars, revealing an
ascent to those who were in the lower abode; Who with the lure of divine
wisdom didst entice the dragon, the head of subtle evil and with Thy
boundless power bound him in abysmal hell, in inextinguishable fire, and
extreme darkness.
O
Great Wisdom of the despairing! Overcomer of misfortunes - eminent
helper, Who came and lit the way for those who sit in darkness and in
the shadow of death; Thou art the Lord of everlasting glory, the beloved
Son of the Most High Father, eternal Light of eternal Light, Thou Sun
of truth! Hear Thou us who beseech thee, and lay to rest the souls of
Thy servants, of those who have died heretofore, and those of our
fathers and brothers and other kinsmen in flesh and all others through
faith, for whom we now celebrate this memorial; for Thou hast power over
all, and in Thy hands Thou holdest all the boundaries of the earth.
O
Almighty Master, God of our fathers, Lord of mercy and Creator of all
the races of men, the living and the dead, and of all nature, animate
and inanimate, Who appeared and resided here on earth and again departed
into the other world, Who settest the years for the living and
appointest the time for the dead, Who bringest down to Hades and raisest
to bliss; who bindest with weakness and loosest with power; Who
arrangest the present as is meet and Who directest the future towards
usefulness, Who consolest with the hope of resurrection those who feel
the sting of death 3/4 Thou
art the Master of all, our God and our Savior, O Hope of all the
boundaries of the earth and of those who are away on the seas, O Thou
who on this last and great day of salvation, the day of the Feast of Pentecost,
hast revealed to us the mystery of the Holy Trinity, consubstantial and
co-eternal, indivisible and immiscible, Who didst send down the Holy
and life-giving Spirit in the form of tongues of fire on His holy
Apostles, revealing them as proclaimers of our godfearing faith, making
of them true confessors and preachers of the word of God, Who makest us
worthy that our propitiatory prayers, of this all-perfect day of
salvation, be acceptable for those who are imprisoned in Hades, and Who
grantest those imprisoned therein a great hope in receiving from Thee
consolation and relief of their confining grief.
Hear
us, disconsolate and wretched, who beseech Thee, and give rest unto the
souls who have formerly departed, and make them to repose in a
resplendent place, a place of verdure and coolness, where there are no
ills nor sorrow nor sighs. And array their souls in the tabernacles of
the righteous, and make them worthy of peace and repose; for it is not
the dead who praise Thee, O Lord, nor do those who are in Hades venture
to offer unto Thee confession, but we, the living, do bless Thee and
supplicate Thee, O Lord, and offer unto Thee prayers of purification and
sacrifices for their souls' sake.
Additional prayer: O
great eternal God, holy and loving toward mankind, Who dost make us
worthy to stand at this hour before Thine unapproachable glory, praising
and glorifying Thy wonders, forgive us, unworthy sinners, and grant us
grace that from a humble and contrite heart we may offer Thee the
thrice-holy glorification and gratitude for Thy great gifts which Thou
didst grant and dost still steadfastly grant unto us. Remember, Lord,
our weakness and destroy us not in our iniquities; but in accordance
with our humility show unto us Thy great mercy, that being delivered
from the darkness of sin, we may walk in the day of truth, equipped with
the armor of light, and freed from all the evil attacks of the wicked
one, glorifying Thee in all things, O only true God and Lover of
mankind.
For
in truth, O Master and Creator of all, Thine is the great and original
Mystery; the temporary death of Thy creatures, and their restoration
thereafter unto eternal repose. In all things we acknowledge Thy favor,
at our entrance into this world and at our going out therefrom, O Thou
Who by Thy unfailing promises didst hold out to us the hope of
everlasting life, resurrection, and incorruptible life, which shall be
ours to enjoy at Thy Second Coming; for Thou, Lord Christ, art the
fountain of our resurrection, the mankind-loving and incorruptible judge
of the deceased and those worthy of reward. Thou hast assumed, with
utmost condescension, our flesh and blood, and through Thine undying
love for us, didst not dismiss Thy suffering, willingly submitting to
torture; so that, having been tempted, Thou, as promised, became the
helper to those who are tempted, elevating us to Thy dispassion.
Wherefore,
O Master, accept our prayers and supplications, and grant repose to our
fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, blood relatives, and
kinsfolk, and all those who have gone to their final rest with the hope
of resurrection and life everlasting. Inscribe their names in the Book
of Life; in the bosoms of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; in the land of the
living, the Kingdom of Heaven, in the paradise of delight, leading all
into Thy Holy dwelling places by Thy radiant angels, and raise their
bodies on the day that Thou hast appointed, according to Thine unfailing
Holy promises; for there is no death, O Lord, to Thy departing servants
who cast off their bodies and come unto Thee, O God, but a transition
from sorrowful things to pleasant and benign, to repose and joy. And if
they have sinned (in any respect) against Thee, forgive them, and be
Thou compassionate unto them and us; for there is none without stain
before Thee, even though his life be but a day, save Thou alone, Jesus
Christ our God, Who didst appear on earth without sin, and because of
Thee we all trust to attain mercy and the remission of sins.
Therefore,
O God, through Thy grace and love of mankind, weaken, remit and forgive
our sins and theirs; overlook both our voluntary and involuntary
offenses, which we have committed either willfully or through ignorance,
openly or in secret whether by word, deed, or thought and all our
wrathful dealings which we have committed during our lifetime. As for
those who have preceded us, grant them emancipation and repose. To those
of us who are here, bless us, and give us and all Thy people a blessed
and peaceful end to life. At Thy fearsome and dreadful coming open to us
Thy fathomless love of mankind, making us worthy of Thy Kingdom.
Additional prayer:
O Thou most exalted God, Who alone dost possess immortality, Who
dwellest in the unapproachable light, Who in wisdom didst bring into
being all creation, who didst separate between the light and the
darkness, setting the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to
rule the night, Who on this day didst vouchsafe us sinners as worthy
through confession to present ourselves before Thy countenance and to
offer to Thee our evening prayers.
Additional prayer:
O philanthropic God, set our prayers like incense before Thee, and
receive them as a sweet fragrance. Grant that this evening and the
approaching night may be peaceful and serene for us. Clothe us with the
armor of light, and deliver us from nightly fears and from everything
that walketh in darkness. Vouchsafe that the slumber which Thou didst
grant us for rest from our weakness be also free from every satanic
vision. Yea, O Master, Who providest good things for all, grant that in
our lodgings, amid the night, we may with fervor recall Thy most Holy
Name. Grant that being enlightened by the teachings of Thy commandments,
we in spiritual joy would rise up to glorify Thy goodness, offering for
Thy compassion petitions and supplications for our sins and those of
all people, for which Thou, through the intercession of the Holy
Theotokos, visitest upon us with mercy!
Choir: Amen
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