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Christianity - Catholicism - Russian Orthodox Prayers

The Beauty of This Path:

For me, the hallmark of the Russian Orthodox faith is thankfulness. Almost from the beginning of time, Russia's location meant that man had to battle nature to work out their karma. The Russian Orthodox recognize the need to be truly thankful for all the gifts of life... and not just to take them for granted. For it is the "attitude of gratitude" - the "great awe at Thine immeasurable mercies" - which runs like a golden thread through the life, the faith, and prayers of the Russian Orthodox. So always remember to be thankful!

Prayer Index: Christianity - Catholicism - Russian Orthodox Prayers

Prayer of Thanksgiving #1
Prayer of Thanksgiving #2
Prayer for Enemies

Prayer of Thanksgiving (John Chrysostom)

What praise, of what hymn, or what thanksgiving, or what recompense shall we offer unto Thee, the Only God, Who lovest mankind?

For when we were condemned to destruction and immersed in our sins, Thou didst bestow freedom upon us, and hast given us the immortal and heavenly nourishment of the Body and Blood of Thy Christ.

Therefore we pray Thee: Deliver us from judgment, together with Thy servants who minister unto Thee. Keep us and them in honor and holy living; and those who pray with us, and who have been partakers of Thy Mystical Table, preserve free of condemnation unto their last breath.

May it be unto them a sanctification of soul and body, unto the keeping of Thy Commandments; and thus may we be granted to attain Thy Heavenly Kingdom, together with all who have been well-pleasing unto Thee from all ages: Through the prayers and intercessions of our holy, all-pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birthgiver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary and of all Thy Saints, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Basil the Great)

O Existing One, Master Lord, God, almighty and adorable Father:

It is truly meet and right and befitting the majesty of Thy holiness that we should praise Thee, hymn Thee, bless Thee, worship Thee, give thanks unto Thee and glorify Thee, the only truly existing God, and offer unto Thee with contrite heart and spirit of humility this our rational worship; for Thou art He that hath graciously bestowed upon us the knowledge of Thy truth.

And who is sufficient to speak of Thy mighty acts, to make all Thy praises to be heard, or to tell of all Thy wonders at every season?

O Master of all, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation both visible and invisible, Who sittest upon the throne of glory and beholdest the depths,

Who art unoriginate, invisible, immutable, the Father of our Lord: the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, our Hope,

Who is the Image of Thy goodness, the Seal of equal type, in Himself showing forth Thee, the Father, the living Word, the true God, the Wisdom before all ages, the Life, Sanctification, Power, the true Light,

through Whom the Holy Spirit was manifested: the Spirit of truth, the Gift of adoption, the Pledge of the inheritance to come, the First-fruits of eternal good things, the life-giving Power, the Fountain of sanctification,

by Whom enabled every rational and intelligent creature doth serve Thee and ascribe to Thee perpetual praise, for all things are Thy servants.

Filled thus with great awe at Thine immeasurable mercies and love, do Thou receive the unfeigned praise and thanksgiving of our unworthy hearts for all that Thou hast provided for us in this world and the next, and enable us to walk before Thee in holiness and purity all the days of our life in fitting gratitude for Thy loving-kindness!

For blessed art Thou O Holy Father together with Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory and worship, now and every and unto ages of ages. Amen.

"Lord, Bless My Enemies" (Nikolai of Ochrid)

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Enemies have driven me into Thy embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Thy tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.
They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.
They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.
They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself wise,
    they have called me foolish.
Whenever I have made myself mighty,
    they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.
Whenever I have wanted to lead people,
    they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself,
    they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully,
    they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life,
    they have demolished it and driven me out.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of Thy garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them;
multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
    so that my fleeing to Thee may have no return;
    so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
    so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
    so that my heart may become the grave of my evil twins: arrogance and anger;
    so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;

Ah, so that I may for once be freed from self deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life. Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.

One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends. It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.

Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.

A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand.
But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.
Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Amen.