Prayers for the Current Time of Day (Morning, Noon, Evening) since33.org
Prayer Before Reading Scripture
Illumine our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father, Who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
oca.org/readings
Prayer Before Reading Scripture
Illumine our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father, Who is from everlasting, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
oca.org/readings
Prayer against demonic snares #demons
"Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having struck down the ancient serpent and bound him in Tartarus by bonds of darkness, protect me from his snares. Through the prayers of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, of the holy Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly hosts, of the holy Prophet and Baptist John, of the holy Evangelist John the Theologian, of the holy Martyr Cyprian and the Martyr Justinia, of St. Nicholas the wonderworker, of St. Nikita of Novgorod, of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, the wonderworker ... and of all the saints, by the power of the life-giving Cross and by the intercession of my Guardian Angel, deliver me from evil spirits, from cunning people, from sorcery, curses, the evil eye, and from any slanders of the enemy. By Thine almighty power preserve me from evil, so that I, enlightened by Thy light, may safely reach the quiet anchorage of the Heavenly Kingdom and there eternally thank Thee, my Savior, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thy Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit. Amen."
"Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having struck down the ancient serpent and bound him in Tartarus by bonds of darkness, protect me from his snares. Through the prayers of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, of the holy Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly hosts, of the holy Prophet and Baptist John, of the holy Evangelist John the Theologian, of the holy Martyr Cyprian and the Martyr Justinia, of St. Nicholas the wonderworker, of St. Nikita of Novgorod, of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, the wonderworker ... and of all the saints, by the power of the life-giving Cross and by the intercession of my Guardian Angel, deliver me from evil spirits, from cunning people, from sorcery, curses, the evil eye, and from any slanders of the enemy. By Thine almighty power preserve me from evil, so that I, enlightened by Thy light, may safely reach the quiet anchorage of the Heavenly Kingdom and there eternally thank Thee, my Savior, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thy Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit. Amen."
During a plague In the 17th century, large crowds gathered at St Spyridon’s Church on the island of Kerkyra (Corfu) and prayed to St Spyridon the Wonderworker (Dec 12/ Dec 25) and Protector of the island for deliverance. St Spyridon, who miraculously defended the Holy Trinity at the First Ecumenical Council, was now, centuries later, being petitioned to intercede for a plague that already claimed the lives of sixty citizens. From that day the number of deaths began to diminish.
At the same time, a light like that of a small lamp was seen at night on the top of the Saint’s belfry and was observed by the night sentinels of the Old Fortress. By Palm Sunday the epidemic was over and ascribed to the miraculous intervention of the Saint. Every year on Palm Sunday, Holy Saturday, August 11th, and the first Sunday in November the relics of St Spyridon are carried in solemn procession along the streets of Corfu, remembering the miraculous deliverance of the island.
At the same time, a light like that of a small lamp was seen at night on the top of the Saint’s belfry and was observed by the night sentinels of the Old Fortress. By Palm Sunday the epidemic was over and ascribed to the miraculous intervention of the Saint. Every year on Palm Sunday, Holy Saturday, August 11th, and the first Sunday in November the relics of St Spyridon are carried in solemn procession along the streets of Corfu, remembering the miraculous deliverance of the island.
St Brigid, “the Mary of the Gael,” With St. Patrick and St. Columba of Iona, she is one of the three patron saints of Ireland.
One of the most remarkable of St Brigid's many miracles is her healing of a blind nun named Dara. Once, during a particularly beautiful sunrise, the Saint took pity on Dara, making the sign of the cross and praying that Dara would be healed of her blindness, so as to experience the beauty of the sunrise. Dara's eyes were opened and she saw the sun in the east, and the trees and flowers sparkled with dew. Then, after awhile she turned to St Brigid and said, “Close my eyes again, dear Mother, for when the world is visible to the eyes, then God is seen less clearly by the soul.” St Brigid prayed and Dara again became blind.
"Holy Brigid, You shower grace upon the world and multiply miracles. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls."
One of the most remarkable of St Brigid's many miracles is her healing of a blind nun named Dara. Once, during a particularly beautiful sunrise, the Saint took pity on Dara, making the sign of the cross and praying that Dara would be healed of her blindness, so as to experience the beauty of the sunrise. Dara's eyes were opened and she saw the sun in the east, and the trees and flowers sparkled with dew. Then, after awhile she turned to St Brigid and said, “Close my eyes again, dear Mother, for when the world is visible to the eyes, then God is seen less clearly by the soul.” St Brigid prayed and Dara again became blind.
"Holy Brigid, You shower grace upon the world and multiply miracles. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls."
To the Theotokos All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace,
the ranks of Angels and the human race;
hallowed Temple and spiritual Paradise, glory of Virgins;
from you God was incarnate,
and He, who is our God before the ages, became a little child.
for He made your body a throne
and made your womb more spacious than the heavens.
All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace;
glory to you!
the ranks of Angels and the human race;
hallowed Temple and spiritual Paradise, glory of Virgins;
from you God was incarnate,
and He, who is our God before the ages, became a little child.
for He made your body a throne
and made your womb more spacious than the heavens.
All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace;
glory to you!
During the fatal 2018 wildfires in Greece, flames destroyed an entire home in Rafina, leaving nothing but ashes and the icon of Panagia standing upright on the edge of the windowsill.
You, O Lord Jesus Christ, are the resurrection and the life and the repose of Your departed servants, You are the hope of the grieving and the homeless. By the prayers of Your most holy Mother, hear us and have mercy.
You, O Lord Jesus Christ, are the resurrection and the life and the repose of Your departed servants, You are the hope of the grieving and the homeless. By the prayers of Your most holy Mother, hear us and have mercy.
"We must all the more abide in prayer, since it happens to be a kind of leader of the chorus of the virtues. Through prayer we ask for the other virtues from God, with whom the man who abides in prayer stands in communion. God touches him through a hidden holiness, a spiritual energy, and an ineffable state." + St Gregory of Nyssa (Jan 10/ Jan 23)
Photo: Serbian pilgrims praying in Jerusalem
Photo: Serbian pilgrims praying in Jerusalem
The Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg was built between 1883 and 1907 on the spot where the Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded and is officially called the Resurrection of Christ Church.
When the Bolsheviks went on an offensive against religion and destroyed churches across Russia, the church was closed. It remained closed from the 1930s until it re-opened in 1997, after a 30-year restoration.
When the Bolsheviks went on an offensive against religion and destroyed churches across Russia, the church was closed. It remained closed from the 1930s until it re-opened in 1997, after a 30-year restoration.