Byzantine Prayers

Oldest known Marian Prayer

Beneath your compassion we take refuge
O Virgin Theotokos
Despise not our prayer in our need
But deliver us from danger
For you alone are pure and blessed.

Morning prayer from Matins

O Lord our God: You have awakened us from sleep and have called us by a holy calling to lift up our hands at the break of day, and to render homage to your righteous judgment. Accept our prayers, devotions, requests, and adoration. Grant us, O God, an invincible faith, an unshakable hope, and love unfeigned. Bless our comings and goings, our deeds and works, our words and desires. Grant that we may come to the dawn of this day praising, singing, and blessing the lavishness of your bounty which is beyond description, for blessed is your holy Name and glorified is your kingdom, Father+, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Evening Prayer from Vespers:

Great and most high God, you alone possess immortality and dwell in unapproachable light. You made all creation with wisdom, dividing light from darkness, establishing the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to rule the night.  You have allowed us sinners to approach your presence with thanksgiving in this present hour and to offer you evening praise.  O Lord, Lover of us all, make our prayer ascend to you like incense and accept it as a sweet fragrance.  Grant that we may spend the present evening and the coming night in peace; clothe us with the armor of light.  Deliver us from the fears of the night and from everything that lurks about in darkness.

Grant that the sleep you have given us to refresh our fatigue may be free from all illusions of the devil.  Yes, O Master of all, giver of good things, let us feel contrition as we lie on our beds, remembering your name throughout the night.  Enlightened by meditation on your commands, may we rise with gladdened soul to give glory to your goodness, offering prayers and supplications to your compassion for us in our sins and those of all your people.  Visit us with mercy through the intercession of the holy Theotokos.

For you, O God, are good and love us all, and we glorify you, Father+, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.  Amen.

Prayer Before Meals

May the poor eat and be satisfied

May those who seek the face of the Lord rejoice

And may their hearts find life.

Christ God, Bless the food and drink of your servants,

Those who prepare it, and those who receive it

For you are Holy our God and we render glory to you

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit now and ever and forever Amen

Prayer Before Work

O Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son of your eternal Father:

You have said with your holy lips;

“Without Me, you can do nothing.”

My Lord, I embrace your words with my heart and soul,

And bow before your goodness and say:

Help me, your unworthy servant, to complete this, my present undertaking,

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

PRAYER OF SURRENDER

Lord, Jesus Christ, I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart as Your will for me, in this moment. I offer it up in union with Your sufferings, for those who are in deepest need of Your redeeming grace. I surrender myself to Your Will, and I ask You to help me to move on to the next task that you have set for me.

Christ our God, help me to enter into a deeper union with You. Lead me away from dwelling on the hurt I feel, to thoughts of charity for those who need my love, to thoughts of compassion for those who need my care, and to thoughts of giving to those who need my help.

As I give myself to You, help me to be an instrument of your salvation to those who come to me in need.  May I find my healing in this giving. May I always accept God's will. May I find my true self by living for others in a spirit of sacrifice. May I die more fully to myself, and love more fully in You. As I seek to surrender to the Father's will, may I come to trust that He will provide me with everything that I need.  For You are Holy our God, and we give glory to You, to your eternal Father, and your life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever.  Amen.