Prayer Rule (1)

Enter your icon corner with reverence before God.

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

Glory to thee, O our God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. (Thrice)

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

+ Our Father …

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

+ O Lord and Master of my life,

Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk;

+ But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.

+ Yea, O Lord and King,

grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother,

for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

(St Ephraim the Syrian – 4th c.)

LIVING

Be mindful, O Lord, of our Archbishop N.; our Bishop N.; our priest N.; the president of the United Sates, our civil authorities and Armed Forces.

Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, N. and N., of my brothers and sisters, my relatives, friends and enemies, N., N. and N. (name those whom you wish to remember); grant that they may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, and pardon and remission of sins; that they may ever praise and glorify Thy Holy Name.

Be mindful, O Lord, of me, thy humble servant; grant me thy Grace, that I may be diligent and faithful; avoiding evil company and influence, resisting temptation; that I may lead a godly and righteous life, blameless and peaceful, ever serving Thee; that I may be accounted worthy to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

DEAD

Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, relatives and friends, N., N. and N. (name those of the dead whom you wish to remember) who have fallen asleep in thy communion in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, O Lord, lover of mankind. Amen.

TROPARION to the THEOTOKOS

+ It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all blameless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.

+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

+ O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through the intercessions of thine immaculate Mother, of Saint N. (your patron saint), and of all thy Saints, have mercy on us, and save us, for thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.

Reverence the icon of Christ, the Theotokos, your patron, and others.

+ Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Make three metanias and quietly exit the icon corner.

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The above prayer rule is a shortened form of those found in the Antiochian prayer book. It is intended for non-Orthodox inquirers, some Catechumens, and those who struggle with making time for morning prayers. It is easily memorized, allowing, when necessary, its recitation in other places than one’s home icon corner. As with all such matters, guidance should be sought from one’s priest and/or spiritual father.