The Monk Seraphim of Sarov commanded his spiritual children, walking along the Kanavka around the Diveyevo Monastery, along which the Most Holy Theotokos herself passed, to read the Archangel’s greeting 150 times a day: “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, Most Gracious Mary, the Lord is with Thee; Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls” (Luke 1:28).
The “Theotokos Rule,” which embraces the entire life of the Mother of God, is divided into 15 dozen according to the number of the most important events in Her life. If, out of habit, it will be difficult to complete 150 times daily, you should read 50 times at first. After every ten, you need to read “Our Father” and “Doors of Mercy” once.
Below is a diagram into which Hieromartyr Seraphim (Zvezdinsky) put his prayers to the Ever-Virgin Mary.
Before every ten, the prayer “Our Father” is read, and after every ten, the prayer: “Open doors of mercy for us...”, as well as special additional prayers.
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"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Troparion, tone 4
Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, / proclaim joy to the whole universe: / from you the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, has risen, / and, having destroyed the oath, I have given blessing, / / and, having abolished death, I have given we have eternal life.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save and preserve Your servants (names of parents and relatives), and rest with the saints in Your eternal glory.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Entry into the Temple of our Lady Theotokos.
Troparion, tone 4
On the day of God’s favor, the transfiguration, / and the preaching of the salvation of men, / the Virgin clearly appears in the temple of God, / and heralds Christ to everyone. / We, too, will cry out loudly: / rejoice in watching The creator's fulfillment.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save, preserve and unite Your lost and fallen servants (names) to the Holy Orthodox Church.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Troparion, tone 4
The day of our salvation is the most important, / and from time immemorial the mystery has been revealed: / The Son of God, the Son of the Virgin, comes, / and Gabriel preaches grace. / Moreover, we also cry out to the Mother of God: / Rejoice, O blessed one,// The Lord is with you.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, assuage our sorrows and send consolation to Your grieving and sick servants (names).
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Meeting of the Most Holy Theotokos with the righteous Elizabeth.
It is worthy to eat as truly the blessedness of Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify Thee, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison, the Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, unite Your servants (names) who are in separation.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Nativity of Christ.
Troparion, tone 4
Thy Nativity, Christ our God, / the light of the mind of the world shines forth, / in it for those who serve the stars, / I learn from the star, / I bow to You to the Sun of Truth, / and I lead You from the heights of the East: // Lord, glory to you.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant to me, who was baptized in Christ, to put on Christ.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Presentation of the Lord and the word prophesied by the righteous Simeon: “And a weapon will pierce your very soul.”
Troparion, tone 1
Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mary, / from You the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, has risen, / enlightening those in darkness. / Rejoice, you too, the elder righteous, / received into the arms of the Liberator of souls ours, // giving us resurrection.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me, with my last breath, to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and lead my soul through terrible ordeals.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the flight to Egypt of Righteous Joseph and the Mother of God with the Child of God.
Kontakion, tone 8
To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as if we had got rid of the evil ones, let us sing thanksgiving to Thy servants, O Mother of God; but as you have an invincible power, free us from all troubles, and let us call to You: Rejoice, Unbrideless Bride.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, deliver me from all misfortunes.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the disappearance of the twelve-year-old boy Jesus in Jerusalem and the grief of the Mother of God over this.
Troparion, tone 7
Sighing for me, Lord, accept me as the Merciful, and have mercy on me as a publican, Your Mother through intercession.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me unceasing remembrance of God.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the miracle in Cana of Galilee, when the Lord turned water into wine according to the word of the Mother of God: “They have no wine.”
Troparion, tone 3
The saving refuge of Thyimama, Mother of God, in the abyss of life's overwhelm. Thou shalt save from all misfortune those who flow to Thy goodness.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, help us in all our affairs and needs.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the standing of the Mother of God at the Cross of the Lord, when sorrow, like a weapon, pierced Her soul.
Kontakion, tone 6
Do not weep for Me, Mother, seeing in the tomb, Whom in your womb without seed you conceived a Son: for I will arise and be glorified, and exalt with glory unceasingly like God, by faith and love Greater than you.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, strengthen my spiritual strength and drive away despondency.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Resurrection of Christ.
Troparion, tone 5
Christ rose from the dead, trampling down death and giving life to those in the tombs.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, resurrect my soul and grant me constant readiness to suffer for Christ.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Ascension of Christ, at which the Mother of God was present.
Troparion, tone 4
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God,/ having brought joy to the disciple,/ by the promise of the Holy Spirit,/ by the blessing that was communicated to them,// for Thou art the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, lift me up from earthly vain thoughts and grant me the desire for the salvation of my soul.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Upper Room of Zion and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.
Troparion, tone 8
Blessed are You, O Christ our God,/ Who are all wise fishers of things,/ having sent down the Holy Spirit to them,// and with those you caught the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, strengthen the grace of the Holy Spirit in my heart.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Troparion, tone 1
At Christmas you preserved your virginity, / in the Dormition you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God, / you reposed to the belly, Mother of the Being of the Belly, / / and through your prayers you delivered from death our souls.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me a peaceful and serene death.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
"Our Father."
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls. (10 times.)
We remember the Protection of the Mother of God over the Christian world.
Troparion, tone 4
Today we brightly celebrate the people of good faith/ by Your coming, O Mother of God, overshadowed by You,/ and looking to Your Most Pure Image, touchingly with the verb:/ cover us with Your honor Protection,/ and deliver us from all evil,/ praying to Thy Son, Christ our God,// to save our souls.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save me from all evil and cover me with Your honest omophorion.
Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.