King of Glory, the only immortal, Father of heaven and fortress, Who, in the providence of His kindness, does not wish death for any person, but wishes salvation for everyone, do not leave me to perish! For I know that Your mercy towards me is great, and now I pray to You, Master, let me finish this path!
Holy Trinity, our God, I glorify You, and I bless You, and I pray to You, and I remember You, for I give blessings to my inheritance three times! Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the seed of the righteous, preserve them and strengthen them in the land of my former power. May the help of the Most Holy Theotokos and my sinful prayer be with them from now on and forever. And I give them a commandment: have love among yourself.
And whoever of them departs from what he commanded them, then may the wrath of God consume him and his seed!
Lord, Lord, have mercy and mercy on Your servant, for I know that my iniquities are truly great, and they are never hidden before You, Lord! Therefore, I will make a beginning in my heart: let it tremble and fear Your holy name. According to the Apostle Paul, I say: you who have wives, like those who do not have them, keep yourself in purity and in the commandments of the Lord. That is why I give You, as a guarantee of my firm intercession, Your guardian, Your Most Pure and Undefiled Mother. Yes, for the sake of Your holy name, and for Your sake, I separate myself from connection with my wife, and I put You, my Master Jesus Christ, as the driver and guardian of my old age and mentor on the path, walking along which and glorifying Your name, I will not stumble.
I will also build a temple to Your Most Pure and Immaculate Mother, the Benefactor, and I will fulfill my covenants that my lips have spoken.
Holy representatives of Christ and archangels, prophets and apostles, martyrs and hierarchs, reverend fathers, hermits and you, monks and reverend women, pour out all your prayers before the Lord of all, our Lord Jesus Christ. May He not condemn me on the day of a terrible and formidable trial, but may that day and hour be merciful, calm, and comforting to me, and may I, for the sake of the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and your saints, be allowed to pass through the storm of life, to reach a quiet and true and untroubled haven and to see my unstoppable light, the Lord and Savior and my God, King Jesus Christ, Who is in the sanctuary the praise of Israel. For the prophet says: “Our fathers trusted in You and were not ashamed; they trusted in You and were saved.”
Therefore, O Lord, do not leave me, the poor one who hopes in Your mercy, and do not push away the one who has sinned. Have mercy, O Savior, Thy creation, for, having renounced the beauty of this light, it will flow after You, praising and glorifying Thy holy and gentle name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
I thank You, Master Lord my God, Jesus Christ, merciful Lord and Lover of mankind, for deigning me today to see the beginning of the path of Your salvation, because those who come to the true mind live unforgetfully.
Therefore, my soul, surrender and flow to repentance, for Your Master is calling. For with this psalm I showed you an example, saying: “From the mouths of children and babes I have prepared praise for myself,” so do not be lazy! Don't you see the young people who are looking for what they need and who are going ahead of you? Don’t look back, just like Lot’s wife, don’t look at the beauties of this world that are quickly disappearing, lest the parable of the rich man happen to you, but trust in the Lord and remember your promises. For the time is drawing near, for the ax lies at the root of the trees, and the fields are marked out; Remember, it's harvest time!
The groom is at the door, but you are not ready. Be careful that you don't stay on the other side knocking. For listen to what Christ says: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” as well as the other. May you arise, arise and work in the good yoke of Christ and His light burden, may Christ open the doors of His kingdom to you.
Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, mentor to the lost, Father of the true light, the only begotten Word of the Father, leader of the old, affirmation of the young, bring my infantile weakness into the will of your true understanding, so that, having anticipated, I will advance on this path on which my master, this my guardian, hastens to go.
For You know, O Knower of hearts, Lord Jesus Christ, that my soul will not love all this light, nor what is in it.
Therefore, O Lord, do not destroy my soul with the wicked, nor with the rulers of this world, but, having mercy on me, the unworthy, hasten to fulfill on me the gospel word that Your most pure and undeceitful lips spoke: “Whoever leaves his father and mother, royal houses, and power for the sake of My name, will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.”
And therefore, I commend my spirit into Your hands, and without hesitation, falling to You, I follow You, my Creator!
1 Written by Saint Sava of Serbia. Translation from the book “The best prayers of the Serbian language” (“Najlepshe prayer Srpskogjezika”). Belgrade: Gramatik 2010.
2 Written by Saint Stephen the First-Crown. Translation from the book “The best prayers of the Serbian language” (“Najlepshe prayer Srpskogjezika”). Belgrade: Gramatik 2010.