These prayers were composed by Saint Demetrius of Rostov according to the vision of an elder in memory of the sorrows that the Blessed Virgin Mary endured.
“One elder from the God-bearing Fathers, standing in prayer and being delighted, heard the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ speaking with the Most Pure and Most Holy Theotokos, His Matter:
- Tell Me, My Mother, how many illnesses have you endured while living in the world for My sake?
And the Most Holy One says:
- My Son and God! I endured the greatest five illnesses for Your sake: the first - when I heard from Simeon the Prophet that you were about to be killed; the second - when, looking for You in Jerusalem after three days, I did not see You; the third - when You are caught and tied up I heard from the Jews; fourth - when you saw the Crucified One on the Cross among the thieves; fifth - when I saw Thea in the coffin, it is believed.
And the Lord spoke to Her:
- I say to You, My Mother: if anyone reads Your every illness every day with My prayer, this is “Our Father” and the Archangel’s joy, this is “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” - for the first illness I will give him the knowledge of sins and regret for them; for the second, I will give him forgiveness of all sins; for the third - I will return to him his virtues, which were lost through sins; for the fourth - I will feed him, at his death, with My Divine Body and Blood; for the fifth - I will appear to him at the time of his death and accept his soul into the eternal belly. Amen".
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Glory to Thee, Christ my God, who did not destroy me, a sinner with my iniquities, but who even suffered my sin hitherto. (Bow)
Grant, Lord, that on this day we may be preserved without sin; Grant to me, Lord, that I may not anger You, my Creator, by word, deed, or thought, but may all my deeds, advice and thoughts be for the glory of Your Most Holy Name. (Bow)
God, be merciful to me, a sinner, throughout my life: during my departure and after my death, do not forsake me. (Bow)
This, falling on his face to the ground, said:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, accept my deceased soul and mind. Accept me, a sinner, a fornicator, unclean in soul and body. Take away the shameless hostility and do not turn Your face away from me, O Lord: “We do not know who You are,” but listen to the voice of my prayer; save me, for you have many bounties and do not want the death of a sinner; I will not leave You, my Creator, and I will not depart from You, until You listen to me and grant forgiveness for all my sins, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, the intercession of the Honest Heavenly Powers bodiless, holy and glorious my guardian angel, the Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist John, the God-speaking Apostle, the bright and virtuous martyr, the venerable and God-bearing fathers ours and all Your saints, have mercy and save me, a sinner. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow from the waist.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, full of grace 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.
Oh, Merciful Mother, Virgin Mary, I am Your sinful and useless servant, remembering Your illness, when You heard from Simeon the Prophet about the merciless killing of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, I offer you this prayer and the Archangel’s joy, accept in honor and remembrance of your illnesses and pray to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant me knowledge of sins and regret for them. (Bow)
Our Father... (see above)
Virgin Mary, rejoice... (see above)
Oh, God-blessed and Immaculate Youth, Mother and Virgin, accept from me, Your sinful and useless servant, this prayer and Archangel’s joy in honor and memory of Your illness, when you forgot your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the church and you did not see him for three days; Beg Him and ask Him for forgiveness and forgiveness of all my sins, O Blessed One. (Bow)
Our Father...
Virgin Mary, rejoice...
O Mother of Light, Blessed Virgin Mary, accept from me, Thy sinful and useless servant, this prayer and Archangel’s joy in honor and memory of Thy illness, ever Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, was caught and bound, didst thou hear. Beg Him to restore to me the virtues that I lost through sin, so that I may magnify You, the Most Pure One, forever. (Bow)
Our Father...
Virgin Mary, rejoice...
Oh, Source of Mercy, Virgin Mother of God, accept from me, Your sinful and useless servant, this prayer and the Archangel’s joy in honor and memory of Your illness, when on the Cross, among the thieves, You saw Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, You prayed to Him, O Lady, that He might give me the gift of His mercy at the hour of my death, and yes feed me with His Divine Body and Blood, and I glorify You, the Intercessor, forever. (Bow)
Our Father...
Virgin Mary, rejoice...
Oh, my Hope, Most Pure Virgin Mother of God, accept from me, Thy sinful and useless servant, this prayer and Archangel’s joy in honor and memory of Thy illness, ever You saw Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, laid in the tomb. Pray to Him, O Lady, that He may appear to me at the hour of my death and may He receive my soul into the eternal life. Amen. (Bow)
Oh, Gracious Virgin, Lady Theotokos, child-loving Turtle Dove, heaven and earth, Autocratic Queen, dear Receiver of all those who extend their prayers to You, those who are sad to the Comforter, accept from To me, Thy sinful and useless servant, this is the five-numbered prayer, in which I remember Thy earthly and heavenly joys, tenderly crying out to Thy face:
Rejoice, thou who was conceived in the womb without the seed of Christ our God.
Rejoice, you who bore Him in your womb without illness.
Rejoice, thou who gave birth by wondrous sight.
Rejoice, you who received gifts and worship from the Magi-kings.
Rejoice, for thou hast found in the midst of teachers Thy Son and God.
Rejoice, for Your Nativity has risen gloriously from the dead.
Rejoice, you who saw your Creator ascending, you yourself ascended to Him with soul and body.
Rejoice, O virginity for Thy sake, more than the Angel and all the most glorious saints.
Rejoice, shining near the Most Holy Trinity.
Rejoice, our Peacemaker.
Rejoice, O Sovereign, possessor of all the Heavenly Powers.
Rejoice, thou who hast boldness towards the Son and Thy God above all others.
Rejoice, merciful Mother of all who come running to You.
Rejoice, for Your joy will never end!
And to me, unworthy, according to Your false promise, on the day of my exodus, mercifully appear, so that by Your guidance I will be guided to the mountainous Jerusalem, in which You reign gloriously with the Son To yours and our God, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
From my vile lips, from my vile heart, from my unclean tongue and from my defiled soul, O Lady Queen, accept this praise, O my Joy. Accept, as the widow received these two mites, and grant me to bring a gift worthy of Your goodness. Oh, my Lady, the Most Pure Virgin, the Heavenly Queen, as you wish and desire, and moreover, teach me that it is fitting for us, the Mother of God, to speak to You as the only sinners refuge and consolation. Rejoice, Lady, and I, Your many-sinful servant, joyfully call to You, the all-sung Mother of Christ our God. Amen.
Looking at Your Most Holy image, as if I behold the true You, Mother of God, with faith from the heart I fall and worship with the Eternal One in Your hand held by the Child, the Lord Our Jesus Christ, I honor and pray to You with tears: cover me with Your protection, from enemies visible and invisible, You brought the human race into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
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.
Glory and thanksgiving to the Lord for everything!
1 Mental pain, suffering.
2 Missing, dead.
3 Yes.
4 Those who won a significant victory.
5 Christ.