I’ve reported the post by badeebadi for being strange robotic spam…
Anyway, that’s a very interesting prayer. I’ve heard of it before, but never seen it. It is unique to the Syriac Maronite tradition, if I recall correctly (is that right, or have I confused it with something else?). It reminds me a bit of similar prayers in the Coptic Orthodox Church, such as the so called “Seven small prayers” (litanies), which are prayed before partaking communion and occur next to also the commemoration of the Patriarchs and the reading of the diptych. For ‘short’ prayers, they actually comprise a wide range of subjects, as we do not limit ourselves only to praying for those in the communion, but even for the place itself and all the people of our city, the rulers of the country, and even nature itself. So it is a very wide/expansive set of prayers. I suppose we don’t want to leave anyone or anything out…
Priest:
Make us all worthy, O our Master, to partake of Your holies, unto the purification of our souls, our bodies, and our spirits, that we may become one body, and one spirit, and may have a share and an inheritance with all the saints who have pleased You since the beginning.
Remember, O Lord, the peace of Your one, only, holy, catholic, and Apostolic Orthodox Church.
Deacon:
Pray for the peace of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Orthodox Church of God.
People:
Lord have mercy.
Priest:
This, which You have acquired onto Yourself with the precious blood of Your Christ, keep her in peace, with all the orthodox bishops who are in her.
Foremost remember, O Lord, our blessed and honored father, the archbishop our patriarch, Abba (Tawadros).
Deacon:
Pray for our high priest, Papa Abba (Tawadros), pope and patriarch and archbishop of the great city of Alexandria, and for our orthodox bishops.
People:
Lord have mercy.
Priest:
And those who rightly define the word of truth with him, grant them unto Your holy church to shepherd Your flock in peace.
Remember, O Lord, the orthodox hegumens, priests, and deacons.
Deacon:
Pray for the hegumens, priests, deacons, subdeacons, and the seven orders of the Church of God.
People:
Lord have mercy.
Priest:
And all the servants and all who are in virginity, and the purity of all Your faithful people. Remember, O Lord, to have mercy upon us all.
People: Have mercy upon us, O God, the Father, the Pantocrator.
Priest:
Remember, O Lord, the salvation of this, Your holy place, and every place, every monastery of our orthodox fathers.
Deacon:
Pray for the salvation of the world and of this city of ours and of all cities, districts, islands, and monasteries.
People:
Lord have mercy.
Priest:
And those who dwell therein in God’s faith.
(When outside of Egypt, this response is prayed, combining the 3 litanies)
Graciously accord, O Lord, to bless the air of heaven, the fruits of the earth, the waters of the rivers, the seeds, the herbs, the plants of the field this year.
Deacon:
Pray for the air of heaven, the fruits of the earth, the rising of the waters of the rivers, the seeds, the herbs, and the plants of the field, that Christ our God may bless them, have compassion on His creation which His hands have made, and forgive us our sins.
People:
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Priest:
Raise them to their measure according to Your grace. Give joy to the face of the earth. May its furrows be abundantly watered and its fruits be plentiful.
Prepare it for sowing and harvesting. Manage our lives as deemed fit. Bless the crown of the year with Your goodness for the sake of the poor of Your people, the widow, the orphan, the traveler, the stranger, and for the sake of us all who entreat You and seek Your Holy Name. For the eyes of everyone wait upon You, for You give them their food in due season. Deal with us according to Your goodness, O You who give food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness that we too, having sufficiency in every thing always, may abound in every good deed.
People:
Lord have mercy.
Priest:
Remember, O Lord, those who have brought unto You these gifts, those on whose behalf they have been brought, and those by whom they have been brought. Give them all the heavenly reward.
Deacon:
Pray for these holy and precious gifts, our sacrifices and those who have brought them.
People:
Lord have mercy.
