Prayer to Saint Euphemia the Greatmartyr
O holy, glorious and most praised bride of Christ, greatmartyr Euphemia! Unto all of us gathered here this day before thy holy icon, who bow down before it and venerate it with humility and love, grant thou the spirit of thy zeal for the Lord God Who loved thee and strengthened thee amid thine all-wondrous sufferings. Taught from childhood by thy God-fearing parents, Philothronus and Theodorosia, always to reverence devoutly the days of the redemptive sufferings and the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, thou thyself didst suffer for His sake. And having been wondrously healed of thy wounds by the hand of the angel of God, and received ineffable radiance, thou didst astonish the unbelieving tyrants. Thou didst overcome multifarious tortures with the power of the life-creating Cross. And after thou wast sentenced to be devoured by wild beasts, thou didst calmly entreat thy Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, that no evil come nigh thee and no wound draw near thy body. And thus, as thou didst pray, the lions and bears groveled at thy precious feet, thou didst receive a martyric end unto the glory of the Lord, and didst all-gloriously complete thy feat of suffering, ascending in soul to the heavens, unto the bridal-chamber of thy longed-for Bridegroom, Christ the King of glory. Wherefore, O most praised greatmartyr Euphemia, entreat Him Who loveth mankind in behalf of us who stand here praying, that He grant unto us, as He did to thee, patience and fortitude amid misfortunes and grievous circumstances; that He descend upon our children, to strengthen them in the Faith and in piety; that He teach us how we must instruct them; that He mercifully hearken unto us who entreat He beneficence, and that He not deprive us of His mercy; that He grant a Christian end to our life, painless, blameless and peaceful, and that we may receive communion of His divine Mysteries thereat. For having thus received salvation through thy holy supplications, intercession and aid, O Euphemia bride of Christ, we shall all glorify the all-holy and majestic name of the true God Who is wondrous in His saints—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.