Prayer to the Holy Imperial Passion-Bearers
O divinely glorious imperial great martyrs, most mighty helpers of the Orthodox Church: Lo! the Church of Christ now glorifieth your struggle of suffering; lo! the whole world is now illumined by an outpouring of spiritual light, and heaven mystically raineth gladness upon the hearts of those who love you. Yet even though our land is overshadowed with the radiant cloud of your mediation, it is beset by iniquities and is shaken by grievous corruption. Wherefore, we flee with tears of repentance to your assistance, confessing that we have sinned greatly and have embittered the all-good God by our many sins, turning away from the King of heaven Who hath favored our people greatly, raised up the horn of right-believing princes and pious sovereigns, hath delivered us from so many misfortunes, and never put our hope to shame. Yet before thee also it is fitting that we fall down, O most sweet and much-suffering Emperor Nicholas of Russia! For, lo! thou seest our weeping and groaning. Beseech God, that He forgive our unfaithfulness to His law. For thou art our glory, might and hope, a father and comforter for us even after death! We fall down before thee also, O Empress, mother of those who suffered, Alexandra of great renown! Stretch forth thy hands to the Mother of God, the one joy of the sorrowful, and with her entreat the King of kings to have mercy on us. O Alexis, imperial heir, royal lamb most meek! We dare not gaze upon thy countenace with our prodigal eyes; we can but stretch forth our noetic hands to thee, asking thy heavenly aid: and girding those who flee to thee about with a wall of protection against the assaults of the malice of the adversary and the wiles of our enemies, visible and invisible, preserve us all from the dread destruction that compasseth this world. O thrice-blessed virgin martyrs of the Imperial House! With heavenly rays enlighten our hearts, lest this deluded world blind us to everlasting destruction. O all-glorious imperial passion-bearers! Unto all who with fervent love have recourse to you impart humility, chastity and love for God and man; enrich us with patience and a steadfast trust in God amid tribulations and misfortunes; and amid sufferings anoint our hearts with meek hope and the peace of your protection, that naught may frighten or trouble us, but that we may also recount to our children the glory which ye have worthily received from God. Ask for us from God the spirit of repentance and contrition for our sins; enlighten our blinded kinsmen who have fallen away from the Faith of their ancestors; preserve us and our children from the vanity and evil habits of this world, from the corrupters of souls and bodies, from errors and heresies, from sickness and sudden death. Intercede for us, the unworthy, at the hour of our end, deliver us from the cruel assaults of the dark demons, and lead us before the dread Judge, clad in the radiant vesture of those sinners who offer good repentance in the hope of mercy and eternal salvation, that naught may separate us from Christ God and from you, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Icon from Saint Elisabeth Convent, Minsk, Belarus (catalog.obitel-minsk.com)