Prayers to Our Venerable Father Sergius the Wonderworker
Prayer I
O sacred one, our venerable and God-bearing father Sergius, who while yet on earth didst make thy soul a habitation of the all-holy Trinity through the faith and love thou didst have for God, and by thy purity of heart; who wast vouchsafed the fellowship of the angels and the visitation of the all-holy Theotokos; who received the gift of the grace to work miracles; who after thy departure from those on earth hast drawn exceeding close to God and hast made thine abode with the hosts of heaven, yet in the spirit of thy love hast not withdrawn from us, but hast left us thy precious relics as a vessel full and overflowing with grace: as thou hast boldness before the most merciful Master, entreat Him to save His servants, who believe in His grace which abideth in thee, and who have recourse unto thee with love. Help our pious Orthodox hierarchs, that they may exercise their spiritual oversight in peace, and may crush beneath their feet all heresies and schisms. Beg our God, Whose generosity is infinite, that He bestow upon each of us every gift which is beneficial, that we may maintain the Faith undefiled, that our cities may stand protected, that the world may find peace, that we may be delivered from famine and pestilence and may be preserved from invasion; that the sorrowing may find consolation, the sick healing, the fallen restoration, the lost return to the path of truth and salvation, the struggling strength, those who do good success and blessing in their good works, children nurturing, the young guidance, the ignorant enlightenment, orphans and widows assistance, those who are departing from this transitory life to that which is eternal goodly preparation and provision, and those who have already departed blessed peace. And by thine enabling supplications vouchsafe that we may be delivered from standing on the left hand of the Lord on the dread day of judgment, but that we may find a place on His right hand, and may hear the voice of Christ the Master say: Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! Amen.
Prayer II
O sacred one, venerable father, all-blessed and great abba Sergius! Forget not utterly thy wretched ones, but remember us in thy holy and right pleasing prayers unto God. Remember thy flock, which thou thyself didst tend, and forget not to visit thy children. Pray for us, thy spiritual children, O sacred father, in that thou hast boldness before the King of heaven. Be not silent before the Lord concerning us, neither spurn us who honor thee with faith and love. Remember us, the unworthy, at the throne of the Almighty, and cease thou never to beseech Christ God in our behalf, for unto thee hath been given the grace to pray for us. For we do not consider thee to be dead: for though thou hast departed from us through bodily death, even after death thou remainest alive. Turn not away from us in spirit, but preserve us from the darts of the enemy, from all the deception of the demons and the machinations of the devil, O our good shepherd. For even though the shrine of thy relics is ever visible to our eyes, yet thy holy soul is full of gladness, standing before the throne of the Almighty with the angelic armies, the choirs of the incorporeal beings, and the hosts of heaven. For knowing thee truly to be alive after death, we fall down before thee and beseech thee to pray to the omnipotent God, that, for the good of our souls, He grant unto us time for repentance, and that we may pass unhindered from earth to heaven through the bitter way-stations of the aerial princes of the demons, and that we may be delivered from everlasting torment and may become heirs to the heavenly kingdom with all the righteous who from ages past have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship, with His unoriginate Father and His all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer III
O venerable father Sergius, citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem! Mercifully regard us, and lead us, who have been cast down to the earth, up to the heights of heaven. Thou art in heaven above, while we are on earth below, far removed from thee, not so much in place as through our sins and iniquities; yet we flee unto thee, as to our kinsman, and cry aloud: teach us to tread thy path, give us understanding and guidance. Compassion and lovingkindness are characteristic of thee, O our father, for when thou didst dwell on earth thy care was not for thine own salvation, but for all who had recourse unto thee. Thine instructions were imparted as by the pen of a swiftly writing scribe, inscribing words of life upon the heart of each. Thou didst heal not only bodily ailments, but thou didst show thyself to be even more an excellent physician of souls; and all thy holy life was a mirror of every virtue. And if thou wast such upon the earth, O holy one of God, how much the moreso art thou now in heaven? Today thou standest before the throne of the unapproachable Light, and therein, as in a glass, thou beholdest all our needs and petitions. Thou dwellest with the angels, who rejoice over each repentant sinner. The love of God for mankind is inexhaustible, and thy boldness before Him is great: wherefore, cease thou never to cry to the Lord in our behalf. By thine intercession ask of our most merciful God peace for His Church, which goeth to war under the standard of the Cross; harmony in the Faith and oneness of mind, the extirpation of superstition and schism, and confirmation in good works: healing for the sick, consolation for the grieving, help for the oppressed, aid for the unfortunate. Put us not to shame who have recourse unto thee with faith. For even though we are unworthy of such a father and mediator, yet, as thou art an emulator of the love of God for mankind, make us worthy by turning us from evil deeds to a good life. All of Russia, enlightened by God, full of thy miracles and receiving the benefit of thy works of mercy, doth confess thee to be its protector and helper. Show forth thine ancient mercies, and of those things whereby thou didst help our fathers, deprive not us, their children, who come to thee following their steps. We believe that thou art present with us in spirit; for wherever the Lord is, as His word teacheth us, there also will His servant be. Thou art the faithful servant of the Lord, and while God is everywhere, thou art in Him, and He is in thee, even more than thou art with us in body. Lo! thine incorrupt and life-bearing relics are like a treasure beyond price which hath been entrusted to us by God. Standing before them, as before thee alive, we fall down and pray: accept our entreaties, and bear them to the altar of the lovingkindness of God, that through thee we may receive grace and timely help amid our needs. Strengthen our scant faith, and by thy supplications establish us in the Faith, that we may unwaveringly hope to receive all good things from the kindness of the Master. Cease not to guide with the rod of the wisdom of the Spirit thy spiritual flock, which thou thyself didst assemble. Assist those who are struggling in asceticism, raise up the paralyzed, and haste thou to help them bear the yoke of Christ with courage and patience. And direct us all that, having concluded our life in peace and repentance, we may pass with hope over to the blessed bosom of Abraham, where thou now dwellest joyously after thy labors and struggles, rendering glory, with all the saints, to God Who is worshipped in Trinity: the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Icon from Saint Elisabeth Convent, Minsk, Belarus (catalog.obitel-minsk.com)