Prayers to the Holy Martha and Mary
A Prayer to the Holy Martha and Mary
holy and praiseworthy disciples of Christ, God-loving Martha and Mary: entreat sweetest Jesus, Who loved you and was beloved of you, Whom ye confessed to be the Christ, the Son of God, that He grant us sinners forgiveness of our sins, and that we may stand firm and sincere in the true faith. Implant in our hearts the spirit of the fear of God, humble trust in God and patience, with loving-kindness toward our neighbor. By your supplications deliver us from the temptations of life, from sorrow and misfortunes, that, having spent a quiet and peaceful life here, we may stand at the dread judgment with chaste thoughts, a pure heart and steadfast faith and hope, may give a good reply, and may obtain everlasting joy in the heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Another Prayer
O blessed and holy women, who followed Christ in faith and love, and dwell now in the mansions of the heavenly Father! I, a sinner, now come, humbly imploring you: Teach me, and help me to walk before God in your steps without stumbling, and with you to inherit eternal life. O righteous Martha, who didst please Christ by your firm confession of faith: strengthen my weak faith. O thou who didst serve God and thy neighbor with zeal and sincerity, help me to labor with all my soul and without complaint. When thy sister was sorrowful, thou didst call her to Christ, saying secretly: "The Master is here, and calleth thee." Help me now in this difficult when my faith and love are tested, and tell me in the depths of my heart that the Lord Jesus is coming invisibly to draw me to Himself by means of tribulations. O holy Mother, beg our Lord to impart strength and vitality unto me, that I may quickly rise up and bow down before Him, and in His humble love find peace and salvation of soul. And thou, O God-loving Mary, who didst find the one thing needful at the feet of Jesus: Entreat Him that I, a sinner, may obtain the better portion with the saved. O thou who didst bring fragrant ointment as a thank-offering to Christ, the Bestower of Life, beseech Him to grant to my soul the myrrh of prayer and tears of repentance, and the sweet savor of pure and holy works, that by these the Lord may enter into my purified heart and there make His abode. I cast myself at your feet, O holy and righteous Martha and Mary, and humbly pray: Forsake me not in days of difficult trials, lest I be tempted by the corrupt and beautiful things of this world. Stand by me, especially at the bitter hour of the separation of my soul and body, and beseech our common Master to look upon me with a merciful eye, for my strength faileth, and to forgive me all my sins, and to raise me up unto life everlasting in the blessed mansions of the heavenly Father. Amen.
Troparion of the Saints, in Tone III
O God-loving sisters of the righteous Lazarus, glorious Martha and Mary! With a pure heart ye loved Christ during your life, received the rank of myrrh-bearers, and fearlessly confessed Him to be the Son of God. Wherefore, with the angels and all the saints ye now reign gloriously in the mansions of the heavenly Father. Entreat Him Whom ye loved, that we sinners may become strong in faith and the love of Christ, and obtain the kingdom of heaven.
Prayers translated from Church Slavonic by Monk Joseph (Isaac Lambertsen).
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