BURBANK, IL [DOM] – The Diocese of the Midwest has collected a number of prayers asking for God’s mercy in Ukraine and is making them available to the clergy and the faithful. These prayers may be used in the churches of the Midwest and during personal prayer.
His Eminence Archbishop Paul has called the faithful of his diocese to increase prayers during this troubling time.
The diocese has also started collecting funds for those suffering in Ukraine.
Augmented Litany Petitions:
We pray, O Lord our God, for all those who suffer from acts of war, especially for the victims in Ukraine. We pray for Thy peace and Thy mercy in the midst of the great suffering of Thy people. Vouchsafe to accept the prayers of The Church, so that by Thy goodness, peace may return to all peoples; hear us and have mercy. Lord have mercy (3)
We also pray, O Lord our God, to remember and have mercy on our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Russia and Ukraine who are involved in violent conflict. Remove from their midst all hostility, confusion and hatred. Lead everyone along the path of reconciliation and peace, we pray Thee, hear us and have mercy . Lord have mercy (3)
Another Prayer at the Augmented Litany:
DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord have mercy.
PRIEST: Lord Jesus Christ our God, look down with Thy merciful eye upon the sorrow and greatly painful cry of Thy children, abiding in the Ukrainian land. Deliver Thy people from civil strife, make to cease the spilling of blood, and turn back the misfortunes set against them. Lead unto sanctuary those bereft of shelter, feed the hungry, comfort those who weep, and unite the divided. Leave not Thine own flock, who abide in sorrows on account of their kinsmen, to diminish, but rather, as Thou art benevolent, give speedy reconciliation. Soften the hearts of the unmerciful and convert them to the knowledge of Thee. Grant peace to Thy Church and to Her children, that with one heart and one mouth we may glorify Thee, our Lord and Saviour, unto the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
[To be inserted after the petition for the departed]
Again we pray for those who have lost their lives because of the war in Ukraine: that the Lord our God may look upon them with mercy, and give them rest where there is neither sickness, or sorrow, but life everlasting.
[To be inserted after the petition for the living]
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, for those who are suffering, wounded, grieving, or displaced because of the war in Ukraine.
Again we pray for a cessation of the hostilities against Ukraine, and that reconciliation and peace will flourish there, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
After the Prayer at the Ambo:
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, bulwark destroying enmity, Who hast granted true peace to Thy people, Who hast called peacemakers the sons of God! We pray unto Thee: bless those who seek after true peace and do labor for its sake. Do Thou enlighten the minds and hearts of all who embark upon this path of God-pleasing peace. Make wise those in power, and strengthen the will of the rulers of our people; enlighten their minds that with wisdom, discernment, and great care they might labor for the creation of this longed-for peace. By the grace of Thine All-Holy Spirit, do Thou grant that peace might be worked in all people, not only on our lips, but in very deed; that orphans and widows might be comforted, that they might no longer weep, but rejoice, beholding this awaited peace. Soften the hearts of the embittered, and grant that they might in meekness seek after harmony and love. Bless all men, teaching them to fathom and fulfill Thy will for the salvation, love, peace, and unity of all men. Send down Thy Heavenly blessing upon our Ukrainian land, upon the authorities, the armed forces, and all its people, through the intercessions of Thy Most Blessed Mother and all Thy saints. For Thou art the King of Peace, and Thy peace is without end, and to Thee do we send up glory, thanksgiving, and worship, with Thine Unoriginate Father, and Thine All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Personal Devotion:
O Master, Almighty, Lord of great mercies, receive our prayer on bended knee and our humble tears, which we bring before thy Holy Altar in these days of poverty and sorrow for thy people. Accept the intercession of all the saints of our Ukrainian land, whom we now call upon for help and intercession, so that the light of thy love, manifested on thy Cross, would enlighten every person suffering in this world, in the darkness of enmity and iniquity.
Accept the intercession of the Holy and Blessed Prince Vladimir, the baptizer and enlightener of our land; receive the prayer of the Holy Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb, who have taught us never to raise our hands against our brother: receive the intercession of thy saints Anthony and Theodosius and with them all the venerable monks and nuns, who by tears of repentance made their souls whiter than snow: accept the heroic struggles of the New Martyrs and Confessors, who through their suffering have preserved our saving faith in thee; accept the petitions of all the saints of thy Church, who have sanctified our Ukrainian land with their labors. Most of all, accept the prayerful Protection of thy Most-pure Mother, Our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, for by her shameless intercession, thy people have many times been delivered from all enmity and internecine strife.
Hear us, O God our Savior, and be merciful, merciful, O Master, unto all the suffering and burdened, and forgive us our debts, teaching us to forgive those who are debtors, and now low thine anger with thy mercy, pacifying all sedition and discord in our land, for thou alone art good and the Lover of Mankind, and unto thee do we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
