Prayer
Opening Prayer
Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Amen.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth,
present in all places and filling all things;
treasury of good things and giver of life,
come and dwell in us and purify us from every stain,
and of your goodness save our souls.
♪ Trisagion (Russian Orthodox Church)
Responsive Psalm 4
Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
♪ Trisagion (Russian Orthodox Church)
Prayer
O Lord our God and Saviour,
who sent the disciples and apostles to the very ends of the earth to teach and proclaim your message, to heal all illnesses and to reveal the mysteries of the faith which have been hidden from humankind since the creation of the earth, send us your blessing and enlighten our understanding, and may we be given the gift of final perseverance.
May we be enabled to do and to act in accordance with your commands as set out in the gospel, and may the fruit of the gospel be increased in us many times over, that we may obtain forgiveness of our sins and so be considered worthy to obtain our heavenly reward. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Mark 10: 32 – 34
32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”
Reflection
Prof. Dr Daniel Buda,
Dean of the Orthodox Theological Faculty, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu/Romania.
Moment of silent reflection.
Prayers of Intercession
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy. Lord have mercy (3x)
Again we pray, O Lord our God, hear our supplication and on account of your merciful loving kindness - grant peace to our world. Quickly put down the upsurges of violence and bring to nothing the power of the cruel and the unjust. Establish peace and justice throughout the world so that the poor and innocent may flourish and so that the wicked may be brought to repentance and turn to love. Let us all say: O Lord, hear and have mercy.
Lord have mercy (3x)
Loving Lord, visit us in your love and mercy and bring peace in our time, especially in the countries of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Provide for the needs of those driven from their homes by injustice and the power of the sword. Calm their terror and grant them, swiftly, your peace and loving-kindness. Let us all say: O Lord, hear and graciously have mercy.
Lord have mercy (3x)
Again we pray, O Lord and only Lover of us all, visit the lowly and deliver them from their distress. Protect our Christian brothers and sisters, especially in Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine from the persecution and terror that they face. Yes, O Lord, deliver all religious minorities from fear and oppression. Give quick aid and relief to the refugee children fleeing from violence and poverty. Deliver all, O Lord, who call upon you in the hour of distress. Let us all say: O Lord, hear and have mercy.
Lord have mercy (3x)
Again we pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant mercy, for those who show us mercy, and for all Christians of the true faith.
Lord have mercy (3x)
O Most gracious Lady, O Theotokos, our hope, friend of orphans, defender of strangers, joy of those who sorrow, protection of those treated unjustly, look upon our troubles, look upon our grief, help us in our weakness, guide us who are strangers, protect the persecuted and defend those who have no other recourse before the violence of the sword and the cruelty of the wicked. For you are the refuge of all who cry out in distress. Amen.
(Pilgrim Prayer, adapted, 79)
♪ Notre Père (Our Father; by Nikolaï Rimski-Korsakov)
Benediction
To God who is seated on the throne
and to the Lamb and the Blessed Holy Spirit,
be the blessing, honour, the glory, and the dominion,
for ever and ever. Amen.
