Supplicatory Paraklesis in Time of Deadly Pestilence
Priest: Blessed is our God…
And if a layman, he says: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thine all-holy Mother and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
Choir: Amen. Lord, have mercy (12 times).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thine anger. For thy weapons are fixed in me, and thou hast pressed thy hand heavily upon me. For there is no health in my flesh because of thine anger; there is no peace to my bones because of my sins. For my transgressions have gone over mine head: they have pressed heavily upon me like a weighty burden. My bruises have become noisome and corrupt, because of my foolishness. I have been wretched and bowed down continually: I went with a mourning countenance all the day. For my soul is filled with mockings; and there is no health in my flesh. I have been afflicted and brought down exceedingly: I have roared for the groaning of my heart. But all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hidden from thee. My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me; and the light of mine eyes is not with me. My friends and my neighbours drew near before me, and stood still; and my nearest of kin stood afar off. While they pressed hard upon me that sought my soul: and they that sought my hurt spoke vanities, and devised deceits all the day. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and was as a dumb man not opening his mouth. And I was as a man that hears not, and who has no reproofs in his mouth. For I hoped in thee, O Lord: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Lest mine enemies rejoice against me: for when my feet were moved, they spoke boastingly against me. For I am ready for plagues, and my grief is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity, and be distressed for my sin.
But mine enemies live, and are mightier than I: and they that hate me unjustly are multiplied. They that reward evil for good slandered me; because I followed righteousness. Forsake me not, O Lord my God: depart not from me. Draw nigh to my help, O Lord of my salvation.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
(The Litany of Peace, or Great Litany) Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this holy temple and for them that enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, our great lord and father Ilia, and for our most reverend Metropolitan (or Bishop; the name of the one whose diocese it is), for the honourable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and their people, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our God-protected people, for this our royal city of Tbilisi, for every city and country and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For seasonable weather, for the abundance of the fruits of the earth and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For those who travel by sea and by land, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That He may not rebuke us in His wrath, but forgive all our transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, and have mercy on our souls and spare them from death, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That He may hear our voice from His holy temple and heal our bitter sicknesses that have compassed us about, and quench the torrents of iniquity that terrify us, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That He may swiftly deliver us from the snares of death and from sicknesses, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That He may lengthen the time of repentance for His servants and not cut us down before our time like that barren fig tree, but in compassion dig about it and water it with the dew of mercy, awaiting in His love for mankind our conversion and the fruits of repentance, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That He may lift us up from the gates of death, for He hath drawn His sword and bent His bow and justly prepared for us the instruments of death; His arrows are sharpened with coals of desolation; yet that He may mercifully deliver us from all this, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: That Thou mayest hear our prayer and accept our supplication, and not keep silence at our tears, and grant us health, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art a God of mercy, compassion and love for mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen. God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Verse 2: All nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I drove them back. Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
In Thy wrath, O God, remember Thy mercies, for we are earth and ashes; chasten me not in Thine anger, lest we perish utterly, but have mercy on our souls, as the only Lover of mankind.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou alone, O Christ, art a swift Helper: swiftly show from heaven Thy protection over Thine afflicted servants, deliver them from sicknesses, afflictions and bitter pains, and raise them up to praise Thee and glorify Thee for ever, through the prayers of the Theotokos, O only Lover of mankind.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O fervent Intercessor, Mother of God Most High, who entreatest Christ our Saviour for all and savest all that flee with unashamed hope under thine almighty protection, O Lady, intercede now for us who entreat thee with a humble spirit and a contrite heart, O Theotokos and Virgin, and deliver us from all sorrows, temptations and sicknesses.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Irmos: Pharaoh who rode in the chariot was drowned by the rod of Moses, which once worked wonders when it struck crosswise, traced the figure of the Cross and divided the Red Sea; but it saved Israel, the fugitive going on foot, singing a hymn to the Lord: for gloriously hath He been glorified.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
O Almighty and Consubstantial, one Throne, one Power and thrice-radiant Glory, O unapproachable Father, Son and Holy Spirit, deliver Thy servants who entreat Thee from grievous sicknesses.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
The tempest of sins hath sunk me in the depth of infirmity, and I am beaten by these long-lasting pains as by billows; O almighty Sovereignty, Holy Trinity, have compassion and deliver me, a wretched one, for I am perishing miserably.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Deliver us from our sins that have compassed us about on every side, O undivided Trinity; quench the fever of our grievous sicknesses with the dew of Thy mercy, and grant health to these Thy servants, that with right faith we may praise Thee.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou who didst carry in thy womb the Saviour and almighty Lord who taketh away sins, entreat Him, O all-holy one, for the deliverance of thy servants from merciless sicknesses, O only helper of the race of men.
Irmos: O Lord, who didst fix the vault of heaven and art the Builder of the Church, establish us in Thy love, Thou summit of all joy and strength of the faithful, who alone lovest mankind.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
The spiritual ranks of the bodiless, the choirs of angels, thrones and dominions, powers and authorities entreat Thee, the good Lord and Saviour: deliver these Thy servants from destroying sicknesses.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
Show forth the abyss of Thy love for mankind, O Almighty, and deliver Thy servants from destroying sicknesses and merciless pains, O Thou who alone art long-suffering and merciful.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O holy angels and archangels, who stand before the throne of glory, entreat now His great compassion, that He may assuage this grievous sickness and deliver us from this death-bearing lot.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Christ God, who was born of thee, showed thee to be a fountain of healings, O spotless and unwedded Mother; therefore deliver from all sicknesses us who are sunk in the billows of infirmities and pains, and assuage our sorrow.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, for we have sinned and done iniquity, and therefore Thy wrath hath justly come upon us, the shadow of death hath overtaken us and we have drawn near to the gates of hell; but to Thee, our God, we cry with compunction in our sorrows: have mercy, have mercy on these Thy people and destroy them not utterly; humbly we entreat Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray to Thee, O King of death and life: O Lord, give not our souls over to death, but put away the wrath stirred up against us, for our days vanish like smoke, our strength hath failed, and we perish utterly because of our sins; be merciful to Thy servants; with repentance and tears we entreat Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray to Thee, for Thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should turn and live: quicken us sinners, who are guilty of death before Thy judgment seat, for Thou art God and the Lord of the living and the dead; destroy us not in the wrath of Thy chastisement; we pray to Thee with outcry and a mourning heart, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray to Thee, for we have sinned and done iniquity more than all, O Master; and though we have not gained repentance, yet in its stead accept this sacrifice of our prayer, O Lord; incline to mercy and deliver us from famine, from deadly sicknesses and merciless diseases, us who lament in pain and entreat Thee: swiftly hearken and have mercy (here those for whom prayer is made to God are commemorated by name).
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray to Thee, that Thou remember not the sins and unrighteousness of them that trust in Thee, O Lord, and enter not into judgment with Thy servants; for if Thou shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For we are dust and ashes, and our being is as nothing before Thee; but as most merciful and the Lover of mankind have mercy on us and destroy us not in Thy wrath together with our iniquities; we entreat Thee, O all-good God, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for all the brethren and for all Christians, that Thou remember, O Lord, that we are flesh, and in mercy turn away Thy wrath, justly stirred up against us, whereby we are cut down before our time as by a sword; stay the sickness and assuage our wounds, for in death there is none that remembereth Thee, and in hell who shall give Thee thanks? But we, the living, praise Thee, O Master, and with a pained heart we entreat Thee, hearken and have mercy. Choir: Lord, have mercy (thrice).
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Cast not off utterly these Thy people, O Master, nor withdraw Thy help from us, Thou who desirest not the death of a sinner but his conversion and life; now assuage the sicknesses, drive away the sufferings, and swiftly raise up from their beds of pain all the infirm who glorify Thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Physician of our souls and bodies, with a contrite heart we fall down before Thee and with sighing entreat Thee: as Thou didst accept the tears of Hezekiah, the repentance of Manasseh and of the Ninevites and the confession of David and didst swiftly have mercy, so now accept also our supplications offered to Thee with compunction, O all-good King, and, as merciful, have mercy on us and deliver them that trust in Thee from all the sicknesses, afflictions and distresses that come upon them.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All thy mystery, O Theotokos, is beyond nature and beyond glory, sealed with holiness and kept by virginity; and thou art known without falsehood, for thou didst bear God without change: entreat Him for the life of our souls.
Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power, Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, who didst not leave the bosom of the Father and didst visit our poverty; therefore with the prophet Habakkuk I cry to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
The shadows of death have compassed me about and I have drawn near to the gates of hell; but do Thou, O Saviour, as the mighty One, deliver me and raise me up, who cry to Thee with unashamed faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
Be our deliverers from our afflictions, O holy apostles, initiates of the mysteries of Christ, His eyewitnesses and heralds, who received the grace of healings; and by your prayers to the King, Deliverer and Saviour, rescue us from the sickness that holdeth us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now the tempest of sins hath come upon us, and, cruelly beaten by the billows of infirmity, we are sinking in pains, and destroying sicknesses hold sway over us wretched ones; but stretch out to us a hand of help, O apostles of the Lord, and be our helpers by your prayers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Beaten by merciless and long-lasting sicknesses, we all fall down before thee, O Virgin: shelter and deliver us all by thy royal protection, O spotless one; stay the pestilence and heal grievous sicknesses and infirmities, O Bride of God, all-holy Lady.
Irmos: Cast me not away from Thy face, O Light that never setteth, lest the unillumined darkness cover me; but look upon me and direct my ways to the light of Thy commandments, I pray Thee.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
O prophets, who by your honey-sweet prayer divided the sea of destroying deception, now take away all the destroying bitterness of our infirmities by the sweetness of the help of God Almighty.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
At Thy command the arrows of infirmity have pierced me, O Lord, and Thou hast laid Thy hand heavily upon me, O Almighty: in Thy great mercy have mercy on us all through the prayers of Thy holy martyrs.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As of old at Thy command Thou didst raise up the widow's dead son, O Word of God, so now also raise up and quicken them that have grown weak from grievous sicknesses, as the good and merciful One, O only Lover of mankind.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In the darkness of this life the billow of wickedness hath overtaken me and the darkness of infirmity hath covered me; but sprinkle me with cooling dew, O all-holy one, and guide me to the light of strength.
Irmos: Forgive me, O Good One, my countless sins, for which I call upon Thee; deliver me from evils; to Thee I cry: Hear me, O God my Saviour.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
Sunk in the depth of the abyss, infirmities have compassed us about, and we are beaten by the billows of perdition, O Master and Lord: stretch out to us the hand of help and save us.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
As by the divine word Thou didst in the twinkling of an eye strengthen the paralytic and raise him from his infirmity and his bed of sickness, so now relieve us of our heavy sickness and grant us health, O most merciful One.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The company of the prophets, the choir of the apostles and the myriads of the martyrs entreat Thee, O only most merciful One, for Thy people: look with mercy upon their supplication and have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-holy Mary, treasury of spotless virginity, cleanse us from our sins, O good Mother, and deliver us from sicknesses, sorrows and infirmities, that we may ever magnify thee with faith.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our soul. Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: Amen.
Deliver Thy servants from afflictions, O most merciful One, for we flee eagerly to Thee, the merciful Deliverer and King of all, God glorified in Trinity.
Those who lie on the bed of pain and are wounded with deadly wounds, as Thou didst once raise up, O Saviour, Peter's wife's mother and the paralytic carried upon his bed, so now also, O Merciful One, look upon these sufferers and heal them; for Thou alone takest up the infirmities, pains and sicknesses of our race, and Thou canst do all things, as the most merciful One.
O Lord Almighty, holy King, who chastenest and slayest not, who upholdest them that fall and raisest up them that are cast down, who correctest the bodily afflictions of men, we entreat Thee, O our God: look in Thy mercy upon them that have fallen into infirmity and are wounded by cruel sickness, raise them up in health from the bed of pain and the couch of affliction, and grant them to please Thee and to do Thy will
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom. Prokeimenon, Tone 4: O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath, neither chasten me in Thine anger.
Verse: For Thine arrows are fixed in me, and Thou hast laid Thy hand heavily upon me.
Brethren, whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Alleluia, Tone 4 (thrice)
The pangs of death compassed me, and the torrents of iniquity troubled me; the pangs of hell came round about me; the snares of death came upon me. Priest: Wisdom. Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be unto all. Choir: And to thy spirit. Priest: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke. Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
At that time the fame of Him went out into every place of the country round about. And He arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ. And when it was day, He departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought Him, and came unto Him, and stayed Him, that He should not depart from them. And He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And He preached in the synagogues of Galilee. Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By Thy mercy, O most merciful God, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression, and have mercy on me, O God.
Sticheron: With faith we flee to Thee, the merciful Deliverer and King of all, God glorified in Trinity, and we entreat Thee for the unshaken preservation of the Church, the deliverance of Iberia from the incursions of the enemy, the strengthening of our people, mercy for the faithful and the gift of peace.
Priest: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; visit Thy world with mercy and compassion; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians and send down upon us Thy rich mercies, through the intercessions of our all-holy Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honourable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy great prophet Elijah the Tishbite and righteous Enoch; of the holy, glorious and all-praised foremost apostles Peter and Paul; of the holy apostle Thomas and the apostles who enlightened Georgia, Andrew the First-called, Simon the Canaanite, Bartholomew, Thaddaeus and Matthias; of our father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the wonderworker, and of the great ecumenical teachers and hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of the holy glorious great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer and the holy great virgin-martyrs Barbara and Marina; of our venerable mother Nino, the virgin equal to the apostles, enlightener of the Georgians, and of the holy King Mirian and Queen Nana, equal to the apostles; of our holy patriarchs Peter, Samuel, Sarmian, Mamai, Arsenius, Melchizedek, John-Chrysostom, Nicholas, Evdemoz, Joseph, Kirion and Ambrose; of our venerable father John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, the second enlighteners of the Church of Georgia and her ever-protectors; of our God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma, Gregory of Khandzta and Saba of Ishkhani; of our venerable Athonite fathers John and Gabriel the Georgians, John who was once Tornike, and Euthymius and George of the Holy Mountain; of our holy, glorious and victorious martyrs Razhden, Eustathius of Mtskheta, Abo of Tbilisi, Gobron, Theodore the priest, Christopher of Guria, Nicholas Dvali, Kozman, David and Constantine, princes of Argveti, and Prince Constantine; of the holy great-martyr Bidzina and the holy glorious martyrs Shalva and Elizbar, eristavis of Ksani; of the holy martyr Shalva of Akhaltsikhe and the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians; of the holy martyrs, the six thousand monks of Gareja, and the many holy fathers and mothers martyred in Adjara by the Turks; of the holy victorious kings and queens Mirdat, Ashot, Archil, Demetrius, Luarsab, Shushanik and Ketevan; of our holy, pious and great kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, David the Builder, Demetrius-Damian, Tamar and Solomon; of holy Ilia the Righteous, Euthymius the Man of God and Euthymius the Confessor; of our holy confessor fathers John and George-John of Betania and our venerable father Archimandrite Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna (and of the saint to whom the church is dedicated), and of all Thy saints, we entreat Thee, O most merciful God: hearken to the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
Priest: Through the mercies and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Irmos: At the descent of God the fire was put to shame in Babylon of old; therefore the youths in the furnace, treading as on roses with joyful feet, sang in choir: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
The furnace of fierce pains is kindled, and the destroying flame of unquenchable fire burneth me; but with the dew of Thy mercy, O Saviour, refresh them that sing to Thee: Blessed is the God of our fathers.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
O prophets and apostles, martyrs and divine teachers, by your prayer tame the sicknesses of us the infirm and ask of God health for them that sing: Blessed is the God of our fathers.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Thou who by Thy word didst raise Lazarus, O Lord, now quicken us also and raise us from the beds of merciless infirmity, that we may cry to Thee a hymn of thanksgiving: Blessed is the God of our fathers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O merciful Mother of the all-merciful God, deliver from afflictions and sicknesses thy peoples, O Virgin, who call upon thy compassion as they sing: Blessed is the God of our fathers.
Irmos: The youths, carried captive of old by the tyrant from the land of Judah to Babylon, clothed with the Spirit, quenched the fire of the furnace and said: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou for ever.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
In pain we lament from our bed of sickness, and, the eyes of our soul being opened, we ask for health, that we may rise to sing to Thee: Ye youths, bless; ye priests, praise; and ye people, supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
O Thou who didst mercifully put on our infirmity and wast pleased to become like unto men, save us, O Saviour, through the prayers of Thy saints, and raise us from the tomb of despair to the glory of God:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
To the Creator of all that is and the Giver of healings, the bosom of mercies and the abyss of compassion, we pray together: look upon Thy peoples amid destroying infirmities and quicken them to praise Thee.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O firm intercessor and all-praised advocate, hope of the hopeless, look upon them that suffer from sickness, O all-spotless one; lighten the heaviness of their infirmity, drive away the destroying infirmity and deliver these thy servants, O Theotokos.
Irmos: Creation trembled at the ineffable condescension of God, how the Most High came down of His own will into the Virgin's womb to take flesh and became man without change in humility; therefore we the faithful magnify the spotless Theotokos in song.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
Thou who didst work many miracles without number, O Immortal One, show now Thy compassion upon Thy servants, O God, as one who is merciful, and free us from the sickness that besetteth us, through the prayers of Thine all-holy Mother and of all Thy saints.
O merciful Lord, have mercy on Thy servants
Through the prayers of Thine angels and archangels, prophets, martyrs, venerable ones, hierarchs and priest-martyrs, change our sorrow into joy, O Almighty; heal the sicknesses, lighten the infirmities and grant health to all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I entreat the Physician of souls and bodies, rich in mercy, the Lord and our God: heal these my many sufferings, take away my sicknesses and scatter my sorrows, as the good and only Lover of mankind and Saviour of them that glorify Thee.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou who didst bear in the flesh God, the good and compassionate King, our Creator and Lord, show now thy mercies upon me according to thy wont, and deliver me from merciless sickness, O Virgin Theotokos, and grant me health of soul and body.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song. The priest censes; the reader or a layman reads:
O our Lord Jesus Christ, who didst teach us to receive all that we ask of Thy heavenly Father in Thy name! Behold, trusting unerringly in Thy words, we ask of God Almighty that He look with mercy upon our people, which beareth Thy Cross upon the earth, and deliver us from the destroying pestilence and the fierce sickness that hath come upon us.
O all-holy Trinity, unapproachable, grant us a right confession, that we may proclaim God perfect, in three Persons without confusion, undivided in nature, glorified as one in essence, and may cry: Look also with Thy mercy upon them that lie on the bed of pain; quench the fever, still the suffering and every hidden infirmity within them.
O Physician and Helper of the sick, Deliverer and Saviour of the afflicted, Thou Lord and King of all, who with Thy divine hand didst heal the fever of Peter's wife's mother and didst raise the daughter of Jairus from the bed of sickness and make her whole: now also in Thy goodness heal the infirmities of Thy grievously suffering servants and grant them swift health; fervently we entreat Thee, O our Saviour, fountain of healings.
Heaven of heavens, choirs of angels, earth and the dwellers of the world, things visible and invisible, those below and those above, together with the sons of men, priests and peoples, we bless Thee, O Trinity, and entreat: drive away all insolence and pride from our darkened mind and establish us on the rock of Thy commandments, that Iberia may shine by the help of the Theotokos and we may all sing to Thee in spirit and in truth:
Behold, I who am loosed like one dead and lifeless and lie on the painful bed of despair, O all-holy Theotokos, grant me healing by the goodness of thy mercy and raise me up to glorify and hymn the all-holy Trinity:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defence, we sinners offer to Thee, our good Master, this supplication: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have put our trust in Thee; be not exceeding wroth with us, nor remember our iniquities; but look upon us now, as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from Thy just wrath; for Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and Thy name is called upon us; and have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Open unto us the doors of compassion, O blessed Theotokos, that hoping in thee we may not perish, but through thee be delivered from our adversaries, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy. Choir: Lord, have mercy (thrice).
Priest: Look in mercy, O Lord, upon the affliction of Thy servants, and have compassion, and command Thine angel, who hath lifted up his hand to destroy and slay us all: Stay now thy hand and slay no more, as once in the days of David Thou didst command the angel; and we, confessing our sins in repentance, cry like David: We have sinned and done iniquity and are not worthy of mercy; but, as long-suffering and the Lover of mankind, show forth those ancient mercies of Thine and deliver these people, the sheep of Thy flock; we entreat Thee, swiftly hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be merciful unto our sins, and have mercy on us; for Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
O all-holy Trinity, consubstantial and incomprehensible Power, Father Almighty, only-begotten Son and Holy Spirit, one God, Creator and Lord of all things visible and invisible, who in Thy justice bringest wrath upon us rightly for our sins, we now fall down and entreat Thee, O good Lord: look down from heaven and behold and visit this vine, the inheritance of the Georgians, and our Orthodox people that dwelleth upon it; shelter it with Thy great mercy and deliver it from the incursion of enemies and from civil strife. Keep unshaken, O Lord, our holy Church and all her children who trust in Thy mercy, and turn away Thy fearful wrath, justly stirred up against us; assuage this destroying sickness, O Master, and stay Thy terrible sword whereby we are cut down before our time, lest death take captive our souls, who fall down before Thee with tears of repentance, before our God who receiveth us. Raise up and quicken them that are weakened by grievous pains and beaten by merciless sicknesses, as one who is good and merciful, and assuage our sorrow.
Strengthen in his ministry, O Lord, and shelter our most blessed and most holy patriarch Ilia, Catholicos of Mtskheta and Patriarch of All Georgia and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia; the most reverend hierarchs and … (here the local bishop is commemorated); the honourable priests and deacons, monks and nuns; make them wise, O Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that by their prayer and labour they may guide their flock to life eternal; for Thine it is to have mercy on us and to save us, O our God, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Priest: Wisdom! O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Choir: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify thee in song. Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Bless.
Priest: Gives the dismissal...
Choir: Amen.
A layman: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
While the icon is kissed we sing thus:
O Lord our God, have mercy on us, Thy lowly and unworthy servants, who fall down before Thee with a contrite and repentant heart and hope in Thy mercy; fence us about against the fierce sickness that hath come upon us, and deliver us from deadly plague and from vain and untimely death.
O all-holy Theotokos and Virgin, look upon them that with faith bow down before the Holy Trinity and kiss Its icon, and direct our going well upon the way of salvation.
Translated from Slavonic by Nona Namgaladze; revised and supplemented by Tinatin Mchedlishvili
Source: the Facebook page “Library of the Patriarchate”
