A Child’s Prayer for a Departed Parent

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Protector of orphans, Refuge of the sorrowful, Comforter of those who weep: I flee to Thee, an orphan, and with sighing and tears I entreat Thee: hear my supplication, and turn not Thy face from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I entreat Thee, O merciful Lord, still my grief at the parting from my parent (name); establish his soul in Thy kingdom, for he departed to Thee with true faith, hoping in Thy love for mankind and Thy mercy. I bow my knees before Thy holy will, by which I have been parted from him, and I entreat Thee: let not Thy mercy and goodness fail his soul.

I know, O Lord, that Thou art the Judge of the earth. Therefore with a pained and contrite heart I cry to Thee, O merciful Judge: condemn not to eternal punishment this Thy departed servant (handmaid) (name), my parent, whom I shall not forget; but I entreat Thee, forgive him his transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowingly and in ignorance, committed in this temporal life; and in Thy mercy and love for mankind, through the prayers of the most holy Theotokos and of all Thy saints, have mercy on him and deliver him from eternal torment.

O merciful Father of fathers and of children, grant me strength, until the end of my life and my last breath, to remember my departed parent (name) with unceasing prayer; and I entreat Thee, the righteous Judge: make him dwell in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of rest, whence pain, sorrow and sighing have fled away.

O merciful God, accept this my fervent prayer for Thy departed servant (handmaid) (name); reward him with Thy good reward for the labour and upbringing he gave me in faith and Christian piety; for before all things he taught me the knowledge of Thee, my Lord, reverent prayer and hope in Thee in time of trial, affliction and pain, and the keeping of Thy commandments; he took good care for my spiritual progress, was a fervent intercessor for me before Thee, and asked Thy gifts for me. Reward him in Thy mercy with every good thing and joy in Thine eternal kingdom. For Thou art the God of mercy and compassion and love for mankind; Thou art the peace and joy of Thy servants, and to Thee we send up glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.