Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping.
I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent (my mother), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - , and his soul (or: her, or: them), as having gone (or: gone) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, accept into Your Kingdom of Heaven.
I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the unforgettable deceased (unforgettable deceased) for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (her) and eternal save me from torment.
You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him (s) in a bright place, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints, from nowhere all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled.
Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught (taught) me first of all to lead You, my Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.
For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is the most important part of any funeral or memorial. Both, in particular, in our Orthodox faith, and in the Christian religion in general. Why is this part of the funeral ritual given so much attention?
In the article:
Prayer after the death of a person is a long-standing part of any tradition, no matter Christian or pagan. They are called differently and take completely different forms, but the fact remains a fact. After the death of a person, he is seen off on his journey to the other side with a certain, established chant, memorial service, or other form of religious ritual. Because in every tradition, regardless of religion, there is a practice of seeing off a person.
Prayers for the repose facilitate a person’s transition from one world to another.
Why? What is the reason? Humanity's beliefs differ in many ways. But they all agreed that the human soul, burdened with sins, will hardly be able to get into a better world. But everyone has relatives and people who love him. And the desire to make such a journey easier for a loved one is quite natural.
This is why there are prayers for the repose of the soul. After all, they are pronounced with ardent compassion, trying to help the deceased. Higher powers, seeing such zeal on the part of relatives and friends, understand that if he is loved so much, then the extent of sins can be moderated. It is unlikely that anyone will suffer for a bad person.
So the existence of such rituals is quite understandable, both logically and emotionally. Everyone wants to help their relatives, whether alive or dead. Moreover, by and large, the deceased himself no longer needs either a coffin or a monument. He's already dead, he doesn't care. This is if we talk about the body. But the soul is another matter. It is for her that mourners offer prayers. And it’s worth knowing that such prayer can help the living too. In such a way that it will help them tune in to a spiritual mood. To stand, so to speak, on the same line of communication with Heaven. Think about how many sins have accumulated in everyone’s soul. And think about this topic - how many people will mourn at your own funeral?
Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is an important part of the memorial service, when the soul most needs support during its wanderings. You cannot treat your dead relative carelessly, because God will feel your carelessness and will no longer be so lenient.
The strongest help will come if you read such a prayer in Church. Before offering prayer, a living relative needs to visit the temple. It is best to arrive at the very beginning of the service, or a few minutes before. Bring a church note with you as it will need to be presented at the altar. The best moment is on proskomedia. Then, in the name of the deceased, they will take part of the special prosphora. With its help, you can receive great cleansing from sins when part of such a prosphora is placed in the Thicket of the Sacred Gifts. When the liturgy is over, a memorial service will also need to be celebrated. If you want prayer to become much more effective, then the mourner should take communion himself.
There are certain days of the year when everyone is honored in the Church. From brothers and sisters who died with all Christian prayers and funeral services, to those who suffered a cruel or sudden death. Without the religious, ritual part that is required at such a moment.
List of such days:
On the remembrance of the dead: memorial service, memorial prayer, parental Saturdays
What else do you need to remember for proper commemoration? Firstly, special dates. The deceased should be remembered on his birthday, day of death and name day. Also on these days, it is advised to generously make church donations, where his name will always be honored. And also - alms to the poor, with the expectation that they will remember the name of your relative when they pray.
Text of the prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased:
Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the life of Thy eternally departed servant (name), and as the Good One and the Lover of Mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins; deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna and grant him the communion and pleasure of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You, and rest with Your saints, as you are Generous; There is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the only one besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever; and You are the only God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Why is the prayer read? at 3 days, 9 and 40 days after death? It is believed that the soul is preparing to depart. She is still in the body, but holds on to it with literally a few threads. Then, when the body is buried on the 3rd day, the last connection is broken. And from the 3rd day onwards, the newly departed soul is shown the tabernacles of paradise, so to speak. What Paradise looks like, what pleasures await the soul, how good and pleasant it is there.
But when the 10th day comes, a completely different picture unfolds before the soul. They begin to show her the torments of hell and what awaits her if she ends up here. All this time she does not know what exactly awaits her, Heaven or Hell. And the deceased finds out about this only on the 40th day. It is these days, when the fate of the human soul is being decided, that it most of all needs support from living relatives. Therefore, it is customary to read prayers and perform memorial services on these dates. So, as we ourselves see, prayer for 9 days after death, for 3 days and for 40 are very important. After all, it is on these days that the fate of man, or rather the fate of the immortal soul, is decided.
There are several basic rules that must be followed when holding funerals on such significant dates. The first is the right atmosphere, at home, or together, where the event will take place. Relatives should pour water into a glass, put a slice of bread on top and light a lamp.
The second is the number of those who remember. There shouldn't be many of them. These are close relatives and friends, as well as colleagues with whom he maintained the closest contact. Women must match their hair to their headscarf, without exception. And men should be without any hats.
The third is an invitation. It is not customary to invite people to a wake, because this is the only way to find out who really cares about the peace of mind of the deceased. They must come on their own. But sometimes it happens that a person, under the weight of grief, forgets what day it is. So you can casually remind him without inviting him directly.
Funeral Divine Liturgy and memorial service in the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - Patriarchal Compound of Sofia
Fourth - food. Everyone who is going to set the table on this day should remember that compote, kutya and porridge in general are an obligatory attribute of the funeral table. You can prepare the deceased’s favorite food and place it at the head of the table.
The fifth and most important rule is that you have not gathered to dine. You must remember the deceased. Remember the pleasant moments you shared together, some facts from his life. Let it emerge in your memory as if alive. Like the person who was next to you. Feel its warmth.
Prayer for 9 days after death:
God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks;
Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is truth forever, and Your word is truth. For You are the Resurrection, and the Life and Repose of Your departed servants (the name of the rivers), Christ our God, and to You we send glory with Your beginningless Father, and Your Most Holy, and Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for 3 days:
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy departed servant (Thy departed servant, the soul of Thy departed servant) (name) (bow), and as much as man has sinned in this life (humans have sinned), Thou, as the Lover of Mankind, forgive him (u, them) and have mercy (bow), deliver eternal torment (bow), give to the heavenly Kingdom a partaker (participant, partakers) (bow), and do something useful to our souls (bow).
Prayer for 40 days:
Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.
Prayer for an anniversary after death:
God, merciful Lord, remembering the anniversary of the death of Your servant (name), we ask You to honor him (her) with a place in Your Kingdom, grant blessed peace and lead him into the radiance of Your glory.
According to religious canons, the living need to pray for the repose of the dead in order to give them the opportunity to be in peace, enjoying the other world. The deceased will no longer be able to appease the Lord with daily deeds, nor will he be able to offer him a prayer, therefore it is necessary to pray for his soul to those remaining in this world.
Prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased are also useful to the living, for they calm their souls from worldly and vain things, filling them with the memory of the Heavenly world. The prayer service forces one to remember the need to abstain from sins, weakening the flow of righteous sorrow.
When we pray, we remember that the departed also grieve for us, helping us in our worldly life.
Of course, the souls of sinners who reject the canons of God during their lifetime, who live outside the church, even after being baptized, cannot count on salvation and mercy. In order to avoid becoming like them, it is necessary to constantly remember salvation in the other world.
When the servant of God lives his earthly life in accordance with the laws of our Father, daily turning to the angels and the Lord God, good things await him in earthly and heavenly life.
By offering a prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the living take direct part in asking for Paradise for them in Heaven. The Lord will certainly show mercy to the deceased who lived a good life and remained loved by living relatives, relatives, friends and acquaintances.
It is also believed that the Orthodox prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased does not just help. Thanks to the fact that you ask for the dead, being alive, the dead will help you, being your messenger in the Next World, and this, you see, is definitely not out of place for us sinful souls.
Prayers for the benefit of the departed
It is possible to remember the deceased on any day. According to customs, Saturday is called the day of remembrance of all Saints and the dead. The dead are remembered on the third, ninth and fortieth day after death, then on parental Saturdays, on the anniversary of death, Angel Day and Birthday.
There are many prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Here are a few particularly common ones:
Prayer “For the repose of the departed”
“Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy departed servant (Thy departed servant, the soul of Thy departed servant) (name) (bow), and as much as man has sinned in this life (humans have sinned), Thou, as the Lover of Mankind, forgive him (i.e. , them) and have mercy (bow), deliver eternal torment (bow), a participant in the heavenly Kingdom (bow to the communicant, communicants), and do (bow) that is beneficial to our souls.”
Prayer “For the repose of all the departed”
“Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your departed servants: Your most holy patriarchs, most Reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served You in the priesthood, church and monastic ranks; creators of this holy temple, Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, here and everywhere lying; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for faith and fatherland; the faithful, killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with their enemies; those for whom they commanded and asked us to pray, for whom there is no one to pray, and the faithful, deprived of Christian burial - in a brighter place, in a greener place, in a place of peace, from where sickness, sadness and sighing have escaped. And, as you are good and a lover of mankind, forgive all their voluntary and involuntary sins and deliver them eternal torment, as there is no man who will live and not sin, but You are the only one besides sin, Your truth is truth forever, and You are the only God mercy and generosity and love for mankind, and we send glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
Prayer “For the repose of loved ones and all the deceased”
“Remember, Lord, from this life the orthodox kings and queens, the right-believing princes and princesses, the most holy patriarchs, the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and Orthodox bishops who departed from this life, who served You in the priesthood and in the parable of the church, and in the monastic rank, and in Your eternal villages rest with the saints. (Bow) Remember, Lord, the souls of Your departed servants, my parents (their names), and all relatives in the flesh; and forgive them all their sins, voluntary and involuntary, giving them the Kingdom and the communion of Your eternal good things and the pleasure of Your endless and blissful life. (Bow) Remember, O Lord, and all in the hope of resurrection and eternal life, the departed, our fathers and brothers and sisters, and those who lie here and everywhere, Orthodox Christians, and with Thy saints, where the light of Thy face shines, have mercy on us, as Good and Lover of Humanity. Amen. (Bow) Grant, O Lord, remission of sins to all who have previously departed in the faith and hope of resurrection, our fathers, brothers and sisters, and create for them eternal memory. (Three times)"
In all the presented prayers for the repose, a request is made to the Lord to grant forgiveness of sins to the deceased, providing peace in another world.
Pray if you want to
Remember that no one is obliged to remember a deceased person. If you want to remember a deceased loved one, only then lift up the holy word, for only with a pure heart is it necessary to turn to God.
A prayer for repose coming from the heart can work miracles. Even scientists who are skeptical about everything that cannot be explained from a scientific point of view note the power of the holy word.
According to scientific statements, the holy texts of prayers contain a special combination of sounds, designed to bestow a certain internal emotional state on the one who reads and hears it, granting physical healing to the body, as well as simply peace.
If the prayer was pronounced correctly, you will feel like a certain weight is falling off your shoulders, giving you a feeling of special, grace-filled freedom, as well as peace. By praying, you diminish the pain of loss that torments your heart.
Video: Prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased
The death of a mother is a tragedy for everyone. Even knowing that her soul is destined for eternal bliss in the palace of Heaven, a person has difficulty coming to terms with the fact that his mother is no longer with him. A prayer for the deceased mother will help you accept the inevitable, calm your soul, and make it easier for it to go through trials after the repose. Put all of yourself into reading prayer books - and it will be much easier to survive the loss.
One of the ways to express concern for the soul of your deceased mother, to help her in her repose, is to read the Psalter. It is customary to read one kathisma per day, during the first forty days after death. These prayers will ensure the peace of your mother’s soul and reduce sadness, sorrow, and grief. They give her quick peace, a complete sense of freedom, and the opportunity to find eternal happiness in Paradise.
The prayer for the deceased mother is read both during the first forty days and on all memorial dates, anniversaries of birth, death, at moments when it is especially difficult for you without her. When saying prayers for the repose of her soul, turn to God sincerely, with all your heart. Only such a prayer will reach him, thereby giving the deceased real purification, and then peace and the opportunity to go to Paradise.
Prayer “For the deceased mother”
“Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping.
I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my sorrow
about separation from my parent (my matter), (name) (or: from my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - , but his soul (or: her, or: theirs) , as if you have gone (or: gone) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, accept into Your Heavenly Kingdom.
I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the unforgettable deceased (unforgettable deceased) for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (her) and eternal save me from torment.
You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a place of coolness and in a place of peace, with all the saints, from nowhere all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled.
Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught (taught) me first of all to lead You, my Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.
For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
While reading the prayer for repose, try to renounce your grief and despondency. Remember that your mother’s pure soul will definitely go to Heaven, which means you are destined to meet sooner or later. Black grief after the repose of the deceased is also a violation of the commandments and places a heavy burden not only on the person praying, but also on the deceased.
Offer prayers for repose with bright sorrow, true daughterly or filial love. Then they can shorten your mother's path through purgatory. Only after going through purification will the soul receive true peace - a happy existence without the hardships of earthly life. This concern should fall on your shoulders, since only the child’s requests have such a strong meaning.
Prayer for a deceased mother does not require particularly complex sacraments and rituals.
Of course, a prayer for repose can also be ordered in church. However, such a prayer is unlikely to give the departed real peace. When reading a prayer for repose, you do not need photographs or any other paraphernalia. On the contrary, the use of photographs or ritual objects by Orthodox canons will be considered sinful and unworthy of a Christian. A lit church candle near the icon is enough, as well as the image of the departed one saved in your memory.
Read the prayer for repose from the heart. There are canonical texts of funeral prayers, but God will also accept the words coming from your heart, no matter how awkward they may be. Sincere requests will provide peace for the soul, while a prayer service read as a matter of course will not reach the Lord’s ear.
Repose of the soul is a complex religious sacrament that is performed with the help of church prayers and rituals. Without them, repose is very difficult, since a soul deprived of the support of its dearest people, its own children, finds it more difficult to cleanse itself of the mistakes it has made. In this case, there can be no talk of complete peace - for too long the soul has to atone for its own mistakes.
Try to put into your prayer words all your feelings for your mother, your wish for her to have an easy afterlife, gratitude for the warmth and care that she bestowed on her child. And then your prayer will bring her peace, and you will find relief in your melancholy and fill the void left by the departure of your loved one.
(Read from the day of death 40 days and before the anniversary 40 days before the day of death daily)
“Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life who passed away * Your servant, our brother ( Name), and as the Good One and the Lover of Mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forgive and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Thy eternal good things, prepared for those who love Thee: otherwise and sin, but do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, God glorify You in the Trinity, faith, and the Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until your last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and the faith that is in You, instead of deeds, and rest with Your saints, as you are Generous: for there is no man who will live and not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin, and Your truth is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercy and generosity and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
* Until the 40th day after death, it is necessary to read “newly deceased”, and subsequently - “deceased”.
“God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the faith and fatherland, the faithful, who were killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, who suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in a frenzy of mind, those who committed suicide, those for whom we were commanded and asked to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, deprived of a Christian burial ( Name) in a brighter place, in a greener place, in a calm place, from where illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is truth forever, and Your word is truth.
For Thou art the Resurrection, and the Life and Peace of Thy servants who have fallen asleep ( Name), Christ our God, and to You we send glory with Your beginningless Father, and Your Most Holy, and Good, and Your Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
“Remember, O Lord our God, in faith and hope, the eternal life of Your newly departed servant (or Your servant), ( Name) , and as he is good and a lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, raising him up at Thy holy second coming to partake of Thy eternal blessings, for the sake of which there is only faith in Thee, the true God and Lover of Mankind. For You are the resurrection and life and rest for Your servant, ( Name), Christ our God. And we send glory to You, with Your beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.”
“Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have deigned to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites from widows, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (Name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not subject him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your bounties, weaken and forgive all his sins and Do it with Your saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and place him in the Heavenly abodes, which You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even to your last breath of confession; impute to him the same faith, even in You, instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin, You are the only one besides sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever. I believe, Lord, and confess that You will hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; How did You open to Your servant Theophilus, who went to You, the doors of Your mercy and forgave him for his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to You, accept my prayer for Your servant and bring him into eternal life. For You are our hope. You are God, the hedgehog to have mercy and save, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
(A widower’s prayer for his deceased wife)
“Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (Name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You blessed the marital union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good for man to be alone, let us create for him a helper for him. You have sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and confess that You have blessed me to unite me in this holy union with one of Your handmaids. By your good and wise will you deigned to take away from me this servant of yours, whom you have given to me as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Your will, and I pray to You with all my heart, accept this prayer for Your servant ( Name), and forgive her if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; Love earthly things more than heavenly things; Even if you care more about the clothing and decoration of your body than about the enlightenment of the clothing of your soul; or even careless about your children; if you upset anyone by word or deed; If there is a grudge in your heart against your neighbor or condemn someone or anything else you have done from such evil people. Forgive her all this, for she is good and philanthropic; for there is no man who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her to eternal torment for her sin, but have mercy and mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, to grant me strength throughout the days of my life, without ceasing to pray for Your departed servant, and even until the end of my life to ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive her sins. Yes, as if You, God, placed a crown of stone on her head, crowning her here on earth; Thus crown me with Thy eternal glory in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, so that together with them He may forever sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my mother who gave birth to and raised me, (Name) - But accept her soul, as if it has gone to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom.
I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from her. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment Your deceased servant, unforgettable for me, my mother. (Name), but forgive her all her sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by her in her life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on her and save her from eternal torment.
You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my departed mother in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order me in a bright place, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped.
Merciful Lord! Receive today for Your servant (Name) this warm prayer of mine and reward it with Your reward for the labors and care of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as you taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, to pray to You in reverence, to trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and to keep the commandments Yours; for her concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of her prayer for me before You and for all the gifts she asked me from You, reward her with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.
“Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping.
I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent who gave birth to and raised me, (Name) , accept his soul, as if it had gone to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom.
I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from him. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment Your deceased servant, my parent, who is unforgettable for me. (Name), but forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him in his life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him and deliver him from eternal torment.
You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped.
Merciful Lord! Receive today for Your servant (Name) this warm prayer of mine and give him Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, to pray to You in reverence, to trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and to keep the commandments Yours; for his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of the prayer he brings for me before You and for all the gifts he asked me from You, reward him with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.
For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
“Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the afflicted! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember. Lord, in Your Kingdom your fallen servant, my child, (Name),
“Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the afflicted! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember. Lord, in Your Kingdom, Your departed servant, my child (Name), and create eternal memory for her. You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. It was your good and wise will to take it away from me. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord. I pray to You, Judge of heaven and earth, with Your endless love for us sinners, forgive my deceased child all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive, O Merciful One, our parental sins as well, so that they may not remain on our children: we know that we have sinned many times before You, many of whom we have not observed, and have not done, as You commanded us. If our deceased child, ours or his own, for the sake of guilt, lived in this life, working for the world and his flesh, and not more than You, the Lord and his God: if you loved the delights of this world, and not more than Your Word and Your commandments, if you surrendered with the pleasures of life, and not more than with contrition for one’s sins, and in intemperance, vigil, fasting and prayer have been consigned to oblivion - I earnestly pray to Thee, forgive, most good Father, all such sins of my child, forgive and weaken, even if you have done other evil in this life . Christ Jesus! You raised up the daughter of Jairus through the faith and prayer of her father. You healed the daughter of the Canaanite wife through faith and the request of her mother: hear my prayer, and do not despise my prayer for my child. Forgive, Lord, forgive all his sins and, having forgiven and cleansed his soul, remove eternal torment and dwell with all Your saints, who have pleased You from the ages, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: like there is no man like He will live and will not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin: so that when you judge the world, my child will hear Your most beloved voice: come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For You are the Father of mercies and generosity. You are our life and resurrection, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
Prayer for unbaptized infants from the Synodikon of His Eminence Gregory, Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg.
“Remember, O Lord who loves mankind, the souls of Your departed servants, the babies who in the womb of their Orthodox mothers died accidentally from unknown actions, or from a difficult birth, or from some carelessness; baptize them, O Lord, in the sea of Your bounties, and save them with Your ineffable goodness.”
Mother's prayer for stillborn and unbaptized children given by Hieromonk Arseny of Athos:
“Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb! For my faith and tears, for the sake of Thy mercy, Lord, do not deprive them of Thy Divine light!”
(given by St. Leo of Optina)
“Seek, Lord, the lost soul (name); If possible, have mercy! Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin for me. But Thy holy will be done!”
“Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“Rest, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant (Thy servant, Thy servant) the newly departed (oh, oh) (name), and forgive him (her, them) all his (her, their) sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant him (her, them) the Kingdom of Heaven. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
