praying for others

sculleywr said:

I have been wondering about this for some time, and it is another of those things that is important to me. Many people have asked this of me, and many times I have heard people ask others for this. How does one pray for another in Orthodoxy? Both in and out of services, how is one to pray for another?

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Deacon:
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For the peace of God and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For our Archbishop (Name), our Bishop (Name), the honorable presbyters, the deacons in the service of Christ, and all the clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For our country, the president, and all those in public service (or 'our country, our king/queen etc' in countries with monarchies) , let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For this parish and city, for every city and country, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For travelers by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Priest:
Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
People:
To You, O Lord.
Priest (in a low voice):
Lord, our God, whose power is beyond compare, and glory is beyond understanding; whose mercy is boundless, and love for us is ineffable; look upon us and upon this holy house in Your compassion. Grant to us and to those who pray with us Your abundant mercy.

Priest:
For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People:
Amen.

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Remember, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Your mercies and loving-kindnesses, which have been from everlasting, and for the sake of which You did become man and degin to endure crucifixion and death for the salvation of all who rightly believe in You. You rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, and sit at the right hand of God the Father, and regard the humble prayers if all who call upon You with their whole heart. Incline Your ear and hear the humble entreaty of me, Your unprofitable servant, who offers it for an odor of spiritual fragrance for all Your people.

And first of all remember Your Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which You have purchased with Your precious blood. Confirm and strengthen it, enarge and multiply it, keep it in peace, and preserve it unconquerable by the gates of hell forever. Heal the schisms of the churches, quench the ragings of the heathen, speedily undo and root out te growths of heresies, and bring them to naught by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all world rulers, on our president (name), on (names), and on all our civil authorities. Speak peace and blessing in their hearts for Your Holy Church and for all Your people, in order that we may live a calm and peaceful life, in all godliness and dignity.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon patriarchs, metropolitans, archbishops, priests, ministers, and deacons, and the whole clergy of Your Church, which You have established to feed the flock of Your word and by their prayers have mercy upon me, and save me, a sinner.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon my spiritual father (name) and by his holy prayers forgive me my transgressions.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon my parents (names), my spouse (name), my brothers and sisters (names), my children (names), my kinsmen after the flesh, and my friends, and grant them Your blessings both here and hereafter.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the old, the young, the needy , the orphans and the widows, and on all that are in sickness and sorrow, in distress and affliction, in oppression and captivity, in prison and cofinement. More especially have mercy upon Your servants who are under persecution for Your sake and for the sake of the Orthodox Faith at the hands of heathen nations, of apostates, and of heretics: remember them, visit, strengthen, keep, and comfort them, and make haste to grant them, by Your power, relief, freedom, and deliverance.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all who are sent on duty, all who travel, our fathers, brothers, and sisters, and upon all true Chistians.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon those who envy and affront me, and do me harm, and do not let them perish through me, a sinner.

Those who depart from the Orthodox Faith, dazzled by destroying heresies, enlighten by the light of Your holy wisdom, and unite them to Your Holy, Apostolic, Catholic Church.

(Add here any additional petitions.)

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sculleywr said:

thank you very much. This is very helpful. Are there any good books I can get on prayer?

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ArmyMatt said:

yeah I second leaving the Philokalia be for now.

any of the books by Mother Raphaela, esp Growing in Christ, are simple and straightforward.

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