A PRAYER TO THE THEOTOKOS

By St. Philotheos , Patriarch of Constantinopole ( could especially be offered in preparing to receive Holy Communion).

Truly immaculate and most-pure Virgin and Theotokos, an awesome miracle to angels, an inexplicable wonder to mankind, or rather—in reality—an awesome and incom­prehensible miracle to both: thou art the very beginning of our race, the most pure vessel of divinity, the workplace of our salvation; and—in a way beyond any thought and reason, out of extreme goodness—thou didst bring to us the One of the Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is perfect God and perfect man, and Who came to be united to our fallen hu­man nature and thereby to save it and restore it to its original high dignity.

Thou art the restoration of those who fall, and—after the salvific economy of God the Word—thou didst also, without hesitation, deliver me from many dangers, unworthy as I am of any help and providence, for I sin arbitrarily in every way, time and place. Look, now, again upon my wretchedness, and visit me often; for I am overcome and do not know what will happen to me. If I look upon the multitude of my innumer­able sins, I see myself far away from [the] dread Mysteries; and altogether unworthy. Again, if I do not draw near for a long time, being afraid to participate unto my condemnation, I become completely subservient to the adversary. Therefore, by throwing the great multitude of my transgressions into the ocean of the inexplorable compassion of thy Son and God, and by proposing thee as a strong mediator, I take courage and draw near.

I implore thee, O immaculate Lady, make use of thy moth­erly boldness before Him; and make Him merciful to me. Yea, O most-pure one, stay before me and do not abhor me, the one who is conquered by many sins, and defiled and abused by deeds, words, movements of mind, and the myriad of devices and designs and well-contrived demonic deceptions through all of the senses. Show thyself to be my co-worker even in this time, by beseeching the Lord— Who is most conciliatory and forgiving—not to reject me and prove me empty of His grace. May He overlook my numerous trans­gressions, and—through His holy Body and His sacred and life-giving Blood—sanctify, illumine, save and make me a son of light, walking and directing myself towards His holy commandments.

Let me not return again and be defiled by sin, so that I may participate, without condemnation, in the immaculate awe­some gift of grace, now and in the future. Let me also receive the most perfect promise: to escape eternal punishment and to be made worthy of eternal life, through thee, who art my sure hope and protectress, that I may glorify and magnify Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Most-Holy and blessed Trinity unto the ages of ages. Amen.

ORTHODOX HERITAGE VOL.09, ISSUE 07-08