Thursday, March 5, 2009

Prayer before Christ's Icon


At the end of the Byzantine Liturgy of the Presanctified during Great Lent occurs this Prayer, to be read in front of the icon of Christ:

O Master Almighty, Who in wisdom didst create the Universe, Who by Thine ineffable forethought and great goodness hast led us unto these hallowed days, for cleansing of souls and bodies, for subduing of passions, and for the hope of resurrection; Who after forty days didst shape the tables written with godlike characters for Thy servant Moses, grant also unto us, O Merciful Lord, to fight the good fight, to finish the course of the Fast, to keep the Faith, undivided, to shatter the heads of unseen dragons, to show ourselves victorious over sin, and to come, without condemnation, blamelessly to worship Thy Holy Resurrection.  For blessed and glorious is Thy honoured and sublime Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and unto the ages of the ages.  Amen.

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