www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Rule of St Seraphim

Dear Friends,

Prayers for everyone's intentions here!!

I've come across a site that has fully described St Seraphim of Sarov's method of praying the "Rule of the Theotokos." (http://www.geocities.com/orthodoxlife/prays/ser4.html).

The great Elder began by reciting the Our Father and "Open to us the doors of Mercy, blessed Mother of God, so that we who hope in Thee may not perish, but be saved by Thee from troubles, for You are the salvation of the Christian people."

Then St Seraphim divided his rule into fifteen decades of Hail Mary's (it caught on, didn't it?) with the above prayer "Open to us" said at the end of each decade (No further Our Father's).

At the end of each decade, the following 15 requests are also made:

1) O Most Holy Sovereign Theotokos, save and protect all Orthodox Christians, increase their faith and repentance, and give repose to the dead in the eternal glory of our Lord.

2) O MHST, save and reunite to the Orthodox Church thy servants who are lost and who are fallen away.

3) OMHST, save and protect my spiritual Father and by his holy prayers have mercy on me a sinner.

4) OMHST, assuage our sorrows and bestow joy on thy suffering and pained servants.

5) OMHST, save me from all evil attacks.

6) OMHST, help me so that everything I do will be for the glory of God and the service of my neighbours.

7) OMHST, protect me from all evil and cover me with Thy Holy Omophorion (Mantle) of Protection.

8) OMHST, resurrect my soul and grant me constant prayer to You.

9) OMHST, help me obtain the mercy of Your Son and our Lord and grant me the grace of fervent and continual prayer.

10) OMHST, pray our Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy on me a sinner, to forgive all my sins and save my sinful soul.

11) OMHST, imbue me with Your love, strengthen me with Your faith, and enlighten my eyes that are darkened by sin.

12) OMHST, save me from evil thoughts and grant me a mind and heart that strives after salvation.

13) OMHST, send me peace of soul and health in body.

14) OMHST, grant me an untroubled and peaceful end and lead my soul through the terrible toll-houses.

15) OMHST, be for me, O Mother of God, an Unmoveable Wall and mighty intercession. Do not reject me a sinner, who is unworthy, who runs to your invincible Protection, for you are the hope of Christians and the refuge of sinners.

Then: It is truly meet . . .

A great Rule!

Alex

I'm going to remember this, Alex, next time some Easterner complains about "Western" devotions like the Rosary!

Dear Dolly,

Yes, and we Easterners can still take pride over the West in feeling we had the rosary first . . .

Alex

Alex.I went to the site.It looked like it was in Russian and me being computer dumb,couldn't figure out how to translate or get it translated.Being St Seraphim is one I pray to a lot for intersession and would like to pattern the end of my life after.I was happy with what you explained in your post which was plenty for me to be able to follow .Thank you Greg

Dear Greg,

Yes, St Seraphim is truly a saint for all of us, our great Teacher.

He was, as you know, tonsured at the Kyivan Caves Lavra - its most famous monk.

The other three rules listed there in Russian include his rule for laity, his rule for the nuns of Diveyevo and his personal cell rule for reading the Psalter.

I wish I could help you out with the translation stuff.

But I'm a technopeasant.

Perhaps the Administrator . . .?

Alex

I didn't know that the Administator was a Ruskie.
Lauro

Dear Lauro,

Actually, I only suggested that the Administrator might know how to translate those Russkie texts into English . . .

So "don't be a Russian" to jump to conclusions . . .

Alex

OK!, OK!, "I'll never be a Russian" to jump to conclusions again.
Lauro

Dear Lauro,

It sounds like I caught you off guard and tickled your funny bone there . . .

If so, good!

God bless,

Alex

Yes indeed Alex! Thanks for the lovely link!

But I am wondering...why didn't you include the

"Спаси, Господи, отца моего духовнаго и всех духовных чад его и сродников наших..."

and

"К кому возопию, Владычице? К кому прибегну в горести моей, аще не к Тебе, Царице Небесная? Кто плач мой и воздыхание мое приимет, аще не Ты, Пренепорочная, надеждо христиан и прибежище нам грешным? Кто паче Тебе в напастех защитит?..."

Just curious.

Tony

Bro Alex,

"Technopeasant" ? Heck I thought having a major in microspecksubterra was the deal.

Guess I'll stick to fishing .

james

Dear Tony,

Good point - I must have skipped the first prayer for one's Spiritual Father and I need more time to translate the other longer ending prayer.

I would like to eventually translate all four Rules of St Seraphim here.

But St Seraphim himself didn't always use the longer ending prayer in giving this Rule to his spiritual children.

But I WILL translate it eventually, along with the others I was busy with the "Akathist to our Lady of Mount Carmel" at the time . . .

Alex

Dear Friends,

Following Tony's suggestion, here are the translations for two more prayers for the above Theotokos Rule of St Seraphim.

After the initial Our Father and Open to us the doors of your mercy, this is the prayer that follows:

Save, O Lord, my spiritual Father and all his spiritual children and our relatives. Strengthen, protect and have mercy on them, in sufferings bring them joy and heal them from infirmities, O Lord. Send him the Grace of the Holy Spirit and by the prayers of the Mother of God help us to correct our lives and save our souls. Amen

Then, at the end of the Prayer rule, this prayer:

On whom shall I call, O Sovereign? To whom shall I come in my troubles, if not to you, the Queen of Heaven? Who will accept my cries and sighs, if not you, Most Immaculate, the hope of Christians and our refuge? Who other than you will guard us in times of attack? But hear my request and give ear to me, O Sovereign Mother of my God, and do not reject me who need your help nor do not cast me a sinner away.

Enlighten and teach me, Queen of Heaven. Do not leave me your servant, O Sovereign, for my sloth, but be my Mother and Intercessor.

I place myself under your merciful Protection. Bring me a sinner to the quiet and peaceful life for I weep over my sins.

To whom will I the guilty one hurry to, if not to you, the hope and refuge of sinners, inspired by hope in your unlimited mercy and goodness?

O Sovereign Queen of Heaven! You are my hope and refuse, protection and intercession and help. O my beneficent Queen and quick intercessor!

Cover my sinfulness with your goodness, defend me from my enemies, seen and unseen. Soften the hearts of the evil men who come against me.

O Mother of my Creator! You are the Root of Virginity and the Unfailing Bloom of Purity. O Theotokos! Grant me strength to a heart weakened by destructive physical passions and pain, for we only have for our defense you and with you your Son and our God. By your wondrous intercession may I be saved from all troubles and attacks, O Most Immaculate and Most Glorious Mother of God Mary!

Therefore with hope I sing and cry out: Rejoice, O Highly Favoured One, Rejoice, O Full of Grace, Rejoice, Most Blessed, the Lord is with you! Amen.

Alex