www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Votive Byzantine Prayers

Hello everyone-

The priest is leaving at a (Roman) parish I am familiar with. Many of his friends want to wish him well and are putting together at "spiritiual bouquet" for him. It is described as "each person pledges to offer certain prayers for him (for example: 1 Holy Hour; 3 Rosaries; 1 Sacred-Heart devotion; etc.)"

Is there a Byzantine equivalent to these kind of personal votive prayers? That is, if I wanted to offer a fixed prayer for a particular votive purpose such as "my friend who is going away", is there a specific prayer I could use?

Thanks!

Marc

An Akathist is probably the closest Byzantine equivalent to what you are seeking.

http://www.byzantines.net/liturgy/akathist.htm

Fr. Deacon Lance

Marc, there are a variety of supplicatory prayers one can use. As Deacon Lance has mentioned there are many Akathists.

Another possibility is the Moleben with a Canon. You can find the general form for Molebens at http://www.orthodox.net/services/ and if you scroll down to Moleben he has services in pdf or html form, and also a chart for the appropriate moleben Gospel depending on the general intention or commemoration.

The "Moleben of Thanksgiving" can be used for any situation of giving thanks to God, and may be appropriate as a spiritual gift to your pastor.

Fr. John Whiteford also has a general form of the Moleben without a priest at http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/moleben.htm and many Canons and Akathists at http://www.saintjonah.org/services/akathists.htm

Or...you might want to do the Paraklesis to the Blessed Virgin Mary?---especially since the Holy Father is consecrated to her and is a 'Marian Pope' of the first class.

http://www.saintgregorythetheologian.org/prayers_paraklesis.htm

Just an idea.

In Christ Who is LORD,
+Fr. Gregory

Dear Marc,

These examples are all excellent - Diak's reference to Fr. Whiteford's site is very user-friendly and the Moleben/Supplicatory service is marvellous - one may add a Canon or an Akathist, as Fr. Deacon Lance has suggested to the Moleben/Paraclesis, as Fr. Gregory notes.

There is also St Seraphim's special rule of prayer:

"Say 150 Our Father's and 150 "Hail Mary's" for one's relatives and friends, living and deceased - and then ask for one special thing - and it will be granted to you. Only ensure that it is something that you truly do need."

The East Slavic Orthodox Churches have also made a devotional Rule of Akathists where the worshipper prays Akathists all night as St Jonah Atamansky of Odessa did.

Another practice is to pray the Psalter in 24 hours for a special intention.

One could pray 12 Psalms at the beginning of each hour of the day, with 15 Psalms at the beginning and ending with 15 Psalms.

This is the eremitical "Psalter Breviary" and the 15 psalms at either end of the recitations represent Matins and Vespers respectively. And one traditionally began this prayer at six in the morning and this would last until six in the evening.

Alex

Thanks everyone!