The Order of the

Office of Prayer and Supplication for the Victims of Abortion

Prayed to our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ(*)

(The Priest and Deacon take their places before the Icon of Christ placed in the center of the Temple or other suitable place. The Priest is vested in Riassa and Epitrachilion and the Deacon in Sticharion and Orarion.)

Priest:

Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Reader:

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest:

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.
Come, let us worship God, our King.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God.

Psalm 143

Reader:

Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications. In Thy faithfulness answer me in Thy righteousness. Enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for no man living is righteous before Thee. For the enemy has pursued me; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old, I meditate on all that Thou hast done; I muse on what Thy hands have wrought. I stretch out my hands to Thee; my soul thirsts for Thee like a parched land. Make haste to answer me, O Lord! My spirit falls! Hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Let me hear in the morning of Thy steadfast love, for in Thee I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to thee I lift up my soul.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies! I have fled to Thee for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God! Let Thy good spirit lead me on a level path! For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In Thy righteousness bring me out of trouble! And in Thy steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries. For I am Thy servant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God.

The Great Litany

Deacon:: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For this holy temple, and for those who with faith, reverence, and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
(The following two petitions for the Orthodox Episcopate and the civil authorities are general petitions. These might be appropriate to use at a pan-Orthodox service where various Ecclesiastical jurisdictions are represented, and for services within the United States. Otherwise, the petitions commonly utilized by the officiating clergy to commemorate their ruling hierarchs and their civil government would more correctly be inserted here and substituted for those which appear below)
Deacon:: For the holy Orthodox Patriarchs, and for all Orthodox Bishops; for the venerable Priesthood, the Diaconate in Christ; for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For the President of the United States and for all the civil authorities, and for our armed forces in defence of peace and freedom everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That He will aid them and grant them victory over every enemy and adversary, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For this city, for every city and country, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For seasonable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: For travelers by land, by sea, and by air; for the sick and the suffering; for 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 necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That He will not remember the transgressions of His people, but will turn away all His righteous wrath which He has stirred up against us, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That He will bless the good intentions of His servants who strive to rescue His children from violent death, and allow them to begin successfully and to finish without obstacle, through the power and grace of the most Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That He will guide the hands of His servants to complete their work successfully, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That He will bless His servants with the grace of the most Holy Spirit, and make their efforts well pleasing in His sight, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That He will assign a guardian angel to banish from this effort every enemy and obstacle, whether visible or invisible, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: That this work may be ordered in wisdom and may end in perfection, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ, our God.
People:: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest:: For unto Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
People:: Amen.

God Is the Lord (in the Second Tone)

Deacon:: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
People (in Tone 2):: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
Deacon:: All nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I destroyed them.
People:: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
Deacon:: I shall not die, but live; and recount the works of the Lord.
People:: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
Deacon:: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
People:: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.

Troparion (in Tone 2)

People:: We bow before Thy most pure image, O Good One, Begging Thee to forgive us our sins, O Christ our God. Thou willingly didst ascend the cross in the flesh, To free us from Satan's snare.
For this we thank Thee Lord, and we cry to Thee: Thou hast filled all things with joy, O Saviour, When Thou camest to save the world.

Psalm 51

Reader:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgression and my sin is ever before me: against Thee, Thee only have I sinned and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou might be justified in Thy word, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, Thou hast required truth in the inward parts; the unclear and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou shalt reveal unto me. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken might rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and guide me with a princely spirit. Then shall I teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it, but Thou dost not delight in burnt offerings. The sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou shalt not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good will unto Sion, and build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

(The Canon may be sung here, followed by the Refrains. Or the Refrains alone are sung three times. The Deacon censes before the Icon during the Refrains:)

Priest:

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!

Choir:

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!

Priest:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Choir:

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(The Priest and Choir sing the Refrains three times. The Third Ode of the Canon follows, and then the following hymn. If there is no Canon, the hymn follows the singing of the Refrains. The Deacon censes at the Icon during the Refrains.)

Choir:

Deliver us from evil O Merciful One For we run to Thee in our afflictions. O Lord Jesus Christ, save our souls.

(Following the hymn, the Priest and Choir repeat the Refrains three times as above. The Deacon censes before the icon.)

Litany

Deacon:: Let us say with our whole soul and with our whole mind, let us say:
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers we beseech Thee, hearken and have mercy.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we beseech Thee, hearken and have mercy.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
(The following is a general petition for the Orthodox Hierarchs, and should be modified as needed to reflect local usage.)
Deacon:: Again we pray for the holy Orthodox Patriarchs and for all Orthodox Bishops; for Priests, Deacons, and all other clergy, and for all our brotherhood in Christ.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God who strive against the evil of abortion, and for the pardon and remission of their sins.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Again we beg Thee, O Lord, to hear our prayer, and have mercy on Thy servants who strive to save the lives of Thy innocent children. In Thy grace and bounty, fulfill their petitions and forgive all their transgressions, whether voluntary or involuntary. Accept their sacrifice of praise upon Thy heavenly altar; protect them from every visible and invisible enemy; deliver them from all misery, sickness, and affliction; grant them health and length of days, we pray Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

For Children in Danger of Death by Abortion

Deacon:: Again we pray for the children of God condemned to death by the unjust judgement of men: that the Lord our God would soften the hearts of those who seek their violent destruction, and rescue those who are being led forth to the slaughter, we diligently pray Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy!
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

For Rescuers Who Have Been Imprisoned

Deacon:: Again we pray for all who have fallen into the hands of the godless civil authority for the sake of God's children, and who languish in courts and prisons: that the Lord our God may look upon them with compassion; that He may comfort, strengthen and preserve them; and that He may deliver them speedily from bondage and oppression, let us all say: O Lord, hearken and have mercy.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: By Thine infinite power, O Lord, our God, move to compassion and mercy the hearts of those who hold Thy servants in cruel captivity; restrain them from doing harm or permitting evil to befall Thy servants, but rather cause them to relent and to release them; free the captives whole and unharmed, O Lord, and bestow Thy mercy upon them, let us all say: hearken quickly and graciously have mercy!
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Thy vile enemies, O Lord, have annihilated Thy children and defiled Thy churches, and have imprisoned Thy faithful servants. Look down from heaven, therefore, and behold, and forsake us not utterly, but quickly cleanse the land of Thy people of the wickedness of those who oppose Thee, with humble heart we entreat Thee, our God Who art mighty in strength and wondrous in wisdom: O Compassionate One, hearken and have mercy!
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:: Again we pray for all those here present, who await from Thee Thy great and abundant mercy.
People:: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Priest:: For Thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
People:: Amen.
(If the Canon is being sung, it continues now. After the Sixth Ode the Refrains are repeated. If the Canon is not sung, the Refrains alone are repeated by Priest and Choir as before, again three times. The Deacon censes as before.)
Priest:: Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee!
Choir:: Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee!
Priest:: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Choir:: Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(The Priest and Choir sing the Refrains three times, and the Deacon censes. The Akathist Hymn may be sung at this time, if desired. At the completion of the Akathist, or following the Refrains if there is no Akathist:)

The Prokeimenon

Deacon:: Let us attend
Priest:: Peace be unto all.
Deacon:: Wisdom! Let us Attend!
The Prokeimenon in the fourth tone:
Lord, we will walk in the light of Thy countenance and exult in Thy Name forever.
Choir:: Lord we will walk in the light of Thy Countenance and exult in Thy Name forever.
Deacon:: I will sing of Thy mercy, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Thy faithfulness to all generations.
Choir:: Lord, we will walk in the light of Thy Countenance and exult in Thy Name forever.
Deacon:: Lord, we will walk in the light of Thy countenance.
Choir:: And exult in Thy Name forever.
Deacon:: Let us pray to the Lord,
People:: Lord, have mercy.
Priest:: For holy art Thou, O our God, who rests in the saints, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
People:: Amen.
Deacon:: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Choir:: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Deacon:: Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament.
Choir:: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Deacon:: Let everything that has breath.
Choir:: Praise the Lord.

The Gospel Reading

Deacon:

And that we may be accounted worthy to hear the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord, our God.

People:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:

Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us hear the Holy Gospel!

Priest:

Peace be unto all.

People:

And to thy spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.

People:

Glory to Thee, O Lord, Glory to Thee.

Deacon:

Let us attend!

Priest:

At that time, Jesus told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary,' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual pleadings.'

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says, And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man returns, will he find faith on earth?"

People:

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

(If the Canon is being sung, the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Odes are sung, along with the refrains as the Deacon censes. If the Canon is not being sung, the Refrains are repeated again three times by the Priest and Choir.)

Priest:

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!

Choir:

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!

Priest:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Choir:

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(As the Deacon censes, the Priest and Choir sing the Refrains three times. And then all sing the Hymn to the Theotokos in Tone 6:)

People:

It is turly meet to bless you, O Theotokos,
Ever blessed and most pure,
And the Mother of our God.
More honorable than the Cherubim,
And more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim:
In virginity you gave birth to God the Word.
True Theotokos, we magnify you.

Reader:

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Priest:

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

The Augmented Litany

Deacon:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.

People:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:

Again we pray that the Lord our God will hear the voice of us sinners and protect His servants from all tribulation, wrath, danger, necessity, and from every ill of soul and body, and grant them health and length of days: we beseech Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy.

People:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:

Again we pray that the Lord our God will preserve this city and this holy habitation and every city and country from pestilence, famine, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of enemies, civil war, and sudden death and that our good God, who loves mankind, will be graciously favorable and easy to be entreated and will turn away from us all the wrath stirred up against us, and deliver us from all His righteous chastisement which impends against us, and have mercy on us.

People:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:

Again we pray that the Lord will hearken unto the prayers of us sinners, and have mercy on us.

People:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest:

Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of those far off upon the sea, and show mercy, show mercy O Master, upon us sinners. For Thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the most holy Theotokos.

People:

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Priest:

O Mother of God, our queen and our hope, the refuge of the abandoned and the intercessor for those who have gone astray; the joy of all who sorrow and the protectress of the needy; you see our poverty, our affliction and misery. Help us who are weak; feed us who are hungry; intercede for us with your Son and our God, and may He deal with us as He pleases. For we have no other hope, no other intercessor, no other consolation except you, O Virgin Theotokos. Protect us beneath your veil, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord.

People:

Lord, have mercy.

Priest:

O most merciful, all gracious and compassionate Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, Son of God: we entreat Thee, most gracious Master: look with compassion upon Thy children who have been condemned to death by the unjust judgement of men. And as Thou hast promised to bestow the heavenly kingdom on them born of water and the Spirit, and who in blamelessness of life have been translated unto Thee; and Who said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven" - we humbly pray, according to Thy unfailing promise: grant the inheritance of Thy kingdom to the multitude of spotless infants who have been cruelly murdered in the abortuaries of this land; for Thou art the resurrection and the life and the repose of all Thy servants and of these innocents, O Christ our God.

Turn the hearts of those who seek to destroy Thy little ones. We beseech Thee to pour forth Thy healing grace upon them, that they may be convicted in their hearts and turn from their evil ways. Remember all of them that kill our children as on the altars of Moloch, and render not unto them according to their deeds, but according to Thy great mercy convert them: the unbelieving to true faith and piety, and the believing that they may turn from evil and do good.

O Holy Master, Almighty Father and pre-eternal God, Who alone made and directs all things; Who rises up quickly against the evil of the impious ones; who, by providence, teaches Thy people preservation of justice and the obliteration of evil on earth; Who condescends to raise up warriors for the protection of the people of God: we entreat Thee with compunction, that as Thou didst give David power to defeat Goliath, and as Thou didst condescend through Judas Maccabeus, to seize victory from the arrogant pagans who would not call on Thy Name; so too, grant protection to us, Thy servants against the enemies rising against us as we go forth to do spiritual battle against the evil one and those who do his will rather than Thine.

For Thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

People:

Amen.

The Dismissal

Deacon:

Wisdom!

Priest:

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Choir:

More honorable than the Cherubim,
And more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim.
In virginity you gave birth to God the Word.
True Theotokos, we magnify you.

Priest:

Glory to Thee, O Christ, our God and our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Master (Father), bless!

Priest:

May (He Who rose again from the dead,) Christ our true God, through the prayers of His holy, immaculate, and all blameless Mother, (.......), and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us.

People:

Amen.

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