Blessed Basil, Holy Fool for Christ's sake, Moscow Wonderworker

Holy Blessed Basil, the Moscow wonderworker, was born into a poor family and at the age of sixteen entered the thorny path foolishness. In the scorching heat and bitter cold, he walked naked and barefoot along the streets of Moscow. Soon the residents recognized him as a holy fool, a man of God, a denouncer of untruths. At the Prechistensky Gate he saw a demon in the guise of a beggar and immediately drove him away. Visiting taverns, the blessed one saw grains of goodness in fallen people and reinforced them with affection. Passing by houses where they were madly having fun and drinking, he hugged the corners of their homes with tears. When asked what this meant, he answered: “Sorrowful angels stand at the house and lament over the sins of people, and with tears I begged them to pray to the Lord for the conversion of sinners.”

Saint Basil was not afraid to denounce and powerful of the world this. One day the blessed one reproached Tsar Ivan the Terrible for being preoccupied with thoughts of building a palace on the Sparrow Hills during a service.

Having purified his soul through great deeds and prayers, Blessed Vasily was awarded the gift of foresight. In 1547, he predicted the great fire of Moscow and extinguished the fire in Novgorod with prayer.

After spending 72 years in the feat of foolishness, Blessed Basil died on August 2, 1557 at the age of 88. His body was buried in the chapel of the Trinity Church, which, together with the Cathedral of the Intercession, “which is on the moat,” became popularly called St. Basil’s Cathedral.

The day of remembrance of Blessed Basil, Christ for the Fool's sake, is August 15 (August 2, old style).

Troparion, tone 8

Your life, Vasily, is not false and your purity is undefiled, for the sake of Christ you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, and frost and the warmth of the sun, and the sun and rain clouds, and your face was illuminated like the sun: and now the Russian people and all people are coming to you , glorifying your holy Dormition. Therefore, pray to Christ God to deliver us from barbaric captivity and internecine warfare and grant us peace and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4

We are led by the Spirit of God, most blessed Basil, you shook off the worldly rebellion, and you abhorred the troubles of life, and, having put off the garments of perishable things and put on the robe of dispassion, you fled from the trappings of the flattering ruler of the world, and you were strange in your language, and, choosing wealth over earthly wealth Heavenly, thou art bound by the crown of patience. And now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God for those who create your holy memory, and let us call to you: Rejoice, most blessed Vasily.

Prayer

O great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful slave All-Creator of the Lord God, blessed Basil! Hear us, many sinners, now crying out to you and calling on your name your sacred: have mercy on us who fall today before the race of your relics: accept our small and unworthy prayer, have mercy on our misery, and with your prayers heal every ailment and illness of the soul and body of our sinner, and grant us the flow of this life unharmed from visible and invisible enemies without sin pass away, and have a shameless, peaceful, serene Christian death, and receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer

O blessed soul, full of wisdom, the sun of joy has risen for us, illuminating the Russian kingdom: a healer from wounded demons, and even more so, a drive away of demons themselves, sight for the blind, walking for the lame, correction for the sick, healing and health for all who are sick: from troubles and deliverance from sorrows, consolation to the sad.

Prayer three

O saint of Christ, blessed Vasily! Hear us, many sinners, now crying out to you: have mercy on us, servant of God (names), and have mercy on our misery! and with your prayers heal every ailment and illness of the soul and body of our sinner, and grant us the opportunity to pass this life unharmed, from visible and invisible enemies, and to pass sinlessly, and to have a shameless, peaceful, serene Christian death, and to receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints , forever and ever.

Prayers for healing from muteness

Venerable John of Rila

Venerable John of Rila – ascetic of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Left an orphan early, the boy went to strangers - as a shepherd. One day the owner of the herd beat him because a cow and calf were lost. The boy cried and prayed for a long time, asking God to help him. The cow and calf were found, but before John had time to return them to the herd, the water in the Struma River rose strongly. The young shepherd prayed and laid his outerwear and drew a cross on it. Then he took the calf in his arms and walked with it, as if on dry land, to the other side of the river, where the cow was already located. His offender, seeing the miracle, was horrified and, having generously rewarded the boy, released him from his house.

Where and when the saint took monastic vows remains unknown. Initially, he labored on a high and bare mountain, eating only wild plants. His hut was made of brushwood. A short time later, robbers attacked him at night and, beating him, drove him out of the hut. John found a deep cave and began to live in it.

The monk spent twelve years in a wild cave, after which he went to the Rila desert, where he settled in a hollow tree. He fasted a lot, prayed and cried constantly, eating only grass. People began to bring the sick and those possessed by an unclean spirit to St. John, whom he healed with prayer. Avoiding fame, the ascetic left his beloved hollow and settled on a high and inaccessible rock, where he lived under open air the remaining seven years of his life.

Day of Remembrance St. John Rylsky - August 31 (August 18, old style).

Troparion, tone 1

The basis of repentance, the prescription of tenderness, the image of consolation, spiritual fulfillment, your life was like an angel, reverend: in prayers and fastings, and in tears, Father John, pray to Christ God for our souls.

Kontakion, tone 8

Having become jealous of the angelic life, reverend: having left all earthly things, you have flown to Christ and protected by His commandments, you have appeared as a pillar unshakable from enemy attacks. To those we call to you: Rejoice, Father John, bright light.

Prayer

Oh, great and wonderful miracle worker, Reverend John, accept our prayer and do not turn away from us who have come running to your intercession: you never turned away from those who came to you with their sorrows in the days of your earthly life; We know that you showed signs of mercy even after your repose as Orthodox people! Hear us now, overwhelmed by the great sorrows that have come upon us in these evil days, when the devil, through his destructive machinations, strives to trample the Holy Church, and to deprive us of eternal salvation and the blessings of temporary life! Ask us from the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins, and especially the sin of disobedience to our Mother Church! Grant us contrition of heart, so that with tenderness we steadily approach the holy Sacrament of Repentance, so that the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ will not lead us to condemnation and destruction, but to health and salvation. Drive away from us the spirit of brotherly hatred, give us the spirit of love and peace for the fraternal unity of all your people! Unite us all with love for Christ and His Orthodox Church, so that by observing His saving will, we will be true children of God! Be a guide to us all our days, so that we may always, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, keep our faith in purity and do the will of the Lord until death! At the hour of our death, we appear to present our souls to the throne of the Divine Judge and say to Him: “Behold, I and my children,” for having been delivered from eternal torment by your intercession, we will inherit the ineffable bliss of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ together with you and all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for toothache

Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia

Saint Jonah with early years strove for monasticism; He became a monk at the age of twelve. In 1431, for his virtuous life and firm knowledge of the teachings of the Church, Saint Jonah was made Bishop of Ryazan and Murom. And already in 1432 he was elected metropolitan of all Rus'.

During the siege of Moscow by the Nogai Tatars in 1451, Saint Jonah committed procession along the walls of the Kremlin, praying Holy Mother of God about saving the city. And his prayer was heard.

During his holy life, he received from God the gift of clairvoyance and miracles. Having received notification of his death through a vision, he died peacefully on March 31, 1461. At the tomb of the saint, numerous healings began to take place.

The Memorial Day of St. Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia, is April 13 (March 31, old style), June 28 (June 15, old style) and October 18 (October 5, old style).

Troparion, tone 4

From your youth, having dedicated everything to yourself to the Lord, in prayers, and in labor, and in fasting, having become an image of virtue, from there God saw your good will, and established you as a bishop and shepherd of His Church. Likewise, after your repose, your honorable body is intact and incorruptible, Saint Jonah, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 8

As from the infancy of the Lord you have enslaved yourself, wisely, with fasting and vigil, you have oppressed your body, and therefore you have become a pure vessel and a house for the Holy Spirit; for this reason, for the sake of His Church, you are arranging for a bishop and a shepherd, since you have foreseen good things, you have gone to the Lord, Whom you loved. Thus we pray to you: remember us, who honor your holy memory with faith, and we all call you: Rejoice, Father Jono, all-honorable saint.

Prayer

O most honorable and sacred head and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, the abode of the Savior with the Father, the great bishop, our warm intercessor, Saint Jonah, standing at the Throne of all the King and enjoying the light of the consubstantial Trinity and cherubically with the angels proclaiming the trisagion hymn, having great and unexplored boldness To the all-merciful Master, pray for the salvation of Christ's flock of people, establish the well-being of the holy churches: decorate the bishops with the splendor of holiness, strengthen the monastics with the feat of the good trend, preserve the reigning city and all cities and countries well, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pray for the whole world through your intercession, deliver us from famine and destruction, and save us from the attacks of foreigners, console the old, guide the young, make the foolish wise, have mercy on widows, protect the orphans, grow up the babies, return the captives, free the weak and those who pray to you from all misfortunes and troubles through your intercession: pray for us The All-generous and Humane-loving Christ our God, and on the day of His Terrible Coming He will deliver us from this standing state, and He will create the joys of the saints as partakers with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

When children get sick

For what, Lord?

Health is a gift of God, but this gift is not always useful: like any suffering, illness has the power to cleanse us from spiritual filth, atone for sins, humble and soften our soul, make us come to our senses, realize our weakness and remember God. Therefore, both we and our children need diseases.

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

Probably each of us has ever wondered: why do our children suffer? Okay, we adults are sick, but we are sinners, everything is clear with us... But why does the Lord allow children to suffer? Can this issue be resolved from the point of view of human justice?

A family is a single organism, all parts of which are connected by spiritual ties. We are connected with our children by an invisible thread; they contain our blood, a piece of our soul. And our sins can fall on the fragile soul and body with a heavy, unbearable burden. Even the sins of more distant ancestors can result in physical illnesses for our children. Thus, children pay with their health for the mistakes of their parents. But why should they suffer for our sins, since they are not to blame for them?

Sick children take on the feat of martyrdom so that we, adults, have the opportunity to improve. But out of our stupidity, out of our habit of not thinking about our sins, we blame someone else for the illnesses of our children, but not ourselves.

If a child is sick, there is no point in asking the empty question “For what?”, it is better to ask your conscience: “For what?” After all, this disease is sent not only to the child, but also to us. Any illness is, first of all, an admonition, a reminder that, in addition to this visible reality, there is another - more important one. Even in the most terrible illness one must realize that God is love. The Lord leads each of us in his own way, offering a “cure” in accordance with the “diagnosis”. God is not a cruel judge, but a Father who loves us. You should never despair. Our lives are in the hands of the Almighty, and everything that is sent from Him is a necessary lesson.

Every patient, regardless of age, needs medical assistance, but in any case, the source of healing is God. Turn to Him with a sincere and fervent prayer for help. You can ask in your own words or use well-known prayers. The main thing is not words, but a genuine meeting with the Lord, communication with Him.

The Sacrament of Communion and Blessing of Unction (Unction), as well as the use of holy water and blessed oil. Everything is in God’s hands, and in our skeptical times, miracles of healing even hopeless patients occur. But a miracle always happens only when they believe in it and ask for it.

Our task is not only to ensure children’s existence in this world, but, above all, to educate them spiritually, to open the way to God. If we do not bring a child to church, if we do not teach him to live piously, then we are preventing his coming to Christ. And this is our most cardinal sin, which also falls on our children. Let us try to save ourselves by repentance, and through this we will help our children.

Mother's Prayer

Holy Father, Eternal God! I pray to you for my child ( Name), whose goodness is also given to me. You gave him existence, revived him with an immortal soul, protected him with holy baptism, so that he could live in accordance with Your will and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Keep him in Your grace until the end of his life. Help me with Your grace, so that I can raise him for the glory of Your name and for the benefit of my neighbors, give me the necessary means, patience and strength for this.

Lord, enlighten him with the light of Your wisdom, so that he may love You with all his soul and with all his thoughts. Plant in his heart fear and disgust from all lawlessness, so that he will be blameless in his ways. Lord, adorn his soul with chastity, long-suffering and all honesty, so that all slander, lies and flattery will be disgusting to him. Sprinkle him with the dew of Thy grace, that he may prosper in virtue and holiness, and may he grow in Thy love and the love of pious people. May the Guardian Angel always be with him and protect his youth from vain thoughts, from the charms and temptations of this world and from all evil slander. If he sins before You, do not turn Your face away from him, but be merciful to him, arouse contrition in his heart and, according to the multitude of Your generosity, cleanse his sins. Do not deprive him of Your earthly blessings, but send him everything he needs in time for the acquisition of a blessed eternity. Save him from every misfortune, misfortune and illness and preserve him all the days of his life. Yes, together with him glorifying Your ineffable mercy, I extol Your most holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for children

The Mother of God in front of Her “Tikhvin” icon

Tikhvin icon Mother of God, according to legend, was written by the Apostle Evangelist Luke. Until the 14th century, this icon remained in Constantinople, but suddenly in 1383 the image of the Most Pure Virgin disappeared, appearing in Rus', on Lake Ladoga. The newfound icon could not stay in one place for a long time. The people built chapels for the icon and laid out wooden churches, but the Most Pure Virgin did not deign to remain there. Finally, the icon of the Mother of God stopped behind the Tikhvinka River, where first a wooden one was built, and then stone temple. Under Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a monastery was established in these places.

In 1613–1614, Swedish troops, having captured Veliky Novgorod, tried to conquer the Tikhvin Monastery. Although the monastery was fortified with stone walls, the monks did not hope to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. Deciding to flee from the monastery, the brethren went to the temple for a miraculous icon Tikhvin icon Mother of God, but they could not move the icon from its place, no matter how hard they tried. Then cowardice left the monks: placing all their hope in the Most Pure Virgin, they remained in the monastery.

And a miracle happened: the well-trained Swedish army was unable to take the besieged monastery, which was defended by a few monks and laymen. In the end, the Swedes began to see either huge Russian troops approaching the monastery from Moscow, or the heavenly army. Fear seized the besiegers, and, abandoning everything, they fled.

After the establishment of the Soviet regime, in the 20s, the Tikhvin Monastery was closed, and the miraculous icon became an exhibit of the local history museum. During the Great Patriotic War fascist troops, having occupied Tikhvin, retreating, took with them the miraculous icon. Time passed, and the miraculous image moved further and further away from Russia, eventually ending up in American Chicago. And only in 2004 the miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God returned to the monastery on the Tikhvinka River.

The day of celebration of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is July 9 (June 26, old style).

Troparion, tone 4

Today, like the bright sun, Your all-honorable icon, O Lady, has risen for us in the air, enlightening the world with rays of mercy, great Russia, as if he had reverently accepted some Divine gift from above, he glorifies You, the Mother of God, the Lady of all, and joyfully magnifies Christ our God who was born from You. Pray to Him, O Lady Queen Theotokos, that He may preserve all Christian cities and countries unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and save by faith those who worship His Divine and Your most pure image, the Virgin Unartificed.

Kontakion, tone 8

Let us pray, people, to the Virgin Mother of God Queen, thanking Christ God, and to Toya the miraculous icon Let us fall down with tender gaze and cry out to Her: O Lady Mary! Having visited this country by the miraculous appearance of Your honorable image, save all Christians in peace and prosperity, heirs showing heavenly life. We truly call to you: Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world.

Prayer

O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord of the highest powers, Queen of Heaven and earth, our city and country, Almighty Intercessor. Accept this singing of praise and gratitude from us, unworthy Thy servants, and lift up our prayers to the throne of God Thy Son, that He may be merciful to our iniquities and add His goodness to those who honor Thy all-honorable name and worship with faith and love miraculous image Yours. You are not worthy of being pardoned by Him, unless you have propitiated Him for us, Lady, since everything is possible for You from Him. For this reason, we resort to You, as to our undoubted and immediate Intercessor; Hear us praying to You, cover us with Your all-powerful protection and ask God Your Son to be our shepherd, zeal and vigil for souls, a city ruler for wisdom and strength, judges for truth and impartiality, a mentor for reason and humility, love and harmony for spouses, obedience for children, patience for the offended, to those who offend the fear of God, to those who grieve complacency, to those who rejoice at self-control: to all of us is the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. To her, Most Holy Lady, have mercy on Your weak people: gather the scattered, guide those who have gone astray to the right path, support old age, educate young people with chastity, raise infants, and look upon us all with the gaze of Your merciful intercession, raise us up from the depths of sin and enlighten our heartfelt eyes to in the sight of salvation, be merciful to us here and there, in the land of earthly arrival and at the terrible judgment of Your Son: having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, make our fathers and brothers live in eternal life with the Angels and with all the saints. For you are, Lady, the glory of Heaven and the hope of earth. According to God, You are our Hope and Intercessor of all those who flow to You with faith. We therefore pray to You, and to You, as the Almighty Helper, we commit ourselves and each other and our whole life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer

We thank You, O Most Blessed and Most Pure, Most Blessed Virgin, Lady, Mother of Christ our God, for all Your good deeds, which You have shown to the human race, especially to us, the Christ-named people of the Russian people, about whom the most angelic language will be pleased with praise. We thank You, for even now You have surprised Your ineffable mercy on us, Your unworthy servants, with the supernatural self-coming of Your most pure icon, with which You have enlightened the entire Russian country; Likewise, we, sinners, worshiping with fear and joy, cry out to Thee: O Most Holy Virgin, Queen and Mother of God, save and have mercy on all people, and grant them victory over all their enemies, and save all Christian cities and countries, and this holy temple deliver from every slander of the enemy, and grant everything for the benefit of all who have now come with faith and pray to Your servant and worship to the most holy image To yours: for blessed are you with the Son and God born of you, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the holy righteous Simeon the God-Receiver

The Gospel tradition says that Elder Simeon was a righteous and pious man. The Holy Spirit rested on Simeon, and it was revealed to him that the Savior would soon come to the world.

By order of the Egyptian king Ptolemy for the translation of books Holy Scripture Seventy learned men were elected from Hebrew to Greek, including Simeon. Translating the book of the prophet Isaiah, he came to the words: “Behold, the Virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son,” and he doubted. He was about to insert the word “wife” instead of “Virgin,” when suddenly an angel appeared to him and, holding his hand, said: “Have faith in what is written, and you yourself will see its fulfillment, for you will not die until you see one born of a pure Virgin - Christ the Lord."

When the Lord Jesus Christ was brought to the temple by the Most Pure Mother of God on the fortieth day after His Nativity, righteous Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, also came there. The elder recognized the long-awaited Messiah in the Baby and, taking him in his arms, said: “Now, O Master, dost let Thy servant go in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people: a light to be revealed by the tongue, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”.

After this, Simeon the God-Receiver prophesied about the suffering of Christ and His crucifixion. According to legend, Simeon the God-Receiver reached a ripe old age, living to be 360 ​​years old: God was pleased to prolong the life of the holy elder so that he could live until that wondrous hour when our Savior was born of the Virgin.

Simeon the God-Receiver is considered the patron saint of infants; people pray to him to preserve their health.

Saint's Day righteous Simeon God-Receiver - February 16 (February 3, old style).

Troparion, tone 4

Simeon the Elder is rejoicing today; he has taken the Infant of the Eternal God into his hand, asking to be released from the bonds of the flesh and crying out: my eyes have seen Your worldly salvation.

Prayer

O God-receiving Simeon! Hear us, sinful servants of God ( names), and do not take away your holy protection from us, pray for the goodness of the Lord, for He may turn away His anger from us, righteously moved towards us by our deeds, and, despising our countless sins, turn us to the path of repentance and establish us on the paths of His commandments . Protect our life in peace with your prayers and ask for good haste in all good things, granting us everything we need for life and piety, so that we may live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity, and thus we will achieve eternal peace, where we will be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ God ours, to Him is all glory due, with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer

Oh, great servant of God, God-receptive Simeon! Standing before the Throne of the Great King and our God Jesus Christ, we have great boldness in approaching Him, in our arms, for the sake of salvation, we will rush to the one who wills. To you, as a powerful intercessor and a strong prayer book for us, we, sinners and unworthy, resort. Pray for His Goodness, for He may turn away His anger from us, righteously moved towards us by our deeds, and, despising our countless sins, turn us to the path of repentance and establish us on the path of His commandments. Protect our life in peace with your prayers, and ask for good haste in all good things, granting us everything we need for life and piety. Just as in ancient times Great Novograd, by the appearance of your miraculous icon, delivered us from the destruction of mortals, so now we and all the cities and villages of our country have been delivered from all misfortunes and misfortunes and vain deaths by your intercession, and from all enemies, visible and invisible, with your protection. Let us live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity, and, having passed this temporary life in the world, we will achieve eternal peace, where we will be made worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ our God. To Him all glory is due, together with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Saint Paraskeva Friday has always been used by Orthodox people special love. In Rus' she was revered as an assistant in women's cares, a patroness household and agricultural work.

The Holy Martyr Paraskeva lived in the 3rd century in Iconium in a rich and pious family. The saint's parents especially revered the day of the Lord's suffering - Friday, and therefore named their daughter, born on this day, Paraskeva, which translated from Greek means Friday. With all her heart, young Paraskeva loved the purity and high morality of virgin life and took a vow of celibacy. She wanted to devote her life to God and the enlightenment of the pagans with the light of the faith of Christ. After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva distributed all her property to the poor, accepted monasticism and began preaching the Gospel to the pagans. Tradition tells of the severe torments of the cross that befell this saint.

The activities of Paraskeva were reported to Emperor Antoninus Pius, and he ordered her to be subjected to brutal torture. A red-hot helmet was put on Paraskeva's head and thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar. However, the martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor looked into the cauldron, the saint threw a few drops of hot resin into his face, and he went blind. The emperor began to ask Paraskeva for healing, and she healed him. After this, Antonin released Saint Paraskeva.

One day Paraskeva came to the city where Asclepius was the ruler. Here she was again sentenced to death: they took her to a cave where a huge snake lived so that it would devour the martyr. But Paraskeva created over the serpent sign of the cross, and he died immediately. The ruler and townspeople, seeing such a miracle, believed in Christ and released Paraskeva.

Arriving in a city where a certain Tarasius was the ruler, Saint Paraskeva was again captured by the pagans. She was asked to make a sacrifice to the idol. With a strong heart, trusting in God, the saint refused this, for which she endured great torment. The martyr was tied to a tree, her body was tormented with iron nails, and then thrown into prison. But God did not abandon the holy sufferer and miraculously healed her. But in the morning the executioners resumed the torture and finally cut off her head.

Icons of the holy martyr are guarded family well-being and happiness. They pray to Saint Paraskeva Friday for worthy grooms, infertility, for the health of babies, in serious illnesses.

Memorial Day of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Friday - November 10 (October 28 (old style).

Prayer

O holy and blessed martyr of Christ Paraskeva, maiden beauty, praise of the martyrs, purity of image, magnanimous mirrors, wonder of the wise, guardian of the Christian faith, idolatry flattery of the accuser, champion of the Divine Gospel, zealot of the Lord’s commandments, vouchsafed to come to the haven of eternal rest and in the devil of your Bridegroom Christ God, brightly rejoicing, adorned with the extreme crown of virginity and martyrdom! We pray to you, holy martyr, to be sorrowful for us to Christ God, whose most blessed sight will always rejoice. Pray to the All-Merciful One, with His word open the eyes of the blind, that He may deliver us from the illness of our hair, both physical and mental; with your holy prayers, kindle the dark darkness that has come from our sins, ask the Father of Light for the light of grace for our souls and bodies; enlighten us, darkened by sins, with light God's grace May, for the sake of your holy prayers, sweet vision be given to the dishonest. Oh, great servant of God!

O most courageous maiden! Oh, strong martyr Saint Paraskeva! With your holy prayers, be a helper to us sinners, intercede and pray for the damned and extremely negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are extremely weak. Pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, so that by your prayers, having escaped the darkness of sin, in the light of the true faith and divine deeds we will enter into the eternal light of the never-evening day, into the city of everlasting joy, in where now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, praising and singing with everyone heavenly powers Trisagion One Deity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Sayings of the Holy Fathers on illnesses

Patience means to endure whatever happens generously: not to despair in illness, not to be unduly despondent in misfortunes, not to be sad in poverty and not to grumble about insults.

Whoever sins and is not punished here is the same unfortunate person.

Saint John Chrysostom

A certain elder was often exposed to illness. It happened that he did not get sick for one year; The elder was very sad about this and cried, saying: “My Lord has forsaken me and did not visit me.”

Ancient patericon

The more we suffer in this life from illness, from persecution, from the power of enemies or from poverty, the more we will inherit rewards in the next life.

Blessed Jerome

The All-Good Lord allows a person in this life various insults and embarrassments, illnesses, and so on, all this in order to cleanse the soul of sins and instill in eternal life.

When illness weighs us down, we do not need to grieve that due to pain and sores we cannot sing psalms with our lips. For illnesses and wounds serve to destroy lusts, and both fasting and prostrations are prescribed for us to conquer passions. If illness also expels these passions, then there is nothing to worry about.

Truly, through bodily illnesses the soul approaches God.

Saint Gregory the Theologian

In illness, before doing anything else, one must hasten to be cleansed of sins in the Sacrament of Repentance and to be reconciled with God in one’s conscience.

It happens that God shields others with illness from a misfortune that would not have escaped them if they had been healthy.

The Lord heals many diseases through doctors and other means. But there are diseases, the cure of which is prohibited by the Lord, when he sees that illness is more necessary for salvation than health.

Illness for a person is the mercy of God. And if a Christian accepts what is sent by God for the benefit of his soul and complacently endures his painful condition, then he goes on the direct path to Paradise. At the sickbed there is threshing: the more blows, the more grains will be knocked out and the richer the grind. Then you need grain for the millstones, then flour for mixing the dough and leavening it, then in the form of bread for the oven, and finally for God’s table.

During illness, everyone should think and say: “Who knows? Maybe in my illness the gates to eternity are opening for me?

In illnesses, before doctors and medicines, use prayer and the Sacraments: Confession, Communion and Unction.

If you are sick, then invite an experienced doctor and use the remedies prescribed by him. For this purpose, so many beneficial plants arise from the earth. If you reject them out of pride, you will hasten your death and become a suicide.

Spiritual wealth lies in patience.

In illness, learn: humility, patience, complacency and gratitude to God.

If you have to indulge yourself due to illness, then that’s okay. And if under the pretext of illness, then it’s bad.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Our illnesses mostly come from sins, why the best remedy to preventing and healing from them is not to sin.

It is a great feat to patiently endure illnesses and, in the midst of them, sing songs of gratitude to God.

We are brought closer to God by sorrow, cramped conditions, illness, and labor. Do not grumble against them and do not be afraid of them. Although illness torments your flesh, it saves your spirit.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

The Lord makes up for the lack of our good deeds either with illnesses or sorrows.

Although it is a good deed to take care of the sick and visit them, one must have reason; Where your spiritual structure is damaged, things will get by without you.

Try to console the sick person not so much with services as with a cheerful face.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov

We have illnesses from sin, they weaken passions, and a person comes to his senses. He who endures illnesses with patience and gratitude is credited with them instead of feats and even more... At the same time, one must believe and hope that if the Lord God wills a person to experience illnesses, He will give him the strength of patience.

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

The Lord sent you illness not in vain and not so much as a punishment for previous sins, but out of love for you, in order to tear you away from a sinful life and put you on the path of salvation. Thank God for this, who takes care of you.

Hegumen Nikon

The devil attacks those who are dangerously ill more strongly, knowing that he has little time.

In dangerous illnesses, take care first of clearing your conscience and the peace of your soul.

Thank God that you are on a good path: your illness is a great gift from God; Praise and give thanks for this and for everything day and night - and your soul will be saved.

Elder Arseny of Athos

Sick and poor, do not complain or grumble about your fate, about God and people, do not envy someone else’s happiness, beware of despondency and, especially, despair, submit completely to God’s Providence.

Illnesses reconcile us with God and bring us back into His love.

Saint righteous John Kronstadt

Reflect on the fact that everything here is fleeting, but the future is eternal.

The patient must console himself by reading Divine Scripture about the suffering of the Savior.

The Lord accepts patience with illness instead of fasting and prayer.

When you are sick, do not force yourself to go to church, but lie under the covers and say the Jesus Prayer.

Venerable Anatoly of Optina

The enemy tempted the ancient Christians with torment, and the modern Christians with illnesses and thoughts.

All the most severe sorrows and misfortunes are endured by people more easily than serious bodily illnesses. The undoubted expert in the matter of tormenting and tormenting people - Satan - testified in the face of God Himself that bodily illnesses are more unbearable than all other misfortunes and that a person who courageously and meekly endures other disasters can weaken in his patience and waver in his devotion to God, subjected to a serious illness.

If you have endured it here, you will not endure eternal torment in the next world, but, on the contrary, you will enjoy such bliss, before which present happiness is nothing.

Whoever does not have joy here and endures it patiently can fully hope that there, in the future life, he will receive great and unspeakable joy.

Venerable Ambrose of Optina

Prayers to the Saints

Memory: August 2 / 15

Lived in Moscow during the time of Ivan the Terrible. He preached mercy and good morals, and was not afraid to denounce even the cruel king. In 1547 he predicted the great fire of Moscow; prayer extinguished the fire in Novgorod. Many miracles and healings subsequently occurred from the relics. They pray to St. Basil the Blessed for the granting of humility and patience in persecution and ridicule, for the good character of authorities and rulers, for preservation from fire, for healing from various ailments, drunkenness and drug addiction.

Troparion to Blessed Basil, Fool for Christ's sake, tone 8

Your life, Vasily, is not false, and your purity is not defiled, for Christ’s sake you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, and frost and the warmth of the sun, and the sun and rain clouds, and your face was illuminated like the sun, and now the Russian people and all are coming to you people glorifying your holy Dormition. Therefore, pray to Christ God, that he may deliver us from barbaric captivity and internecine warfare, and may the world’s peace grant great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion to Blessed Basil, for Christ's sake the holy fool, tone 4

We are led by the Spirit of God, most blessed Basil, you shook off the worldly rebellion, and you abhorred the troubles of life, and, having put off the garments of perishable things and put on the robe of dispassion, you fled from the trappings of the flattering ruler of the world, and you were strange in your language, and, choosing wealth over earthly wealth Heavenly, thou art bound by the crown of patience. And now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God for those who create your holy memory, and let us call to you: Rejoice, most blessed Vasily.

Prayer to blessed Vasily, for Christ's sake the holy fool

Oh, great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful servant of the All-Creator of the Lord God, blessed Basil! Hear us, great sinners ( names), now crying out to you and calling your name holy one, have mercy on us, who fall today before your most pure image, accept our small and unworthy prayer, have mercy on our misery, and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of the soul and body of our sinner, and grant us the flow of this life unharmed by visible and invisible enemies and pass away sinlessly, and have a shameless, peaceful, serene Christian death, and receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to Blessed Basil of Moscow:

• Prayer to Blessed Basil, To the Moscow Wonderworker, For Christ's sake the holy fool. Lived in Moscow during the time of Ivan the Terrible. He preached mercy and good morals, and was not afraid to denounce even the cruel king. In 1547 he predicted the great fire of Moscow; prayer extinguished the fire in Novgorod. Many miracles and healings subsequently occurred from the relics. They pray to Saint Blessed Basil for the granting of humility and patience in persecution and ridicule, for the good character of authorities and rulers, for protection from fire, for healing from various ailments, drunkenness and drug addiction

Akathist to Blessed Vasily of Moscow:

Hagiographic and scientific-historical literature about the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk:

• Blessed Basil, Moscow Wonderworker– Pravoslavie.Ru

Read other prayers in the "Orthodox Prayer Book" section

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Prayers to Blessed Vasily, the Fool for Christ, the Moscow Wonderworker.

Second prayer(for blindness, leg diseases, skin diseases)

Troparion to Blessed Basil, Holy Fool for Christ's Sake, Moscow Wonderworker

Your life, Vasily, is not false and your purity is undefiled! For the sake of Christ, you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, and frost, and the warmth of the sun, and storms (bad weather) and rain clouds, and your face was illuminated like the sun: and now the Russian people are coming to you, kings and princes, and all people, glorifying your holy dormition. Therefore, pray to Christ God that He will deliver us from barbaric captivity and internecine warfare, and that the peace of the world will give great mercy to our souls.

Just as the sun and the moon are not disgraced by their nakedness, so you, the naked servant of Christ Basil, without being ashamed, accepted the robe of the primordial Adam, which he wore before in heaven, but you wore this on earth; and you were a good merchant: as soon as you had it, you left everything and bought the village with the reward of your patience, on which the priceless Bead, Christ, was hidden. For this reason, appear to all sinners as an image of repentance and dwell in the expanse of paradise, and, standing before Christ, do not forget the city in which he dwells, and the people, most blessed, and pray to save our souls.

We are led by the Spirit of God, blessed Basil, you shook off the worldly rebellion and the troubles of life, you abhorred, and you put off the garments of perishable things, and put on the robe of dispassion, you fled the trappings of the flattering ruler of the world, and you were strange in your language, and you chose heavenly wealth over earthly wealth, You have tied yourself to the crown of patience, and now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God for those who create your holy memory, and we call to you: Rejoice, most blessed Vasily.

The Lord has shown you to the present generation as a healer of illness and a banisher of illness with love, Basil, who flows to you and calls upon you by faith to pray.

We please you, holy blessed Basil, and honor your holy memory, for you pray for us, Christ our God.

Popular prayers:

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Prayers St. Sergius Radonezh Wonderworker

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Prayers of Venerable Taisia

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Main prayers: Lord's Prayer, Jesus Prayer

Bookitut.ru

Blessed Basil, Holy Fool for Christ's sake, Moscow Wonderworker

Holy Blessed Basil, the Moscow Wonderworker, was born into a poor family and at the age of sixteen he embarked on the thorny path of foolishness. In the scorching heat and bitter cold, he walked naked and barefoot along the streets of Moscow. Soon the residents recognized him as a holy fool, a man of God, a denouncer of untruths. At the Prechistensky Gate he saw a demon in the guise of a beggar and immediately drove him away. Visiting taverns, the blessed one saw grains of goodness in fallen people and reinforced them with affection. Passing by houses where they were madly having fun and drinking, he hugged the corners of their homes with tears. When asked what this meant, he answered: “Sorrowful angels stand at the house and lament over the sins of people, and with tears I begged them to pray to the Lord for the conversion of sinners.”

Saint Basil and the powers that be were not afraid to denounce them. One day the blessed one reproached Tsar Ivan the Terrible for being preoccupied with thoughts of building a palace on the Sparrow Hills during a service.

Having purified his soul through great deeds and prayers, Blessed Vasily was awarded the gift of foresight. In 1547, he predicted the great fire of Moscow and extinguished the fire in Novgorod with prayer.

After spending 72 years in the feat of foolishness, Blessed Basil died on August 2, 1557 at the age of 88. His body was buried in the chapel of the Trinity Church, which, together with the Cathedral of the Intercession, “which is on the moat,” became popularly called St. Basil’s Cathedral.

The day of remembrance of Blessed Basil, Christ for the Fool's sake, is August 15 (August 2, old style).

Troparion, tone 8

Your life, Vasily, is not false and your purity is undefiled, for the sake of Christ you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, and frost and the warmth of the sun, and the sun and rain clouds, and your face was illuminated like the sun: and now the Russian people and all people are coming to you , glorifying your holy Dormition. Therefore, pray to Christ God to deliver us from barbaric captivity and internecine warfare and grant us peace and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4

We are led by the Spirit of God, most blessed Basil, you shook off the worldly rebellion, and you abhorred the troubles of life, and, having put off the garments of perishable things and put on the robe of dispassion, you fled from the trappings of the flattering ruler of the world, and you were strange in your language, and, choosing wealth over earthly wealth Heavenly, thou art bound by the crown of patience. And now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God for those who create your holy memory, and let us call to you: Rejoice, most blessed Vasily.

O great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful servant of the All-Creator of the Lord God, blessed Basil! Hear us, many sinners, now crying out to you and calling on your holy name: have mercy on us who fall today before the race of your relics: accept our small and unworthy prayer, have mercy on our misery, and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of the soul and body of our sinner, and make us worthy to pass through this course of life unharmed from visible and invisible enemies without sin, and to have a shameless, peaceful, serene Christian death, and to receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer

O blessed soul, full of wisdom, the sun of joy has risen for us, illuminating the Russian kingdom: a healer from wounded demons, and even more so, a drive away of demons themselves, sight for the blind, walking for the lame, correction for the sick, healing and health for all who are sick: from troubles and deliverance from sorrows, consolation to the sad.

Prayer three

O saint of Christ, blessed Vasily! Hear us, many sinners, now crying out to you: have mercy on us, servant of God (names), and have mercy on our misery! and with your prayers heal every ailment and illness of the soul and body of our sinner, and grant us the opportunity to pass this life unharmed, from visible and invisible enemies, and to pass sinlessly, and to have a shameless, peaceful, serene Christian death, and to receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints , forever and ever.

Prayers for healing from muteness

Venerable John of Rila

Venerable John of Rila is an ascetic of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Left an orphan early, the boy went to strangers - as a shepherd. One day the owner of the herd beat him because a cow and calf were lost. The boy cried and prayed for a long time, asking God to help him. The cow and calf were found, but before John had time to return them to the herd, the water in the Struma River rose strongly. The young shepherd prayed, placed his outer garment on the water and drew a cross on it. Then he took the calf in his arms and walked with it, as if on dry land, to the other side of the river, where the cow was already located. His offender, seeing the miracle, was horrified and, having generously rewarded the boy, released him from his house.

Where and when the saint took monastic vows remains unknown. Initially, he labored on a high and bare mountain, eating only wild plants. His hut was made of brushwood. A short time later, robbers attacked him at night and, beating him, drove him out of the hut. John found a deep cave and began to live in it.

The monk spent twelve years in a wild cave, after which he went to the Rila desert, where he settled in a hollow tree. He fasted a lot, prayed and cried constantly, eating only grass. People began to bring the sick and those possessed by an unclean spirit to St. John, whom he healed with prayer. Avoiding fame, the ascetic left his beloved hollow and settled on a high and inaccessible rock, where he lived in the open air for the remaining seven years of his life.

Memorial Day of St. John of Rila - August 31 (August 18, old style).

Troparion, tone 1

The basis of repentance, the prescription of tenderness, the image of consolation, spiritual fulfillment, your life was like an angel, reverend: in prayers and fastings, and in tears, Father John, pray to Christ God for our souls.

Kontakion, tone 8

Having become jealous of the angelic life, reverend: having left all earthly things, you have flown to Christ and protected by His commandments, you have appeared as a pillar unshakable from enemy attacks. To those we call to you: Rejoice, Father John, bright light.

Oh, great and wonderful miracle worker, Reverend John, accept our prayer and do not turn away from us who have come running to your intercession: you never turned away from those who came to you with their sorrows in the days of your earthly life; We know that you showed signs of mercy even after your repose as Orthodox people! Hear us now, overwhelmed by the great sorrows that have come upon us in these evil days, when the devil, through his destructive machinations, strives to trample the Holy Church, and to deprive us of eternal salvation and the blessings of temporary life! Ask us from the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins, and especially the sin of disobedience to our Mother Church! Grant us contrition of heart, so that with tenderness we steadily approach the holy Sacrament of Repentance, so that the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ will not lead us to condemnation and destruction, but to health and salvation. Drive away from us the spirit of brotherly hatred, give us the spirit of love and peace for the fraternal unity of all your people! Unite us all with love for Christ and His Orthodox Church, so that by observing His saving will, we will be true children of God! Be a guide to us all our days, so that we may always, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, keep our faith in purity and do the will of the Lord until death! At the hour of our death, we appear to present our souls to the throne of the Divine Judge and say to Him: “Behold, I and my children,” for having been delivered from eternal torment by your intercession, we will inherit the ineffable bliss of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ together with you and all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for toothache

Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia

Saint Jonah strove for monasticism from an early age; He became a monk at the age of twelve. In 1431, for his virtuous life and firm knowledge of the teachings of the Church, Saint Jonah was made Bishop of Ryazan and Murom. And already in 1432 he was elected metropolitan of all Rus'.

During the siege of Moscow by the Nogai Tatars in 1451, Saint Jonah made a religious procession along the walls of the Kremlin, praying to the Most Holy Theotokos for the salvation of the city. And his prayer was heard.

During his holy life, he received from God the gift of clairvoyance and miracles. Having received notification of his death through a vision, he died peacefully on March 31, 1461. At the tomb of the saint, numerous healings began to take place.

The Memorial Day of St. Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia, is April 13 (March 31, old style), June 28 (June 15, old style) and October 18 (October 5, old style).

Troparion, tone 4

From your youth, having dedicated everything to yourself to the Lord, in prayers, and in labor, and in fasting, having become an image of virtue, from there God saw your good will, and established you as a bishop and shepherd of His Church. Likewise, after your repose, your honorable body is intact and incorruptible, Saint Jonah, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 8

As from the infancy of the Lord you have enslaved yourself, wisely, with fasting and vigil, you have oppressed your body, and therefore you have become a pure vessel and a house for the Holy Spirit; for this reason, for the sake of His Church, you are arranging for a bishop and a shepherd, since you have foreseen good things, you have gone to the Lord, Whom you loved. Thus we pray to you: remember us, who honor your holy memory with faith, and we all call you: Rejoice, Father Jono, all-honorable saint.

O most honorable and sacred head and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, the abode of the Savior with the Father, the great bishop, our warm intercessor, Saint Jonah, standing at the Throne of all the King and enjoying the light of the consubstantial Trinity and cherubically with the angels proclaiming the trisagion hymn, having great and unexplored boldness To the all-merciful Master, pray for the salvation of Christ's flock of people, establish the well-being of the holy churches: decorate the bishops with the splendor of holiness, strengthen the monastics with the feat of the good trend, preserve the reigning city and all cities and countries well, and keep the holy immaculate faith, pray for the whole world through your intercession, deliver us from famine and destruction, and save us from the attacks of foreigners, console the old, guide the young, make the foolish wise, have mercy on widows, protect the orphans, grow up the babies, return the captives, free the weak and those who pray to you from all misfortunes and troubles through your intercession: pray for us The All-generous and Humane-loving Christ our God, and on the day of His Terrible Coming He will deliver us from this standing state, and He will create the joys of the saints as partakers with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

When children get sick

For what, Lord?

Health is a gift of God, but this gift is not always useful: like any suffering, illness has the power to cleanse us from spiritual filth, atone for sins, humble and soften our soul, make us come to our senses, realize our weakness and remember God. Therefore, both we and our children need diseases.

Probably each of us has ever wondered: why do our children suffer? Okay, we adults are sick, but we are sinners, everything is clear with us... But why does the Lord allow children to suffer? Can this issue be resolved from the point of view of human justice?

A family is a single organism, all parts of which are connected by spiritual ties. We are connected with our children by an invisible thread; they contain our blood, a piece of our soul. And our sins can fall on the fragile soul and body with a heavy, unbearable burden. Even the sins of more distant ancestors can result in physical illnesses for our children. Thus, children pay with their health for the mistakes of their parents. But why should they suffer for our sins, since they are not to blame for them?

Sick children take on the feat of martyrdom so that we, adults, have the opportunity to improve. But out of our stupidity, out of our habit of not thinking about our sins, we blame someone else for the illnesses of our children, but not ourselves.

If a child is sick, there is no point in asking the empty question “For what?”, it is better to ask your conscience: “For what?” After all, this disease is sent not only to the child, but also to us. Any illness is, first of all, an admonition, a reminder that, in addition to this visible reality, there is another - more important one. Even in the most terrible illness one must realize that God is love. The Lord leads each of us in his own way, offering a “cure” in accordance with the “diagnosis”. God is not a cruel judge, but a Father who loves us. You should never despair. Our lives are in the hands of the Almighty, and everything that is sent from Him is a necessary lesson.

Every patient, regardless of age, needs medical help, but in any case, the source of healing is God. Turn to Him with a sincere and fervent prayer for help. You can ask in your own words or use well-known prayers. The main thing is not words, but a genuine meeting with the Lord, communication with Him.

The Sacrament of Communion and Blessing of Unction (Unction), as well as the use of holy water and consecrated oil, provide great help to the soul and body. Everything is in God’s hands, and in our skeptical times, miracles of healing even hopeless patients occur. But a miracle always happens only when they believe in it and ask for it.

Our task is not only to ensure children’s existence in this world, but, above all, to educate them spiritually, to open the way to God. If we do not bring a child to church, if we do not teach him to live piously, then we are preventing his coming to Christ. And this is our most important sin, which also falls on our children. Let us try to save ourselves by repentance, and through this we will help our children.

Mother's Prayer

Holy Father, Eternal God! I pray to you for my child ( Name), whose goodness is also given to me. You gave him existence, revived him with an immortal soul, protected him with holy baptism, so that he could live in accordance with Your will and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Keep him in Your grace until the end of his life. Help me with Your grace, so that I can raise him for the glory of Your name and for the benefit of my neighbors, give me the necessary means, patience and strength for this.

Lord, enlighten him with the light of Your wisdom, so that he may love You with all his soul and with all his thoughts. Plant in his heart fear and disgust from all lawlessness, so that he will be blameless in his ways. Lord, adorn his soul with chastity, long-suffering and all honesty, so that all slander, lies and flattery will be disgusting to him. Sprinkle him with the dew of Thy grace, that he may prosper in virtue and holiness, and may he grow in Thy love and the love of pious people. May the Guardian Angel always be with him and protect his youth from vain thoughts, from the charms and temptations of this world and from all evil slander. If he sins before You, do not turn Your face away from him, but be merciful to him, arouse contrition in his heart and, according to the multitude of Your generosity, cleanse his sins. Do not deprive him of Your earthly blessings, but send him everything he needs in time for the acquisition of a blessed eternity. Save him from every misfortune, misfortune and illness and preserve him all the days of his life. Yes, together with him glorifying Your ineffable mercy, I extol Your most holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for children

The Mother of God in front of Her “Tikhvin” icon

The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, according to legend, was painted by the Apostle Evangelist Luke. Until the 14th century, this icon remained in Constantinople, but suddenly in 1383 the image of the Most Pure Virgin disappeared, appearing in Rus', on Lake Ladoga. The newfound icon could not stay in one place for a long time. The people built chapels for the icon and laid out wooden churches, but the Most Pure Virgin did not deign to remain there. Finally, the icon of the Mother of God stopped behind the Tikhvinka River, where first a wooden and then a stone church was built. Under Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a monastery was established in these places.

In 1613–1614, Swedish troops, having captured Veliky Novgorod, tried to conquer the Tikhvin Monastery. Although the monastery was fortified with stone walls, the monks did not hope to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. Deciding to flee from the monastery, the brethren went to the temple for the miraculous image of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, but they could not move the icon, no matter how hard they tried. Then cowardice left the monks: placing all their hope in the Most Pure Virgin, they remained in the monastery.

And a miracle happened: the well-trained Swedish army was unable to take the besieged monastery, which was defended by a few monks and laymen. In the end, the Swedes began to see either huge Russian troops approaching the monastery from Moscow, or the heavenly army. Fear seized the besiegers, and, abandoning everything, they fled.

After the establishment of the Soviet regime, in the 20s, the Tikhvin Monastery was closed, and the miraculous icon became an exhibit of the local history museum. During the Great Patriotic War, fascist troops, having occupied Tikhvin, retreated and took the miraculous icon with them. Time passed, and the miraculous image moved further and further away from Russia, eventually ending up in American Chicago. And only in 2004 the miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God returned to the monastery on the Tikhvinka River.

The day of celebration of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is July 9 (June 26, old style).

Troparion, tone 4

Today, like the bright sun, the all-honorable icon of Yours, Lady, has risen for us in the air, enlightening the world with rays of mercy, even the great Russia, as if it had reverently accepted some Divine gift from above, glorifies You, Mother of God, Lady of all, and joyfully magnifies Christ our God who was born from You. Pray to Him, O Lady Queen Theotokos, that He may preserve all Christian cities and countries unharmed from all the slander of the enemy, and save by faith those who worship His Divine and Your most pure image, the Virgin Unartificed.

Kontakion, tone 8

Let us come, people, to the Virgin Mother of God Queen, giving thanks to Christ God, and to that miraculous icon, let us look tenderly, and cry out to Her: O Lady Mary! Having visited this country by the miraculous appearance of Your honorable image, save all Christians in peace and prosperity, heirs showing heavenly life. We truly call to you: Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world.

O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord of the highest powers, Queen of Heaven and earth, our city and country, Almighty Intercessor. Accept this singing of praise and gratitude from us, unworthy Thy servants, and lift up our prayers to the throne of God Thy Son, that He may be merciful to our iniquities and add His goodness to those who honor Thy all-honorable name and worship Thy miraculous image with faith and love. You are not worthy of being pardoned by Him, unless you have propitiated Him for us, Lady, since everything is possible for You from Him. For this reason, we resort to You, as to our undoubted and immediate Intercessor; Hear us praying to You, cover us with Your all-powerful protection and ask God Your Son to be our shepherd, zeal and vigil for souls, a city ruler for wisdom and strength, judges for truth and impartiality, a mentor for reason and humility, love and harmony for spouses, obedience for children, patience for the offended, to those who offend the fear of God, to those who grieve complacency, to those who rejoice at self-control: to all of us is the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. To her, Most Holy Lady, have mercy on Your weak people: gather the scattered, guide those who have gone astray to the right path, support old age, educate young people with chastity, raise infants, and look upon us all with the gaze of Your merciful intercession, raise us up from the depths of sin and enlighten our heartfelt eyes to in the sight of salvation, be merciful to us here and there, in the land of earthly arrival and at the terrible judgment of Your Son: having ceased in faith and repentance from this life, make our fathers and brothers live in eternal life with the Angels and with all the saints. For you are, Lady, the glory of Heaven and the hope of earth. According to God, You are our Hope and Intercessor of all those who flow to You with faith. We therefore pray to You, and to You, as the Almighty Helper, we commit ourselves and each other and our whole life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer

We thank You, O Most Blessed and Most Pure, Most Blessed Virgin, Lady, Mother of Christ our God, for all Your good deeds, which You have shown to the human race, especially to us, the Christ-named people of the Russian people, about whom the most angelic language will be pleased with praise. We thank You, for even now You have surprised Your ineffable mercy on us, Your unworthy servants, with the supernatural self-coming of Your most pure icon, with which You have enlightened the entire Russian country; Likewise, we, sinners, worshiping with fear and joy, cry out to Thee: O Most Holy Virgin, Queen and Mother of God, save and have mercy on all people, and grant them victory over all their enemies, and save all Christian cities and countries, and this holy temple Deliver us from every slander of the enemy, and grant everything for the benefit of everyone, who now come with faith and pray to Your servant, and who worship Your most holy image: for blessed are You with the Son and God born of You, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the holy righteous Simeon the God-Receiver

The Gospel tradition says that Elder Simeon was a righteous and pious man. The Holy Spirit rested on Simeon, and it was revealed to him that the Savior would soon come to the world.

By order of the Egyptian king Ptolemy, seventy learned men were chosen to translate the books of the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek, including Simeon. Translating the book of the prophet Isaiah, he came to the words: “Behold, the Virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son,” and he doubted. He was about to insert the word “wife” instead of “Virgin,” when suddenly an angel appeared to him and, holding his hand, said: “Have faith in what is written, and you yourself will see its fulfillment, for you will not die until you see one born of a pure Virgin - Christ the Lord."

When the Lord Jesus Christ was brought to the temple by the Most Pure Mother of God on the fortieth day after His Nativity, righteous Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, also came there. The elder recognized the long-awaited Messiah in the Baby and, taking him in his arms, said: “Now, O Master, dost let Thy servant go in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people: a light to be revealed by the tongue, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”.

After this, Simeon the God-Receiver prophesied about the suffering of Christ and His crucifixion. According to legend, Simeon the God-Receiver reached a ripe old age, living to be 360 ​​years old: God was pleased to prolong the life of the holy elder so that he could live until that wondrous hour when our Savior was born of the Virgin.

Simeon the God-Receiver is considered the patron saint of infants; people pray to him to preserve their health.

The day of remembrance of the holy righteous Simeon the God-Receiver is February 16 (February 3, old style).

Troparion, tone 4

Simeon the Elder is rejoicing today; he has taken the Infant of the Eternal God into his hand, asking to be released from the bonds of the flesh and crying out: my eyes have seen Your worldly salvation.

O God-receiving Simeon! Hear us, sinful servants of God ( names), and do not take away your holy protection from us, pray for the goodness of the Lord, for He may turn away His anger from us, righteously moved towards us by our deeds, and, despising our countless sins, turn us to the path of repentance and establish us on the paths of His commandments . Protect our life in peace with your prayers and ask for good haste in all good things, granting us everything we need for life and piety, so that we may live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity, and thus we will achieve eternal peace, where we will be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ God ours, to Him is all glory due, with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer

Oh, great servant of God, God-receptive Simeon! Standing before the Throne of the Great King and our God Jesus Christ, we have great boldness in approaching Him, in our arms, for the sake of salvation, we will rush to the one who wills. To you, as a powerful intercessor and a strong prayer book for us, we, sinners and unworthy, resort. Pray for His Goodness, for He may turn away His anger from us, righteously moved towards us by our deeds, and, despising our countless sins, turn us to the path of repentance and establish us on the path of His commandments. Protect our life in peace with your prayers, and ask for good haste in all good things, granting us everything we need for life and piety. Just as in ancient times Great Novograd, by the appearance of your miraculous icon, delivered us from the destruction of mortals, so now we and all the cities and villages of our country have been delivered from all misfortunes and misfortunes and vain deaths by your intercession, and from all enemies, visible and invisible, with your protection. Let us live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity, and, having passed this temporary life in the world, we will achieve eternal peace, where we will be made worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ our God. To Him all glory is due, together with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Saint Paraskeva Friday has always enjoyed special love among the Orthodox people. In Rus', she was revered as an assistant in women's cares, the patroness of the household and agricultural work.

The Holy Martyr Paraskeva lived in the 3rd century in Iconium in a rich and pious family. The saint's parents especially revered the day of the Lord's suffering - Friday, and therefore named their daughter, born on this day, Paraskeva, which translated from Greek means Friday. With all her heart, young Paraskeva loved the purity and high morality of virgin life and took a vow of celibacy. She wanted to devote her life to God and the enlightenment of the pagans with the light of the faith of Christ. After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva distributed all her property to the poor, accepted monasticism and began preaching the Gospel to the pagans. Tradition tells of the severe torments of the cross that befell this saint.

The activities of Paraskeva were reported to Emperor Antoninus Pius, and he ordered her to be subjected to brutal torture. A red-hot helmet was put on Paraskeva's head and thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar. However, the martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor looked into the cauldron, the saint threw a few drops of hot resin into his face, and he went blind. The emperor began to ask Paraskeva for healing, and she healed him. After this, Antonin released Saint Paraskeva.

One day Paraskeva came to the city where Asclepius was the ruler. Here she was again sentenced to death: they took her to a cave where a huge snake lived so that it would devour the martyr. But Paraskeva made the sign of the cross over the snake, and he immediately died. The ruler and townspeople, seeing such a miracle, believed in Christ and released Paraskeva.

Arriving in a city where a certain Tarasius was the ruler, Saint Paraskeva was again captured by the pagans. She was asked to make a sacrifice to the idol. With a strong heart, trusting in God, the saint refused this, for which she endured great torment. The martyr was tied to a tree, her body was tormented with iron nails, and then thrown into prison. But God did not abandon the holy sufferer and miraculously healed her. But in the morning the executioners resumed the torture and finally cut off her head.

Icons of the holy martyr protect family well-being and happiness. They pray to Saint Paraskeva Friday for worthy grooms, infertility, for the health of babies, in serious illnesses.

Memorial Day of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Friday - November 10 (October 28 (old style).

O holy and blessed martyr of Christ Paraskeva, maiden beauty, praise of the martyrs, purity of image, magnanimous mirrors, wonder of the wise, guardian of the Christian faith, idolatry flattery of the accuser, champion of the Divine Gospel, zealot of the Lord’s commandments, vouchsafed to come to the haven of eternal rest and in the devil of your Bridegroom Christ God, brightly rejoicing, adorned with the extreme crown of virginity and martyrdom! We pray to you, holy martyr, to be sorrowful for us to Christ God, whose most blessed sight will always rejoice. Pray to the All-Merciful One, with His word open the eyes of the blind, that He may deliver us from the illness of our hair, both physical and mental; with your holy prayers, kindle the dark darkness that has come from our sins, ask the Father of Light for the light of grace for our souls and bodies; Enlighten us, darkened by sins, with the light of God’s grace, so that for the sake of your holy prayers sweet vision will be given to the dishonest. Oh, great servant of God!

O most courageous maiden! Oh, strong martyr Saint Paraskeva! With your holy prayers, be a helper to us sinners, intercede and pray for the damned and extremely negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are extremely weak. Pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, so that by your prayers, having escaped the darkness of sin, in the light of the true faith and divine deeds we will enter into the eternal light of the never-evening day, into the city of everlasting joy, in now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, glorifying and singing with all the heavenly powers the Trisagion of the One Divinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Sayings of the Holy Fathers on illnesses

Patience means to endure whatever happens generously: not to despair in illness, not to be unduly despondent in misfortunes, not to be sad in poverty and not to grumble about insults.

Whoever sins and is not punished here is the same unfortunate person.

Saint John Chrysostom

A certain elder was often exposed to illness. It happened that he did not get sick for one year; The elder was very sad about this and cried, saying: “My Lord has forsaken me and did not visit me.”

The more we suffer in this life from illness, from persecution, from the power of enemies or from poverty, the more we will inherit rewards in the next life.

The All-Good Lord allows a person in this life various insults and embarrassments, illnesses, and so on, all this in order to cleanse the soul of sins and instill in eternal life.

When illness weighs us down, we do not need to grieve that due to pain and sores we cannot sing psalms with our lips. For illnesses and wounds serve to destroy lusts, and both fasting and prostrations are prescribed for us to conquer passions. If illness also expels these passions, then there is nothing to worry about.

Truly, through bodily illnesses the soul approaches God.

Saint Gregory the Theologian

In illness, before doing anything else, one must hasten to be cleansed of sins in the Sacrament of Repentance and to be reconciled with God in one’s conscience.

It happens that God shields others with illness from a misfortune that would not have escaped them if they had been healthy.

The Lord heals many diseases through doctors and other means. But there are diseases, the cure of which is prohibited by the Lord, when he sees that illness is more necessary for salvation than health.

Illness for a person is the mercy of God. And if a Christian accepts what is sent by God for the benefit of his soul and complacently endures his painful condition, then he goes on the direct path to Paradise. At the sickbed there is threshing: the more blows, the more grains will be knocked out and the richer the grind. Then you need grain for the millstones, then flour for mixing the dough and leavening it, then in the form of bread for the oven, and finally for God’s table.

During illness, everyone should think and say: “Who knows? Maybe in my illness the gates to eternity are opening for me?

In illnesses, before doctors and medicines, use prayer and the Sacraments: Confession, Communion and Unction.

If you are sick, then invite an experienced doctor and use the remedies prescribed by him. For this purpose, so many beneficial plants arise from the earth. If you reject them out of pride, you will hasten your death and become a suicide.

Spiritual wealth lies in patience.

In illness, learn: humility, patience, complacency and gratitude to God.

If you have to indulge yourself due to illness, then that’s okay. And if under the pretext of illness, then it’s bad.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Most of our illnesses come from sins, which is why the best way to prevent and heal from them is to not sin.

It is a great feat to patiently endure illnesses and, in the midst of them, sing songs of gratitude to God.

We are brought closer to God by sorrow, cramped conditions, illness, and labor. Do not grumble against them and do not be afraid of them. Although illness torments your flesh, it saves your spirit.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

The Lord makes up for the lack of our good deeds either with illnesses or sorrows.

Although it is a good deed to take care of the sick and visit them, one must have reason; Where your spiritual structure is damaged, things will get by without you.

Try to console the sick person not so much with services as with a cheerful face.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov

We have illnesses from sin, they weaken passions, and a person comes to his senses. He who endures illnesses with patience and gratitude is credited with them instead of feats and even more... At the same time, one must believe and hope that if the Lord God wills a person to experience illnesses, He will give him the strength of patience.

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

The Lord sent you illness not in vain and not so much as a punishment for previous sins, but out of love for you, in order to tear you away from a sinful life and put you on the path of salvation. Thank God for this, who takes care of you.

The devil attacks those who are dangerously ill more strongly, knowing that he has little time.

In dangerous illnesses, take care first of clearing your conscience and the peace of your soul.

Thank God that you are on a good path: your illness is a great gift from God; Praise and give thanks for this and for everything day and night - and your soul will be saved.

Elder Arseny of Athos

Sick and poor, do not complain or grumble about your fate, about God and people, do not envy someone else’s happiness, beware of despondency and, especially, despair, submit completely to God’s Providence.

Illnesses reconcile us with God and bring us back into His love.

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt

Reflect on the fact that everything here is fleeting, but the future is eternal.

The patient must console himself by reading Divine Scripture about the suffering of the Savior.

The Lord accepts patience with illness instead of fasting and prayer.

When you are sick, do not force yourself to go to church, but lie under the covers and say the Jesus Prayer.

Venerable Anatoly of Optina

The enemy tempted the ancient Christians with torment, and the modern Christians with illnesses and thoughts.

All the most severe sorrows and misfortunes are endured by people more easily than serious bodily illnesses. The undoubted expert in the matter of tormenting and tormenting people - Satan - testified in the face of God Himself that bodily illnesses are more unbearable than all other misfortunes and that a person who courageously and meekly endures other disasters can weaken in his patience and waver in his devotion to God, subjected to a serious illness.

If you have endured it here, you will not endure eternal torment in the next world, but, on the contrary, you will enjoy such bliss, before which present happiness is nothing.

Whoever does not have joy here and endures it patiently can fully hope that there, in the future life, he will receive great and unspeakable joy.

In 1588, more than twenty people suffering from various diseases were suddenly instantly healed on the day of remembrance of the holy fool.

Poor Joseph did not have the ability to pronounce words from birth, and his seizures occurred more and more often from year to year. The unfortunate man collected alms on the streets, and thereby obtained at least some food for himself. One day he was led to the tomb of St. Basil, where he held a prayer service. After being sprinkled with holy water at the coffin, the mute immediately spoke clearly.

Blessed Vasily. Icon
(Image from zakonbozhiy.ru)

The exhausted boyar's son was so weak in his legs that on the way to the saint's tomb his strength completely abandoned him. Having begun to pray fervently, the lame man fervently asked the blessed one for help and healing. In the heat of prayer, they heard a voice that told them to go to the tomb for a final recovery. After this, the young man immediately felt an unprecedented influx of strength and felt that his illness was going away. He was able to reach the saint’s relics without pain and suffering, where complete healing from his illness awaited him.

A similar story happened to a resident of Pskov, who was blind from birth and lost sensation in her hand. Moving with difficulty, the elderly woman went to the saint for help, but she had little strength to overcome the path. Healing happened to her on the way to the relics of St. Basil the Blessed. Having completely recovered, she sincerely thanked the elder when she reached his coffin.

The vision of St. Basil helped to heal a lame monk who was collecting alms near the Spassky Gate. Exhausted from hunger and poverty, the man one day clearly saw the image of the saint, who asked him about the duration of his illness. The lame man replied that he had been trying to cure his legs for more than twelve years, and everything he collected was given to the doctors, but it had no results. Vasily asked him why not turn to the saints, who would help without demanding payment, and whether he believed in divine power that could save him from torment. The amazed lame man confidently declared that he sincerely believed in the help of God and the power of St. Basil's prayer. Immediately after these words, his legs regained strength and health.

Blessed Basil
(Image from logoslovo.ru)

The wealthy lady deeply revered St. Basil and during the twelve years that she was blind, she tirelessly prayed to the saint for her insight. On her orders, an icon of the Holy Fool was painted, which she gave to the Church of St. Basil the Blessed. Soon a miracle happened to her: her eyes, which had not seen the light, were suddenly completely healed.

The Rostov nun Martha suffered seriously from an abundance of ulcers on her head, which caused her a lot of pain. Prayers to St. Basil helped her get rid of the disease. The peasant, who had been unable to see for seven years, regained his sight with the help of the saint. Miraculously, after turning to St. Basil, fevers and all sorts of acute dangerous diseases that threatened death, but disappeared without a trace after the saint’s participation, disappeared.

Date of publication or update 02/01/2017

Prayer to Saint Blessed Basil, for Christ's sake the holy fool of Moscow

Blessed Vasily was born in 1468 in the Moscow region, into a peasant family. As a youth he was sent to study shoemaking, and at the age of 16 he ran away from home, called by the Lord to the most difficult feat of foolishness, which he endured for 72 years, living in the crowded haystacks of the reigning city of Moscow.
The blessed one exhausted his body with fasting, prayer and all kinds of hardships, he was perspicacious and performed many miracles, he denounced the simple and noble, regardless of rank, but knowing the inner structure of man.
Basil the Blessed died in 1552, his St. The relics were laid in Moscow, in the Intercession Cathedral on Red Square.

Prayer
O great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful servant of the All-Creator of the Lord God, blessed Basil! Hear us, many sinners, now singing to you and calling on your holy name, have mercy on us, who fall today before your most pure image, accept our small and unworthy prayer, have mercy on our misery and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of the soul and body of our sinner , and make us worthy to pass through the course of this life unharmed from visible and invisible enemies without sin, and to receive a Christian death, shameless, peaceful, serene, and to receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

All prayers to Blessed Vasily, the Moscow Wonderworker, the Fool for Christ's sake

Memory: August 2 / 15

Lived in Moscow during the time of Ivan the Terrible.

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He preached mercy and good morals, and was not afraid to denounce even the cruel king. In 1547 he predicted the great fire of Moscow; prayer extinguished the fire in Novgorod.

Many miracles and healings subsequently occurred from the relics. They pray to St. Basil the Blessed for the granting of humility and patience in persecution and ridicule, for the good character of authorities and rulers, for preservation from fire, for healing from various ailments, drunkenness and drug addiction.

Kontakion to Blessed Basil, for Christ's sake the holy fool, tone 4

We are led by the Spirit of God, most blessed Basil, you shook off the worldly rebellion, and you abhorred the troubles of life, and, having put off the garments of perishable things and put on the robe of dispassion, you fled from the trappings of the flattering ruler of the world, and you were strange in your language, and, choosing wealth over earthly wealth Heavenly, thou art bound by the crown of patience. And now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God for those who create your holy memory, and let us call to you: Rejoice, most blessed Vasily.

Prayer to blessed Vasily, for Christ's sake the holy fool

Oh, great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful servant of the All-Creator of the Lord God, blessed Basil! Hear us, great sinners ( names), now crying out to you and calling on your holy name, have mercy on us, who fall today before your most pure image, accept our small and unworthy prayer, have mercy on our misery, and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of the soul and body of our sinner, and Make us worthy to pass this course of life unharmed from visible and invisible enemies and to pass sinlessly, and to have a shameless, peaceful, serene Christian death, and to receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

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Prayer to Blessed Basil of Moscow:

• Prayer to Blessed Vasily, Moscow Wonderworker, Fool for Christ's Sake. Lived in Moscow during the time of Ivan the Terrible. He preached mercy and good morals, and was not afraid to denounce even the cruel king. In 1547 he predicted the great fire of Moscow;