Supplication Service – Sung during a Threatening Pandemic
12 November 2020| Composed in Greek by Metropolitan Cyril of Rhodes |
| Translated in meter by Fr. Seraphim Dedes |
| Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us |
| READER |
| Amen. |
| Psalm 142 (143). |
| O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant. |
| Then “God is the Lord” is sung four times, with or without the verses. |
| CHOIR |
| Mode 4. |
| God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. |
| Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name. |
| God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. |
| Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them. |
| God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. |
| Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes. |
| God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. |
| Troparia. |
| Mode 4. You who were lifted. |
| As the physician of the sick and the suffering, * and as the helper of the faithful who hope in You, * O gracious Lord, who wills that all humanity be saved, * from Your throne of majesty, look upon us with mercy; * hear our voice out of the depths, as we cry to You saying: * We all entreat You, free us from the threat * of this pandemic, O God most compassionate. |
| Glory. Both now. |
| Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody. |
| We the unworthy shall not ever be silent, * O Theotokos, from proclaiming your powers. * For were you not concerned to intercede for us, * who would have delivered us * from such manifold dangers, * and who else would up to now * have preserved us in freedom? * O Lady, we shall not depart from you, * for you ever save your servants * from evils of every kind. |
| READER |
| Psalm 50 (51). |
| Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. |
| CHOIR |
| The Canon |
| which has as an Acrostic, using the Theotokion of each Ode: “Seraphim.” |
| Ode i. Mode pl. 4. Of old when the Israelite. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| O all-holy Trinity, our one God, * show Your great compassion towards us who have been debased. * Drive away the awful scourge that found us, * and end the deadly pandemic afflicting us. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Compassionate Master, the current plague * suddenly assailed us; it afflicts us in heart and soul. * Come quickly, deliver us and save us. * We are Your people, whose hope rests in You alone. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| Hear the prayers of God-bearing Hierarchs * Apostles and Prophets, holy Martyrs and the Devout, * and save us Your people from the dangers * of the pandemic, O merciful Lord of all. |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| Sweet refuge are you for us in despair, * Lady Theotokos. Blessed Virgin, we pray to you: * Comfort us as we are now enduring * the current plague and pandemic afflicting us. |
| Ode iii. O divine Master Builder. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| We Your servants are weeping within our hearts. Hear our sighs, * in Your tender love and great mercy, Lord, most compassionate. * Obliterate the threat of the pandemic and virus * quickly from the cities of Your children everywhere. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Holy Trinity, one God, O most benevolent Lord, * faithfully we fall to our knees and implore You earnestly. * Come to us, whom you made, in Your compassion have mercy. * Free us from the injury and hardship of the plague. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| You behold now Your servants’ humiliation, O Lord. * Hear us as we pray, and forgive us our many trespasses. * O Master, in Your great and most abundant compassion, * rescue all humanity from this calamity. |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| Ever keep us the faithful, who pray to you earnestly, * safe from all disease and the virus that plagues us even now. * You are the most extolled Virgin who bore God our Savior, * who has borne the weaknesses and ills of all mankind. |
| Deliver us, O Holy Trinity. Save us, O Lord of mercy, * from the distress and affliction the plague has caused, * for in Your love for humanity You wish to save all. |
| Look graciously upon your servant, all-praiseworthy Theotokos, and upon my painful physical suffering, and remedy my anguish of spirit. |
| CHOIR |
| Kathisma. |
| Mode 2. In seeking the heights. |
| Our one God and Lord, O all-holy Trinity, * this deadly pandemic has spread throughout the world. * We Your people pray to You: * Rescue us, and make everyone well again. * For Your mercy abounds throughout the earth, * and we worship only You, O almighty God. |
| Ode iv. I have heard the report. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| O compassionate Lord and God, * as an inexhaustible sea of tender love, * please do not allow humanity * to languish and perish from contagious disease. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Now we tearfully pray to You: * Savior, have compassion on our society, * and eventually change the grief * of this deadly outbreak of disease to joy. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| In Your love for humanity, * take pity on us, Lord, and hear us when we pray. * Being merciful, deliver us * from the great distress that has befallen us. |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| Reinvigorate everyone * during this pandemic, and make us strong again, * O pure Maiden, as we turn to you * for protection, ever-virgin Mother of God. |
| Ode v. Sovereign Lord our God. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Earnestly we pray, * O our Savior very merciful: * Straight away avert the spread of the disease, * for we know no other God and Lord except for You. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Shelter us, we pray, * in the shelter of Your wings, O Lord, * and preserve our life in happiness and health, * in the wealth of Your compassion, O almighty God. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| Righteous are You, Lord, * and Your judgment is upright as well. * Yet, we pray You quickly rescue all mankind, * which You love, from the pandemic that is killing us. |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| All-immaculate, * virgin Maiden, kindly look on us, * and preserve our life, and grant that we escape * the impending threat of deadly virus and disease. |
| Ode vi. I pour out my supplication. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Ineffable is Your love for humankind, * whereby You took our infirmities, O Savior. * We now entreat You, O good One, to free us * from the pandemic and thoughts of complete despair * that we inevitably have; * and we pray You forgive our offenses all. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| The marvelous signs and wonders that You do * are innumerable, merciful Master. * We pray You stop the onset of pandemic * as You rebuked winds and sea and You calmed the storm; * and navigate us back to health, * like a ship to a calm port and anchorage. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| Confronted with the likelihood of widespread death * from the current epidemic, O Savior, * we turn to You, and with tears we implore You * with hands uplifted, and cry out, O loving Lord, * as Your disciples did of old, * “Master, help us, for now we are perishing!” |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| Protect us, who accurately glorify * Christ as God, whom you ineffably mothered. * Being maternal in love and affection, * O Theotokos, convince Him to pity us * and to deliver from the plague * all your people, for whom He became a man. |
| Deliver us, O Holy Trinity. Save us, O Lord of mercy, * from the distress and affliction the plague has caused, * for in Your love for humanity You wish to save all. |
| Entreat for us, * O spotless Maiden who gave birth to the divine Word * inexplicably through a word in the latter days, * since you indeed * speak with motherly freedom. |
| CHOIR |
| Kontakion. |
| Mode 2. In the pools of your blood. |
| Almighty Lord, we entreat You to demonstrate * that Your great love for mankind is indeed immense. * Be merciful, save us and pity us, * Your faithful people who sing prayerful hymns to You, * and free us from plague and calamity. |
| Prokeimenon. Mode 4. |
| Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your power. (2) |
| Verse: O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. |
| Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your power. |
| The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. |
| (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) |
| Mt. 8:1-4 |
| At that time, when Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” |
| (Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.) |
| CHOIR |
| Glory. Mode 2. |
| Father, Word and Spirit, the Trinity in Union, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses. |
| Both now. |
| At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offences. |
| Mode pl. 2. When the saints deposited. |
| Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. |
| Loving Lord, whose will it is that all be saved, O humane God, * You came that we may have life, * and have it abundantly. * You do not want death. * We, who are wretched now, * often have provoked You; * but we worship You exclusively. * We hope in You alone; * we have no protector except for You. * And so we run to You for help. * Praying in repentance, we cry to You: * Loving Lord, be gracious to us who have committed many sins, * and save Your people, and rescue us, * from the storm of deadly plague. |
| CHOIR |
| Lord, have mercy. (12) |
| CHOIR |
| Ode vii. The Servants from Judea. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| We entrust to You only * every hope of salvation, O Lord who gives us life. * We pray that You will save us * from this deadly pandemic, * in Your mercy, as we cry out * and say: “O blessed are You * the God of our fathers.” |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| You have worked many wonders * for the sake of mankind, Lord who loves humanity. * We pray You now deliver * Your people from this current * epidemic, as we cry out * and sing: “O blessed are You * the God of our fathers.” |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| Under threat of a deadly * epidemic, we find ourselves in profound distress. * We pray to You: Have mercy, * O Life-Giver, and save us! * We Your people cry out to You * and say: “O blessed are You * the God of our fathers.” |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| Having borne the Redeemer * of humanity, Virgin most pure, ineffably, * entreat Him to inhibit * the spread of the pandemic * that has plagued the entire world; * and with your motherly grace, * give us your calming comfort. |
| Ode viii. O praise and bless Him. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Merciful Savior, * we hope and trust in You only, * and we pray to You and earnestly implore You: * Save us from the harm of the deadly epidemic. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| Arise, O Master, * and save mankind from this crisis * that befell us. You, O Savior, are the only * hope of those who suffer from illness and misfortune. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| Grant us forgiveness * of sins, O Lord and Life-giver, * and take pity on us now humiliated. * Grant to us, your people, Your grace as health insurance. |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| In this pandemic, * which like a storm has disturbed us, * may the grace of your divine intercession * be for us haven of calm, O Theotokos. |
| Ode ix. You are the Theotokos. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| O Savior, hear our voices * when we call upon You; * for we Your servants are troubled and cry to You. * Deliver us from the danger of a contagious disease. |
| Holy Trinity, our God, have mercy on us and save us. |
| O Lord, display the ocean * of Your love for mankind, * and let Your mercies, O Savior, be magnified; * and from the plague and contagious diseases rescue us. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
| Haralambos the Martyr * is known for combating * the plague. O Lord, by his prayers rescue us from it, * and we shall sing, glorifying your mighty power, O God. |
| Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| Theotokion. |
| My Lady, Virgin Mary, * full of grace and most pure, * you are the ready assistance for all mankind. * We pray you grant perfect health to those who are suffering. |
| Megalynaria. |
| It is truly right to call you blest, O Theotokos, the ever-blessed and all-blameless one and the Mother of our God. |
| Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. |
| Physician of bodies and souls alike, * compassionate Master, we implore You and we entreat, * forgive and remit every sin of ours, O Savior, * and rescue us Your servants from the pandemic’s wrath. |
| Fear of the pandemic has gripped the hearts * of all of Your servants, O compassionate Lord and God. * Quickly come and save us, we earnestly entreat You, * invoking Your great mercy, Savior most merciful. |
| Savior, we will all never cease to be * the sheep of Your pasture, even though we have many sins. * Please do not despise or ignore our supplication; * end, rather, the upheaval caused by the current plague. |
| Truly from the ages, O gracious God, * and unto the ages is Your mercy and love for man. * Therefore, now, according to its abundance, rescue * a multitude of people from the impending plague. |
| Lord, do not ignore us in our distress, * anxious as we are now, and beside ourselves with the fear * of catching a painful disease that may be fatal. * We pray You quickly save us from this calamity. |
| Join the Theotokos, all you arrays * of angelic powers, honored Forerunner of the Lord, * holy Twelve Apostles * and all the Saints together, * and pray for our salvation, and intercede for us. |
| READER |
| Trisagion Prayers. |
| Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3) |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. |
| All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. |
| Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
| Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to 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. |
| CHOIR |
| Amen. |
| Mode pl. 2. |
| Have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. For with nothing to say in our own defense, we sinners offer this supplication to you our Master. Have mercy on us. |
| Glory. |
| Lord have mercy on us, for in You we trust. Be not enraged with us greatly, nor remember our iniquities. But look upon us now, being compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we Your people, all of us the work of Your hands, and now we have invoked Your name. |
| Both now. Theotokion. |
| Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of the Christian race. |
| CHOIR |
| Mode 2. Joseph took You down. |
| Hold us, O our tender-loving God, * in this time when we are unsettled for fear of threatening plague. * Be there for us, as our Lord who loves humanity, * and protect us according to Your great and rich mercy. * Graciously accept our voices as we sing these prayers. * And give heed to helping Your people, * in the wealth of Your tender-mercies; * for with ardent faith we put our hope in You. |
| Lady, receive the supplications of your servants, and rescue us from all necessity and affliction. |
| O Mother of God, I have committed my every hope wholly unto you. Keep me under your shelter. |
| Prayer for the Current Pandemic |
| Forbearing and merciful, loving and compassionate, Almighty Lord, who brought our nature into being and having fallen once again raised us. Who sent Your only-begotten Son, Savior and Redeemer, and Benefactor healing the passions of body and soul. Do You, forbearing Master, look down upon us and hearken to our entreaty in our day of sorrow. Safeguard us from the coming upon all the earth of the plague-bearing threat. Lord, take away affliction and fear. The darkness of death surrounds us. Remember Your innumerable acts of compassion; reveal to us the depths of Your mercy; do not let us be destroyed because of the multitude of our sins. Hearken unto the voice of our prayer from deep within us as it cries out to You. Do not turn Your face away from us nor turn away from your creatures in wrath. Be our aid and deliverer. O our God and Savior, do not reject or abandon us but come and redeem us. Draw near in Your customary kindness. Crush the power of the illness-bearing plague; disgrace its violence, pain and dejection, transforming it to joy. Preside over calm for humanity. By Your power greatly aid those serving in the field of health. Raise us from our bed of pain and from our bedding of affliction. Grant health to those who have contracted the illness. Give rest in the tentings of the Saints to those who have surrendered their lives to the virus. Grant consolation to their families. For You are the physician of our souls and bodies and to You we offer glory, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and unto ages of ages. |
| (Amen.) |
| Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us [and save us]. |
| (Amen.) |
