The Eastern Rosary

St. Seraphim of Sarov prayed the Rosary daily! The Russian Rule of the Mother of God consists of praying 150 Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God prayers (Hail Marys) a day. Some of the mysteries here are the same as the 12 Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church (Annunciation, Nativity, Ascension, Dormition) while others, especially the Sorrowful Mysteries, have a more Latin emphasis.

Icon of the Queen of Angels courtesy of Monastery Icons + = Make the sign of the cross. Start at the crucifix: + In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come dwell within us, cleanse us from all our sins and save our souls, O gracious Lord. From Easter until Ascension leave out Glory to Thee and Heavenly King and instead say three times Christ is

risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. From Ascension until Pentecost, simply make the sign of the cross In the Name of the Father before continuing as usual with: + Holy God, holy and Mighty, holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times) + Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. Most holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Thy Names sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. + Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. Then at the first large bead on the pendant: + 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. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have no defence: this prayer do we as sinners offer Thee as Master, have mercy on us. + Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have hoped in Thee. Be not angry with us greatly nor remember our iniquities, but have mercy on us now for Thou art compassionate and deliver us from our enemies. For Thou art our God and we Thy people; all are the works of Thy hands and we call upon Thy name. Both now and ever and forever. Amen. Open unto us the doors of compassion, O holy Mother of God, for hoping in thee we will not perish, but through thee will we be delivered from all adversities, for thou art the salvation of Christians. Lord, have mercy. (12 times) + Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. + O come, let us worship God our King. + O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God. + O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.

Then you may say Psalm 50 (51), Have mercy on me, O God or another appropriate psalm and the Nicene Creed, I believe in one God, the Father almighty. Then at the first small bead on the pendant: + Glory to the Father, who hast made us, both now now and ever and forever. Amen. Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. Then at the second small bead on the pendant: + Glory to the Son, who hast redeemed us, both now and ever and forever. Amen.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. Then at the third small bead on the pendant: + Glory to the Holy Spirit, who hast enlightened us, both now and ever and forever. Amen. Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. + Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and forever. Amen. The decades or mysteries are as in the Latin (Dominican) Rosary, with an Our Father, 10 Rejoice O Virgin Mother of God (Hail Mary) prayers and the Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. After each decade one may say the Ftima prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. The mysteries are: JOYFUL: Annunciation, Visitation of Our Lady to St Elisabeth, Nativity of Christ, Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple. SORROWFUL: Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowning with Thorns, Jesus Carries the Cross, Crucifixion. GLORIOUS: Resurrection, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit, Dormition/Assumption and Crowning of Our Lady in Glory in Heaven. Traditionally you pray the Joyful Mysteries Mondays and Thursdays, the Sorrowful Mysteries Tuesdays and Fridays, and the Glorious Mysteries Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In 2002 the Pope added another set of mysteries that may be prayed Thursdays, changing Saturdays set to another round of the Joyful ones. LUMINOUS: Baptism of Christ in the Jordan (Theophany, ), the Wedding at Cana, Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom, the Transfiguration () and the Institution of the Eucharist. Closing Prayer JOYFUL MYSTERIES: It is truly proper to glorify thee, who hast borne God, the ever-blessed and immaculate and the Mother of our God! More honorable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim art thou, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word. Thou truly the Mother of God, we magnify!

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