Prayers

to the Most Holy Theotokos for Every Day of the Week

by Schemahieromonk St. Nilus of Sora Skete (1870)

TranslatedbyHieromonkIoannikiosfrom:IzbrannyiaMolitvyBozhiejMateri,Jordanville,1971.

Sunday:
AllmercifulVirginTheotokos,Motherofcompassionsandloveformankind,mymostbelovedhopeand
aspiration!0MotherofthemostsweetandmostdesiredSavior,Whoexceedetheverylove,JesusChrist,
theLoverofmankindandmyGod,theLightofmydarkenedsoul!I,theexceedingsinfulandhopelessone,
falldownbeforethee,totheeImakemyprayer,0wellspringofcompassion,VirginMary,whodidstbear
theAbyssofcompassionandDepthofmerciesandloveformankind:Havemercyonme,havemercyonme,
Ipainfullycrytothee;havemercyonmewhoamallinwounds,whohavefallenamongbrutishthievesand
whoam,alas!,strippednakedofthegarmentinwhichtheFatherclothedme.WhereforeIliestrippedof
everygooddeed,mywoundsstinkingandfesteringbeforemymadness.MyMistress,Theotokos,lookdown
onme,Ihumblypraythee,withthymercifuleyeanddespisemenot,whoamallindarkness,allinfilth,all
immersedinthemireofpassions,terriblyfallenandunabletostand.Dothoutakepityonmeandgrantme
ahelpinghand,liftmeupoutofsinfuldepths,0myJoy!Delivermefromthemthatsurroundme;makethy
facetoshineuponthyservant;savetheperishing,cleansethefilthy,raiseuptheterriblefallen:forthou
canstdoallthings,asthouarttheMotherofGodAlmighty.Pourforthonmetheoilofthycompassionand
grantmetooverflowthewineofcompunction,forIhaveacquiredtheeastrulytheonlyhopeinmylife;
turnthounotawayfrommewhofleetothee,butbeholdmygrief,0Virgin,andthelongingofmysouland
acceptthisprayerandsaveme,0thoutheMediatressofmysalvation.Amen.

Monday:
Frompollutedlipsacceptthouaprayer,0unblemished,pureandmostpureVirginTheotokos,anddespise
notmywords,0myJoy,butlookdownonmeandhavepity,0MotherofmyMaker.Duringmylifetimedo
thounotabandonme,forthouknowest,0Mistress,thatIplaceallmyhopeontheeandallmineaspiringis
alterthee.Wherefore,atthetimealsoofmydeath,standthoubeforeme,0myhelper,andbenotthen
ashamed of me. For I know, 0 Virgin, that I am guilty of many sins, and I, the wretched one, tremble,
contemplatingthathour.Butthou,myJoy,revealuntomethenthypresence,workthymercymarvelously
uponme,0Mediatressofmysalvation.Rescueme,0Mistress,fromthecrueltyofthedemons,andfrom
thefearsomeandterribletrialofthespiritsoftheair,anddelivermefromtheirmalice,andtransformall
that grief and sorrow into joy by thine enlightenment and grant me to pass unharmed through the
principalitiesandpowersofdarknessandtoattaintoworshipatthethroneofglorybeforeChristourGod
WhositteththerewithHisBeginninglessFatherandAllHolySpirit.Amen.

Tuesday:
0 My most holy Mistress, the Theotokos, who art far more honorable than the angels and archangels,
cherubimandseraphim,andfarmoreholythanallthesaints,0VirginMotherofGod!Saveme,thyhumble
andsinfulservant,forthouknowest,allmercifulLady,that,alterGod,Iplaceallmyhopeinthee,andthat
Ihavenootherrefugeofsalvationbutthee,0allgoodone.Thouartmystrength,0Mistress,thouartmy
power,thoumyrejoicinginsorrows,thoumyhavenintemptations,thoumycorrectioninfalls,thoualso
mineallhopedforsalvation,0MotherofmyLordandMaker!Helpme,whosailuponthedepthsofthislife,
terriblybesetandendangeredbydrowninginsin.Grantmeahelpinghand,myhelper,anddelivermefrom
themireofthedeep,thatInotsinkdownintotheabyssofdespair:forthestormofsinsandpassionshath
risenagainstmeandthewavesoftransgressionsoverwhelmme.Butdothou,0compassionateMother,
thouhavenofpassionlessness,directandsaveme,0hopeofthehopelessandmediatressofmysalvation.
Amen.

Wednesday:
0Theotokos,thouartmyhope,thouartawallandhavenofgoodhopeandarefugeofsalvationformewho
amexhaustedbythepresenceofpassions!Savemefromallmineenemiesthatpersecutemysoulandhunt
foritwithvarioustemptations;foronthewaywhereinIwalktheyhavehiddenmanysnaresforme,many
scandals,manyhardships,manydeceptions,andmanyafflictionsofsoulandbodysnaremeintosinfulfalls
andI,thewretchedone,havealreadyfallenintothetrapsoftheenemyandamboundandheldbythem;
andwhatshallIdo,Ithedespairingone?Iknownot!ForifIseektorepeat,Iamheldbylackoffeelingsand
hardnessofheartandasingletear!Alasformycursedstate!Alasformydeprivation!Alasformypoverty!
Towhomthen,canIturn,Itheguiltyone?Onlytothee,thecompassionateMotherofourLordandSavior,
thehopeofthehopeless,thewallandprotectionofthemthatfleeuntothee!Turnnotawayfrommewho
amfilthy:Ihavetheeastheonlyconsolationinmylife,0VirginMaryTheotokos,andtotheealoneinevery
needdoIfleewithboldness;donotabandonme,then,inthislifeandatthehourofmydeathcomethou
tomineaid,0myhelper,thatallmineenemiesmaybeholdtheeandbeputtoshame,beingconqueredby
thee,0Mistress,Mediatressofmysalvation.Amen.

Thursday:
Whocanworthilyblessthee,AllholyVirgin;whatlipsarecapableofhymningthymajestywhichsurpasseth
allconceiving?Mostgloriousareallthemysteriesfulfilledinthee,0Theotokos,loftierthanthoughtand
word.Atthebeautyofthyvirginityandthymostradiantpuritythecherubimdidmarvelandtheseraphim
werestruckwithawe;forthemiracleoftheChildbirthwithoutcorruptionneitherhumannorangelictongue
cantell.ForfromtheetheAgelessandOnlybegottenSonofGod,GodtheWord,ineffiablytookflesh,was
bornandlivedamongmen;andthee,asHisMother,hathHegreatlymagnified,revealingtheeastheQueen
ofallcreationandforusthesignalrefugeofsalvation.Wherefore,allthatfleeunderthyprotection,being
assailedbyvarioussorrowsandafflictions,receivefromtheeconsolationandhealinginabundanceandby
theearesavedfromdangers.ForthouarttrulytheMotherofallthatsorrowandareheavyladen,thejoyof
thegrieving,thehealerofthesick,thepreserverofyouths,thestaffofoldage,thegloryoftherighteous,
thesinnershopeofsalvationandguidetorepentance;forthoudosteverhelpallwiththyprotectionand
dostintercedeforallthatfleetotheewithfaithandlove,0thouallgoodone.Dothoualsohelpmewho
amindespairovermydeeds,0ferventMediatressfortheChristianrace:Intercedethouforme,thatInot
perishuntiltheendinsins;forIhavenootherrefugeandprotection,butthee,theMistressofmylife:
Abandonmenot,despisemenot,butbythyjudgmentsthatthouthyselfdostknow,dothousaveme,for
blessedartthouuntoagesofages.Amen.

Friday:
TotheedoIentrustmylifeforprotectionand,onthee,alterGod,doIplaceallhopeofmysalvation,0
MistressandVirginTheotokos.I,thyservant,praythee,despisenotmewhohavemanysins,butbeholdmy
sorrowandmyperplexityoverthemandgrantmereliefandconsolation,thatInotperishtotheend.Stretch
forththyrighthand,0pureone,liftmefromthemireofmydeedsandplacemeinthepurepastureofthe
commandmentsofChrist,myKingandGod,thatImayeveractstrengthenedbyThee.Deliverme,0Lady,
frommyterriblesinsandbythymotherlyintercessionbeforethySonandGodsendmerepentanceunto
salvation.ThouwhodidstshowforththeineffableLight,enlightenmyspiritualdarknessandthesinfullness
whichlieththere.0myJoy,delivermefromtheinvisibleenemiesthatsurroundme;formysinsaremany
andtheyareheavy,myenemiesareveryfierce,deathisnear,myconsciencedothaccuseme,thefiery
GehennadothTerrifyme,theunsleepingworm,thegnashingofteeth,theouterdarknessofTartarusdo
bringmetotrembling,fortheyseektotakemeinbecauseofmyevildeeds.Woeisme!WhatshallIdothen,
andtowhomshallIflee,thatmysoulbesaved?Totheealone,0sweetTheotokosMary,whoclothsweeten
thebitternessofdeathforthemthathopeintheeandwhodothdeliverthemthatcryuntotheefromterrible
Gehenna.Dothoualsohelpme,0allgoodone,forthenIshallhavenootherhelpbutthee,allhymnedone.
Savemethenfromtheterrorsofthehourofdeathandtheferocityofthedemons;savemefromthepower
ofthemaliciousspiritsatthetrialsoftheairafterdeath:Reveal,Ipraythee,revealtomethenthymost
radiantpresence,OMistress,anddothounotabandonmethehelplessone.

0compassionateMother!Stoopdowntomercytowardsmewhoamdeprivedofmercybymydeedsanddo
thoubeseechHimWhomthoudidstbearintheflesh,evenChristourGodandSavior,Whodidpourforth
Hismostpurebloodonthecross,thatIalsomayreceiveforgivenessofsinsandeternalsalvationandglorify
thineunspeakablecompassion,0Theotokos,andthymercifulintercession,throughoutendlessages.Amen.

Saturday:
Rejoice, 0 Virgin Theotokos, thou haven and protection of mine impoverished soul, my sweet hope of
salvation!Rejoice,thouwhofromtheangeldidstreceivethejoyofthegoodtidingsthatGodtheWordwas
totakefleshofthee!Rejoice,thouwhodidstbeartheCreatorofallwithinthywomb!Rejoice,thouwho
didst give birth to God in the flesh, the Savior of the world! Rejoice, thou who didst preserve virginity
uncorruptedinchildbirth!Rejoice,thouwhodidstreceivegiftsfromthemagianddidstbeholdtheirworship
ofHimWhowastbornoftheeanddidstheartheshepherdsmostgloriouswordsconcerningHimanddidst
layallthesethingsupinthyheart!Rejoice,thouwhodidstjoyfullyfindthechildJesus,thySonandGod,in
thetempleamongtheteachersoftheLaw!Rejoice,thouwhodidstbeartheterriblepainofanguishatthe
cross,crucifixionanddeathofthySonandGod!Rejoice,thouwhoaftersuchtrialswasradiantlygladdened
bytheresurrectionofsweetestJesusonthethirdday!Rejoice,thouwhodidstbeholdtheascensionofthy
SonandGodinheavenlyglory!Rejoice,thouwhotogetherwiththedisciplesoftheLorddidstreceivefrom
HimtheHolySpirit,Whichwassentdownontheupperroomintheformoffierytongues!Rejoice,thouthat
didstlivelikeanangelonearth!Rejoice,thouthatdidstsurpassinpurityandholinessalltheangelicorders
andallthechoirsofsaints!Rejoice,thouthatartmagnifiedwithglorybythecomingtotheeofthySonand
God!Rejoice,thouthatdidstentrustthysoulintoHisholyhands!Rejoice,thouthatgloriouslywasttaken
upbodilyintoheaven!Rejoice,thouthatdidstappeartotheGodbeholdingapostlesonthethirddayafter
thyrepose!Rejoice,thouthatartcrownedintheheavensbytheFatherandtheSonandtheHolySpiritwith
thediademoftheeternalkingdom!Rejoice,thouthathastbeenenthronedinglorynearthethroneofthe
AllholyTrinity!Rejoice,thouthroughwhomGodisreconciledwithman!Rejoice,Queenrulingoverthings
heavenlyandearthly!Rejoice,fornothingisimpossibleforthineintercession!Rejoice,forallthatfleeto
theewithfi~tharesaved!Rejoice,forbytheethegrievingfindconsolation,theailinghealing,theafflicted
timelyhelp!Ithenpraythee,0Mistressfullofgrace,extinguishinmesinfulsorrowandgrantmethejoyof
salvation,consolingtears,constantcompunction,truerepentanceandperfectcorrection.Despisemenot,
OMistress,butmercifullyreceivethesejoyfulcriesofferedtotheebymethepoorone,andcomethouto
mineaidatthetimeofmyhelplessness,inthatterriblehourwhenmysoulwillbepartedfrommycursed
body;come,then,Ipray,tomineaidanddeliverme,whoamguiltyinsin,fromtheeternalpunishment,that
IappearnotajoytodemonsandfoodforthefieryGehenna.Yea,myMistress,permitnotmysoultosee
theterribleandfearsomethreatandtormentofthedemonspreparedforsinners,butdothougobeforeme
andsavemethyservantinthatterriblehour,thatImayglorifytheeuntotheages,mineonlyhopeandthe
Mediatressofmysalvation.Amen.