A Prayer in Time of Drought

by Saint Gregory Palamas

 

 

O Lord, Almighty God, pre-existing before all ages and abiding for ever, Who hast made all out of nothing and hast encompassed heaven in wisdom; Who supportest Thine upper chambers in the waters, and appointest the clouds for Thine ascent; Who bringest clouds up from the uttermost ends of the earth and waterest the mountains from Thine upper chambers; Who dost collect the water of the sea and abundantly pour it out again onto the face of the whole earth that it may be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works: we pray and implore Thee, Who art slow to anger and quick to help; turn not Thy face from us who pray to Thee because of the multitude of our failings. We know that our life is not worthy of Thine ineffable emptying for our sake, thy condescension into Hades and Thy most glorious return. But we also know Thine invincible love for mankind and Thine inexhaustible goodness. Hence, we throw ourselves into the ocean of Thy compassions and offer Thee this fervent supplication and implore Thee: take not Thy mercy away from those who ask and expect from Thine all-effective and supremely good providence a rain of goodness; but command Thy clouds to rain and to give us a fruitful shower; thus Thou wilt grant a voluntary rain to Thine inheritance and transform the drought and dryness into good weather, both healthy and wholesome. Fill the face of the earth with good weather and send down on it a fruitful rain that it may bring forth for us bread to eat, wine that maketh glad the heart of man and grass for the cattle. The eyes of all hope in Thee that they may receive from Thee food in due season. We have put our trust in Thee and we know none other God save Thee. For Thou art a merciful and man-befriending God, and to Thee do we send up glory, together with Thy Father Which is without beginning, and the life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

Source: Orthodox Christian Witness, Vol. XXIX, No. 47 (1402), October 14/27, 1996, p. 7.