Prayer before the Panagia Tricherousa (Virgin with Three Hands)

 

O Most-holy and Most-blessed Virgin Theotokos Mary! We fall down and venerate thee before thy holy icon, recalling thy most glorious miracle, manifested through thine icon, of the healing of the severed hand of St. John Damascene, a sign of which is visible to this day in the form of a third hand, attached to thine image. We pray to thee and implore thee, O All-good and All-generous Protectress of our race: hearken unto us who pray to thee and, as thou didst hearken to the blessed John, who cried out to thee in his sorrow and pain, likewise disdain us not, who are in sorrow and pain from the wounds of multifarious passions, and who earnestly hasten to thee with broken and humbled souls. Thou seest, All-merciful Lady, our infirmity and oppression, and our need for thy help and protection; for we are surrounded by enemies on all sides and have neither helper nor protector if thou wilt not have mercy on us, O Sovereign Lady. Yea, we pray unto thee: attend unto our voice of pain and help us to preserve unsullied the Orthodox Faith of the Holy Fathers for the rest of our lives; to walk unwaveringly in all the commandments of the Lord; to offer always true repentance to God for our sins; and to be vouchsafed a peaceful Christian end and a good answer at the Dread Judgment of thy Son and our God. Beseech Him for us, by thy maternal prayers, that He not condemn us according to our iniquities, but that He have mercy on us, according to His great and ineffable mercy. O All-good One! Hearken unto us and deprive us not of thy mighty help that, having obtained salvation through thee, we who dwell on earth might hymn and glorify thee and Him Who was born of thee, our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom is due glory and dominion, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.