by St. Philotheos, Patriarch of Constantinople (+1379)
Truly immaculate and most-pure
Virgin and Theotokos, an awesome miracle to angels, an inexplicable wonder to
mankind, or rather - in reality - an awesome and incomprehensible miracle to
both: you are the very beginning of our race, the most pure vessel of divinity,
the workplace of our salvation; and - in a way beyond any thought and reason,
out of extreme goodness - you did bring to us the One of the Trinity, our Lord
Jesus Christ, Who is perfect God and perfect man, and Who came to be united to
our fallen human nature and thereby to save it and restore it to its original
high dignity.
You are the restoration of those
who fall, and - after the salvific economy of God the Word - you did also,
without hesitation, deliver me from many dangers — unworthy as I am of any help
and providence, for I sin arbitrarily in every way, time and place. Look now,
again upon my wretchedness, and visit me often; for I am overcome, and do not
know what will happen to me. If I look upon the multitude of my innumerable
sins, I see myself far away from [the] dread Mysteries; and altogether
unworthy. Again - if I do not draw near for a long time, being afraid to
participate unto my condemnation - I become completely subservient to the
adversary. Therefore, by throwing the great multitude of my transgressions into
the ocean of the ineffable compassion of your Son and God, and by proposing you
as a strong mediator, I take courage and draw near.
I implore thee, O immaculate
Lady, make use of your motherly boldness before Him; and make Him merciful to
me. Yea, O most-pure one, stay before me and do not abhor me --- the one who is
conquered by many sins, and defiled and abused by deeds, words, movements of
mind, and the myriad of devices and designs and well-contrived demonic
deceptions through all of the senses. Show yourself to be my co-worker
even in this time, by beseeching the Lord - Who is most conciliatory and
forgiving - not to reject me and prove me empty of His Grace. May He overlook
my numerous transgressions, and through His Holy Body and His sacred and
Life-giving Blood, sanctify, illumine, save and make me a son of light —
walking and directing myself towards His holy commandments.
Let me not return again and be
defiled by sin, so that I may participate, without condemnation, in the
immaculate awesome gift of Grace — now and in the future. Let me also receive
the most perfect promise: to escape eternal punishment, and to be made worthy
of eternal life, through you, who art my sure hope and protectress, that I may
glorify and magnify Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Most-Holy and blessed
Trinity unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Source: Orthodox Heritage, Vol. 10, Issue 07-08, July-August
2012, p. 32.
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