Monday, September 14, 2009

Two Prayers of Elder Leonid of Optina

Perhaps these prayers will be useful to someone.

For a suicide:
‘Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father; if it is possible, have mercy! Unsearchable are Thy judgments. Account not my prayer as sin. But may Thy holy will be done!’



For a loved one who died outside the Holy Orthodox Christian Faith:

“Have mercy, O Lord, if it is possible, on the soul of Thy servant (name), departed to eternal life in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church! Unsearchable are Thy judgments. Account not this my prayer as sin. But may Thy holy will be done!”


There is much more said about these circumstances of death and the prayers an Orthodox Christian can and should pray. You can read the whole thing here.

1 comment:

Athanasia said...

Thank you for sharing these Matt. I pray the first prayer for those who have given voice to me personally of their rejection of God.