Prayer before the Icon of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God

O, Virgin Mary, our Mother, the Heavenly Father has made You a Temple and instrument of the Holy Spirit, so that, receiving flesh from You, the Eternal Word entered the world and dwelt among us.

You, O Mother, have always been for us that guiding star which leads to the Father's house. As once in Cana of Galilee You spoke to our forefathers, so now You address us with the words: \"Do whatever He tells you\" (John 2:5).

Divine Shelter of sinners, be the Lord's help to us, imperfect and weak; by Your Heavenly Protection guard us from the evil that constantly threatens us. Comfort the sorrowful, as a Mother, help us when hope and strength for a good Christian life are exhausted. Together with us obtain from Your Son healing for the sick and the grace of health of soul and body for all the weak and suffering.

By the Lord's grace and wisdom teach the children love of God and people, of the Holy Church and of our dear Fatherland. Obtain for them in Christ the Savior the love of parents and teachers. Strengthen our families so that they may be strong in God.

We ask that the Lord grant the young proper strength and blessing to be faithful to God, as well as wisdom in recognizing the beauty and dignity of the human person, the value of family life, the greatness of motherhood and the responsibility of fatherhood.

May, through Your holy intercession, the Heavenly Father awaken, especially among our youth, numerous callings to priestly and pastoral, monastic and missionary, as well as evangelistic and catechetical, social‑charitable and other service, and bless them with all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit necessary for this.

And to the clergy of various traditions and rites may He grant the courage to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the joy of faithful service to Your Son in His Holy Church of Christ, which He may endow with the restoration of its unity and wholeness, as it was in the apostolic times.

In our Motherland we ask You that the Lord may enable us all to live there in a spirit of unity, true peace, brotherly love and mutual assistance, granting a sincere heart open to the needs of our neighbors and fellow citizens.

Today we entrust ourselves to Your heavenly intercession, because since the beginning of time no one has heard that anyone who has fled to you, asking for God's help, has been abandoned by you, and therefore by the Lord (prayer of St. Bernard).

We place under Your Divine Protection, O Mary, our diocese and all the parishes in its territory, that they may enjoy the proper freedom of worship. May the churches be filled with true service and the praising of God, and the faithful, with inspiration and joy, approach the Word of God and the Holy Sacraments.

Do not despise our prayers to the Lord in our sorrows, O our Lady, our Advocate, Most Holy Mother of God. Amen.

Source: kyrios.org.ua