The proclamation “Many Years” is a congratulatory prayer form used during patronal feasts. Every year these words are heard at church services. An ordinary person will say “Congratulations,” and an Orthodox person will say “It’s a lot of summer.” The literal translation of the phrase is “Many years.”
The difference between daily prayers and the proclamation “Many Years” lies in the fact that the latter text is sung at the service by an Orthodox choir. The parishioners repeat these words, congratulating each other.
Features of church congratulations
Congratulations for a long and prosperous life are proclaimed by the deacon while his voice gradually strengthens and rises. In response, the kliros (church choir) repeatedly repeats the words “Many years!”
Since the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the hymn of many years has been performed in a long melodic chant. At the end of the 17th century, several polyphonic versions of this hymn appeared in the art of singing. There was also a one-voice version - a demestine chant. The works “Many Years” by Russian composers Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (1751-1825), Pyotr Ivanovich Turchaninov (1779-1856), Alexander Dmitrievich Kastilsky, 1856-1926) and others are widely known.
The history of the chant “Many Years”
According to the Jerusalem (6th century) and Studite (9th century) Rules, at the end of Vespers there is an exclamation:
“Ton despotin ke archierea imon Kyrie filatte is polla eti despota!”
Translated into Russian, this Greek phrase means:
“O Lord, preserve our lord and bishop for many years to come!”
Since the Byzantine time of church history (since the 10th century), these words of prayer for the primate (patriarch or ruling bishop) of the Russian Orthodox Church have been sung during services without translation.
In the 7th and 8th centuries, Western Christians began to add prayers wishing for the prosperity and health of ruling kings. It had the form: “To such and such (name of the king) life (vita)!”, or: “... life and victory! (vita et victoria!)”, “... health (salus) and life!”.
In the 10th century, the hymn of many years began to be used in Byzantium as a form of greeting to the emperor. Later it appeared in Russian Orthodoxy. Thus, in Russia, since the 18th century, longevity was sung to the emperor, empress, heirs to the throne, members of the Holy Synod, the diocesan bishop, the rector of the monastery with the brethren and all Orthodox Christians. So-called victorious long-term periods for victorious commanders were also drawn up. Currently, “Many Years” can also be sung to a specific person (for example, a birthday boy), or newlyweds.
Prayers for every need
You can download the texts here
First prayer
Sweetest Jesus, God of my heart! You gave me children according to the flesh, they are Yours according to the soul; You redeemed both my soul and theirs with Your priceless blood; For the sake of Your Divine blood, I beg You, my Sweetest Savior: with Your grace, touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names), protect them with Your Divine fear, keep them from bad inclinations and habits, direct them to the bright path of life, truth and goodness, decorate their lives with everything good and saving, arrange their fate as You yourself want and save their souls in the image of fate. Lord God of our fathers! Give to my children (names) and my godsons (names) a right heart to keep Your commandments, Your revelations and Your statutes and to fulfill all this.
Second prayer
God! To the Creator of all creatures, adding mercy to mercy, You have made me worthy to be the mother of a family; Your goodness has given me children, and I dare to say: they are Your children! Because You gave them existence, revived them with an immortal soul, revived them through baptism for a life in accordance with Your will, adopted them and accepted them into the bosom of Your Church.
God! Keep them in a state of grace until the end of their lives; grant them to be partakers of the sacraments of Your Covenant; sanctify by Thy truth; may Thy holy name be sanctified in them and through them! Send down upon me Your gracious help in educating them for the glory of Your name and the benefit of your neighbor! Give me methods, patience and strength for this purpose! Teach me to plant in their hearts the root of true wisdom - Thy fear! Illuminate them with the light of the ruling universe of Your Wisdom! May they love You with all their soul and with all their thoughts, may they cleave to You with all their hearts and may they tremble at Your words throughout their entire lives! Grant me the understanding to convince them that true life consists in keeping Your commandments; that work, strengthened by piety, brings serene contentment in this life and ineffable bliss in eternity. Open to them the understanding of Your law! May they act until the end of their days in the feeling of Your omnipresence! Plant in their hearts horror and disgust from all lawlessness, may they be blameless in their ways, may they always remember that You are the All-Good God, a zealot of Your law and righteousness! Keep them in chastity and reverence for Your name! Let them not discredit Your Church by their behavior, but let them live according to its instructions! Inspire them with a desire for useful teaching and make them capable of every good deed! May they acquire a true understanding of those objects whose information is necessary in their condition; may they be enlightened with knowledge beneficial to humanity. God! Manage me to impress with indelible marks on the minds and hearts of my children the fear of partnerships with those who do not know Thy fear, to instill in them every possible distance from any alliance with the lawless. May they not listen to rotten conversations, may they not listen to frivolous people, may they not be led astray by bad examples from Your path, may they not be tempted by the fact that sometimes the path of the lawless is successful in this world! Heavenly Father! Grant me the grace to take every possible care to tempt my children with my actions, but, constantly keeping their behavior in mind, to distract them from errors, correct their mistakes, curb their stubbornness and obstinacy, refrain from striving for vanity and frivolity; Let them not be carried away by foolish thoughts, let them not follow their hearts, let them not become proud in their thoughts, let them not forget You and Your law. May iniquity not destroy their mind and health, may sins not weaken their mental and physical strength. Righteous Judge, who punishes children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generation, turn away such punishment from my children, do not punish them for my sins, but sprinkle them with the dew of Thy grace, that they may prosper in virtue and holiness, and may they grow in Thy favor and love. pious people. Father of generosity and all mercy! According to my parental feeling, I would wish for my children every abundance of earthly blessings, I would wish them blessings from the dew of heaven and from the fatness of the earth, but may Thy holy will be with them! Arrange their fate according to Your good pleasure, do not deprive them of their daily bread in life, send down to them everything they need in time to acquire a blissful eternity; be merciful to them when they sin before You; do not impute to them the sins of their youth and their ignorance, bring their hearts into contrition when they resist the guidance of Your goodness; punish them and have mercy, directing them to a path pleasing to You, but do not reject them from Your presence! Accept their prayers with favor, grant them success in every good deed, do not turn Your face away from them in the days of their sorrow, so that temptations beyond their strength may not befall them. Overshadow them with Your mercy, may Your angel walk with them and save them from every misfortune and evil path, All-Good God! Make me a mother who rejoices over her children, so that they will be my joy in the days of my life and my support in my old age. Honor me, with trust in Your mercy, to appear with them at Your Last Judgment and with unworthy boldness to say: “Here I am and my children whom You gave me, Lord!” Yes, together with them glorifying Your ineffable goodness and eternal love, I extol Your most holy name, Father, Son and Holy Soul, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer three
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, hear me, unworthy of a servant (name). Lord, in Your merciful power are my children, Your servants (names). Have mercy and save them, for Thy name's sake. Lord, forgive them all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that they committed before You.
Lord, guide them on the true path of Your commandments and enlighten their minds with the light of Christ for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body. Lord, bless them at home, at school, on the road, and in every place of Your dominion. Lord, protect them under Your holy shelter from a flying bullet, poison, fire, from a deadly ulcer and vain death.
Lord, protect them from all visible and invisible enemies, from all illness, cleanse them from all filth and ease their mental suffering. Lord, grant them the grace of Your Holy Spirit for many years of life, health, chastity.
Lord, increase and strengthen their mental abilities and physical strength, which You have given them, Your blessing for a pious and, if You wish, family life and shameless childbearing.
Lord, grant to me, Thy unworthy and sinful servant (name), a parental blessing on my children and Thy servant at this time of morning, day, night for the sake of Thy name, for Thy Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen.
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Second prayer
Mother of God, lead me into the image of Your heavenly motherhood. Heal the mental and physical wounds of my children (names) caused by my sins. I entrust my child entirely to my Lord Jesus Christ and Your, Most Pure, heavenly protection. Amen.
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Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Holy Guardian Angel of my children (names), cover them with your protection from the arrows of the demon, from the eyes of the seducer, and keep their hearts in angelic purity. Amen.
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Prayer for children who have difficulty learning
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, truly dwelling in the hearts of the twelve apostles and by the power of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, who descended in the form of tongues of fire, and opened their mouths, so that they began to speak in other dialects! Lord Jesus Christ Himself, our God, send down Your Holy Spirit on this youth (name) and plant in his heart the Holy Scripture, which Your most pure hand inscribed on the tablets of the lawgiver Moses, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for unbaptized babies
Remember, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, the souls of Your departed servants, the infants who in the womb of Orthodox mothers died accidentally from unknown actions, or from a difficult birth, or from some carelessness and therefore did not receive the sacrament of holy baptism. Baptize them, O Lord, in the sea of Your bounties and save them with Your ineffable grace. Amen.
Prayer for pregnant women
O Most Glorious Mother of God, have mercy on me, Your servant, and come to my aid during my illnesses and dangers, with which all the poor daughters of Eve give birth to children.
Remember, O Blessed One among women, with what joy and love You went hastily to the mountainous country to visit Your relative Elizabeth during her pregnancy, and what a wonderful effect Your gracious visit had on both mother and baby.
And according to Your inexhaustible mercy, grant me, Your most humble servant, to be safely relieved of my burden; Grant me this grace, so that the child who now rests under my heart, having come to his senses, with a joyful leap, like the holy baby John, will worship the Divine Lord Savior, Who, out of love for us sinners, did not disdain to become a baby Himself.
May the unspeakable joy with which Your virgin heart was filled at the sight of Your newborn Son and Lord, sweeten the sorrow that awaits me amidst the pains of birth. May my life, my Savior, born of You, save me from death, which cuts off the lives of many mothers at the hour of resolution, and may the fruit of my womb be numbered among the elect of God.
Hear, O Most Holy Queen of Heaven, my humble prayer and look upon me, a poor sinner, with the eye of Your grace; do not be ashamed of my trust in Your great mercy and overshadow me, Helper of Christians, Healer of diseases, may I also be honored to experience for myself that You are the Mother of mercy, and may I always glorify Your grace, which has never rejected the prayers of the poor and delivers all those who call on You in a time of sorrow and illness. Amen.
Prayer of spouses for the gift of children
Hear us, Merciful and Almighty God, may Your grace be sent down through our prayer. Be merciful, Lord, to our prayer, remember Your law about the multiplication of the human race and be a merciful Patron, so that with Your help what You have established will be preserved.
By Your sovereign power You created everything out of nothing and laid the foundation for everything that exists in the world - You created man in Your image and, with a sublime secret, sanctified the union of marriage as a foreshadowing of the mystery of the unity of Christ with the Church.
Look, O Merciful One, on these Thy servants, united in a marital union and begging for Thy help, may Thy mercy be upon them, may they be fruitful and may they see their sons’ sons to the third and fourth generation and may they live to the desired old age and enter the Kingdom of Heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is all glory, honor and worship due with the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Prayer for children, Rev. Ambrose of Optina
Lord, You alone weigh everything, you can do everything, and you want everyone to be saved and to come to the mind of Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with the knowledge of Thy truth and Thy Holy will and strengthen them to walk according to Thy commandments and have mercy on me, a sinner.
Prayer of parents for children in the army
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, hear me, unworthy of a slave (or: slave) (name). Lord, in Thy merciful power are my children (names), have mercy and save them, for Thy name’s sake. Lord, forgive them all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that they committed before You.
Lord, guide them on the true path of Your commandments, and enlighten their minds with the light of Christ for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body. Lord, bless their service in the army, on land, in the air and in the sea, on the road, in flying and sailing, and in every place of Your dominion.
Lord, save them by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross under the shelter of Your saints from a flying bullet, arrow, sword, fire, from a deadly wound, water drowning and sudden death. Lord, protect them from all visible and invisible enemies, from all trouble, evil, misfortune, betrayal and captivity.
Lord, heal them from every illness and wound, from every defilement and ease their mental suffering. Lord, grant them the grace of Your Holy Spirit for many years of life; health and chastity in all piety and love, in peace and unanimity with the rulers around them, near and far.
Lord, increase and strengthen their mental abilities and physical strength, return them healthy and prosperous to their parental home. All-merciful Lord, grant me, your unworthy and sinful servant (or: servant) (name), a parental blessing on my children (names) at this time of morning, day, night, for Your Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen.
Source: //xn--80aafxiqcbbffb0agpc0d.xn--p1ai/molitvoslov/treba/53.html
Examples of many years
Examples of longevity can be found in the book of theologian Hermogenes Ivanovich Shimansky (1915-1970) “Liturgics: Sacraments and Rites.” A manual on the proclamation of special deaconal exclamations, “The Deacon’s Companion,” compiled by Archpriest Alexander Sorokin, will also help.
“Many years” to the Patriarch
Grant a prosperous and peaceful life, health and salvation, and good haste in everything, O Lord, to our Great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', (and the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius to the Holy Archimandrite) with his God-saved all-Russian flock, and keep it for many years.
Many years on statutory holidays
To the Great Lord and Our Father (name), His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', (and the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Holy Archimandrite) and to our Most Reverend Lord (name), Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, (Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Holy Archimandrite) and many years to come to this consecrated cathedral!
May our God-protected country, its authorities, its army and its people live many years!
To the All-Honorable (Father) Rector, brethren, (singing) and parishioners of this holy temple, (to all) standing and praying here and to all Orthodox Christians - many years to come!
Many years for a specific person
Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health and salvation, and good haste in everything, (and an abundance of earthly fruits) to (name), and preserve him (her) for MANY YEARS!
“Many summers” for newlyweds
Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health and salvation and good haste in everything, mutual love and harmony, and an abundance of earthly fruits to the newlyweds (names) and preserve them for many years!
Many years after the rite of consecration of the house
A prosperous and peaceful life, health and salvation, and good haste in everything, mutual love and harmony, and an abundance of earthly fruits, grant, O Lord, to all Your faithful who want to live (or live) in this house (and to all who stand and pray) , and save them for many years!
Source
First prayer in many years
We advise you to read the first prayer in many years with several options in Russian, with a full description and pictures.
A mother’s prayer is the strongest and most powerful, which can save her children from illness, misfortune and rash actions.
“A mother’s prayer will reach you from the bottom of the sea” is a truth that is relevant at all times, confirmed by countless examples of the amazing power and effectiveness of the prayers of millions of mothers.
Holy maternal love is capable of overcoming any obstacles, achieving the impossible and creating real miracles.
A mother's word has special power. There is nothing brighter and more selfless than a mother’s love. From the first day of birth of a child, the mother lives by his breath, his tears and smiles. The child needs the mother. This is the meaning of her life.
Love for her baby is as natural to her as the blossoming of gardens in spring. Just as the sun sends out its rays, warming all living things, so a mother’s love warms a child. The mother introduces the child to life.
She puts into his mouth the native language, which has absorbed the wealth of the mind, thoughts and feelings of the people. It fills him with spiritual strength and helps him comprehend eternal values.
Many good believing mothers have had to worry about their children dying in the whirlpool of a vicious, dissolute life. Some had to spend many years in sorrow, humbly waiting and hoping. Their holy tears and prayers were not in vain.
When children are ill, you can pray not only to Christ and the Mother of God, but also to numerous Orthodox saints. Among them, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Martyr Tryphon, Great Martyr Panteleimon, Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, Saint Matrona of Moscow and many others are famous for their special help.
If prayer doesn't help
Sometimes the help expected from God never comes, as if He does not hear prayers. But in any case, there is no need to despair. From the point of view of the Christian meaning of life, it is better for some people to die in time and be saved for Eternal Life than to survive, but then destroy their soul.
Nothing happens by chance with God, and He takes a person to Himself at the moment of his best spiritual state and greatest readiness for salvation in Eternity. Or when the spiritual decline becomes irreversible.
And it also happens that God, seemingly for years, ignores the pleas of a mother asking him to help her child in trouble, but in the end the story has a good ending.
And the reason for “deafness” turns out to be God’s desire to correct a person, for whom premature indulgences can only do a disservice.
A mother's prayer for her child
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, hear me, your sinful and unworthy servant (name).
Lord, in the mercy of Your power, my child (name), have mercy and save him for Your name’s sake.
Lord, forgive him all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that he committed before You.
Lord, guide him on the true path of Your commandments and enlighten him and enlighten him with Your light of Christ, for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body.
Lord, bless him in the house, around the house, in the field, at work and on the road and in every place of Your possession.
Lord, protect him under the protection of Your Saints from a flying bullet, arrow, knife, sword, poison, fire, flood, from a deadly ulcer and from vain death.
Lord, protect him from visible and invisible enemies, from all troubles, evils and misfortunes.
Lord, heal him from all diseases, cleanse him from all filth (wine, tobacco, drugs) and ease his mental suffering and sorrow.
Lord, grant him the grace of the Holy Spirit for many years of life, health, and chastity.
Lord, give him Your blessing for a godly family life and godly childbearing.
Lord, grant me, Thy unworthy and sinful servant, a parental blessing on my child in the coming mornings, days, evenings and nights, for Thy name’s sake, for Thy Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (12 times.)
O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your roof my children (names), all youths, young women and infants, baptized and nameless, and carried in the womb of their mother.
Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and obedience to their parents, pray to my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation. I entrust them to Your maternal supervision, for You are the Divine protection of Your servants.
Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Your mercy on my children (names), keep them under Your roof, cover them from all evil lust, drive away from them every enemy and adversary, open their ears and the eyes of their hearts, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts.
Lord, we are all Your creation, have pity on my children (names) and turn them to repentance.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my children (names) and enlighten their minds with the light of the mind of Your Gospel and guide them on the path of Your Commandments and teach them. Savior, do Your will, for You are our God.
Daily prayer for a child:
Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Your mercy on my child (name), keep him under Your roof, cover him from all evil lust, drive away every enemy and adversary from them, open his ears and the eyes of his heart, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts.
Lord, we are all Your creation, have pity on my child (name) and turn him to repentance.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my child (name), and enlighten his mind with the light of the mind of Your Gospel, and guide him on the path of Your commandments, and teach him, O Savior, to do Your will, for You are our God.
Don’t forget to contact your child’s Guardian Angel. Prayer to the Guardian Angel for children.
Holy Guardian Angel of my child (name), cover her with your protection from the arrows of the demon, from the eyes of the seducer, and keep her heart in angelic purity. Amen.
There is also a parental prayer “For the blessing of children.”
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless, sanctify, preserve my child with the power of Your Life-giving Cross. Amen.
There is also a special maternal prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your shelter my children (names), all youths, young women and infants, baptized and nameless and carried in their mother’s womb. Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and in obedience to their parents, pray to my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation.
I entrust them to Your maternal supervision, for You are the Divine Protection of Your servants. Mother of God, introduce me to the image of Your heavenly Motherhood. Heal the mental and physical wounds of my children (names) caused by my sins. I entrust my child entirely to my Lord, Jesus Christ and Your, Most Pure, heavenly protection. Amen.
Prayer to Jesus Christ for children (Prayer for protection)
Lord Jesus Christ, let Your mercy be on my children (names), keep them under Your roof, cover them from all evil, take away every enemy from them, open their ears and eyes, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts.
Lord, we are all Your creatures, have pity on my children (names) and turn them to repentance. Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my children (names), and enlighten their minds with the light of the mind of Your Gospel, and guide them on the path of Your commandments, and teach them, Father, to do Your will, for You are our God.
Prayer to the Trinity for children
O Most Merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Soul, worshiped and glorified in the Undivided Trinity, look upon Thy servant (her) (name of the child) who is overcome by illness; forgive him (her) all his (her) sins;
grant him (her) healing from illness; return him (her) health and bodily strength; Give him (her) a long and prosperous life, Your peaceful and most worldly blessings, so that he (she) together with us brings grateful prayers to You, the All-Bounteous God and my Creator. Most Holy Theotokos, through Your omnipotent intercession, help me to beg Your Son, my God, for the healing of God’s servant (name). All saints and Angels of the Lord, pray to God for His sick servant (name). Amen
Prayer to the Mother of God for her children
Oh, Mother of Mercy!
You see the cruel sorrow tormenting my heart! For the sake of the sorrow with which You were pierced, when a terrible sword passed into Your soul during the bitter suffering and death of Your Divine Son, I pray to You: have mercy on my poor child, who is sick and fading, and if it is not contrary to the will of God and his salvation, intercede for his health bodily with Your Almighty Son, Physician of souls and bodies.
O Loving Mother! Look how my child’s face has turned pale, how his whole body is burning from illness, and have mercy on him. May he be saved by God's help and serve with the joy of his heart Your Only Begotten Son, his Lord and God. Amen.
First prayer to the Mother of God for children
O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and keep my children ( names)
), all youths, young women and infants, baptized and nameless and carried in the womb of their mother.
Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and in obedience to their parents, pray to my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation.
I entrust them to Your maternal supervision, for You are the Divine Protection of Your servants.
Mother of God, introduce me to the image of Your heavenly motherhood. Heal the mental and physical wounds of my children ( names
), caused by my sins. I entrust my child entirely to my Lord Jesus Christ and Your, Most Pure, heavenly protection. Amen.
Second prayer to the Mother of God for children
Holy Father, Eternal God, from You comes every gift or every good. I diligently pray to You for the children whom Your grace has given me. You gave them life, revived them with an immortal soul, revived them with holy baptism, so that in accordance with Your will they would inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, preserve them according to Your goodness until the end of their lives.
Sanctify them with Your truth, may Your name be hallowed in them. Help me, by Your grace, to educate them for the glory of Your name and for the benefit of others, give me the necessary means for this: patience and strength.
Lord, enlighten them with the light of Your Wisdom, so that they love You with all their soul, with all their thoughts, plant in their hearts fear and disgust from all lawlessness, so that they may walk in Your commandments, adorn their souls with chastity, hard work, patience, honesty, protect them with truth from slander , vanity, abomination, sprinkle with the dew of Thy grace, that they may prosper in virtues and holiness, and may they increase in Thy good will, in love and piety. May the Guardian Angel always be with them and protect their youth from vain thoughts, from the temptations of this world and from all evil slander. If, when they sin before You, Lord, do not turn Your face away from them, but be merciful to them, arouse repentance in their hearts according to the multitude of Your bounties, cleanse their sins and do not deprive Your blessings, but give them everything necessary for their salvation, preserving them from all illness, danger, troubles and sorrows, overshadowing them with Your mercy all the days of this life. God, I pray to You, give me joy and joy about my children and grant me the ability to appear with them at Your Last Judgment, with shameless boldness to say: “Here I am and the children whom You have given me, Lord. Amen". Let us glorify Your All-Holy Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Third prayer to the Mother of God for children
God and Father, Creator and Preserver of all creatures! Bless my poor children ( names
) By Your Holy Spirit, may He kindle in them the true fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom and direct prudence, according to which whoever acts, his praise abides forever.
Bless them with true knowledge of You, keep them from all idolatry and false teaching, make them grow in true and saving faith and in all piety, and may they abide in them constantly to the end. Grant them a believing, obedient and humble heart and mind, so that they may grow in years and in grace before God and before people.
Plant in their hearts love for Your Divine Word, so that they may be reverent in prayer and in worship, respectful to the ministers of the Word and sincere in their actions, modest in their movements, chaste in their morals, true in their words, faithful in their deeds, diligent in their studies. , happy in the performance of their duties, reasonable and righteous towards all people.
Keep them from all the temptations of the evil world, and let not evil society corrupt them. Do not allow them to fall into uncleanness and unchastity, so that they do not shorten their own lives and do not offend others. Be their protector in every danger, so that they do not suffer sudden destruction.
Make it so that we do not see in them dishonor and shame for ourselves, but honor and joy, so that Your Kingdom may be multiplied by them and the number of believers will increase, and may they be in heaven around Your table, like heavenly olive branches, and may they reward You with all the elect honor, praise and glorification through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read other prayers in the “Orthodox Prayer Book” section
Source: //xn—-7sbfc0arecsg5ai.xn--p1ai/pervaya-molitva-za-mnogo-let/
Prayer “Many Years” and its meaning
The proclamation “Many Years” is a congratulatory prayer form used during patronal feasts. Every year these words are heard at church services. An ordinary person will say “Congratulations,” and an Orthodox person will say “It’s a lot of summer.” The literal translation of the phrase is “Many years.”
The difference between daily prayers and the proclamation “Many Years” lies in the fact that the latter text is sung at the service by an Orthodox choir. The parishioners repeat these words, congratulating each other.
Congratulations on patronal holidays
A warm atmosphere is very important for wishing Merry Christmas. All parishioners are brothers and sisters, so we need to get together and enjoy every minute of the Nativity of Christ. It is also customary to congratulate people on the Intercession - the Lord welcomes such deeds, they are useful for the Orthodox soul. The exclamation “Many years” is intended for congratulations:
Any priest will be pleased to hear the phrase “Many years.” In an official setting, the deacon is greeted with the words “Your Reverence,” and the archimandrite with the phrase “Your Reverence.” Many parishioners do not know this, so learn the set of church rules.
Many churches organize festive meals with the participation of priests and invited guests. All clergy are seated in order of seniority, with the dear guest being seated closer to the head of the table. Usually a service takes place, “Many Years” is sung, after which the guests retire to the parish refectory. This part of the event can include:
The prayer “Many Years” is also sung on a number of other solemn occasions. You can hear the text “Many Years” during bishop’s services and daily Vespers. For years, this chant has been addressed to clergy who glorify the Lord in churches. Among the Orthodox Greeks, in the southern land, the priest can greet the flock with these words. When congratulating you on Angel Day, the names of saints are mentioned. At the festive table, a troparion dedicated to a specific Orthodox name should be read.
Regardless of the year, the sacrament of marriage occupies a special place among Orthodox people. Christ the Son of God strongly encouraged marriages within the Christian church. The process of an Orthodox marriage may look like this:
An important point: the ceremony must be pious. Guests and newlyweds observe moderation in everything. To live many years of prosperity, you need to think about God and build a Christian, religiously observant family.
Performing a prayer by an Orthodox choir
Children's Orthodox choir
As you already understand, “Many Years” is performed by an Orthodox choir. The first fragment is a solo recitative. The deacon's voice becomes stronger gradually - this is achieved through long practice. The second part of the Many Years is taken over by the choir. At the same time, parishioners are not forbidden to quietly sing along if they know the words of the prayer and do not disturb those around them.
The choir is not a church choir in all cases. So, on the day of the Angel, a prayer is sung by the guests present at the celebration - they all unanimously praise the birthday boy. This usually happens at the end of the meal, when the hero of the occasion thanks the guests for their attention and sincere congratulations. As you can see, you will have to learn the words of this prayer in any case, since the text has important ritual significance.
We invite you to listen to the prayer “Many Years” performed by Alexander Torchilin and the choir of the St. Danilovsky Monastery:
Alexander Torchilin and the Festive male choir of the Moscow Danilovsky Monastery. Many years
