Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Those are the words of one of the many priestly greetings of the Orthodox Church. Orthodox Christianity is the original
form of Christianity, founded at the Pentecost mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. This
ancient faith has continued even today in many contries, primarily in Greece, Russia, and the former "Eastern
bloc" countries. Orthodoxy has a foothold in America, starting with missionaries from Russia in the 18th
century to Alaska. Today, all fifteen Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions, and all of the Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions
have churches in North America. For more information, feel free to peruse the Orthodox
Church in America web site, as well as the S.C.O.B.A. (Standing Conference of
Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America) web site. Below is a table of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Knoxville, TN area.
For more information about the Orthodox Church, check out the Orthodoxy section of of the links page.
Some Orthodox prayers that have been translated into English are below. "King James" English is what is normally used by the
Church as it is richer and fuller than Modern English. The prayers below are slightly modernized in their English.
- Publican's Prayer
- O God, have mercy on me, a sinner!
- Prayer of the Heart (The Jesus Prayer)
- (alone) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
(with a group) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
- O Heavenly King
- O, Heavenly King, the Comforter and Spirit of Truth, who is everywhere present and fills all things, Treasury
of blessings and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One.
- Most Holy Trinity
- O, most holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse us from our since; Master, pardon our transgression; Holy One,
visit and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake.
- The Lord's Prayer
- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
- The Angelic Salutation
- Hail! Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, O Virgin Theotokos: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.
- Hymn to the Theotokos
- It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable
than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the
Word. True Theotokos we magnify you!
- Prayers to one's patron saint
- Pray to God for me, O Holy Saint (Name), well-pleasing to God: for I commend myself to you, the speedy helper and
intercessor for my soul.
- O saint of God, (Name), pray to God for me, for my home and my family. Amen.
- Saint (Name), Holy Mother of God and all the saints, who have pleased God in Your lives; pray to Christ my Lord that
I might live this day in peace, love, and humility.
- Prayers to one's guardian angel
- O angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, enlighten me this day, and save me from all evil.
Instruct me in doing good deeds, and set me on the path of salvation. Amen.
- O angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything wherein I have offended
you every day of my life, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the Evil One. May I never again anger
God by my sins. Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-Holy Trinity, and of the
blessed Mother of God, and of all the saints. Amen.
