Devotional Year of Supplication
to the
All—Holy Theotokos

For the year beginning 1 January 2005

The Icon of the "Theotokos of Tender Mercy" depicts the holy, most profound and deeply affectionate relationship between the ever-virgin Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is called "Tender Mercy" because of the Tenderness of the Mother toward her Son and to all of us, who follow her way of devotion to her Lord: and because of the Tender Mercy of her Son which is available to us all, especially as she intercedes in our behalf.

The prayer below (along with the following Kondak to the Theotokos) is to be offered immediately after the Ambon Prayer at the conclusion of every Sunday Divine Liturgy for the year beginning on January 2005. It is to be prayed in a kneeling posture (except during the Paschal Season) at the direction of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, as and extraordinary expression of Supplication during this devotional Year. At the point of the expression, "We pray for our individual intentions," the faithful are to pray silently for private concerns, especially for vocations to the Priesthood and Monastic Tonsure; for our Priests, our Parishes and the Faithful; for the Protection of Our Country in these Troubled Times; for the Sick and our Homebound; and for all our Departed Loved Ones.

Following the Ambon Prayer and "Blessed be the Name of the Lord," the Priest (and Deacon) then kneels in front the icon of the Theotokos, the Faithful kneeling with, and the Priest (or Deacon) intones"

Kneeling in all humility, let us pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, have mercy.

Priest:

O my most blessed Lady, Defender of the human race, Refuge and salvation of all who hasten to you: I know that I have sinned may times and angered the most Good God Who was born of you. But I have many examples of those who abused his loving kindness before I did: all were sinners who received forgiveness of their sins after confession and penance. Having before my sinful eyes the example of those pardoned, and beholding the great mercy of God in receiving them anew, I too a repentant sinner, dare to have recourse to your compassion, O my gracious Lady. Give me your helping hand, and obtain from your Son and our God the forgiveness of my grievous sins.

I believe and confess that the One you have borne, your Son, is truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Judge of the living and the dead Who will deal with each one according to his deeds. I further believe and profess that you are truly the Theotokos, the Mother of God, and that in your deep love the for the Christian people, you area fountain of mercy, the consolation of the afflicted, a haven for the lost, a powerful and constant advocated before Christ, and the guarantee of my repentance. Truly, there is no help or refuge for humanity besides you, O merciful Lady: no one who hopes in you is ever disappointed, on one who implores God through you is ever forsaken.

For this reason, I beseech your inexhaustible goodness: open the gates of your mercy to me who have sinned and fallen into darkness. Sinful as I am, do not despise me nor reject my appeal; in my wretchedness, do not forsake me whom the enemy has seized for destruction. Beseech the merciful God, born of you, that He forgive my grievous sins and deliver us from ruin, so that we too, will all those who have been forgiven before, may praise and glorify God's boundless mercy and your unfailing intercession for us, both in this life and in the age to come.

With great humility, we appeal to your maternal boldness, as we pray for the protection of our country, and all Orthodox Christians worldwide, and all those who suffer from strife during these troubled times…..we pray for vocations to the Holy Priesthood, and to the Monastic profession in our diocese…..we pray for the health and salvation of our diocesan clergy ….and we also pray for our individual intentions (quietly mention private intentions):

We beseech your maternal, and tender, regard for our needs, O Most-Holy Theotokos and Mother of our God, that you might present our prayers to your Son and our God, to Whom, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, are due all glory, honor and adoration, now and ever and forever.

Response: Amen.

Kondak to the Theotokos, Tone 6

We have no other help, We have no other hope, Aside from you O Most-Pure Virgin: Do you help us, We hope in you And we praise you, For we are your servants, Let us not be ashamed.

Ne imamy inyja pomošci, Ne imamy inyja nadeždy, razvi tebe precistaja Divo: Ty nam pomozi, Na tebe nad'ijemsja, i toboju chvalimsja, Tvoji bo jesmy raby, da ne postydimsja.