PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH: PRAYER FOR THE RECESS OF CORONA VIRUS

Antioch Patriarchate

Prayer for the Recess of Corona Virus

Lord, we thank you for creating us from nonexistence. Having disobeyed your life-giving commandment as we inherited the shadow of death and corruption, becoming wretched servants, you have restored us back to life because of your great mercy and paternal love.
You gave us the means of a new life.

Yet, by your immense compassion, you still provide for us and you desire our salvation, transforming the many occurrences in our lives into circumstances that lead to salvation.

Here we are today, your sheep and the creation of your hands, leaning on your great mercy. Our world suffers many difficulties, strife, wars, divisions, and diseases. The shadow of death hovers over us, mercilessly reaping the souls of people through a pandemic named “Corona” that is crawling everywhere.

Today the human being that you have created trembles under the blast of this dreadful pandemic. The bodies of people lie everywhere begging for someone to bury them. The dead depart from this mortal world without farewell from neither relatives, family, nor friends.

We have sinned before you, Lord of all, but we also hope for nothing else but You. O Lord Jesus Christ, the Merciful and Life-giving Lord, who has the power over life and death, health and disease, O Compassionate, Merciful, and Long-suffering Lord, pity us for the abundance of your mercy and defeat this fearful plague that threatens our lives, so weak as we are. For how many are the days of our lives and what are they unless they be crowned with pure repentance. We hope for your divine grace! O Lord, heal all the sick and support with your mighty hand the medical and service corps who watch over the health of others. Give them peace and enlightenment; comfort the souls of the departed. Yes, Lord, have mercy on us and wipe away this plague, so that we live according to your will. Accept our repentance and confession, unworthy as we are and have mercy on us and on your world.

Accept our supplication, O Most Merciful Lord, so that we praise you with proper repentance and glorification, for you are God the Lover of Mankind, through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; by the might of the precious and Life-giving Cross, the prayers of your holy Apostles, our God-bearing fathers, the honorable martyrs, the pure righteous, and all your saints. Amen.