Prayer to St. John of Rila

O great and most faithful wonderworker, Venerable John, accept our supplication and do not turn away from us who have recourse to your intercession: never did you turn away from those who came to you with their sorrows during the days of your earthly life; in the same way, you showed signs of mercy even after your repose to Orthodox people! Hear us also now, by the great sorrows of those who are supported, who have come upon us in these evil days, when the devil, through his pernicious machinations, seeks to trample upon the Holy Church, and to deprive us of eternal salvation and the blessings of temporal life! Ask the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of our sins, and especially for the sin of disobedience to our Mother Church! Grant us contrition of heart, so that we may steadily approach the holy Sacrament of Penance with emotion, so that we may not receive communion in the Body and Blood of Christ for condemnation and destruction, but for health and salvation. Release from us the spirit of brotherly hatred, grant us the spirit of love and peace for the fraternal unity of all your people! Unite us all with love for Christ and His Orthodox Church, for let us be true children of God who keep His saving will. May you keep us happy all our days, for we may always keep our faith pure in the grace of the Holy Spirit and do the will of the Lord until we die! At the hour of our demise, it will appear to us to present our souls to the throne of the Divine Judge and say to Him: “Behold, I am also my children,” so that through your intercession we may be delivered of eternal torments, and we may inherit the ineffable bliss of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ together with you and all the saints for ever and ever. Amen.