Prayer to the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia

O Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church, hear our fervent prayer! We believe that we are not far from you, who are still young men, who listen to the ancient passion-bearer and think in our hearts, that we may imitate them so lovingly and praiseworthily, that they may not be separated from the love of God by torment or death. But it is well for you that you have followed the faith and patience of those who have followed it, and since it is possible for you to find us at all times by an unintentional trial, ask the Lord for the gift of courage, which is so much needed in the life of mankind. Having sanctified all the ends of our Fatherland with your sufferings, as you have communed for all our prayer books, beseech God to deliver our Fatherland from a yoke more terrible than any other. And may the sin that weighs heavily on the Russian people be forgiven us to the whole family: the murder of the tsar, the anointed one of God, and the saints and pastors by the flock, and the sufferings of confessors, and the desecration of our holy things. May the schisms in our Church be abolished, may all be one, and may the Lord bring forth His laborers to the harvest, so that the Church may not be impoverished by good pastors, who can enlighten with the light of the true faith so great a multitude of people who have not been taught the faith or have turned away from it. I am unworthy of God’s mercy, and may Christ our God spare and have mercy on all of us who call upon you for help. But let us always offer to Him, our Saviour, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, contrition for sins and thanksgiving for everything, glorifying Him forever and ever. Amen.