Russian prayers during Spread of Devastating Pestilence

Many Churches have put out litanies and "stand-alone" prayers for their priests and faithful to use. As I said a few days ago, some of them have been quite good while others read like first drafts that escaped the barn before they were done being sheared. The below Russian text is available as a PDF here. If you'd like a good prayer to read with the family at home, I recommend the UOC-USA's PDF here. My family reads it together every morning.

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(ROC-Sourozh) - His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia approved texts of prayerful supplications in view of the threat of the spreading coronavirus infection.

With the blessing of His Holiness, the prayers will be lifted up during the Divine Liturgy at all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Earlier, at its session on March 11, the Holy Synod adopted the Statement Concerning the Spread of Coronavirus Infection.

“In times of epidemics the Russian Orthodox Church always bore its ministry of witness, never refusing spiritual care and full participation in her Sacraments to anybody,” the Statement reads, “We call for restraint, sober-mindedness and prayerful tranquility, and note that a believer should not get into a panic or be gripped by fears caused by the spread of unchecked information about the infection. At the same time, it is inadmissible to take the coronavirus lightly, neglect medical advice and ignore preventive measures, thus putting at risk of infection oneself and those around.”

The Holy Synod called upon the hierarchs, pastors, monastics and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church to lift up “fervent prayer for overcoming the disease and granting strength to the doctors combating it.”

On March 17, the Holy Synod approved the instructions to rectors of parishes and metochions, abbots and abbesses of the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church in view of the risk of the spreading coronavirus infection.

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Prayer read during the Spread of Devastating Pestilence

O Lord our God, enter not into judgement with Thy servants, and compass us about with protection from the devastating pestilence stirred up against us. O kind-hearted Lord Who art inclined toward benevolence, have compassion on us, Thy humble and unworthy servants, who fall down before Thee with broken hearts and hope in Thy mercy.

For Thine it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Petitions offered up at the Augmented Litany of Divine Liturgy,
during the Spread of Devastating Pestilence

Again we pray Thee, O Lord our God, that Thou mightest mercifully protect us from the devastating pestilence stirred up against us, and deliver Thy faithful people from spiritual and physical death; grant unto the sick healing and health, and unto all of us Thy divine protection and help; we pray Thee, O kind-hearted Lord, quickly hearken and have mercy.

Again we pray, that Thou mightest pacify the troubles of men and every fearful thing, compass Thy faithful about with firm hope, and instill in our hearts quietude; we pray Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy.