A Prayer Service for the Unchurched

In response to our recent article on the commemoration of the unchurched, we received no small number of requests to acquaint our readers with the service mentioned therein—“On the Uprooting and Eradication of Heresies…”—since it may prove of interest to a wide range of parishioners and pastors (especially those who do not deem it permissible to commemorate the unchurched at the Proskomedia).

Thanks be to God, we were able to locate the necessary publication without delay. Here, as best we can, we seek to fulfil our promise by translating the text.

In the course of our work, we felt it necessary to draw attention to a few points:

It appears that, at the very least, the final prayer of this service was composed at a fairly early date, most likely during the period of wars against the Turkish yoke in Greece and the Balkans (in the nineteenth to early twentieth centuries). This historical backdrop explains its strong emphasis on opposing “Mohammedanism” and praying for victory for the Christ-loving army.

Given the era in which it was written, some may feel, as we do, that the prayers could benefit from a certain updating to address modern challenges to make it more universal—considering that many of us, in reality, labour under the yoke of unbelief and the idolatry of wealth, power, self-love, and vice.

Portions of this service lend themselves to insertion into the order of the Divine Liturgy, Vespers, and Matins; one may likewise arrange a dedicated Moleben, into which the commemoration of our erring loved ones should be incorporated.

We hope you find this issue of some benefit.

With every blessing in the Lord,

Yours in Christ,

Orthodox Clergy Club

For the Uprooting and Eradication of Heresies and Apostasies, the Pacification of Church Divisions, and the Return of Those Who Have Strayed from the Truth

At the Proskomedia

O Lord Jesus Christ, our God,

accept this offering for the remission of the sins of all Thy faithful servants,

and remember Thy Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church;

and grant her peace,

for Thou hast purchased her with Thine own Precious Blood.

Quell her divisions,

extinguish the tumult of the nations,

and swiftly destroy and uproot every uprising of heresies

by the power of Thy Holy Spirit.

At the Litany of Peace

(After “In peace let us pray to the Lord,” each petition below concludes, “Let us pray to the Lord.”)

1. For the calming of the divisions in His Holy Church,

and for the bestowal of peace and stability upon her:

let us pray to the Lord.

2. That He may root out every rising of heresies,

purify the land of His people,

and plant true Orthodoxy and piety everywhere:

let us pray to the Lord.

3. That He may extinguish and utterly destroy all heresies and apostasies,

and convert all who have fallen away to the knowledge of the truth,

uniting them to His Church:

let us pray to the Lord.

4. That He may strengthen us upon the rock of true confession,

keeping us unharmed, unshaken, and unconquered;

and defend and preserve us

from every deadly snare and the assaults of heretics and apostates:

let us pray to the Lord.

5. That He may forbid the soul-destroying winds of heresies

and the vain-minded waves of apostasy,

and deliver the ship of His Holy Church from their peril

by the power of His Most-Holy Spirit:

let us pray to the Lord.

6. That He may bring to nought every device and deceit of the devil

and the wicked plots and corrupt teachings of perverse men,

converting all our brethren who wander in error to the knowledge of the truth,

and numbering them with His chosen flock:

let us pray to the Lord.

7. That He may soon crush Satan beneath our feet

and deliver us from all his snares, wiles, and delusions:

let us pray to the Lord.

8. That He may enlighten with the radiance of His Divine understanding

the hearts of all darkened by unbelief,

and strengthen His faithful,

preserving them unshaken in Orthodoxy:

let us pray to the Lord.

9. That He may exalt the horn of the right-believing,

and destroy heresies, impiety, and apostasy,

together with all godless deceits,

causing true Orthodoxy and piety to grow and increase in every place:

let us pray to the Lord.

10. That He may grant unto all pastors of His Church

wisdom, power, steadfastness, and courage

by the might of His Most-Holy Spirit,

for the uprooting of every heresy and apostasy and all delusion,

and for the confirmation and increase of the Orthodox-Catholic Faith

in His Holy Church:

let us pray to the Lord.

After the Entrance

Troparion, Tone 4

Make haste to forestall us before we become enslaved

unto those who blaspheme Thee and contend against us,

O Christ our God.

Destroy by Thy Cross those who war against us,

that they may learn how mighty is the Faith of the Orthodox,

through the prayers of the Theotokos,

O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Kontakion, Tone 8

O Champion Leader and Lord, Conqueror of hades,

in that we, Thy creatures and servants,

have been delivered from everlasting death,

we offer Thee hymns of praise.

But as Thou dost possess ineffable compassion,

deliver us from all misfortunes,

who cry aloud unto Thee:

Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

Deacon/Reader: Let us attend.

Prokeimenon in Tone Four:

O God, transgressors have risen up against me,

and a company of the mighty have sought after my soul.

Verse: Give Thy dominion unto Thy servant,

and save the son of Thine handmaid.

The Epistle

A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans, Pericope (Zachalo) 121, [Romans 16:17–24].

Alleluia in the same Tone

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Verse 1: He shall turn away evils from mine enemies;

in Thy truth do Thou bring them to nought.

Verse 2: I will confess Thy Name, O Lord, for it is good;

for from every sorrow hast Thou delivered me.

The Holy Gospel

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John, Pericope 56, from the midpoint [John 17:11–23].

At ‘Let us all say’

1. O Thou who didst give Thine unfailing promise to Thy Church

that the gates of hades should not prevail against her:

do Thou shut the blasphemous lips, heretical and apostate,

which rage furiously against her;

and do Thou swiftly destroy and bring to nought

all their soul-destroying doctrines;

we pray Thee, O most-good God, hearken and have mercy.

2. O Thou who desirest not the death of sinners,

but awaitest their repentance in Thy mercy:

forsake not Thy flock,

that it be diminished by the delusion of heresies and apostasy;

but, as Thou art bountiful, uproot every deceit.

Turn back those who have strayed from the truth

unto the knowledge of Thee;

unite them unto Thy holy flock,

and grant peace unto Thy Church and unto Thy people;

we pray Thee, O most-holy King, hearken and have mercy.

3. Look down, O Lord, from Thy holy dwelling-place in heaven,

and behold the dark cloud of unbelievers overshadowing us;

and do Thou soon, by the power of Thy Most-Holy Spirit,

strengthen us mightily,

that we may ever behold Thy true light without hindrance

in Thy light;

we pray Thee, O Light Unwaning, hearken and have mercy.

4. O Eternal High Priest, O Christ:

grant exceeding wisdom, strength, and power

unto Thy hierarchs,

and unto all who govern Thy Church,

for the uprooting of every heresy and apostasy,

and of all impious falsehood;

for the confirmation and increase

of the Orthodox-Catholic Faith and piety;

and for the conversion of all who wander,

that they may come to know Thy truth;

we pray Thee, O All-merciful Almighty One, hearken and have mercy.

Communion Verse

Let sinners vanish from the earth,

and let the transgressors be no more.

Prayer

O Guileless One, Sinless, Long-suffering, Lover of mankind, and All-beneficent Lord,

co-eternal Son and co-beginningless with the beginningless Father,

who for man's salvation didst clothe Thyself in human flesh,

willingly endure crucifixion and death,

wast buried, and rose again on the third day,

raising our nature with Thyself unto the heavens,

and seating it at the right hand of God, Thine own natural and consubstantial Father:

who desirest not the death of sinners,

but dost patiently await their conversion,

and swiftly and lovingly accept their repentance:

look down, we pray Thee,

upon the sighs, tears, groanings,

and earnest entreaties

of Thy sinful, destitute, and unworthy servants,

and hearken unto us at this hour,

when our heart is cast down,

and our days pass away in vanity,

and our years in lamentation.

Have mercy on us;

for in our affliction our strength faileth,

and we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Arise, wherefore dost Thou delay, O Lord?

Awake, and cast us not off utterly;

for we are the work of Thy hands

and the sheep of Thy pasture.

Leave us not to be trampled down and derided by our enemies

nor for a reproach and mockery to those round about us;

but spare us,

show compassion,

and in Thy mercy be gracious unto us.

For though we have sinned,

transgressed,

and acted unlawfully before Thee,

and have not kept Thy commandments,

nor done as Thou didst enjoin us,

yet have we not turned away from Thee,

our God, Saviour, Deliverer, and Redeemer.

Do not, then, give us up utterly,

nor break Thy covenant,

nor withhold Thy mercy from us;

for Thou camest not to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance,

and to save them that are lost.

Wherefore, now also, hearken unto the supplication of us sinners,

and quickly deliver Thy Holy, Orthodox-Catholic Church,

which is spread throughout all the world—

that Church which Thou hast redeemed with Thine own Most-Precious Blood poured out upon the Cross,

and betrothed unto Thyself alone

as a pure bride—

from the assaults and vexations of apostates,

from all pernicious heretical deceits.

And according to Thine unfailing promise,

preserve her unconquerable and invincible

against the gates of hades and the blasphemous, slanderous mouths thereof;

and abide inseparably with her, as the head with its body,

ever defending and delivering her from all troubles and sorrows

even unto the end of the age.

Bring her perfect peace,

that never may the hostile lands of unbelievers

and the cohorts of evildoers who harass us

say in scorn,

“Where is their God on whom they have set their hope?”

But rather, by the swift sending of Thy help unto us,

put to shame those who thus blaspheme.

Again we beseech Thee, O Most-rich, All-great and Merciful King,

O Almighty Lord:

bending the knees of our souls and bodies,

we make supplication;

look with Thine All-merciful Eye upon Thy servants

and upon our brethren—

right-believing Christians—

who now lie beneath the tormenting sway,

in bitter bondage and captivity

of the ungodly and faithless Hagarenes.

Remember them swiftly,

as Thou art the Mighty and Strong One,

do Thou rescue and deliver them

from their bloodthirsty hands of torment.

And as for that vile, blasphemous, and all-defiling dominion,

which even now standeth in the Holy Place—

that unclean pagan empire and lordship,

the power and authority thereof,

like the abomination of desolation—

together with their godless, blasphemous, and deranged teaching of Mahomet:

do Thou overthrow, uproot,

bring to nothing,

and cast it down beneath the feet

of the faithful Christian hosts;

and utterly blot out from the earth

their impious memorial.

Exalt the horn of Thy right-believing Christians,

destroy all the ungodly,

cause true Orthodoxy and piety to flourish

and increase everywhere.

And those who turn from these errors, do Thou graciously receive,

and number them with Thy Holy flock.

Above all,

bestow abundant blessing upon Thine Orthodox servants wheresoever they dwell,

shield them with that peace they have long desired,

and keep them free from all harm.

Grant victory at all times over every foe

(and especially over those who hate the Cross and are enemies both to Thee

and to Thine All-holy Name:

the disciples of Mahomet,

the defiled Hagarenes,

and all faithless nations)

unto our Christ-loving armies;

and behold us now,

who in this place and everywhere call upon Thee,

spare us in Thine abundant mercy,

have compassion,

and deliver us from all the afflictions wrought by our enemies.

Ever ordering our life in profound peace,

grant us remission of sins.

[When praying in a monastery, say: “This holy habitation, and every monastery;” if in a city: “This city;” if in a village: “This village;”]

and every city, town, and land,

and those who dwell therein in faith,

do Thou ever deliver from famine, destruction, earthquake, flooding, hail, fire, sword,

the invasion of foreigners,

civil strife,

every deadly plague,

and sudden death.

Visit and heal those lying in sickness and infirmities;

set free those confined in prisons and dungeons;

be pilot and guide to those who travel by sea and by water;

journey with those who go by land and speed their way.

Quickly hearken, remember, have mercy,

and deliver and save

all who call upon Thy Holy Name in faith,

in every place and at all times,

for Thou art bountiful;

and make them heirs of Thy Kingdom with all Thy saints.

For Thou art the God of mercies, compassion, and love for mankind,

and unto Thee do we send up glory,

together with Thine unoriginate Father,

and Thy Most-holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit,

now and ever,

and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

Translator’s Note:

Before embarking on translating the original Church Slavonic text of this service, I sought existing English translations and related materials to determine which parts of the Slavonic text might already have been translated, and which would likely require a fresh translation.

My findings indicated that while many portions of the service have appeared in English in various contexts, no complete official translation is currently accessible online. Readers may find it useful to know that an official Orthodox translation (1999) of the Trebnik, entitled The Great Book of Needs (St. Tikhon’s Monastery, 4-volume set), does include similar services. Notably, Volume IV contains a “Service for the Increase of Love and the Uprooting of Hatred and All Animosity,” a companion office structured very similarly to this service for the uprooting of heresies. Fr. Ted Bobosh (OCA) points out that the St. Tikhon’s Great Book of Needs provides prayers specifically intended to be inserted into the Divine Liturgy “for the increase of love and the uprooting of hatred and all animosity”, and he shares the English text of that particular service. By analogy, it is highly probable that the same volume (Volume IV) also contains the “Service for the Uprooting of Heresies and Schisms,” as these special molebens often appear together in the Slavonic Trebnik. Unfortunately, this latter service has not been published online in full.

Additionally, no complete English translation from an earlier era could be located. Indeed, the 1894 English Trebnik by G.V. Shann deliberately omitted this service and similar occasional prayers, considering them to be of “limited interest.” The translator’s preface explicitly lists the omitted chapters, including sections dealing with prayers for church unity and the conversion of heretics (chapters XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIV–XLI).

In summary, the most authoritative English-language source appears to be Volume IV of the St. Tikhon’s Great Book of Needs. If readers have access to it, they are likely to find either a full text or, at minimum, the key prayers rendered in English.