Prayers to the Holy Spirit

[Jonathan Michael]

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth,
Who are everywhere present and fillest all things,
Treasury of good things and Giver of Life:
Come and abide in us, cleanse us from all impurity,
And of Thy goodness save our souls.

A truly beautiful prayer, but I wondered if there were any more? There are a treasure house of prayers to our Lord Jesus Christ, and many also to His Father, but I can't seem to find any more in Orthodox canons.

I searched online for "prayers to the Holy Spirit" and got mainly Roman Catholic sites which provide whole "Novenas" to the Holy Spirit. I then added "Orthodox" to my search and just got lots of pages on ecumenical movements! Is this really the only Orthodox prayer to directly address the person of the Holy Spirit? (I will be terribly embarrassed if I find out there are prayers in the Divine Liturgy that I supposedly take part in on a regular basis!)

Many thanks.

[Effie Ganatsios]

Enlighten my mind and keep all my senses, that henceforth I may walk uprightly and keep Thy commandments, and may finally attain unto eternal life, even to Thee, Who art the source of life, and be admitted to the glorious fruition of Thy inaccessible Light. For Thou art my God, and unto Thee, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.



All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3 times)


As I rise from sleep, I thank you, Holy Trinity, for because of your great goodness and patience, you were not angry with me, an idler and sinner, nor have you destroyed me in my sins, but have shown your usual love for me. And when I was prostrate in despair, you raised me to glorify with your power. Enlighten now my mind's eye, open my mouth to study your words and understand your commandments, to do your will and sing to you in heartfelt adoration, and praise your most holy name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.


Prayer to the Holy Trinity

The Father is my hope. The Son is my refuge. The Holy Spirit is my protection. Holy Trinity, glory to You!


The above are from my prayer book.

Effie

[Herman Blaydoe]

This is such an important and pivotal prayer. Did you know that its place in worship is made most conspicuous by its absence rather than its presence?

This is the prayer that starts most every worship service and private devotionals. Our parish sings this to start every church meeting. But after Great and Holy Pascha, this prayer which is so integral a part of our prayers is omitted until Great and Holy Pentecost, to emphasize that we are waiting for the One Who Comes After, the Comforter, even as Christ our Lord promised. One of the most prominent features of the Pentecost Liturgy is the Prayer of the Holy Spirit, the arrival of the much-missed Friend, coming to us as to the Holy Apostles in tongues of flame!

They say you don't appreciate something until it is gone. We trip over our familiar prayers and it takes a conscious effort to NOT say this prayer, which makes us even more aware of it. Its absence is uncomfortable. It is not simply "one of the prayers", it is the prayer that is missing. Perhaps this is why this prayer is called THE Prayer to the Holy Spirit, and others are simply unnecessary in Orthodox tradition?

I don't know, just some simple thoughts from a bear of very little brain.

Herman the Pooh

[Justin]

"O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have compassion and mercy on Thy sinful servant and pardon my unworthiness, and forgive me all the sins that I humanly committed today, and not only humanly but even worse than a beast - my voluntary sins, known and unknown, from my youth and from evil suggestions, and from my brazenness, and from boredom. If I have sworn by Thy Name or blasphemed it in thought, blamed or reproached anyone, or in my anger have detracted or slandered anyone, or grieved anyone, or if I have got angry about anything, or have told a lie, if I have slept unnecessarily, or if a beggar has come to me and I despised or neglected him, or if I have troubled my brother or quarrelled with him, or if I have condemned anyone, or have boasted, or have been proud, or lost my temper with anyone, or if when standing in prayer my mind has been distracted by the glamour of this world, or if I have had depraved thoughts or have overeaten, or have drunk excessively, or have laughed frivolously, or have thought evil, or have seen the attraction of someone and been wounded by it in my heart, or said indecent things, or made fun of my brother's sin when my own faults are countless, or been neglectful of prayer, or have done some other wrong that I cannot remember - for I have done all this and much more - have mercy, my Lord and Creator, on me Thy wretched and unworthy servant, and absolve and forgive and deliver me in Thy goodness and love for men, so that, lustful, sinful and wretched as I am, I may lie down and sleep and rest in peace. And I shall worship, praise and glorify Thy most honourable Name, with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever, and for all ages. Amen." - Jordanville Prayer Book, Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian to the Most Holy Spirit

[Andreas Moran]

We can also keep in mind that in our prayers, the Holy Spirit is active, for as scripture says, 'no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit' (1 Cor. 12:3).

[Olga]

There are also the liturgical texts for the Day of the Holy Spirit, observed on the day after Pentecost. Unfortunately, I only have these texts in Slavonic and Greek, not in English (yet).

Also the following, from a newly-released English-language prayer book:

From the Akathist "Glory to God for All Things":

Kontakion 3:
It is the Holy Spirit who causes us to find joy in each flower, the exquisite scent, the delicate colour, the beauty of the Most High in the tiniest of things. Glory and honour to the Spirit, the Giver of life, who covers the fields with their carpet of flowers, crowns the harvest with gold, and gives to us the joy of gazing at it with our eyes. O be joyful and sing to Him: Alleluia!

[Effie Ganatsios]

There are also the liturgical texts for the Day of the Holy Spirit, observed on the day after Pentecost. Unfortunately, I only have these texts in Slavonic and Greek, not in English (yet).

Also the following, from a newly-released English-language prayer book:

From the Akathist "Glory to God for All Things":

Kontakion 3:
It is the Holy Spirit who causes us to find joy in each flower, the exquisite scent, the delicate colour, the beauty of the Most High in the tiniest of things. Glory and honour to the Spirit, the Giver of life, who covers the fields with their carpet of flowers, crowns the harvest with gold, and gives to us the joy of gazing at it with our eyes. O be joyful and sing to Him: Alleluia!

Olga, we have referred many times to this particular Akathist on this forum.

I regard it as one of the most beautiful and meaningful hymns I have ever read. I suppose hymn is the right word to describe it.

I make sure I read it regularly mainly because its words calm me so much.

All of its words speak to my heart but the following describes my own experience. I live in the midst of nature and love everything about it.

"What sort of praise can I give Thee? I have never heard the song of the Cherubim, a joy reserved for the spirits above. But I know the praises that nature sings to Thee. In winter, I have beheld how silently in the moonlight the whole earth offers Thee prayer, clad in its white mantle of snow, sparkling like diamonds. I have seen how the rising sun rejoices in Thee, how the song of the birds is a chorus of praise to Thee. I have heard the mysterious mutterings of the forests about Thee, and the winds singing Thy praise as they stir the waters. I have understood how the choirs of stars proclaim Thy glory as they move forever in the depths of infinite space. What is my poor worship! All nature obeys Thee, I do not. Yet while I live, I see Thy love, I long to thank Thee, and call upon Thy name. "

[Father David Moser]

"O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have compassion and mercy on Thy sinful servant and pardon my unworthiness, and forgive me all the sins that I humanly committed today, ...." - Jordanville Prayer Book, Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian to the Most Holy Spirit

This prayer is, imo, an important prayer to the Holy Spirit in that it exemplifies the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit that transforms us into the image and likeness of Christ (St Seraphim) and thus the presence of the Holy One in our lives points up and highlights the sinfulness in our lives. This then leads us to repentance and sorrow for our sins. Thus the prayers to the Holy Spirit are often (as is this one) prayers of confession and repentance. The Holy Spirit leads us to see our sins, prompts us to confront our sins and to repent of our sins in order that we may become Holy as He is Holy.

Fr David Moser

[Jonathan Michael]

Thank you, everyone for your replies. Thanks go particularly to Justin, for posting that prayer by St. Ephraim. The only version I could find online was in Chinese! I also agree with Herman that it is difficult to not say this prayer in the period between Easter and Pentecost, and I too miss it. Effie makes the important point that prayers to the Holy Trinity are also prayers to the Holy Spirit, just as any prayers specifically to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit are also prayers to the Holy Trinity.

So it seems as though there a just a few prayers that specifically address the Holy Spirit but, as Fr David, they so encompass the truth about Him that is scarcely seems as though other prayers are needed.

[Andreas Moran]

Also the following, from a newly-released English-language prayer book:

From the Akathist "Glory to God for All Things":

Kontakion 3:
It is the Holy Spirit who causes us to find joy in each flower, the exquisite scent, the delicate colour, the beauty of the Most High in the tiniest of things. Glory and honour to the Spirit, the Giver of life, who covers the fields with their carpet of flowers, crowns the harvest with gold, and gives to us the joy of gazing at it with our eyes. O be joyful and sing to Him: Alleluia!

Terrible translation!

[Rick H.]

Terrible translation!


I like what is written in this translation very much. But, now I am wondering why this could be considered a 'terrible' translation?

Is there an example of a good translation that could be laid down side by side with this one?

[Andreas Moran]

'By the power of Thy Holy Spirit, every flower giveth forth scent, calm wind-borne fragrance, delicate hue, the beauty of the great with the small. Praise and honour to the life-giving God, Who spreadeth forth the meadows as a flowering carpet, and crowneth the fields with golden sheaves, and azure cornflowers, for the joy of souls' contemplation. Be glad, and sing unto Him: Alleluia.'

[Andreas Moran]

And the original:

Кондак 3

Чрез силата на Светия Дух е уханието на всяко цвете, тихия полъх на
аромата, нежността на окраската, красотата на великото в малкото. Хвала и
чест на животворящия Бог, разпростиращ поляните, като разцъфнал килим,
увенчаващ полята със златото на класовете и с лазура на полските треви, а
душата – с радостта на съзерцанието. Веселете се и му пейте: Алилуя!

[Andreas Moran]

I shouldn't be trying to this without my wife here! This might be the original:

Силою Духа Святого обоняет каждый цветок, тихое веяние аромата, нежность окраски, красота Великого в малом. Хвала и честь животворящему Богу, простирающему луга, как цветущий ковер, венчающему поля золотом колосьев и лазурью васильков, а души — радостью созерцания. Веселитесь и пойте ему: Аллилуиа!

Apologies to the Russian speakers!

[Andreas Moran]

At least it's obvious that the version Olga posted misses out the 'azure cornflowers'. I shouldn't really draw attention to it, but I've quoted from the version in the Liturgics section.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

This Kondak isn't Slavonic or Russian....Is it perhaps Serbian?


And the original:

Кондак 3

Чрез силата на Светия Дух е уханието на всяко цвете, тихия полъх на
аромата, нежността на окраската, красотата на великото в малкото. Хвала и
чест на животворящия Бог, разпростиращ поляните, като разцъфнал килим,
увенчаващ полята със златото на класовете и с лазура на полските треви, а
душата – с радостта на съзерцанието. Веселете се и му пейте: Алилуя!

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Andreas Moran]

This Kondak isn't Slavonic or Russian....Is it perhaps Serbian?

I don't know but I'm sure it's not the right one - serves me right for meddling in these things without my wife's being here.

[Jonathan Michael]

Well the main difference in that translation is that the line: "By the power of Thy Holy Spirit..." changes the entire meaning of the prayer from one to the Holy Spirit into one about the Holy Spirit. That is quite a significant difference, and if that translation is the right one, then it's true that the previous one is "terrible" (I wouldn't go so far as to call it terrible myself), though not so much for being asthetically less pleasing, but in simply being inaccurate!

[Rick H.]

I'm not sure I follow you there Jonathan. Both lines seem to speak equally clear to Divine Causality in this psalm of praise.

[Andreas Moran]

I just phoned my wife. The first word, 'Силою', is most definitely 'By (or through) the Holy Spirit'. When I asked if it could be, 'It is the Holy Spirit', she said, 'no, no, no'. Apart from any difference in meaning this could carry, I think accuracy and fidelity to the original are important. We spent a year on this text, and my money's on someone who studied (amongst other things) philology at Moscow State University.

[Paul Cowan]

I just phoned my wife. and my money's on someone who studied (amongst other things) philology at Moscow State University.


Thank you wisegeek.com (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-philologist.htm). I had to look that one up Andreas.

[Olga]

Thank you, Andreas, for that correction. I'll pass it on to the compiler of the prayer book I referred to.

[Andreas Moran]

My wife has pointed out that силою comes from сила which means 'power' and is the word used in the priest's doxology after the Lord's Prayer (Thine is the kingdom, the power . . .). She fell about laughing at my pronunciation of силою because I made it sound like целую which means 'I kiss'!

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I just phoned my wife. The first word, 'Силою', is most definitely 'By (or through) the Holy Spirit'. When I asked if it could be, 'It is the Holy Spirit', she said, 'no, no, no'. Apart from any difference in meaning this could carry, I think accuracy and fidelity to the original are important. We spent a year on this text, and my money's on someone who studied (amongst other things) philology at Moscow State University.

Силою from my understanding is the instrumental case for сила. However it is according to the slavonic (or archaic), not modern form.

So: сила (nominative)- 'power'; силою (instrumental, slavonic form)- 'through the power'; силой (instrumental modern form)- 'through the power'; Духа Святого (genitive)-' of the Holy Spirit'.


Thus at least as the Slavonic has it above Силою Духа Святого means "Through the power of the Holy Spirit".

The other version in the post above Чрез силата на Светия Дух (whether it is Serbian or Bulgarian I don't know) is close enough to Russian to be understood as also meaning 'through the power of the Holy Spirit'. (чрез is an archaic form of через which means 'through').

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Matthew]

Does anyone have the original Greek for the following:

O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who are in all places and fill all things, the treaury of good things and the giver of life: come an abide in us, cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O Good One.

Or, if you have a translation you prefer, please post it.

It's also interesting that we don't say this prayer between Pascha and Pentecost.

[Nina]

does anyone have the original greek for the following:

O heavenly king, o comforter, the spirit of truth, who are in all places and fill all things, the treaury of good things and the giver of life: Come an abide in us, cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, o good one.


Βασιλεῦ Οὐράνιε, Παράκλητε, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς Ἀληθείας, ὁ Πανταχοῦ Παρὼν καὶ τὰ Πάντα Πληρῶν, ὁ Θησαυρὸς τῶν Ἀγαθῶν καὶ Ζωῆς Χορηγός, ἐλθὲ καὶ σκήνωσον ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ καθάρισον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης κηλῖδος καὶ σῶσον, Ἀγαθὲ τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ἀμήν.

[Jonathan Michael]

I'm not sure I follow you there Jonathan. Both lines seem to speak equally clear to Divine Causality in this psalm of praise.

Yes they do. I'm sorry, but I misread the earlier version, given by Olga. I thought that the earlier version was specifically addressed to the person of the Holy Spirit, whereas the later version is clearly not addressed to the Holy Spirit (because it says "Thy Holy Spirit"). Now I can see that neither are specifically addressed to the Holy Spirit, as "O Heavenly King..." is, and that both are merely speaking of Him. However, the version given by Andreas certainly makes it clearer, to me, that the prayer is not addressed to the Holy Spirit, because it begins with "By the power of Thy Holy Spirit".

I don't think I've been very clear, but I hope you can understand the distinction I'm making here between hymns and prayers about the Holy Spirit and prayers and hymns directed to Him, personally.

[Rick H.]

I think you have drawn a good distinction Jonathan. Thanks for bringing me up to speed.

[Matthew]

Βασιλεῦ Οὐράνιε, Παράκλητε, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς Ἀληθείας, ὁ Πανταχοῦ Παρὼν καὶ τὰ Πάντα Πληρῶν, ὁ Θησαυρὸς τῶν Ἀγαθῶν καὶ Ζωῆς Χορηγός, ἐλθὲ καὶ σκήνωσον ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ καθάρισον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης κηλῖδος καὶ σῶσον, Ἀγαθὲ τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ἀμήν.

Thank you, Nina!