Upon the invitation of Archbishop Elpidophoros, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver will be praying for the eternal memory and repose of those who have passed from COVID19, on Saturday, May 9 at 2:30 EST from the Assumption of the Theotokos Cathedral in Denver, Colorado.
It is recalled that the Archdiocese of America pursues its efforts to improve the situation for the faithful.
Recently, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America launched an updated COVID-19 Resource Center today. In addition to serving as a platform for hosting videos, blogs, downloadable materials, and other content created by the various departments and ministries of the Archdiocese, the Resource Center will provide valuable information and updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Visitors to the site will also find both written and video messages from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Elpidophoros.
The Resource Center will be regularly updated with new content and will provide guidelines and suggestions for parishes to take into consideration as they face a changing financial reality and strive to meet the new needs within their communities.
The Archdiocese of America also published two prayers that the faithful can offer in the morning and in the evening during the coronavirus crisis.
A Prayer To Be Offered in the Morning
Lord our God, You who are rich in mercy, and with careful wisdom direct our lives, listen to our prayer, receive our repentance for our sins, bring an end to this new infectious disease, this new epidemic, just as you averted the punishment of your people in the time of David the King. You who are the Physician of our souls and bodies, grant restored health to those who have been seized by this illness, raising them from their bed of suffering, so that they might glorify You, O merciful Savior, and preserve in health those who have not been infected. By your grace, Lord, bless, strengthen, and preserve, all those who out of love and sacrifice care for the sick, either in their homes or in the hospitals. Remove all sickness and suffering from your people, and teach us to value life and health as gifts from You. Give us Your peace, O God, and fill our hearts with unflinching faith in Your protection, hope in Your help, and love for You and our neighbor. For Yours it is to have mercy on us and save us, O our God, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, to the ages of ages. Amen.
A HYMN TO SAINT NIKIFOROS THE LEPER
1st Mode. To the melody,
“The stone had been secured.”All the Angels were awestruck by the courage and fortitude * of Saint Nikiforos the Leper * in ascetic deeds and contests, * for like another Job he suffered pains * with patience, ever glorifying God, * who has crowned him now with glory, granting him grace * to work great and wondrous miracles. * Rejoice, O guide of monastics and their aid, * Rejoice, O shining beacon of light, * Rejoice for your relics now exude * a fragrance bringing joy to all.
A Prayer To Be Offered in the Evening
Lord Jesus Christ our God, You traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At Your command, the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of this virus, that we may experience Your healing love. Heal those O Lord who are suffering with this pandemic’s illness. May they regain their strength and health through medical care.
Heal us from our fears, which prevent nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another. Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders. Lord Jesus Christ, healer of all and physician of our souls and bodies, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with You in Your eternal peace. Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know Your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know Your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to choose long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know Your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.
Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Lord Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.
For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies Christ our God and to You do we offer glory, thanksgiving and worship together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Another Prayer, To Be Offered At Any Time
O Holy Father, God of unknown, uncreated depth, You are beyond all description and expectation. You are the Creator of all worlds, physical and metaphysical. As You are only love, in love You created everything that truly is. Through Your Son, everything has form and purpose, and through Your Spirit, everything lives and moves back toward You.
O Father, we are troubled by this scourge that is infecting Your people around the world. From the ancient Fall away from You, there are many consequences that we cannot begin to understand. As traces of this pestilence are being studied in labs, we shiver at its demonic malevolence for destruction, especially of the frail and the elderly.
Our hearts are open to You, loving Father; we come to You as children, meek and lowly. We beg You to help the doctors who work to find a cure. We beg You to help our leaders to put away childish things, to forget political advantage, and to be good stewards of their people. We beg You to help us to be wise ourselves and to care for human life in the least of those around us.
We cry out to You as One Who did not send this plague. We cry out to You as One Who only heals and redeems. You did not send this, but we know You can destroy it.
So Father, cease this plague, and turn it back to the abyss from which it came.
Heal Your people, the humanity of this earth, cleanse us and strengthen us toward You.
We are weak, but You are strong, and in our weakness Your strength is revealed. Help us, we beg You, in the Name of Your Son, the Great Physician, Who, together with You and our Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Are due all glory and honor, to the ages of ages. Amen.
A HYMN TO SAINT NIKIFOROS THE LEPER
4th Mode. To the melody,
“On this day You have appeared.”Next to God who honored you, * O Nikiforos, * you do stand with boldness now, * like the tenth leper who returned * in great thanksgiving and gratefulness; * so, as is fitting, we honor your memory.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you… do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
~ John 14:27
