Prayer rule of St Seraphim

Prayer Rule St. Seraphim of Sarov

source: An Early Soviet Saint (Chapter 5)

Hail, Mother of God and Virgin, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast given birth to the Savior of our souls. (Say 10 times for each decade:)

After every ten repetitions say “Our Father” once and “Open unto us the doors of thy loving kindness.”

Open unto us the door of thy loving kindness, O blessed Mother of God; in that we set our hope on thee, we may not go astray; but through thee may we be delivered from all adversities, for thou art the salvation of all Christian people.

First decade: Let us remember the birth of the Mother of God - pray for mothers, fathers and children.

Second decade: Let us remember the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin and Mother fo God - let us pray for those who have lost their way and fallen away from the church.

Third decade: Let us remember the Annunciation of the Blessed Mother fo God - let us pray for the soothing of sorrows and the consolation of those who grieve.

Fourth decade: Let us remember the meeting of the Blessed Virgin with the righteous Elisabeth - let us pray for the reunion of the separated, for those whose dear ones or children are living away from them or missing.

Fifth decade: Let us remember the Birth of Christ - let us pray for the rebirth of souls, for new life in Christ.

Sixth decade: Let us remember the Feast of the Purification of the Lord, and the words uttered by St. Simeon: ‘Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also’ (Luke 2.35). Let us pray that the Mother of God will meet our souls at the hour of our death, and will contrive that we receive the Holy Sacrament with our last breath, and will lead our souls through the terrible torments.

Seventh decade: Let us remember the flight of the Mother of God with the God-child into Egypt. Let pray that the Mother of God will help us avoid temptation in this life and deliver us from misfortunes.

Eighth decade: Let us remember the disappearance of the twelve year old boy Jesus in Jerusalem and the sorrow of the Mother of God on this account. Let us pray, begging the Mother of God for the constant repetition of the Jesus Prayer.

Ninth decade: Let us remember the miracle performed in Cana of Galilee, when the Lord turned water into wine at the words of the Mother of God: ‘They have no wine (John 2:3).’ Let us ask the Mother of God for help in our affairs and deliverance from need.

Tenth decade: Let us remember the Mother of God standing at the cross of the Lord, when grief pierced through her heart like a sword. Let us pray to the Mother of God for the strengthening of our souls and the banishment of despondency.

Eleventh decade: Let us remember the Resurrection of Christ and ask the Mother of God in prayer to resurrect our souls and give us new courage for spiritual feats.

Twelfth decade: Let us remember the Ascension of Christ, at which the Mother of God was present. Let us pray and ask the Queen of Heaven to raise our souls from earthly and worldly amusements and direct them to striving for higher things.

Thirteenth decade: Let us remember the Upper Room and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Mother of God. Let us pray: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.’ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Fourteenth decade: Let us remember the Assumption of the Blessed Mother of God, and ask for a peaceful and serene end.

Fifthteenth decade: Let us remember the glory of the Mother of God, with which the Lord crowned her after her removal from earth to heaven, and let us pray to the Queen of Heaven not to abandon the faithful who are on earth but to defend them from every evil, covering them with her honourable protecting veil.