PRAYER FOR ONE'S SPIRITUAL CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS TIME
O Almighty Master, Lord our God: when Thou wast born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judaea, creation was enlightened with trembling and the world rejoiced at Thy nativity. O Thou Who created man according to Thine image and Thy likeness, and gavest him baptism unto repentance, Who hast brought Thy servants unto these all-honourable days, unto abstinence from the passions and hope of resurrection, guiding them to the truth of Thy divinity: open their hearts and minds, that they may know Thee to be the Son of God Who takest away the sins of the whole world. O Master, Who lovest mankind, receive Thy servants NN., as Thou didst receive Peter when he was drowning in the sea, who also denied Thee thrice, yet wept bitterly, and was again received by Thee; and do Thou now accept also, O Master, the tears, sighs and repentance of Thy servants, as Thou didst the sighing of the publican, and the harlot who wept, and bathed Thy feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. O Thou Who in Thy mercy didst take with Thyself to paradise the thief who cried out to Thee on the Cross: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy kingdom!,to whom Thou didst say: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise!: we have heard a voice speaking, when the magi brought gifts to do Thee homage, while shepherds piped and angels chanted: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will among men; though Herod was troubled that God had appeared in the flesh for the salvation of the race of man. Thee, O Master, Who lovest mankind, doth all creation now hymn, saying: Christ is born, give ye glory! Christ is on earth, be ye exalted! The assemblies of the angels now rejoice, and the choirs of the martyrs are filled with gladness, beholding Thy glorious and honoured nativity, that we may all praise Thee with heart and lips as is meet. And now, O good Lord, Who lovest mankind, receive these Thy servants NN., who repent of their sins, voluntary and involuntary; and in Thy wonted love for mankind accept the bending of their knees and the fasting of Thy servants NN., that, having kept Thy commandments and attained now unto Thy holy and honourable nativity, they may be pure and blameless partakers of Thine all-pure Body and Thy precious Blood. For unto Thee is due glory, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Trebnik, Vol. II, pp. 6b-8a
Translation by Reader Isacc Lambertson