Traditional Prayer
O God, our heavenly Father, who lovest mankind and art most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon Thy servants, (names), for whom I humbly pray Thee and commend to Thy gracious care and protection.
Be Thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of Thy truth, and draw them nearer to Thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Thy love and fear, doing Thy will in all things.
Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout, and charitable.
Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life, and direct them in the way of salvation:
Through the merits of Thy Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of His Most-Holy Mother and of all Thy blessed Saints. Amen.
A prayer by Archimandrite Nicodim (Mandita)
O Lord, God of Heaven and Earth, Who by Thy wisdom hast created man from earth and hast breathed into his face the breath of life, making him a living man whose life is both temporal and eternal; and Who didst bless him and say: "Increase and multiply, fill the earth and rule over it," and Who in Cana of Galilee through Thine Only Son, Jesus Christ, didst bless marriage and thereby the bearing of sons and daughters—with deep humility we pray to Thee: help us by Thy grace always to fulfill our duties as parents in bringing up our children well.
O Lord God of mercies, have mercy on us and on our home, and in Thy great goodness, pour out Thine abundant grace over all our children. Have mercy, O Lord, on us and on our children whom Thou hast given us.
O Greatly-Merciful Lord, Who givest food to the birds of the sky and to all living things on the earth, Who watchest over the flower that sprouts amidst the rocky cliffs: nourish, bring up, and protect well our children also. Help us, O Lord, to plant in their souls what is good and useful for the Holy Church and the nation, and what is well-pleasing to Thee, that Thy holy name may be exalted through them. Fill them, O Lord, with the enlightened wisdom and holy understanding which come down from Thee. Protect them from all the snares of enemies both visible and invisible. Command Thine Angels as always to be their enlightened guides and counselors in all good works.
We pray Thee, O Lord, to open their minds that they may know Thee as much as possible. Amen.
