The most powerful prayers for the feast of December 4: what to ask Our Lady for today

On December 4, the Church celebrates one of the Twelve Great Feasts, dedicated to the Entrance of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple. It is based on the biblical story of how the righteous Joachim and Anna, fulfilling their vow to dedicate their long-awaited daughter to God, brought three-year-old Mary to the Jerusalem temple. "Izvestia" tells what pray to the Virgin on this day, and publishes the texts of the most powerful prayers.

What to pray and what to ask the Virgin on December 4

On the holiday it is customary to sing to the Mother of God, asking her for forgiveness of sins and intercession before the Lord. Before the image pray for healing from illnesses, deliverance from temptations and temptations, protection and strength in the fight against all evil.

But above all, on the day of the Entrance into the Temple, which serves as a symbol of children's spiritual education, people ask for guidance and protection for their children, especially daughters. Traditionally, children who have reached the age of seven are brought to the first confession and attend the service together with them.

Prayers are also offered to the Mother of God for family well-being, healing from infertility and a speedy addition to the family. Unmarried women pray for a happy marriage and a good husband.

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Since the Blessed Virgin protects from all troubles and misfortunes, being considered the heavenly patroness of the whole human race, any Christian can turn to her in a difficult moment with a request for help. It is important that the prayer came from the heart and did not contain bad thoughts.

Akathist for the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple

The service on the Feast of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God practically does not differ from the service on the Feast of the Nativity or Assumption of the Theotokos - two other feasts of the Mother of God in the Church calendar. On this day, the clergy, dressed in white or blue vestments symbolizing the purity and purity of the Virgin Mary, read liturgical texts dedicated to the feast. An important place among them is occupied by the Akathist to the Blessed Virgin:

"To Mary, the Mother of God, chosen by the Eternal King, Queen of angels and men, who came sometimes to the temple of the Lord in the Holy of Holies, for the betrothal of her virginity to the Bridegroom of Heaven, to be brought up in the Divine Dwelling, we offer you worthy worship. But Thou, as our all-powerful Advocate, deliver us from all our troubles and sorrows, so that with love and supplication we may cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Mother of God, chosen of God, by entering the temple you have opened to us the doors of paradise."

Troparion for the Church feast today

During the feast service they also sing a troparion - a short prayer chant glorifying the Mother of God. It speaks of the introduction of the Most Pure Virgin into the temple, thanks to which people learned about the imminent appearance of God's mercy and salvation promised by the Lord:

"Now is the foretaste of the good pleasure of God and the preaching of salvation to men, in the temple of God the Virgin appears clearly and proclaims Christ to all. This we also cry with a loud voice: Rejoice, O Hail, the fulfillment of the Visionary's sight."

The most powerful prayers to the Mother of God on December 4

In addition, on the church holiday in the temple or at home in front of the icon of the Mother of God read a special prayer. Before reading it, clergymen recommend listening to the text in a recording or rereading it several times to better understand the meaning due to the length of the prayer and the large number of words in Church Slavonic.

"Izvestia" cites its simplified version:

"O Most Holy Virgin, Queen of heaven and earth, before the ages the chosen Bride of God, in the last times thou hast come to the temple lawful for betrothal to the Bridegroom of Heaven! You spent all the days of Your youth in the temple of the Lord, away from the temptations of this world, in all vigilance of prayer, and in all self-control, both mental and bodily. Grant that we also keep ourselves pure, chaste, and in the fear of God all our days. Help us also to ward off all temptations of the enemy, from the flesh, the world, and the devil, which have been upon us since our youth, and to overcome them by prayer and fasting. Grant that we also, who are possessed by sloth, self-control and pride, may be clothed with all spiritual perfection. Wherefore, with all the saints, compel us to glorify and praise the Most Holy Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and Your gracious intercession, now, ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

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Also on the feast the following prayer is recited (published with an abridgment):

"To whom shall I cry, O Lady, to whom shall I resort in my sorrow, but to Thee, O Queen of Heaven? Who will hear my cries and who will receive my sighs but You, O Immaculate Mother? Who will protect me more than You in adversity? Hear my groaning and do not despise those who seek your help, so that you do not cast me away, O Heavenly Queen. Teach me to do the will of Your Son and grant me the desire to always follow His holy commandments. Through your intercession cover my transgressions, protect me from visible and invisible enemies, soften the hearts of those who oppose me, and warm them with Christ's love. But to me, who am weak, grant Thy mighty help to overcome my sinful habits, and lift up Thy mighty prayers for me, who have sinned many times in this life. May the Lord justify me and make me a partaker of His infinite joys. Amen."

Earlier "Izvestia" told what prayers are read on the feast of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God.