Monday Morning Prayer - August 3, 2020

As you sip your Monday morning coffee and prepare for your week, I offer you the following prayer for reflection:

Prayer Before Sleep

Աղօթք Քնանալէ Առաջ

“I Confess with Faith” [an excerpt verse 15]

- St. Nerses Shnorhali - the Gracious (1102 - 1173)

Պահապան ամենայնի, Քրիստոս, աջ քո հովանի լիցի ի վերայ իմ՝

ի տուէ եւ ի գիշերի, ի նստիլ ի տան, ի գնալ ի ճանապարհ,

ի ննջել եւ ի յառնել, զի մի երբէք սասանեցայց.

Եւ ողորմեա քո արարածոց եւ ինձ՝ բազմամեղիս:

Bahaban amenaynee Krisdos, atch ko hovani litzi ee vera eem

ee duveh yev ee kisheri, ee nusdil ee dan ee knal ee janabar,

ee nunchel yev ee harnel, zi mi yerbek sasanetzaitz.

Yev voghormia ko araradzotz yev intz pazmameghis.

O Christ, Guardian of all, May your right hand be upon me

Both day and night, While at home and traveling,

While sleeping and awake, So that I may never falter.

Have mercy upon your creation, And upon me, a manifold sinner.

turn to an excerpt once again from “I Confess with Faith” penned by our beloved St. Nerses Shnorhali - the Gracious. With this Prayer Before Sleep we ask the Lord for the comfort of his hand upon us, safeguarding us as we sleep, so that we may sleep peacefully under his divine protection. This prayer brings back vivid memories for many of us who attended Seminary or boarding school. Every evening, before all the seminarians prepared for sleep, we gathered together to pray The Lord’s Prayer, the Prayer Before Sleep, and sing a song dedicated to the Angels. This was our evening routine, every night. After we said these prayers together, we were required to prepare for sleep and no more talking was allowed. This disciplined routine established the structure that trained us to use these quiet moments before sleep to connect with and deepen our relationship with God. It was a time of reflection for each of us to review the lessons, challenges and accomplishments of the day, and to set our minds and our spirits upon the possibilities of tomorrow. It instilled in us the habit of prayer and mindfulness before sleep, which remains with us to this day. May this Prayer Before Sleep offer you the comfort of the Lord’s infinite presence and grant you peaceful sleep at the end of your busy day.

St. Nerses Shnorhali - the Gracious was a uniquely gifted and prolific Armenian writer, composer and theologian; an inspirational and faithful leader who immeasurably enriched our Armenian liturgical life. To learn more about St. Nerses Shnorhali - the Gracious please visit https://shnorhali.com/ .

Let us remain faithful, mindful and spiritually strong, as we stand together in the face of this pandemic.

Prayerfully yours,

Father Oshagan