Monday Morning Prayer - June 29, 2020

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

“I Confess with Faith” [an excerpt] “Havadov Khosdovanim” A prayer for every hour of the day - St. Nerses Shnorhali the Gracious (1102-1173)

O Jesus, wisdom of the Father, grant me the wisdom that I may always think, speak, and do what is good in your sight; deliver me from evil thoughts, words and deeds. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on me, a manifold sinner.

Իմաստութիւն հօր Յիսուս, տուր ինձ իմաստութիւն

զբարիս խորհել եւ խօսել եւ գործել

առաջի քո յամենայն ժամ. Ի չար խորհրդոց, ի բանից եւ ի գործոց փրկեա զիս. եւ ողորմեա քո արարածոց եւ ինձ բազմամեղիս:

Some of you may recognize this prayer from our beautiful Lenten Evening Services. I chose this prayer for our first Monday Prayer as it coincides with the sermon from yesterday’s Divine Liturgy, where I emphasized that we must always be keenly watchful over our sinful nature and continuously beseech the Lord for strength and forgiveness. This simple prayer is a humble and flawless call to the Lord, that He may bestow upon us, manifold sinners that we are, His infinite grace and mercy.

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 and read the prayer in full, 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