When it is said
A priest says it in the field at the start of sowing, standing over the seed and facing east.
He brings holy water and wheat blessed at the all-night vigil, the long service on the eve of a Sunday or a feast. After the prayer come three short blessings: over the wheat, the seed and the land.
Where it comes from
No author known
A blessing in the field
This prayer belongs to the Russian Church’s blessing at the start of sowing, from its book of services for country parishes. The priest brings holy water and blessed wheat to the field about to be sown. He puts on his stole, stands facing east, and begins over the seed.
Сельский требный сборник (the Rural Book of Needs), Moscow Patriarchate, 2016
Wheat, water and salt
After the prayer the priest pours the blessed wheat into the seed. He sprinkles the seed, then the land, with a short blessing for each. Then he throws seed onto the field three times, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The same water, mixed with salt, is sprinkled on fields, gardens and vineyards.
Сельский требный сборник (the Rural Book of Needs), Moscow Patriarchate, 2016
The Scripture in it
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat …
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts.
You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth. You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth. You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty. The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy. The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys are decked with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Господи Боже наш, о пречистыя и пребогатыя длани Твоея, предлежащее пред очима Твоима семен подаяние принесохом, Владыко, и сему Тебе вручитися молимся:
не смеяхом бо в бездушных земли недрах заключити сия, аще не воззрим на повеление Твоего величества, повелевающее родити, и прозябати земли, и дати семена сеющему, и хлеба в снедь.
И ныне молимся Тебе, Боже наш, услыши ны молящияся Тебе, и отверзи нам сокровище Твое великое, и Благое, и небесное, и излей благословение Твое, донельже удовлимся по неложным Твоим обещанием:
и отжени от нас вся снедающая плод наш земный, и всякое наказание праведно наводимое на ны, грех ради наших:
и богатыя Твоя щедроты низпосли на вся люди Твоя, благодатию и человеколюбием Единороднаго Твоего Сына, с нимже благословен еси, и с Пресвятым, и Благим, и Животворящим Твоим Духом, и ныне и присно, и во веки веков.
Аминь.
Благослови, Господи, венец лета благостию Твоею, и поля Твоя да насытятся тука, и удолия умножит пшеницу.
Благословение Твое, Господи, да снидет на семена сия, и да прорастут, и сотворят плод мног, во имя Отца, и Сына, и Святаго Духа.
Аминь.
Посети, Господи, землю сию, и упой ю, и обогати:
бразды ея ублажи, и умножи жита ея.
Ты бо еси Бог наш, и Тебе славу возсылаем, Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу, ныне и присно, и во веки веков.
Аминь.
Во имя Отца, и Сына, и Святаго Духа.
Аминь.