When it is said
A priest reads it at the end of a short blessing for people about to fly.
Anyone may pray it before a flight, for themselves or for someone they love.
Where it comes from
No author known
Where does it come from?
The prayer closes the Church’s blessing for people about to fly, a short service in the Russian Book of Needs. The deacon calls everyone to kneel, and the priest reads the prayer aloud from the open church doors. Then he gives the travellers the cross to kiss and sprinkles them with holy water. No author or date is given.
The Great Book of Needs, Volume IV (St Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1999), pages 303 and 314-315; Чин благословения в воздушное путешествие, Воинский требник, Azbyka
In the prayer book too
A Russian prayer book prints the same prayer among the prayers of a traveller, under the heading “before setting out on a journey by air”. It leaves a space after “Your servants” for the names of those who are flying.
Молитвы путешествующего (the prayers of a traveller), Azbyka
The psalm and the Gospel around it
The same service opens with Psalm 139, which says that even “on the wings of the dawn” God’s hand will guide you (Psalm 139:9-10). Its Gospel reading begins with Christ’s words to His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).
The Great Book of Needs, Volume IV (St Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1999), pages 303 and 312
What the words mean
Who commands the winds
The opening lines recall the day Jesus calmed a storm on the lake. He rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and His disciples asked one another who He was, that even the winds and the water obey Him (Luke 8:24-25). The prayer asks the same Lord to rebuke the storms and the winds that a plane meets.
The Scripture in it
“Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Го́споди Иису́се Христе́, Бо́же на́ш, стихи́ям повелева́яй и вся́ го́рстию содержа́й, Его́же бе́здны трепе́щут и Ему́же зве́зды прису́тствуют. Вся́ тва́рь Тебе́ слу́жит, вся́ послу́шают, вся́ Тебе́ повину́ются. Вся́ мо́жеши: сего́ ра́ди вся́ ми́луеши, Преблаги́й Го́споди.
Та́ко и ны́не у́бо, Влады́ко, рабо́в Твои́х си́х (имена́ и́х) моле́ния те́плыя прие́мля, благослови́ пу́ть и́х и возду́шное ше́ствие, запреща́я бу́рям же и ве́тром проти́вным, и лодию́ возду́шную це́лу и невреди́му соблюда́я. Спаси́тельное и небу́рное по возду́ху превожде́ние и́м да́руя и благо́е наме́рение соверши́вшим и́м ве́село во здра́вии и в ми́ре возврати́тися изво́ли.
Ты́ бо еси́ Спа́с и Изба́витель и все́х благи́х небе́сных и земны́х Пода́тель и Тебе́ сла́ву возсыла́ем со Безнача́льным Твои́м Отце́м и Пресвяты́м и Благи́м и Животворя́щим Твои́м Ду́хом, ны́не и при́сно и во ве́ки веко́в. Ами́нь.