When it is said
A priest reads it aloud at a service of prayer for children beginning their lessons. Today it is known as the service before the start of the school year.
The service opens with Psalm 34: “Come, children, listen to me.” Its Gospel is Jesus blessing the children. At the end the priest blesses the children with the cross. They kiss it, and he sprinkles them with holy water.
Where it comes from
No author known
A service for the first lessons
Isabel Hapgood, an American translator, printed this prayer in English in 1906. It comes in “A Service of Prayer when Children Begin their Instruction”. Her book tells the priest to read it aloud “with all heed and emotion”. No author is named, and its age is not known.
Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church (1906)
Let the children come
The service’s Gospel is the day people brought young children to Jesus, so that He would touch them. His disciples turned them away, and Jesus was displeased. He said the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Then He took the children in His arms and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16, in Hapgood (1906) and in the service as Foma prints it today
A joy to their parents
Before this prayer comes the litany, a chain of short requests. It asks God to send the children the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and to open their minds and their lips. One request asks that they may lead a wise and virtuous life, and be “a joy and consolation to their parents”.
The Scripture in it
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
… behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Господи, Боже и Создателю наш, образом Своим почтый нас человеки, научивый избранныя Твоя, яко дивитися внемлющым учению Твоему, открывый премудрость младенцем; иже Соломона и всех взыскующих премудрости Твоей научивый, отверзи сердца, умы и уста рабов Твоих сих, во еже прияти силу закона Твоего, и со успехом познати преподаемая им полезная учения, в славу Пресвятаго имене Твоего, в пользу и созидание Святей Твоей Церкви, и разумети благую и совершенную волю Твою. Избави их от всякаго налога вражия, соблюди их в Православии и вере, и во всяком благочестии и чистоте во вся дни живота их, да преуспеют в разуме и во исполнении заповедей Твоих; да тако предуготовани прославят Пресвятое имя Твое, и будут наследницы Царствия Твоего.
Яко Ты еси Бог силен в милости, и благ в крепости, и Тебе подобает всякая слава, честь и поклонение, Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу, всегда, ныне и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.