When it is said
The Russian morning prayers include a short prayer for the living and the departed. For those who can, the prayer books give a longer form in its place: a list of people to pray for, each with a bow. This line is one of them.
In the evening the Church prays for them again in other words. It does so at the end of Compline, the late evening service, and in the prayers before sleep.
Where it comes from
No author known
No known author
No one knows who wrote it. It belongs to the list of petitions for the living in the Slavonic prayer books. G. V. Shann put it into English in his Orthodox prayer book of 1891, among his “Diptychs, or Remembrancer”, with a bow after it.
Forgiven, then forgiving
At the end of Compline, each monk bows and asks forgiveness of the one leading it. Then they go to their rooms with a prayer that, the book of hours says, every person says: “Forgive, O Lord Who lovest man, those who hate us, and those who have wronged us.” The Russian prayers before sleep keep it too.
The Horologion in Church Slavonic, the end of Compline (Azbyka.ru); Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book (1906), Grand Compline; Jordanville Prayer Book, Prayers before Sleep
What the words mean
The ninth step
St John Chrysostom, preaching on Jesus’s words about enemies, counted nine steps. First, do no wrong. Second, pay back no more than you were dealt. Third, keep quiet, and fourth, bear the wrong. Fifth, give more than is asked. The sixth step is not to hate him, the seventh is to love him, and the eighth is to do him good. The ninth and highest is “to entreat God Himself on his behalf”. Its reward, he said, is to become like God.
The Scripture in it
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Спаси, Господи, и помилуй ненавидящия и обидящия мя,
и творящия ми напасти,
и не остави их погибнути мене ради, грешнаго.