When it is said
A priest reads it near the end of a short service of prayer for someone about to have an operation, and he names both the surgeon and the patient.
At home a husband, wife or parent might pray it with the patient’s name, the night before or while the operation goes on.
Where it comes from
No author known
A service for surgery
The Russian Orthodox Church approved a short service of prayer before an operation on 24 March 2022, for use in all its churches. Its Gospel reading tells how Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law and her fever left her (Matthew 8:14-15). This prayer comes near the end of the service.
The service before a surgical operation, Church Slavonic, Azbyka
Older prayers inside it
Much of the prayer comes from Holy Unction, the service of anointing the sick, at which seven priests each read a prayer in turn. Its opening follows the fifth priest’s prayer, and its list of Christ’s mercies follows the sixth. The plea for the surgeon’s hand is new.
What the words mean
Who is the bishop Luke?
The prayer names God as the One Who gave the holy bishop Luke the gift of healing by surgery. He is St Luke of Crimea (lived from 1877 to 1961), a surgeon who was ordained a priest in 1921 and later became an archbishop. In 2000 the Russian Church honoured him as a saint in all its churches.
St Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol, Orthodox Church in America
The Scripture in it
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”
And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse. When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
“But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!”
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort …
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Господи, Боже наш, Благий Человеколюбче и Врачу душ и телес наших, немощи наша неболезненно носяй и недуги наша приемляй;
в тихости милуяй, превосходяй беззакония и изымаяй неправды, скорый в помощь и косный во гнев!
Ты, яко Пастырь Добрый, на взыскание пришедый заблуждшаго овчате, малодушным даяй утешение и живот сокрушенным,
источник кровоточивыя дванадесятолетен бывший исцеливый и слепорожденному очи открывый,
дщерь хананеину от лютаго демона свободивый и исцеление разслабленному даровавый со оставлением грехов его,
мытаря словом оправдавый и разбойника в последнем его исповедании приемый, грех мира вземый и на Кресте пригвоздивый.
Тебе молимся и Тебе просим, Отче щедрот и Боже всякаго утешения хирургический дар врачевания святителю Луке подавый
укрепи руку врача (имярек), да нуждную хирургию и врачевание благое совершит раба Твоего (рабы Твоея) (имярек)
в пременение недуга и тяжкия болезни, чающаго (чающия) еже от Тебе исцеления.
Ей, Благоутробне и Многомилостиве Господи! Исцели раба Твоего (рабу Твою) (имярек),
воздвигни его (ю) от одра болезненнаго и от ложа озлобления цела и всесовершенна (целу и всесовершенну),
посети его (ю) щедротами Твоими, отжени от него (нея) всякий недуг и всякую немощь,
даруй его (ю) Церкви Твоей благоугождающа и творяща (благоугождающу и творящу) волю Твою,
яко да востав (воставши) рукою Твоею крепкою, поработает Тебе со всяким благодарением.
Твое бо есть, еже миловати и спасати ны, Боже наш, и Тебе славу возсылаем Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу ныне, и присно, и во веки веков. Аминь.