When it is said
A priest reads this prayer near the end of the Russian Church’s rite of consolation for the family of someone who took their own life.
The rite may be read whenever a relative comes to a priest for comfort, and more than once, as a memorial service can be.
A family member might also pray these words at home.
Where it comes from
No author known
Why the Russian Church wrote it
The Church’s canons forbid prayer in church for those who take their own lives. But the Russian Holy Synod’s preface of 2011 says that most who die this way today were baptized but never raised in the Church. In the Synod’s words, they end their lives “out of their mind”, not in conscious defiance of God. Families refused a funeral were drifting from the Church with no comfort, so the Synod gave priests these prayers for them.
When a funeral is possible
The same meeting of the Synod reminded priests that a funeral may be held, without the body present, for someone who took their own life while mentally ill, if doctors’ evidence shows the illness. The Russian Church’s teaching on social questions allows church prayer for such a person once the bishop has looked into the case. So the practice depends on the case, and a family should ask their priest.
OrthoChristian, 30 July 2011; The Russian Orthodox Church, Bases of the Social Concept
What the words mean
“Our brother or sister”
The rite prints “our brother”, with “our sister” in brackets for a woman. A priest prays it with the family, so its “we” is everyone praying, the priest among them. When it asks comfort for the family, it names them apart, as “Your servants”.
The Scripture in it
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Владыко, Господи, Милостивый и Человеколюбивый, к Тебе взываем:
согрешихом и беззаконновахом пред Тобою, преступихом спасительныя Твоя заповеди
и любве евангельския отчаявшемуся брату нашему (отчаявшейся сестре нашей) не явихом.
Но не яростию Твоею обличи ны, ниже гневом Твоим накажи ны,
Человеколюбче Владыко, ослаби, исцели сердечную скорбь нашу,
да победит множество щедрот Твоих грехов наших бездну,
и Твоея безчисленныя благости пучина да покрыет горькое слез наших море.
Ей, Иисусе Сладчайший, еще молим ти ся,
подаждь рабом Твоим, сродником живот свой самовольне скончавшаго,
в скорби их утешение и на милость Твою твердое упование.
Яко Милостив и Человеколюбец Бог еси, и Тебе славу возсылаем
со Безначальным Твоим Отцем и Пресвятым и Благим и Животворящим Твоим Духом,
ныне и присно и во веки веков.