When it is said
In church it is the last prayer of a Russian service of prayer for enemies, read after the litany and just before the end.
Such services are most often held when someone asks for one.
At home, anyone might pray it for the people who hate them or wrong them.
Where it comes from
No author known
A service of prayer for enemies
The prayer closes a short Russian service “for enemies who hate and wrong us”. Its readings include Paul’s “Bless those who persecute you” (Romans 12:14) and Christ’s “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). One of its hymns asks Christ, Who prayed for those who crucified Him, to forgive the people who hate and wrong us and to lead them away from evil into a life of brotherly love.
Where the service came from
A service for enemies first stood at the end of the Russian priest’s prayer book, among services for particular needs composed in southern Russia. The book of molebens rebuilt it as a service of its own. Its preface suggests joining it to a service to St Stephen, the first martyr. It calls Stephen the first Christian to repeat the Saviour’s prayer for enemies: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).
The Scripture in it
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Господи Иисусе Христе Боже наш, приими от нас, недостойных рабов Твоих молитву сию,
и простив нам все согрешения наша, помяни всех врагов наших, ненавидящих и обидящих нас,
и не воздаждь им по делам их, но по великой милости Твоей обрати их:
неверных к правоверию и благочестию, верных же уклонитися от зла и творити благое,
яко да ни един от них погибнет нас ради недостойных.
Нас же и Церковь Твою Святую всесильною Твоею крепостию от всякаго злаго обстояния милостивно избави,
да все славим Тя и Безначальнаго Твоего Отца и Святаго Духа, ныне и присно и во веки веков. Аминь.
From the Russian book of molebens, in Church Slavonic, on Azbyka.ru.