When it is said
The Russian Orthodox Church has a short service of prayer, a moleben, “for those in sorrows and various hardships”. A priest sings a moleben most often when someone asks for one.
Its Gospel reading is Jesus’s call to all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. Near the end the priest reads this prayer, which quotes those words.
Where it comes from
No author known
A service for hard times
This prayer belongs to a moleben, a short service of prayer cut down from the morning service of feast days. The Russian Church’s book of molebens has one “for those in sorrows and various hardships”. This prayer comes near its end. No author is named.
Azbyka.ru, the book of molebens (Posledovanie molebnykh peniy), part 2; Azbyka.ru, the book of molebens, preface
Saints who knew hard times
The service’s canon, a long hymn in several parts, asks the prayers of saints who suffered. Among them are Job, “a model of patience”, and the martyr St Eustathius, who grieved when he was parted from those he loved. Another is St John Chrysostom, twice driven from his place as bishop. He died on the road into exile, saying “Glory to God for all things”.
Azbyka.ru, the book of molebens (Posledovanie molebnykh peniy), part 2
The Scripture in it
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Владыко Господи Иисусе Христе Боже наш, Боже всякаго милосердия и щедрот, долготерпеливый и многомилостивый, любящий праведных и грешных милующий.
Ты рекл еси пречистыми Твоими устами: приидите ко Мне вси труждающиися и обремененнии, и Аз упокою вас.
Се мы, грешные и недостойные, в скорбях и бедах изнемогающии, к Тебе притекаем и припадающе молим: вонми предстательству о нас рождшей Тя Богоматери, приими молитвы святых Твоих, снизойди к нашим немощам и яви милость людям Твоим в различных состояниях сущим и на Твое человеколюбие уповающим: скорбящих утеши, унывающих ободри, ослабевших укрепи, больных исцели, изувеченным и расслабленным терпение пошли, гладных напитай, нагих одей, безприютным приют даруй, труждающимся помоги, обремененным заботами житейскими и тяжелыми трудами облегчение подаждь, на судилищах, в темницах, узах, заточении, изгнании и горьких работах сущих в терпении укрепи и на свободу скоро изведи, на брани сущих сохрани, плененных возврати, разлученных соедини, враждующих примири, всем во всем милость яви и всех Церкви Твоей Святой представи благоугождающими.
Тебе бо свойственно есть миловати и спасати нас, Господи Боже наш, и Тебе славу возсылаем со Безначальным Твоим Отцем и Святым Духом, ныне и присно и во веки веков. Аминь.