When it is said
In the Horologion, the Church’s book of daily services, it is the last of the prayers for Saturday at the Midnight Office. The Slavonic book marks it to be prayed “in the cells”, each monk alone in his own room.
The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Iași gives the same prayer as a prayer on the deathbed.
Someone afraid of dying might pray it at night, or whenever the thought of death weighs on them.
Where it comes from
Author by tradition
Who was St Eustratius?
In the life the Orthodox Church in America prints, Eustratius was an army commander in Armenia under the emperor Diocletian. He had kept his faith secret and was tortured when he confessed it. A young soldier, Orestes, was sentenced to die on a red-hot iron bed and grew afraid as he came near it. Encouraged by Eustratius, Orestes crossed himself, lay down and gave up his soul to God.
On the way to the fire
The same life says Eustratius was sentenced to be burned alive, and that he prayed this prayer aloud as he was led to his death. The Church still reads it every Saturday at the Midnight Office. It remembers him and four other martyrs on 13 December.
Death without despair
A study published by the Church of Greece finds the Saturday Midnight Office mostly about death, and this prayer about death and the soul’s way after it. Yet it finds no despair in the office, only calm trust in God as the office waits for Sunday and the Resurrection.
What the words mean
“The prince of this world”
Jesus called the devil “the prince of this world”, and said that he “has no claim on Me” (John 14:30). The prayer asks that this prince’s hand never seize the soul when it is judged. Then it turns to God: “stand by me, and be my Saviour and my Protector.”
“These torments of the body”
Near the end comes the line “even these torments of the body are a joy to Your servants”. The line fits a martyr on his way to the fire, as the story of the prayer tells it. The Slavonic and Romanian books keep it, though the Greek text printed in Rome in 2019 does not have it.
Doxologia, Rugăciune pe patul de moarte; Mesonyktikon tou Savvatou (Rome 2019), Greek and Italian
The Scripture in it
I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the anguish of my soul. You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.”
May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.
I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Велича́я велича́ю Тя Го́споди, я́ко призре́л еси́ на смире́ние мое́,
и не́си мене́ затвори́л в рука́х вра́жиих, но спа́сл еси́ от ну́жд ду́шу мою́.
И ны́не Влады́ко, да покры́ет мя́ рука́ Твоя́, и да прии́дет на мя́ ми́лость Твоя́,
я́ко смяте́ся душа́ моя́, и боле́зненна е́сть во исхожде́нии свое́м,
от окая́ннаго моего́ и скве́рнаго телесе́ сего́,
да не когда́ лука́вый сопоста́та сове́т сря́щет, и препне́т ю́ во тме́,
за неве́домыя и ве́домыя в житии́ се́м бы́вшия ми́ грехи́.
Ми́лостив бу́ди ми́, Влады́ко, и да не у́зрит душа́ моя́ мра́чнаго взо́ра лука́вых де́монов,
но да прии́мут ю́ А́нгели Твои́ све́тлии и пресве́тлии.
Да́ждь сла́ву и́мени Твоему́ свято́му, и Твое́ю си́лою возведи́ мя́ на Боже́ственное Твое́ суди́ще,
внегда́ суди́тися ми, да не прии́мет мя́ рука́ кня́зя мира сего́,
е́же исто́ргнути мя́, гре́шника, во глубину́ а́дову,
но предста́ни ми́, и бу́ди ми́ Спас и Засту́пник:
теле́сныя бо и сия́ муче́ния, весе́лия су́ть рабо́м Твои́м.
Поми́луй, Го́споди, оскверни́вшуюся страстьми́ жития́ сего́ ду́шу мою́:
и чи́сту ю́ покая́нием и испове́данием приими́,
я́ко благослове́н еси́ во ве́ки веко́в, ами́нь.
From the Church Slavonic Horologion (Chasoslov) on Azbyka.ru, the Saturday Midnight Office.