When it is said
The Russian prayer books give it as a prayer to be read in illness, in the sick person’s own words.
It belongs to no service, so someone who is ill can pray it at any hour, in bed if need be.
Where it comes from
Author by tradition
St Gabriel of the Seven Lakes
Gabriel Zyryanov was born to a peasant family in the Perm province of Russia in 1844. He became a monk, and in 1883 he was sent to the Seven Lakes monastery in the diocese of Kazan. In 1901 he was put in charge of the monastery. He died in Kazan in 1915, and in 1996 Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow approved his canonization.
“Gabriel”, Orthodox Encyclopedia (Pravoslavnaya Entsiklopediya)
Five years in bed
In the autumn of 1892 Gabriel strained himself pulling the monastery’s cart out of a ravine. On the same day his throat and stomach were badly burned by vinegar essence. Expecting to die, he took a monk’s strictest vows. He lived, but he could not get out of bed for five years. During those years he became a spiritual guide to the visitors who came to him for advice.
“Gabriel”, Orthodox Encyclopedia (Pravoslavnaya Entsiklopediya)
What the words mean
The first part of the prayer
In the Russian prayer books the prayer opens with a plea to the Mother of God. It asks her to pray that her Son will visit the one praying with His grace, so that, bound by His love, they may stay at His feet for ever, “even in wounds and sickness, even ailing and weak in body.” The prayer to Christ follows, beginning “Lord Jesus, I cry to You!”
The prayer of Schema-archimandrite Gabriel (Zyryanov) read in illness, Azbyka.ru; Rare prayers of great Russian saints, Azbyka.ru
The Scripture in it
As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
К Тебе взываю, Господи Иисусе!
Ты моя сладость, жизнь, здравие, радость паче мира сего радости, весь состав жизни моея.
Ты еси свет паче всякого света.
Вижу недвижное от болезни тело мое, чувствую расслабление всех членов моих, боли в костях моих.
Но, о свете мой, как услаждают меня лучи света Твоего, падающие на раны мои!
Согретый теплотою их, забываю все и у ног Твоих слезами моими омываю грехи мои, возвышаюся, светлеюся.
Сие едино прошу у Тебя, Иисусе мой, — не отврати лица Твоего от меня, дай мне вечно у ног Твоих радостно оплакивать грехи мои, ибо при виде Тебя, Господи, покаяние и слезы для меня усладительнее радостей всего мира.
О, свете, радость моя, сладость моя, Иисусе!
Не отрини же меня от ног Твоих, Иисусе мой, но по молитве моей со мной присно буди, да живя Тобою, славлю Тя со Отцем и Духом вовеки.
Молитвами Богородицы и всех святых Твоих услыши мя, Господи. Аминь.