A priest reads a prayer from the Synod for Russia's deliverance from enemy invasion
I Am Reminded of the Prayer for the Salvation of Russia That Leo Tolstoy Gives in Volume III of "War and Peace"
...the sacristan brought out a little stool, the very one on which the kneeling prayers were read on Trinity Sunday, and set it before the Royal Doors. The priest came out in his lilac velvet skullcap, smoothed his hair, and with an effort went down on his knees. Everyone did the same and looked at one another in bewilderment. It was a prayer, only just received from the Synod, a prayer for the salvation of Russia from the enemy's invasion.
"O Lord God of hosts, God of our salvation," the priest began, in that clear, unpretentious and gentle voice that only Slavonic readers of the clergy have, and which works so irresistibly upon the Russian heart. "O Lord God of hosts, God of our salvation! Look down now in mercy and bounty upon Thy humble people, and in Thy love of mankind hear us, and spare us, and have mercy upon us. Behold, the enemy who troubleth Thy land, and would lay waste the whole world, hath risen up against us; behold, lawless men are gathered together to destroy Thine inheritance, to ruin Thy honourable Jerusalem, Thy beloved Russia: to defile Thy temples, to dig up Thine altars, and to mock our holy things. How long, O Lord, how long shall the sinners boast? How long shall the transgressor of the law wield power?
O Sovereign Lord! Hear us who pray to Thee: strengthen with Thy might the most pious, most autocratic great sovereign our Emperor Alexander Pavlovich; remember his righteousness and meekness, reward him according to his goodness, by which he keepeth us, Thy beloved Israel. Bless his counsels, undertakings and deeds; establish his kingdom with Thy almighty right hand, and grant him victory over the enemy, as Thou didst to Moses over Amalek, to Gideon over Midian, and to David over Goliath. Preserve his host; put a bow of brass into the arms of those who have taken up arms in Thy name, and gird them with strength for battle. Take up weapon and shield, and arise to our help, that they may be put to shame and confounded who devise evil against us; let them be before the face of Thy faithful host as dust before the face of the wind, and let Thy mighty angel afflict and pursue them; let a net come upon them which they know not of, and let their snare, which they have hidden, catch them; let them fall beneath the feet of Thy servants and be trodden down by our warriors. O Lord! it is nothing with Thee to save, whether by many or by few; Thou art God, let not man prevail against Thee.
O God of our fathers! Remember Thy bounties and mercies, which are from of old: cast us not away from Thy face, nor abhor our unworthiness, but have mercy upon us according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy bounties overlook our iniquities and sins. Create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us; strengthen us all with faith in Thee, confirm us in hope, inspire us with true love for one another, arm us with unanimity for the righteous defence of the possession which Thou hast given to us and to our fathers, that the rod of the ungodly may not be lifted up against the lot of the sanctified.
O Lord our God, in whom we believe and in whom we put our trust, put us not to shame in our expectation of Thy mercy, and work a sign for good, that those who hate us and our Orthodox faith may see it, and be put to shame and perish; and let all lands know that Thy name is the Lord, and that we are Thy people. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy now, and grant us Thy salvation; make glad the hearts of Thy servants in Thy mercy; smite our enemies, and crush them speedily beneath the feet of Thy faithful. For Thou art the protection, help and victory of those who trust in Thee, and to Thee we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."
