Twelve Saints, Twelve Prayers of the Armenian Church

The Faculty of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
New Rochelle, New York
Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, 1998

Blessed is your love for mankind, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Why do you forsake me? You alone are without sin, and your name shows kindness and love for mankind. Show me compassion, for you alone love mankind.

Save me, who have fallen into sin, for you alone are without sin. Remove me from the mire of my iniquity, for I am submerged forever and ever. Save me from my enemies, for like a lion they growl and roar, seeking to swallow me up. Now, my Lord, flash your lightning and destroy their power. May they fear you and be cut off from the light of your face, since they cannot stand in your presence, Lord, nor in the presence of those who love you. Whoever calls on you sees the power of the sign of your Cross, Lord, and trembles and shies away from it.

Now, Lord, save and keep me, for I have put my trust in you. Liberate me from my trouble, so that the malicious one will not cast me into oblivion, for he battles against me in his insidious ways. Even over secrets you have dominion, Lord, and you search the hearts and innermost being. Purify my heart and my thoughts of all lewd and vile thoughts so that I will not be lost into eternal perdition.

Have mercy on me, God, who have power over all, and grant the grace of tears to my sinful soul, so that I may wash the multitude of my sins; so that I may be saved from the hand of merciless angels who cast innocent ones into the fires of hell. I should weep continually, praying to you God, that I may not be found unworthy at that hour when you will come, lest I hear that awful voice, "Be gone servant of evil. I do not know where you are from."

Exalted God, the only sinless one, grant me, this sinner, your abundant compassion on that day, so that my secret wickedness will not be revealed in the sight of the angels and archangels, the prophets, the apostles and all the righteous. But save me, this wicked one, by the grace of your mercy. Receive me into paradise with the perfectly just. Receive the prayers of this your sinful servant by the intercession of the saints who are pleasing to you, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Glory to you with the Father and the Holy Spirit unto the ages of ages. Amen.

St. Gregory the Illuminator (d. 325) is the founder of the Armenian Church (ca. 301), following the conversion of King Trdat and the masses. But more than the Christianization of the nation, St. Gregory is revered for the unprecedented tortures he endured for the sake of Christ, for which reason he is acknowledged a saint in all the ancient churches.

I pray to you, Christ, Savior of the world. Look down and have mercy on me. Save me from the multitude of my transgressions, for I have disdained all the good things you have done for me since I was a child. Foolish and stupid as I am now, you fashioned me as a vessel filled with your knowledge and wisdom. Multiply in me your graces. Satisfy my hunger, quench my thirst, enlighten my darkened mind, and focus my wandering thoughts.

And now I bow down and pray to you. I fall down and beg you, acknowledging your goodness. Interrupt the stream of your mercy into me and keep it in your treasury for me so that you might give it to me on that day. Do not be angry with me, loving Lord, for I cannot endure your threats. This is why I fervently beg you, abound in me, for my tongue has grown weak, unable to speak of your grace. My mind is seized in amazement, unable to bear the greatness of the waves of your grace. O Appearance and Radiance of the Father's blessing, cease its flow into me here so that like fire it may enflame my insides and my heart. Now again grant me your grace, and let me live in your kingdom.

Do not remember my depravity. I dare ask you to answer my prayers. Cover over my depravity from your omniscience. Receive my tears. Accept my lament. Remember the tears I cried before your holy martyrs so that you might show me compassion on that day, and cover me under the protection of your grace. For if you respond according to my depravity, miserable wretch that I am, what shall become of me?

But with weeping tears, I entreat your love of mankind, save me from the multitude of my iniquities, and grant me your kingdom. Show me, a sinner, your ineffable love. Make me like the thief, who, with one word, became an heir of paradise. Take me there, to the promise you will keep.

Glory to the Father, our Creator, and to the Son, our Savior, and to the Holy Spirit, our Restorer, unto unending and indelible eternity.

St. Ephrem the Syrian (†373), known in Armenian as "Khouri" (Cleric), is the foremost writer in the Syriac Christian tradition, which was influential in the formation of early Armenian theology and liturgy. Many of his numerous hymns and metrical homilies have been handed down only in an early Armenian translation. This prayer is an excerpt from a book of Ephrem's prayers preserved only in Armenian.

O Lord my God, I thank you, and I magnify you, and I glorify you, for today you have made unworthy me worthy to share in your divine and terrible Mystery, in your immaculate Body and precious Blood. Having them as intercessors, I pray: Keep me in your holiness every day and every hour of my life, so that by remembering your goodness, I may live with you, who suffered, and died, and rose for us.

My Lord and God, my soul being sealed with your precious Blood, keep the Destroyer away from me. Most powerful One, the only sinless One, cleanse me of my every useless deed with your holy Body and Blood.

Strengthen my life, Lord, against every temptation, and turn my adversary away from me ashamed and confounded every time he attacks me. Strengthen every step of my mind and tongue, and every move of my body.

Be with me always by your unfailing promise, "Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood abides in me and I in him." You said it, loving God. Uphold the words of your divine and irrevocable commandments. For you are a God of mercy, and of compassion, and of love, and the bestower of all good things. And you are worthy of glory, together with your Father and your most-holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

St. John Chrysostom (c. 350-407) is known in Armenia and throughout the Christian East as the "golden mouth" for his profound and passionate homilies. His writings were among the first documents translated into Armenian after the Bible. Today more manuscripts of Chrysostom's works have come down to us than of any other Armenian or non-Armenian author, a sure sign of his unquestioned authority in the Armenian Church.

Christ, God of Gods, have mercy on me.

In iniquity did my mother give birth to me. I beg you, Savior, have mercy on me.

Wounded in sin, I fall down before you, Savior. Do not overlook me. Have mercy on me.

Sighing, the tax-collector received forgiveness in the temple. In his very words I too call out, "Have mercy on me, God."

The thief cried upon the cross: "Remember me, Lord." In his very words I too call out, "Have mercy on me, God."

Pleading, the prodigal son begged you, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you." In his very words I too call out, "Have mercy on me, God."

With the poor, Lord, grant us sobriety, by the example of Lazarus, so that in voluntary poverty we might be worthy with him of the kingdom of heaven. Hear us and have mercy on us, Christ God.

In place of the bread of deprivation, you granted him the bread of immortality. And contrary to the uncompassionate rich man, you received Lazarus into the bosom of Abraham. Hear us and have mercy on us, Christ God.

Enlighten the eyes of our heart so we may receive the mercy that comes from you, Lord of mercy, lest like the rich man in the fiery furnace, we ask to be refreshed with a fingertip of water. Hear us and have mercy on us, Christ God.

Together with the wakeful ones in heaven, glorify the almighty Father, God who has no beginning!

With angelic voice, glorify the only-begotten Son, begotten of the Father!

And with joyous sound, glorify the Holy Spirit, the Restorer, with unceasing voice!

God without beginning and heavenly king, glorified by the immortal heavenly hosts, we bless you, O Father without beginning.

You humbled yourself from the heights for our salvation, O Liberator of bonds and Healer of our souls. We praise you, O only-begotten Son.

Consubstantial with the Father and glorified with the Only-begotten, distributor of gifts and bestower of mercy, You we glorify, true Holy Spirit.

O Wisdom of the Father, who shined the divine light of your Word upon the darkness of ignorance enclosing the world, enlighten us also.

You signified in the rich man and Lazarus an example of the universal judgement by handing them the contrary fates they received.

And so we shall ask you, Lord, to save us from the fire of sin and suffering, that we might rest in the bosom of the righteous patriarch.

With him, we too join the voice of the choirs of angels singing glory in the highest to the indivisible Holy Trinity.

In 404 AD St. Mesrob Mashtots' invented the Armenian alphabet. He was heralded a saint because his alphabet made it possible to communicate the faith - the Bible, the writings of the Church Fathers, creeds, prayers, and hymns - to the Armenian people in their own language. Many ancient musical prayers, like this one, are attributed to him, and chanted to this day during the daily services.

We give you thanks, O Lord our God, who have awakened us from restful sleep by the grace of your mercy. Awaken our minds in righteousness for you, Lord our God, so that our eyes may see your salvation. May your divinity come and abide in us, and may your mercy shelter and protect your servants. By day and by night and at all times make us, your servants, reflect always on the love of your commandments, in thanksgiving to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

You are the life-giving Power and the Source of immortality, Christ God, our Savior. You have granted us to rise in the middle of the night and to confess to you regarding your statutes and righteousness. And now we ask you, Lord our God, make us vigilant and ready with your saints at the morning hour, and giving thanks with them, let us glorify you with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

St. Hovhannes Mantakuni (ca. 420-490) was a well-educated and venerable Catholicos of the Armenian Church. His name is frequently mentioned as a principal figure in the development of the liturgical books of the Armenian Church: the Book of Hours (Zhamagirk'), the Book of Hymns (Sharaknots'), and the Ritual Book (Mashtots'). The ancient prayer above is recited during the Night Service, conducted before sunrise.

By the sign of your all-conquering Cross, loving Christ, protect us against the invisible enemy. For you alone are the king of glory, blessed forever.

On this Cross you spread out your undefiled arms, and you poured out your blood for the salvation of the universe. For you alone are the king of glory, blessed forever.

When, at your second coming, this holy Sign is revealed, make us, your servants, worthy of the second renewal. For you alone are the king of glory, blessed forever.

May your Cross be our refuge with its blazing brilliance. That which is named the tree of life destroyed the enemy and dissolved our death sentence, for the salvation of the universe.

Elevating it, heaven exults and the earth rejoices at the revelation of the universal form of the four arms of the holy Cross, which illuminated the world with rays like the sun.

Jerusalem exulted. The faithful rejoiced, marvelously adorned, for they saw the triumphant sign. All creation shone by its light.

You shined today the light of your unspeakable divinity upon the Cross,
On the mount of Varak.
Blessed is the Lord God of our Fathers!

You made known today the appearance of your awe-inspiring second coming,
By the sign of your Cross, beaming it on earth.
Blessed is the Lord God of our Fathers!

You gave a sign to those in fear, and a weapon against their enemy.
With it, protect those who believe in your holy name.
Blessed is the Lord God of our Fathers!

He adorned today the sign of the Cross
With a heavenly light brighter than the sun.
Bless the Lord and exalt him forever!

He revealed today the redemptive Sign to the angels,
By descending to the mount of Varak.
Blessed is the Lord God of our Fathers!

Come all you saved by the life-giving Cross,
Bowing down to Christ our Savior upon it.
Blessed is the Lord God of our Fathers!

Another Catholicos, Sahak Dzorop'orec'i (ca. 635-703) led the Armenian Church through the cataclysm of the Arab invasions in the late seventh century. The Armenians' turbulent history of foreign domination drew them to contemplate with particular ardor the mystery of the Cross, by which Christ transformed suffering and death into joy and life. This hymn commemorates a miraculous apparition on Mount Varak in Armenia, and the discovery there, of a relic of the true Cross of Christ.

Almighty, beneficent, loving God of all, Creator of everything visible and invisible, Savior and Restorer, Provider and Pacifier, O mighty Spirit of the Father, we entreat you with open arms and pray with sighs and cries standing before your awe-inspiring presence.

We draw near with great trembling and utmost fear to offer first this rational sacrifice to your unsearchable power, as to the sharer of the inalienable honor of the Father in enthronement, in glory, and in creation, to you, the searcher of the hidden depth of the mysteries of the all-perfect will of the Father of Emmanuel, who sends you and who is the Savior, the Giver of life and the Creator of all.

Through you the three persons of the one God were made known to us. You too, O incomprehensible One, are recognized as one among them. With you and through you the early scions of the patriarchal family, named seers, declare in plain language the things past and the things to come, the things that have been and the things that have not yet come to be. O Spirit of God, uncircumscribed power that you are, by being proclaimed through Moses to be the one moving on the surface of the waters and brooding with tremendous envelopment, and covering and defending the newly-born under your wings in tender love, you made known the mystery of the baptismal font.

In the pattern of the archetype, before constructing the pliable substance with its final covering, you formed in lordly manner, O Mighty one, the complete natures of all beings and of all things out of nothing. Through you all these your creatures are created for the renewal of the resurrection, which will be in that time which is the last day of this life and the first day of the land of the living. The first-born Son, being of the same generation as you, and of the same essence of the Father, obeyed you also with oneness of will, as he did his Father. He, being in our likeness, announced you to be true God, equal and consubstantial to his mighty Father. He declared blasphemy against you to be unforgivable and he stopped the impious mouths of them that rebel against you, as of such as fight against God, while he forgave blasphemy against himself, the righteous and the spotless one, finder of all, who was betrayed for our sins and rose again for our justification.

Glory to Him through You, and praise to You with the Father almighty, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

St. Gregory of Narek (ca. 945-1003) is another pillar figure in the Armenian Church. His many prayers and elegies reveal a profound and startlingly intimate sense of God's presence, a mysticism comparable only to that of St. Augustine in the West. It is no wonder that his powerful, wrenching words have been a source of comfort and solace to Armenians throughout the centuries.

"I was an hungered and you fed me,"
you who clothed the naked ones;

"I was thirsty and you gave me drink,"
you who took the strangers in;

"You came to me in the prison,"
you who think of all good things."

Prostrate, I fall before you, Savior,
make me worthy of these words;

And hear the intercession of that one,
your holy Virgin parent.

I stand before your sanctuary
having placed my trust in her

Who nourished you with her holy breasts
and fed you with her milk,

She, the sun rising above you,
who bore you unto righteousness,

And the intercession of others above
who are remembered once again,

And that of the holy progenitors -
all those called Adamic -

And that of other forebears:
the patriarchs, in their order,

The ranks of all the prophets,
apostles whatever their standing,

The patriarchs undefiled,
and all ascetic monks,

True witnesses and martyrs
in their respective ranks,

And all benevolent people -
from Adam to our time.

O you who forgave them all,
now hear Gregory, Lord.

Return unto me for good both now
and until my departure at last.

Keep me always in peace,
faithful to your Word.

And in the day of the final feast -
as in writing I repeat -

Grant mercy and a place
within your bridal chamber,

To me, my family, and to strangers,
to friends and to acquaintances,

And to all who do repent,
who put their trust in you.

My Lord, accept their petitions;
fulfill the desires of all their hearts.

And praise to you and thanks to the Father
and honor to the Holy Spirit.

Grigor Magistros (ca. 990-1059) was probably the most educated Armenian of his generation. Six of his descendants became Catholicoses, including his son, Grigor II, called Vkayaser (Martyrophile), and a great-grandson, St. Nersess IV, called Shnorhali (Gracefilled). The prayer is from the conclusion of "The Mighty Acts of God," the first literary epic in Armenian.

Generous in every good thing, enriching the poor, in essence and always good, O Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom you achieved the redemption of the lost descendants of Adam and restored anew the losers of life, those you created in your image, through him. And the one who cheated your servants out of life, the charlatan in accusations and everything else, these things that are not pleasing to you, him you did bring down, you stripped his rule through the suffering of your Christ, and elevated over and above the imposter those who were overcome by him.

Look gently at your useless servant and let me not fall prey to the evil beast. I am a child and a despised being. O perfect power and essence without beginning, be my strength and shield me from his attacks. Father of orphans, forgive my chronic imperfection, both physical and mental. I am fearful of that determined and venomous serpent. Would I succumb to his claws and jaws because of my feeble nature, my immature age, and unripe thoughts? Save me, Lord, by casting the fear of your invincible power upon him; and make me physically whole, valorous in spirit, established in goodness, happy in life, according to your good will. Arm me with every cautionary armament against the evil warrior, like your servant David against Goliath.

Lift me from the affliction of the pit of ignorance, where the delicious water of your life-giving love does not exist, as you lifted Joseph from the pit of death and from the house of bondage to the royal throne. Grant me your beloved wisdom and understanding, that I may proceed sure-footed in mind along the way that does not lead to perdition, as you bestowed your Spirit upon the youth Daniel, to honor him and to thwart off the debauchery of the misguided and misleading elders.

Send me, Father, your encouragement from on high and the strength of fearlessness toward all such persons who act contrary to your commands, that I may not be deceived by the vanity of this life which ordinarily steals away the wavering and unsettled mind, to distance it from you, making the wayward think that they are stable and immovable. You who strengthened Hananiah and his companions to withstand the forceful orders and to choose the weightier death, even to be with shackles in the annihilating fire, so that nothing unpleasing to you may be found in them, and lest they depart from your love, which is a treasure beyond description and eternal wealth. Lift up my thoughts from lowly things and take their desire away from my soul. May the eyes of my mind be blinded upon seeing any attraction in them, that through your gift of sight I may vigorously see you only, incomprehensible light, that I may rejoice in you with overwhelming joy that cannot be taken away.

I spent my youth thinking of you and loving you. Now, may my growing up be to your honor, my aging be blessed by you, and my death be turned to life by you, that you may be my nurturer and manager throughout my life. Consider my petitions, loving Lord, listen to the prayers of my lips, grant me my wishes, do not let me go empty-handed from your presence.

Generous King, in answer to my prayer, perfectly adorn my unadorned being, that I may never depart from you, that I may be inundated with every good thing; that my enemies who hate you may be ashamed for their depravity when they see these things. As for those who love you, may they be glorified by you, and may I who am without honor be honored by you. And may I be worthy to honor you with your only-begotten Son and your Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages. Amen.

Born in Manjar (Artsakh) and educated at Haghbat, where also he spent the rest of his life as a teacher, the "Deacon-Vardapet" (ca. 1050-1129) became a distinguished writer and a "Doctor" of the Church. He has numerous calendrical, theological, and poetic writings.

Restorer of the universe, who clothed us with your glorious light, on whom the soldiers spread the crimson mantle of reproach; remove from me the rags of sin stained with the horrible blood and clothe me anew with my former robe.

They bent the knee mocking you, heavenly King, they inflicted blows on your crowned head and hit you with the reed, and so did I stoop down to earth, obeying the will of the evil one. Let me not become the object of his game but lift me up again.

The mob surrounded you physically following the verdict of the judge, and you received blows on your skull for the sake of the skull of the first-born man. By virtue of the baptismal font restore me to health, the one needlessly afflicted from head to toe.

In lieu of the sacred and shining ornament which you placed on Aaron's head, the tillers of Israel's vineyard placed a crown of thorns on you. Take away from me the thorn of sin with which the enemy has inflicted me, and heal the lacerated wound so that the scars of sin may be eradicated.

They gave you the gall to drink, the vinegar to the thirsty. You drank of it willingly, so that the fruits of bitterness might become sweet. Take away the bitterness of the venom which has been injected in the recesses of my soul and thus may your love be sweetened therein.

In lieu of the tree that ushered in death, once planted in paradise, you lifted the wood of the Cross, raising it on Golgotha. Lift up my soul submerged in sin, O Lifter of the heaviest burden, as you lifted up the sheep upon your shoulder. Take my soul up from earth to its promised place.

At the third hour on Friday you, Lord, were nailed to the Cross, loosening the shackles of the first-born man and binding the enemy. Strengthen me beneath the shadow of your life-giving Sign and enlighten me with its light from the rising of the sun.

The gates of the Edenic paradise were opened to the blessed thief, his petition being granted according to his faith. Grant me also, Lord, with him to hear the same response: "Today you shall be with me in Eden, your first homeland."

St. Nersess the Gracefilled was catholicos of the Armenian Church during the Cilician period (1166-1173). A hymnographer, theologian and ecumenist, he is a true hero of the Church. The initial letters of the stanzas above form an acrostic spelling out the author's name (N;rs;si h). The prayer is taken from the Night Service of the Armenian Church.

In Times of Doubt and Despair

When surrounded with doubts from every direction, we who are defiled in heart and are in need to listen, look up to you, O High Priest Jesus, who experienced our weak nature.

For our sake you became bearer of sin that we may become righteous for you.

For our sake you became earthly that we may become heavenly.

For our sake you became bread that we, by partaking of you, may be sanctified.

Grant your aggrieved body to be sanctifying food to all hearts. Pour out the stream of your blood in sinless drops for the joy of sinlessness among humankind. Lower the anchor of your Cross to us strugglers in the sea of this world and lift us up to you.

We fell short of grace, cover us.

We retracted from work, forgive us.

We grope in darkness, enlighten us.

We have laxed in faith, restore us.

You are hope. You are light. You are life. You are forgiveness itself. You are, indeed, immortality. Those who have put their trust in you are waiting for your grace. Those who have joined themselves to your body are longing to obtain redemption from you. You are their redeemer Priest, who has purchased his flock with his blood.

Consider us all. When faced with uncertainties, comfort us through what you have done for us. Calm our anguish through your peace. Let us rest from our labors in your mansions, where you have gone and which, O Lord, you have promised. Make those who are yours worthy to glorify you there, always, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

St. Nersess Lambronac'i (1153-1198) was of princely descent, the son of Oshin Het'umian, the governor of Tarsus in Cilicia. At the age of 22 he became Bishop of Tarsus and was actively engaged in the ecumenical dialogues initiated by St. Nersess the Gracefilled, his relative and friend. A voluminous author, Lambronac'i is one of the most distinguished theologians of the Armenian Church.

Leader to life, Path to truth, our Lord Jesus Christ; You led Joseph to Egypt, and the people of Israel through the Red Sea; and Moses to Mount Sinai, and his people to the land of promise. And you traveled with Cleopas and his companion to Emmaus. Now, I pray you, Lord, lead me and my companions to travel in peace on the journey before us. Save us from the visible and invisible enemy and lead us safely to the place we are headed. For you are our way and our truth and our life. Glory and worship to you now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Garni, the place of Hovhannes' birth, is an ancient town not far from Yerevan, and from the Monastery known today as "Geghard", where he spent his early life in solitude and prayer (ca.1180-1245). Able to heal the sick by the touch of his hand, he converted Armenians and non-Armenians alike to the apostolic faith. He probably uttered this prayer during his many travels throughout Armenia and the Holy Land.