May Thy compassion be praised, O Christ, our King,
O Son of God worshiped by all!
Thou art our King, Thou art our God,
Thou art the Author of our life and our great Hope.
Thou didst establish on earth the Holy Church in the image of the heavenly Kingdom; Thou didst build Her with love, establish Her with compassion, and Thou didst spiritually betroth Thyself to Her, and gain Her by Thy suffering.
But the hater of mankind, in his shameless impudence, attacks Her in the person of Her servers.
O Lord, do not leave Thy Church without Thy care, that the promise that Thou didst utter concerning Her invincibility may not be shown false.
Do not let Her majestic beauty be disfigured or Her wealth stolen. Fulfill Thy promise which Thou didst make to Peter; seal Thy words with deeds.
Fortify Her gates, strengthen Her bars, exalt Her horn, raise up Her head.
Bless Her sons, preserve Her children, give peace to Her priests and subdue those who wish Her evil.
May Thy peace dwell in Her and drive away from Her all evil schisms.
Grant that we may lead a calm, peaceful life in fear of Thee.
May we maintain our faith with great confidence and perfect love.
May our lives be pleasing to Thee and may we find compassion in Thee in the day of reckoning.
May we ceaselessly bring praise to Thee, O Lord, and to Thy Father and to Thy Holy Spirit. Amen!
By St. Ephraim the Syrian
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