Blessing at Childbirth

The Greek Orthodox Service Book

Source: The Priest's Service Book ed. Evagoros Constantinides (Merrilville, Indiana, 1989), 13-15

On the birth of the baby

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now, and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Mother: Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All- Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord be merciful to our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake.

Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy,Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Mother: Amen.

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Mother: Lord, have mercy.

Priest:

O Master, Lord Almighty, who heal every illness and every infirmity, hœeal now this your servant N who has today given birth, and raise her up from the bed on which she lies. For according to the words of the Prophet David, we were conceived in iniquity and in sin we were brought forth. Guard her and the child (children) that she has borne; cover her with the shelter of your wings from this day until her last breath; through the intercessions of the all-pure Theotokos and of all the saints; for you are blessed to the ages of ages.

Mother: Amen.

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Mother: Lord, have mercy.

Priest:

O Lord, our God, who freely chose to come down from heaven and to be born from the holy Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary for the salvation of us sinners, who know the frailty of human nature: Bless your servant N who has this day given birth. For you have said, O Lord ,"Increase and multiply, and fill the earth and rule over it." Therefore we, your servants, pray and cry out to the holy name of your kingdom: Look down from heaven and bless your servant N and all her household and all here present; for you are a good and merciful God who love mankind.

Mother: Amen.

And the Dismissal

Priest:

Glory to you, O God our hope, to you. May Christ, our true God, who was born in a cave and laid in a manger for our salvation, through the intercessions of his most pure and undefiled holy Mother; through the power of the precious and life- giving Cross; through the protection of the venerable bodiless powers in heaven; through the prayers of the venerable and glorious Prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles, of the holy, glorious and victorious Martyrs, of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, of the holy and righteous ancestors of the Lord God Joachim and Anna, and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us for he is a good and merciful God who loves mankind.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Mother: Amen



This text marked up by Michael Fraser, April 1995