Prayer of Cyprian of Antioch for the Martyrs

Holy, holy, holy, O holy of holies, Father of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God of the Apostles, God of the Prophets, God of Virgins, God of those who live well, God of believers, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son: we invoke thee as suppliants, and likewise beseech thee, O only-begotten Son, who wast begotten from the mouth of the Most High before the ordering of the world, and wast brought forth from the womb of the holy virgin Mary through mystery—deign, as we pray, to grant the spiritual increase of holy desire and integrity of heart, that the breast renewed by the saving font may remain unharmed from carnal offences.

We ask, with faith undefiled, mind uncorrupted, devotion steadfast, and work or love unceasing, that thou permit us to flourish in thy holy Church: for to thee we bend our knees and bow our necks—thee whom Angels and Archangels, thousands upon thousands of Martyrs, the choir of Apostles and Prophets exult in glory; to whom all birds sing praises, the tongues of heavenly, earthly, and infernal beings give confession; to thee all waters in heaven and under heaven give confession; thee things without sense perceive: thou art alone, and beside thee and outside thee there is none.

We beseech thee, O Lord, almighty Father, who art visible to the Son alone, whose Angels and Archangels obey thee, O Lord Father: we pray thee to grant us an upright mind, pure innocence, devout sincerity, a holy, pure, sober, and chaste conscience, living by glorious faith against all the snares of the world; grant us a breast fortified against the threats of the devil and the enticements of the flesh, lest we be entangled in the deadly snares of the violent and bloodthirsty enemy, so that we may bear unharmed the sign of eternal salvation. Drive from us all the filth of the world and every persuasion of the devil. May he be ensnared, fall, and be overcome by us, and be removed, as Asmodeus, that most wicked demon, was destroyed by thy holy angel Raphael from Sara thy handmaid. And as thou wast present to Tobias, so deign to be present to me. And as thou didst show mercy to the three youths in the furnace, and to Daniel, so deign to do for us thy servants.

Thou who didst raise the dead, give light to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, movement to the lame, health to lepers—so also give to thy servants, who believe with the whole strength of our mind that thou wast born, didst suffer, and wilt come to judge the living and the dead. Be present to us, as to the Apostles in chains, to Thecla in the flames, to Paul in persecutions, to Peter in the waves. Thou who sittest upon seven thrones at the right hand of the Father, look upon us and deliver us from the destruction of eternal death: one in one, Father and Son, the Son in the Father, the Holy Spirit, through whom and with whom is to thee in the holy Church honour, power, glory, majesty, dominion, blessing, immortality, both now and for ever, always and unto all ages of ages. Amen.