Thanksgiving Prayer

Posted in St. Aidan Community | Tagged - by Rebecca

Have a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving friends!

“O Lord, how lovely it is to be Thy guest: breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun’s golden rays and the scudding clouds. All nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest bear the imprint of Thy love. Blessed art thou, mother earth, in thy fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last forever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: Alleluia! (Kontakion 2)

Thou hast brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue, wherein the azure heights the birds are singing. We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. We can live very well on Thine earth. It is a pleasure to be Thy guest:

  • Glory to Thee for the Feast Day of life; glory to Thee for the perfume of lilies and roses.
  • Glory to Thee for each different taste of berry and fruit; glory to Thee for the sparkling silver of early morning dew.
  • Glory to Thee for the joy of dawn’s awakening; glory to Thee for the new life each day brings.
  • Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age! (Ikos 2)

Life-giving and merciful Trinity, receive my thanksgiving for all Thy goodness. Make us worthy of Thy blessings, so that, when we have brought to fruit the talents Thou hast entrusted to us, we may enter into the joy of our Lord, forever exulting in the shout of victory: Alleluia!” (Kontakion 13)

Excerpts from ‘An Akathist of Thanksgiving’ by Met. Tryphon of Turkestan. For the rest of this amazing prayer, click here.