St. Onuphrius the Great - Life & Akathist

 

#VladimirDjambov; #Orthodox; #Talmach; #PraBlah

Translated from Russian
(and proto-Bulgarian -
i.e. Church-Slavonic]

Life of St. Onuphrius the Great

Rev. Onuphrius the Great was one of those glorious desert-dwellers who took refuge in the wild, picturesque Thebaid desert in Egypt, who in the 4th century, during the time of the emperors Constantius and Valens, defended the holy Christian faith, persecuted by the Aryan heretics, with fervent prayer, fasting and repentance.

Rev. Onuphrius was born around the year 320 into the family of a Persian king. His father, having no offspring for a long time, prayed with all his soul to the Lord to give him a son, and God heard him. But even before the birth of St. Onuphrius, one day a demon came to his father disguised as a wanderer and said: “Oh Tsar, your wife will give birth to a son, but not from you, but from one of your servants. If you want to make sure that I'm telling the truth, order the newborn to be thrown into the fire. And if I tell a lie, then God will keep him safe.” The father did not comprehend the deceit of the enemy and, believing the imaginary wanderer, fulfilled the crafty advice, throwing the newborn child into the fire. A miracle happened: the child stretched out his hands to the sky, as if praying to the Creator for salvation, and the flame, splitting into two sides, left the baby unharmed. Meanwhile, an angel of God appeared to the father and, having exposed him of reckless trust in the slanders of the devil, ordered him to baptize his son, to name him Onuphrius and take him where God would indicate.

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When they noticed that the child did not take mother's milk at all, the father hurriedly set off on a journey with his son, fearing that the baby would die of hunger. In the desert, a white doe ran up to them and, having fed the baby with her milk, ran forward, as if showing them the way. So they reached the monastery near the city of Hermopolis. The abbot, informed of this from above, met them and took Saint Onuphrius into his upbringing. After saying goodbye to his son, the king left and until his death did not stop visiting the monastery. The deer fed St. Onuphrius until the age of three.

When the boy was seven years old, a miracle happened to him. The monastery's dean gave him a piece of bread every day. Saint Onuphrius, visiting the temple, approached the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos with the Eternal Divine Infant in her arms, in his angelic simplicity he addressed the Divine Infant Jesus with the words: “You are the same Infant as I am; but the clerk does not give you bread. So take my bread and eat." The infant Jesus stretched out His hands and took bread from Saint Onuphrius... One day the priest noticed this miracle and informed the abbot about everything. The Abbot ordered the next day not to give Saint Onuphrius bread, but to send him to Jesus for bread. Saint Onuphrius, in obedience to the words of the key-keeper, went to the temple, knelt down and, addressing the Divine Infant on the icon, said: “The key-keeper did not give me bread, but sent me to You to receive it; give me a piece, for I am very hungry.” The Lord gave him wonderful and miraculous bread, and so large that Saint Onuphrius barely carried it to the Abbot. The abbot, together with the brethren, glorified God, marveling at the grace that rested on Saint Onuphrius.

At the age of ten, Saint Onuphrius went into the wilderness, wishing to imitate the holy prophets Elijah and John the Baptist. When he secretly left the monastery at night, a ray of light appeared before him, showing him the way to the place of his desert exploits. Here Saint Onuphrius found a marvelous hermit elder, with whom he lived for some time, learning from him the rules of hermitage. A few years later, the elder died, and Saint Onuphrius lived for sixty years in complete solitude. He endured many sorrows and temptations during this time. When his clothes decayed, and he suffered greatly from the heat and cold, the Lord clothed him with a thick covering of hair on his head, beard, and body. For thirty years, the Angel of God brought him daily bread and water, and for the last thirty years he ate from a date palm that grew, by the grace of God, near his cave, which had twelve branches, which alternately bore fruit every month. He now drank water from a spring miraculously opened by the cave. During all sixty years, the Angel of God came to Rev. Onuphrius on holidays and communed him with the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

The narrator of the lives of many desert-dwellers, Rev. Paphnutius, reports that when he, led by Divine Providence, came to the cave where Rev. Onuphrius lived, he was greatly frightened when he saw the monk, overgrown with white wavy hair. Rev. Paphnutius wanted to flee, but Rev. Onuphrius stopped him with the words: “Man of God, do not be afraid of me, for I am a sinful person like you.” This calmed Rev. Paphnutius, and a long conversation took place between the ascetics.

Rev. Onuphrius told about himself, how he came to this place and how many years he lived here. During the conversation, suddenly, by no one knows who, bread and a vessel with water were placed in the middle of the cave. The ascetics, having refreshed themselves with food, talked and prayed to God for a long time. The next day, Rev. Paphnutius noticed that the face of Rev. Onuphrius had changed greatly. Rev. Onuphrius said: “God sent you, Paphnutius, for my burial, for today I will complete my service to God in this world.” Rev. Paphnutius began to ask Rev. Onuphrius to be allowed to stay on in this place in the desert, but Rev. Onuphrius did not allow him, saying: “God chose you so that, having visited many hermits, you would tell the monks and all Christians about their lives and deeds. Therefore, return to your brethren and tell that the Lord heard my prayers ; and that everyone who honors my memory in any way will be worthy of God's blessing. The Lord will help him with His grace in all good undertakings on earth, and in Heaven he will accept him into holy villages.

Having said many more edifying words, Rev. Onuphrius prayed to God, lay down on the ground and, folding his arms crosswise on his chest, reposed in the Lord. His face shone like the sun, and the cave was filled with fragrance; angelic singing and a wondrous Divine voice were heard: “Leave your mortal body, my beloved soul, so that I can take you to a place of eternal rest with all My chosen ones.” Rev. Paphnutius was greatly saddened by the fact that he had no tools at hand for digging the grave, and the soil was stony. But then two lions come running and with their claws at one moment prepare a grave in the place that Paphnutius, having taken off his sackcloth and wrapped it around the body of Rev. Onuphrius, intended for the burial of the deceased. Then Paphnutius betrayed it with a prayer to the earth; the lions filled the grave and then left. Heaping a heap of stones on the grave so that the predatory beast of the desert would not disturb the peaceful sleep of God's saint, Paphnutius wanted to look at least once into the cave of St. Onuphrius, but the latter collapsed, the date palm withered and fell to the ground with its roots; dried up and the source. Paphnutius thus clearly understood that God was not pleased with his asceticism in this place and, glorifying God, marvelous in His saints, returned to Egypt, preaching to everyone about what he had seen and heard.

Soon after this, the pious monks compiled a description of the life of the Rev. Onuphrius, sent it throughout Egypt and the East, glorifying the holy life of this great desert dweller.

 

 

Akathist to Rev. Onuphrius, the Great
Desert Dweller, Prince of Persia.

 

Kontakion 1

You chosen and marvelous Father Onuphrius, shining with a dawn of tri-radiant life, do you enlighten me – darkened by sinful passions, do extort me from the deadly wounds and with your prayers save me from all troubles, so I may call unto you: Rejoice, Father Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Ikos 1

You Father made the angelic ranks marvel at the feat that you constantly practiced in the desert; You fasted for sixty three years, you were vouchsafed to receive the Divine Mysteries from the hands of the angels, and now honoring you as a fellow villager and interlocutor of the Angels, thus I cry out unto you, St. Onuphrius:

Rejoice, O most amazing miracle of angels;

Rejoice, O destroyer of soul-destroying passions.

Rejoice, O enlightener of impenetrable deserts;

Rejoice, O punisher and teacher of abstinence.

Rejoice, O betterment of desert dwellers;

Rejoice, O divinely inspired luminary of monks.

Rejoice, O most graceful servant of Christ;

Rejoice, O warmest zealot of silence[-keeping].

Rejoice, O strong trampling of demonic forces;

Rejoice, O true instructor of salvation.

Rejoice, O giver of joy to the faithful;

Rejoice, O quick helper to those who venerate you.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 2

Rev. Paphnutius was greatly amazed at your strange and wondrous way of living, so am I – contemplating on your measure of hard-working desert exploits – I chant to the Lord, Who strengthened you for this: Hallelujah.

Ikos 2

Having prayed, O Rev. Onuphrius, that I be given divine reason, you shining with divine light and together with the angels helping settle in those who venerate you and joyfully bringing you this praising chant:

Rejoice, you having strangely shone with virtues;

Rejoice, you brighter than sunshine.

Rejoice, you led by an Angel into the wilderness;

Rejoice, you desert-loving turtledove.

Rejoice, you crimson-blooming wildfire;

Rejoice, you all-honorable temple and sanctified to God.

Rejoice, you fulfillment of God's gifts;

Rejoice, you marvelous astonishment in men.

Rejoice, terrible and formidable deterrence of demons;

Rejoice, you most dear Adamante.

Rejoice, you viewer of the Trinity light;

Rejoice, you warm intercessor in prayers.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 3

The power of the Most High lit you up from the maternal bed, O Reverend Onuphrius, and showed the adobe and dwelling of the Holy Spirit, Whom I the unworthy am willing to accept, and I chant a song unto the Lord: Hallelujah.

Ikos 3

Having thee, father, as a great intercessor and quick helper in adversity, we call on you to help sustain various adversities, and triumphantly in your blessed memory, we joyfully cry unto you thus:

Rejoice, O quick listener to those who pray to you in faith;

Rejoice, O renowned pleader of the righteous Judge.

Rejoice, O honored dwelling of the Most Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, O undefiled minister of the Most Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, O dearest pearl of Christ the Lord;

Rejoice, O unspoken joy to the great Paphnutius.

Rejoice, O mentor and teacher to that same Paphnutius;

Rejoice, O quick consolation to those who mourn.

Rejoice, O all-desired visitor to those desponding;

Rejoice, O doctor of the blind and healer of the lame.

Rejoice, O health to those who are sick and healing to those who are ailing;

Rejoice, O salvific haven of the faithful.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 4

Having come to hate the storm of passions of the much-rebellious world, Father, you removed all its beauties, settling in the wilderness, reverend, you followed the Baptist in living, and imitated prophet Elijah, and now having received eternal glory in the heavenly abodes, together with the heavenly inhabitants you stand before God and chant together with them: Hallelujah.

Ikos 4

The luminous sun and the golden-dawning luminary have you as faithful, Holy Onuphrius, we implore you with tenderness, do enlighten, bring to our senses, teach us to cry out unto you thus:

Rejoice, you brightest illumination of the desert;

Rejoice, you golden-dawning lamp of the world.

Rejoice, you most wonderful beauty of Thebes;

Rejoice, you beautiful kindness to Lebanon [Levia].

Rejoice, you brightest ornament of Egypt;

Rejoice, you great instructor of Mesopotamia.

Rejoice, you true and aye imitator of John the Baptist;

Rejoice, you fragrant cedar of the desert.

Rejoice, for you serve God equally with the angels;

Rejoice, for having interceded for all who warmly call on you for help.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 5

Seeing you in the desert as the [flowing with] divine dawn, Father, the great Paphnutius diligently followed you, and held unto you like a lamp of teaching, and curious of the desert experienced that life – and learned it well from you, tenderly chanting a song of praise to the Lord: Hallelujah.

Ikos 5

Having seen your strange life, O reverend Onuphrius, the Church Cathedral [willed and] ordered that your blessed memory be honored with reverence. For this sake I, too, willing to receive salvation, read with joy and cry out unto you thus:

Rejoice, O brightest beauty of the Church of Christ;

Rejoice, O unremitting representative of those who seek your intercession.

Rejoice, for you always cry out unto the Lord for us;

Rejoice, for the inner wilderness has been enlightened by you.

Rejoice, for your good deeds have shone, as the sun on earth and in heaven;

Rejoice, for you have gazed your mind onto God.

Rejoice, for you have been enriched by the poverty of spirit;

Rejoice, you eagle of heaven's nest.

Rejoice, for you scorch the charms of demons like a reed;

Rejoice, you listener of the Gospel of Christ.

Rejoice, you who have humbled the flesh philosophizing by the strength of the Divine Spirit;

Rejoice, you earthly angel, heavenly man.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 6

The Lord God trulu saw you as the creator of gospel sermons, who even didn’t worry about robe or what to eat, thee are true, Onuphrius, see and at once with white hair, like a garment, vested you wonderfully, and enriched you with glory from on-high in your repose; pray that we, too, receive that from Christ, crying out unto Him: Hallelujah.

Ikos 6

You have shone from Egypt, being instructed by a pillar of Divine light, O reverend Onuphrius, a refugee who cannot endure the army of demons the in the desert; do deliver us, too, from their slanders with your prayers, for we are crying out unto you thus:

Rejoice, you consumer of demonic charms;

Rejoice, you exorcist of fearful demons.

Rejoice, you who wounded the head of the serpent with your prayers;

Rejoice, you overfilled with gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, you having subdued the spirits of wickedness with humility of wisdom;

Rejoice, for you have taken up your cross on your shoulder.

Rejoice, for you have cast down the power of that mental Amalek;

Rejoice, for you have taken up the light burden of Christ upon your shoulder.

Rejoice, for from youth you have come to love the yoke of Christ;

Rejoice, for you have been saved from the enemy's nets, thankfully crying out unto God.

Rejoice, for you have dilligently helped the faithful, as well, against enemies;

Rejoice, for you have changed the disturbing passions of those who venerate you.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 7

Having left the monastery into the inner desert, Paphnutius saw those working for the Lord, he beheld you in a strange way with God's gaze and was horrified; according to your words [spoken] to him, knowing you to be a man who faithfully and marvelously works for God, he cried out: Hallelujah.

Ikos 7

You have appeared to be a new true victor over carnal passions, O Reverend, and who may be pleased to sing praise to your struggles? Who will be able to enumerate your labors, illnesses and deeds, which you performed in the course of fasting? Being dissatisfied with this praise, we further venerate you more with love and faithfully cry out unto you thus:

Rejoice, you having oppressed your flesh with hunger and thirst;

Rejoice, O having eternally conquered the representative of darkness.

Rejoice, for you have withered all voluptuousness by all-night vigils;

Rejoice, for abiding legitimately in prayers and fasting, you have vested yourself in dispassion.

Rejoice, O mirror of miraculous abstinence;

Rejoice, O great glory to the rank of reverend [saints].

Rejoice, for your flesh is frozen with frost, your spirit is warmed by the warmth of Christ's love;

Rejoice, for the dew of Divine grace cools you from the scorching swelter, O Reverend.

Rejoice, O beautiful decoration of the desert;

Rejoice, O image of heroic deeds and perfection.

Rejoice, for you have portrayed every [single] virtue in you;

Rejoice, for you did appear to be a pleaser of the all-beloved ascetic [founder of exploits] Christ.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 8

Your life was strange, you Onuphrius: looking at the date that grew near your cave, you nurtured rather with abstinence. For this sake, having improved the lofty table, you sing to God: Hallelujah.

Ikos 8

You were all in the on-high and your eye of the soul gazed at the mountain unceasingly in all your strange fasting, [and] now you having gained boldness to the Lord, O reverend, you intercede for all who call upon you for help and cry out unto you thus:

Rejoice, O great dweller of the wilderness;

Rejoice, like a star that shone up in the deserts.

Rejoice, you who imitated Christ’s footsteps from your infancy;

Rejoice, you zealot of angelic life.

Rejoice, you banisher of the invisible enemy’s slander;

Rejoice, you indicator of the wonderful abstinence.

Rejoice, you teacher of the most graceful perfection;

Rejoice, you who shows the strange and wondrous path unto heaven.

Rejoice, for you have lived on earth like an angel;

Rejoice, for you have worthily received glory and honor equal to the angels.

Rejoice, for in the heavenly adobes you now bring prayers to the Creator for all;

Rejoice, for you – as an intercessor for those who have acquired it – have begged [out] the great grace of God.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 9

All nature have marveled at you, O holy Onuphrius: having hated the beautiful world from your heart and having come to love the one God from your soul, you have fasted in a desert manner. While exercising all alone in vision like this, you appeared as an Angel, alive in the flesh, chanting to the Lord: Hallelujah.

Ikos 9

The ornate tongues cannot praise you according to your acquisition, O God-wise Fr. Onuphrius: you, having brought your meaning closer to God from your mother’s womb, were very nigh to the Almighty King, bringing fruits worthy of Him of your feats in all your life, O reverend. I, having truly seen from the Church of God that glorifies you for these [feats], cry out unto you thus:

Rejoice, O you dedicated to monastic training from your infancy;

Rejoice, O you introduced in youth by God's instruction into the wilderness without a temple.

Rejoice, for having followed Christ's word, you renounced the world, as well as the fatherland and family;

Rejoice, for you have taken up your gospel cross on your shoulder.

Rejoice, you neglecting the robe, but having made an incorruptible robe for yourself;

Rejoice, sowing with tears, but reaping your helves with joy.

Rejoice, for by non-eating, by needy poverty and by constant standing at prayer you exhausted the flesh;

Rejoice, for you have kept the cruel ways for the words of the mouth of your Lord.

Rejoice, having mortified your bodily passions to the end with your exploits;

Rejoice, [you] having preserved a purity equal to the angels.

Rejoice, for you have lived for many years like a fleshless one;

Rejoice, for the Crown Giver has now counted you amongst the incorporeal rank.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 10

Willing to save the faithful from various misfortunes, O Father, they set you up an intercessor for themselves and [place you as] a champion and do not lose their hopes: for you take away with your prayers to God the severe misfortunes and sorrows that obsess us, and many various evils, instructing onto the steps towards salvation those who diligently venerate you and faithfully cry out unto the Lord: Hallelujah.

Ikos 10

I have found you, the intercessor and man of prayer, O reverend, as a wall; like a fragrant censer, with a sigh I give praise to God from the depths of my heart; but to you, the eternally existing man of prayer, I bring chanting like this:

Rejoice, O well-prosperous field of virtuous fruits;

Rejoice, O most proper betterment of piety.

Rejoice, O strong intercessor for the earthly;

Rejoice, O warm listener to those venerating you.

Rejoice, O luminary, that tears away demonic darkness;

Rejoice, you who drive away the darkness of soul-destroying passions ailments.

Rejoice, for you guide those deceived with venerable morals onto the right path;

Rejoice, for you are leading the faithful to fulfillment of God's desires.

Rejoice, for many kinds of benefactions are given to you from on-high;

Rejoice, as the spirits of evil slander run from those who call upon you.

Rejoice, for you boldly bring all prayers to the Most High;

Rejoice, for you protect all who are in need and sorrows.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 11

An angelic chanting was heard in your divine repose, O Father, your holy and most pleasing to God soul, was gloriously ascending into the heavenly abodes, the powers of heaven were marveling, singing: Hallelujah.

Ikos 11

Your face is bright after the repose, O Father, Paphnutius the saint was amazed. Dividing his cassock into two parts, he covered your relics and buried you honestly with the lions. This I also venerate reverently in spirit, and I cry out thus:

Rejoice, for God has consecrated all of you;

Rejoice, for you have kept the Divine laws well.

Rejoice, for you have foreseen your departure from life;

Rejoice, having ended your feats in the warm love of God and multi-labor reverence.

Rejoice, having been venerated in repose by a wonderful fragrance, like heavenly;

Rejoice, having been glorified by lightnings then and wondrous shining.

Rejoice, having had your relics surrounded by angelic faces with chanting, censers and candles;

Rejoice, for the on-high force have opened the [heavenly] gates for him.

Rejoice, for in that same hour a great radiance was seen that covered you [all] over;

Rejoice, for a sweet voice was heard, calling you to the reception of eternal bliss.

Rejoice, for Christ, the crown-giver, gloriously received your soul in the on-high abodes;

Rejoice, for now you are abundantly enjoying eternal joy.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 12

No one from earth can ever spell out the grace given to you, and your exploits, O Father Onuphrius: in the desert, you were unacquisitively alive, for food you had angelic bread, running away from men, you conversed with God and Angels. For this sake, you are rejoicing in heavenly adobes and chant a song: Hallelujah.

Ikos 12

We sing of your valiant exploits, we praise and glorify your laudable death, we also venerate your sacred memory, O Reverend, in it and for you alone of the twenty-four elders surrounding the Throne of the Most High, who presides [them], we chant a song of praise thus:

Rejoice, having lived strangely on earth;

Rejoice, having also inherited strange death.

Rejoice, for you have entered into the non-evening light with your bright exploits;

Rejoice, for you have acquired [cherished] a most peaceful inheritance in a rich way.

Rejoice, you successor of unspeakable blessings;

Rejoice, you companion of the reverend and the righteous.

Rejoice, for now you have been allowed to see the Holy Trinity directly at firsthand;

Rejoice, for in your memory the Church of Christ rejoices in an unspeakable way.

Rejoice, for by you fasters and desert-dwellers are strengthened for exploit;

Rejoice, for the faithful are vouchsafed by your intercession all blessings from on-high.

Rejoice, Fr. Onuphrius, brightest luminary of the whole universe.

Kontakion 13

O all-praiseful and marvelous pleaser of Christ, Father Onuphrius, pray and cry out with all sincerity: accept this small prayer I offer and strive soon to beg the merciful God and Master, that He may save me from all troubles and that He would wipe out torment in the future, crying out: Hallelujah.

(This Kontakion is read thrice, followed by Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1)

 

Prayer to Rev. Onuphrius, the great desert-dweller,
prince of Persia

O most graceful and greatest desert-dweller, reverend Fr. Onuphrius!
I praise your inexpressible wonderworking and your bright-most life, that you have [lived and] passed on from your [very] youth, even through to [your] old age: no one can possibly enumerate your patience and exploits, you most honest [one]. St. Paphnutius marveled at your cruel living in the desert, and at the same time he rejoiced greatly, having found you to be an image of only great exploits and perfection. For this sake, he truly tested you about your holy labors and about how much you had of the temporary living. That was also why he wrote that you had been in diligence for sixty three years, enduring frost and swelter in nakedness, that you lived dwelling in a deep desert with animals and birds, praying incessantly. For this sake, I am now bringing you joy from my unworthy lips, reverend Father, you great joy to reverend Paphnutius (you became worthy for lions to serve you at the end, to bury your body and live with you in heaven), you zealot of Elijah of Thesbite, heir of John the Baptist, friend of Christ and veritable co-heir, you clever beauty of Egypt, great luminary of Thebia, the wonderful kindness of Libya, red-blooming phoenix, stilted eagle flying in the under-heaven, having gaining citizenship in heaven, where you are installed at the Throne of the Lord of Glory, finding an adobe with twenty-four elders, and abiding with them. And I am now praying to you, O most wonderful citizen of heaven, you fellow-worker of the holy angelic ranks, hear me the sinful and unworthy servant of yours, at this hour and accept this little Akathist prayer of mine, Oh great intercessor, quick helper to those who diligently venerate you. Make amends to the handwriting of my filthy and unclean deeds that are kept by demonic regiments. Cover me with your intercession, reckon me as [one] belonging to the bright place prepared by your prayers and vouchsafe me the on-high Jerusalem, for after our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, I honor you amongst my warmest helpers, men-of-prayer and intercessors. Do visit and give a helping hand to those who venerate you in your temple and everywhere. In this way, now I, the unworthy, am praying to you and calling unto you: implore the merciful God to forgive all transgressions of mine, voluntary and involuntary, all of them perpetrated by my evil doings, and that through your intercession God may deliver me from eternal torment, teach me to do good deeds, instruct me on the path to genuine salvation and vouchsafe me to enjoy eternal joy together with all the saints, now and forever, and unto the ages, Amen.

Another Prayer

O most wonderful and most blessed pleaser of Christ and Abba of ours, Onuphrius the Great! You have shown wondrous love for your Lord, and you have been strengthened for wondrous deeds by His grace, and for this sake you have been vouchsafed with great boldness towards Him: many miracles and signs of the power of God have appeared to people about you. Look now, as well, O most wondrous Father, with the compassionate eye of your love on us unworthy servants, and grant to everyone accordingly to one’s need, faith and hope: give joy to those grieving, comfort those weeping, heal those who are ailing, help those who labor, strengthen and bless those who fight with passions and slanders of the enemy, support those who pine away, protect your abode and all of us against visible enemies and against all evil. Magnify the holy Orthodox faith in our fatherland, convert those erring, enlighten those fallen away, confirm those who hesitate, soften those who are stubborn, enlighten the infidels, and bring all to the quiet haven of the Heavenly Fatherland. O marvelous word of the monastics and consolation to all the faithful! through your glorious exploits and through the sweet contemplation of your miraculous image illuminate us, as well, and strengthen us for all [sorts of] exploit, work and patience for the glory of the Name of God, so we may be vouchsafed salvation with you and with all the saints of the Eternal and Most Blessed Kingdom of the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit unto the ages. Amen.

Still another Prayer

O Most Reverend Father Onuphrius! We pray to you: do hear us, sinful and unworthy servants of God (names), at this hour. And accept this small prayer of ours: erase the handwriting of our filthy and unclean doings with your prayer, cover us for good with your intercession and bring us with your prayers to the bright chamber prepared for the faithful by your prayers; and beg the Merciful God that He may forgive all our sins, voluntary and involuntary, and all the evil doings that we have perpetrated, and that He may deliver us from eternal torment by your intercession and vouchsafe us to enjoy eternal joy, together with all the saints, unto the ages. Amen.

Troparion, Tone 1

You have reached the desert with spiritual desire, Oh God-wise Onuphrius, and as if being incorporeal you diligently labored in it for many years, competing [in zeal] with the prophets Elijah and the Baptist: and enjoying from the angelic hand divine mysteries, now in the light of the Holy Trinity, you are rejoicing together with them. Pray that we, who venerate your memory, may be saved.