18 Sep The Power of Prayer

‘The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’

Last fall, we introduced a monthly Moleben, primarily to St. Nectarios, with the opportunity to be anointed with oil. This simple prayer service was very meaningful to me as a young adult. We prayed it every summer when I attended Camp, and all of us looked forward to being anointed with the oil from the vigil lamps that burn before the relics of this pious modern Saint of the Church. St. Nectarios has come to be known as the patron of cancer victims, and his popularity has grown exponentially over the years since his death and canonization as a Saint of Christ’s Church. Miracles both small and great have been attributed to him. Wherever a Moleben is prayed to St. Nectarios, it has become common practice for people to submit names to be remembered during the service. Prayer requests can be for health or for any reason really. Even if the person offering the prayers or the people being prayed for cannot attend, there is still great power in our prayers for each other. That is why I consider this service to be an important part of our parish cycle of services.

We have the prayer group which accepts prayer requests and prays for people each and every week. We can view this service as an extension of the prayer group, giving us the opportunity to gather for one extra service a month as a parish family and offer our fervent prayers for the health and well being of our friends, family, and loved ones, for the sick and the suffering and for those who have no one to pray for them. Going forward, we can take the opportunity with this monthly service to celebrate other services as well. We served the Paraklesis to the Theotokos during the Dormition fast. What a beautiful and moving service of devotion to the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my hope to be able to offer this service on occasion as well. Please take the time to offer names to be remembered in prayer at these service. Please take the time to attend as often as you can. Please take the time to witness to your faith, by inviting those of your family and friends who could benefit from this type of intercessory prayer, offering them the opportunity to pray with us, to be anointed and to see how much effective prayer can impact their lives and our lives as well. God bless you!

In Christ,

Fr. M