U.S.A., August 1, 2025
Photo: oclife.org
Orthodox Christians for Life has announced a Prayer Vigil to End Abortion coinciding with the Dormition Fast, running from August 1-14. The organization has published a dedicated prayer booklet to guide participants through the two-week observance that can be downloaded and printed or read online.
The nonprofit, whose mission is “to equip the Orthodox Christian community to strengthen its commitment to the sacredness of human life from conception to death, illuminating the Church’s teaching on life issues through education and engagement,” emphasizes the unique contribution Orthodox Christians can make to the pro-life movement through prayer and fasting.
“As Orthodox Christians, one thing that we can uniquely bring to the pro-life movement is our prayers. And since we are accustomed to joining and intensifying our prayers with fasting, what better time for focused pro-life prayer than during a fasting period of the Church?” the organization states in announcing the vigil.
“This small booklet contains pro-life prayers that have been paired with specific petitions, one for each day of the Dormition Fast. Join with other Orthodox Christians in supplication for the women, men, babies, and all those involved in and affected by abortion.”
The Dormition Fast, observed annually from August 1-14 in preparation for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15), holds special significance for the organization’s pro-life efforts. Orthodox Christians for Life notes that its activities are intentionally aligned with the liturgical calendar, with their National Orthodox Baby Shower taking place around the Feast of the Annunciation and this prayer vigil during the Dormition Fast.
The prayer vigil represents an effort to engage Orthodox Christians in sustained prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, combining traditional Orthodox spiritual practices with contemporary pro-life activism.
“May the Lord hear our prayers and guide our steps,” the organization concludes in its announcement.
The following is an excerpt of the prayer for August 1, the first day of the vigil:
O most merciful, all gracious and compassionate Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, Son of God: we entreat Thee, most gracious Master: look with compassion upon Thy children who have been condemned to death by the unjust judgment of men. And as Thou hast promised to bestow the heavenly kingdom on those born of water and the Spirit, and those who, in blamelessness of life, have been translated unto Thee; and Who said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven”—we humbly pray, according to Thy unfailing promise: Grant the inheritance of Thy kingdom to the multitude of spotless infants who have been cruelly murdered in the abortion facilities of this land; for Thou art the resurrection and the life and the repose of all Thy servants and of these innocents, O Christ our God.
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