“I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.” — 1 Timothy 2:1
At all points in our lives, we find ourselves in need of spiritual counselling and prayer. Our first port of call is always to speak to God; the faithful are encouraged to speak with the parish priest after a service or during the week. The tradition exists in the Armenian Church for faithful to write their prayer requests on a piece of paper before Holy Liturgy and give it to an altar server or deacon to bring to the altar, where the priest will personally pray concerning it at the appropriate points of the service, bringing the assurance, as promised during the procession at the beginning of the service, that, “You are remembered before the immortal Lamb of God.” It is also welcome for the faithful to request that a specific prayer intention be included in the parish bulletin (please forward your request by e-mail to info@styeghiche.org.uk by the Thursday before the service). Since the time of Catholicos Simeon of Yerevan, the Der Voghormya (Lord have mercy) hymn is sung before Holy Communion as an opportunity for us to call collectively upon God’s love and mercy for us.