Instruction for the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

O zealous Intercessor… you pray to your Son, Christ our God, on behalf of all, and grant salvation to all who take refuge in your mighty protection…

(Troparion of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God).

Do all of you, beloved brothers, always pray earnestly to the Mother of God? If any of you does not pray to her, or prays without his whole heart, I beg him to begin, from this very day, to pray to her with all diligence, for the Sovereign Lady is a swift Intercessor for all Christians who take refuge with faith in her protection and intercession—she turns no one away, she disdains no one; to be accounted worthy of her intercession, one needs only firm faith in the power of her prayer, and humble, sincere prayer. If some misfortune has come upon you, or sorrow of soul, hasten quickly to prayer before the Sovereign Lady, and do not seek consolation for yourself in any earthly comforts—in theaters, circuses, evening amusements—still less take refuge, to ease your sorrow, to forget your misfortune, in wine, as many do. Theaters, circuses, amusements with wine or with anything else are new misfortunes, only not noticeable at first, because they are seductive. If sins or passions torment you, or bad habits master you, take refuge in the most tenderhearted Mother of all, the Queen and Mother of God; pray to her thus: All-gracious Lady, Mother of God, behold, such and such passions and sins master me; You can do all things, Your prayer is all-powerful with Your Son and God; cover me, defend me from myself, from my sinful passions and habits; with my whole heart I desire my own amendment and salvation, but without help from on high, without intercession from above, I can do nothing: I take one step forward, and then fall ten steps back, so does the hostile power thrust me away from the Lord. Wretched am I, poor and destitute and blind and naked in spirit; help me, wretched, poor, and blind, I beseech You with my whole soul. I believe that You hear every sigh of my heart, every word that comes forth from my heart, and mercifully defend all who earnestly seek Your help, and whom sinful flattery has not utterly beguiled. Defend, then, save, and have mercy on me, a sinner. So let us pray to the most merciful Queen and Mother of God—and we shall surely be accounted worthy of her protection and intercession. Amen.

Akathist to the Mother of God, kontakion 8.

Troparion of the Holy Spirit.

Epistle of Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, to Pope Adrian of Rome, Kormchaia, Part 1, ch. 36. 1787 edition.