Article

11 January 2026, 21:09

“Strengthen the authorities of our Fatherland to end the wickedness of killing unborn babies”. Russian Orthodox Church launches official anti‑abortion prayers

An anti-abortion service in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug in Siberia. Photo: Khanty-Mansi Metropolis

On January 11, churches across Russia held prayer services framed as being for the “bringing to reason” of those who intend to have an abortion, after the Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod approved a new rite for nationwide use in late December 2025. The date was picked to coincide with the Church’s commemoration of the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem, and the Synod directed churches to read the service in full on that day. Some parishes reported the prayers taking place, with congregants given leaflets on a “Christian attitude to motherhood” and “spiritual consequences” of “the sin of child murder”; photographs from some services show baby-shaped mannequins and flags brought into the church.

Below is a complete translation of the prayer, with photos taken during the services. However, parishes could add personal touches to the service. For example, Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashin told parishioners that “every embryo has DNA and a heartbeat from the moment of conception.” In Kirillov, Vologda region, Archpriest Vladimir Kolosov recalled Vladimir Lenin in his speech: “On this day, we remember our innocently murdered children, who, out of ignorance, especially during the Soviet era, were killed by our parents and our non-believing relatives. The first decree issued by Lenin, that godless communist who hated Russia with a passion, was to kill Russian children and allow abortions. And blood was shed.”

This service is celebrated on the 29th day of December, in memory of the holy martyrs, the infants of Bethlehem, slain by Herod, or on another day, as the abbot deems fit.

Deacon: Master, give the blessing.

Priest: Blessed be our God, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

And all the people: Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, present in all places and filling all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come; take Your abode in us; cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good one.

Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times.)

Glory, and now:

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Flag of the “For Life!” (without abortion) movement. It uses US-made “Touch of Life Fetal Models” in its propaganda. Photo: Miloserdie Rybinsk VKontakte group

Glory, and now: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times.)

Glory, and now:

Come, let us worship our King and God.

Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ, our King and God.

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.

Psalm 138

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.a
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.b
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!c
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, God. (Three times.)

Great Litany:

Let us pray to the Lord with peace.

For each petition, say: Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

For peace throughout the world, the prosperity of the Holy Churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy temple, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

For our great master and father, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and for our lord, His Eminence the Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Most Reverend Bishop Name), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our God-protected country, its rulers and army, let us pray to the Lord.

For this city (or: for this village, or: for this holy monastery), for every city, country, and those who live in them in faith, let us pray to the Lord.

For the blessing of the air, for the abundance of earthly fruits and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

An anti-abortion service in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug in Siberia. Photo: Khanty-Mansi Metropolis

Add this:

For our brothers and sisters who are tormented by sinful thoughts of infanticide, and for them to be delivered from this reckless darkness and come to repentance and the understanding of truth, let us pray to the Lord.

That fathers and mothers, their relatives, and all those around them, tempted by cowardice, greed, and ignorance, may be protected by His fear, let us pray to the Lord.

That they may understand the will of God, which is good and perfect, and not despise any of these little ones who are born as infants, let us pray to the Lord.

That they and we may be granted the good intention to bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

That they and we may be delivered from all sorrow, anger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.

Protect, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To You, Lord.

The priest proclaims:

As it is fitting for You to receive all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto ages of ages.

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

And the deacon says:

God the Lord, and He appeared to us, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Verse 1: Confess to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

Verse 2: They searched me and tried me, but I resisted them in the name of the Lord.

Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone: this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Choir: God the Lord: in voice 2, to each verse.

Also troparion, voice 2:

Having created humankind in Your image / and commanded them to multiply on earth, / look upon Your people / and, in faith, hope, and love, keep them chaste, / restrain them from sinful child murder, / and lead them to keep Your commandments, / that they may sing to You and glorify You unceasingly, // O only Lover of mankind.

After the feast of Christ’s Nativity, And now, troparion of the feast, voice 4:

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, / has shone to the world the light of knowledge: / for by it those who worshipped the stars / were taught by a star / to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know Thee, the Dayspring From On High, // O Lord, glory to Thee!

And now, the Mother of God, voice 2:

When You came to Elizabeth, Unwed Mother, / then the Forerunner rejoiced in her womb / and bowed down to God who dwelt in You, / for this reason, O Merciful One, / preserve the infants in the womb from all evil, / that we may praise You: // Blessed are You among women, O Immaculate Lady.

Deacon: Let us listen.

Priest: Peace be with you all.

Choir: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Wisdom, let us pray.

Reader: Prokeimenon, Psalm 118, voice 4: Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

Verse: Your hands have made and fashioned me.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy.

Deacon: Let us listen.

First Epistle to Timothy, 2: 1-6, 8-15

I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, [himself] man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony [to be borne] in its own times.

I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works. Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve; and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

Priest: Peace be with you.

Reader: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: Alleluia, Psalm 15, voice 4: Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

Verse: I will praise the Lord, who counsels me.

Deacon: Wisdom, forgive us, let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest: Peace be with you all.

Choir: And with your spirit.

Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Deacon: Let us listen.

Gospel of Matthew, 9:36-37, 10:13-16

Jesus took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

And the deacon says the litany:

Have mercy on us, God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

For every petition, the choir responds: Lord, have mercy. (Three times.)

We also pray for our great master and father, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, and for our lord, His Eminence Metropolitan (or: archbishop, or: most reverend bishop, name) and for all our brethren in Christ.

We also pray for our God-protected country, its rulers and its army, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life in all piety and purity.

Add this:

To You, Lord and Creator of all things, we fall down and cry out with a contrite heart: deliver our Fatherland and all Your people from this great wickedness, which is contrary to Your will and to human nature, to kill children in the womb, and raise up Your people in piety and multiply them on earth. We pray to You, Almighty King, hear us quickly and have mercy.

Enlighten every person who comes into the world and bring those who sin to the knowledge of the truth, enlighten the hearts of our brothers and sisters with Your grace and bring them to the understanding of Your will, turn them away from the sin of infanticide, bless them with childbearing, we pray to You, Most Generous Lord, hear us quickly and have mercy.

Preserve the infants, O Lord, Thy only-begotten Son, who gave Himself for our redemption and was willing to become incarnate from the pure and Ever-Virgin Mary, preserve the lives of the infants in the womb, and by Thy gracious intercession protect them from death, illness, and all harm, especially from the evil will of man, and prepare them for birth. We pray to You, Father of mercies and God of all comfort, hear us quickly and have mercy.

By the apostolic word commanding us to bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ, strengthen our relatives and household members, those who are with child, to follow Your truth. We pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

Do not desire the death of sinners, but that they may repent and live and be pleasing to You. Grant wisdom and healing to those who honor the sacred gift of life, sent down from You, and may their hands not be stained with the shedding of the innocent blood of Your children. We pray to You, Savior of the world, hear us quickly and have mercy.

The priest proclaims:

Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far away at sea, and be merciful, merciful, Lord, to our sins, and have mercy on us: For You are a merciful and loving God, and we send up glory to You, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The priest says the prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who created man in Your image and likeness, male and female, and blessed them, saying: Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and revealing Thyself to Thy psalmist, as Thou art the one who forms the bones and all the inner parts of each one while still in his mother’s womb, Who, in Your incarnation, came from the Holy Spirit and the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and dwelt in her womb, and was born of a woman!

Look upon this prayer, which we now offer up to You, and enlighten the wombs of mothers with the light of Your divine wisdom. Warm their hearts with Your love, that they may love their children and raise them to Your glory, and rejoice in the sight of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Protect them from thoughts of unbelief, pride, sinful darkness, and deceitful fear, lest their hearts be filled with the destructive intention to destroy the babies they carry under their hearts!

Enlighten and strengthen all their relatives and acquaintances, especially the fathers of the children in the womb, so that their hearts may not be clouded by cowardice and their mouths may not be defiled by wicked counsel to kill their children.

Instill Your righteous fear in the hearts of doctors and preserve them from greed, unbelief, and cruelty, and especially from the killing of unborn babies.

Strengthen the authorities of our Fatherland to put an end to this great wickedness of killing unborn babies. Grant success to all who strive in faith and piety through Your grace, and prepare for them the imperishable crown of salvation, so that, having lived in peace and piety and having pleased You, we may be deemed worthy of a share in You, our God and Savior: For unto Thee be honor and worship, with Thy co-eternal Father and Thy most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Priest: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Choir: We magnify You, greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the true Mother of God.

Priest: Glory to You, Christ God, our hope, glory to You.

Choir: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Three times.) Bless us.

The priest pronounces the dismissal:

[Who was born in a manger and laid in a manger, for our salvation,] Christ, our True God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the honorable and glorious prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, the holy martyrs, the infants of Bethlehem, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as He is Good and Lover of mankind.

Choir: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Three times.)

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