Powerful and Short Prayers to Say Every Day

Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You healed people of sickness and affliction through Your love and compassion. Visit me, Lord and grant me strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. I pray that You will bless the means used for my recovery and those who administer them. Grant that my sickness may be to my spiritual benefit and that I may live the rest of my life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You I give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.

The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary Myrrh-scented, also known as the Virgin Mary of the Salutations or of the Akathist Hymn, is among the oldest icons of Mount Athos. It is preserved in the Holy Monastery of Dionysiou and its presence there is closely tied to numerous miracles.The venerable icon of the Theotokos of the Salutations is small in size, made from wax and mastic while Its features have nearly disappeared due to the holy myrrh that exudes from it.

During preparation of the Eucharist, the priest conducts the proskomithi in which he first cuts out the center of the stamped design that says "IC,XC, NIKA" (Jesus Christ Conquers). It becomes the Body of Christ (the Lamb). Then the large triangle on the left is cut in honor of the Virgin Mary. The nine small triangles on the right are cut to commemorate the angels, prophets, apostles, holy fathers and prelates, martyrs, ascetics, holy unmercenaries, Joachim and Anna, and all saints, including the saint of the day's liturgy. The last cuts are tiny squares to remember specific names of the living and the dead