Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 20:14:15 +1300
   From: 
Subject: Re: RE: Review:  "The Virtue of War"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Morgan" 


> I notice that these prayers are for the troops themselves, that God will
> protect them and give them courage, etc.  They are not prayers which call
> down the wrath of God on our enemies, and are not blessings of guns and
> bombs that they might accurately and efficiently blow up as many enemies as
> possible.

Actually the Trebniki/Euchologia of local Orthodox Churches do contain 
Prayers for the Blessing of Weapons.  I can access the the Trebnik of 
the Serbian Orthodox Church, 1993 edition.

These are ancient Services which have been used throughout the hiostory 
of Orthodoxy.   The use of the  "swords" and "sabres" demonstrates that 
the blessing of weapons by the Church is of ancient origin and is a 
long established Orthodox custom.

        -oOo-

The Bishop or Priest comes out of the Altar to a table before the Amvon 
on which the weapons are placed, and he censes the weapons crosswise 
while the Reader begins as is common::

Reader: O Heavenly King, Trisagion,etc....Psalm 35.  Alleluia.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord

The Bishop or Priest reads this prayer over the weapons::

O Lord our God, God of Power and Might, powerful in strength, strong in 
battle, You once gave miraculous strength to Your child David granting 
him victory over his opponent the blasphemer Goliath.  Mercifully 
accept our humble prayer.  Send Your heavenly blessing upon these weapons 
(..naming each weapon..).  Give to them power and strength that they may 
protect Your holy Church, the poor and the widows, and Your holy 
inheritance on earth, and make them horrible and terrible to any enemy army, 
and grant victory to Your people for your glory, for You are our 
strength and protection and unto You do we send up praise and glory, to the 
Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages 
of ages. Amen.

Then the Priest sprinkles blessed water on the weapons saying::

Let the blessing of the Tri-une God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 
come down on and remain upon these weapons and those who carry them, for 
the protection of the truth of Christ. Amen.

After this the soldiers carrying the weapons are blessed, with the 
prayer:

Be brave and let your heart be stronger and win victory over your 
enemies, trusting in God, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

After this each soldier kisses the honourable cross.

This is the way to bless sword and sabre. If there is only one sword to 
be blessed, or only one sabre, he says only once: this sword, or: this 
weapon. If there are many, he says: bless these swords, or: bless these 
weapons.

        -oOo-