Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,
As Orthodox Christians, giving thanks is something which we incorporate into our liturgical life and private prayer every day, and not simply once a year. It is an ongoing event and a staple of every Christian. We continuously thank God for what we have, as is indicated in so many of our services! The following prayer is from the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, but is often included in Orthodox prayer books as a basic morning prayer:
“We bless you, O God, most high and Lord of mercy. You are always doing great and inscrutable things with us, glorious and wonderful, and without number… Open our mouth and fill it with your praise, that we be able without distraction to sing and confess that you are God…”
And from the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom:
“…You did not cease doing everything to bring us to heaven and grant us Your Kingdom which is to come. For all these things we thank You, and Your Only-begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit; for all things we know and do not know; for the visible and invisible bounties that have been bestowed upon us.”
Let us pray with our families this Thanksgiving and every moment of our life, giving thanks to God for what He has given us. Happy Thanksgiving!
With love in Christ,
Father Niko Bekris
