In Greek from about 250 A.D. in the Coptic Church we read:- Ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν,
- καταφεύγομεν, Θεοτόκε,
- τὰς ἡμῶν ἱκεσίας,
- μὴ παρίδης ἐν περιστάσει,
- ἀλλ' ἐκ κινδύνων λύτρωσαι ἡμᾶς,
- μόνη ἁγνή, μόνη εὐλογημένη.
In English this is:
- Beneath your compassion,
- We take refuge, O Mother of God:
- do not despise our petitions in time of trouble:
- but rescue us from dangers,
- only pure, only blessed one.
The Church Slavonic of the Old Believers:
- Подъ твою милость,
- прибѣгаемъ богородице дѣво,
- молитвъ нашихъ не презри в скорбѣхъ.
- но ѿ бѣдъ избави насъ,
- едина чистаѧ и благословеннаѧ.
-
- Beneath thy mercy,
- we take refuge, O Virgin Mother of God:
- disdain not our supplications in our distress,
- but deliver us from perils,
- O only pure and blessed one.
The Russian Orthodox version since 1586:
- Подъ твое благоѹсробїе
- прибѣгаемъ Богородице,
- моленїѧ наша не презри во ωбстоѧнїй,
- но ѿ бѣдъ исбави ны,
- едина Чистаѧ, и Благословеннаѧ
-
- Beneath thy tenderness of heart
- we take refuge, O Mother of God,
- disdain not our supplications in our necessity,
- but deliver us from perils,
- O only pure and blessed one.
Byzantine Christians sing this at the end of Vespers in Great Lent, and in other seasons the triple invocation Пресвѧтаѧ Богородице спаси насъ (Most Holy Mother of God, save us) may be added.
In Latin, we find this prayer in the following form at about the 11th c AD :
- Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
- Sancta Dei Genetrix.
- Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
- in necessitatibus [nostris],
- sed a periculis cunctis
- libera nos semper,
- Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
-
- We fly to your patronage,
- O holy Mother of God;
- despise not our petitions
- in [our] necessities,
- but from all dangers
- deliver us always,
- O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
I do not care for the English translation above. "Patronage" simply does not convey the depth of meaning of praesidium. I much prefer the English version of my Anglo-Catholic childhood:
We fly to thy protection,
O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions in our necessities
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O ever glorious and blessed Virgin.
