Akathistos

Saint Theodota was the mother of Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Mesopotamia. They were all natives of Asia Minor. Her pagan husband died while her children were still quite small, but she raised them in Christian piety. Through her own example, and by reading holy books to them, St Theodota preserved her children in purity of life according to the command of the Lord, and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous men.

I do not desire to be a saint myself, but I do desire that I may one day be the mother of a saint- or a few. I pray that I will raise my children with a love for God and the Gospels. I hope that they will bring others to the Church, even possibly their grandparents and other family members. The depth of faith of my two-year old surpasses my own. We are fortunate to have found the Orthodox Church before he was born- or maybe it found us. Either way, though not technically “cradle Orthodox”, our son does not know anything other than our church. I pray that he will remain in the church all the days of his life, as well as all of our family.

The area that I struggle with most in my life is my own frustrations. Whether they be with myself or with others. And my fear is that I will pass this on to my children. I pray that they will be more like their father: kind and gentle, slow to anger, not easily frustrated. I pray that God will grant them with much patience with themselves and with others, especially with their mother.

O God, our heavenly Father, who loves mankind and are a most merciful and compassionate God, have mercy upon Your servants, my children, for whom I humbly pray to You to care for and protect. O God, be their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of Your truth, and draw them nearer to You, so that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Your love as they do Your will in all things. Give them Your grace, and mercy so that they may be patient, hard working, tireless, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption, and direct them in the way of Salvation, through the goodness of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the prayers of His Holy Mother and the blessed saints. Amen.