We remember those who gave their lives for their country on Heroes' Day, but also in our everyday prayers. A prayer for heroes is an act of gratitude towards people who died defending others: soldiers from past wars, but also those who fell on missions, firefighters and rescuers. In this article you will find short prayers for the heroes of the nation, a few notes on how the Orthodox tradition remembers them, and practical ways to honour their memory.
Why we pray for heroes
In the Orthodox tradition, those who have fallen asleep need the prayers of the living. Heroes are no exception: they are people with names, families and souls for whom we ask rest and forgiveness. Praying for them is not a ceremonial ritual but a living bond between generations. It reminds us that today's freedom and peace came at a price.
In Romania, Heroes' Day is celebrated together with the Ascension of the Lord, forty days after Easter. On that day, memorial services are held in churches and at war memorials, and a moment of silence is kept at noon.
Prayer for the heroes of the nation
A prayer in your own words (suggested by us, not a liturgical text):
Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the souls of the heroes who gave their lives for their country and for their fellow people. Forgive their sins, known and unknown, and receive their sacrifice into Your Kingdom. Those whose names no one remembers any more, You know. Comfort the families who mourned them, and give us, who live today, the strength to be worthy of their sacrifice. Amen.
Prayer for a hero in your family
Many families have a grandfather or great-grandfather who fell in war, sometimes with no known grave. You can remember him by name:
A prayer in your own words (suggested by us, not a liturgical text):
Lord, remember Your servant (name), who died far from home. If his body has no known cross, may his soul find rest with You. Receive the candle I light for him and our prayer, as a sign that we have not forgotten him. Amen.
For more prayers for those who have passed away, see our guide to prayers for the departed.
Prayer for today's heroes
Heroes are also those who risk their lives right now: soldiers on missions, firefighters, mountain rescuers, ambulance crews. We pray for their protection:
A prayer in your own words (suggested by us, not a liturgical text):
Lord, protect those who defend us and save us. Give them courage, a clear mind and a safe return home. And those who did not come back, receive them into Your peace. Amen.
Patron saints of soldiers
- Saint George the Great Martyr – a Roman soldier, honoured as protector of the army (23 April);
- Saint Demetrius the Great Martyr, the Myrrh-streaming – also a soldier and martyr (26 October);
- The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel – Michael is called the commander of the heavenly hosts (8 November);
- Saint Stephen the Great – defender of Moldavia, numbered among the saints in 1992 (2 July).
How to honour heroes in practice
- Give a list of names at church with the heroes of your family, on Heroes' Day or on the Saturdays of the Dead.
- Light a candle at the war memorial in your town or at home, before an icon. You can also find candles in our shop.
- Attend the memorial service on Ascension Day.
- Learn their story. Ask your grandparents, search the archives, add their names to your family's list of remembrance.
- Teach your children why we lay a flower at the memorial.
Sometimes the unfinished stories of war still weigh on families: unspoken grief, fears passed down from one generation to the next. If you feel this, the materials in our Karma & Soul Unbindings collection and in Family & Parents Unbindings can support you, alongside prayer.
Frequently asked questions
When is Heroes' Day?
In Romania, Heroes' Day is celebrated on the Feast of the Ascension, forty days after Easter, so the date changes from year to year.
What prayer should I say for heroes?
You can say the prayer above, the Lord's Prayer and the prayer for the departed from your prayer book. At church, their names can be remembered at a memorial service.
Can I pray for a hero of another faith?
In personal prayer you can pray for anyone. Remembrance during the services follows the rules of the Church, so ask your parish priest.
What if I don't know where the hero in my family is buried?
Remember him by name, give his name for remembrance and light a candle. Prayer does not need a known grave to reach God.
