May the most compassionate and merciful God--he who opens his unsearchable goodness to everyone who comes to him with longing and ardent love, he who says that 'a mother will forget her offspring before I forget you,' he who also knows your longing, and he who adds his own strength to your intention, towards fulfillment of his commandments--may he take you up and embrace you and protect you and become for you a fortified wall against the face of the enemy, a rock of patient endurance, a beginning of consolation, a provider of vigor, a resource of good courage, a fellow adventurer in boldness, he who lies down to bed with you, he who rises up with you, he who sweetens and makes merry your heart in the consolation of the Holy Spirit, and he who makes you worthy of the portion of the holy and righteous saints, with whom you will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, in Jesus Christ our Lord--to whom be the glory, the rule, the kingdom, and the strength, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.
- from an Eastern Orthodox liturgy of monastic vows
