Prayer Rule to the Most Holy Mother of God with the Angelic Salutation

The following rule of prayer to the Mother of God comes from the book, "An Early Soviet Saint: The Life of Father Zachariah," translated from the Russian samizdat (unpublished, typewritten) manuscript by Jane Ellis, with some editing and adaptation on my part. Soon, Orthodoxtidings.com will have an integrated rule available, combining all three of the below forms, on the Orthodox Prayers page.

This rule is a very ancient form of prayer, not well known in the Orthodox world until St. Seraphim of Sarov's time, but practiced in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic West in various forms for centuries up until the present day.

Basically, it centers on saying the Angelic Salutation:
"Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb, Jesus, for you have given birth to the Savior of our souls. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
The above is a combining of the Eastern and Western forms of the prayer.

The Salutation is said in decades, groups of ten. Usually 15 decades are prayed, but if time does not allow, the prayer can be prayed as many times as possible. A prayer rope makes a convenient companion for this rule. I have seen 150-knot prayer ropes in Russia, possibly used for this rule, but other lengths will work, too. It's most handy to have a rope divided into decades, because after each decade, various prayers are recited.

There's no one way, according to the book mentioned above, to pray after each decade. Here are some ways suggested in the book.

I. After each decade, say the Lord's Prayer ("Our Father...") and "Open unto us the door of your loving-kindness, O blessed Mother of God; so that hoping in you, we may not perish; but through you may be delivered from adversities, for you are the salvation of all Christian people."

II. The Rule can also be accompanied with various meditations on the life of the Mother of God, combined with prayers for people in various circumstances of life.
First decade: Let us remember the birth of the Mother of God–let us pray for mothers, fathers and children.
Second decade: Let us remember the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin and Mother of God–let us pray for those who have lost their way and fallen away from the church.
Third decade: Let us remember the Annunciation of the Blessed Mother of God–let us pray for the soothing of sorrows and the consolation of those who grieve.
Fourth decade: Let us remember the meeting of the Blessed Virgin with the righteous Elizabeth–let us pray for the reunion of the separated, for those whose dear ones or children are living away from them or missing.
Fifth decade: Let us remember the Birth of Christ–let us pray for the rebirth of souls, for new life in Christ.
Sixth decade: Let us remember the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, and the words uttered by St. Simeon: "Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also." Let us pray that the Mother of God will meet our souls at the hour of our death, and will contrive that we receive the Holy Mystery of Communion with our last breath, and will deliver our souls from the terrible torments.
Seventh decade: Let us remember the flight of the Mother of God with the God-child into Egypt. Let us pray that the Mother of God will help us avoid temptation in this life and deliver us from misfortunes.
Eighth decade: Let us remember the disappearance of the twelve-year-old boy Jesus in Jerusalem and the sorrow of the Mother of God on His account. Let us pray, begging the Mother of God for the constant repetition of the Jesus Prayer: Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Ninth decade: Let us remember the miracle performed in Cana of Galilee, when the Lord turned water into wine at the words of the Mother of God, "They have no wine." Let us ask the Mother of God for help in our affairs and deliverance from need.
Tenth decade: Let us remember the Mother of God standing at the cross of the Lord, when grief pierced through her heart like a sword. Let us pray to the Mother of God for the strengthening of our souls and the banishment of despondency.
Eleventh decade: Let us remember the Resurrection of Christ and ask the Mother of God in prayer to resurrect our souls and give us a new courage for spiritual feats.
Twelfth decade: Let us remember the Ascension of Christ, at which the Mother of God was present. Let us pray and ask the Queen of Heaven to raise up our souls from earthly and worldly amusements and direct them to striving for higher things.
Thirteenth decade: Let us remember the Upper Room and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Mother of God. Let us pray: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me."
Fourteenth decade: Let us remember the Falling Asleep (Repose, Dormition) of the Mother of God, and ask for a peaceful and serene end.
Fifteenth decade: Let us remember the glory of the Mother of God, with which the Lord crowned her after her removal from earth to heaven, and let us pray to the Queen of Heaven not to abandon the faithful who are on earth but to defend them from every evil, covering them with her honorable protecting veil.

III. With these remembrances, one can make the following prayers after each respective decade.
First decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, save and preserve your servants (names of parents, relatives and acquaintances), increase their faith and repentance, and when they die give them rest with the saints in your eternal glory."
Second decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, save and preserve and unite or re-unite to the Holy Orthodox Church your servants who have lost their path and fallen away, especially (names)."
Third decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, soothe our sorrows and send consolation to your servants who are grieving and ill, especially (names)."
Fourth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, unite your servants who are separated, especially (names)."
Fifth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, grant to us who have been baptized in Christ, to be clothed in Christ."
Sixth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, grant that I may receive the Holy Mystery of Communion with my last breath, and do you yourself deliver me from the terrible torments."
Seventh decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, deliver me from all temptations in this life and from misfortunes."
Eighth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, grant to me the unceasing Jesus Prayer."
Ninth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, help me in all my affairs and deliver me from every need and sorrow."
Tenth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, strengthen our souls and banish from us all despondency."
Eleventh decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, resurrect our souls and give us a new courage for spiritual feats."
Twelfth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, deliver me from worldly thoughts and give me a mind and heart striving towards the salvation of my soul."
Thirteenth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, through your intercessions, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Grant that your Son may not cast me away from His presence, nor take His Holy Spirit from me."
Fourteenth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, grant me a peaceful and serene end.
Fifteenth decade: "Our Lady, Blessed Mother of God, do not abandon the faithful who are yet on earth, but defend them from every evil, covering them with your honorable and protecting veil. Amen."