A Hellenic Prayer for the World During this Pandemic
Asklepios, Son of Apollo, Ancestor of the Asklepiades, Surgeon, Physician. I call to you and your family in this time of need. Great Lover of the people look upon us favorably. May your attendants, your wife and daughters, help humanity. Grant us your wisdom as you shine down upon us from Ophiochus. I seek your guidance, your help, your kindness for myself, for my family, for my friends, and for all individuals on earth. Great Asklepios help us through this natural disaster.
Akeso of the Process of Healing, tender of the sick. Please be by the bedside of those in need of you. May everyone experiencing sickness be given your comfort. For those who will pass, I ask you help heal the wounds of their family and friends. Akeso, all of humanity will have to heal. I ask you give us, collectively, the strength to do so.
Panakeia of Cures, holder of remedies. I ask of you, that the medical supplies needed be readily available to all those sick— no matter the cause. That, as we progress through these trying times, ventilators will be available. There will be enough hospital beds for all patients who need them. PPE masks and testing will become more and more accessible. Bless the scientists and doctors who work to fight this novel virus through research. Panakeia, give all people strength in their efforts, kill conspiracies so truth can shine through, help humanity find the cures for this pandemic.
Iaso of Recovery, gracious, beautiful. Please bless those who have all levels of sickness. From the very mild, to the moderate, to the severe. Give strength to those declared recovered— for their journey to full health may still lie ahead of them. I ask that you help humanity of all the secondary effects of this disaster. To patients of other diseases not seeking help and to the mental health of so many being strained. When we are preparing for normalcy society will need your guidance. Iaso, help all of us recover not only from this pandemic, but from all other secondary health effects touching every corner of society.
Aigle of Radiance, fair eyed, who bestows deserved honor to the medical professions. Please grant strength to every member of our health care and emergency systems. Look over those both working directly with the sick and to those who continue to provide medical services in new ways to their patients. Bestow great honor to our health care workers who become sick and return to work as soon as they recover. Aigle, our health care workers despite being tired and over worked continue to honor their profession with compassionate hearts, please grant them your blessings.
Hygeia of Good Health, undefiled, much desired. Please bring health to this world, to its many countries, to its many people. Bless everyone who is working against this pandemic, health care professionals and many other workers and volunteers alike. They are fighting to maintain society, to fight this virus, to help us all. Hygeia, grant all these people your blessings, your favor, and peace of mind. See us through this unprecedented pandemic with your love.
Great Theoi, Asklepios, Epione, Akeso, Panakeia, Iaso, Aigle, and Hygeia, I humbly ask all these things of you. I thank for your might, your presence, and your compassion.
-I recognize that this is coming from an American perspective and thus can't take into consideration the state of other health care systems or the unique challenges of each country. I apologize for that.
-I chose Aigle for health care workers due to this line on theoi.com "She is said to have derived her name Aegle [...] either from the beauty of the human body when in good health, or from the honour paid to the medical profession."
-Some of the descriptions are ancient epithets (like "lover of the people"), descriptions in hymns/ancient literature (like "undefiled"), and some are my own creation.