In this time of need I pray.
Lord Zeus of the foreigners, god of compassion & companionship, we call humbly to you in our time of grief.
We invoke your love for humans & their kinship, & your kindness to strangers.
Bring peace & sovereignty to Gaza, land of the olive trees, & the finest of fabrics.
Bring freedom to Palestine, land of dance, of music, of sweet fruit, long oppressed.
All-Mighty father, king of all kings, all is under your will, & all is within your grasp. We pray for the people of Palestine, & for an easement to their pain.
What’s more, Thunder-Bearer, father of Far-Shooting Apollo, king of Heaven,
I pray for the migrants, the people kept unjustly in the hands of ruthless tyrants, who disrespect your law. I pray too for their freedom, for their lives to be spared, for their safety in lands unfamiliar.
& so too, I pray for the care of their souls in Olympus’ hands, if they should pass. Let them feel no pain, let their martyrdom be answered swiftly, tenfold.
Thank you, good husband of Queen Hera, father of gods, justice-bringer.