Prayer of the Patriarchs
A Hermetic prayer of theurgy, centered in Gnostic Jewish prayers with elements of Merkavah and Heikhalot practices. This prayer is something of an original creation, being based mostly on PGM XXIIb.1—26, the Prayer of Jacob, but its incomplete nature due to the large number of lacunae in the barbarous words and other phrases rendered it unfit for use. To complete the prayer, other similar prayers that either were based on a similar structure or which also had heavy Jewish influences were synthesized with PGM XXIIb.1—26:
- PGM XII.182—189
- PGM XII.270—350
- PGM XXXV.1—42
- The Beirut phylactery for Alexandra daughter of Zoē (cf. D. R. Jordan, “A New Reading of a Phylactery from Beirut”, ZPE 88, 1991, pp.61-69)
First introduced in this 2019 post.
According to the ritual instructions of PGM XXIIb.1—26, this prayer is to be said “seven times facing north and east”, i.e. to the northeast.
The prayer:
In the name of ΣΕΜΕΣΕΙΛΑΜ who is above all the heavens!
I call on you who sit in the first heaven, ΜΑΡΜΑΡ
I call on you who sit in the second heaven, ΡΑΦΑΗΛ
I call on you who sit in the third heaven, ΣΟΥΡΙΗΛ
I call on you who sit in the fourth heaven, ΙΦΙΑΦ
I call on you who sit in the fifth heaven, ΠΙΤΙΗΛ
I call on you who sit in the sixth heaven, ΜΟΥΡΙΑΘΑ
I call on you who sit in the seventh heaven, ΚΑΧΘ
by the power of ΙΑΩ, by the strength of ΣΑΒΑΩΘ,
by the garment of ΕΛΟΗ, by the might of ΑΔΩΝΑΙ, by the crown of ΕΙΛΩΕΙΝ!
Protect me from every daimōn and every power of daimones and from daimonia and from all pharmaka and katadesmoi!O Father of the Patriarchs, of the All, of the powers of the cosmos!
O Father of the angels and archangels, of the redeeming names, of all the powers!
O Father of the whole cosmos and all creation, both uninhabited and inhabited!
O Father to whom the cherubim and seraphim are subjected!
O Father who showed favor to ‘Abraham by giving the kingdom to him!
O God of the angels and archangels, o King of kings, o Lord of lords!O King of Heaven, ΑΡΣΕΝΟΦΡΗ
O Possessor of righteousness, ΑΒΛΑΝΑΘΑΝΑΛΒΑ
O gracious God, ΑΚΡΑΜΜΑΧΑΜΑΡΕΙ
O Ruler of nature, ΣΑΝΚΑΝΘΑΡΑ
O Origin of the heavens, ΣΑΤΡΑΠΕΡΚΜΗΦ
ΑΘΘΑΝΝΟΥ ΑΘΘΑΝΝΟΥ ΑΣΤΡΑΦΑΙ ΙΑΣΤΡΑΦΑΙ
ΠΑΚΕΡΤΩΘ ΠΑΚΕΡΒΙΩΘ ΗΡΙΝΤΑΣΚΛΙΟΥΘ ΕΦΙΩ ΜΑΡΜΑΡΑΩΘ
You who sit upon the holy mount, ΣΙΝΑΙ
you who sit upon the snow, ΤΕΛΖΗ
you who sit upon the sea, ΕΔΑΝΩΘ
you who sit upon the serpents, ΣΑΕΣΕΧΕΛ
you who sit upon the Sun, ΙΑΩ
you who sit upon the Abyss, ΒΥΘΑΘ
you who sit upon the rivers, ΤΑΒΙΥΜ
you who are ΒΙΜΑΔΑΜ who sit upon the fiery throne of glory, borne by Abriēl and Lūēl;
you who are ΧΑΔΡΙΥΜ who sit in the midst of ΧΑΔΡΑΛΛΟΥ upon the resting place of the cherubim and seraphim as they praise you,
you who are the Lord of the Heavenly Host,
you whose name is blessed and holy unto the ages of ages!
The Lord ΣΑΡΑΧΑΗΛ of Bil`ām,
the God who made Heaven and Earth and all within it,
the Lord of the All!I call upon you, you who give power over the Abyss
to those above the Earth, to those upon the Earth, and to those below the Earth!
Hear your servant who prays to you in your name with your names!
O Lord God of the chosen people, God glorious unto the ages of ages,
to whom is eternal might, God who is God of all gods!
Rectify your servant who gives unto you this prayer,
make straight him who is of your people,
maintain him who is of those who have received your favor, o God of gods!
O Lord God, Lord of Hosts, blessed are you forever,
o God of ‘Adam, o God of Shet, o God of ‘Enosh,
o God of Qeynan, o God of Mahalal’el, o God of Yared,
o God of Ḥanokh, of God of Metushelaḥ, o God of Lemekh, o God of Noaḥ,
o God of ‘Abraham, o God of Yiṣḥaq, o God of Ya`aqob, o God of gods,
you who have the secret name ΣΑΒΑΩΘ!O you who are upon the stars and above the ages,
o you who brings forth snow and constantly traverse the entire cosmos,
o you who make the stars and planets marshal all things by your creating power!
Fill me with wisdom and empower me, o Lord,
fill my heart with good, o Lord,
that I might become your angel in this world,
that I might become immortal in your wisdom,
that I might be given a share of your strength and power,
that I might be shown your favor and peace,
that I might receive this gift from you!
Amen.
With barbarous words transliterated into Roman script and Hebrew names simplified into their more common English spellings:
In the name of SEMESEILAM who is above all the heavens!
I call on you who sit in the first heaven, MARMAR
I call on you who sit in the second heaven, RAPHAĒL
I call on you who sit in the third heaven, SŪPHIĒL
I call on you who sit in the fourth heaven, IPHIAPH
I call on you who sit in the fifth heaven, PITIĒL
I call on you who sit in the sixth heaven, MŪRIATHA
I call on you who sit in the seventh heaven, KAKHTH
by the power of IAŌ, by the strength of SABAŌTH,
by the garment of ELOĒ, by the might of ADŌNAI, by the crown of EILŌEIN!
Protect me from every daimōn and every power of daimones and from daimonia and from all pharmaka and katadesmoi!O Father of the Patriarchs, of the All, of the powers of the cosmos!
O Father of the angels and archangels, of the redeeming names, of all the powers!
O Father of the whole cosmos and all creation, both uninhabited and inhabited!
O Father to whom the cherubim and seraphim are subjected!
O Father who showed favor to Abraham by giving the kingdom to him!
O God of the angels and archangels, o King of kings, o Lord of lords!O King of Heaven, ARSENOPHRĒ
O Possessor of righteousness, ABLANATHANALBA
O gracious God, AKRAMMAKHAMAREI
O Ruler of nature, SANKANTHARA
O Origin of the heavens, SATRAPERKMĒPH
ATHTHANNŪ ATHTHANNŪ ASTRAPHAI IASTRAPHAI
PAKERTŌTH PAKERBIŌTH ĒRINTASKLIŪTH EPHIŌ MARMARAŌTH
You who sit upon the holy mount, SINAI
you who sit upon the snow, TELZĒ
you who sit upon the sea, EDANŌTH
you who sit upon the serpents, SAESEKHEL
you who sit upon the Sun, IAŌ
you who sit upon the Abyss, BYTHATH
you who sit upon the rivers, TABIYN
you who are BIMADAM who sit upon the fiery throne of glory, borne by Abriēl and Lūēl;
you who are KHADRIYM who sit in the midst of KHADRALLŪ upon the resting place of the cherubim and seraphim as they praise you,
you who are the Lord of the Heavenly Host,
you whose name is blessed and holy unto the ages of ages!
The Lord SARAKHAĒL of Balaam,
the God who made Heaven and Earth and all within it,
the Lord of the All!I call upon you, you who give power over the Abyss
to those above the Earth, to those upon the Earth, and to those below the Earth!
Hear your servant who prays to you in your name with your names!
O Lord God of the chosen people, God glorious unto the ages of ages,
to whom is eternal might, God who is God of all gods!
Rectify your servant who gives unto you this prayer,
make straight him who is of your people,
maintain him who is of those who have received your favor, o God of gods!
O Lord God, Lord of Hosts, blessed are you forever,
o God of Adam, o God of Seth, o God of Enosh,
o God of Kenan, o God of Mahalalel, o God of Jared,
o God of Enoch, of God of Methushelah, o God of Lamech, o God of Noah,
o God of Abraham, o God of Isaac, o God of Jacob, o God of gods,
you who have the secret name SABAŌTH!O you who are upon the stars and above the ages,
o you who brings forth snow and constantly traverse the entire cosmos,
o you who make the stars and planets marshal all things by your creating power!
Fill me with wisdom and empower me, o Lord,
fill my heart with good, o Lord,
that I might become your angel in this world,
that I might become immortal in your wisdom,
that I might be given a share of your strength and power,
that I might be shown your favor and peace,
that I might receive this gift from you!
Amen.
And, as an alternative, another version that omits the barbarous words entirely, replaces some of the more obscure magical terms with more common ones, and uses the more common English spellings of the Hebrew names used in the prayer:
In the name of the Eternal Light who is above all the heavens,
I call on you, angels of the seven heavens,
by the power of God,
by the strength of God,
by the garment of God,
by the might of God,
by the crown of God!
Protect me from every spirit, every power, every phenomenon, every spell, and every curse!O Father of the Patriarchs, of the All, of the powers of the cosmos!
O Father of the angels and archangels, of the redeeming names, of all the powers!
O Father of the whole cosmos and all creation, both uninhabited and inhabited!
O Father to whom the cherubim and seraphim are subjected!
O Father who showed favor to Abraham by giving the kingdom to him!
O God of the angels and archangels, o King of kings, o Lord of lords!O King of Heaven!
O Possessor of righteousness!
O gracious God!
O Ruler of nature!
O Origin of the heavens!
You who sit upon the holy mount,
you who sit upon the snow,
you who sit upon the sea,
you who sit upon the serpents,
you who sit upon the Sun,
you who sit upon the Abyss,
you who sit upon the rivers,
you who sit upon the fiery throne of glory, borne by Abriel and Luel;
you who sit upon the resting place of the cherubim and seraphim as they praise you in the midst of your glory,
you who are the Lord of the Heavenly Host,
you whose name is blessed and holy unto the ages of ages!
The Lord of Balaam, the God who made Heaven and Earth and all within it, the Lord of the All!I call upon you, you who give power over the Abyss
to those above the Earth, to those upon the Earth, and to those below the Earth!
Hear your servant who prays to you in your name with your names!
O Lord God of the chosen people, o God glorious unto the ages of ages,
to whom is eternal might, o God who is the God of all gods!
Rectify your servant who gives unto you this prayer,
make straight him who is of your people,
maintain him who is of those who have received your favor, o God of gods!
O Lord God, Lord of Hosts, blessed are you forever,
o God of Adam, o God of Seth, o God of Enosh,
o God of Kenan, o God of Mahalalel, o God of Jared,
o God of Enoch, of God of Methushelah, o God of Lamech, o God of Noah,
o God of Abraham, o God of Isaac, o God of Jacob, o God of gods!O you who are upon the stars and above the ages,
o you who brings forth snow and constantly traverse the entire cosmos,
o you who make the stars and planets marshal all things by your creating power!
Fill me with wisdom and empower me, o Lord,
fill my heart with good, o Lord,
that I might become your angel in this world,
that I might become immortal in your wisdom,
that I might be given a share of your strength and power,
that I might be shown your favor and peace,
that I might receive this gift from you!
Amen.
Notes:
- In the first paragraph, the barbarous word ΣΕΜΕΣΕΙΛΑΜ (SEMESEILAM) is rendered in the version without barbarous words as “Eternal Light”, due to this word coming from the Hebrew “shemesh `olam” meaning “Sun of the world” or “Eternal Sun”. The less heliocentric “Light” is used instead to maintain a focus on God rather than the Sun, although the original source texts and other related prayers have a definite heliocentric element.
- In the fourth paragraph, the phrase “who is of your people” may be replaced by the original phrase “who is from the stock of Israel” if desired, especially if the one reciting the prayer is of Jewish descent.
- In the fourth paragraph, the phrase “God glorious unto the ages of ages” may be replaced with the original barbarous words, ΕΠΑΓΑΗΛ ΑΛΑΜΝ (EPAGAĒL ALAMN).
- In the fourth paragraph, the phrase “God who is God of all Gods” may be replaced with the original barbarous words, ΗΛΟΗΛ ΣΟΥΗΛ (ĒLOĒL SŪĒL).
For other notes on its creation, the reconstruction of the Prayer of Jacob into the Prayer of the Patriarchs, and discussions on the other changes made from the original texts as well as the original purpose of this prayer, please read the original 2019 post.