Any disease unsettles a person. A serious illness associated with surgical intervention, all the more gives rise to a feeling of defenselessness in the face of fate, makes you turn to God for help.
There is no special prayer in the event of a surgical operation, but a Christian can and must prepare for such an event.
What to take with you to the hospital
A Christian must remember: illness is sent by God precisely so that a person can escape from the daily hustle and bustle and think about the eternal. This is how you should perceive your state. Very often a modern person does not have enough time to read the Gospel, the works of the Church Fathers, other books of spiritual content, calmly reflect on what he has read. Disease provides such an opportunity - and we must take advantage of it.
From the books you need to take a short prayer book, the Gospel or some book of spiritual content, which you want to read right now, which you previously wanted to study in detail, but there was no time. If the person has never confessed before, a book that explains how to prepare for confession is the best choice.
You can take a small icon - for example, a fold with the image of the Savior and the Mother of God or an icon of your saint. At the same time, it is necessary to treat the icon correctly - as a sacred object necessary for prayer, and not as a "talisman" designed to "protect". If you were not allowed to bring the icon to the hospital, you should not worry about it: you can pray without it.
What prayers should be read
During the entire stay in the hospital, you should try to adhere to the usual order: completely read the morning and evening rules, prayers before and after eating. If a person is not able to read the morning and evening prayers completely, or he does not remember them all by heart, and he does not have a prayer book with him (for example, if the patient is in the intensive care unit), you need to read at least as many prayers as you have enough strength, or those that the person remembers.
Currently, many hospitals maintain contact with Orthodox churches: priests regularly visit hospitals, confess and receive communion with patients, and this should be used. If there is no such practice in this hospital, you need to ask your loved ones to invite a priest, but it is imperative to confess and receive communion before the operation. At the same time, some restrictions are canceled: the patient is not required to fast before confession and communion, a woman who is to undergo an operation can receive communion even during her period.
You can ask loved ones to pray for the sick person - for this there is a special prayer "For the sick." They can also order a prayer for health at the temple.
On the eve of the operation, it is necessary not only to read the usual evening prayers, but also to pray for the doctors and nurses who will operate and assist. In the morning before the operation, you need to pray as usual, and then from time to time repeat short prayers: “Lord, have mercy! Lord bless! Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
If the doctor insists that the patient remove the pectoral cross during the operation, there is no need to argue - perhaps there really is a need for this. In this case, the cross can be hung on your hand.
There is no need to become like those people who cry out to God when it is hard for them, and forget about Him as soon as the danger is over. After being discharged from the hospital, you must definitely visit the temple and thank the Almighty for healing. At the same time, it is imperative to pray for the doctors.
