Introduction
The Prayer of the Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian occupies a distinctive place in the tradition of Orthodox prayers for protection and deliverance. It is a long and forceful prayer concerned with magic, sorcery, curses, the evil eye, harmful words, demonic activity, and every kind of spiritual or human affliction associated with them. Its language is unusually direct. Rather than speaking of such dangers only in general terms, the prayer repeatedly names them, describes the various ways in which they may have been imposed, and asks God to dissolve and destroy them. The result is a prayer that at times reads almost like a catalogue, as though it intends to leave no possible form of magical or spiritual harm outside the scope of its supplication.
Its association with Saint Cyprian is particularly appropriate. According to his traditional Life, Cyprian was once a pagan magician who had acquired extensive knowledge of the magical arts. He was hired to use this knowledge against the Christian maiden Justina, but her prayer, fasting, and steadfastness in Christ rendered his efforts powerless. Cyprian eventually recognized the emptiness of the powers in which he had trusted, renounced magic, destroyed his books of sorcery, became a Christian, and suffered martyrdom together with Justina. The story gives the prayer bearing his name an important theological context. Cyprian does not appear in Christian tradition as someone who discovered a better form of magic after becoming a Christian. He became a Christian precisely by abandoning magic and turning to Christ.
