Prayer to Eru

Among the Númenóreans, there was an annual tradition of celebrating Three Prayers at particular times of the year. For each of these Three Prayers, the King or Queen would lead their subjects in silence to the summit of the Meneltarma, where they would utter the prayer in the sight of three Eagles, known as the Witnesses of Manwë.

The Prayer to Eru (Erukyermë) was the first of the Three Prayers, spoken by the Ruler of Númenor at the beginning of each spring, asking for the blessing of Eru Ilúvatar for the year ahead. The two other prayers were held later in the year, with the Praise of Eru (Erulaitalë) at Midsummer, and the Thanksgiving to Eru (Eruhantalë) in autumn.

The tradition of the Three Prayers lasted through more than three thousand years of Númenor's history, until the Kings began to turn away from their traditional ways. The last Prayer to Eru was officiated by King Ar-Sakalthôr before the Three Prayers were abandoned by his successor Ar-Gimilzôr when the new King ascended the throne in II 3102. (The Three Prayers would be temporarily reinstated by his son Tar-Palantir, who ruled Númenor II 3177 - II 3255.)