Home prayer is not much different from prayer in the temple. The only exception is that it is allowed to commemorate all, without exception, people, regardless of their religious affiliation. It is customary in the church to pray for “our own” and only mentally, so as not to disturb others. At home, you can pray out loud, provided that it does not irritate relatives. One should become fully clothed for prayer. It is advisable for women to have a headscarf on their heads and be in a dress or skirt.
Why pray at home?A conversation with the Lord can be conducted both in your own words and in ready-made "formulas" developed long before us by many generations of believers. Classic prayers are contained in the "Prayer Book" ("Canon"). You can buy it at any religious literature store. "Prayer books" can be short (containing the minimum of necessary prayers), complete (intended for priests) and ... ordinary (which have everything that is needed for a true believer).
If you want to truly pray, make sure that your Prayer Book contains:
- morning and evening (for future sleep) prayers;
- daytime (before the beginning and end of any business, before eating and eating food, etc.);
- canons by days of the week and "The Canon of Repentance to Our Lord Jesus Christ";
- akathists ("To the Sweetest Our Lord Jesus Christ", "The Most Holy Theotokos", etc.);
- "Follow-up to Holy Communion ..." and the prayers read after it.
In addition to the Prayer Book, you can purchase the Psalter for home prayer. In Orthodox practice, the reading of one hundred and fifty psalms must be done in a week. It is customary to read the Psalter post twice. On "Glory ..." there is a commemoration of the living and the dead. An Orthodox Christian can read the Psalter at the grave of the deceased.
Reading the Psalter is a serious and responsible thing. Before you go to it, you should get permission from the priest.
Prayer Rule
Each of us is at his own point on the long path to the Lord. Each of us has his own temporal and physical abilities for prayer. Accordingly, there is no single prayer rule for everyone. Each person should pray as much as he can. How much exactly? This must be determined by the priest.
Ideally, each of us should definitely read the morning and evening prayers... They are necessary to protect the soul during the day (morning) and night (evening) from evil forces and people. Those who start their working day very early or, conversely, finish it too late and do not have either the time or the energy to read the entire morning or evening rule, can limit themselves to basic prayers: for example, in the morning read Our Father, Have mercy on me God .. "(the fiftieth psalm) and" The Symbol of Faith ", in the evening - the prayer of St. John Chrysostom," May God rise ... "and" Everyday confession of sins. "
If you have free time and desire, you can read the corresponding canons every day: for example, on Monday pray to your Guardian Angel, Archangels and Angels, on Tuesday - John the Baptist, on Wednesday - the Most Holy Theotokos, etc. Reading the Psalter also depends on your capabilities, desire and time.
Prayer before and after meals is a must.
How to pray before the sacrament?
The answer to this question is usually found in the Prayer Book. We just recall: all prayers performed before Communion are read at home, on the eve of the sacrament. On the eve of Communion, you must attend the evening service, after which you can begin to pray with peace of mind. Before Communion, you must read:
- "Follow-up to Holy Communion ...";
- three canons: penitential, to the Guardian Angel and the Most Holy Theotokos;
- one of the akathists;
- full evening prayers.
Home prayer is performed in front of the icons, standing, with the sign of the cross and bows in the bow. Optionally, you can do bows to the ground or pray on your knees.
During prayer, it is advisable not to be distracted by extraneous matters - phone calls, a whistling kettle, pet flirting.
With severe fatigue and a great desire for prayer, it is allowed to pray while sitting. The Psalter, with the exception of Glory ... and the prayers that close kathisma, are also read while sitting.
Although prayer requires a certain amount of concentration and attention, it is helpful to pray through force as well. Our brain may not perceive what we read, but the soul will surely hear everything and receive its portion of divine grace.
The rector of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saratov, Hegumen Pakhomiy (Bruskov), answers questions about the personal prayer rule of a Christian
Prayer is the free conversion of a person's soul to God. How to relate this freedom to the obligation to read the rule even when you obviously do not want to do it?
Freedom is not permissiveness. A person is so structured that if he allows himself to be relaxed, it can be very difficult to return to the previous state. In the hagiographic literature, there are a lot of examples when the ascetics left their prayer rule for the sake of showing love to the brothers who came. Thus, they placed the commandment of love above their prayer rule. But it should be remembered that these people reached extraordinary heights of spiritual life, were incessantly in prayer. When we feel that we do not want to pray, this is a common temptation, and not a manifestation of freedom.
The rule maintains a person in a spiritually developed state; it should not depend on the mood of the moment. If a person leaves the prayer rule, he very quickly comes to relaxation.
In addition, it should be remembered that when a person communicates with God, the enemy of our salvation always strives to stand between them. And not letting him do this is not a limitation of individual freedom.
At what point in time should you read the morning and evening rules?
This is clearly and clearly written in any Orthodox prayer book: "Standing up from sleep, before any other deed, stand reverently before the All-Seeing God and, making the sign of the cross, say ...". In addition, the very meaning of the prayers tells us that morning prayers are read at the very beginning of the day, when the person's mind is not yet occupied with any thoughts. And evening prayers should be read for a dream to come, after all things. In these prayers, sleep is compared to death, bed - to a deathbed. And it’s strange, after talking about death, to go watch TV or communicate with relatives.
Any prayer rule is built on the experience of the Church, to which we must listen. These rules do not violate human freedom, but help to obtain maximum spiritual benefit. Of course, there can be exceptions to any rule based on some unforeseen circumstances.
What else, besides morning and evening prayers, can be included in the prayer rule of a layman?
A layman's rule may include a variety of prayers and rites. It can be various canons, akathists, reading Holy Scripture or Psalms, bows, Jesus prayer. In addition, the rule should include a short or more detailed commemoration of the health and repose of loved ones. In monastic practice, there is a custom to include in the rule the reading of patristic literature. But before you add anything to your prayer rule, you need to think carefully, consult a priest, evaluate your strength. After all, the rule is read regardless of mood, fatigue, and other heart movements. And if a person has promised something to God, it must be fulfilled. The holy fathers say: let the rule be small, but constant. At the same time, you need to pray with all your heart.
Can a person himself, without blessing, begin to read the canons, akathists in addition to the prayer rule?
Of course it can. But if he did not just read a prayer according to the striving of his heart, but thereby increases his constant prayer rule, it is better to ask a blessing from a confessor. The priest, with a look from the outside, will assess his condition correctly: whether such an increase will benefit him. If a Christian confesses regularly, he monitors his inner life, such a change in his rule, one way or another, will be reflected in his spiritual life.
But this is possible when a person has a confessor. If there is no confessor, and he himself decided to add something to his rule, it is still better to consult at the next confession.
On days when the service lasts all night and Christians are awake, is it necessary to read evening and morning prayers?
We do not tie the morning and evening rules to a specific time. However, it would be wrong to read evening prayers in the morning and morning prayers in the evening. We should not be pharisaic about the rule and read it at all costs, ignoring the meaning of the prayers. If you are not going to sleep, why ask God's blessing for sleep? You can replace the morning or evening rule with other prayers or reading the Gospel.
Can a woman read the prayer rule with her head uncovered at home?
- I think that it is better for a woman to perform the prayer rule in a headscarf. This fosters her humility and shows her obedience to the Church. After all, from the Holy Scriptures we learn that the wife covers her head not for those around her, but for the Angels (1 Cor. 11:10). It is a matter of personal piety. Of course, God does not care whether you stand up for prayer with or without a headscarf, but this is important to you.
How are the canons and the adherence to Holy Communion read: one day the day before, or can they be read into several days?
- You cannot approach the execution of the prayer rule formally. A person should build his relationship with God himself, proceeding from prayer preparation, health, free time, practice of communication with the spiritual father.
Today, a tradition has developed in preparation for Communion to read three canons: to the Lord, the Theotokos and the Guardian Angel, an akathist to the Savior or the Theotokos, and the succession to Holy Communion. I think it is better to read the entire rule on the same day, on the eve of Communion. But if it's hard, you can distribute it over three days.
Often friends and acquaintances ask how to prepare for Communion, how to read the Psalter? What should they answer to us, the laity?
- You need to answer what you know for sure. You cannot take responsibility for something strictly obligatory to prescribe to another or say something that you are not sure of. When answering, one should be guided by the widespread tradition of church life. today... If there is no personal experience, you need to resort to the experience of the Church, the Holy Fathers. And if you asked a question, the answer to which you do not know, you should be advised to contact a priest or patristic creations.
I read the translation of some prayers into Russian. It turns out that I used to put a completely different meaning into them. Do you need to strive for a common understanding, read translations, or can you understand prayers as your heart tells you?
Prayers should be understood as written. An analogy can be drawn with ordinary literature. We read the work, we understand it in our own way. But it is always interesting to know what meaning the author himself put into this work. Also the text of the prayer. The author has put a special meaning into each of them. After all, we do not read a conspiracy, but turn to God with a certain petition or praise. We can recall the words of the Apostle Paul that it is better to say five words in an intelligible dialect than a thousand in an incomprehensible one (1 Cor. 14:19). In addition, the authors of most Orthodox prayers are holy ascetics glorified by the Church.
How should we view modern prayers? Is it possible to read everything that is written in prayer books, or prefer the more ancient ones?
- Personally, I am more moved by the words of more ancient canons, stichera. They seem deeper and deeper to me. But many people like and modern akathists for their simplicity.
If the Church has accepted the prayers, you need to treat them with reverence, respect and try to find benefits for yourself. But to understand that some modern prayers in their content are not so High Quality like prayers composed by ancient ascetics.
When a person writes a prayer for public use, he must understand what responsibility he is taking on. He must have experience in prayer, but also be well educated. All texts that are offered by modern prayer makers must be edited, undergo a rigorous selection.
What is more important - read the rule at home or arrive on time for service?
- Go to the service. If a person is going to the temple, then public prayer should come first. Although the fathers compared public and home prayer with two wings of a bird. As a bird cannot fly with one wing, so can a man. If he does not pray at home, but only goes to church, then, most likely, the prayer will not go with him and in the church. After all, he has no experience of personal communion with God. If a person prays only at home, but does not go to church, it means that he does not have an understanding of what the Church is. And without the Church there is no salvation.
How can a lay person replace service at home, if necessary?
Published today a large number of liturgical literature, various prayer books. If a layman cannot be present at the service, he can read both the morning and evening services, and the mass service from the canon.
Can you read the rule while sitting?
The Apostle Paul writes: "Everything is lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial" (1 Cor. 6, 12). Tired or sick - you can sit in the Church, while reading the home rule. But you should understand what you are guided by: pain that interferes with praying, or laziness. If the alternative to reading prayer while sitting is her complete absence of course, it is better to read while sitting. If a person is seriously ill, you can even lie down. But if he is simply tired or laziness struggles, you need to overcome yourself and get up. During divine services, the Charter regulates when you can stand or sit. For example, we listen to the reading of the Gospel, akathists while standing, and while reading kathismas, sedals, teachings, we sit down.
Waking up in the morning, the first thing you need to do is make the sign of the cross, saying:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Publican's Prayer
God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Bow)
Initial prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit, read every day
To the Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfill everything, Treasure of the good and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save our souls, Beloved.
From Easter to Ascension, instead of this prayer, the troparion is read:
"Christ rose from the dead, trampling down death by death, and gave life to those in sin." (Three times)
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bowing in the waist.) Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
From the Ascension to the Trinity, prayers are read with "Holy God ...", letting go of all the previous ones.
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquity; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake. Lord have mercy. (Three times). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord's Prayer Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Your name, may it come Your kingdom Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Tropari Trinity
Away from sleep, we fall to Ti, Better, and an angelic song crying to Ti, Stronger: Holy, Holy, Holy, Thou art, God, the Mother of God have mercy on us. Glory: Thou hast raised me from bed and sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my mouth, in the hedgehog Thou, Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy, God, have mercy on the Mother of God.
And now: Suddenly the Judge will come, and some of his deeds will be exposed, but we call in fear in the midnight: Holy, Holy, Holy Thou art, God, have mercy on the Mother of God. Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Standing up from sleep, I thank You, Holy Trinity, for for the sake of Your goodness and patience you were not angry with me, lazy and sinful, you have destroyed me below with my iniquities; but you usually loved mankind, and in the absence of a thought lying you raised me up, in a hedgehog to matinee and glorify Thy power.
And now enlighten my eyes of thought, open my mouth to learn from Thy word, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and pet Thy in confession from the heart, and chant Thy all holy name, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. centuries. Amen. Come, let us worship our Tsar God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ, our King our God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ Himself, the Tsar and our God. (Bow)
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, cleanse my iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take out my sin before me. You who have sinned, and evil in your sight, have I done, as if you were justified in your words, and conquer at all times to judge Ty.
Behold, in transgressions I am conceived, and in sins bore me my mother. Behold, you loved the truth; Thy unknown and secret wisdom Thou hast revealed to me. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. To my hearing dasi joy and gladness; the bones of the humble will rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquity.
Build a pure heart in me, O God, and renew the spirit of rights in my womb. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of Thy salvation and confirm me with the Spirit of the Lord. I will teach wickedness in Your way, and wickedness will turn to You.
Deliver me from the blood, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. As if you would have wanted sacrifices, you would have given them: do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God the spirit is broken; a contrite and humble heart God will not despise.
Bless, O Lord, with Thy good pleasure Zion, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; then they will lay calves on your altar.
Morning Prayers Symbol of Faith
I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, God is true from God, true, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Who is all.
For us, for the sake of man and ours, for the sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and incarnated from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
And he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And packs coming with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-giving, Who is from the Father who proceeds, Who is with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.
In one Holy, Cathedral and Apostolic Church... I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I tea the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the century to come. Amen.
How to pray and what mistakes to avoid
Prayer Rule
What prayers should the prayer rule of a layman consist of?
When to Practice Your Prayer Rule
How to prepare for prayer
How to make your prayer rule at home
What to do when scattering in prayer
How to end your prayer rule
How to Learn to Spend Your Day Prayerfully
How to force yourself to pray
What is needed for successful prayer
How to pray and what mistakes to avoid.
In order to express to God our reverence for Him and reverence for Him, we stand during prayer, and do not sit: only the sick and the very old are allowed to pray while sitting.
Aware of our sinfulness and unworthiness before God, we, as a sign of our humility, accompany our prayer with bows. They are waist, when we bend to the waist, and earthly, when, bowing and kneeling, we touch the ground with our head *.
The law of god
[*] On Sundays, as well as from St. Easter until the evening of St. Trinity, as well as from the day of the Nativity of Christ to the day of Baptism, also on the day of the Transfiguration and Exaltation (on this day only three bows to the earth are supposed to be done before the cross), Sts. the apostles completely forbade kneeling and bowing to the ground ... for Sundays and other Lord's holidays contain memories of reconciliation with God, according to the apostle's words: "Bring a slave already, but a son" (Gal. 4: 7); it is not for sons to do slavish worship.
The sign of the cross, according to the teachings of the holy fathers, should be performed as follows: right hand, lay it on the forehead, on the belly, on the right shoulder and on the left, and then, putting the sign of the cross on themselves, they bend over. Chrysostom says about those who signify themselves with all fives, or bow before finishing the cross, or wave in the air or across their chest: “the demons rejoice at this frantic waving”. On the contrary, the sign of the cross, performed earnestly with faith and reverence, frightens demons, calms sinful passions and attracts divine grace. Orthodox prayer book
The first three fingers folded together (thumb, index and middle) express our faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, as the Consubstantial and indivisible Trinity, and two fingers bent to the palm mean that the Son of God after His descent to earth , being God, became a man, that is, His two natures mean - Divine and human.
Covering ourselves with the sign of the cross, we put our folded fingers on the forehead - to sanctify our mind, on the belly (belly) - to sanctify our inner feelings, then on the right and left shoulders - to sanctify our bodily powers.
It is necessary to overshadow oneself with the sign of the cross, or be baptized: at the beginning of prayer, during prayer and at the end of prayer, as well as when approaching all that is holy: when we enter the temple, when we kiss the cross, to icons, and in all important cases of our life : in danger, in grief, in joy, etc.
The law of god
When starting to prayer, one must always sober up one's thoughts, distract them from earthly affairs and interests, and for this one must calmly stand, sit or walk around the room. Then think about whom he intends to stand before and to whom to turn, so that there is a feeling of humility and self-abasement. After that, one should put a few bows and begin prayers, slowly, delving into the meaning of each word and bringing them to the heart. When you read, the holy fathers teach: cleanse us from all filth, - feel your filth; you read: forgive us our debts, as if we are leaving our debtors, - forgive everyone in your soul, but with your heart ask yourself for forgiveness from the Lord, etc. the order of thoughts in prayer. This order was once revealed by an angel to a holy monk (Lev. 28, 7). The beginning of the prayer should consist of praising God, of thanksgiving for His innumerable blessings; then we must bring to God a sincere confession of our sins in contrition of heart and, in conclusion, we can express with great humility our petitions for the needs of the soul and body, leaving reverently the fulfillment and non-fulfillment of these petitions to His will. Each such prayer will leave a trail of prayer in the soul; its daily continuation will root prayer, and patience, without which nothing can be achieved in life, will undoubtedly instill a prayer spirit. Schmch. Met. Serafim Chichagov
Man looks on the face, God looks on the heart (1 Kings 16: 7); but in a person the disposition of the heart is most consistent with the position of his face, his appearance. And therefore, during prayer, put your body in the most reverent position. Stand, like a condemned man, with a drooping head, not daring to gaze at the sky, with your hands down ... Let the sound of your voice be the pitiful sound of crying, a groan wounded by a deadly weapon or tormented by a fierce disease. St. Ignatiy Bryanchaninov
When praying, do everything wisely. When you pour oil into the lamp, then imagine that the Life-Giver every day and hour, every minute of your life supports your life with His Spirit, and, as it were, every day through a bodily sleep, and through prayer and the word of God in a spiritual sense, he pours the oil of life into you. that burns your soul and body. When you put a candle in front of an icon, remember that your life is like a burning candle: it will burn out and go out; or that others make it burn faster than it should, with passions, food, wine and other pleasures. St. right. John of Kronstadt
Standing before the icon of the Savior, stand as if before the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, omnipresent in the Divine, and His icon present in the place where it is. Standing in front of the icon Mother of God, stand, as it were, before the Most Holy Virgin Herself; but keep your mind formless: the greatest difference is to be in the presence of the Lord and to stand before the Lord, or to imagine the Lord.
The elders said: do not want to see Christ or the angel sensually, lest you finally go mad, having accepted a wolf instead of a shepherd and worshiping your enemies, demons.
Only the holy saints of God, renewed by the Holy Spirit, ascend into a supernatural state. A person, before his renewal by the Holy Spirit, is incapable of communion with holy spirits. He, being still in the realm of the fallen spirits, in captivity and in bondage with them, is able to see only them, and they often, noticing in him a high opinion of themselves and self-deception, appear to him in the form of bright angels, in the form of Christ Himself, for the destruction of his soul.
St. Ignatiy Bryanchaninov
When you pray, pay attention to yourself, so that your inner person is praying, and not only the outer one. Although he is sinful without measure, but all pray. Do not look at the devil's incitement, cunning and despair, but overcome and conquer his wiles. Remember the abyss of humanity and mercy Spasov. The devil will present to you the face of the Lord as formidable and unmerciful, rejecting your prayer and your repentance, and you remember the words of the Savior, filled for us with all hope and boldness: I will not be rid of the one who comes to Me (John 6:37), and - come to Me. all those who are weary and burdened with sins and iniquities, and the devil's wiles and slander, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11, 28). St. right. John of Kronstadt
Read the prayers slowly, listen to every word - bring the thought of every word to your heart, otherwise: understand what you are reading and feel what you understand. This is the whole matter of pleasing God and fruitful reading of the prayer. St. Theophan the Recluse
Ask for what is worthy of God, don't stop asking until you get it. Although a month, and a year, and a three-year period will pass, and more years, until you receive it, do not give up, but ask in faith, constantly doing good. St. Basil the Great
Do not be reckless in your petitions, so as not to anger God with your weakness: he who asks the King of kings for something insignificant humiliates Him. The Israelites, disregarding the miracles of God, performed for them in the wilderness, asked for the wishes of the womb to be fulfilled - and I am still screaming at their mouths, the wrath of God is coming upon her (Psalm 77: 30-31). He who seeks in his prayer the perishable earthly blessings arouses the indignation of the Heavenly King against himself. Angels and archangels - these nobles of His - look at you during your prayer, looking at what you ask of God. They are surprised and rejoiced when they see an earthly person who has left his land and brings a petition to receive something heavenly; they grieve, on the contrary, over the one who has left heavenly things unheeded, and who asks for his earth and corruption. St. Ignatiy Bryanchaninov
When praying to the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints, always remember that the Lord gives according to your heart (the Lord will give you according to your heart - Psalm 19: 5), what is the heart, such is the gift; if you pray with faith, sincerely, with all your heart, without hypocrisy, then in accordance with your faith, the degree of fervor of your heart, you will be given a gift from the Lord. And vice versa, the colder your heart is, the less faithful it is, the more hypocritical, the more useless your prayer, moreover, the more it makes the Lord angry ... Therefore, whether you call on the Lord, the Mother of God, angels or saints, call with all your heart; whether you pray for any of the living or the dead, pray for them with all your heart, pronouncing their names with warmth of heart; whether you are praying for the bestowal of any spiritual good on yourself or another, or for the deliverance of yourself or your neighbor from any calamity or from sins and passions, bad habits - pray for this from the bottom of your heart, wishing with all your heart yourself or someone else the requested good, having a firm intention to lag behind, or wanting others to free themselves from sins, passions and sinful habits, and a gift according to your heart will be given to you from the Lord. St. right. John of Kronstadt
The beginning of prayer is to drive away incoming thoughts at their very appearance; the middle of it is that the mind is contained in the words that we utter or think; and the perfection of prayer is admiration for the Lord. Venerable John Climacus
What is continuous prayer for? In order to warm up our cold, tempered hearts in a prolonged bustle with the duration of fervent prayer. For it is strange to think, all the more to demand that a heart matured in the bustle of life could soon be imbued with the warmth of faith and love for God during prayer. No, this requires labor and labor, time and time. St. right. John of Kronstadt
Dwelling in prayer for a long time, and not seeing the fruit, do not say: I have not gained anything. For being in prayer itself is already an acquisition; And what good is greater than this, to cleave to the Lord and to remain unceasingly in union with Him? Venerable John Climacus
At the end of the morning and evening prayers at home, call upon the saints: patriarchs, prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, confessors, saints, abstainers or ascetics, unmercenaries, so that, seeing in them the fulfillment of all virtue, and himself become an imitator in all virtue. Learn from the patriarchs children's faith and obedience to the Lord; among the prophets and apostles - zeal for the glory of God and for the salvation of human souls; among the saints - zeal to preach the word of God and, in general, through the scriptures, contribute to the possible glorification of the name of God, to the establishment of faith, hope and love in Christians; among martyrs and confessors - firmness for faith and piety before unbelieving and wicked people; among the ascetics - the timetable of the flesh with passions and lusts, prayer and contemplation of God; among the unmercenaries - non-covetousness and gratuitous help to those in need.
When we call on the saints in prayer, then to pronounce their name from the heart means to bring them closer to our very heart. Ask then, undoubtedly, their prayers and intercession for themselves - they will hear you and present your prayer to the Master soon, in the blink of an eye, like the Omnipresent and all Leading. St. right. John of Kronstadt
Once the brethren asked Abba Agathon: What virtue is the most difficult of all? He replied: “Forgive me, I think the hardest thing is to pray to God. When a person wants to pray, the enemies try to distract him, because they know that nothing opposes them as much as praying to God. In any heroic deed, no matter what a person undertakes, he receives peace after intense labor, and prayer until the last minute of life requires a struggle. " Venerable Abba Agathon
Prayer rule.
What is a prayer rule? These are prayers that a person reads regularly, every day. The prayer rule is different for everyone. For some, the morning or evening rule takes several hours, for others, a few minutes. Everything depends on the spiritual constitution of a person, on the degree of his rootedness in prayer and on what time he has.
It is very important that a person fulfills the prayer rule, even the shortest one, so that there is regularity and constancy in prayer. But the rule should not turn into a formality. The experience of many believers shows that with the constant reading of the same prayers, their words fade, lose their freshness, and a person, getting used to them, ceases to focus on them. This danger must be avoided by all means.
I remember when I took monastic tonsure (I was twenty years old then), I turned to an experienced confessor for advice and asked him what my prayer rule should be. He said: "You must read the morning and evening prayers every day, three canons and one akathist. Whatever happens, even if you are very tired, you must read them. And even if you read them hastily and inattentively, it does not matter, the main thing is - for the rule to be subtracted. " I tried. It didn't work out. The daily recitation of the same prayers led to the fact that these texts quickly became boring. In addition, every day I spent many hours in the church at the services that spiritually nourished me, nourished, inspired me. And the reading of the three canons and the akathist turned into some kind of unnecessary "appendage". I started looking for another piece of advice that was more suitable for me. And he found it in the works of St. Theophan the Recluse, a remarkable ascetic of the 19th century. He advised the prayer rule to count not by the number of prayers, but by the time that we are ready to devote to God. For example, we can make it a rule to pray in the morning and in the evening for half an hour, but this half hour must be completely devoted to God. And it is not so important whether we read all the prayers during these minutes or just one, or maybe we will devote one evening entirely to reading the Psalter, the Gospel or prayer in our own words. The main thing is that we are focused on God, so that our attention does not slip away and that every word reaches our hearts. This advice worked for me. However, I do not exclude that the advice I received from a confessor will be more suitable for others. Much depends on the individual's personality.
It seems to me that for a person living in the world, not only fifteen, but even five minutes of morning and evening prayer, if, of course, it is pronounced with attention and feeling, is enough to be a real Christian. It is only important that the thought always corresponds to the words, the heart answers the words of the prayer, and the whole life corresponds to the prayer.
Try, following the advice of St. Theophan the Recluse, to set aside some time for prayer during the day and for the daily fulfillment of the prayer rule. And you will see that it will bear fruit very soon.
What prayers should the prayer rule of a layman consist of?
The prayer rule of the layman consists of morning and evening prayers, which are performed daily. This rhythm is necessary, because otherwise the soul easily falls out of the prayer life, as if waking up only from time to time. In prayer, as in any big and difficult task, inspiration, mood and improvisation alone are not enough.
There are three basic prayer rules:
1) a complete prayer rule, designed for monks and spiritually experienced laity, which is published in the Orthodox Prayer Book;
2) a short prayer rule for all believers; in the morning: "Heavenly King", Trisagion, "Our Father", "Virgin Mary", "Rise from sleep", "Have mercy on me, God", "I believe", "God, cleanse", "To You, Master", " Holy Angel ”,“ Most Holy Lady ”, invocation of the saints, prayer for the living and the dead; in the evening: "Heavenly King", Trisagion, "Our Father", "Have mercy on us, Lord", "Eternal God", "Blessed Tsar", "Angel of Christ", from "The Chosen Voevoda" to "It is worthy to eat"; these prayers are contained in any prayer book;
3) a short prayer rule of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov: three times "Our Father", three times "Virgin Mary" and once "I Believe" - for those days and circumstances when a person is in extreme fatigue or very limited in time.
The duration of the prayers, their number are determined by the spiritual fathers, priests, taking into account the lifestyle of each and his spiritual experience.
You cannot completely omit the prayer rule. Even if the prayer rule is read without due attention, the words of the prayers, penetrating into the soul, have their cleansing effect.
Saint Theophan writes to one family person: “In case you need to be able to shorten the rule. You never know in family life accidents. When things do not allow you to complete a completely prayer rule, then do it in abbreviated form.
And you should never rush ... The rule is not an essential part of prayer, but there is only its outer side. But the main thing is - the prayer of the mind and heart to God, exalted with praise, thanksgiving and supplication ... and finally with surrender to the Lord entirely. When there are such movements in the heart, there is also prayer, and when not, there is no prayer, even if you have stood for whole days on the rule. "
A special prayer rule is performed during the preparation for the Sacraments of confession and communion. On these days (they are called retreats and last at least three days), it is customary to more diligently fulfill their prayer rule: whoever does not usually read all morning and evening prayers, let him read everything completely, those who do not read the canons, let him read at least on one canon. On the eve of communion, one must be at the evening service and read at home, in addition to the usual prayers for the coming sleep, the canon of penitence, the canon of the Mother of God and the canon of the Guardian Angel. The canon for communion is also read and, if anyone wishes, an akathist to Jesus the Sweetest. In the morning, morning prayers are read and all the followings to Holy Communion are read.
During the retreat, the prayers are especially long, for, as the holy righteous John of Kronstadt writes, “in order to disperse our cold, tempered hearts in a long bustle with the duration of fervent prayer. For it is strange to think, all the more to demand, that a heart matured in the bustle of life could soon be imbued with the warmth of faith and love for God during prayer. No, it takes work and time. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force, and those who use force delight it (Matt. 11, 12). It is not soon that the Kingdom of God comes to the heart, when people run away from it so zealously. The Lord God Himself has expressed His will so that we do not pray briefly when he presents a widow as an example, long time who went to the judge and nadolze (for a long time) bothered him with her requests (Luke 18, 2-6). "
When to practice your prayer rule.
In the conditions of modern life, given the workload and accelerated pace, it is not easy for the laity to set aside a certain time for prayer. You need to develop strict rules of prayer discipline and strongly adhere to your prayer rule.
Morning prayers are best read before starting any business. In extreme cases, they are pronounced on the way from home. Evening Prayer Rule Prayer teachers recommend reading in free minutes before dinner or even earlier - late at night it is often difficult to concentrate due to fatigue.
How to prepare for prayer.
The main prayers that make up the morning and evening rules should be known by heart, so that they penetrate deeper into the heart and so that they can be repeated in any circumstances. First of all, in your free time, it is advisable to read the prayers included in your rule, translate the text of the prayers for yourself from Church Slavonic into Russian, in order to understand the meaning of each word and not utter a single word meaninglessly or without precise comprehension. This is advised by the Church Fathers. “Work hard,” writes the Monk Nikodim Svyatorets, “not at the hour of prayer, but at another, free time, to ponder and feel the prayers. Having done this, even during prayer you will not find any difficulty in reproducing the content of the prayer being read. "
It is very important that those who begin prayer should drive out resentment, irritation, and bitterness from the heart. Saint Tikhon Zadonsky teaches: "Before praying, you need not be angry with anyone, not be angry, but leave any offense so that God himself will forsake sins."
“When approaching the Benefactor, be yourself beneficent; approaching the Good, be good yourself; approaching the Righteous, be yourself righteous; when approaching the Patient, be patient yourself; when approaching the Humanitarian, be humane; and also be to everyone else, approaching the Good-hearted, the Benevolent, the Sociable in blessings, the Merciful of everyone, and if anything else is seen of the Divine, becoming like in all this willfulness, acquire thereby for yourself the boldness to pray, "writes St. Gregory of Nyssa ...
How to make your prayer rule at home.
During prayer, it is recommended to retire, light an icon lamp or a candle and stand in front of the icon. Depending on the nature of the family relationship, it is possible to recommend reading the prayer rule together, with the whole family, or each family member separately. Common prayer is recommended primarily on solemn days, before a festive meal and on other similar occasions. Family prayer is a kind of church, public prayer (a family is a kind of home church) and therefore does not replace individual prayer, but only complements it.
Before starting prayer, you should overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross and make several bows, belt or earth, and try to tune in to an internal conversation with God. “Wait in silence, until the senses subside, put yourself in the presence of God up to His consciousness and feelings with reverent Fear and rise up in your heart a living faith that God hears and sees you,” reads the beginning of the prayer book. Saying prayers aloud or in an undertone helps many people to concentrate.
“Getting down to prayer,” advises St. Theophan the Recluse, “in the morning or in the evening, wait a little, or sit, or walk, and at this time take the trouble to sober up the thought, distracting it from all earthly affairs and objects. Then think about who is the One to whom you will turn in prayer, and who you are, who now have to begin this prayer to Him - and awaken in your soul the corresponding mood of self-deprecating and reverential fear of the immersion in the heart of God. This is the whole preparation — to stand reverently before God — small but not insignificant. Here the beginning of prayer is supposed, but a good beginning is half of the work.
So having settled down internally, then stand in front of the icon and, after putting down a few bows, begin the usual prayer: "Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee", "Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth" and so on. Read slowly, grasp every word, and bring the thought of every word to your heart, accompanying it with bows. This is the whole matter of reading a prayer that is pleasing to God and fruitful. Perceive every word and thought of a word to your heart, otherwise - understand what you are reading and feel what is understandable. No other rules are required. These two - understand and feel - properly performed, adorn any prayer with full dignity and impart to it all fruitful action. You read: “cleanse us from all filthiness” - feel your filthiness, long for purity and hopefully seek it from the Lord; with a heart that has forgiven everyone, ask for your forgiveness from the Lord. You read: “Thy will be done” - and in your heart completely surrender your fate to the Lord and express an unquestioning readiness to meet with complacency everything that the Lord will please you to send.
If you act in this way with every verse of your prayer, then you will have proper prayer. "
In another of his exhortations, Saint Theophan summarizes the advice for reading the prayer rule in the following way:
a) never read hastily, but read as if in a chant ... In ancient times, all prayers read were taken from the psalms ... But nowhere do I find the word "read", but everywhere "sing" ...
b) delve into every word and not only reproduce the thought of what is being read in consciousness, but also excite the corresponding feeling ...
c) in order to catch the urge for a hasty reading, put it down - either to read it or to read it, but to stand at the reading prayer for a quarter of an hour, half an hour, an hour ... how much you usually stand ... and then do not worry ... how many prayers you will read, - and when the time has come, if there is no desire to stand further, stop reading ...
d) having put this, however, do not look at the clock, but stand like this so that you can stand endlessly: the thought will not run ahead ...
e) in order to facilitate the movement of prayer feelings in your free time, re-read and change your mind all the prayers that are included in your rule - and feel them so that when you begin to read them on the rule, you know in advance what feeling should be aroused in your heart .. ...
f) never read without a break in prayer, but always interrupt them with your own personal prayer, with bows, whether in the middle of the prayers you have to do it or at the end. As soon as something falls into your heart, immediately stop reading and bow down. This last rule is the most necessary and most necessary for the upbringing of the spirit of prayer ... If any other feeling takes a lot, you and be with him and bow down, and leave reading ... so until the very end of the allotted time.
What to do when scattering in prayer.
For a long time, the prayer was recommended to be read slowly, evenly, in order to "enclose attention in words." Only when the prayer that you want to bring to God is meaningful enough and means a lot to yourself, you will be able to “reach out” to the Lord. If you are inattentive to the words you utter, if your own heart does not respond to the words of prayer in any way, your requests will not reach God.
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh said that his father, when he started to pray, hung a sign on the door: “I am at home. But do not try to knock, I will not open. " Vladyka Anthony himself advised his parishioners to consider how much time they have before starting to pray, set the alarm clock and pray calmly until it rings. “It doesn't matter,” he wrote, “how many prayers you manage to read during this time; it is important that you read them without being distracted by anything or thinking about the time. "
It is very difficult to pray. Prayer is primarily a spiritual work, therefore one should not expect immediate spiritual delight from it. “Do not seek pleasure in prayer,” writes Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), “they are by no means characteristic of a sinner. The sinner's desire to feel pleasure is already self-deception ... Do not seek prematurely high spiritual states and prayerful delights. "
As a rule, attention to words, prayer can be held for a few minutes, and then thoughts begin to wander, the eye slides over the words of the prayer - and our hearts and minds are far away.
If someone prays to the Lord, but thinks about something else, then the Lord will not listen to such a prayer, ”writes the Monk Silouan the Athonite.
At these moments, the Church Fathers advise to be especially careful. Saint Theophan the Recluse writes that we must prepare in advance for the fact that when reading prayers we are scattered, often mechanically read the words of a prayer. “When during prayer the thought runs away - return it. Run away again - return again. So every time. Every time, what will be read during the running away of thought and, therefore, without attention and feeling, do not forget to re-read. And even if your thought ran off several times in one place, read it several times until you read it with a concept and feeling. Once you overcome this difficulty, the next time it may not be repeated, or it will not repeat itself in such force.
If during the reading of the canon a prayer breaks through in your own words, then, as the Monk Nicodemus says, “not allowing this occasion to pass by for a fleeting moment, but stop at it”.
We find the same thought in St. Theophan: “Another word will have such a strong effect on the soul that the soul will not want to extend further in prayer, and although the language reads prayers, and the thought still runs back to the place that had such an effect on her. In this case, stop, do not read further, but stand with attention and feeling in that place, feed your soul with them, or with those thoughts that it will generate. And do not rush to tear yourself away from this state, so if time is pressing, leave the unfinished rule, and do not ruin this state. It will overshadow you, maybe all day, like a Guardian Angel! Such beneficial effects on the soul during prayer mean that the spirit of prayer begins to take root and that, therefore, the preservation of this state is the very reliable remedy to the upbringing and strengthening of the spirit of prayer in us ”.
How to end your prayer rule.
It is good to end the prayer with thanksgiving to God for the granted fellowship and contrition for your inattention.
“When you finish your prayer, do not immediately go on to your own activities, but also, at least a little, wait and think that this has been done by you and what it obliges you to do, trying, if it is given to feel something during prayer, to preserve it after prayers, ”writes St. Theophan the Recluse. "Do not immediately rush into ordinary affairs," teaches the Monk Nicodemus, "and never think that having completed your prayer rule, you have finished everything in relation to God."
When getting down to business, you must first think about what you have to say, do, see during the day, and ask God for blessing and strength to follow His will.
How to learn to spend the day in prayer.
Having finished the morning prayers, we should not think that everything is fulfilled in relation to God, and only in the evening, during the evening rule, we must return to prayer again.
The good feelings that arose during the morning prayers will be drowned out in the hustle and bustle of the day. Because of this, there is no desire to stand for evening prayer.
We must try to do so that the soul turns to God not only when we stand in prayer, but also throughout the day.
Here is how St. Theophan the Recluse advises to study this:
“First, it is necessary to appeal to God from the heart more often throughout the day. in short words, judging by the need of the soul and current affairs. You start by saying, for example, "God bless!" When you finish the job, say: "Glory to you, Lord!", And not only with your tongue, but also with the feeling of your heart. What passion will rise, say: "Save, Lord, I am perishing!" The darkness finds embarrassing thoughts, cry out: "Bring my soul out of prison!" Wrong deeds are coming and sin attracts them, pray: "Instruct me, Lord, on the way" or "Do not give my feet into confusion." Sins suppress and lead to despair, cry out in a publican's voice: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." So in any case. Or just often say: “Lord, have mercy; Lady Mother of God, have mercy on me. To the angel of God, my holy guardian, protect me, ”- or in whatever other word call out. Only make these appeals as often as possible, doing your best to make them come out of your heart, as if squeezed out of it. When you do this, we will often make intelligent ascents to God from our hearts, frequent appeals to God, frequent prayer, and this increase will impart the skill of an intelligent interview with God.
But in order for the soul to cry in this way, one must first force it to turn everything to the glory of God, every work of its own, large and small. And this is the second way how to teach the soul to turn to God more often during the day. For if we make it a law to fulfill this apostolic commandment, so that we can do everything for the glory of God, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you do everything to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), then we will certainly remember about every deed. God, and remember not simply, but with caution, how not to act in any case wrong and not offend God in any way. This will cause fear to turn to God and prayerfully ask for help and admonition. As we almost incessantly do something, we will almost incessantly turn to God in prayer, and, therefore, almost continuously go through the science of prayer in the soul to God.
But in order for the soul to perform this, that is, doing everything for the glory of God, as it should, it is necessary to tune it to this from early morning - from the very beginning of the day, before a person leaves for his work and for his work until evening. This mood is produced by the thought of God. And this is the third way of teaching the soul to turn to God frequently. Divine contemplation is a reverent meditation on Divine properties and actions and on what their knowledge and their relation to us obliges us, this meditation on the goodness of God, justice, wisdom, great power, omnipresence, omniscience, on creation and providence, on the dispensation of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, about the goodness and word of God, about the holy sacraments, about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Which of these objects do not begin to ponder, this meditation will certainly fill the soul with a reverent feeling for God. Begin to reflect, for example, on the goodness of God - you will see that you are surrounded by the mercies of God both physically and spiritually, and unless you are a stone, so as not to fall before God in an outpouring of humiliated feelings of thanksgiving. Begin to reflect on the omnipresence of God, - you will understand that you are everywhere before God and God is before you, and you cannot but be filled with reverential fear. Begin to meditate on the omniscience of God - you will realize that nothing in you is hidden from the eye of God, and you will certainly put yourself to be strictly attentive to the movements of your heart and mind, so as not to offend the all-seeing God in some way. Begin to reason about the truth of God, and you will be convinced that not a single bad deed will remain without punishment, and you will certainly set aside to cleanse all your sins with heartfelt contrition and repentance before God. So, no matter what property and action of God you begin to argue about, any such meditation will fill the soul with feelings and dispositions reverent for God. It directs the whole being of man directly to God and is therefore the very direct remedy to accustom the soul to ascend to God.
The most decent, convenient time for this is morning, when the soul is not yet burdened with many impressions and business concerns, and that is after the morning prayer. Finish your prayer, sit down and, with a thought consecrated in prayer, begin to think now about one thing, tomorrow about another God's property and action, and create a disposition in your soul corresponding to this. “Go,” said Saint Demetrius of Rostov, “go, holy divine contemplation, and let us plunge into meditation on the great works of God,” and thought through the thought of either the works of creation and providence, or the miracles of the Lord Savior, or His suffering, or something else, touched those hearts his own and began to pour out his soul in prayer. Anyone can do this. There is not much work, only desire and determination are needed; but there is a lot of fruit.
So here are three ways, how, besides the prayer rule, to teach the soul to ascend prayerfully to God, namely: to devote a few time in the morning to contemplation of God, to turn every business to the glory of God and often turn to God with short appeals.
When the thought of God is done well in the morning, it will leave a deep mood for thinking about God. Thinking about God will force the soul to carefully perform every action, both internal and external, and convert it to the glory of God. Both will put the soul in such a position that prayer appeals to God will often come out of it.
These three - the thought of God, the creation for the glory of God and frequent appeals are the most effective instruments of intellectual and heartfelt prayer. Each of them lifts the soul to God. Whoever has set out to exercise them will soon acquire the skill of ascending to God in his heart. This labor is like climbing a mountain. The higher someone climbs the mountain, the freer and easier it is to breathe. So here too, the more someone gets used to the exercises shown, the higher the soul will rise, and the higher the soul ascends, the freer prayer will act in it. Our soul is by nature an inhabitant of the Divine heavenly world. There she should have been inanimate both in thought and in heart; but the burden of earthly thoughts and attachments attracts and burdens her down. The shown methods tear it off the ground little by little, and then completely tear it off. When they are completely torn off, then the soul will enter into its own area and it will sweetly dwell in sorrow - here it is heartfelt and mentally, and afterwards, by its very being, it will be vouchsafed before the face of God to dwell in the faces of Angels and saints. Why may the Lord vouch for all of you with His grace? Amen".
How to force yourself to prayer.
Sometimes prayer does not come to mind at all. In this case, Saint Theophan advises doing this:
"If this home prayer, then you can postpone it a little, for a few minutes ... If even after that ... force yourself to fulfill the prayer rule forcibly, straining, and understand the verb, and feel ... just like when a child does not want to bend over, they take him for forelocks and bend over ... Otherwise, this is what could happen ... now reluctance - tomorrow reluctance, and then prayer is completely over. Take care of this ... and bother yourself with willing prayer. The labor of self-compulsion overcomes everything. "
The holy righteous John of Kronstadt, also advising to force oneself in prayer when it does not go, warns:
“Forced prayer develops hypocrisy, makes him incapable of any occupation that requires reflection, and makes a person sluggish to everything, even to the performance of his duties. This should convince everyone praying in this way to correct their prayer. One should pray willingly, with energy, from the heart. Pray to God neither out of sorrow, nor out of need (by compulsion), - Each one give according to the disposition of your heart, not with grief and not with compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9: 7) ”.
What is needed for successful prayer.
“Desiring and seeking success in prayer work, adapt everything else to this, so as not to ruin with one hand what the other is creating.
1. Keep your body strictly in food, and in sleep, and in rest: do not give him anything just because it wants it, as the apostle commands: Do not turn cares for the flesh into lusts (Rom. 13: 14). Give no rest to the flesh.
2. Reduce your external intercourse to the most inevitable. This is for the time of teaching yourself to pray. After the prayer, acting in you, it will indicate what can be added without prejudice to it. Especially take care of feelings, and between them most - eyes, hearing, tie your tongue. Without observing this, you cannot even take a step forward in prayer. Just as a candle cannot burn in the wind and rain, so it is impossible to light up in prayer with a surge of impressions from outside.
3. Use all your free time after prayer for reading and meditation. For reading, choose mainly such books in which it is written about prayer and, in general, about the inner spiritual life. Think exclusively about God and the things of the Divine, about the Incarnate Economy of our salvation, and in it especially about the suffering and death of the Lord Savior. By doing this, you will immerse yourself in the sea of Divine light. Add to this going to church as soon as you can. One presence in the temple will overshadow you with a prayer cloud. What will you get if you stand the entire service in a truly prayerful mood!
4. Know that you cannot succeed in prayer without prospering in the Christian life at all. It is imperative that not a single sin lay on the soul that has not been cleansed by repentance; and if during prayer work you do something that confuses the conscience, hurry to be cleansed by repentance, so that you can boldly look to the Lord. Keep humble contrition in your heart at all times. Do not miss a single upcoming opportunity to do any good or to show any kind disposition, especially humility, obedience and renunciation of your will. But it goes without saying that zeal for salvation must burn inextinguishable and, filling the whole soul, in everything, from small to great, must be the main driving force, with the fear of God and unshakable hope.
5. In this attitude, bother yourself in prayer, praying: now with ready prayers, now with your own, now with short invocations to the Lord, now with the Jesus prayer, but without missing anything that can contribute to this work, and you will receive what you are looking for. Let me remind you what Saint Macarius of Egypt says: “God will see your prayer work and that you sincerely desire success in prayer - and will give you prayer. For know that although prayer, both done and achieved by one's own efforts, is pleasing to God, but real prayer is that which dwells in the heart and becomes persistent. She is a gift from God, a work of God's grace. Therefore, when praying for everything, do not forget to pray for prayer too ”(Monk Nikodim Svyatorets).
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) wrote in his “Teaching on the Prayer Rule”: “Rule! What a precise name, borrowed from the very action performed on a person by prayers called the rule! The prayer rule directs the soul correctly and holy, teaches it to worship God with the Spirit and Truth (John 4:23), while the soul, being left to itself, could not follow the correct path of prayer. Because of her damage and overshadowing by sin, she would constantly be seduced to the sides, often into the abyss, now into absent-mindedness, now into dreaminess, now into various empty and deceiving ghosts of high prayer states, composed by her vanity and voluptuousness.
Prayer rules keep the person praying in a salutary disposition, humility and repentance, teaching him constant self-condemnation, nourishing him with tenderness, strengthening him with hope in the All-Merciful and All-Merciful God, amusing him with the peace of Christ, love for God and for his neighbors. "
From these words of the saint it is clear that it is very saving to read the morning and evening prayer rules. In a spiritual sense, it pulls a person out of the confusion of night dreams or daytime worries and puts him before God. And the human soul enters into communion with its Creator. The grace of the Holy Spirit descends on a person, brings him into the necessary penitential mood, gives him inner peace and harmony, drives away demons from him (“This kind is expelled only by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21), bestows upon him God's blessing and strength to live. Moreover, prayers were written by holy people: St. Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, the Monk Macarius the Great, etc. That is, the very structure of the rule is very useful for the human soul.
Therefore, of course, to read the daily morning and evening prayer rule, so to speak, - necessary minimum for Orthodox Christian... Moreover, it does not take much time. For someone who has entered the reading skill - about twenty minutes in the morning and the same in the evening.
If you do not have time to read morning rule all at once, then break it down into several parts. The “hat” from the beginning to “Lord have mercy” (12 times) inclusive can, for example, be read at home; the following prayers - during breaks at work or during your daytime activities. This, of course, needs to be confessed, but it is better than not to read it at all. We are all human, and it is clear that we are very sinful and busy. You also regulate the end of morning prayers for yourself. This concerns the commemoration. You can read an extended memorandum or an abbreviated one. At your discretion, depending on the time available.
A fairly common mistake for a new Orthodox Christian is to read the evening prayer rule just before bedtime. You sway, stagger, mumble words of prayer, and you yourself think how to go to bed under warm blanket and fall asleep. So it turns out - not prayer, but torment. Obligatory hard labor before bedtime.
In fact, the evening prayer rule is read in a slightly different way. Hegumen Nikon (Vorobyov) wrote that after the evening prayers, you can leave time to talk and drink tea.
That is, in fact, you can read the evening prayer rule from the beginning to the prayer of St. John of Damascus, "Master of Humanity ..." God ... have mercy on us. Amen". This is really letting go. You can read evening prayers before him inclusively long before bedtime: at six, seven, eight in the evening. Then go about your daily evening activities. You can also eat and drink tea, as Father Nikon said, talk with loved ones.
And already starting with the prayer "Vladyka Humanity ..." and until the end, the rule is read immediately before bedtime. During the prayer "May God rise again" you need to cross yourself and you can cross your bed and house to the four cardinal points (starting at Orthodox tradition from the east), protecting yourself, your loved ones and your home with the sign of the cross from all evil.
After reading the second half of the evening prayers, nothing is eaten or drunk. In the prayer "In Thy hands, Lord ..." you ask God for a blessing on good dream and commit your soul to Him. After that, you should go to bed.
I would also like to draw your attention, dear brothers and sisters, to the rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Many understand it as three times reading a day (morning, lunchtime, evening) of certain prayers "Our Father" (three times), "Virgin Mary, rejoice ..." (three times) and the Creed (once). But it is not so. In addition to reading the rule three times, the Monk Seraphim said that in the first half of the day a person should read the Jesus Prayer almost all the time, or, if people are surrounded by people, in his mind, “Lord, have mercy,” and after lunch, instead of the Jesus Prayer, “Most Holy Theotokos, save me, a sinner. "
That is, Saint Seraphim offers a person a spiritual exercise in continuous prayer, and not just facilitating the evening and morning prayer rules. You can, of course, read a prayer according to the rule of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, but only then you need to fulfill all the instructions of the great elder.
Therefore, I repeat once again, the morning and evening prayer rule is a necessary minimum for an Orthodox Christian.
I would also like to draw your attention, dear brothers and sisters, to a fairly common mistake that we often make.
Saint Ignatius warns us about it in the above-mentioned work: “There is no way to rush to fulfill the rule and bows; both rules and obeisances must be performed with the possible deliberation and attention. It is better to read fewer prayers and bow less, but with attention, than a lot and without attention.
Choose a rule for yourself according to your strengths. What the Lord said about the Sabbath, that it is for a person, and not a person for her (Mark 2:27), can and should be attributed to all pious deeds, as well as to the prayer rule. The prayer rule is for a person, not a person - for a rule: it should contribute to a person's achievement of spiritual success, and not serve as an unbearable burden (burdensome duty), crushing bodily strength and confusing the soul. Moreover, it should not serve as a pretext for proud and destructive conceit, pernicious condemnation of loved ones and humiliation of neighbors ”.
The Monk Nicodemus Svyatorets wrote in his book "Invisible Warfare": "... There are many clergymen who deprive themselves of the saving fruit of the world from their spiritual deeds by what they do, believing that they will suffer damage if they do not complete them, in false confidence , of course, that this is the essence of spiritual perfection. In this way, following their will, they work hard and torture themselves, but they do not receive true peace and inner peace, in which God is truly found and rests. "
That is, we need to calculate our strength in prayer. You should sit down and think about the time that everyone has. If, for example, you are a freight forwarder in a trade enterprise and are on the road from morning to night, or you are married, work and still need to devote time to your husband, children, organize family life, then maybe you have enough morning and evening prayer rules and reading two chapters of the "Apostle," a chapter of the Gospel per day. Because if you also take upon yourself the reading of various akathists, several kathismas, then you will have no time to live. And if you are a pensioner or work somewhere as a security guard or at another job, having free time, then why not read akathists and kathismas.
Explore yourself, your time, your capabilities, strength. Match the prayer rule with your life so that it is not a burden, but a joy. Because it is better to read fewer prayers, but with heartfelt attention, than a lot, but thoughtlessly, mechanically. Prayer is effective when you listen and read it with your whole being. Then a life-giving spring of communion with God will fill our hearts.
Priest Andrey Chizhenko
This article contains: prayer in the evening when to read - information taken from all over the world, electronic network and spiritual people.
Every Orthodox Christian must adhere to a certain prayer rule, performed daily: in the morning morning prayers are read, and in the evening it is necessary to read prayers for the coming sleep.
Why do you need to read prayers before bed
There is a certain rhythm of prayer intended for monastics and laymen who are experienced in the spiritual understanding.
But for those who have recently come to the Church and are just beginning the prayer path, it is quite difficult to read it in its entirety. And it happens that the laity have unforeseen situations when there is too little opportunity and time for prayer.
In this case, it is better to read short rule than ranting the full text thoughtlessly and without reverence.
Often, confessors bless beginners to read several prayers, and then, after 10 days, add one prayer to the rule every day. Thus, the skill of prayer reading is formed gradually and naturally.
Important! Any prayer appeal will be supported by Heaven when a person directs his activities to the service of God and people.
Evening prayers
In the evening, laymen read a short rule - a prayer at night before going to bed:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
To the Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfill everything, Treasure of the good and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save our souls, Beloved.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; every answer is bewildered, this Ti prayer as if to the Lord of sin we bring: have mercy on us.
Glory: Lord, have mercy on us, in You with hope; Do not be angry with us, remember our iniquities below, but look after us and now, as if you are well-to-do, and deliver us from our enemies; Thou art our God, and we are Thy people, all works Thy hand, and we call on Thy name.
And now: Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, hoping in Thee, let us not perish, but let us get rid of Thy troubles: Thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Eternal God and the King of every creature, vouching for me even at this hour of age, forgive my sins, I have also done this day in deed, word and thought, and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me, O Lord, in the night of this dream to pass in peace, so that, standing up from the humble bed, I will delight in Thy holy name, all the days of my life, and I will overcome the fleshly and incorporeal enemies who fight me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and the lusts of the wicked. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
Good King Mother, Most Pure and Blessed Virgin Mary, pour out the mercy of Your Son and our God on my passionate soul and with Your prayers guide me to good deeds, but the rest of my life will pass without blemish and I will find Paradise by You, Virgin Mary, one Pure and the Blessed One.
To the Angel of Christ, my saint guardian and protector of my soul and body, all forgive me, the tree of those who sinned in this day, and save me from all cunning of the enemy, so that I will anger my God in no sin; but pray for me a sinful and unworthy slave, as if you were worthy of me showing the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen.
To the chosen Voevoda, victorious, as if we will get rid of the wicked, we will grateful to Ty Your servant, the Mother of God, but as the one who has an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ty; Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
Glorious Ever-ever, Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Thy Son and our God, that Thou mayst save our souls.
I put all my hope in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your roof.
Virgin Mary, do not despise me, a sinner, demanding Your help and Your intercession, my soul trusts in You, and have mercy on me.
My hope is the Father, my refuge Son, my cover is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
It is worthy to eat as truly blessed Thee, Mother of God, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify the Mother of God.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, venerable and God-bearing father of ours and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Interpretation of individual prayers
- Heavenly King.
In supplication, the Holy Spirit is called King, because He, like God the Father and God the Son, rules the world and reigns in it. He is a comforter and to this day he comforts those who need it. He guides believers on a righteous path, and therefore is called the Spirit of Truth.
The petition is addressed to three persons Holy Trinity... The great song is sung by the angels of heaven before the throne of God. God the Father is the Holy God, God the Son is the Holy All-Powerful. This conversion is due to the victory of the Son over the devil and the destruction of hell. Throughout the prayer, a person asks for permission from sins, healing of spiritual infirmities for the glorification of the Most Holy Trinity.
This is an appeal directly to the Almighty as a Father, we stand before Him as children before mother and father. We affirm the omnipotence of God and His might, we implore to control human spiritual forces and direct them to the true path, so that after death we will be honored to be in the Kingdom of Heaven.
He is Good Spirit for every believer, determined by God Himself. Therefore, prayer to Him in the evenings is simply necessary. It is he who will warn against committing sins, help to live holy and will patronize the soul and body.
In the prayer, the danger of attacks by the enemies of the body (people pushing them to commit sin) and disembodied (emotional passions) is especially highlighted.
Nuances of the evening rule
Most people have a question: is it possible to listen to Orthodox chants in audio recordings?
In the Epistle of the Apostle Paul it is said that it does not matter what a person does, the main thing is that any of his work should be done for the glory of God.
The prayer should be started before bed. Before starting to read the rule, it is recommended to thank God for everything that He was given for the whole day. You need to turn to Him with your mind and heart, realizing the meaning of each spoken word.
Advice! If the text is readable on Church Slavonic, then you need to study its Russian translation.
In modern practice, the rule is supplemented by reading prayers about:
- close and dear people
- the living and the dead;
- about enemies;
- virtues and the whole world.
In a dream, a person is especially vulnerable to the devil's army, he is visited by sinful thoughts, bad desires. Night in the Christian sense is considered a time of revelry of demons. A person can receive information that can seduce his body and lead his soul into sin. Demons are very insidious, they can send nightmares in a dream.
That is why believers pray every day before going to bed.
Advice! Even when all life circumstances develop successfully, one must not forget about faith and about the Heavenly Father, because human destinies are initially predetermined in Heaven. Therefore, it is necessary to turn to God before going to bed and the next day will certainly turn out better than the previous one.
- It is useful to listen to the singing of the elders of Optina Pustyn. This male monastic abode is famous for miracle workers who could and can foresee human destinies. The need to serve the Almighty is conveyed through their prayer songs and tunes in to the righteous path.
- The Church has a positive attitude towards viewing Orthodox videos, but this material must be treated very carefully, and while listening or watching, it is recommended to postpone worldly activities.
- The clergy are advised to include in the evening rule the prayers of the Optina elders. Their texts have evolved over the centuries and each of their phrases carries the greatest wisdom that can explain the basics Orthodox faith and know their full depth.
Prayer is the breath of the soul an orthodox person... He practically cannot control his sleep, and other life processes are difficult to control. Therefore, prayer before going to bed is aimed at the Creator's participation in human life, otherwise He will not have the opportunity to help us.
Important! The ascension of prayer before bedtime is the acquisition of protection and support by an Orthodox Christian. In addition to their own protection, mothers beg God to protect their children and bestow upon them mercy.
Prayer rule.
What is a prayer rule? These are prayers that a person reads regularly, every day. The prayer rule is different for everyone. For some, the morning or evening rule takes several hours, for others, a few minutes. Everything depends on the spiritual constitution of a person, on the degree of his rootedness in prayer and on what time he has.
It is very important that a person fulfills the prayer rule, even the shortest one, so that there is regularity and constancy in prayer. But the rule should not turn into a formality. The experience of many believers shows that with the constant reading of the same prayers, their words fade, lose their freshness, and a person, getting used to them, ceases to focus on them. This danger must be avoided by all means.
I remember when I took monastic tonsure (I was twenty years old then), I turned to an experienced confessor for advice and asked him what my prayer rule should be. He said: “You must read the morning and evening prayers daily, three canons and one akathist. Whatever happens, even if you are very tired, you must read them. And even if you read them hastily and inattentively - it doesn't matter, the main thing is that the rule should be read. " I tried. It didn't work out. The daily recitation of the same prayers led to the fact that these texts quickly became boring. In addition, every day I spent many hours in the church at the services that spiritually nourished me, nourished, inspired me. And the reading of the three canons and the akathist turned into some kind of unnecessary "appendage". I started looking for another piece of advice that was more suitable for me. And he found it in the works of St. Theophan the Recluse, a remarkable ascetic of the 19th century. He advised the prayer rule to count not by the number of prayers, but by the time that we are ready to devote to God. For example, we can make it a rule to pray in the morning and in the evening for half an hour, but this half hour must be completely devoted to God. And it is not so important whether we read all the prayers during these minutes or just one, or maybe we will devote one evening entirely to reading the Psalter, the Gospel or prayer in our own words. The main thing is that we are focused on God, so that our attention does not slip away and that every word reaches our hearts. This advice worked for me. However, I do not exclude that the advice I received from a confessor will be more suitable for others. Much depends on the individual's personality.
It seems to me that for a person living in the world, not only fifteen, but even five minutes of morning and evening prayer, if, of course, it is pronounced with attention and feeling, is enough to be a real Christian. It is only important that the thought always corresponds to the words, the heart answers the words of the prayer, and the whole life corresponds to the prayer.
Try, following the advice of St. Theophan the Recluse, to set aside some time for prayer during the day and for the daily fulfillment of the prayer rule. And you will see that it will bear fruit very soon.
The basis of the life of an Orthodox Christian is fasting and prayer. Prayer, "there is a conversation of the soul with God." And just as in a conversation it is impossible to listen to one side all the time, so in prayer it is useful sometimes to stop and listen to the Lord's answer to our prayer.
The Church, praying daily “for everyone and everything,” has established for everyone a personal, individual prayer rule. The composition of this rule depends on the spiritual age, living conditions, and human capabilities. The Prayer Book offers us morning and evening prayers available to everyone. They are addressed to the Lord, the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel. With the blessing of the confessor, prayers to selected saints can be included in the cell rule. If it is not possible to read morning prayers in front of the icons in a calm atmosphere, then it is better to read them on the way than to omit them altogether. In any case, one should not have breakfast before the prayer "Our Father" is recited.
If a person is sick or very tired, then the evening rule can be performed not before going to bed, but shortly before that. And before going to bed, you should read only the prayer of the Monk John Damascene “Vladyka, Human-loving, really, this coffin will be a bed for me. "And following it.
A very important part of morning prayers is remembrance reading. It is imperative to pray for the peace and health of His Holiness the Patriarch, the ruling bishop, spiritual father, parents, relatives, godparents and godchildren, and all people who are connected with us in one way or another. If someone cannot make peace with others, even if not through his own fault, he is obliged to remember the “hating” one and sincerely wish him well.
The personal ("cell") rule of many Orthodox includes the reading of the Gospel and the Psalter. Thus, the Optina monks blessed many to read during the day one chapter from the Gospel, in order, and two chapters from the Apostolic Epistles. Moreover, the last seven chapters of the Apocalypse were read one a day. Then the reading of the Gospel and the Apostle ended at the same time, and a new circle of readings began.
The prayer rule for a person sets it spiritual father, it is his responsibility to change it - to decrease or increase. Once a rule has been established, it should become the law of life, and each violation should be considered as an exceptional case, tell the confessor about it and receive admonition from him.
When and for how long should you pray? The apostle Paul says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Saint Gregory the Theologian writes: "One must remember God more often than breathe." Ideally, a Christian's entire life should be permeated with prayer.
Many troubles, sorrows and misfortunes occur precisely because people forget about God. After all, there are also believers among criminals, but at the moment of committing a crime, they do not think about God. It is difficult to imagine a person who would go to murder or theft with the thought of an all-seeing God, from whom no evil can be hidden. And every sin is committed by a person precisely when he does not remember God.
Most people are unable to pray all day long, so you need to find some time, even a short one, to remember God.
In the morning you wake up with the thought of what is to be done that day. Before you start working and immerse yourself in the inevitable hustle and bustle, devote at least a few minutes to God. Stand before God and say: "Lord, you gave me this day, help me to spend an era without sin, without blemish, save me from all evil and misfortune." And invoke the blessing of God for the day that begins.
Try to remember God more often throughout the day. If you feel bad, turn to Him with a prayer: "Lord, I feel bad, help me." If you feel good, tell God: "Lord, glory to You, I thank You for this joy." If you are worried about someone, tell God: "Lord, I am worried about him, I am in pain for him, help him." And so throughout the day - whatever happens to you, turn it into prayer.
When the day comes to an end and you are getting ready for bed, remember the past day, thank God for all the good things that have happened, and bring repentance for all those unworthy deeds and sins that you committed that day. Ask God for help and blessings for the coming night. As you learn to pray this way every day, you will soon notice how much fuller your whole life will be.
Often people justify their unwillingness to pray by the fact that they are too busy, overloaded with things. Yes, many of us live in a rhythm in which the people of antiquity did not. Sometimes we have to do a lot of things during the day. But there are always some pauses in life. For example, we stand at a bus stop and wait for a tram - three to five minutes. We go to the subway - twenty to thirty minutes, dial the phone number and hear beeps - "busy" - for a few more minutes. We use at least these pauses for prayer, let them not be wasted time.
How to pray when you are pressed for time
Many of the elder's visitors blamed him for praying little, not reading even the prescribed morning and evening prayers. St. Seraphim established the following easily observable rule for such people:
“Having risen from sleep, every Christian, standing before the holy icons, let him read the prayer“ Our Father ”three times, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity. Then the song to the Mother of God "Virgin Mary, Rejoice" also three times. In conclusion, the Symbol of Faith “I believe in one God” - once. Having fulfilled such a rule, every Orthodox person goes about his business, to which he is assigned or called. While working at home or on the way somewhere he quietly reads "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner (or a sinner)," so until lunch. Before lunch, let him again perform the morning rule.
After dinner, while doing his work, let every Christian read as quietly: “ Holy Mother of God save me a sinner. " Going to sleep, let every Christian again read the morning rule, that is, three times "Our Father", three times "Theotokos" and once "The Symbol of Faith."
St. Seraphim explained that by adhering to this small "rule" one can achieve a measure of Christian perfection, for these three prayers are the foundation of Christianity. The first, like a prayer given by the Lord Himself, is the pattern of all prayers. The second was brought from heaven by the Archangel in the greeting of the Mother of God. The Symbol of Faith contains all the saving dogmas of the Christian faith.
1. The Lord's Prayer "Our Father" (Matt. 6, 9-13; Luke 11, 2-4).
2. Basic commandments Old Testament(Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19:18).
3. Basic Gospel commandments (Matt. 5, 3-12; Matt. 5, 21-48; Matt. 6, 1; Matt. 6, 3; Matt. 6, 6; Matt. 6, 14-21; Matt. 6: 24-25; Matt. 7: 1-5; Matt. 23: 8-12; John 13, 34).
5. Morning and evening prayers for a short prayer book.
6. The number and meaning of the sacraments.
The fear of our time has not escaped the Orthodox either. How to protect yourself and your loved ones? - believers often ask. Our main protection is the Lord Himself, without His Holy Will, as the Scriptures say, and a hair will not fall from our head (Luke 21, 18). This does not mean that we, recklessly trusting in God, can behave defiantly towards the underworld. The words “do not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4: 7) we need to remember firmly.
God gave us greatest shrines to protect against visible enemies. This is, first of all, a Christian shield - a pectoral cross that should not be removed under any circumstances. Secondly, holy water and artos, eaten every morning.
We also preserve the Christian by prayer. Many churches sell belts on which the text of the 90th psalm “Alive in the help of Vyshnyago. "And a prayer to the Honorable Cross" May God rise again. " It is worn on the body, under clothing.
The ninety psalm is very powerful. Spiritually experienced people recommend reading it before every time we go outside, no matter how many times we leave the house. Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov gives advice when leaving the house to sign the sign of the cross and read the prayer: “I deny to you, Satan, your pride and service to you, and I am combined with You, Christ, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
Orthodox parents must by all means re-baptize their child if he goes out on the street alone.
When you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you have to pray: “May God rise again”, or “To the victorious voyevoda to the chosen one” (the first kontakion from the akathist to the Mother of God), or simply “Lord, have mercy,” many times. It is also necessary to resort to prayer when, before our very eyes, another person is being threatened, and we lack the strength and courage to rush to his aid.
Prayer is very strong to the saints of God, who became famous for their martial art during their lifetime: saints George the Victorious, Theodore Stratilat, Demetrius Donskoy. Let's not forget about the Archangel Michael, our Guardian Angel. All of them have a special power with God to give the weak the strength to overcome their enemies.
"If the Lord does not guard the city, the watchman is in vain" (Psalm 126: 1). A Christian's house must be consecrated without fail. Grace will keep the dwelling from all evil. If there is no way to invite a priest to the house, you yourself need to sprinkle all the walls, windows and doors with holy water, reading "May God rise again" or "Save, Lord, Thy people" (troparion to the Cross). From the danger of arson, fire, it is customary to pray to the Mother of God in front of Her icon "Burning Bush".
Of course, no means will help if we lead a sinful life and do not repentance for a long time. The Lord often allows extraordinary circumstances to bring unrepentant sinners to their senses.
You can pray in different ways, for example, in your own words. Such a prayer should constantly accompany a person. In the morning and in the evening, day and night, a person can turn to God with the simplest words coming from the depths of his heart.
But there are also prayers that were compiled by saints in antiquity, they need to be read in order to learn prayer. These prayers are contained in the Orthodox Prayer Book. There you will find morning prayers, evening prayers, repentance, thanksgiving, you will find various canons, akathists, and much more. Having bought the "Orthodox Prayer Book", do not be alarmed that there are so many prayers in it. You don't have to read them all.
If the morning prayers are read quickly, it will take about twenty minutes. But if you read them thoughtfully, carefully, responding with your heart to every word, then the reading can take an entire hour. Therefore, if you do not have time, do not try to read all the morning prayers, it is better to read one or two, but so that their every word reaches your heart.
Before the section “Morning Prayers” it is said: “Before you start praying, wait a little until your feelings subside, and then say with attention and reverence; “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". Wait a little longer and only then start praying. ” This pause, a “minute of silence” before the start of prayer, is very important. Prayer must grow out of the silence of our heart. People who “read” the morning and evening prayers every day are constantly tempted to read the “rule” as soon as possible in order to get down to their daily activities. Often, with such reading, the main thing escapes - the content of the prayer.
In the prayer book there are many petitions addressed to God, which are repeated several times. For example, you might find a recommendation to read “Lord have mercy” twelve or forty times. Some take this as a formality and read this prayer at high speed. By the way, in Greek “Lord, have mercy” sounds like “Kyrie, eleison”. In the Russian language there is a verb “to play tricks”, which originated precisely from the fact that the psalmists in the kliros very quickly repeated many times: “Kyrie, eleison”, that is, they did not pray, but “played tricks”. So, you don't need to play tricks in prayer. No matter how many times you read this prayer, it should be said with attention, reverence and love, with full dedication.
You don't have to try to read all the prayers. Better to devote twenty minutes to one prayer "Our Father", repeating it several times, pondering each word. It is not so easy for a person who is not accustomed to praying for a long time, to immediately read a large number of prayers, but one does not need to strive for this. It is important to be imbued with the spirit that the prayers of the Church Fathers breathe. This is the main benefit to be derived from the prayers contained in The Orthodox Prayer Book.