How to pray at night correctly. Night prayer and how I lost it
Current page: 3 (the book has 12 pages in total) [available passage for reading: 8 pages]
About prayer
How to pray for those about whom it is not known whether they are alive?
“You will not be mistaken if you pray as for the living, because with God everyone is alive. Everyone except heretics and apostates. They are dead "- (Elder Nektarios Optinsky).21
Psychic Teachings of the Venerable Optina Elders. Edition of the Svyato-Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn, 2007.
It is allowed to read prayers from the Trebnik to laymen, except for priests and deacons. For example, there are such remote places where there is no church; there the believers themselves perform an incomplete funeral service, that is, they sing stichera, read the canon, the Apostle, but do not read the Gospel, the prayer of permission, do not say exclamations and litanies of the priest and deacon. They even perform services in this way; for example, they serve not mass, but mass.
Is it okay for those who work the night shift to eat at night after twelve o'clock? Do they need to read prayers "for the future sleep"?
If necessary, you can eat, and it is good to pray, at least briefly. Prayer never gets in the way, but it will also save you from temptation.
After Communion at home I read thanksgiving prayers, suddenly a neighbor came in, started a conversation, and I told her that I had just been in church, received Communion, and now I read thanksgiving prayers, and immediately after she left, my soul felt unpleasant, as if grace had departed from me ... Why could this happen?
It happened because you had to keep your good deed, the prayer a secret, and you opened it, and thus destroyed it. Because, as it were, grace departed and a mournful, unpleasant feeling took over. The enemy of salvation often inspires from the temple to go to someone or sends a person with empty conversations in order to take away the grace from the soul after visiting the temple and especially when a person takes communion.
If acquaintances unexpectedly came to me during prayer, should I leave the prayers or ask them to wait while I pray?
We must leave prayer (for love is higher than prayer), accept acquaintances, and letting them go, finish our prayer.
Is it good if the prayer rule is larger: in addition to the usual morning and evening prayers - akathists, canons?
The most important thing in the fulfillment of the prayer rule is the constant daily fulfillment of it. If necessary, it is reduced. You must have such a rule so that it does not exceed your strength and so that your conscience does not reproach you for laziness.
Is it possible to imagine the prayer of the Lord, the saints? Is it possible to arouse in oneself a desire to see Angels or to feel the suffering of Jesus Christ?
Many St. the fathers, in particular Saint Simeon the New Theologian and Saint Theophan the Recluse. Saint Simeon the New Theologian speaks of three forms of prayer, and prayer with imagination is not permitted as a prayer of delusion. 22
“The distinctive properties of the first image are as follows: when someone, standing in prayer and raising his hands and his eyes and his mind to heaven, holds divine thoughts in his soul, imagines the blessings of heaven, the ranks of Angels and the abode of saints, and briefly, everything heard in the Divine Scriptures, collects in his mind, and discusses this then during prayer, in vain to heaven, and thereby moves his soul to the lust and love of God, and sometimes even pulls out tears and cries (this will be the first image of attention and prayer).
But with this image (prayer, if someone stops at it alone, it happens that) little by little - (praying like this) begins to boast in his heart, without realizing it; it seems to him that what he is doing is from the grace of God to comfort him, and he prays to God to enable him to always be in such an activity. And this (that is, to think so about this form of prayer) is a sign of delusion: for good is no longer good when it does not exist in a good way and properly ...
From what we have said, any reasonable person can understand what harm comes from this first way of attention and prayer (if you consider it as the last limit of perfection in prayer). If it happens that someone who uses this image does not suffer any of the evils of which we have heard, because of cohabitation with brethren (because they are especially exposed to those who live in solitude), then he will still spend his whole life without succeeding (in the spiritual life) ”. (Venerable Simeon the New Theologian. Word 68, about three images of attention and prayer // Words of St. Simeon the New Theologian, vol. 2. M .: The rule of faith, 2002).
But sometimes, because of the invasion of blasphemous thoughts, you cannot look at the icon! How, then, to pray?
“In order for your thoughts to chill you less, you can only occasionally look at the icons,” says St. Ambrose of Optina, - but we must know that icons are only for external eyes, and therefore, standing in prayer, we must remember that we stand before God. The icon, however, should not be imagined in the mind in any case. " 23
Lives of the Venerable Elders of the Optina Hermitage. Holy Trinity Monastery. Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev. Jordanville, New York. 1992.
Can you pray while walking or lying in bed? Is it necessary to stand while reading the Gospel when you pray at home, and is it possible to read the Gospel on public transport?
When you do a non-prayer rule, then you can pray in any position, but when you do a rule, then it is sinful to lean on and sit unnecessarily. If you can, then it is better to read the Holy Gospel while standing, and if you are tired or weak, then sitting, with reverence. It is better to read the Psalter on public transport.
Do spiritually wise people advise to practice the Jesus Prayer on their own, and if so, to what extent?
It is very useful and salutary to practice the Jesus Prayer orally, usually, but the mental-hearted one can only be practiced with the guidance of experienced elders and with St. books about the Jesus Prayer, and most importantly - nothing can be sought through it, except for mercy.
But what can be the use of the Jesus Prayer if I pronounce it only with my lips, myself not understanding what I am saying, my mind is running to the side?
“You don’t understand,” said the elder of Optina, Macarius, “but the demons understand and tremble. Calm down and continue your prayer according to your strength. " 24
Psychic Teachings of the Venerable Optina Elders.
“Do not believe your flesh, which threatens you with failure during prayer: he lies. If you begin to pray, you will see that the flesh will become your obedient slave. Prayer will revive her too. Remember always that the flesh is a lie " (Saint John of Kronstadt).25
St. right. John of Kronstadt. My life is in Christ. Word of 1556.
What is the best way to pray, alone or together, three?
St. John of Kronstadt said: "The Lord loves and hears more prayers when we are not alone and not only for ourselves and not for ourselves alone we pray, but together, for everyone and for everyone." 26
St. right. John of Kronstadt. In the world of prayer. On the conciliarity of prayer. By order of the Holy Euphrosyne Monastery in Polotsk. SPb., 1991.
What to do on a holiday if you cannot go to church and cannot read spiritual books?
At home, at least lying down, pray, as God will require inner prayer even from a seriously ill person. It is also good to engage in divine thinking: about the life of the Savior on earth, about the Last Judgment, about the Resurrection of the dead, about eternal life, bliss and eternal torment, about death and ordeals. Elder of Athos Fr. Arseny writes: "This is the same as prayer." 27
Elder Paisy Svyatogorsk. Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia. Holy mountain. Without a year.
Why are the same prayers repeated so often in the church? Every now and then: "Lord, have mercy."
“Why do we repeat and quicken our breathing? It is necessary, it excites and sustains our lives. For the same we need frequent prayers ... And in fact, what does it mean: "Lord, have mercy"? This is the cry of the guilty and condemned to death, asking pardon from the irritated justice. This is the cry of a repentant, expressing a firm intention to reform and start a new life befitting a Christian. This is the cry of a sinner who is ready to have mercy on others, as one who has been immensely forgiven and merciful by God, the Judge of his deeds. " (Saint John of Kronstadt).28
St. right. John of Kronstadt. My life is in Christ. Word 1224.
Sometimes a person prays, it would seem, fervently, but his prayer does not bring him the fruits of peace and joy of heart in the Holy Spirit. From what?
“Because, praying through ready-made prayers, he did not sincerely repent of those sins that he committed on that day, with which he defiled his heart, this temple of Christ, and with which he angered the Lord. But remember them, and repent with all sincerity, condemning yourself impartially, and he will immediately settle in the heart. world, surpass every mind(Phil. 4: 7). In church prayers there is a list of sins, but not all, and often the very ones are not mentioned with which we tied ourselves. You must certainly list them yourself in prayer with a clear awareness of their importance, with a sense of humility and heartfelt contrition. That is why in the evening prayers it is said when listing sins: either this or that, or it was bad, that is, it is left to our will to mention certain sins " (Saint John of Kronstadt).29
St. right. John of Kronstadt. In the world of prayer. Repentance in Prayer.
At Epiphany I will be 22 years old. I myself have been baptized for ten years, but something began to change in me quite recently, literally a year or two. But, probably, I have not yet become a Christian, because I am still ashamed to pray in church, although I pray at home. And as soon as I start praying, tears flow. What is it? Purification?
Tears in the temple can be, indeed, cleansing, but they can also be a reminder that the soul really wants repentance, confession and communion, and false shame (fear of prayer in the temple) prevents it from doing so.
What if I overslept and there is no time for the morning rule, but I am in a hurry to work or to the beginning of the church service?
If it happens that you oversleep and do not have time to read the morning rule, then you can do this: start reading it at home, and finish on the road.
You can, if the shower requires.
Is it possible on holidays, Christmastide, Bright Week to read the canon of penitence if he has committed a sin?
According to the rules of the Church, in the days of Bright Week, the canons of repentance are not allowed to be read according to the charter. It is enough to pray of repentance during fasting, and the committed sin is cleansed in confession. On these days it is better to try not to sin.
Is it possible to do earthly obeisances at home prayer on Christmastide, holidays, Bright Weeks, if you have sinned and your conscience does not allow you to pray while standing?
We must try to live according to the charter of the Church 30
See the Lenten Triode. On Holy and Great Wednesday evenings.
Which cancels bowing to the ground on these days, but kneeling can also be tolerated in home prayer.
Is it possible to replace morning and evening prayers by reading akathists and canons, after "Our Father ..." to "It is worthy to eat ..."?
It is possible, if there is some special need for this, but it is better not to invent your own statutes, but to follow the church. The canons and akathists are read in their free time; you can also recommend reading the Psalter.
Tell me, please, which saint to turn to, so that there is peace in the soul and happiness finally comes to our house and our son's wish come true - to have a two-room apartment?
There is no magic in the church. When we want to receive something from the Lord or from the saints, we must not only pray to them, but also build our lives according to the commandments of the Lord. “The prayer of the righteous can do much,” the Scripture says, and vice versa: “God does not hear sinners,” because they do not want to hear Him. Through the Gospel, the Lord addresses all of us with a request that we be kind, loving, humble, etc., but we often don’t want to hear about this, but we ourselves ask Him to help us. And it also happens: We need the Lord only in difficult times; He fulfills our requests, and we even forget to thank Him and turn to Him again only when sorrow overtakes us again; and in days of peace and happiness, we don't really need Him. You can ask for the fulfillment of your desires to many saints, to the Theotokos, to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, but for this you would like to get acquainted with the Gospel, where our doctrine is set forth; it is good to read the lives of the saints, after which these chosen ones of God become close to you, and you turn to them with a warm, heartfelt prayer from all your heart.
What saints need to pray and what icon is needed for bees to multiply?
In the Trebnik there is a special prayer for the blessing of the hives ("There are bees ...") and another prayer: "Blessing of the swarms of bees, into the uliya of the newly planted ones ..." These prayers are read by the priest. So, if you have the opportunity, you need to invite him to consecrate your hives. If there is no such possibility, then you can read the following prayer: “O God, knowing goodness by human labor and speechless animals, and by Thy inexpressible mercy teach the seeds of bees to use the fruits and deeds to our needs, we humbly pray to Thy majesty: please bless these bees for the acquisition of the human race. I am smarter, supplying them, teaching them, but trust in Your majesty and immeasurable mercies, work in keeping these animals, you will be worthy of receiving abundant fruits of your labors, and heavenly blessing will be fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Him the honor and glory forever and ever. , amen. " After reading this prayer, sprinkle the hives with holy water.
When I read prayers (in the morning and in the evening), I yawn, I cry, my body vibrates. Why is that?
You can get the answer to this question only from an experienced confessor after a detailed confession. Such issues are not resolved in absentia.
Is it true that you must first read a prayer and only then cross yourself? Or is it possible while reading?
According to the charter of the Church, the sign of the cross is supposed to be performed at the beginning and at the end of a prayer.
Is it good to pray for the offender?
The Lord pleases prayer for those who offend us, and therefore we need to pray for them.
What saints should pray for those who offend?
For those who offend, it is necessary to serve a prayer service to Archdeacon Stephen and light candles to the holy Apostle John the Theologian, St. Seraphim ordered to light candles for the throne for health and salvation. The ascetic Georgy the Recluse wrote: "Order to remember those who are at war with you in the churches for your health, the work of your good heart will be glorified by God in front of everyone." 31
Elder George the Recluse // Wake up, soul ... School of Orthodoxy for beginners. Selected advice and instructions of the holy fathers for all occasions. M .: Kovcheg, 2007.
Explain, please, what prayers are included in the Rebnik?
Trebniki are different. There is a Small Trebnik, there is a Big Trebnik. Peter Mogila's book is one of the most complete. The Trebniki contains a wide variety of ranks and prayers: the rite of funeral service, baptism, confessions, communion at home, prayers for the consecration of icons, church utensils, bells, for the expulsion of dark forces, as well as ranks of reprimands, prayers for the consecration of the house, stove, beehives, against the invasion insects, etc. This is just a small list of prayers in the Trebnik.
Is there a prayer against sleep?
Is such a prayer necessary? After all, sleep restores strength, and excessive stress can lead to a breakdown, to depletion of the nervous system and even to mental illness. Here is a recommendation for insomnia: for this you need to read the Jesus prayer "Virgin Mary, rejoice ..." and others.
In prayer books, in the Book of the Book, there are prayers with which we turn to the Lord. And sometimes I just kind of mentally talk to Him (in my own words). Is this permissible? Or maybe it is not pleasing to the Lord, and I should not do it?
Is it possible to pray without a prayer book and a Psalter at all?
We cannot do without reading the Psalter or the prayer book. This heats up the heart, just as throwing up wood increases the weakening fire in the stove. But when the heart flares up and some feeling takes possession of the whole soul, then one should give up reading and pray with your prayer. Saint Theophan the Recluse speaks of this. 32
Venerable Nikodim Svyatorets. Invisible abuse. Part 1, gl. 48-49. Saint Theophan the Recluse translated this book into Russian.
I myself do not know Russian, by nationality - Yakut, disabled. I am collecting medicinal herbs. I would like to know what prayers should be read while doing this, is there any literature?
All prayers are good when they are prayed for for good. You need to read short prayers: "Our Father ...", "Virgin Mary, rejoice ...", "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner" and others.
It happens that a Christian drank some alcohol on the occasion of a special holiday. It's time for evening prayer. Is it not a sin to pray to God for the coming sleep in such, albeit mild, degree of intoxication?
Let your heart and conscience tell you what to do right.
I would like to ask you for a prayer about abortion. I have already repented of this sin to the priest.
Prayer for abortion is not handed out. This prayer is recited by the priest at the request of the directly repentant.
I would like to pray with tears, but it does not always work out, we are connected with the world, we are distracted. We gather with the same believers, sing kanty. Maybe write at least one?
Tears in prayer are a gift from God. The Church has always opposed artificially created exaltation. The main thing in Orthodox prayer is the consciousness of sins and repentance for them. A prayer of repentance is the most correct one. Kant is not used in church services. These chants are allowed to be sung at home; it is soul-saving. We read in the life of St. Demetrius of Rostov that the cants were pets by his order in the last hours of his life. 33
Life of Saint Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, miracle worker // Lives of the Saints. M .: Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, 2004
This already shows their significance for spiritual edification.
On the tablets in the commandments of the Lord it is written: "Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." The Law of God says: “When we need anything, we must turn to God with prayer. You can pray to God everywhere: in the house, in the temple, and on the way. The Christian is obliged to pray daily, morning and evening, before and after meals, before and after the beginning of any work. " Can you often repeat “Lord, bless, save”?
In vain (that is, in vain) pronouncing the name of God is when we utter it, without realizing it, in a proverb, with every little thing. A prayer appeal to God is not in vain.
What if it is impossible to cross (hands are busy, etc.)?
"The Jesus Prayer will replace the sign of the cross, if for some reason it cannot be placed" (elder Nikon Optinsky).34
Is bowing to the ground in a church or at home needed during a prayer service, or is it not necessary during a prayer of the heart?
In the liturgical practice of the Church, there is a special charter on bows. It is found in the Typikon, a book that is the Statute of the Divine Services of the Orthodox Church. It is said about prostrations there, in particular, that they are performed after the offering of the Holy Gifts, during Lenten services, in particular, during the reading of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, etc. they are on Sundays. During home prayer, you can bow down when your soul requires it.
If I read prayers and a candle does not glow in front of the image, do my prayers reach our Lord Jesus Christ?
The candle is a symbol of prayer. It is good when she flickers during prayer; however, this is not a condition for the Lord to accept or not accept our prayers. Love for God, sincere repentance - these are some of the conditions for the clarity of our prayers to God.
Is it possible to replace morning and evening prayers with reading psalms, the Jesus Prayer, or something else?
St. Theophan the Recluse answered a similar question that there was no need to replace evening and morning prayers. 35
Saint Theophan recommended, if there is no time or energy to read the entire morning or evening prayer rule, to shorten it, but not to cancel it. See St. Theophanes. Spiritual Life Letters. M., 1897
When is prayer put into sin?
“There is no greater sin,” taught Saint Theophan the Recluse, “how to pray to God without fear, attention and reverence; to pray with the tongue, and with the mind to conduct a conversation with demons ”. 36
The soulful teachings of St. Theophan the Recluse. Edition of the Svyato-Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, 2008.
How to deal with extraneous thoughts?
“During prayer and spiritual discourse,” Archimandrite Theophan Novoyezersky advises us, “beware of accepting any extraneous thoughts; with a prohibition, say your thoughts: "In the name of God, I forbid you!" - and the thought will certainly listen. The Jesus prayer and the sign of the cross will conveniently drive away all the power of the enemy. " 37
The instructions of Elder Theophan Novoyezersky. Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1997
What if you want to pray with bows?
"When the desire comes to pray in the midst of the rule (or in general) with a special prayer and with bows, then there is no need to interfere with such a mood." (Venerable Ambrose of Optina).38
Psychic Teachings of the Optina Elders.
What are the signs of the visits of God in prayer, and what are the signs of the enemy?
With grace-filled appearances or visits from God, there are good thoughts and feelings: joy, love for God and for one's neighbor and even for enemies, humility, self-reproach, a feeling of repentance, contrition, tenderness, peace of mind, peace for all, desire for all good and salvation. With the enemy: pride, self-esteem, anger, hatred, cruelty, anxiety, embarrassment, doubt in the phenomenon.
Can a worldly person pray with a rosary?
“About prayer on a rosary,” writes St. Theophan the Recluse, “I myself first heard from a layman, and not from a monk. And many lay people and lay women pray in this way. And this is useful to us. Only one should pray for them not ostentatiously, but secretly. " 39
St. Theophan the Recluse. What is spiritual life and how to tune in to it, ch. 47. M .: Father's house, 2007.
Is it really so important to unacceptably keep your prayer at home?
Christians who don't keep the house rule are dead Christians. The domestic rule is a stimulant of spiritual strength, a guide to unceasing prayer.
What to do when, during prayer, bad thoughts obsessively creep into your head?
If, during prayer, bad thoughts obsessively stick to us, then it is advised, leaving the prayer, to pray to God against thoughts so that He drives them away from us.
Can You Pray for Unbelieving Leaders?
“Pray also for the authorities, even for those who persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the Cross, so that the fruit of your faith will be clear to everyone and you yourself will be perfect” (Hieromartyr Polycarp of Smyrna).40
Schmch. Polycarp of Smyrnsky. Epistle to the Philippians // The Scriptures of the Apostolic Men. M .: Amphora, 2007.
Can you pray in public?
"Pray either in body or in spirit in secret, and not in front of people, although they are sleeping." (Elder Adrian Yugsky).41
See the Guide to the Spiritual Life of Elder Adrian, Hieromonk, ascetic of the Yugskaya Dorofeeva Hermitage. M. - Riga, 1995.
What is the best way to pray in the absence of feeling?
If you feel insensible, it is better to pray with short prayers.
Is it good to pray for ascetics who have not yet been glorified on earth?
Prayer for His deceased saints is pleasing to God. Our prayer intercedes for them great glory and invites them to pray for us before the Lord.
How should you stand in prayer?
One should get up for prayer without relaxing in the body, without shifting from foot to foot, and without leaning against a wall or a pillar. Hands should be kept decently folded, legs should be straight and motionless, your head should not be turned to one side or the other, but slightly bent over, the mind should not be scattered by thoughts and not be curious or distracted by lazy ones who talk with each other and whisper, and in every possible way keep the eyes from absent-mindedness and the soul, listening to the words of the prayer so that not a single word in it is to be missed idly. For if you accustom yourself to do this in this matter, you will soon succeed and attain a perfect husband. After the end of the doxology, do not immediately start talking with one or the other. Keep silence and move away from everyone. Keep silence with the thought: "What can I say good, being all unclean and meaningless and even unworthy to say or hear anything, or be considered among the people" .42
Venerable Simeon the New Theologian. A word about the beginning of life that was very useful and salvific // Twelve words in Russian. per. from Hellenic-Greek. Ed. Kozelskaya Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn. M., 1869.
During prayer, is it possible to dwell on spiritual thoughts or thoughts of useful deeds?
During prayer, one should resist not only vain thoughts, but also all thoughts about spiritual and useful deeds that come untimely, and deepen and force oneself to read prayer and meditation until the end of them.
Is it a sin to pray in passing?
“If anyone prays to God without fear, in passing, he incurs the wrath of God, the expulsion of God. Better not to pray at all than to pray somehow. There is no greater sin. Demons never attack as much as for contempt for God. " (Rev. Simeon the New Theologian).43
The words of St. Simeon the New Theologian. Word 8.Vol. 1.
Is it possible for a husband to pray with his head covered in need?
When your head is covered, do not give up prayer, but observe only so that you do not do it with disdain.
Should one leave reading the Divine Book in a prayerful mood?
If your mind and heart are in a prayerful mood while reading the Holy Scriptures, then you remain in prayer until the prayer mood ceases.
Should bows be done beyond strength?
God does not require us to rule above our strength, and therefore consider your strength!
What saints should pray against nervousness?
Holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb.
What should I read at home if I couldn't go to church?
Instead of Matins - morning prayers, twelve selected psalms and the first hour, and instead of mass - the third and sixth hours with pictorial.
Is prayer before God valid if it is recited without the compassion of the heart?
Without sympathy from the heart, prayer is invalid.
What does it mean to pray incessantly?
Praying always and incessantly does not mean always reading psalms or written prayers - this is an impossible task. For every Christian ought to do a work according to his title; also a worn-out body requires tranquility with sleep and so on. But it means that often in every undertaking that begins to raise the mind and heart, and sigh to God and ask Him for mercy, help and intercession.
Can you shorten your home prayer rule?
You can, only if you need it. According to the thought of Saint Theophan the Recluse, only one spiritually strengthened person is allowed to reduce the rule of prayer, and not everyone who wants to get rid of prayer as soon as possible. Remember that the one who threatens the dogs with a stick annoys them against himself, and the demons are annoyed by the one who forces himself to pray often. 44
“Before, you asked an hour earlier to end the rule. Not seeing the enemy's cunning, I agreed to this. Now the enemy sat down with you and explained that you can shorten the prayer rule by adding handicrafts to it. So your usual prayer was completely ruined. Not so good. Take the trouble to restore it as it was in the beginning. If it is more convenient for you to end the rule an hour earlier, then put it down and start earlier. " Letter 528, no. III.
When I pray with others, can the inner movement of the soul be shown externally?
If we pray in partnership with others, then it is enough for us with our minds and hearts to show before God the inner movement of the soul, not to accept a sad, tearful face and not make any signs with our body that would show what is in our soul, so that others do not become to honor us, and others, perhaps, laugh at us - through this we are exposed to temptation, embarrassment in ourselves and anger at others. But when we are alone and others do not see us, in order to ridicule us, then we can accept the person praying, and the sad voice, and shed tears, raise our hands to grief, lay bows to the ground.
If the mind is scattered in prayer, what should be done?
At a time when your mind is scattered, more than prayer, engage in reading the Divine.
Sometimes, a desire comes to pray for a person. What does it mean?
When the desire to pray for someone comes, it means that the Lord Himself wants to have mercy on that soul and graciously listens to your prayers.
Is it good to bow down at night?
Do not forget to never bow down at night, and if you get sick, bow at least three times. With these bows and prayers at night, a person overcomes the devil, and in what he sins during the day, he is freed from sin with them.
What if I don't find time to read St. books and prayers?
Is it only then that prayer is considered when we pray in front of icons?
Prayer is not only one thing to be sure to stand in front of the icons in prayer. Keeping the mind and heart turned to God and aspiring is already a prayer, no matter in what position someone is, whether he was sitting, whether he was lying, whether he was walking. The rule of prayer at home is in its own way: in the morning and in the evening in front of the icons, and this is the state of prayer - for its own.
What if during the prayer rule I am distracted by passing windows?
Draw down the curtain when you are doing your home prayer rule. And when you look out the window, then remember that you have to repent.
Does fear attack me while praying?
Consider the fear that occurs during prayer a temptation from the enemy, who tries to turn everyone away from prayer who wants to pray. When starting to pray, protect yourself with the sign of the cross and continue to pray, and in time, by the grace of God, you will get rid of this temptation, if you are less angry with others and restrain yourself from condemnation.
What is the best time to pray?
“Night is the best time for prayer,” writes St. Theophan the Recluse. - Especially midnight. " 45
St. Theophan the Recluse. A Guide to Spiritual Life.
And St. John Chrysostom says that the Lord especially bows to mercy with night prayers. 46
Saint John Chrysostom. Conversation about the benefits of night prayer. // I exhort you, beloved. Selected Conversations. M., 2009.
What is urge?
The urge is (the desire) to turn to God; it happens sometimes without a definite need, but only after a thirst for God. In whatever measure and in whatever form this urge manifests itself, you should never leave it unsatisfied, but immediately turn to prayer and pray in the position in which you found the urge: if at work - for him and pray, if at reading - in the middle of it and pray, if while walking, - walking and pray. But, of course, it is better and more fruitful to stand in a place of prayer and assume a prayer position, if possible. If this urge is generated during the prayer, stop reading the prayer and pray according to this urge, with your own word or without a word.
What if they ask me to pray, but I can't pray for myself?
"Do not renounce prayer for others under the pretext of fear that you cannot beg for yourself - be afraid that you do not beg for yourself if you do not pray for others." (Saint Philaret of Moscow).47
St. Filaret of Moscow. Word on the day of the wedding and chrismation of the most pious Emperor Alexander Pavlovich, 1823 // Saint Filaret (Drozdov). Selected works, letters, memoirs. M .: Orthodox St. Tikhon's Theological Institute, 2003.
What to do for the Lord to hear the prayer?
If you wish to offer a pure prayer to God, then first test your mind and arrange it so that when you say: “Have mercy on me,” you would be merciful to the one who pleads with you; when you say: “Do not remember my sins,” and you did not remember the sins of your neighbor; when you say: “Do not remember my sins, voluntary and involuntary,” - and you did not remember the insults with which you were grieved. If you don't, you will pray in vain. And God will not hear you, as the Holy Scripture testifies. So, in the Gospel, the Lord commands to pray in this way: And leave us our debts, as we also leave our debtors. If you forgive a man of their sins, your Heavenly Father will also let you go.(Matthew 6: 12, 14). And in the Gospel of Luke he says: Let go and let you go(Luke 6: 37). And elsewhere he teaches students to pray like this: And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forsake every debtor of ours.(Luke 11: 4).
How to get rid of the scattering of thoughts during prayer?
Praying with your lips, pray also with your mind, that is, direct your mind to the power of the words of prayer. If, through weakness or the pretext of enmity in the midst of prayer, you are carried away by thinking about any subject, then, feeling your imprudence, sigh with contrition to the Lord and with great ardor deepen your attention into prayer; do it always and you will feel the benefit. Constancy of mind and vigilance attract special gifts of grace to the soul. 48
The Monk Bonifatius of Theophany // Seniors' councils of some Russian devotees of piety of the 18-19th centuries. M., 1913.
There is absolutely no time for prayer. How to be?
We have time for the body: we find time to drink tea, lunch, supper, but it is difficult for the Lord to devote even ten minutes! It is to the One who gives us everything.
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 ascetics abandoned their prayer rule in order to show 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. These can be various canons, akathists, reading the Holy Scriptures or Psalms, bows, the 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 with a priest, and evaluate your strengths. 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: will such an increase be beneficial to him. If a Christian regularly confesses, 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, should evening and morning prayers be read?
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 scarf, but this is important to you.
How are the canons and the adherence to Holy Communion read: one 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, and the practice of communicating with a confessor.
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 also like 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 terms of their content, are not of such high quality as the 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, if necessary, replace the service at home?
Today, a large number of liturgical literature and various prayer books are published. 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 a prayer while seated is its 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.
According to the Orthodox tradition, one should thank God for every day lived in the morning and evening, before going to bed. Prayers help you feel the love of the Lord and save you from nightmares and misfortunes.
It is known that one should turn to God not only in moments of spiritual misfortune and grief, but also in free time. Morning prayers help you tune in for a happy and successful day. And the evening ones cry out to the Creator: through words we thank the Almighty for every day we have lived and save our souls from evil.
Orthodox prayers for the coming sleep
Most people have lost the habit of such a wonderful tradition of praying at night. In the hustle and bustle of days, we forget to express love for God, but it is necessary to do this. Prayer helps not only to praise the Creator and ask for help: it has a beneficial effect on our mood, soul and sleep. A person who performs such actions every day has greater happiness and luck in life than one who turns to the Almighty only with a request to resolve his problems. However, in order for the prayer to work, it must be read correctly at home.
Turning to God greatly affects our life and consciousness. With the help of holy words, we can drive away trouble from ourselves, change the future and attract happiness. Not every person knows the Church Slavonic language, so difficulties may arise in reading powerful words. Especially for you, we have translated some prayers into Russian: they have not lost their power, but have become accessible and understandable.
Prayer to God before bed:
“Father of all living things, help me in this hour, forgive my sins, which I (name) have done through negligence today. If I offended a person with a swear word or an unacceptable act, I pray for forgiveness. Cleanse my soul from evil thoughts, and my flesh— from the desires of sinners. Deliver, God, from the vanity of the earth and reveal Your grace in a dream. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen"
Prayer to the Lord and Jesus Christ for the coming sleep:
“Our Father and Jesus Christ, grant me (name) your mercy, do not leave me on the path of life. I kneel and pray for help in the future, keep my sleep and sanctify my life. May your salvation and your love descend upon me on my bed. Let go of my sins in a day and guide me along the path of repentance and light. Let all adversity pass as the day has passed. My God and your Son Jesus, I humbly believe in your power and power over evil. Save your servant (name). May your kingdom be eternal on earth. Amen".
Evening prayer to the Holy Spirit:
“Lord, the comforter of my soul. Show your mercy and save your servant (name) from misfortune. Through Your help, God, I want to cleanse my soul from the sins of the day. My thoughts and my words are involuntary, and therefore sinful. Save me from longing, sadness, despondency, grief and all evil intentions. Replace my corrupted deeds with the mercy of God and allow me to repent of my deeds. Have mercy on me before going to bed and forgive my sins. Grant Your intercession before the power of evil. I glorify you forever and ever. Amen".
Prayer to the Guardian Angel at night:
“My guardian, my soul and body are under Your protection. Forgive me (name) if I have sinned and neglected Your trust. For my daily work, I ask forgiveness and pray for deliverance from sin. Not out of malice, but involuntarily, I anger the Lord God and you, my Protector. Show me your grace and mercy. For the glory of our Lord. Amen".
In order for God and his saints to hear your prayers, you should say them with pure thoughts and love in your heart. You can choose one prayer, memorize it and read it every day before going to bed, because it is not a matter of quantity, but of your righteousness. With the help of prayers, you can fulfill your desires, the most important thing is to know the sacred text and have faith in God. be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and
03.05.2017 06:15
The icon of the Lord Almighty is one of the most important symbols of Orthodox believers. The famous image of Jesus Christ ...
Everything about religion and faith - "prayer at 3 am Orthodoxy" with a detailed description and photos.
“Don't pray late. Before 12 o'clock in the morning, the prayer should be over, and the prayer should go to sleep. We do not know all the secrets of the invisible world. Not everything is open to us, and not everything is known. It is also unknown to us why it is in these late hours, after 12, that the dark forces especially feel their power and attack the soul with special fury. But the people of the spiritual life noticed this. In a world where there is such a rampant devilry, the night hours are the favorite hours of those who indulge in passions. People become obsessed during these hours. They lose their image and likeness. The line between reality and fantasy disappears. The devil is gathering his harvest during these hours.
“Night prayer has its own particular difficulties. Double thoughts have the greatest effect on night prayer.
Having reached the third prayer rule, a person approached the state of unity. But check it with your nightly prayer so that it is not apparent.
At night, demons are inclined, taking advantage of duality, to wage arguments in the bowels of the human soul. One must beware of engaging in empty internal quarrels. We must drive them. Leave questions unanswered. And do not be tempted by good intentions in these internal disputes to put the enemy to shame.
The night prayer rule should be short - no more than three hundred prayers. So that evil forces do not take advantage of the weakening of inner attention, which is so possible with an increase in all spiritual states at night.
The peculiarity of night prayer lies in the nature of the temptations. They are more spiritual at night. Demons are tempted most of all at night prayer by the height of prayer states. They inspire proud thoughts. About the extraordinary spiritual gifts of the one who is praying. Delight with unfavorable counterfeit revelations. They take the form of an angel of light. Drive all this away from yourself in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. All this is the nightly yearnings of our soul, which has been freed from the power of passions.
When the dark forces, poisoning it with refined temptations, recede from the soul, the beneficial meaning of the night prayer will affect. That is why demons influence the soul so strongly at night that at night prayer the soul becomes more open and accessible. But it becomes more open to both the evil and the good. When the evil retreats, the good will bear fruit a hundredfold.
The soul is quieter at night than during the day. And the quieter in the soul, the more audible to the Lord. At night, prayer more easily moves from outer words into the heart and becomes spiritual prayer. At night prayer, when the soul cries out without words with one heartfelt sigh, the prayer spirit is strengthened and increased. The night prayer rule will achieve something that daytime prayer cannot give: a kind of illusion and lightness of our spiritual shell.
If the night rule is started in good timing, it will greatly move the person praying on the path of prayer, bringing him closer to the longed-for heartfelt prayer. "
from the book of prot. Valentin Sventsitsky "A Monastery in the World".
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About Salvation
"In the time of the Antichrist, when he will speak to the people, and any Christian will pray correctly at that hour, he, feeling the prayer, will tremble, because Christians have great power" (Venerable Paisiy Svyatorets "On the signs of the times" / 18 /, p. .29).
Blessed /O. Nikolay Guryanov / prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, with the prayers of the Royal Martyrs have mercy on us sinners and save the Russian land" (Flower Garden of Elder Nicholas (Guryanov) / 33 /).
“But the priest prayed with tears. … And even when he spoke about Russia, tears flowed by themselves, they could not be contained, and the father shuddered from sobs. ... He considered himself a great sinner and a part of our great sinful Russia and said that without tears and kneeling prayer, both we and Russia will perish ”. (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 6).
- You need to pray, you need to pray. You have no prayer. Everyone prays badly…. You need to pray so that Satan will not come. If it comes up, everyone is gone, and prayer drives everything away ”(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 254).
“And then / when it will no longer be possible to go to church /… Pray in your cells, but never leave prayer. Only with God, only with prayer! (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, pp. 328-329).
- Pray more, read short prayers: they both heal and save. During persecution, read the akathist to the holy Archangel Michael, the Mother of God, Jesus the Sweetest, the Monk Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, St. Equal to the Apostles Princess Olga or Prince Vladimir, the enlighteners of Russia. They baptized Russia, ask them to wash away your sins, as in the Jordan. Fear God most of all, do not fear the wicked one ”(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, pp. 482-483).
“Father instructed us:
- Pray for your parents. From generation to generation sins go, from generation to generation sins fall on children, children leave their children so on. It is especially difficult for those who created infanticide (in the womb). The Lord knows all our sins, our thoughts, even when they have not yet been born ”(Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 484).
“Father often advised the sick to go around the temple three times with prayer, because the temple is an image of Jerusalem (Heavenly)” (Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 484).
RB Valentina: “At one time there was a strong hostile attack on me from a neighbor. Again she went to the father's grave: "Father, help!"
On the same night I have a dream. The priest comes out of the bush, which he planted in the monastery with his own hand, in monastic attire, his face shines like a saint. I went into the temple, put the Psalter on the table by the candle box and said:
- Read Psalm 26 forty times a day until you fall behind.
I read it, and everything passed ”(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 500).
"- And the Lord does not forgive sins when people bypass their spiritual father and go somewhere." (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 418).
“Father said that in the last times it will be very difficult to be saved, because the way of life we live is very sinful. You, he says, ask God to have mercy on you and save you in inscrutable ways. Repeat more often these words: “Lord! Have mercy on me in your image! " and repeat Psalm 50 more often, “Create a pure heart in me, O God” (Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 386).
"Spoke / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / so that we do not accept anything, no documents, numbers. Because of the adoption of these documents, he said, prayer will be greatly weakened ”(Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 330).
“In general, the Lord did not give a pension for work. Those who work in retirement will be responsible to God. The Lord gave a pension only for the church. (ie, the temple) so that people would pray ”(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 366).
“Father Christopher said that cancer can be defeated only by prayer, only with God. He explained that this is a satanic obsession. Doctors cannot defeat cancer, but with God you can defeat ... From cancer, the priest blessed to drink dodder, only that everything with prayer ”(Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 314-315).
/Talking about the future of Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tula, etc. Schema-Archimandrite Christopher said: /“It all depends on how you pray. The Lord is merciful and can have mercy. Everything is in God's hands. Everything depends on repentance "(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 211).
"And then / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / lamented:
- What a crafty time will be! … It is important that the prayer goes on.
Why he told me:
- Cover the plates soon. It doesn't matter how it is. It is important that prayer goes on. There is a prayer. Prayer, repentance is needed ”(Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 213).
Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai): “They honor with their lips, but talk with the devil in their minds. We do not pray ”(Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p.520).
Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai): “Lead a titanic struggle with thoughts. Prayer is not accepted with thoughts. "You pray in vain, there will be no benefit to you from such a prayer" "(Shiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p.522).
Schiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai): “When Peter I went to Holland, he was offered to remove one letter“ i ”, which completely distorts“ Hallelujah ”- then this is no longer praise to God. For this he was given a Masonic order and promised to reveal the secret of shipbuilding ”(Shiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p.521).
“Elders of the time of St. Seraphim (Romantsev) Glinsky said: “When we live to see the times that they will sing and write instead of“ Alleluia ”-“ Alilluy ”, then it will be impossible to pray for those books. This is one of the signs of the approaching time of the Antichrist. " (Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 152).
“- Temples will be decorated ... you know how! ... And this will not be necessary either. You will need only prayer, only prayer! " (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 75).
"Father / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / said that, unfortunately, everything will be the other way around, they will bring beauty, but there will be no prayer ...
“And in the last time,” he warned, “there will be luxurious hotels and toilets for you… This is all satanic seduction, we don't need this… We don't need this luxury, we need prayer, we need salvation” (Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 328).
"Father / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / even earlier he said that the Chernobyl accident is the execution of the eighth chapter of the Apocalypse. And in general, the priest necessarily commanded us to read the Apocalypse every day, at least one chapter:
“Blessed,” he said, “are those who read the Apocalypse” (Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 293).
“While still in the Kursk Root Hermitage, father / Schema-Archimandrite Isaiah / said not to care passionately about beauty, but to decorate the inner person more (take care of the soul), because soon they will put seals not only on documents, but also on the body ”(Shiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 35) ...
"And also father / Schema-Archimandrite Isaiah / said: “Saint Tikhon, the wonderworker of Zadonsk, in order to gather Russia spiritually, organized sketes everywhere for reading unceasing prayer. Because of my weakness and unworthiness, I try to follow his path. These sketes and unceasing prayer to the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ and the Mother of God will save Holy Russia. " (Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 55).
“Struggle with thoughts. In the notes of St. Ambrose Optinsky wrote that recently, for driving away one thought, God will forgive instead of 7 - 100 sins! (Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 519).
Father recognized the reading of Holy Scripture, the Psalter and prayers only in the Church Slavonic language. “This is a language that is especially effective for converting to the Lord in our territory. It is consecrated by the saints equal to the apostles Cyril and Methodius. Other countries have their own language, they have their own saints, and we must pray in our own, God-given language to us. " For those who do not know how to read the Psalter correctly, with all the stress and intonation, he forbade doing it aloud, especially in church. “You,” he said, “are throwing these perverted words, like stones, at the Lord…” (Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 319).
He did not approve / Schema-Archimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / innovations with cassettes or discs on which akathists or prayers are recorded. “The soul, - said the elder, - does not have time, it does not enter the rhythm for such a prayer. The most important thing is not to pray at random. The Lord accepts prayer from the soul, from the heart, and not from an electric toy ”(Skhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 320).
“At that time there were many prohibitions concerning unceasing prayer, but father / Schema-Archimandrite Isaiah / he himself prayed incessantly and taught everyone this - after all, according to the predictions of the holy fathers, in the last times the one who prays incessantly will endure. " (Shhiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p. 68).
Scheiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai): “Father Anatoly asks to multiply the sisters in prayer, to set against the robbers and to appease the Creator of Heaven and Earth, so that the Creator of Heaven and Earth would pour out mercy on suffering Holy Russia. This requires not men, but simple white handkerchiefs, broken hearts who love Holy Russia. There are such warriors among the common people, but only they need to be formed for prayer and there will be victory. The Lord will hear the tearful cry of our people ”(Shiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p.492).
"It's him / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / said to everyone who came:
"Pray and humble yourself." (Book: Scheiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 147).
“In order not to accept the seal of the antichrist - read the prayer from the seal of the antichrist daily” (Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.83).
“In recent years, my father / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / there was an apocalyptic mood. He said that “near, at the doors”, and read a prayer from the Antichrist and commanded everyone to read it ”(Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 482).
"Father gave / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / to us to read and prayer from the Antichrist ”(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 420).
"In memory of himself, he / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / commanded to read every morning a prayer from the antichrist: “Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, deliver us from the antichrist, the enemy of violence and sorcery. Amen"
- In this prayer, the father said, - everything is contained, wherever you are, it should be read. (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 66).
- Happy is the one who dies. Because such terrible times will come, such ... - and ordered to read this prayer here ”(Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 432).
“Ask God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. If He is not, then an unclean spirit will take over. The soul is never empty ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.83).
“When you learn to drive and afterwards, when you leave the house, get behind the wheel, get out of the car, be sure to read the prayer that I’ll tell you. Write it down now and memorize: “Lord, grant me the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit on all my ways and roads. Amen"... This prayer should be with you all your life. " (Schema-nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, pp. 95-96).
Schiarchimandrite Christopher: “It is urgent that the Archangel Michael and the“ road ”icon be in the car: the Savior, the Mother of God and St. Nicholas ". (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 150).
“In times of sorrow and danger, visible and invisible, prayer is especially needed: it, being an expression of rejection of arrogance, an expression of hope in God, attracts God's help to us” (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (+ 1867) in the book: A. Krasnov / 2 /, p. 270).
“The main thing is not to get discouraged, to hope in the Lord, in His mercy. He's not evil like us. He will surely hear and have mercy. And the main thing is to stretch out your hand to Him for help by prayer. " (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 98).
"I'm not talking about this as a duty, this is advice." (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 100).
"Once upon a time father in Winter / Schema-Archimandrite Isaiah / gives us a typewritten leaflet:
- Here's a pass to the Kingdom of Heaven for all of you.
We look dumbfounded: what kind of pass is that? And there it is written: “Most Holy Trinity, our God, Glory to Thee! Holy Mother of God, save us! "
“Pray only with a clever prayer,” he continued. - So that it comes from your heart ... ”(Shiarchimandrite Isaiah (Korovai) / 27 /, p.88).
“Not a person for a rule, but a rule for a person. If you don’t follow the rules, fill it with humility, but don’t try to chase after quantity ”. (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 100).
“In any sorrow, trouble or joy - sing the Akathist to Jesus the Sweetest, the Savior of the world. He will protect your soul and instill in it the joy and hope of salvation. If you knew how the Lord loves everyone, you would never despair and sin. " “Every day you look in the mirror of the Commandments of God. If you have sinned, repent and believe that the only thought of the Holy Spirit is to pull us out of our repentance and save us. Especially honor your parents, for the reverence of your parents the Lord will prolong your earthly life into the Eternal ”. (Flower garden of Elder Nicholas (Guryanov) / 33 /)
“Pray, a mother's prayer can reach from the bottom of the sea, and praying for it / for the son /, pray for yourself, that the Lord would forgive you, in which you sinned unknowingly. And she should know that heavenly bliss is not given to anyone without suffering. Run to prayers in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost", read her an akathist and his Guardian Angel, the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky "(Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 278).
“When asked how to pray for children, the priest said that mother’s prayer is very strong: from the bottom of the sea he saves and a person will not burn in the fire” (Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 310).
“Father wanted the mother herself to make spiritual efforts. He always said: “The mother's prayer from the bottom of the sea will get her child out” (Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 229).
“Father Christopher advised, in case of human and enemy intrigues, to resort to the Psalms of the Holy Prophet David - the 26th, 90th, 101st and 36th. If you regularly read these Psalms three times daily with humility, surrendering yourself to the all-good Providence of God, then the Lord will bring out, like light, your truth and your fate, like midday, obey the Lord and pray to Him (Ps. 36: 6). Father loved the folk saying:
- God help me, and the man himself does not lie. And do not be afraid of temptations, where it is tempting, there is saving. And thank the Lord: Lord, I thank you for everything, by your mercy you do not forget to visit us, sinners ”(Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 278).
« From midnight to three o'clock, the holy sky is open. A very valuable prayer during these hours. After midnight, it is good to make three great obeisances with prayer to the Savior, the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel. Schema-nun Antonia blessed her spiritual children to learn from memory the prayers: "Our Father," "Theotokos, Virgin, rejoice," "The Symbol of Faith," the 50th and 90th psalms. I advised you to read the short prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and the prayer: "Lord, enlighten my mind, calm my heart, help me in life, deliver me from the evil one."
- If children are sick, it is necessary to read the 90th Psalm and Our Father seven times. If it's something serious, you need to read it twelve times. If misfortune has happened to a person, you must read the 90th psalm. If the children are restless, sickly, then over the sleeping ones it is necessary to read forty times the prayer “Virgin Mary, rejoice” and three Sundays in a row to commune the children of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. When there are impure thoughts, despondency, melancholy, many times read the prayer “Virgin Mary, rejoice”. The Lord will certainly give peace to the soul for the sake of the prayers of the Mother of God. "(Schema nun Antonia. Advice and instructions / 32 /).
“- The old woman advised to read 17 Kathisma every day, she said:“ At the ordeals of 17 Kathisma will already be in defense for you ”. The schema-nun believed that Easter candles give special grace, in particular, she said: “When you visit a sick person, read a prayer for the sick person or akathist and be sure to light the Easter (red) candle”.
- The Word of God is food for the soul and body. It is the duty of a Christian: I will not go to bed if I have not read one chapter of the Gospel; two chapters of the Epistles, beginning with the Acts of the Apostles and ending with the Revelation of St. John the Theologian; several psalms from the Psalms. And so gradually the entire New Testament and the Psalter will be read, which is what is needed. We need to make three bookmarks and read in a row, and when we have read everything, start again, and so on all our life. "
- Mother advised many of those who came to her: “That in every house there should be icons of the Mother of God“ Indestructible Wall ”and Kaluga! The house should have a holy corner: for holy icons, holy water, prosphora, and it is useless to place icons on sideboards, walls. Can there be a temple without an altar or a house without a roof? - So a family should not live without a holy corner. During prayer or on holidays, the lamp should be lit, and it is good to light a candle. The grace of God rests on the houses where this is done. "
- “Be light, give all your sins to God. Give all diseases, all sorrows, all worries to God. And be light, free yourself. God knows about you. Each person is given a role to play in life: he plays and goes into eternal life. What to be upset about? We are not eternal here, we are guests here. And we will go home in due time, we will all go home. The Lord will not leave anyone on earth, He will take everyone to Himself. The soul does not die. The body is a costume, it is a temple of the soul. " (Schema-nun Antonia. Advice and instructions / 32 /).
Priest Andrey (Uglov): “Many ascetics, for example, the righteous father Nikolai (Rogozin) and the blessed eldress Pelagia the blind Ryazan ascetic, advised to read the 26th psalm more often for protection from dark forces:“ Lord my enlightenment and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord Protector of my belly, whom I fear. “Blessed Polyushka said that whoever read this psalm at least three times a day would ride among the sorcerers, as if on a tank. Blessed Polyushka also advised that if a person is possessed by an unclean spirit or was engaged in witchcraft, that is, demons rape this person, then it is very useful to take a blessing from a good priest and read the 26th psalm 40 times a day for 40 days. Of course, this is a great feat, but many people receive healings through this ... This psalm, according to Blessed Polyushka, has tremendous power. This is the most powerful psalm in the entire Psalm "(Russian Angel. Youth Vyacheslav. Film 2, part 2/24 /, 2:19:00).
After people are finally determined and stand firm, not accepting anything, the Lord will allow the last action - war. And if a person overshadows himself with a cross: "Lord, save, have mercy!" The Lord will even then save all who can be saved until the beast reigns. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 4), Archimandrite Tavrion, 4:26).
Fr. Tavrion urged to pray for Russia: Cry, when you pray, indicate: "with relatives." And relatives are all of Russia. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 4), Archimandrite Tavrion, 5:03).
Prayer for Russia, for Orthodoxy: “Save, Lord, Holy, Orthodox Russia. Protect her from the enemy visible and invisible. " (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 4), Archimandrite Tavrion, 4:42).
R.B. Faith about my dream: "And I hear an invisible Voice whispering to me:" Here go and tell everyone: let them pray to the Sovereign Mother of God. " I come to the priest / to schema-archimandrite Christopher / and I say:
- Father, that's such a dream for me ... - and told him.
So he after that told many, many, to read the Akathist of the Mother of God "Reigning" and pray for the salvation of Russia "(Book: Schiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 227).
“Back in the 80s, one of his / Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / the child had a vision: the Mother of God ordered to pray to Her "Reigning" icon, and the priest distributed the akathist to this icon to everyone and told them to pray for Russia. " (Book: Shiarchimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 62).
Startsev will not be, because nobody listens to them. Pray directly to God, and the Lord will hear you, the Lord will save you himself ”(/ 12 /“ Salt of the Earth ”(Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 2:25).
“Protect yourself with the cross, prayer, holy water, frequent communion ... Always let the lamps burn in front of the icons” (Blessed Matrona / 11 /, p. 53).
At home, to have a Holy Corner, where nothing else should be. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 1), Archpriest Nikolai Ragozin, 0:36).
Icon of the Mother of God "The Queen of Breads" the most important icon will now be. Because there will be such a hunger, and this icon should hang over the table for everyone. There will be such a time that you will pray to the Mother of God in front of this icon and you will be full, according to your faith you will always have a piece of bread on your table. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 2:57).
“She also / schema-nun Nila / advised that in the house in the kitchen there must be an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Conqueror of Breads", and over the front door there was an icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush". " (Schema-nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, p. 136).
“There will be a big uprising. From the floors (from the cities. - Auth.) People will scatter, they will not sit in the rooms. You can't sit in the rooms, nothing will be, not even bread (28.12.90). And if you pray to the Savior, the Mother of God and Elijah the Prophet, they will not let you die of hunger, they will preserve those who believed in God and prayed sincerely (06/27/88) ”. (Schema nun Macarius from the book "Given by God" / 30 /, p.187).
Schema-nun Sergius (she was led by the Mother of God herself and had a special gift to beg the dead) told us to always pray at night for the country, for our people, so that we read the Psalter, fast on Wednesday and Friday, all four fasts of the year. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 4), Archimandrite Tavrion, 4:33).
“Mother Neela spoke about the need to constantly pray everywhere - at work, and on vacation, and in transport:
Work is in the hands, and prayer is in the mouth. Prayer first of all, daughters! ...
She spoke about the meaning of prayer as follows:
The world is held together by prayer. If prayer stops even for one hour, then the world will cease to exist. And the night prayer is especially needed, it is more pleasing to God than others.
The greatest and most difficult feat is to pray for people. You need to endure, pray, work, no matter what, no matter how much they scold or revile. There is reproach to the left, from the evil one, and sometimes to the right, from loved ones. Both are difficult, but useful and even necessary. Everything that is sent must be done before the eye of God, with the memory of the Mother of God, with an appeal to Him. It is not external labors that are needed, but most of all - the purification of the heart. Do not allow yourself any guile, be open with people. And do not think about yourself. " (Schema-nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, pp. 187-188).
“She herself / schema-nun Nila / I constantly read the ninetieth psalm and said that this is the best means of hostile attacks. Mother's obligatory prayer rule included: morning and evening prayers; three canons; Gospel reading; The Psalter - at least one kathisma, sometimes more; every day the cell attendants read the seventeenth kathisma - mother loved her very much.
Mother unswervingly performed the five hundred. She said:
- Rosary is a telephone to the Lord, a direct connection.
Mother prayed mainly at night. " (Schema Nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, pp. 47-48).
“But now it's too late to build new churches. How to fill those that are with believers and prayer. It was time for prayer. I hung up a paper icon - and pray, the Lord gives grace through it ”. (Schema-nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, p. 78).
“Mother loved more than all the saints / schema-nun Nila / Saint Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. She said that the holy apostle loves Russia and will come to us in the time of the Antichrist. Mother gave the following prayer to one of her spiritual children:
“Lord, Thy will be done in me a sinner in all the paths of life; help me stay faithful to you until the end. Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner. Holy Apostle John the Theologian, be my mentor, be my representative and my prayer book before the Lord and His Most Pure Mother. Amen". (Schema Nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, pp. 194-195).
On Saturday, from 16-00 bows are not done on the eve of the Twelve Great Holidays. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 1), Archpriest Nikolai Ragozin, 0:36).
“Father Gury said that we must always thank God for everything and more often order thanksgiving prayers to Him so that the enemy does not stuff his horns into our lives. He said that everything should be done with the words "for the glory of God." (Radiant priest (about abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.16).
Order prayer services, order to the saints, ask the prayers of the saints, without the prayers of the saints you cannot be saved. ... And I am saved by prayer services. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 0:39).
"Father / Gury / said that you cannot do something important without a blessing. For example, go to court, to a doctor, to a hospital, to an exam, to an important meeting, or when an audit is being made. It is imperative to order a thanksgiving prayer service to the Savior and list the names of those who are going to some business, and only those people who participate in this business, and the Lord will arrange everything ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.74).
As often as possible, order thanksgiving prayers to the Savior both in sorrow and in joy. In a note, write in the name of the person who will participate in this (in court, to the dentist, for an exam, in case of illness, etc.) and your name. On the day of prayer, you seem to be in the circle of holy angels, and this day will be completely like from God. Enemy, he can no longer prevent you on this day. This day will be according to the will of God, according to the providence of God. Whenever possible, try to order such prayers every day. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 0:54).
You need to pray more for the dead. They are waiting for our prayers. There is such a day, it only happens once a year - on Archangel Michael. He lowers his white wing into hell, and through the night prayer of the earthly (with earthly bows), the Lord forgives the sins of departed relatives (someone climbs up a step, someone is completely freed from hell). Souls from hell are liberated invisibly along this wing. If it is a suicide, then such a prayer can ease the suffering of the deceased. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 0:57).
Father Gury himself prayed for Russia and asked his spiritual children to pray for Russia. As you drive past the village, pray that they see their sight and repent. And they didn’t accept anything. This is the time for repentance. Nothing mundane. Only repentance can save now. And not accepting anything. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 1:55).
Father Gury said: “You need to pray especially at night, you can ask the Lord for everything at night, because a person takes time out of his sleep. And many more saints talk about this. … At night, the Divine Liturgy takes place in Heaven ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, pp.16-17).
"Once, at 12 o'clock in the morning, the priest heard a ringing: So they beat the alarm, so they beat the alarm in Heaven!" (Radiant priest (about abbot Guria) / 8 /, p. 57).
“Father was also alarmed by such an innovation as the transition to summer time. The fact is that Fr. Guriy taught that prayer is most powerful from 12 o'clock in the morning, and this transition is precisely conceived, he said, in order to confuse and interfere with the believers "(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p. 46).
“Pray at night from 24.00 to 3.00. Prayer is forty times stronger at night than during the day. "(Radiant priest (about abbot Guria) / 8 /, p. 77).
Prayer from the Rite of Repentance /O. Nikolay Guryanov /: "Lord, I do not know if my relatives have sinned against the king, and if so, forgive them, Merciful Lord!" (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 3), father Nikolay Guryanov, 1:07).
Abbot Guriy of the spiritual daughter: Be sure to pray on Good Friday from 12 to 15 hours, when the Lord was crucified for us sinners, pray. If in church, then pray on your knees, if at home, then at the cross. List unconfessed and confessed sins, repent of your sins before God, read the Jesus Prayer and ask for a petition (if there is any problem: someone is in prison, or a trial, etc.). The Lord will surely reveal and help at this time. Don't forget this Friday every year. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 0:52).
"There is no prayer stronger than an akathist", - the words of the Father Superior /Houri/. He blessed spiritual children to read various akathists ..., but especially two akathists - to the Holy Spirit and the seven youths of Ephesus. He also advised children to read prayers to the Archangel Michael for deliverance from the devil and gave the texts of three prayers. "Without these prayers," he instructed, "don't leave the house either." He blessed to read and pray to the holy archangels for every day of the week, and five-numbered prayers, and the well-known prayer of detention ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, pp. 37-38).
Father Guriy to his spiritual daughters: “after each prayer (any prayer), be it to the Lord, the Mother of God, Archangel Michael or any saint, or any prayers, for example, at the end of the morning, afternoon, evening, etc., add a request:
“Deliver us, Lord, from magnetic cards, electronic certificates (passports), and from the cursed seal of the antichrist! And save us. Amen". (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 5), Abbot Guriy, 2:05).
"Blessed / father Gury / to pray more on his knees, he said: “Russia will perish without kneeling prayer” (Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p. 73-74).
“One must enter the house with a blessing:“ Lord, bless me, R. B (name), to enter your house, being baptized, and the demon will remain outside the door. ” (Radiant priest (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.74).
“- Thank God for everything: for every sore - a thanksgiving prayer service. Then it will heal quickly; ...
- At prayer you have to scream so that God would hear; how a baby screams when he is hungry, so that the mother can hear even in the next apartment;
- Go to the lock (with a blessing) for 1-10 days to beg for something (the main thing is the forgiveness of sins). Food: 1 prosphora and 1 glass of water per day. Not to say a single word to anyone. Pray more for forgiveness and get some rest. Gradually increase the shutter duration up to 10 days; ...
- Before you say something, take, do: "Lord, bless!" Do not rush to answer, especially to promise something. Father Gury did not promise right away, but said: "If nothing interferes, then maybe I will come." And if we do not keep our promises, we sin again. It is even worse when we do not notice our sins ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.77-78).
"Father / Gury / warned not to accept or sign anything without a blessing. If there is no father, then pray: "Our Father" three times and freeze - the first thought from God "(Radiant priest (about abbot Guria) / 8 /, p. 78).
Rev. Lavrenty of Chernigov: “Pray more, go to church while there is an opportunity, especially to the Liturgy, where the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered for the sins of the whole world. Confess more often and partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, and the Lord will strengthen you ”(Venerable Lawrence of Chernigov / 4 /, p.99).
Prayer of Elder Samuel before accepting the poisoned / by the authorities / coffee: “- Okay, I'll drink to the glory of God. - answered the elder, crossed the coffee and said: - Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, Your power is limitless and Your glory is great, turn evil into good ”(Elder Samuel (2) / 10 /, p. 141).
"The time will come when the faithful children of the Church will hide in caves, and only the prayers of the Mother of God will have the power to save people from persecution and turmoil." will not jump, that is, will not deceive the soul covered by the prayers of the Mother of God. - Comp.) (St. Ambrose of Optina (+ 1891) in the book: A. Krasnov / 2 /, p. 267).
“- Pray to the Most Holy Theotokos more often! Not necessarily by prayer or before an icon. Pray anytime, anywhere. Ask her in your own words in all your troubles and sorrows. Call her baby mummy. Love her more than anyone else in the world. She is our closest intercessor and intercessor before the Lord.
It is good if you know by heart the troparia of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and the Sign and sing them every day. If you try to always stand before the Most Holy Theotokos, then her veil will always always be above you. " (Shiigumen Alexy (Shumilin) / 21 /, p. 42).
Pray, read the Gospel, the Psalter, and pray to the Lord not to deviate from the Orthodox faith. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 2), Schema. Christopher, 2:14).
"Father / Gury / taught that when a priest walks around the church with a censer, at this time, fold the right palms to the left, bend low with the words: “Send me, Lord, the Holy Spirit! Forgive me, sinner! " (Radiant priest (about abbot Guria) / 8 /, p. 73).
"A candle is the power of God, and a person put it in church with his pain or joy, and it should burn out in one place where he put it, and not play with candles, as our grandmothers now like to do by candlesticks" (Radiant Father ( about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.74).
“For a good harvest, Father Gury tried to order three prayers:
1) Icon of the Mother of God "The Conqueror of the Breads",
Add oil from the icon lamp in front of the martyr icon to the water from this prayer service. Tryphon and sprinkle it on the garden and vegetables in the cellar (from damage and rodents). At the end of the prayer service, Father Gury read an incantatory prayer from the rodents of the martyr. Tryphon. And God gave through his prayers such harvests that all the children were amazed: potatoes, cabbage, peas, carrots, onions, legumes ... For example, I have never seen such a harvest of potatoes as that of Fr. Guria in Ust-Pechenga. The potato was the size of a man's head ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.76).
“In the absence of rain, Fr. Gury served in the garden with prayers to the Prophet Elijah. At the second prayer service, the first drops appeared, and after the third prayer service, God gave a plentiful rain. Although there was no rain in the area ”(Radiant Father (about Abbot Guria) / 8 /, p.77).
“In summer there was no rain for a long time, everything was dry, the gardens were dying. Then mother / schema-nun Nila / blessed to go to the forest to pray: they took candles, an akathist to the holy prophet Elijah. For an hour and a half in the forest they prayed, sang, read the akathist. When they returned home, mother said:
- Ilya the prophet, we only two prayed to you. Look, what a big mine - and no one wanted to join us. Give us a rain, prophet Elijah!
Fifteen minutes passed and a small cloud appeared directly over mother's house. And how it started to rain! " (Schema Nun Nila / 23 /, Biography, p. 133).
"To this miraculous icon / Queen of Heaven "Seeking the Lost" / people come with any pain, with any disease, turn to it, and it helps. If there is no rain - drought, they take it out to the meadow, put it in the middle of our village and pray, serve a prayer service and do not have time to come home when it will rain ”(Blessed Matrona” / 11 /, p. 67).
Pray incessantly, repent incessantly, cry, pray for the whole people, not only for your relatives, but for the whole Church, for the whole country. For if one is somewhere praying, like a flame, like a candle illuminates the room on a dark night, so from one who will cry, groan, if he cannot cry with his eyes, let him cry, groan in soul, and this will be strong before God. (/ 12 / "Salt of the Earth" (Film 4), Archimandrite Tavrion, 4:28).
“Father Christopher blessed and blessed, and then he says:
- For all housing issues - to the martyr Tryphon "(Book: Schema-Archimandrite Christopher / 20 /, p. 377).
“Who is praying now? No, he does not read prayers, but purely prays. If there were even a few such prayer books, the end times for the world would not have come. Alas, we read the rules, we read the morning and evening prayers, but we do not pray at all. And our Lord Jesus Christ showed us an example of prayer - to bloody sweat. Who remembers this? You can't run away from Golgotha, you just have to pray like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostles slept, and He prayed. Therefore, I went through Golgotha, and for us mortals, he opened the way to salvation. Father, there is only one way possible - through Golgotha! There is not and cannot be otherwise, only Golgotha. Each has its own, its own. Someone is saved by the inconsistencies of children, someone is saved by their own ailments, or everyday troubles, but the path to the Kingdom of Heaven is only through Golgotha. … It is better when all life is one ascent to Golgotha. The ascetics also strove for this, squeezing their desires, thoughts and aspirations. They climbed it all their lives, but to Calvary. For without it eternal life is inconceivable. Therefore, the saints were very upset if the trials receded. There is simply no other way. Work and endure, endure and pray ”(Father Anthony in the book: A. Krasnov / 2 /, p. 308).
Spoke / St. blessed Pelagia of Ryazan /, that you cannot pray for those who burn the bodies of their relatives, and for those who were burned! It will be bad for the whole family! Burning bodies is not even a sin, but the very service to Satan, ... (/ 17 / St. Blessed Pelagia of Ryazan).
From a conversation with an Orthodox priest, Father (spring 2013/37 /):
- Father, the elders said that the night prayer is 40 times stronger than the day prayer. Do you think that an ordinary lay person should pray at night after twelve o'clock in order to protect himself from all this antichrist system?
- On Mount Athos they do not sleep all night, but pray for the salvation of both soul and body.
- And they do not sleep until what time in the morning?
- Until 7 am. And I didn't sleep with them.
- What then do they do after 7 in the morning?
- Then at 7 am to fall asleep for an hour and a half. They rest and obey, everyone is at work: they read the Psalms, they build, they chop, they clean, they clean
- What, for example, is more important: at night, for example, you pray as much as you can, until the morning, and then you do not have time for the Liturgy in the morning ...
- Well, in short, to pray, not until 7, but until 5. Two hours and a half, slept for three - and it's okay.
- All the same, try to do both ...
- Yes, you have to try, work out by yourself, as it will be convenient. It is necessary to regulate: that night - more, that night - less. You need to get enough sleep. You can pray lying down and fall asleep like that / 37 /.
The Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church attached special meaning to night prayer, considering it one of the most powerful and useful methods of cleansing and illuminating the soul.
St. John Chrysostom concluded: "The Lord especially bows to mercy with night prayers," and St. Isaac the Syrian said: "Every night prayer is more useful to you than all day's exploits."
However, the clergy agree that the laity, unlike the monks, should not pray at night, since this action is fraught with dangerous temptations, which are very difficult for an unprepared person to cope with. But, if, nevertheless, a person has an inexhaustible desire to pray at night, this can be done only with the blessing of his personal confessor.
The difference between a monk and a layman
The path of a layman and a monk is two different paths of human life, with differences in lifestyle, care and prayer improvement. Monks who are not connected by close family and marital ties do not know the troubles associated with caring for loved ones, their minds are not occupied with numerous worldly problems, they do not feel the lack of time, which is categorically lacking for a working person.
Each monk has a personal confessor who monitors his spiritual development and instructs in prayer practices.
Inoki live in their own world, dependent on a certain discipline, with a clear hierarchy of subordination and a daily routine that allows them to pray at different times of the day.
That is why most of the works of the holy fathers, telling about the rules of prayer, were addressed to monks, proceeding from their special rhythm of life in monasteries.
St. Ignatius Brianchaninov writes: "Monks are those Christians who abandon all earthly pursuits for practicing prayer - virtue, higher than all virtues, in order to unite with God through it ..."
The tradition of night prayers
The tradition of night prayers dates back to the days of the formation of Christianity, when the ascetics of Christ, hiding from persecution, could fearlessly offer their daily prayers only in the dark. It was not difficult for them to do this, firstly, because of the incredible spiritual impulse, and, secondly, because of the peculiarity of the way of life - in the hot southern countries from which this religion began to spread, people are used to resting during the day, so that they are cool to do business at night. Subsequently, this practice was adopted by the monasteries and constant night prayers became part of the life of the monks.
The Power of Night Prayer
The unusual power of night prayer lies in the fact that when it is performed, a person's mind is uniquely focused on communication with God, and peace reigns in the soul, inspired both by a deep understanding of the words of prayer, and by gratitude, humility, tenderness and love arising in the soul.
St. Chrysostom saw its power in the following: “At night you can also raise your mind more freely to God, and night prayers will turn you to repentance, and God will listen to them more than during the day. If you leave the house at night, you will notice a general silence; and your soul becomes purer at this time, and your mind is lighter in prayer. "
In order for a person to perform the night prayer, his will must be turned to God, the body is energetic and collected, the conscience is freed by repentance, the heart is cleansed of passions, and the mind is removed from vanity, but these circumstances are very difficult to achieve for a layman involved in the turmoil of modern life.
An ordinary person unprepared for night prayer can become an easy prey for demons, who, according to N. Pestov, for some unknown reason “have the greatest power over the world and sometimes interfere with prayer with various“ insurance ”(induction of a feeling of fear, fear, horror, incomprehensible sounds, knocks and, finally, various phenomena and visions) ".
His words are echoed by the religious writer S. Nilus, who described the sad case that took place in Optina Hermitage, when a young man who was preparing to take monastic tonsure, despite the prohibition of the confessor, performed unauthorized prayers at night. As a result, after another disobedience, the "novice" ran out of his cell naked and ran into the church where the divine service was being performed. Climbing onto St. He raged on the throne and made inconsistencies, and the monks who saw this could not do anything, because they were overwhelmed by an incomprehensible chilling fear. Only the hieromonk, after a short time of confusion, threw the distraught from the throne and handed him over to the doctors, who ascertained that he had a mental disorder, as a result of which he spent the rest of his life in the appropriate clinic.
In the book "A Monastery in the World" Archpriest. Valentin Sventsitsky writes: “Don't pray late. Before 12 o'clock in the morning, the prayer should be over, and the prayer should go to sleep. We do not know all the secrets of the invisible world. Not everything is open to us, and not everything is known. It is also unknown to us why exactly in these late hours, after 12, the dark forces especially feel their power and attack the soul with special fury. "
Prayer at night makes a person's soul more receptive to both good and bad, which is why it is easier for demons to penetrate it, tempt a person with refined temptations, entertain his ears with false revelations, kindle prideful thoughts and draw into tempting arguments.
In the same edition, it is noted that often demons, in order to deceive worshipers, take the form of angels of light, about whom Archbishop Vasily (Krivoshein) also wrote.
In the book "Angels and Demons in the Spiritual Life" he quotes the words of the Monk Anthony the Great, who told his disciples about the tricks of the evil spirits, who want to drive a Christian from the righteous path.
It is the distinction between real angels of light and demons who pretend to be them that is the main problem that accompanies night prayer. A layman who is not familiar with all the tricks of the devil can easily fall for his tricks, since the recognition of these two spirits is not on an instinctive, but on an intuitive level. That is why Anthony insists: "We must pray ... in order to receive the gift of discerning of spirits, so that, as it is written, we would not believe in every spirit," and in worldly life a person does not have so much free time to devote himself to constant prayers to learn to resist the influence of dark forces.
Night to sleep
There are lines in one of the letters of the Monk Ambrose of Optina that the laity does not need to devote the night to prayers: “You ask how to accustom your pet to serious pursuits ... First suggest that they make day out of day and night out of night; and when you are successful in this, then you can think about something else. "
The body of a working person, tired during the day, needs to recuperate through continuous sleep, and night prayers will certainly break it into segments of imaginary wakefulness and possible relaxation.
Blessed Theodorite of Kirsky noted: "The gaze of God ... gave ... a sweet and long sleep, which can calm the body after fatigue and make it stronger for the next day's work."
When leading an active lifestyle, a person must have the correct sleep pattern, and constant awakenings for night prayers can unbalance his psyche and cause irreparable harm.
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